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Time for a recap of tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Atlanta 3
Cincinnati 4
WP: Owings (4-7)
LP: Vazquez (4-6)
S: Cordero (16)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Smilin’ side of the scoreboard!
–Thank you, Micah Owings. Credit for this victory falls squarely on the shoulders of Owings, who pitched 6 good innings, giving up only 2 runs. More importantly, he clubbed a 3-run homer.
–Ryan Hanigan continues to impress; he was 2-3 with a run scored tonight.
–After Nick Masset’s rough outing, the bullpen was outstanding once again. Kudos to Arthur Rhodes, Francisco Cordero, and some other guy for their work tonight.
–Jay Bruce homered, and he’s slowly emerging from the funk he’s been in.
–Dusty Baker considers it a positive that the top two guys in his lineup didn’t clog the bases at all tonight. More on that below.
NEGATIVES
–First five batters in Dusty’s starting lineup: 0-17. Bottom four batters: 4-9, all four runs, all 4 RBI. But wait, it gets worse.
–Everyone over the age of 4 knows that Dusty Baker’s insistence on “hitting” Willy Taveras (.276 OBP; 557 OPS) and Alex Gonzalez (.262 OBP; 574 OPS) at the top of the order is moronic. Maybe he should flip/flop the lineup. Taveras and Gonzo were 0-8 between them while Hanigan and Owings were 3-4 with 2 runs and 3 RBI. Perhaps the better hitters should be hitting at the top of the order, and the terrible hitters should be hitting 8 and 9?
–Taveras (1 for his last 41 ABs) and Gonzalez saw a total of 19 pitches between them. In 8 combined at-bats. I hope Dusty is happy about that. This Willy/Gonzo situation is one of the most frustrating things I’ve witnessed with the Reds in recent years.
–Oh yeah, let’s not forget that Wee Willie Taveras made another stupid error tonight! Someone explain to me why Chris Dickerson can’t get into the lineup.
ETC.
–We say it once a week, methinks, but you can’t be disappointed at all by the performance of Micah Owings in that fifth spot in the rotation. I’m very satisfied with what Owings has brought to the table this season.
–Bruce owns the Braves. In his career against Atlanta, he is now 16 for 28 with 3 2B, 5 HR, 7 BB and only 4 Ks.
–This winning stuff is much more fun than the losing. The Reds are now closer to first place than they are to last place; they’re in 3rd, 2.5 games back.
–Let’s get a sweep tomorrow, okay?
–Jonny likes it, and I do, too! (By the way, if anyone wants to send in a picture of yourself wearing a sombrero, or a photoshop job of any other Red in a sombrero, I’ll post it after a Reds win.)
Dusty aint no front runner!
I’ve said this somewhat jokingly in a game thread but it’s getting more serious. If Taveras continues to lead off and play like he has, it’s just a matter of time before some manager (Lou, LaRussa ?) intentionally walks one of our pitchers to pitch to Taveras.
As for tonite, it worked out that Hanigan was batting 8th, because Owings was batting 9th.
I wonder about tomorrow’s lineup. Taveras and Gonzo better be sitting, in favor of Dickerson and Janish. Usually you’d expect your catcher to get a rest with a day game after a nite game, but if Ramon is too tired to play first base at this point, how can he catch ? And right now we need Hannigan in the lineup (who would have thought ?).
It was discussed on the game thread how Bruce is a Braves killer, and we need to have killers of division rivals. Joey Votto is a Cubs killer. I don’t have the numbers off-hand, but as Casey Stengel would say: “You could look it up.”
i’d rather have a team of good hitters that individual batters who kill a team
but since someone said “look it up”
Votto kills a lot of teams…he’s GOOD. He kills Cubs (1.135), Colorado (1.065), Mets (1.010), Pitt (1.039), Stl (1.070)
Phillips kills the Mets (1.038)
Bruce kills Atlanta (1.877), Cubs (1.008), and Brewers (1.000)
Hernandez kills Houston (.972)
Haiston Jr kills Colorado (1.009) and Florida (.941)
Dickerson kills Colorado (1.046), Pitt (1.367), and SF (1.417)
Janish kills Houston (1.033)
Gomes kills Colorado (2.030, 7 for 11 4 extra base hits) and Nationals (1.101)
Mike, you forgot one
Taveras kills Cincinnati (.577)
Its interesting to see how other teams handle “slumps”. the San Fran second baseman was in a 0-27 slump and was sent down to minors, not benched, not dropped in the order, but sent to the minors. Granted he is a younger player and different situation but “something” was done. You would think Baker would at the least drop Taveras in the order, 7th/8th, as well as give Dickerson an extra game or two. Just a strange feeling of deja-vu again from last year with Patterson.
Matt Steele for the win!
But why wouldn’t Taveras and Gonzalez bat first and second? You gotta bat your CF and SS at the top of the lineup, in that respective order. (I think it’s like a rule or something.)
Living down here in SC, they block Fox Sports Ohio from the satellite whenever the Braves play the Reds. Therefore I have to watch the game with the Braves announcers.
During the last two games Don Sutton has been very complimentary of the Reds saying that they’ve got a core of good young players and that they’ve held it together despite all the injuries.
However, he’s been very critical of the Braves players and their lack of production. Sutton’s usually a homer, so if he’s upset on the air I can only imagine how bad the frustration must be with this team in AT.
Hannigan would be batting second if any other manager was in charge.
