Loading ...Welcome back to the big leagues, Homer Bailey.
Bailey and the Reds look to build on last night’s exciting victory, and they might actually have the bats to make some noise tonight. Joey Votto is back, and Jonny Gomes makes his first start for the Reds against Cleveland’s David Huff. (If we could get Edwin Encarnacion back, this team might have a chance.)
The lineup is below. Discuss the game here!
Taveras CF
Hairston 3B
Votto 1B
Phillips 2B
Gomes LF
Bruce RF
Hernandez C
Gonzalez SS
Bailey P
Encarnacion might kill this team with his lackidasical attitude
but Votto’s back!
Why move Bruce down in the order?
Probably because he has looked completely lost at the plate recently.
Gomes has 1 at bat and that leaves the dreaded righty righty in the middle of the lineup.
If Encarnarcion is lackidasikal then Dunn must have been in a coma.
Encarnacion might kill this team with his lackadaisical attitude but Votto’s back!
lackadaisical – lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy
That term does not fit Encarnacion. He is low-key but stories about him indicate that he is not lazy nor lacking in determination.
Impressively ill-informed! It has been well-reported, and anyone with the Reds will tell you, that EE works harder than everyone on the team other than Votto. But, by all means, feel free to draw conclusions based on his facial expressions!
I can tell by Votto’s facial expressions that he is chronically constipated.
and by Phillip’s facial expressions that he just farted in the dugout.
Kurt, that is the funniest thing I’ve read in a month.
If you are making out the lineup card and you put in Gomes in the 5th spot in the order, WHY the hell was he not on the team sooner!?
Good point, brublejr.
Not the way we all want to see Bailey get started. Serve up a DP.
With some of the lame work we have seen by HP umps this year, Bailey needs to stay calm.
Sweet catch by Gonzalez!
Marty said the catch was amazing…was it really that good? I didn’t get to see it.
Amazing might be a bit strong but it was a very good catch.
It would be a huge boost of confidence for Bailey to get through the first inning with no runs…Nice to blow one by him there.
Bailey’s attention to the runner at 1B helps Hernandez nail him on the steal attempt.
Sweet! Great job boys
Jim that is scary, Marty just said the same exact thing…
One thing that I keep thinking on Edwin Encarnacion is that he is coming off a wrist fracture, which can be an injury that can really slow up some hitters. Derek Lee had a pretty bad break from a collision at first base and he has never regained the power had before he broke his wrist.
Hopefully this will not be the case with EE, but you never know.
Great start.
Bailey paid more attention to the base runner than I remember any Reds pitcher doing so far this season.
Wow!!! Man this guy is good! Gotta love Joey
VOTTO!!!!!
Man, it’s great to have him back!!!!!
Welcome back Votto! He isn’t human. He is a superhero!
We really need to work together to try to get Votto elected to the All Star game.
HAVOC!!!!!
Good hustle by Phillips
That has to be Bailey’s biggest problem, giving up the long ball, which in this park is not good.
Disappointing!
I think it’s about time Harang gets his first invite to the All-Star game. It’s unbelievable to me that Arroyo and Volquez have been all-stars, but Harang hasn’t been elected yet.
I walk away for a moment and BOOM!
The Indians’ announcers just referred to DeRosa as a “fastball hitter”. Is there anyone who has made it to the majors without being a fastball hitter?
Go after them, Bailey. Be the aggressor.
He has GOT to get ahead of hitters at some point otherwise it will be a long night.
Looks like he is getting squeezed.
This is ugly! What is the problem between Ramon and Homer?
Put in on a Tee.
Why isn’t Hanigan catching Bailey? Seems like Hernandez and Bailey aren’t working well together.
GOT WORK TO DO.
HERNANDEZ!!!!!
I walked in at the right time.
There is some work.
Gonzo is hotttttttt!
This is ugly! What is the problem between Ramon and Homer?
I was listening to radio for a moment. Marty assumed Homer was shaking off Hernandez. Kelch thought Homer was having a hard time seeing Hernandez’s signs.
I haven’t really been seeing him shake him off at least so you can tell.
Hey!!! Harriston learned to bunt.
Go Joey!
WOW!!!!! VOTTO AGAIN!!!!!
OH MY!!!! Votto is so freaking good!
You have to love Joey, he HAS to make the all-star team
I have to give credit to Harriston for keeping the inning going with that bunt single.
