Sigh….
This West Coast trip already seems familiar, doesn’t it? The Reds try to avoid a sweep in Los Angeles today, with Bobby Livingston making his first start of the season after being recalled from AAA Louisville. I’m trying to be optimistic about this season, so I’ll say no more.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful Mother’s Day, especially all you mothers out there. Enjoy the game, and discuss it here.

Reds dead last in the ESPN.Com Major League Baseball RPI Rankings:
Drop the Castro talk. He is the last reason this team is dreadful.
I found this interesting. Reds dead last in MLB in the ESPN.Com RPI Rankings
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/rpi
Gotta love the pink bats. Oh boy, Freel in in the OF and Dunn gets the day off, Castro at 3B. So Castro is inserted into the lineup to spell Dunn. Gotta love pitching and defense.
Mark Hendrickson is pitching for the Dodgers. I saw him a few years ago in Tampa, pitching for the Rays. He is certainly tall.
Pink bats seem especially appropriate for this team.
In his first major league start, Livingston pitches ball one, followed by a ground rule double. Uh oh.
Then, one out later, an RBI single for Ramon’s son.
Nope Castro is not the reason the Red’s are dreadful. The buffoon putting him in at 3B every other night is though.
Two ex-Dodgers with back to back hits! And they’re named Castro and Ross, of all people!
Livingston’s having some trouble getting the bunt down here.
But then he lays down a good one with two strikes.
Freel is up with two runners in scoring position and one out.
First and third no outs, they can’t get another run across. That’s not a good sign.
They gave him a double, but Freel should have caught that ball. That was and error.
Gonzalez shouldn’t have cut off that throw to third. There was a chance to get an out there.
I agree. Gonzo blew that one. They may not have gotten him, but it was worth a shot.
Why not let it go through? There was no one else on base. Gonzo gave the Reds no advantage by cutting that ball off.
I am really tired of the Jerry Narron show. This team is not as bad as it plays.
Who would make a good replacement that is available?
Inexperience hurting Livingston.
Wow, walks the pitcher and then is late covering first base. Louisville will hardly know he was gone.
Dodgers doing the little things that the Reds are not.
This team will stagnate as long as Narron is managing it.
This team has NEVER done the little things well under Narron…or under his predecessor, Dave Miley, now that I think of it.
Junior reaches base again. He’s unstoppable.
This whole Alex Gonzalez hitting fifth crap is getting tiresome as well. The guy has a good two weeks, and all of a sudden, he’s the second coming of Barry Larkin in Narron’s eyes.
How many runs have we scored in this series? Two?
Yet another of Narron’s many flaws. Just because a player goes through peaks and valleys doesn’t change the kind of player they are.
Can the Reds do poorly enough for Narron to get canned before the All-Star Game?
After he made that questionable decision on defense earlier, Gonzalez almost made a great play right there.
I get the feeling that GOnzo isn’t as good as advertised on defense. I think he’s very good, I just think the great plays he makes gives people an impression that he’s better than he really is. He’s made some real defensive mistakes this year…in addition to all the great plays.
Nice inning by Bobby!
I think the answer to Jim’s question is “yes.”
If the team is in last place at the break, don’t be surprised if Narron’s seat is extremely hot. Remember, he’s not a guy who was brought in by Castellini or Krivsky. He should be concerned about his job security.
Okay, I’m off to a Mother’s Day cookout. Enjoy the rest of the game. I’ll try to catch as much as I can on the radio.
Why does Skyline calling a dish a 3-way sound politically incorrect?
Sounds like everyone is tired of the Narron show. I don’t like the guy, but I don’t ordinarily call for a manager’s firing.
Are there arguments FOR Narron? I’m not saying there aren’t; just wondering if anyone is willing to take on that defense.
Have fun, Chad. We’ll hold down the fort.
So if Narron is canned what Minnesota-type replaces him?
Jim…Skyline needs to hire Coutlangus to endorse their 3-way.
Is Harmon Killebrew still alive?
Or will it be Kent Hrbek?
Nice bunting fundamentals there.
Randy
Maybe they can evolve into a strip club though they will have to close at midnight.
It’s pretty bad when leatherpants’ team is ahead of ours!
CBS.RPI wise, sorry forgot the rest of the post
I just don’t see any positives that Narron brings to this club.
Junior with 570!
Junior with a 3 run homer and the Reds lead!
Where would we be without Griffey?
Mike
Maybe it’s because Pat Corrales is ripping their rear ends from the bench.
It would be nice to see things fall in place well enough for Griffey this season so he could reach 600 before the season ends.
That SB was close.
Jr. being healthy is better than most 32 yr olds are!
Let’s see Livingston settle into a groove and post a win.
I tell you what, This team needs the fear of sweet Lou hanging above their heads, but we know that can’t happen.
