Loading ...Bronson Arroyo will face Arizona’s Dan Haren tonight at Great American Ballpark in game two of the 2008 season. I will be watching, even though I can’t be there in person (dare to dream).
Watch the game and discuss it with your fellow Reds fans here.
sheesh. That was quick. Get’em on; get’em over; get ‘em in. Reds down by one going to the bottom of the first.
See, the Diamondbacks don’t clog up the bases with walks and singles!
The Reds’ offense is going just as quickly. 2 innings, 6 batters.
I thought this thing was on FSOH.
reds.com agrees with you, Jim. FSN Ohio is listed for tonight’s game.
But if you’re not watching it, you’re not missing much. Reds go down 1-2-3 again in the third.
Say, have I sung the praises of Corey Patterson lately? (The answer is no.)
But he earns some applause there. Solo HR gets the Reds on the board.
Sweet. On the board! And finally an offensive contribution from center field.
Well, I found that Time Warner stuck it on another channel so that they could show the Cavs I guess.
Oh, Lord! Patterson hit a homer.
Patterson a power hitter?
I guess Dusty is serious about the running game. Kepp with a steal. Unclogs first base.
Keppinger looking good. I guess if I can’t watch Freel, Kepp will have to do.
Wooohoo Phillips
That’s right! First lead of the season.
B-MF-P: Goes long. reds on top.
Odd to hear Chris welch on the radio…
I love Corey Patterson.
Well, not really. But I love that homer he hit. And I love BP’s HR more.
Dusty is a Genius! Well maybe not, but I hope this a sign of things to come from Patterson? The first lead of the season always makes me feel 8 years old again!
Oh, Edwin. You’ve got to get better on defense. That’s bad, bad, bad.
Biggest offensive outburst of the young season. Let’s hope they are just getting warmed up.
Wow, Encarnacion has gone Knoblauch.
What in the hell is up with these JTM commercials? I don’t know whether to laugh or change the channel out of awkwardness…
Shall we insert another “e” to his initials?
EeE.
Bummer. Opens the door to another run.
I like the mixture of FarmersOnly.com and erectile dysfunction commercials.
Eddie the E
i wouldn’t be surprised to see freel tomorrow at third. hell, i wouldn’t be surprised to see freel out there next inning.
different year, same coffey.
New Year = Same Reds
Defense still sucks, waste good SP, too many SO’s, non-exhistant play from the corners in a close game, too many worthless bench players so you can’t sub, etc….It can go on for days
Damnit Coffey!!!! That 0-2 pitch is not allowed to be a hittable pitch. As a freshmen in high school I knew that. Are we that dumb?
Oh and Seattle Jr. absolutely hoses that guy.
Dunn and Griffey have to contribute or the Reds can’t compete.
iwish we had more players like Kepp!
I wish we had more players like Kepp!
my guess is that gonzo moves kepp over to starting at 3rd. not exactly a novel idea, I know. But, how do you sit your most consistent hitter (who could lead off, btw) and keep the error machine running at the hot corner?
this team looks terrible so far. not ready for prime time. maybe getting out of that grapefruit league will be good for us.
Brantley actually said something sensible for the first time tonight – that HR was the worst thing that could’ve happened to Patterson.
I just read a big article in the Dispatch today about how Patterson’s a new hitter, the right approach, playing to his strengths, blah, blah, blah.
Let’s not get too wound up over 2 errors. I recall Pokey Reese kicking 4 balls in one Opening Day.
Reds seem to still have the “pitch like a pansy” philosophy.
To be fair to Coffey, Jack Bauer, that 0-2 pitch was described by Marty & Chris Welsh as a good pitch, well off the plate, which had to be reached for and could only be slapped into shallow RF for a flyout.
Chris — I recall EE throwing the ball away on easy plays all year every year. Maybe he should move to first base.
How’s about that! Bako picks a runner off at 1b. That’s not something we’ve seen a lot out of a Reds catcher.
Brantley and Thom had, shall we say, a different reaction to Coffey’s 0-2 to Haren. Mostly their problem was the fact that it was a curveball, and Haren (1) hadn’t sniffed the first 2 FBs, and (2) doubled off an Arroyo CB earlier. Fair points, IMO.