We need to do the All Star fix somehow. You computer wizards need to figure it out.
Hopefully Homer and Ramon talked over what the problem has been between them so far.
If Bailey can eliminate the walks, he will have arrived.
It would be nice to see another 1-2-3 inning.
I got home in time to watch the third, and now the fourth innings. Bailey has looked pretty good since I’ve been watching, but he must have struggled early, huh?
Without the Harriston error, it would have happened.
Struggled with control issues, Chad.
Walks are killing him Chad…can’t get ahead of anybody, last two innings much better.
Didn’t see many control issues these last two innings, and he looked great in getting that K there.
Maybe the first two innings are an aberration, and he’s settled down for good. We can always hope. Command has always been his problem.
Even though he has been there before he had to have some nerves early.
Looks like a big crowd. I couldn’t talk my wife into heading up to the game tonight.
He’s 22. I’d be surprised if he DIDN’T have nerves.
He knows that this is probably a one-start opportunity for him at this time. He wants to impress, no doubt. That’ll bring on the nerves.
George and Chris commented that the smaller MLB strike zone may have been an issue at the outset.
Won’t Bailey have to start another game? Volquez is only seven days into his DL stint.
He’s basically only given up one really hard hit ball, DeRosa’s HR. Two of the runs were off of walks.
I think there’s an off-day in there. Wouldn’t be surprised if this is just a one-start callup.
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20090523/SPT04/305230016/
One maybe two and we are assuming Volquez is getting better.
3 of 5 innings now begin with a walk…ugh. That is what gets you in trouble, especially when you are a flyball pitcher.
Three of those four balls were very close. Bailey has stayed very calm for as much as he has been squeezed.
As the scoreboard always says, “Walks Will Haunt.”
Chad, Marty and Shelton talked about that on the radio, both were in agreement with the off-day that this would be a one start…possibly bring up another reliever when they send him back after tonight.
I would like to see him work through this inning
Did that foul ball land in someone’s beer?
I think if they are going to do that I would rather see Castillo for a few days rather than another releiver. What are they going to do with another reliever? Castillo at least lets you use Hanigan as a pinch hitter or gives you a non essential pimch runner.
Darn. Can’t even make it through five. Six walks. No excuse for that, but goodness, I think the umpire was squeezing him.
He’s still a work in progress but there are some signs of improvement.
I would prefer Bailey stay with the team and work with Dick Pole for a week than bring up anybody else to be honest.
It might do Homer good to experience the MLB strike zone on a regular basis especially as reliever.
darn it…more work for the offense…Walks, Walks, Walks…it kills
Please send Homer back to Louisvilly and have Jared Burton drive him back. Same old Homer, doesn’t throw strikes, we’ve seen this movie before. Burton has been terrible.
When the Dinkle kid was in the booth, didn’t you expect GG to say what a great mom he had?
Well, I was hoping for 6 innings and no more than about 4 runs out of Homer, but at least Cleveland’s young kid didn’t do well either. In a bullpen game I take the Reds over the Indians almost every time.
It looked like Homer’s fastball had more movement on it this year than it had last year when he was up in Cincinnati.
Votto’s in a slump.
Y City-The last thing I want to see is Homer in the bullpen. The guy can’t throw strikes.
Mark CC-I was thinking the same thing. Hilarious (about Dinkle’s mom)
Kurt-Are you serioius? I saw nothing different out of Homer. You guys are wishing you saw something different. He was not very good in AAA. Gave up nine freaking homers. A guy that walks a bunch of batters and gives up home runs can’t pitch in the major leagues.
ugh…that is terrible
I agree, Kurt. I think his mechanics were much smoother than last year as well.
Bruce douched that one.
Nice pickoff attempt
Double douch.
Why!? They were giving up an out, now they will bring in a pinch hitter.
It has not been a great week for Jay Bruce
Looking at the crowd I’m glad we decided not to go up there. I hate going with the big crowds.
Bruble good question
Y City-The last thing I want to see is Homer in the bullpen. The guy can’t throw strikes.
If we keep sending him back down to that MiLB strike zone, he isn’t going to adjust any quicker. At some point player development has to take place at the MLB level.
Create some HAVOC now!!!!!
Havoc!
That was a crap AB by Harriston.
Make them pay BP!
