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Time for a recap of tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Cincinnati 3
NY Mets 0
WP: Arroyo (9-8)
LP: Nieve (3-3)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–Smilin’ side of the scoreboard! The Mets are awful right now (and they just got worse) but they’re still professionals. I’ll take a win like this every single night.
–Who was that pitcher for the Reds tonight? Bronson Arroyo? Never seen him before.
Certainly, it’s been a while since we’ve seen this version of Arroyo. He tossed a complete game shutout, giving up only four hits. He struck out five, walked none, and didn’t allow a Met to reach second base. Arroyo’s pitches were moving all over the place. Unbelievable.
As bad as Arroyo has been lately, no one could have seen this coming. Again, I don’t care that the Mets were fielding a pathetic lineup. Still a brilliant start by Bronson. Kudos!
–Joey Votto was the only Red with two hits (this isn’t going to be the last time I type that in a recap), one of them a solo homer in the 4th that gave the Reds what proved to be the winning run.
–Laynce Nix hit a homer. Jonny Gomes was evidently excited in the dugout. He’s pretty excited at the bottom of this recap, too.
–Brandon Phillips stole home. Cool. It wasn’t the most aesthetically pleasing steal of home, but cool nonetheless.
–Ryan Hanigan went 1-3. He keeps playing well, whenever he gets a rare chance to play.
NEGATIVES
–None. Well, there’s one, but I’m tired of writing about our centerfielder.
ETC.
–Wow, the Mets are terrible, aren’t they? They are a completely different team than the club we faced in the opening series. I think David Wright is the only legit major leaguer in that lineup.
–I really enjoyed listening to the Mets broadcasters (on XM) make fun of how terrible our centerfielder is for part of an inning. Thanks, Dusty. Yep, I really enjoyed listening to that.
–On that subject, how is it that Jay Bruce is better offensively and better defensively than the centerfielder, yet Bruce is the one that gets benched? Perhaps Dusty can explain that to someone…ya know, if someone would ask him.
–Wow, Bronson Arroyo was masterful, wasn’t he? The Reds really needed that.
–Johan Santana is slated to pitch for the Metropolitans tomorrow, so the Reds will have their work cut out for them.
I rarely listen to extra innings on WLW, but tonight listening to Doc Rogers tonight and he is just killing Jay Bruce…claiming he is the fifth best outfielder on the Reds, and that if the Reds really want to win they should bench Bruce.
I’ll admit Bruce has been dissapointing this year, and maybe Gomes or someone in right field every day might be a little more productive then him. But Doc is claiming you gotta even play Willy Taveras “when he is hot”.
Wasn’t Doc Rogers one of scouts before? I say this somewhat joking, but that might explain some of the Reds losing over the years!
Thank you Dr. Jekyll for pitching a gem tonight. Please keep that Mr. Hyde guy under wraps for a while. He’s scary.
By the way, is Doc Rodgers insane?
I’m fairly certain that was Gomes who was VERY excited when Nix hit the HR
I honestly didn’t recognize him (not hat and what looked like even shorter hair and a very short video clip of him pumping his first and sorta jumping and turning around, like they just won on a walk-off.
I noticed it because Nix and Gomes have not only done more than we could expect but they are roll players in a platoon of sorts. I always love when players that are platooning really pull for each other.
Nix’s HR was also on a low fastball tailing towards the outside of the plate and he pulled it, crushing it.
You know, Votto has gone through a lot in the last year and lots of people have stated how great he’s been this year but at this rate we have a superstar on our hands
Player A: .332/.458/.723
Player B: .312/.433/.615
Player C: .354/.439/.594
Player A is the current best player in baseball, player B is an all-star and the 2nd most productive hitter in the NL behind only player A
Player C is Votto
I rarely agree with the “sign them to a long term deal now” idea because there are very few players that great but in Votto’s case I would love if he played for the Reds for the next 6-8 years.
there is only 1 thing to say about Bruce at this point
he’s 22 years old and one of the youngest regulars in MLB
he’s the youngest player on the Reds current roster
there are only 5 position players in the NL right now younger (going to the day) and only 2 that are at least a year younger
he’s younger that Heisey, Stubbs, and the same age as Alonso
there isn’t a younger player on the entire AAA roster
there is no one significantly younger on the entire AA roster. There are 3 regular position players who are also 22
and this is his 1st full season in the bigs
You have to wonder to what extent the CTS is bothering Bronson, you have to figure when it is bad it makes it tough to pitch.
I didn’t think Votto would be this good. Thought he might be a solid like .290-.310 hitter with a little more power then Hal Morris when he first come up.
