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The Detroit Tigers come to town for the first time in more than a decade this weekend. The Tigers are led by their future Hall of Fame SS/2B combo Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker, along with overrated right-hander Jack Morris. You gotta love their manager, however…Reds legend Sparky Anderson.
Wait…what?
Oh yeah, it’s Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, and Justin Verlander who lead the current version of the Motor City Kitties into the Queen City. Tonight, young Mat Latos will take the hill against Tigers right-hander Rick Porcello.
Discuss the game here. Go Redlegs.
Frazier originally in the lineup, but he was scratched for Cairo because of back spasms…
Lineup’s second best OBP is hitting 8th, sandwiched between a .128 hitter and .000 hitter. Lineup’s 7th best OBP is hitting 2nd, right behind the leadoff hitter and his .294 OBP. But Dusty has many years of major league managerial experience and I don’t, so obviously this must be the best possible lineup.
Meanwhile, what’s happened to Frazier?
Ah, back spasms you say.
Do the Reds have a 3rd baseman that doesnt get back spasms?
Hard to understand why the Tigers have a worse record, looking at these lineups.
Tigers are 55-35 in interleague play recently.
Redlegs? Not so good.
@eastcoast redsfan: Unfortunately, yes. He’s playing today.
Tonight’s Lineup:
Zack Cozart 6
Chris Heisey 8
Joey Votto 3
Brandon Phillips 4
Jay Bruce 9
Ryan Ludwick 7
Miguel Cairo 5
Ryan Hanigan 2
Mat Latos 1
vs. RH Rick Porcello (3-4, 4.86)
Will there be another komatose performance by Mat tonite. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud when they said he was undefeated in his last 8 starts. Included in this “undefeated streak” are game ERAs of 10.80 6.14 5.40 and 7.11.
Good start.
Need to get some early runs.
@Robert:
About 12 to play it safe, since Eight Wasn’t Enough last Saturday.
the Hot/Cold zones for the Reds are pretty interesting. Votto has a couple “cool” zones with OPS .944
who told Heisey to bunt?
Smart play by Cozart.
@Myles: I think he did it on his own – was bunting for a hit.
This getting-runners-on-base-in-front-of-Votto theory actually does work.
Sounds like the Tigers have the heebee geebees.
Another nice play by Cozart.
The Reds have actually scored first in the last four games.
Bruce swinging at pitches out of the strike zone there?
Of course. And Ludwick starts out by doing the same.
At the beginning of the season when Bruce was hot, I really thought he had turned a corner and was going to be a .290 hitter. I guess was being really optimistic.
big chance that inning, much like last night’s results with just the one run.
Another 1st and 3rd with 1 out where they fail to score.
Bruce- what are you doing??? Lefties are hitting .324 and slugging .503 vs Porcello this year.
Is that right? Tonight’s game is a sellout, and tomorrows game is sold out also. Summertime has finally kicked in, in the Queen City. Awesome. Not to worry, Jay will redeem himself later in the game. (I hope)
But of course we have 7 righties against a guy that flat out sucks vs lefties.
Has Fielder gotten fatter or is it just my HDTV?
Will Jhonny hhit the bhall?
Plate discipline, plate discipline, plate discipline.
The TV guys said how what a great pitch on 3-1 by Porcello. Well, if hitters always swung at his change in the dirt, then he’d have an ERA of 0.00.
It was a great pitch only in the sense that Bruce was determined to swing no matter what the pitch was.
@Robert: I didn’t think that was possible.
Like I said yesterday we suck at hitting sac flys!
Here’s a question. Obviously Votto’s batting in the right place, and many other guys are in the wrong place. If I drew the lineup out of a hat, would it likely be better or worse than what Baker comes up with?
Let the record reflect: Hanigan sees 6 pitches and hits the ball hard. Sort of what you’d hope for from a #2 hitter.
Your so silly. Hanigans a Catcher.
I put part of the blame on Hanigan batting 8th on Mesoraco not hitting worth a crap.
Sad but true. I really like Meso but he needs to get more days off. Hanigan should be the “clear” #1 catcher at this point.
Never thought I would see the day I would root for anything Cleveland. Today’s the day. Its Cleveland Injuns @ St. Louis Cardinals.
Anyone want to bet me that Porcello gets a hit tonite(provided he doesn’t sac bunt everytime).
That AL pitcher bunts better than most of the Reds pitchers.
Why would you throw a pitch easy to bunt on 0-2?
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: Do you realize what a bad idea it is to relegate Mesoraco to the bench based on 90 plate appearances? Especially when there are good things about him, like patience at the plate.
I like winning better than developing youngsters until we are out of the race. Hanigan is clearly a better option at this point. Case closed.
amen. hes 23 years old.
if hanigan gets even more starts, he’ll be that much more worn out in a couple of months
Latos has a low pitch count after 3. Would be good if he could go 8 or 9, Chapman not available, Marshall has pitched 3 days in a row.