Kurt-Are you serious? I saw nothing different out of Homer. You guys are wishing you saw something different. He was not very good in AAA. Gave up nine freaking homers. A guy that walks a bunch of batters and gives up home runs can’t pitch in the major leagues.
But five of the nine home runs were in the first two games. Since that time, four home runs over the last six. That said, if he could cut the walks in half we’d see a dominating Homer Bailey.
Are the fans booing Gomes?
Brutal defense Jonny.
If they aren’t booing they should be.
I just don’t feel good about this game at this point. I hope I’m worrying needlessly.
Y-City-Why should player development take place in the major leagues? That makes absolutely no sense. Why have the minor leagues? Let’s call everybody up and develop them in the major leagues. I really hope I’m wrong, but I saw nothing out of Homer tonight that was any different than the previous outings. His minor league numbers this year were mediocre at best. The guy gave up NINE home runs already in the minors.
Daniel Ray!!!! R.O.Y!
That’s the Gomes as advertised though. I know we ride on players here in the blog but I only boo the opposition at the ballpark.
Y City-Dominating?? Come on now, you can’t be serious. He has average stuff at best and doesn’t throw strikes. 91 MPH fast balls and mediocre breaking stuff is far from dominating. If you think he has a chance to be a serviceable pitcher I can buy that, differing minds can disagree, but dominating? Please.
Chad-I never feel good when DRH is on the mound, but he got out of it.
Didn’t your mom ever tell you to never say something behind someones back you wouldn’t say to their face!
I’m not sure that was brutal defense by Gomes. He isn’t a gold glover and we knew that. He just couldn’t get to it. Definitely doesn’t deserve to be booed. He gave the effort.
Finally a RH for Jay. Come on Bruce.
Darn it! just missed
Just missed it
You might find that if you react before the ball leaves the infield you might get there.
Now that Votto is back Bruce might need a couple of days off.
Nice running call Dusty.
Let’s take advantage of these int. walks…
Every player is still in development when they reach the majors. Jay Bruce is a prime example.
I don’t know what radar gun you are looking at. Bailey was consistently between 93-95 mph tonight. There are guys with lesser stuff dominating. The key for Bailey is throwing strikes and getting ahead of the hitters.
This is sick, up to 9 runners left on now
Bailey is still 23 years old…Volquez had some bad growing pains in Texas around that age, give him time.
Stormy…
Stormy doesn’t give me too much confidence right now
It was a dark and stormy night….
Walks just kill me…come on Rhodes mow them down
Homer needs to stay with the big league club all year. Use him in low leverage situations and let the young man grow into that talent. The 11th guy would be the long man, and he’d be learning the big league way. It’s a tried and true way of developing top talent. It’s not the prescription for low level prospects, but it works for high reward prospects.
This is his last year on options anyway. Next year he’s got to stick or be dealt, then we’d be dealing from desperation and wouldn’t have the same leverage on his upside as we do now.
There’s plenty of work available…heck, lose a pitcher and we’d have even more. This is really a no-brainer decision based on what’s at stake.
And, again…his first couple of starts at Louisville is where he gave up the homers. I was alarmed when I saw the home run totals per nine innings, too, then I remembered the early games.
Poop!
This is a game they should not lose…
I always found the Steve Dalkowski story an interesting one.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Dalkowski
Come on. Reds! The Indians suck.
Ouch! BP’s thumb.
BP’s thumb looked ugly.
Anybody have a baseball box score template (say for Excel) they’d be willing to share so that I don’t have to create a new one?
Peeled the nail back, maybe?
We need some HAVOC! here.
ugh…why can’t Hairston put together a good AB when it is needed
Steve-I disagree and I bet Mr. Jockety will as well.
Be a hero, Joey. Again.
I would be surprised if they gave Joey a good pitch to hit here
Who is the Reds emergency or third catcher?
Good pitch by Betencourt. He fooled Joey.
That’s not good for BP…Why not hit Nix here? He could get an extra base hit more so than Hannigan
Taveras still at 1B. This what Davey Lopes meant.
Jim-I was thinking the same thing.
Who is going to play 2B next inning?
@ Annapolis, Janish is the emergency catcher, but he has already been used also.
Bruble-Good question. Who is left?
Can someone explain why Taveras never attempted a steal?
Leadoff single by Taveras and he stays there. I don’t get that. God, I hope Phillips is OK. We finally get Votto back now Phillips goes down.
