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Time for a recap of tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Atlanta 2
Cincinnati 7
WP: Herrera (1-2)
LP: Jurrjens (5-5)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Smilin’ side of the scoreboard! The Reds really needed that one. We Reds fans probably needed it more.
–If you don’t love the Daniel Ray Herrera (1.69 ERA) story, you don’t have a soul.
–Laynce Nix hit two of the hardest hit balls I’ve seen all season. Neither of them were homers (they were doubles), but he crushed them. Nix added a single and 3 RBI. Good night.
–Brandon Phillips was 3-4, scored a couple of runs, and even took a walk!
–Aaron Harang looked pretty good early in the game, but the long rain delay meant that he only got to throw two innings. Disappointing for him, I’m sure.
NEGATIVES
–Not a good outing by Nick Masset, but he was due for one of those. His ERA skyrocketed to 1.07 on the season.
–Someone needs to pull Dusty Baker aside and tell him it’s completely moronic to “hit” your two worst batters at the top of the order. It’s just insane, yet Dusty continues to put Willy Taveras (he’s one-for-June now!) and Alex Gonzalez one-two in the lineup.
Oh wait, never mind. I forgot Dusty’s stance on clogging the bases. No chance of that happening with this dreck at the top of the order.
ETC.
–I know Dusty has a hard time getting him into the lineup since Alex Gonzalez is the greatest shortstop in the history of the world, but I was glad to see Paul Janish get a half-inning of playing time tonight!
–Ryan Hanigan didn’t get his customary two hits, but he laid down a bunt in the bottom of the eighth that was perfect. Then he busted his butt down the line and beat out the throw. Hanigan’s another kid you have to love.
–Two rain delays made this a long night. But a successful one! With an offensive explosion (for this team)!
–Jonny likes!
I know Dusty has a hard time getting him into the lineup since Alex Gonzalez is the greatest shortstop in the history of the world, but I was glad to see Paul Janish get a half-inning of playing time tonight!
LOL!!!!!
If we could get a MLB exemption, Chad, you and I could dual-man SS better offensively and defensively than Gonzalez.
Nonetheless, Reds win!
Taveras, Hairston Jr, and Gonzalez combined to go 2-13 tonight with 3 RBIs…The RBI total is nice, but still 2-13. Gonzalez made a really nice play in the field in the seventh inning.
Tonight was a really nice win, but I wouldn’t get super excited. Basically our season right now depends on the aforementioned 3 players ability to get on base…especially Taveras and Hairston Jr. And I’m afraid that doesn’t bode well for the long haul.
Man if Taveras could learn to hit he’d be a great leadoff hitter with that speed. Or learn to just have good at-bats. But that could be said for many major leaguers…
Are there stats anywhere that rate base runners’ speed going down the line?
If Nix had a higher trajectory on that last ball he would have killed somebody. That ball was absolutely scalded. Nice win. Hannigan’s bunt was picture perfect and he made it a lot closer than it should have been. Nice hustle. Gotta love the effort.
Oh, and it’s nice to see the Jonny hat again.
JerBear interesting point that despite the team winning, despite the team scoring more runs than the have in a while, and despite the 3-headed-monster that is Taveras/Hariston Jr/Gonzo having 3 RBI they still only went 2 for 13
In June (not counting tonights OUTSTANDING 2 for 13)
Taveras was 0 for 28 with a whopping 0(!) OPS
Gonzo was 10 for 44 for a whopping .558 OPS
and Hairston 7 for 38 for a whopping .404 OPS
I could throw out Hernandez and Rosales #s which are just as bad in June
but one main point. Bruce, at age 22 has been picked on lately for not producing. He’s out producing all these guys this month.
and while the offense has completely vanished here is an ODD stat
In June, Cueto, Arroyo and Maloney are 4 for 11 with 2 runs scored
Commenting from Ireland 9Dublin) this AM, on a business trip. I gave up and went to sleep after the 2 hour rain delay, wake up a couple of hours later, and watch the Reds (via GameDay) rally in the 8th and put it away.
