Loading ...–Another glowing profile of Homer Bailey. He really does sound like a different kid than the one we’ve gotten to know over the last few years. And remember, he is still only 22 years old.
–Bronson Arroyo’s carpal tunnel syndrome is flaring up again. CTS is no joke. I had surgery for it almost a year ago.
–Bill mentioned earlier that Kent Mercker joined the WLW broadcast team for today’s game, and that there is a chance he will be part of the regular season rotation as well. I listened to him this afternoon, and I wasn’t very impressed. Frankly, he sounded nervous. Mercker has a reputation as a witty guy, so I think he’ll be fine in the long run, though. If nothing else, he’s not Jeff Brantley.
–On a related note, Mercker and Thom Brennaman were pimping Paul Janish for the Opening Day shortstop assignment during today’s broadcast. They even said Dusty Baker was leaning toward Janish for that spot (assuming that Alex Gonzalez won’t be able to go, which seems like a good bet).
I’m trying to stay optimistic. I really am. But I’m at a loss to explain how the Reds are going to be able to score runs this year. Other than Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, and Edwin Encarnacion, who else is going to be an above average hitter (for his position) this year?
–Paul Bako and Mike Stanton were released by the Cubs today. And so Chicago has foiled Dusty Baker’s nefarious plot to catch up with the Cubs in the NL Central by giving them our crappy players.
It makes me nervous that Bako is available.
Brandon Phillips is another hitter who will be above average for their position.
It’ll be interesting to see how Mercker progresses as the week goes on. I REALLY don’t like Brantley, and I dd not hate Mercker today, so more Kurt and less Jeff is a good thing.
I meant KENT. I was reading Kurt Frost’s post as I was typing Mercker’s first name
Paul Janish. That’s their answer.
Brandon Phillips hit a ground ball that bounced off the 3rd baseman’s glove and was almost thrown out because he didn’t run out of the box. He thought it was quite humorous.
http://highboskage.com/daily-stats/batters/shortstops-by-name.shtml
Pick one. Let’s do something.
Browning arrested for non-payment of child support.
“Brandon Phillips hit a ground ball that bounced off the 3rd baseman’s glove and was almost thrown out because he didn’t run out of the box. He thought it was quite humorous.”
Phillips does that too often. And too frequently, the announcers/media let him off the hook and even praise his “hustle” of beating out the throw. Speed and hustle are not the same thing, but are incorrectly used interchangeably.
I’ll say the same thing that Reds fans have been saying since Gonzales fell apart, why doesn’t someone go and talk to Phillips and make it about making the team better and flip him to short.
Lord that would be such an easy fix, as then you could play some amalgamation of Keppinger, Hairston or Castillo and not be completely out of position defensively.
Heck challenge Phillips to win a Gold Glove at SS. I’m not sure anyone has ever done it at both positions up the middle, which could be a unique thing to have on the career mantle.
I don’t get it.
Michael Young didn’t win a gold glove at 2B, but from what I understand he was very good defensively at 2nd before being asked to switch to SS (after the A-Rod trade/acquisition of Soriano.)
Now, having just won his first gold glove at SS, he’s being asked to slide over to 3rd base to make way for a rookie SS.
I don’t consider BP above average for his position. Sure he hits for power and steals bases but he can’t get on base and grounds into a frightening number of double plays. Last year 16 2Bs qualified for a batting title, and in my mind, he ranked 13th out of 16. (This is based on Runs Created.) I pick on BP a lot and it probably isn’t fair to him. He’s just simply overrated as an offensive player; that’s not entirely his fault.
I like the idea of moving him to short.
Am I the only one who finds Brantley entertaining? (Not necessarily good, but entertaining.)
Re: Brantley….yes, per14…you are the only one who finds Brantley entertaining.
Entertaining? No, annoying and horrible…absolutely.
Anyone else concerned about this Arroyo carpel tunnel thing? Moves Cueto up and makes Owings the #4 (assuming Bronson starts the year on the DL), which means Bailey’s probably the #5 and Masset makes the team.
We could start the season with 3 guys on the DL (Gonzalez, Encarnacion, and Arroyo) and this is not a recipe for success.