But he appears to be a hitter the likes of Pujols, Berkman, Derek Lee in his prime, etc….he’s going to be fun to watch if he stays healthy for several years.
What do we do with Votto when our other young top draft choice 1st basemen makes it to the ML roster?
I think Upton on Arizona went through a terrible stretch right after he came up the other year also. It is pretty crazy Bruce is only 22…I just hope he figures out how to hit in the second half of the season. But he’s one of those guys you just gotta stick with because of his talent.
Thanks for all the perspective in #5, Mike. If Homer Bailey can recover from being rushed (fingers crossed), Jay Bruce definitely can.
I have to agree with whichever TV broadcaster said tonight that Arroyo pitches fine if he makes it through an inning or two unscathed. Seems like you know right away whether it’s good Bronson or the bad one.
Travis I do think you bring up an important point (or imply the point by relating it to Bailey’s situation)
I think anyone bashing Bruce and thinking he should be benched is being silly and I don’t think he deserves negative criticism because of his age and honestly the way he plays…he’s made what, 1 bone head play? 2? Taveras makes 1 a night. Has anyone seen even the slightest lack of hustle? I didn’t think so. And lets not forget he’s shown VERY good power, he’s just not hitting enough line drives and popping out, to be honest that should be a minor adjustment in his swing but as we can see by most of the Reds hitters I’m not even sure they employ a hitting coach. That said if he continues to struggle this mightily I do have to wonder if sending him down for a month wouldn’t do him some good, like what you imply with Homer. This is very complicated and sending him down would be thinking about the future, NOT this season lets not forget, Bruce has not only been light years better than Taveras. Bruce has been one of the top, if not THE top defensive RFers in the game and despite his hitting troubles is still out producing Hairston, Hernandez, Janish, EE, Rosales, Gonzo, McDonald and OF COURSE Taveras. If you are playing for this season (which I think is silly), you can’t send him down, you need his power, but if you aren’t playing for this season and he continues to struggle it might be worth it for him to go someplace with a hitting coach and easier competition, that he has already dominated to get it together.
Bailey is only 23, which is also VERY young, in particular for a pitcher
This is the best Arroyo’s looked all season long. The defense wassn’t all that bad either…at least this game.
good point about Upton and Upton is even younger than Bruce
He was awful when he came up, of course he came up as a teenager! At an age when only players that are going straight to the HOF come up, like ARod, Jr, etc.
he is of course 21 now, has 900 plate appearances under his belt and is one of the best in the game.
Bruce is still under 800 plate appearances.
Yes, I am Mr. Gloom on this game. TOS, 3 runs that’s it. Two HR’s from Votto and Nix, come on. This team will mill about .500 this season because of the division and may feel pressure to make a move to acquire a player. The worrisome situation is acquiring a 3b to replace EE, keep EE and move a young pitcher for a Rolen for example. This won’t do anything for the team this year and will only hinder it for next year. I know that I have been the voice of negative behavior for my last three posts but this is crazy. We are becoming the Twins of the late 90’s and early 2000’s. I just don’t see this team turning it around. I hope I’m wrong
The only thing Bruce needs to do is center the ball better. He is improving as a hitter, just look at his stats compared to last year (He is striking out less and taking more walks).
That being said, I wouldn’t be opposed to sending him down for 3-4 weeks to get his confidence back.
Side Note: Did you see that diving catch by Taveras? Nothing like jogging the whole time and then diving at the last second to try and make yourself look good.
If only Drew Stubbs didn’t strikeout so much, he could be our leadoff guy.
No way do you send Bruce down, but I think he could use the day off against tough lefties. That was definitely Gomes going crazy in the dugout. I would play Taveras in CF and Dickerson in RF ONLY when Bruce needs a day off.
I only dream about being the Twins Mad Hatter, what are you talking about? I think the criticism of Taveras’ catch is BS. The guy stinks, but he made a great catch tonight. Give him the credit the rare time it is due.
Hope BA gives another great start so we can find a team to deal him to.
Bruce gains nothing by going down to AAA. He needs a hitting instructor that can help him. That person does not appear to be Brook Jacoby.
If you’re awake and have access to it, Jonathan Sanchez of the Giants is tossing a no-hitter through 8. He had a perfect game until the Giants booted a ball in the 8th.
I’ve heard Doc Rogers a bit, he’s like previous WLW talk show hosts. They’re paid to create controversy, to get people ticked off and calling in. If people don’t listen and call in he gets fired. So a lot of idiotic statements are made and some of the callers are unbelievable.
XM radio used to carry WLW, now it doesn’t and I miss all the fun, especially the pre-game interview with the current manager.
