Well, I just did about 3 hours of yard work, now I’m sitting on my front porch with the wireless laptop, a cold beer and waiting to tune in the Reds on mlb.tv and now I realize they are out in La La land. The over/under on me staying awake for the first pitch is now at about 5-1 I would say.
I need to rekindle my hatred for the Dodgers. Remember when Reds v Dodgers was the NBC game of the week almost every week back in the 70s? Man I *hated* the Dodgers back then. Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Davey Lopes… hated them ! I still do I think, just not as often.
where does Scully get these things? When Ross was growing up he used to hit homeruns for watermelons, and of course unfortunately a baseball is a lot smaller than a watermelon. Did I catch that right? Even if I didn’t Scully is awesome.
With the exception of Dunn and Junior (and maybe BP), this really is a pretty bad lineup. No wonder they haven’t even come close to making a dent with an out in the fourth.
So Russell Martin slid into Castro there at 3b, preventing him from any try at a doubleplay. The Dodger announcer repeatedly calling it “a good hard legitimate slide.” But Martin didn’t even touch the bag as he slid hard to the left and past it, into Castro up-ending him. What’s legitimate about that?
Dodgers are currently 16-0 when leading after seven innings. But PH Hatteberg works a leadoff walk here in the eighth. PH ValentÃn due up, then Hopper.
Looks like Dodger Stadium is the first park the Reds have played in to have the extra gameday features (like pitch break and speed). Says Salmon was throwing 95 in that inning.
Down to the 9th, still 2-0. Takashi Saito will try and close it out against Griffey / Conine / Gonzalez / Dunn.
Let’s examine the endgame strategy. Okay, so in the ninth (last chance for the Reds, down 2-0) the first two runners reach in the person of Griffey and Conine. The next three hitters due are Gonzalez, Dunn, and Castro. The only guy left on the bench is Keppinger (assumption is Freel is unavailable with the flu-like symptoms).
So with two on and nobody out, down by two runs, Gonzalez bunts at the first pitch and pops it up for a useless out. What is the thought process here?
Let’s look at what happens if that goes according to plan. Gonzalez sacrifices the runners over, so 2nd & 3rd, one out for Dunn. Ostensibly this is to allow a single to score two runs, but this is Adam Dunn. He strikes out or homers – he has more extra-base hits than singles, and that’s typical for him. And with a base open in that situation, the Dodger closer isn’t going to give Dunn anything to hit. In fact, I think most likely he’d be walked (either intentionally or ‘unintentionally’) to face Castro, who’s hitting .148.
So the sacrifice bunt is really setting it up to depend on Castro, instead of getting two shots with Gonzalez and Dunn. If Castro doesn’t hit into a doubleplay, then Ross gets a chance. So instead of looking to Gonzalez and Dunn for something, this scenario depends on Castro and Ross to get a big hit. And that’s if the strategy works as planned, which it certainly did not when Gonzalez popped up the bunt.
Any bunt which gives away an out when you need 2 runs in the 9th is absolutely stupid. Bunting for 1 run late, maybe. But not bunting when you need 2.
I also don’t believe Dunn would have been walked. If you have 2nd and 3rd, the best thing that can happen if you’re an opposing pitcher is a strike out, and Dunn strikes out more than anyone in baseball. You go for the K like any good manager would.
2009 stats: Sarasota 2-1 8 Games 8 Games Started 42.1 IP 4.89 ERA 1.44 WHIP
Carolina 3-2 6 Game 6 Game Started 36 2/3 IP 2.95 ERA 1.09 WHIP
Louisville 2-2 5 Game 5 Game Started 29 IP 2.48 ERA 1.21 WHIP
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Well, I just did about 3 hours of yard work, now I’m sitting on my front porch with the wireless laptop, a cold beer and waiting to tune in the Reds on mlb.tv and now I realize they are out in La La land. The over/under on me staying awake for the first pitch is now at about 5-1 I would say.
Many of us are wondering if we can stay awake for the last pitch, and hammer is wondering about the first pitch.
Of course, if I’d done 3 hours of yard work, I might be singing a different tune, too.
By the way, it appears that Bobby Livingston will be starting on Sunday.
have no fear, I will post here if I make the first pitch. Odds now down to 3-1.
Lineups, courtesy of Rosencrans…no Encarnacion, but we do have Hopper in the lineup!
Reds:
Freel 3b
Phillips 2b
Griffey rf
Conine 1b
Gonzalez ss
Dunn lf
Hopper cf
Ross c
Arroyo p
Dodgers
Furcal ss
Pierre cf
Garciaparra 1b
Kent 2b
Gonzalez lf
Martin c
Ethier rf
LaRoche 3b
Wolf p
Good luck, hammer. We’re all counting on you.
Anyone else see Rosencrans on the Reds broadcast the other night? Evidently, a foul ball was hit right at him.
Mets beat Brewers 5-4.
The Brewers lost? Amazin’.
No Hamilton but we are starting Hopper…Not exactly a ferocious bottom three…
I need to rekindle my hatred for the Dodgers. Remember when Reds v Dodgers was the NBC game of the week almost every week back in the 70s? Man I *hated* the Dodgers back then. Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Davey Lopes… hated them ! I still do I think, just not as often.
I wish the Reds had a rival like that these days.
Everyone can get off the edge of their seats now. I made it.
I love watching a baseball game with Vin Scully announcing, even if it the Dodgers.
Vin Scully is just incredible. The best I’ve ever heard. I can listen to him announce a game between the Dodgers and anyone….
