Loading ...Bronson Arroyo vs. Kyle Davies in game two of this ever-so-compelling series against the juggernaut that is the Kansas City Royals. Can either of those pitchers get their ERAs under 5.00 tonight? My money is on Davies.
The College World Series has gotten under way, and this year’s Team of Destiny (TM) is the Virginia Cavaliers. UVa plays at 7pm tonight against LSU, and I’m not afraid to admit that I will be flipping back and forth between the games. Yes, I’ll probably spend more time on the Virginia game; it’s the first time my alma mater has ever played in the College World Series.
I will be keeping an eye on the Reds, though, and hoping tonight is the night that the offense wakes up. Discuss both game here….
UPDATE: After looking at tonight’s lineup (see below), I’m not sure I want to watch a single pitch of tonight’s Reds game after all. Terrible….
Taveras CF
Gonzalez SS
Phillips 2B
Nix LF
Gomes DH
Bruce RF
Hernandez 1B
Rosales 3B
Hanigan C
There is absolutely no justification whatsoever for putting the two worst hitters on the team — and two of the worst in the league — at the top of the lineup. Dusty Baker needs to be called to account for this nonsense.
i would rather see hanigan and hernadez to lead of the game than these bums.
My choice:
Dickerson
Phillips
Nix
Gomes
Bruce
Hanigan
Hernandez
Rosales
Gonzalez
Question – If Taveras and Dickerson ran against each other a 40-yard sprint, how much of a difference would there be in their times? Substantial or minimal? In other words, is Taveras’ speed overrated?
Wow. Back to the CF and SS batting 1-2.
This is just nuts…what possible justification could there be for batting Hanigan 9th?
I’m tired of Dusty relying on his “hunches” or whatever other code word he uses for putting “his guys” at the top of the order or even playing them. I hate to say it, but just when you thought the Corey Patterson nightmare was over, a new and different one replaces it. This team has been winning in spite of its manager, not because of him.
Nonetheless, I will try to watch the game as more and more of them have been in HD since Nick Lachey pointed out that you can hardly ever watch a a game in HD when they were in San Diego. It is hard to dislike a guy who is a Reds fan and from Cincy. Clooney never comes back and roots for the Reds, that bastard.
kurt I’m sure the justification is a combination of
Taveras is my leadoff guy
Clog the bases
OBP is over rated
Hernandez needs a day off, Hannigan should not be batting ninth, and the top of this order is a travesty.
Anyone else believe KC’s team ERA is going to plummet this weekend?
Kansas City. Sheesh.
How frustrating are these pitchers going to become with this offense? It is not unheard of for pitchers to become injured from trying to be too pin point perfect or from overthrowing.
Reds worst OBP vs right handers this season
OBP
.277 Gonzo
.286 Hairston Jr
.288 Rosales
.303 Taveras
.319 Team Average
.324 NL Average Leadoff hitter
.333 NL League Average
.349 NL Average #2 hitter
Where is Dickerson, and is Hairston hurt? I like Rosales but Hairston should be there if healthy.
This could be another 80 pitch night for KC.
has Davies thrown a strike yet? I haven’t seen one
If Arroyo throws that flat sidearm curve to many more times it might be a short night for him.
what just happened? Why did Bruce stop halway to second base? Was it a missed hit and run? Oh goodness…let’s hope this night turns around.
HAVOC
I hate this team more and more every day.
Bruce is starting to look like he might need a little Louisville time.
Bruce needs to make that catch.
Bruce should have had that, quit covering for him Welsh.
Alex Gonzalez does not deserve a spot on a major league roster.
I’m just not sure the Reds can score three runs with the line-up they have tonight.
31-30. No way we can score 3 runs off of the unhittable Kyle Davies
For the first time this season, I feel like giving up.
Nobody, not even Votto, can “fix” this mess.
Alex Gonzalez doesn’t deserve a spot on a roster and he’s batting SECOND.
The money is sunk…it’s gone whether Gonzalez and Taveras play or not. Would it be such a bad thing to cut them and move on? Does it make sense to keep playing players who aren’t getting it done just because they make a lot of money?
Hanigan – ROY. Move him up in the order.
NO…catcher bats at the bottom.