Just start the lineup with Phillips and concede the first two outs of the game and the lineup makes a little bit more sense. Then you have your worst two hitters at the bottom of the lineup. The top of the lineup sticks out like a sore thumb but overall this offense sucks*. Everyone made a big deal about speed and defense in the off season and through spring training. Just an opinion because I don’t know where to look these numbers up but I would be willing to bet, this team is more reliant on the HR than the 2008 counterpart. You can’t manufacture runs when no is on base and when people are on base no one hits.
How long do we have to suffer the embarrassment of Dusty Baker as Reds manager? I know he is a nice guy and whatever, but he really doesn’t have any business managing a big league club. He’d probably be great nurturing players somewhere in the farm system, but he makes consistently poor choices with his lineups.
However, he’s been very critical of the Braves players and their lack of production. Sutton’s usually a homer, so if he’s upset on the air I can only imagine how bad the frustration must be with this team in AT.I’m guessing mostly indifference. They were having trouble with interest in the team when they were on their run of division titles.
I honestly think Dusty’s past as a player works against him in these situations. He is so loyal and willing to give his guys a chance to “work their way out of it” that it turns into blind stubborness. And the more people complain about it, the more stubborn he gets.
Rhodes and Weathers worked again last night. Had to do it I suppose, but I really hope they have something left at the end of the year.
What’s most frustrating to me is that I can understand in some circumstances where you stick with “your guys”, let them play through the tough spot, and trust they’ll come out of it. But, that only makes sense if you know “your guy” is capable of being productive or has a history of doing so. Taveras and Gonzalez? At this point in their careers, there is no evidence whatsoever that could justify keeping them in there, batting 1 and 2, trusting that they will get through their “slumps” and have productive years. These aren’t slumps (well, Taveras, even for him, is in a nightmare like one). These aren’t good hitters. Period. But because of the positions they play, and because one if fast, hey, they should bat 1 and 2.
To say nothing of the fact that there are actually better options on the roster. Sometimes, a manager can only play what he’s got, but here Dusty has other players he could turn to. Both Dickerson and Janish have shown they are much better defenders and are capable of not making outs.
seriously, is c. dickerson dead or something ? he played the best stretch of his career in center field and then dissappeared …. is taveras dating dusty’s daughter too ?
From Lance’s blog:
So much for manufacturing runs this year
From Mark Wagner
Reds thru 62 games, % of runs scored via HR-2008-2009
2008 35.6 (100/281)
2009 37.8 ( 99/262)
Over the 2008 season, the Reds got 40.5% (285 of 704) of their runs from home runs.
Five worst teams in MLB in team OPS:
26 Cincinnati .708 (and falling fast)
27 Seattle .699
28 San Francisco .691
29 San Diego .689
30 Oakland .669
Remember the old test question, “which one doesn’t belong?” Well, which team doesn’t belong? (Hint: it has something to do with whether they play at a pitcher’s park or hitter’s.)
doktor #7 – See Granderson with the Detroit Tigers. Leland keeps bouncing him between leadoff and about 6th in the order. And throughout his slumps, he’s still got double-digit HR and steals plus an 800+ OPS.
The problem with “sticking with” Taveras is that he’s been this bad for the past season and one-half. Someone needs to give Baker a copy of the back of Taveras’s baseball card.
It seems like Baker/Jocketty has fallen into the same pitfall that overly optimistic fans fall into. Look at the baseball card and say “If we could only get Taveras 2007 batting numbers and 2008 steal numbers, we’d have a good leadoff hitter.” Unfortunately, his career numbers, and more important what he’s done lately (2008/09), have not been good at all.
I said it before, but I am shocked that Gomes isn’t getting any starts at 1B. Esp w/ Hernandez struggling right now. Although, I will admit that Ramon has play exceptional defense at first, considering it’s not his position.
Bill – that doesn’t surprise me at all. Last night, for example, all 4 runs were scored on the HR.
Guys are not getting on base, and the “manufacture runs” philosophy creates more outs and cuts down on the possibility of larger innings.
What frustrates me is that even when Willy T and Gonzo get on base, they aren’t running. Isn’t the point of having fast guys at the top of the lineup so you can steal bases and (forgive me) wreak havoc? They don’t…even the few times they are on base. What’s the point of having Willy T’s speed on first when Hairston or Gonzo is just trying to bunt him over anyways?
As I understand it, Ramon plays a lot of 1st base during winter ball leagues.
And Hernandez is one of the problems with the offense right now. When Votto is ready to return, I’d stick with Hanigan as the primary option behind the plate.
Certainly GABP lends itself to the home run reliance for an offense.
Ok, Dusty, we don’t agree, we don’t think it makes sense, but your thought pattern makes us at least understand how Slick Willy ended up (for all of eternity) at the top of your batting order. It’s just where a CF hits. Or he’s fast. Take your pick.
But what’s the deal with Gonzo? He plays what is traditionally one of the worst offensive positions, and he’s worse than anyone else there. His spot belongs with the catcher, on any roster without A-Rod/Jeter. And he’s not at all fast. Maybe faster than Hernandez.
I thought the possibility existed that Owings went out (of the rotation at least) when Volquez returned if Maloney pitched well. But I think Owings has shown enough the last few starts to retain his position.
I think Greg makes a great point that we are also going to lose some offense when Vooto gets back because it is virtually certain Hannigan will sit and Hernandez will be catching. A Votto/Hannigan lineup at this point would look much better than a Votto/Hernandez one (although Hernandez deserves credit for being a true pro playing this many games out of position).
The funny thing is, Hannigan has a real shot at this point for rookie of the year.
Anybody look at the Cubs line-up lately? They had four guys in the lineup yesterday hitting under .230 including their leadoff guy and guy hitting third.