I see Anger Management Counseling in Mesoraco’s future. I don’t care what my neighbors say, I like that Cozart kid.
If the result is good, it must be good. Heisey swings at a terrible pitch and gets a hit.
Got aoscore at least 2 this inning. Come on Redlegs!
@aml92: We will have to agree to disagree.
The one part of Dustys lineups I haven’t minded (I actually think is pretty good) is how he has divided up the catching duties.
Damn, Votto is pretty good.
God, another solo HR for Votto. I’m so sick of it.
Wait, what? There were two guys on base? Wow!
Vottoooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 Run jack Jack
Nice to have runners on base for Votto.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: Contrary to RedLegNation popular opinion, Ryan Hanigan is not a great player.
Hanigan will wear down when overplayed, if the past is any judge.
Unlike Votto, who just wears out pitchers.
429 foot blast by Mr. Votto.
@eastcoast redsfan: If you like guys that are hitting .184 then I understand where you are coming from. I’m not coming from the same place though.
@Racine Red: Didn’t say he was. IMO, he is clearly superior to Mes “right now”.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan</a First, batting the catcher 8th lessens the upgrade of Hanigan over Meso. Second, whether we like it or not, Hanigan has shown to wear down when playing all the time. Third, this is just an opinion but I believe the pitchers are familar with their particular catcher and it seems to have helped.
darn … not sure how I got that to post in red.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: Meso was expected to struggle. And as the arguments have been made, Hanigan breaks down. The catching duties have been split up perfectly so far. Eventually this season, Meso will have to have an expanded role. If Hanigan can stay off the DL, we’d be lucky, but he’s going to wear down, even if just a tidbit. And Meso will improve. He’s apparently as big of a baseball rat as Votto, so I like that kid’s chances of figuring something out.
But Hanigan is playing as good as he ever has right now, and I don’t think you’ll find a better 8-hole hitter. But that is all Hanigan is- an 8-hole hitter. Meso is a future all-star, four hole, stud player. Hanigan is a good platoon-type catcher. But right now, Hanigan should be playing 3 of 5.
I was with you until right there. His numbers are not those of an 8 hole hitter – and that’s not just this year.
I believe that, if the Reds put Hanigan on the trade block right about now, you’d be shocked at what they’d be offered.
And Latos goes back to being a fly ball pitcher.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: Do you understand that Mesoraco has an OBP over 100 points higher than his BA?
No, he’s not hitting well right now overall. But his OPS is what, 100 points worse? It’s not like the Reds have Mike Piazza and Brad Gulden as their catchers.
@Racine Red:
*yet*
I feel like they have no problem tempting fate.. have they never heard of jinxing someone?
“This is the best Mike Leake we’ve ever seen!” *Gives up some runs.*
“Chapman is unhittable!” *Gives up two doubles and his first earned run.*
“Matt Latos is looking great, keeping his pitchcount down.” *Solo homerun rockets away.*
We will do it in reverse.
Cairo sucks and couldn’t hit the ocean if he was standing in it.
Brandon Phillips will swing at the first pitch and hit a nubber back to the pitcher.
@Myles: How dare he only be 2-3, including 50% of the team’s runs!
Why do you think Ludwick hit all those homers? I’ve been working that reverse magic all season, haha.
Sadly.. there’s not enough magic in the world for that to have worked on Harris/Valdez/Costanzo/Cairo.
@eastcoast redsfan: no, but its kinda awesome.
Delmon Young with the whiff. Not even close.
Latos helps his own cause.
The fact is there is no painless way to get Mesoraco the playing time he needs to gain the experience to fulfill his destiny of being the Reds Starting Catcher.
This is honest. I disagree, with the “needs” part, but this is the truth. When we are out of the race, he is my starter but until then he catches day games after night games only. Until he either breaks down or starts to play lousy.
And Cozart grounds into a DP on the first pitch…
@RC: I heard Hanigan for Upton rumors in the off-season with the Rays. Hanigan is a valuable commodity, but has he ever hit anywhere other than 8th or 9th? I don’t know how he’d fare hitting in the two-hole or anywhere else. Batting in front of the pitcher gives him the advantage of seeing a ton of fastball strikes-and he’s not an extra base type of hitter. For that, keep him down at the eight spot. It is best suited for his abilities and his weaknesses.
I’ve heard this argument before, and I don’t buy it. Every 8-hole hitter would thrive if that were the case. I don’t see that happening. Plus, what your saying is true when the 8-hole comes up with nobody on, but there are plenty of occasions where they get nothing to hit because the pitcher’s on deck.
