A suicide . . . groundout? Hopper missed a sign, but it works out anyway. Ross must have been scared to death to be running down the line right towards Hopper taking a full swing. 1-0 Reds.
Is this a hometown ump? This is terrible. Arroyo must have gotten frustrated throwing so many strikes that were called balls, grooves a couple. Back-to-back homers make it 3-1 Cubs. And now everything’s a strike with Reds hitters up.
I’m singing the praises of Norris Hopper. Saves a run with a catch in deep center, literally the farthest a ball can be hit in Wrigley and not be out or off the top of the wall.
The Brennemen are talking about Ryan Howard for MVP (if the Phillies win their division). I wonder if they see the shocking similarity between his numbers and those of a certain oft-maligned Reds slugger.
I know I was shocked when Daedalus pointed that out a couple weeks ago.
Mackanin is now playing the game under protest! Apparently Piniella made a doubleswitch without notifying the umps first before going to get the pitcher. And that’s against the rules – it’s a boring rule, but whatever.
I’ll tell you what, I’m looking forward to seeing who Keppinger’s comparables are on Baseball-Reference, after the season. Is he for real? In one way, no – there’s no way he hits .350/.400/.500 over a season. And of course, he’s already dropped from his completely unbelievable start of .380/.440/.580.
The real question is, would Keppinger be valuable at .290/.330/.440? I think that’s a median of where he would likely perform in a full 2008 season. Is that a better option than Gonzalez? Is that a better option than Freel as a supersub, if they need one? Is there a good enough chance he hits .310, .320, and pumps his OPS over .800? Is that chance worth the risk that the bottom falls out and he hits .260/.300/.400? That’s about where Edwin was slumping to in the first half this season.
And in a related question, would Keppinger do well as a bench guy? We have seen his performance dip since Gonzalez returned and took a chunk of his playing time. Certainly Valentín did extremely poorly in a bench role this season, in kind of a similar situation.
This is all a long way of saying I don’t know yet. I’ll have to think about it over the winter and save it for the Hot Stove.
Why do the team, and Reds announcers, and all other broadcasters, persist in thinking that Stanton is a left-handed specialist? He’s equally terrible against both righties and lefties.
Wow. Thanks DA. It was more a of a question for the board, but I dig the candor.
As more of a fan of baseball, and not necessarily a student, Kepp just gives me a gut reaction of being a pretty solid player – brought on by his consistancy thus far. I totally realize the small sample size.
No, abner, I realize it was a question for the board . . . it’s just that at this point of the year, the boards are, uh, sparsely populated. Just wanted to offer my thoughts.
[snark] Indeed; though you have to admit, as campaign beginnings go, that was certainly a big bang to start it.
I hope Krivsky doesn’t regret holding onto Weathers at the deadline this year. I know it’s not in his disposition to ever trade away relief pitchers, but still.
I think Weathers would be best suited for his usual setup role next year. He’s done a pretty good job all year as a closer, not the best, but there are worse in the league. I think the Reds need to take some of that Uncle Milty money and spend it on an established closer.
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Couple of ‘gimme’ run-scoring opportunities in the first – foiled by middle-of-the-order K’s for each team.
BTW I’m real, real low on Kool-Aid(tm).
A suicide . . . groundout? Hopper missed a sign, but it works out anyway. Ross must have been scared to death to be running down the line right towards Hopper taking a full swing. 1-0 Reds.
Wayne Krivsky, via Thom: “I knew Ross was slow of foot, but I didn’t know we had to put on a hit-and-run to score him from third.” Ha!
Griffey is slumping something fierce. .546 OPS in September, .317 OPS over the past 7 games into tonight, 0-2 with 2 K tonight.
Is this a hometown ump? This is terrible. Arroyo must have gotten frustrated throwing so many strikes that were called balls, grooves a couple. Back-to-back homers make it 3-1 Cubs. And now everything’s a strike with Reds hitters up.
Would anyone be afraid with Hopper swinging away? How bad can a weakly hit grounder hurt?
Griffey – 142 games played now this season. The man is tired! Yet another reason Bruce should have been called up.
I have never understood a 1B arguing a putout at the bag. His back is to the play.