Plus if he is on base ahead of the fast guys he is bogging them down.
Hanigan would be in the ROY running if he played every day
the problem is when Votto comes back Hanigan goes back to the bench.
Shouldn’t be that way but that’s what will happen.
No, Kurt, it doesn’t make sense. The Reds released Mike Stanton last year because he was awful, I don’t understand why they can’t do the same to Gonzalez. Granted, Gonzo, is making more than Stanton and his likely replacement, Paul Janish, is unproven. Taveras I will give a break because he is probably just getting out of this injury. But if is 0 fer a million continues throughout the month, I may start getting worried.
How did KC score?
For that matter, how did the Reds score? Just tuned in.
Oh, and there is no reason to not DFA Mike Lincoln. We have plenty of guys in AAA who could perform better than a 9.30 ERA. Unproven or not, I’m sure that one of them (Roenicke, myself, Betty White) could pitch better than Mike Lincoln.
Just noticed the Reds have three runs on one hit. Sweet!
Arroyo is getting pounded.
Royals Stadium looks really nice. Great improvements to the outfield.
The Royals had a few base hits with the bases loaded. However, if Alex Gonzalez had any range at all they probably wouldn’t have scored on what should have been a double play ball. Hernandez walked for the Reds, Rosales got hit by a pitch and then Hanigan hit a 2 RBI double. Taveras, who can’t do anything else, bunted Hanigan to 3rd. Gonzalez, who also can’t do anything else, hit a sac fly to center field.
Hannigan hit a 2 run double and then Gonzalez hit a sac fly to bring him after a sac bunt by Taveras. But, Arroyo is doing his best to make sure it doesn’t matter that it was tied
What is Gonzalez’s zone rating, it seems like he does not get to many balls up the middle or in the hole.
Thanks. Sounds like I haven’t missed much.
Should they bench Arroyo after 2 or 3 great starts to try to skip his always forthcoming torch jobs? It seems if he pitches really, really well a few starts in a row, it is guaranteed he will give up at least 5 earned in 4 or fewer innings
Some have said Arroyo has pitched well lately but I have worried about him ALL year
Last year some said he got unlucky but this year this is why I worry about it
4.5 SO/9
3.0 BB/9
pitchers are almost NEVER successful with a SO rate that low
Haha. I wish they would bench him for every day game.
Put a fork in him.
I’m also sooooooo tired of hearing about Gonzalez being so “awesome” at SS this year. Seems that last hit could’ve/should’ve been grabbed by someone with decent range
Oh, and if anyone cares. Tim Kurkjian of ESPN wrote an article about Danny Herrera and his small stature.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=kurkjian_tim&id=4251819
I hear Betty White has left her curves hanging laely.
I am tired of the motorcycle ad!!!
Oh man. Forget Betty White. We may have to go with the other living Golden Girl. But I bet Estelle Getty could have blown away batters in her day.
it’s only been 3 innings but these #s are just odd
the Reds are 1 for 7
KC is 11 for 18
KC has 12 base runners in 3 innings
the Reds have 15 base runners in the last 21 innings
great article, thanks for the link
That’s depressing
Nice article about Herrera. Kinda forget how good he is sometimes. Special little reliever. He could have a long career if he stays healthy
You’re welcome.
Virginia is struggling in the College World Series. I can’t catch a break.
I think this will be the worst stretch for the Reds during the season. The only person who is semi hitting right now is Hanigan. And he definitely can’t carry an offense. If the Reds can get through this slump and remain within 5 games back I think they’ll be fine once we are at full strength and some of these guys start hitting again. Come back soon Edwin and Joey, you are surely missed. The pitching is going to have to be lights out if we expect to win in the next week(hopefully) or so.
Does the media have the guts to ask Dusty why he would bat players with OBP %’s under .290 1-2 in the order?
I would love to see the look on his face if they did.
Cool. Review. Should be upheld. That looked like it was behind the pole.
That does not look like it is a HR.