Leave it to George Grande to know every Reds birthday.
If Jr. can play 135-140, hit 30 HR and 85-90 RBI’s, teaching Hamilton the little things of the game…would be nice
Another decent inning by Bobby.
There’s a difference between bullets hit by Juan Castro and those hit by Adam Dunn. That’s why most of Castro’s get caught.
If he doesn’t get in trouble, how long will Livingston stay in the game?
Another 10-pitch inning would suffice, Bobby.
If he could continue at the pace of the past two innings, he could finish the game under 100 pitches.
Livingston has done a good job of getting Nomar off balance.
Rosecrans is reporting that Dunn’s foot is sore from something last night. Said he was in the training room all AM, which probably explains the day off.
The same cannot be said for Jeff “Barry Bonds Creme” Kent.
Livingston is getting to see some big league hitters 5-4, Kent homers
Maybe Dunn needs to be gelling like a felon!
Dunn is 3 for 5 off Hendrickson in their only meeting, so I bet he wanted to go.
Welch talking about what Narron needs to do to protect the win. He thinks the bullpen is the answer?
Finish this inning off, Bobby.
Sending the runner to avoid the double play. Hmmmm. Interesting concept.
Would a visit to the mound by Pole be a good idea?
Yea!!!
You know Livingston is like a Brandon Claussen with gonads.
Where is Joe Girardi this year?
SB for Griffey!
Is there a better argument for not batting A-Gon in the five spot?
Usual from Java man, not much help these days.
Where is Joe Girardi this year?
In the booth for the evil empire
Manager of the Year is broadcasting. Geesh!
WP for Java man, he hasn’t got s shred of confidence in himself
Yup, asked not to be considered for the Cub’s skipper last winter I here.
What the heck was Coffey doing?
Could use a DP here
I don’t think it could be considered pitching!
If Coffey has no confidence then yet another reason to boot Hume and Narron out the door.
I mean attempting to catch that throw.
Hume has been around to long with little to no results.
great a stolen base, no more easy double play.
What a comedy of errors. I’m glad the Reds are going out of there way to build a strong defensive club. By the way, EE had two more E’s today for Louisville.
Hamilton needs to send a bullet somewhere for a hit!
Coffe Blown Save…typical.
I am beginning to doubt Ed’s future as a 3B. I understand errors will be made but he makes them in bunches.
Ross, looking at 3rd strike again…..oh man.
EE is making to many E’s……he has no future at 1st with Votto…..
The outfield is the only place I can see any kind of future for him.
I can’t believe that I’m going to be in Middletown for two weeks next month and the Reds won’t be at home.
Kent gone on a ground ball
Cortlangus got us out of a Javaman Jam
Hattieburg out on strikes
hard hit ball to left, caught sadly
Phillips makews it 2 of 3 in the K
Saaraloos in……B8
1st and 3rd…Bullpen Blowing up
Burn baby burn…Gas can ordered and atch is lit.
great just great Saaaloos out Stanton in. another ineffective day for our Bullpen.
Same story, same players, same result, and more frustrated fans!
When or where are majewski and bray? i thought they were pretty good when healthy, and a lot better than the bullpen now
What’s with all the defenive indifference, not holding runners on, giving them a free pass and allowing them extra runners in scoring position, taking us out of double play opportunities. Is this team so pathetic that they can’t hold a runner on and throw the ball around the infield to defense a double steal. What the hell did they do in spring training, did it have anything to do with baseball or fundamentals?
Walking in runs now. when will the pain end.
i’m glad griffey is the only red i have on my fantasy team.. this bullpen is pathetic.. throw strikes please
How long before Stanton is DFAed? I don’t care about his contract. He is pitiful. Every one-time-great pitcher hits the wall at the end of his career, and Stanton has hit his.
He sure sucks this year.
If Stanton has a job tomorrow it’s because Krivsky is afraid to go to Castellini and tell him he has to eat another multi year deal he gave to a washed up reliever.
No one should be DFAed until Hume is punted out of here. When the arms keep changing but the results remain the same it screams that the arms are not necessarily the problem. These relievers are not mentally prepared when they enter a game. I bet Dick Pole is going to fill somebody’s ear about it before much longer.
Hume isn’t the problem. It’s Narron’s bullpen usage. You really think Livingston needed to come out today having thrown 82 pitches, with 1 out and nobody on base?
Totally agree with the defensive indifference! It was a tie game and we’re ok with them going up by 2 instead of 1???
Fun game today, huh?
Actually, now that I think of it…fun series, huh?
On to sunny San Diego!
Hume, Narron, AND the bullpen are the problems. Time to clean house. Like Ron Oester said a few years ago…”with a big broom.”
I honestly was optimistic when this season started. Now I have to reassess my thinking. How could I have been that naive? This team is not even close to contending.