Wow, Aaron Rowand just made a great catch to preserve the no-hitter and secure the second out of the ninth inning.
Fun game.
Wow, he did it, a no-hitter. Don’t see those every day.
First complete game Sanchez has ever thrown, minors or majors.
Great catch by Rowand for the second out. Sanchez had a nasty breaking pitch tonight.
Thanks for the updates on the no hitter, Chad. I wouldn’t be greatly upset if Bruce is sent down for a couple of weeks to regain his confidence and stroke. But I don’t think it’s necessary.
As others have suggested, give him a day off now and then against a lefty who’s especially tough on lefties.
He just needs to stop trying to pull everything, no doubt Jacoby’s telling him that but it’s easier said than done if Bruce feels anxious at the plate.
I love watching him play, his diving catches, the great arm, the smooth powerful swing. As has already been pointed out, he’s already as productive as a lot of players in this lineup. I’d put my money on his becoming a great player, just let him play. It’s not like he’s disrupting a team full of all stars.
While I don’t think Bruce is as bad as Taveras, it’s hypocritical to give him a free pass because he’s young. Bruce has been atrocious at the plate this year and has made quite a few bonehead plays in the outfied (including one game where the RLN recap described him as a “little leaguer”). Bench them both. Would this board be opposed to a Nix – Dickerson – Gomes outfield?
funny to be talking about the Giants on a Reds blog but damn what a game!
I live in SF and the Giants are my second favorite team to the Reds. I’ve already gone to a handful of games this season and might go Sunday.
It was just GREAT to watch tonight’s game. I missed the first 3 innings but wow…
I do think Kungfu Panda would have gotten that ball that Uribe botched.
great catch by Rowand
and I don’t believe Sanchez when he said in the post game that he wasn’t nervous. He sure as hell looked nervous in the 9th
the best part was the hug from his father in the dugout after the game
I saw 4 hard hit balls all night…that’s it.
the only game I’ve watched pretty much in it’s entirety that was that good from a pitcher was Browning’s 1988 perfect game. I think Sanchez’s game was better
It was on par with Zambrano’s no hitter against Houston last year which is one of the best games I’ve ever seen pitched
Remember when Mike Scott 3-hit the Reds over 10 innings? I still think that’s the best game I’ve ever seen pitched. He pitched 10 innings against the Reds, allowed 3 hits, 1 BB, and 1 ER while stricking out 15. The lineup was good from the Reds as well. Sabo, Hatcher, Larkin, Davis, O’Neill, and Duncan. I remember that game so vividly. Browning pitching great and Myers blowing the game. and the terrible Astros beat a very good Reds team.
Re: Drew and what do we do with Votto when Alonzo is ready
easy, we trade Alonzo to your drunken softball team
one thing about the idea of giving Bruce a day off once in a while vs a lefty.
I don’t think that’s a bad idea. And honestly Bruce has been OK vs righties
Top Reds OPS vs righties with at least 50 PA
1.022 Votto
.816 Nix
.801 Bruce
.772 Dickerson (.372 OBP)
.770 Hanigan (.400 OBP)
should there be any guessing as to who should start vs righties?
and Reds worst OPS vs lefties (25 PA since they don’t get as many PA vs lefties)
.503 Taveras (see the problem with a platoon?) .503? That’s lower that a lot of players SLG
.536 Rosales
.561 Bruce (ouch)
.578 Gonzo
.586 Janish
.642 Dickerson (but .351 OBP)
.679 Hernandez
wow…those #s vs lefties for those guys are awful.
Interesting..in his very limited 20-something PA vs lefties EE has a .950 OPS
these team just needs a SS, to make Dickerson a starter, and to play Hanigan at least half the time and I think they will be OK. Honestly the minute SF trades for a bat, if it’s a good bat, the Reds season is over.
Taveras covered a lot of ground on his catch, no way he was jogging. Nix made a nice catch on Sheffield’s line drive.
On Bruce
1. Jay Bruce will carry your fantasy team.
Bruce, one of baseball’s more heralded prospects of the past decade, announced his presence with authority last year, blasting 21 homers and hitting .254 in 413 at-bats. Given his track record of stolen bases in the minors (he stole 19 back in ‘06) and the inevitable comfort that a future star feels the longer he’s in the majors, Bruce was a fantasy darling in drafts back in March. On average, he was the 68th hitter taken, at an average draft position of 98, putting him squarely in the 10th round. According to ESPN’s player rater, though, Bruce has only been the 145th-best fantasy hitter so far this season, despite having accumulated 18 homers already. In fact, Dusty Baker benched Bruce on Thursday and Friday so the outfielder could “clear his head.” While you can certainly whinge about his lack of RBIs (he’s got only 38) and his high strikeouts (62), the most damaging aspect of his season so far is his batting average: .208.