You have to go back 27 years to find a hitter for the Reds who didn’t get on base for 7 straight games getting at least 2 plate appearances (as in starting usually) a game
The last Red to not get on base for 7 straight games was Ron Oester in 1982. He was 0 for 26
Taveras in his 7 games is 0 for 28
The last Red to not get on base for 8 straight games was Leo Cardenas in 1963. He was 0 for 28.
actually those are the only 3 players in the last 54 years for the Reds to pull this amazing feet off
Wow I just checked and in the last 54 years NO player has gone 9 games
8 players have gone 8 games without getting on base. The most recent Brad Ausmus who was 0 for 31 during a stretch of 8 games in 2006
Check-up from the neck-up. Take a drink on GG.
Who pulled their feet off?
Maybe we should sign Barry Bonds
Free Barry Bonds!
“Does the media have the guts to ask Dusty why he would bat players with OBP %’s under .290 1-2 in the order?”
No, because Dusty will just shoo them away with his nonsense that pours out of his trap every time he speaks.
It would be nice to see happen, though.
Wouldn’t you would think Welsh would know where Alonso is playing?
Apparently he’s in Sarasota still…
He also was calling for a DP to be turned with 2 outs and the bases loaded earlier in the game…
I would pay to see Barry.
Yeah. GMs shy away like guys like him and Sosa because they are distractions and such. But come on. Is this club really ready to compete for a championship as is? Barry is desperate to play baseball. Sign him to a one year (or half year) deal and see what happens. Imagine what this offense could do with the auto walk every nineth batter. We might score a whole 4 runs a game!
you imagine Votto hitting behind Barry? Barry would be getting on base more than 40% of the time. Oh right, wouldn’t happen, can’t bat lefties back-to-back in the Dusty universe
And I thought I heard Alonso was in AA?
can’t bat lefties back-to-back in the Dusty universe
It works so horribly for Ryan Howard and Chase Utley in that awful, awful Phillies lineup.
And I thought I heard Alonso was in AA?
He is.
Very true.Stick Brandon in between and have the double play ball and set up the solo shot for Votto.
Oh. Never mind. I read that comment wrong. Curse Chris Welsh for being so dumb.
How many hits do we have now?
UVa has come back and is winning at the CWS.
Runner on first, no outs is “a jam” according to GG. Is that really a jam?
Good baserunning by KC.
Nice play by Willy. Burton stinks.
OK, after that lazy boot of an easy ground in CF by Taveras he needs to be BENCHED NOW
I’d honestly pull him out of the game
It’s one thing to not be able to hit
It’s another thing to be hurt and not 100%
but add to that being lazy?
What happened with Taveras? I missed it flipping back and forth.
Pathetic. I have had enough!
Janish would have caught that grounder that just got through the infield.
Did Taveras even make an effort on that ball? Pretty pathetic.
there was a slow hit to CF, which probably would have scored the run from 2B anyways but Taveras was trotting to get the ball and sort booted it away from himself and the runner took 2nd. I assume they gave him an E on that? Single and E on the double?
Nice. When it rains on Taveras, it pours.
Do you know what time it is???
LINCOLN TIME!
he’s gotta come in now right? right?
Chad, or whichever editor pieced together some of my posts from yesterday and posted them as an article. Thanks. And nice editing to make some of those sentences read better. I always need an editor.
What does Taveras bring to the table? Good defense? Debatable. Good speed on the base-paths? Doesn’t matter, he only gets ON BASE at a .288 clip (not counting tonight). Good hustle? Only when he bunts.
What does Dickerson bring to the table in CF? Outstanding defense, a plus arm, A GOOD OBP, and great speed. Also he hits LH, which is a plus seeing as most of the pitchers in the league are RHP.
What’s not to get? I just don’t understand. Does Dumbsty have any brain cells left or did the termites in those toothpicks mistake his “brain” for wood…
Good thing Taveras hustled down the line to avoid that DP.
Not. Jesus Christ.
That was me, Mike. Great stuff. It deserved a wider audience.
Taveras 0 for his last 31
Bruce 6 for his last 50
Rosales 3 for his last 32
Nix 3 for his last 24.