I agree, guys. I’m a big Vin Scully fan.
Castro at 3B tonight. Scully said it was last minute.
c’mon Bronson, please settle down. 2-0 bad guys.
Oh, Bronson.
Juan Castro and Norris Hopper in the same lineup. Ugh.
And Gonzo just struck out on three straight pitches.
Vin Scully just said that Juan Castro is “a delightful fellow, but he doesn’t hit much better than you.”
That is hilarious.
Scully is also talking about how Castro’s on-base percentage has always been terrible. The old guy knows more about baseball than Marty.
Freel has the flu?
Freel with the flu. That explains that.
Wow, Rafael Belliard…I mean, Juan Castro just tagged that one. Pierre made a good play in CF on it, on the warning track.
Yeah, Castro hit that ball very hard.
where does Scully get these things? When Ross was growing up he used to hit homeruns for watermelons, and of course unfortunately a baseball is a lot smaller than a watermelon. Did I catch that right? Even if I didn’t Scully is awesome.
Sounds about like what I heard him say.
I just told my wife that I wish Scully announced for the Reds. I’ve loved Marty for as long as I’ve loved the Reds, but Scully can’t be touched.
Nice play by BP.
I know it’s irrational, but I kinda like Juan Pierre. He’s fun to watch.
Scully will be 80 years old in November. Wow. I hope he lives to 150.
Castro, Ross, Arroyo, Hopper…boy, those four in a row strike fear in Randy Wolf’s heart, I’m sure.
Not sure that Hopper is the team’s answer for a leadoff man…
Phillips is starting to look better again… Maybe the middle of the order can make up for the atrociousness that is the 7-8-9-1 part of the lineup.
Bronson with 75 pitches in the third according to CBS
Bronson just isn’t sharp tonight.
That wasn’t a strike on Conine
With the exception of Dunn and Junior (and maybe BP), this really is a pretty bad lineup. No wonder they haven’t even come close to making a dent with an out in the fourth.
Six pitches, two strikeouts for Gonzo.
Nice inning, fellas!!
Yeah, that was embarrassing.
Apparently, the plate umpire is flipping a coin tonight
Ross just looks like he closes his eyes and swings. Might be why he’s struck out something like 34 times this year already.
Why don’t they send Ross to AAA? Moeller could hit this well.
I’m sure he’s out of options, but still…
Ross K’s again – what a shocker.
9 Ks of the 14 outs. UGLY!
Wish they hadn’t left their bats in Cincinnati. They always do this when they go west.
The good news is that Bronson settled down. The bad news is that he’s thrown a bunch of pitches and the bullpen’s appearance is inevitable.
Conine’s stance makes him look like a GI Joe. In the little plastic man kind of way, not the badass kind of way.
Russell Martin needs a fastball in the ass for that. That was a dirty play if I’ve ever seen one.
So Russell Martin slid into Castro there at 3b, preventing him from any try at a doubleplay. The Dodger announcer repeatedly calling it “a good hard legitimate slide.” But Martin didn’t even touch the bag as he slid hard to the left and past it, into Castro up-ending him. What’s legitimate about that?
Yeah, that was a pretty dirty slide. I’m surprised no one there said anything.
Bronson gone after six innings. Coffey coming in.
“I don`t know what caffeine does for you. But I`m pretty sure without it . . . your head caves in.”
Dodgers are currently 16-0 when leading after seven innings. But PH Hatteberg works a leadoff walk here in the eighth. PH ValentÃn due up, then Hopper.
Hamilton makes the third PH in a row here.
Looks like Dodger Stadium is the first park the Reds have played in to have the extra gameday features (like pitch break and speed). Says Salmon was throwing 95 in that inning.
Down to the 9th, still 2-0. Takashi Saito will try and close it out against Griffey / Conine / Gonzalez / Dunn.
well, that sucked.
Allow me to whine about Narron for a moment.
Let’s examine the endgame strategy. Okay, so in the ninth (last chance for the Reds, down 2-0) the first two runners reach in the person of Griffey and Conine. The next three hitters due are Gonzalez, Dunn, and Castro. The only guy left on the bench is Keppinger (assumption is Freel is unavailable with the flu-like symptoms).
So with two on and nobody out, down by two runs, Gonzalez bunts at the first pitch and pops it up for a useless out. What is the thought process here?
Let’s look at what happens if that goes according to plan. Gonzalez sacrifices the runners over, so 2nd & 3rd, one out for Dunn. Ostensibly this is to allow a single to score two runs, but this is Adam Dunn. He strikes out or homers – he has more extra-base hits than singles, and that’s typical for him. And with a base open in that situation, the Dodger closer isn’t going to give Dunn anything to hit. In fact, I think most likely he’d be walked (either intentionally or ‘unintentionally’) to face Castro, who’s hitting .148.
So the sacrifice bunt is really setting it up to depend on Castro, instead of getting two shots with Gonzalez and Dunn. If Castro doesn’t hit into a doubleplay, then Ross gets a chance. So instead of looking to Gonzalez and Dunn for something, this scenario depends on Castro and Ross to get a big hit. And that’s if the strategy works as planned, which it certainly did not when Gonzalez popped up the bunt.
I don’t understand.
Any bunt which gives away an out when you need 2 runs in the 9th is absolutely stupid. Bunting for 1 run late, maybe. But not bunting when you need 2.
I also don’t believe Dunn would have been walked. If you have 2nd and 3rd, the best thing that can happen if you’re an opposing pitcher is a strike out, and Dunn strikes out more than anyone in baseball. You go for the K like any good manager would.