I wouldn’t call this game “wasting good SP”.
My wife, the Cubs fan, is having a good laugh at my expense as she’s hearing the various Reds names on the broadcast. “Bako?! The guy who was on the Cubs? Patterson?? Corey Patterson?!” etc. etc.
Is this an error by mlb.com, or did Votto start at first without anyone here commenting? And Bako just picked Orlando Hudson off at first?? Weird.
Dunn had all sorts of hair yesterday, didn’t he?
EE’s trying too hard.
This will be a good test of Dusty’s managerial skills. The easy thing to do is put Juan Castro in the game b/c EE’s struggling. But this team needs EE to contribute if they’re going to have any chance.
chris, the cubs don’t look so hot right now. I watched the first two games this year (live in Chicago) and they look bad.
So much for that aggressive plate presence by the Reds. Dunn didn’t even swing at a pitch = K. EeE Ks looking.
I forgot how easy this game is…for Thom Brennaman.
Dunn and EE go down on flat-out nasty pitches from Qualls, and Thom (and noted hitter Jeff Brantley) are acting like they’re watching balls go down Broadway.
dusty better learn to like those called third strikes, the reds are determined to take them. what was dunn thinking!? talk about looking for a walk, two of those strikes were right in his wheelhouse.
EE will be Dusty’s first test this year
I know, Andy. I have to figure out who to make fun of on that team, though. They mostly have pretty good players.
those pitches were nasty? how?
are we watching the same game?
they looked like 86 mph fastballs on the heart of the plate to me.
I hope you’re right Chris, and that Dusty actually passes the test. Whatever his problem is has got to be 100% mental. And it hasn’t improved at all in the last couple years.
Qualls’ balls are moving all over the place (I just re-watched the inning). All three of the strikes to Dunn were nasty.
and yes it’s only two errors by ede so far, but the reds have given up 8 runs this year and he can take credit for 3 of them. it’s fair for fans to be frustrated.
late movement, if you will.
if you can’t hit an 86 mph cut fastball strike, or even swing at it, why should you be in the batters box?
Let EE have a day off tomorrow. Let Freel get a start. We are trying to deal him anyway, so why not let him showcase a little bit?
the throwing error tonight wasn’t mental, he had his lead foot aimed right where his throw went. ede’s footwork has always been his problem.
You and Thom can step in the box and see how you do.
EE is on pace for 162 errors this season
Al, how much time did he have to make the throw? I’m guessing plenty? When he’s rushed he makes the play. When he has time to think about it he blows it. His problem is mental.
Qualls balls are moving? TMI!
so now we’re comparing our 5 and 6 hitters to me? wow we are in trouble.
i like dunn as much as the next guy, maybe more, but i don’t understand why some people will go to the lengths they will to defend him. that was a TERRIBLE at bat he just had, in a key situation. why try to find a reason that it wasn’t?
there are a lot of power hitters in this league who could at least foul some of those balls off.
If EdE doesn’t start at 3rd tomorrow, then Baker = Narron. Third base is Encarnacion’s, and he shouldn’t lose the job after two games. If he were to not hustle or break some other “rule” like Javier Valentin yesterday, then I can see sitting him a game. That’s not what happened tonight.
actually, he didn’t have all that much time. but sure, if you want to say that his footwork was due to a mental error, there’s nothing i can say about that.
except that footwork isn’t something you’re supposed to think about, it’s supposed to get to be reflex, and he’s never gotten there.
I agree with you al. They definitely werent straight fastballs that should have been crushed but down 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th and being the 5 and 6 hitters in the lineup you better be up there hacking. Those both were very hittable pitches.
Actually, down 2 with nobody on, you might want to try to get on base and get something started.
also, i agree with whoever mentioned kepps leading off. he doesn’t walk that much, but his high average will keep his obp up, and he has good ABs. he saw a lot of pitches tonight.
IMO
and striking out looking accomplishes that how?
If EE’s throwing problems are as fundamental of a flaw as you say, rather than just choking, then I’d just release him.