Reds were hitting .192 in June coming into tonight. Someone in the organization needs to wake the heck up and tell Dusty to stop the nonsense with Taveras and changes need to be made.
the other thing Dickerson brings is hope and a chance that he’ll end up an every day CFer in the bigs for a couple years (he’s already 27 so it’s not like he’s going to be productive for very long)
He was mostly a 4th OF level prospect who kept performing above what people thought he would. He’s only had 269 plate appearances in the bigs. In that time he’s put up a .390 OBP (!!) and 123 OPS+ I don’t think he’s a productive enough hitter to be an every day corner OFer but a CFer with an average OPS is fine
The organization needs to get rid of Dusty.
The organization needs to get rid of Dusty.
Of course, but it’s out of the question. Have to force his hand with the best players possible.
I’m starting to think we may not win this game.
That was likely Taveras last chance tonight
Chad you shouldn’t say things like that…..makes you look a little slow
I am a little slow, so it works out nicely.
I drunk with optimism when the Reds take the field :clown:
The chance of being swept by the Royals… There may not be a bigger sin in baseball except being swept by the Nationals.
I said they would be swept last night. I actually see no hope. Rooting for the Reds is like rooting for Indiana football.
single, single, K, K, K
against an ex-Red
Jay Bruce has been pathetic for a long period of time. Actually, outside of his first month last year he has been pretty bad.
strange day-dream
Reds down by 4
What if the first 3 batters in the 9th get on?
It would be Taveras coming to bat with a chance to tie the game
Do you let him hit?
Hairston, Janish and Dickerson on the bench
You PH Dickerson for him. Without question.
Bruce looked good this April
.868 in April
and at age 22
He also crushed the ball in September last year. 5 2B, 7 HR for a .924 OPS
Bomb! from Hernandez.
agreed, unless there is a lefty pitching, then I would probably go with Janish
You could stick Albert Pujols in this lineup and he’d struggle (maybe). Jay misses Joey. When Joey comes back this is a completely different offense.
wow Taveras is going to get another chance to get on base for the first time in 3 weeks
“You surprised Jerry Hairston isn’t in the mix swinging right here?”
“Or Dickerson”
Always love the subtle second guesses of our announcers.
Willy doesn’t practice bunting in BP.
Wow.
Taveras got out. Huh.
weak grounder
8 games without getting on base
impressive
I still hate this team. I finished the first season of Party Down, watched some of The Endless Summer, and they’re still $@#tty in KC.
K to end the game on a ball. Fitting.
Wow, that swing by Gonzo to end the game was one of the worst excuses for a baseball swing I’ve ever seen in the majors.
Sure is a good thing we didn’t pinch hit for Taveras. And since we cleverly had him leading off and Gonzalez batting second, they got the extra AB at the end of the game.
don’t look now but the Reds are just a short week away from last place
Bruce has had some good streaks but more often than not he has been part of the problem (on an offense with a million problems don’t get me wrong I’m not blaming him, but he has not helped things).
How much more of a slump than 0 for freaking 31 does a hitter need to be in before they are pinch hit for in the 9th inning?
I’m sure Dusty has a good reason, like Taveras once shared a cab with Soria. Then our kiss-a** beat reporters will just move on to the next question.
Without the outstanding pitching we would be the Nationals. There is not a whole lot of differene between the two teams. Arroyo would be the first guy I would trade if I could get a bat. I don’t trust him, I never have trusted him.
Wrong, AnnapolisRed, the Nationals can hit the ball. Their lead off hitter has gotten on base at some point in the month of June.
You are exactly right Steve. The reasoning of he played two inter-league series against them the last two years is just plain stupid.
Good point
Taveras hasn’t seen 1B in 32 plate appearances now. KC has a RHer tomorrow so this Taveras crap needs to end. He’s every bit the nightmare we feared.
BS Baker coming up on Reds Live. Put on the hip waders, boys.
How could Baker have not pinch hit for Taveras in the ninth so we could get the tying run to the plate?
Jim-Let me know what he says. They cut it off on the extra-innings package (plus we got the Royals broadcast again tonight).
Jim-Let me know what he says. They cut it off on the extra-innings package (plus we got the Royals broadcast again tonight).
Posted it in the Recap comments section.
How could Baker have not pinch hit for Taveras in the ninth so we could get the tying run to the plate?
For the same reason he insisted on playing him in the first place. He manages based on irrational emotions and illogical logic.