Well, if Bronson starts on the DL then we’ll see who will stay on as the number 5. If both are doing well, then it iwill be interesting to see what they decide to do.
I think maybe I find Brantley entertaining because he is so horrible. I need to think on this.
I do like that Brantley speaks his mind.. now I realize that his mind is usually filled with inane nonsense, but he does speak it.
Wow – the Tigers are demonstrating how to eat money in a big way. They just released Gary Sheffield and are eating his $14 million. He was reportedly fully healthy this spring and 1 HR shy of 500.
I don’t know why more clubs don’t do this with legitimate sunk costs more often. But it would seem Sheffield had something more to offer.
I don’t think he can play the field any more or I’d suggest he fit the Reds obsession with a RH OF power bat.
I love when Brantley once said that Encarnacion has no clutch power… then literally as he said it Edwin hit a walk off homer
one of the greatest moments in history.
I think Brantley is improving. He did one of the games solo this weekend and I don’t think that would have happened years ago.
I find Brantley enertaining. His bit this weekend with Marty on the barbeque in North Carolina was classic stuff.
I really don’t think there is a need for in depth analysis on each pitch. He is getting better give him a break.
Brantley is only midly ok if he is the second guy in the booth, not doing the play by play… and just talking, not really, you know, doing the job he’s paid to do. I don’t know that I’ve heard him offer up much analysis beyond “throw strikes early in the count” over and over. His play by play skills are poor. I used to keep a short log of the times his voice didn’t change between a fly ball to the wall and a routine pop-up to the catcher. Seriously, game winning hits and walks are the same to him. With Marty and Thom you pretty much know where the play is headed just by listening to their inflection. Mostly Brantley is good at getting Marty riled up about someobody on the team (e.g. Encarnacion).
for a minute there, when you were talking about Kent Mercker and you said he’s not Jeff Brantley I thought that maybe Brantley was gone…. then I read these comments and it just disappoints me that he’s still here.
Brantley would be a lot suitable as the TV color man.
Hate to point this out but Votto, Bruce, and EE ALSO have not significantly hit above their positional averages.
Sure they are all young, I like them, they will improve but the Reds do not have a single player in their lineup who will hit among the top 5 at their position unless Votto and Bruce mature quickly.
in the last 3 years the only Reds to hit significantly above their positional averages are Dunn, Hamilton, Keppinger, Ross, and Jr
all but 1 are gone and Keppinger hasn’t been the same since he got hurt.
If Bruce, Votto and EE don’t improve this offense is going to be horrible
Phillips to SS is a wonderful idea, but unfortunately it makes far too much sense so it is doomed to never happen for the Reds.
Jeff Brantley is absolutely terrible at calling the game. Then he makes up for it with inane analysis. He can’t go away soon enough for me. SHTD.
With Grande on TV and Brantley on radio it’s tough to find a decent Reds brodcast to listen to these days.
Dusty Baker’s “highest compliment” for Jay Bruce and Joey Votto- “They’re good citizens.” (From “Votto, Bruce leading Reds together” on Yahoo Sports)
I wouldn’t want to listen to him everyday, but Brantley is tolerable occasionally, as long as I don’t have to look at him. That whole ’slowly close your eyes, hold them shut, and then open then slowly” thing drives me nuts. Tempts me to throw things at my TV and that’s not a temptation I like to have to deal with.
Maybe they should swap Welch and Brantley between the TV and radio broadcasts. That way, we could always just listen to the radio broadcast.
Dusty Baker’s “highest compliment” for Jay Bruce and Joey Votto- “They’re good citizens.” (From “Votto, Bruce leading Reds together” on Yahoo Sports)
the problem with Votto and Bruce is they can actually hit.
That’s not Dusty’s type of player. He likes the guys who can’t hit
Dusty Baker’s “highest compliment” for Jay Bruce and Joey Votto- “They’re good citizens.” (From “Votto, Bruce leading Reds together” on Yahoo Sports)….
….Perhaps he thought they played for the Cincinnati BENGALS…that would be a high compliment.