As for not knowing how he’d hit in another spot, that’s rather the same argument used in regards to Chappy starting. There are *ways* of finding out.
Why do I keep reading this rumor that a #8 hitter is somehow advantaged in a way that a #2 hitter isn’t? The #8 hitter sees a lot of BAD pitches, especially when they’re slow, and especially with two outs, and especially with runners on base and two outs. For years and years I’ve been hearing that it’s probably harder to hit 8th than anywhere else in the lineup, and all of a sudden I keep hearing this theory that Hanigan is somehow advantaged by hitting in front of a guy who isn’t any kind of threat at all. It’s like Dusty has managed to hypnotize a whole bunch of Reds fans.
This means Votto is likely to lead off next inning.
@Sergeant2: Hmm. maybe not painless, but getting rid of Dusty may at least help
Latos got a hit. Looking out my window for the locusts…
You come up with some doozies. That was to funny.
Pirates lead 4-2. Indians lead 1-0 over Cards.
Top 1st Injuns 2 Cards 0
Anyone know what Willie Harris is hitting at AAA?
He should be hitting the bottle toasting the end of his baseball career.
Instead he’s “hitting” .232/.302/.305
The bottle.
@Robert: .232
@Robert: Nothing, perhaps?
Stupid Brandon Phillips and your mental errors, you should just quit baseball with how terrible of a defensive player you are, not able to keep your head in the game.
@hermanbates: Agree 100%
If he hits the same as he did with the Reds, he will be one of the Bats best hitters.
.232/.302/.305
Votto will probably walk.
@RC: I know this is old school or whatever the word for it is, but he offers nothing in terms of running-speed, he has zero power potential, and, although he gets on base better than most of the Reds players…
You know what, on that double, get someone on in front of Votto, I don’t care anymore.
Nope, he’s just a triple away from the cycle though.
He goes in standing up, like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.
This Votto kid can hit.
And congrats to BP! Did the job!
Chance for a sac fly!
And Votto inches one step closer to the all-time doubles record. Think he’ll get it?
Joey Votto is good, err.. make that great
If Ludwick would not swing at pitches out of the zone, that is.
@zippy: Actually, what you can’t see.. Dusty is standing in the dugout on 4 tablets just out of sight, posting all of this himself. It’s why he’s too busy to actively manage today, which is why we’re winning.
Another runner on 3rd with less than 2 out, another abject failure on bringing him in.
@FreeHeisey: Ah. Now it all makes sense.
@zippy: Coming from my five years of competitive pitching, and although I never played past high school, I had multiple coaches with pro careers and a few with major league experience, and as a pitcher, facing the eighth and ninth hitters, I did’nt want to walk them. Typically, your 8 and 9 hole hitters are your worst hitters-make them earn it. People don’t “pitch around” eight holes. Because if you nibble with an 8 hole guy and walk him, and the nine hole guy bunts him over, you have to deal with the top of the lineup again. As an 8-hole hitter, you’re going to see pitches to hit. A two hole guy not so much(unless Joey Votto is batting behind you)
Gotta hand it to the Tigers there, walking Bruce and then throwing the pitches that Ludwick can’t lay off (baseball pitches)
@FreeHeisey: How dare you suggest I be Dusty Baker himself. I feel like firing my self at that insinuation alone.
If only Dusty would fire himself for the good of the team.
Tigers have a chance to get one with a leadoff double. I wonder if they’ll be as incompetent as the Redlegs.
Hopefully Latos won’t melt down now.
Meltdown in progress…
Hanigan:
7th spot: 272-PAs, .313/.396/.412/,808
8th spot: 657-Pas, .271/.364/.357/.721
Maybe he should bat 7th?
Weak seeing eye crap single.
So Latos can never get past the 6th inning but Dusty’s going to let him blow the lead before he makes a change.
give up a hit to the career .192 .462 ops hitter…………….nice.
I would not bet on Latos holding the lead here with nobody out bases loaded and the 3-4-5 guys coming up.
Commence implosion!
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: Ha, show Dusty those numbers. That’s the only argument he needed to keep Stubbs batting second.
Is Dusty going to let Latos work his way out of it? One way or another?
@hermanbates:
Yes, of course, if the #8 hitter is terrible, you go right after him in most situations. But if he’s hitting almost .300 and you’ve got a runner or two in scoring position, you absolutely do NOT go right after him. And Hanigan is in a tough situation of having to decide whether to take a walk and leave it to the pitcher to drive in a run, or try to hit whatever is pitched. You NEVER have this issue with Votto hitting behind you.
I’d also argue that if a player is so terrible they can’t hit fastballs in the strike zone when they know they’re coming, they’re probably doing so in AA ball. Or really really amazing defensively.