Funny that there was that long discussion about height and then Herrera is the pitching
hero.
Before EE comes back, it would be nice to see Janish get some playing time at 3rd. (Playing him at SS would be better but obviously won’t happen.)
Having Votto around had to be big for the Reds’ morale, not to mention the Reds’ fans.
the other thing I noticed with Hanigan’s GREAT bunt and hustle
for a catcher he’s not slow
I’ll bet he could beat Casey in a race
We’ve played a good chunk of the season and because of injuries to Votto and EE a handful of players have gotten more playing time (somehow Janish not one of them).
Team leaders in OBP on the season
OBP
.464 Votto
.389 Hanigan
.375 Gomes (also can’t seem to get many starts)
.364 Dickerson (can’t seem to find a spot for him either with this awesome lineup)
.353 Janish (can you see a trend here)
.351 Phillips
If Votto wasn’t hurt we’d NEVER see Hanigan. It’s strange to think about
“In June, Cueto, Arroyo and Maloney are 4 for 11 with 2 runs scored.” Yes and Owings can hit too.
I’m waiting for the big moment when the opposing manager intentionally walks one of the Reds pitchers to pitch to Taveras.
pinson I think I’d do that as the opposing manager just to get under Dusty’s skin
Maybe Sweet Lou will do it.
Haha
LaRussa Might
haha
Mike…beating Sean Casey in a race is no accomplishment…he’s slower than me….
As slow as Casey was, he stole 18 bases in his career, thrown out 8 times.
Juan Castro stole 5, and was thrown out 8.
Yet, Bob Boone used Castro as a pinch runner.
It would make me scream.
Another big positive for last night was Joey Votto being in uniform and in the dugout.
Taveras was still pretty pathetic at the plate except for his first AB. Dickerson is a better OF. Taveras has a terrible arm and Dickerson has an above average one.
Bruce seems to be slowly working his way out of his slump. Nix, too.
When DRH walked (4th inning?), why did WT not bunt him over? Was is bat too valuable to not let him swing away? Of course, he promptly swung into a 5-4-3 DP.
The three most important takeaways from yesterday are that Votto was in uniform, EdE took BP, and Voltron threw long toss. We’re gonna scuffle for another week or two, but we’ll get past this. I see us having a great second half.
I like that thought Sultan. Just tread water until then.
Just read the height stuff in the game thread.
To set the record straight on Leake, he’s listed at 6′0″, 180, and he said on draft day he’s really 5 foot 10.5 inches. So he’s small for a pitcher, but he’s not 5′8″.
http://ctrentrosecrans.com/2009/06/09/talking-to-leake/
He was bad last night, but I still support the pick. I like him. His stats on the year are still mind-blowing. That HR he gave up was only the 3rd of the year off him, in 139 IP. That is IMPRESSIVE.
And by the way… weren’t Greg Maddux and Tim Hudson listed at 6′0″ tall? I’m not too worried about that.
Orel Hershiser did make interesting points about how he thinks in pro ball they’ll try to get Leake on top of the ball more so his movement is more downward rather than side-to-side.
Mike thanks for the great numbers as always.
When things were looking really bleak (amazing what one win can do for your outlook) there was a lot of discussion of “blame” between Walt and Dusty for what was happening. Clearly, responsibility for the roster is on Walt and we do not have much talent or depth with the position players. Walt also has to be on the hook for the Lincoln and Taveras deals and failing to address the SS position, although he should get some credit for shopping in the bargin bin for Nix and Gomes. But Dusty throws away a lot of outs by insisting on Taveras and Gonzo in the lineup and the top of the order. Janish and Dickerson might not do any better with more exposure, but to me they have earned a shot.
“I’m waiting for the big moment when the opposing manager intentionally walks one of the Reds pitchers to pitch to Taveras.”
I would pay good money to see that. Talk about something that would bring ALL KINDS of attention to our ‘leadout’ situation.