Definitely agree with #68, al. Check JINAZ’ blog (link in the blogroll top right) – he’s having a lineup challenge right now. I have Kepp leading off in all mine.
Kepp has to start all the time, I really don’t care where.
there’s a difference between being a full time hacker and having a good at-bat. dunn and ede had bad at-bats.
Random observations:
Mercker actually looked good tonight. He’s got nothing but slop, and he’ll get hammered from time to time, but he’ll also make guys look dumb.
Freel looks lost. He’s in “bad Freel swing” mode.
Patterson’s last AB looked a lot better. Nice swing – he got nothing out of it, but it was a decent. PA.
jared – if i’m remembering all the different scouting reports and whatnot that i’ve heard over the years, that’s always been the rap on EdE. he’s a hard worker, to his credit, and you just hope that the practice sinks in i guess.
someone correct me if i’m wrong, but that’s what i saw tonight, and it fits with what i remember people saying.
Kepp\’s a good hitter.
It’s only game number two…it’s only game number two…it’s only game number two.
Rinse. Repeat. I have to keep telling myself that it’s too early to get too discouraged.
I think he in between on that one, for some reason – looking to first, and then switching to throw home.
Mercker did look good tonight, Chris.
Now we’re getting a look at Affeldt for the first time.
EE’s fine when he doesn’t have time to think (and when the ball’s dry).
Chad I agree, but it is really hard when you see the same things that have doomed our past few years.
Amen Chad
#82. That’s what I think about when the announcers are already bitching one Day 2. They’ve been suffering just as long as us. (Except Thom, who’s just a crab).
i hope cueto can wow us tomorrow. the dbacks have just looked like the better team these first two days.
I don’t watch a whole lot of games (maybe 20 a year, tops) and I’ve seen EE pick up a ground ball, realize he can relax, and throw it to the wall for absolutely no reason several times. That’s an easy throw and I can’t think of any logical physical reason for it other than.. well, its hard to throw a ball when both of your hands are around your neck.
In other news, maybe it’s about time to pull Affeldt.
Those are two REALLY good starting pitchers, FWIW. Is there a team with a better combo?
Peavy/Young is good, but I’d take Webb/Haren.
Welcome to Cincinnati, Jeremy Affeldt.
Affeldt just got a gift there for out number two, hitting Byrnes as he ran to first.
Affeldt looks like an 8th Inning Specialist (Reds version).
Batter’s interference – interesting way to get an out. This is an Bullpen Adventure (c) 2007.
Byrnes bugs me. He had a good year last year, but dude gets way more praise than he earns. He’s the type, though.
That made me laugh Chris. And now I’m crying because I laughed. Should we feel better that Affeldt didn’t have a lead to blow?
I dunno how Affeldt escaped that inning. Not a good debut, though.
no doubt, this was a buzz saw to run into out of the gate, though i do think the pitching in this league has gotten a lot better and good teams need to hit good pitchers now.
but you’re right, and i’m not trying to get too down on the reds. they just haven’t looked as sharp as i would have liked.
you know, mostly it’s bad at bats that kill me.
This feels like 2007, doesn’t it?
There seem to be a few more skinny guys in baseball than there were 5 years ago.
Burke and Kepp look like throwbacks to the 70s.
One last chance, but at least we have some good hitters coming up in the 9th.
i also hate eric byrnes. ever since the ‘03 alds against the red sox when he thew the whiniest hissy fit i’ve ever seen when he was clearly in the wrong on a play at home.
but you’re right, that’s the type of play that makes thom brenneman say that he’s the type of player that “goes all out.”
BP starts the ninth with a single. Time for Dunn to come through.
Good start.
Phillips doesn’t have much patience at the plate, but he does hit his pitch when he gets a chance.
hmmm, a few more skinny guys you say. i wonder what could have caused that
It would be nice to see a good AB out of Dunner and EdE, since neither has looked good so far
Dunn 0 for 6 vs. Lyon, career 2 Ks
ede could get a chance to be the hero
I hope Dunn doesn’t walk here. Dusty will bench him.
It’s a good thing that it’s actually (apparently) Affeldt pitching to Dunn, then.