At first he didn’t steal so a base wouldn’t be left open for them to walk Votto, but after that, I don’t know.
That would be my best guess, thinking Dustyball
Bruble-Thanks. Did not know that Janish was the third catcher. Who is the fourth? LOL. How about Owings to left, Gomez to third and Rosales to second.
Not watching the game. What happened to BP?
Ramon to third…that should be interesting
I’ll repeat again.
we do not need 12 pitchers…as for reserve infielders…one has to be a good glove at all positions (Janish in this case) and a hitting corner infielder
Bruble-I agree about not stealing to let Votto hit, but I would have went with Hairston up and then had JH either move him over to third or at least ask him to go the other way. Then if they walk Votto you have first and third and one out. We need a run!
With this lack of an offense, the Reds have to be more aggressive in the base stealing department. Tampa Bay has 72 SB but the Cincinnati “HAVOC” Reds have only 26.
BP fielded a hard-hit groundball in the 8th and came up with a bloody thumb.
Steve-I agree we don’t need 12 pitchers. We need 11, none of which is Homer
Thanks Chad.
BP ripped a nail or something off his thumb. He was smiling as blood gushed out of it though.
Y-City: Wow, I did not realize Tampa had 72 steals already. I agree the Reds need to be more aggressive with this offense.
Crawford nearly has as many steals himself as the whole Reds team
That does no surprise me.
This is a close game, but I’m sure Mike Lincoln will have something to say about that.
Lincoln kills me…He is to me what Stormy is to Chad
Sorry to hear that, brublejr.
I would take Weathers every day of the week over Lincoln.
Lord. This is going to be a four hour ball game.
This team is so frustrating to follow
I am strangely confident that we will tie it or win it against Kerry Wood.
When ballgames are longer than a Springsteen concert that is way too long.
There have been 18 hits and 13 walks in this game, hence the closing in on four hours. Update that to 14 walks.
I am sick to my stomach that we gave this guy a two year deal…so stupid
Ramon Hernandez has done a nice job this year. The guy did a really good job at first when Votto was out and he is solid behind the plate and can hit a little bit.
13 walks = 52 pitches if all were four pitch walks. Wow.
This is Hernandez’s first ever appearance at 3B. Sheesh.
Bruble-Agree. Who were we bidding against? I didn’t mind bringing him back, but not for two years.
Agree about Hernandez, Annapolis…mostly. He is already in the “Positives” column for tonight’s recap.
I really can’t stand Kerry Wood…I hope we can rock him here
We know Hernandez has played 1B in winter ball. Has he ever played 3B in winter ball?
This is not Rollie Fingers we are facing. Let’s get them on, get them over and get them in (I really hate when GG says that).
After the first couple of weeks, Hernandez has been huge for this team, especially while Votto was out.
Chad, your recaps are my favorite thing about this site. It is a must read for me every day.
Way to go Rosales!!
Yeah!!! Rosales gets the rally going!!!
I am feeling a Jay Bruce home run right here
A jack would be HUGE here!!!!!
Jay needs something productive, he is struggling bad
Chad-Considering our catchers last year Hernandez is like Johnny Bench LOL
I will take a walk here
Darn it…that stinks!
@$#$%#$#@$%#@$%#@$@
Oh, man!!! I thought Bruce had made it happened.
I feel like George Grande now. I really thought it was out.
The camera man must have thought she was more attractive when she was sitting.
Can’t watch the game, following on gameday. How close was it?
That is a tough one to swallow. I would rather lose 12-0. When we score six runs we HAVE to win. I pin that one on Homer.
Crap!!!
If Bruce had just hit that a little more harder.
Damn…This is one that they should have won…very disappointing
Hope BP is ok, and try to get em tomorrow
Brad-Choo caught it at the wall. When it left his bat it looked like it was gone.
We certainly wouldn’t want to pin it on an offense that had 21 LOB (10 Team LOB).
11 hits, 5 walks and we only get 6 runs. Yeck!!!
Jim-I know. I am just so frustrated seeing the same Bailey. I am just sick of the walks.
I understand, AR. More than the walks is the working behind hitters. He had two very good innings. He just needs to develop some consistency. I just feel it would be to his advantage to stay up here in a bullpen role. I think he has developed as much as he can at the MiLB level. He needs to face MLB-caliber hitters.
Jim-You are right about working behind. It seemed like he was 2-0 on every hitter and nobody can get away with that.