And that will change. Bruce’s batting average on balls in play so far in 2009 is .202. Bruce’s BABIP (batting average on balls in play) is the lowest among qualifiers in baseball right now. Not only that, since 1974, the year FanGraphs.com’s data for BABIP begins, not one single batter has ever finished with a BABIP this low. The lowest mark among qualifiers in a non-strike year in the past 35 years was a 38-year-old Brooks Robinson in 1975 at .205. Nobody has finished a non-strike season below .229 since Mark McGwire’s .217 in 1991, and while, unlike with pitchers, a hitter’s BABIP is a reflection of his own batting style, Bruce had a BABIP of .298 in his rookie season, and never less than .351 in three seasons at four levels in the minors. As long as he doesn’t become strikeout-prone, this is a guy who should hit between .280 and .310 every year.
So what’s the problem with Bruce? First off, he’s hitting a fly ball almost half the time he’s making contact (49.6 percent), up from 34.2 percent last season, while his line drive percentage has died out from 21.1 percent last season to 12.7 percent this season. His ground ball-to-fly ball ratio has also fundamentally changed, from 1.31 last season to 0.76 this season, and despite his lofty home run totals, he’s hitting relatively fewer home runs per fly ball than he did last season: 20.2 percent to 15.4 percent. Plainly put: He’s trying to do too much, it’s not working, and it looks like Dusty Baker has noticed.
My guess is, Bruce will right the ship in the second half. He’ll relax, hit more pitches square instead of trying to murder every pitch out of the park, and the batting average will come up as a result. I daresay he’ll get out of Dusty’s doghouse and hit close to .300 over the next three months, the ability to do which he’s shown all the way through the minor leagues, and all his offensive numbers will rise accordingly. Bruce has actually been dropped in 5 percent of ESPN.com leagues. If yours is one of those leagues, grab him.
from espn.com
I’m glad Bronson showed up tonight…I hate to think what the Mets fans are saying after this game
I would like to see some more runs, but a win is a win, and my tip of the cap to Bronson for getting it done tonight.
Hanigan batted 8th and got on base twice, including a double. Taveras batted 2nd and didn’t get on base.
If Hanigan bats 2nd, I bet the Reds score at least one more run b/c Votto, BP, Nix, and Encarnacion (the 3-6th hitters) all had extra base hits.
But, hey, “I ain’t no front runner.”
Anyone else see that Ryan Freel got traded again. I liked that he played hard, too hard at times maybe, and wish him well. Although nobody should really have to go through getting banished to KC.
http://www.kansascity.com/385/story/1309107.html
Yet another Scott Rolen/Reds article…these seem to be running all over the place nowadays. McCoy has already shot it down, but with the Walt/Rolen relationship, it would not surprise me any if something happens there.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/215522-reds-interested-in-rolen?cf0A3B0810=1343F4AC5!RkxSQ1xicnVibGU6ZmxyY2l3YTpvSdRyJJvv4hb8FKVuJ+W3
Their getting Bruce out on low and slow stuff. I can’t imagine why its taken him so long to adjuct but it sure has. I’ve always looked for him to figure it out and be the player he should be. I just never thought he’d take this long.
I found this interesting…an article on the most overpaid players in baseball. The Reds have two guys mentioned (Bronson, Ramon) and one in the top 5 (Ramon).
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ys-forbesoverpaid071009&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
I know this is late but Annapolis this is what I mean when I refer to the Twins:
After a division championship in 1992, the Twins fell into an extended slump, posting a losing record each year for the next eight years: 71–91 in 1993, 50–63 in 1994, 56–88 in 1995, 78–84 in 1996, 68–94 in 1997, 70–92 in 1998, 63–97 in 1999 and 69–93 in 2000.
Threatened with contraction during the 2002 season, owner willing to contract team and a court order that they had to honor their lease with the Metrodome to survive. I hope the Reds can be like the Twins of today but it seems like the Reds are becoming more like to Twins of the mid 90’s and the Pirates and Royals of today.
My hope is all the young talent, that I hate to say was acquired by Dan O’Brien pans out and gives us many successful years in the near future.
How much is owed Ramon next season?
Mad-Got it, makes sense!!
Bruble-Bleacher Report is a complete joke. Anybody can write for them. Believe nothing.
Ramon has an $8.5 million club option for 2010 and a $1 million buyout.
He’s been OK, but you’d have to think they’re leaning toward the buyout… (right??)
By the way, here’s the best place to get all MLB contract info. The guy who keeps up this blog is totally on top of things…
http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/