BTW, Lou Pinella looks more and more like Don Zimmer everyday. Go on a freakin’ diet, Lou!!!
Touché Jim – Hopper’s driving it to all parts of the infield tonight.
Cincinnati putting it together in the fifth – 4-3 Reds. 5 singles in the inning now.
♪♫♪♪♫♫♪♫♫♪♪♪
I’m singing the praises of Norris Hopper. Saves a run with a catch in deep center, literally the farthest a ball can be hit in Wrigley and not be out or off the top of the wall.
However, Arroyo continues to give up hits, and it’s a tie game at 4.
Why was DeRosa allowed to deliberately jump in front of Griffey’s throw?
The Brennemen are talking about Ryan Howard for MVP (if the Phillies win their division). I wonder if they see the shocking similarity between his numbers and those of a certain oft-maligned Reds slugger.
I know I was shocked when Daedalus pointed that out a couple weeks ago.
DeRosa did that deliberately? Wasn’t his back to the play?
Wow. Hopper just stole that run. 5-4 Reds.
So. Is Keppinger for real yet?
Griffey finally hits one solidly! 6-4 Reds. Can Arroyo settle down in the sixth?
Mackanin is now playing the game under protest! Apparently Piniella made a doubleswitch without notifying the umps first before going to get the pitcher. And that’s against the rules – it’s a boring rule, but whatever.
I’ll tell you what, I’m looking forward to seeing who Keppinger’s comparables are on Baseball-Reference, after the season. Is he for real? In one way, no – there’s no way he hits .350/.400/.500 over a season. And of course, he’s already dropped from his completely unbelievable start of .380/.440/.580.
The real question is, would Keppinger be valuable at .290/.330/.440? I think that’s a median of where he would likely perform in a full 2008 season. Is that a better option than Gonzalez? Is that a better option than Freel as a supersub, if they need one? Is there a good enough chance he hits .310, .320, and pumps his OPS over .800? Is that chance worth the risk that the bottom falls out and he hits .260/.300/.400? That’s about where Edwin was slumping to in the first half this season.
And in a related question, would Keppinger do well as a bench guy? We have seen his performance dip since Gonzalez returned and took a chunk of his playing time. Certainly Valentín did extremely poorly in a bench role this season, in kind of a similar situation.
This is all a long way of saying I don’t know yet. I’ll have to think about it over the winter and save it for the Hot Stove.
Why do the team, and Reds announcers, and all other broadcasters, persist in thinking that Stanton is a left-handed specialist? He’s equally terrible against both righties and lefties.
Keppinger needed a homer for the cycle, grounds out to second. Oh well. Burton on for the bottom of the eighth?
Wow. Thanks DA. It was more a of a question for the board, but I dig the candor.
As more of a fan of baseball, and not necessarily a student, Kepp just gives me a gut reaction of being a pretty solid player – brought on by his consistancy thus far. I totally realize the small sample size.
No, abner, I realize it was a question for the board . . . it’s just that at this point of the year, the boards are, uh, sparsely populated. Just wanted to offer my thoughts.
Oh, goody, it’s the Weathers we know and love from last year! We’re goin’ for a ride now!
Fold the team.
Always an adventure with DW.
We need some outs.
And yeah, AD. I’ve begun to notic the sparse boards.
6-6, and Ramirez at third with no outs on a damn triple. So there you go.
Maybe they should walk DeRosa too and set up the triple play.
Oh, we’ll get five infielders again! It worked when he pulled this stunt against Atlanta.
But it doesn’t work this time. Weathers retires no one, Cubs win 7-6.
Well, David Weathers, that’s not quite the way to begin your campaign for the “full-time’ closer in 2008.
[snark] Indeed; though you have to admit, as campaign beginnings go, that was certainly a big bang to start it.
I hope Krivsky doesn’t regret holding onto Weathers at the deadline this year. I know it’s not in his disposition to ever trade away relief pitchers, but still.
That one hurt my feelings…. really, it did.
I think Weathers would be best suited for his usual setup role next year. He’s done a pretty good job all year as a closer, not the best, but there are worse in the league. I think the Reds need to take some of that Uncle Milty money and spend it on an established closer.