Instead, Dunn goes the other way, and I’m sure Dusty loves him now.
Nifty. Broken bat and all.
Brantley calling hitting to the opposite field “team baseball” for some reason.
No bunting.
Not with the bottom of the order coming up.
I don’t think I’d bunt with EdE here, but it’s not a terrible strategy, methinks.
Good point, Chris. I knew Votto was up next, but I forgot the crap that followed.
0 career Sac bunts.
Manager’s #1 job: Put your guys in positions where they can succeed, and avoid putting them in positions to fail.
#84 – Neither Thom nor Jeff have been broadcasting here very long. Thom seemed to tone it down last year as the year wore on. Brantley has just been AWFUL in the couple of spring games I caught and the first two games this year.
Wow! way to make up for it!
Jeff Brantley is an idiot! Not a clutch player???
Ed E with the walkoff homer!!!!
Lots of newsworthy closers had very bad debuts. Is it Brandon Lyons’ turn? Edwin’s a good clutch guy…
WOW.
eat your words, cowboy!
hell yes!
BWAHAHA!
Sacrifice THIS!
hell yes!
That pretty much makes up for the errors and the weak bunt attempts. It’s a walkoff win!
EDE!!!!!!!!!!
Brantley might be the dumbest announcer in baseball. I hope ESPN runs that whole clip on SportsCenter, just to pull that idiot’s pants down.
Gotta love Edwin!
And did you see him smiling as he was walking off the field? It’s great to see that kid smiling like that.
I was just thinking the same thing about ESPN, Chris.
Brantley is just terrible.
Absolutely unbelievable.
I agree w/#113. You know if a guy can bunt or not. Whether you believe in clutch or not, Encarnacion does have a reputation as a “clutch” RBI guy. You don’t take the bat out of the #6 hitter’s hand with Bako and a weak bench up next.
It’s funny, I was just typing up how so many newsworthy closers had imploded in their first couple of games, and Lyons was practically the only one left, and that Edwin was a clutch guy…all signs point to…
Sweet win. Tell me that Brantley didn’t say that Encarnacíon is awful in the clutch. That’s like the one thing that he’s been consistently good at, no matter what else is going on with him.
Not a player that could have helped more.
Homeruns are overrated.
And Affeldt gets the win after the worst scoreless inning ever pitched.
Brantley contradicted himself so many times tonight, it’s comical.
Jeff Brantley is an idiot. I was yelling at my tv several times tonight over stupid things he said. I am so glad he had to eat his words, it made me feel better.
Hope this gets the Reds’ motor running!!
Cueto tomorrow?
Cueto’s major league debut tomorrow. This could end up being a very good series.
Huh – #132 made me realize that all the Reds’ runs tonight came via the HR.
Great win. Besides Edwin’s clutch homer, you have to also love Adam Dunn pushing that ball to the opposite field against the switch.
Jeff Brantley is a dork. He was cracking on Encarnacion’s hitting in the clutch when they flashed his .360 batting average with runners in scoring position. I also don’t see Brantley’s tagging on Encarnacion’s play in the top of the ninth, which 99% of third basemen would have not gotten that runner out. Edwin was following through so he didn’t throw the ball into right field. I can see tagging on the goofs like the error early in the game, but that play was pretty impossible being setup that deep.
Forget Brantley. Focus on the Reds pulling out a win in a game in which they were thoroughly outplayed by a strong team.
Just wait until the Reds start clicking!
I hadn’t noticed that about Affeldt. Exhibit 78371 why pitcher’s wins are meaningless.
From the Sultan’s 7 year old son, Spawn of Swaff: “Pow!!!! You said the Eddie isn’t clutch Brantley? You need to have your mouth washed out with soap!”
Lyon won’t be the Snakes closer in a month. I was glad to see him come in.
Haha…yes, he does need to have his mouth washed out with soap.
Your son is brilliant.
After what I was yelling at my TV, I think I might need my mouth washed out.
Something along the lines of what Majewski wanted to do to everyone.
Cueto v. Davis tomorrow. If I recall correctly we hit Davis pretty well. Gotta tune in early for the Businessman’s special.