Here’s Dusty letting another game get away with a pitcher obviously imploding…
Cabrera’s hit was legit. FRAZIER FIELDS THAT BALL IF HE’S IN.(totally facetious)
@Myles:
I knew 4 wouldnt be enough; afterall he got 8 vs the lowly astros and frittered it away.
At this point, it’s June, and Latos is still not very good.
At what month are we allowed to call that trade terribly disappointing?
@zippy: fair argument, but I don’t know how many 8-hole hitters are hitting .300?
I’m wondering if Dusty is aware the game has started.
This is where the ballpark switch has it’s issue. In Petco, Latos could throw anything at anytime and it’d likely be a sac fly. Here it would be a homerun. So he tries to be more fine than just using his stuff to get hitters out.
Heisey-phenomenal.
Cowboy said it seems when Latos gets in a situation he starts over throwing the ball. Heisey has been playing the heck out of Center field.
Not to rub salt but:
Grandal at AAA: .315/.411/.519/.930
Darn, I hope they don’t rush Drew’s recovery.
He could hit .500 in AAA, but until he hits well for an extended period of time in major league baseball, there’s no wound to rub that salt in.
Mike Costanzo 2012:
Minor League- .313/.417/.545
Major League- .056/.095/.056
Yeah, but Costanzo is what 40? Grandal is 23. Lot of guys can hit AAA but not MLBers. Will have to wait and see about Grandal. Just hope Latos gets it together sooner than later.
He’s 28, actually..
Every day that passes, Stubbs gets more and more obsolete. I would say Stubbs is possibly going to get Pipped, but Stubbs was never as good as Wally.
About to be bases loaded.
@hermanbates:
Well, my point is that I can’t figure any reason that Hanigan would somehow be a worse hitter if he were hitting in front of Votto, given that fact that he’s managed to hit in the high 200s in front of guys like Latos and Cueto. He’d probably walk a little less and get a few more hits, but I assume he’d continue getting on base one way or another. And, as I keep pointing out but most people seem to be unwilling to acknowledge, he’s a great guy to hit-and-run with. Someone gets on base in front of him, you can hit-and-run almost every time with confidence. As it is now, on those rare occasions when the leadoff guy gets on, he usually just stands there.
@Myles: You can call it whatever you want. Fact is, we have no idea how Volquez would be doing here, we know Yonder wouldn’t be getting many at bats, Boxberger and Grandal would both be in Louisville still and we have Latos, for better or worse. He’s got a better shot at improving than remaining where he is, but he could very well remain terribly inconsistent and not very good. But we’ve got him for the next 4 years. So whether your disappointed or not is up to you. But I find it more refreshing to think he’s going to get better than to dread when his spot in the rotation is up. But that’s just me.
I believe Grandal makes or breaks the trade even if Latos ends up being a decent #2. Hope we traded the right catcher but I am concerned.
@zippy: That leadoff guy getting on is rare. Cozart’s standing on second if he’s usually on base at all.
@hermanbates:
If I’m running the team, BP is leading off, with Hanigan next. Cozart is hitting 6th or 7th when Hanigan starts
Dusty? Anybody home?
Still no relief pitcher in sight?
Time to turn it over to the pen.
Whats the line on whether Dusty leaves Latos in or takes him out?
Will anyone be surprised to see Latos take the mound in the 7th?
@FreeHeisey: Wait- Costanzo hit over .050? Why’d we send him down again?
Well that inning was interesting, to say the least. But after all that drama the Reds still have the lead.
Do you PH for Latos?
Not for reasons of offense.
Does anyone remember Cairo hitting a ball out of the infield this season?
he has three doubles?
@Myles:
hahahahahaha. Wait, what?
He had a couple of doubles when he first came off the DL.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: I agree. Grandal and Mesoraco will always be tied together. But with the way Mesoraco approaches the game, I like that kid’s chances of being something special.
With that said, if Latos wins a Cy Young and leads us to a World Series or two, regardless of how the other 4 do, we did just fine overall in the trade.
Here comes the bunt attempt!
@zippy: I’d support you whole-heartedly. If it were me, I’m batting Cozart 2nd, and Meso plays 4 of 5. But I’m partial to rookies. Basically the anti-Dusty.
Oh, goody! Dusty is managing!
See? Just when I accused HermanBates of being Dusty Baker posting on a tablet in the dugout, POW! Dusty starts managing the game again.
Coincidence?
@hermanbates: Dusty could make a man think that way. No crime there.
Dustyball strikes again.
The Redlegs lately have been textbook examples of how not to do the little things correctly.
Of course just when they say Latos has always gotten the sacrifice bunt down, he fails.
@hermanbates:
Well, if Hanigan is going to be wasted hitting 8th, then you might as well let Meso get some experience. But I’d like to think the guy who’s second on the team in OBP could actually score some runs if he weren’t getting on base in front of Latos and Cozart.
IDGAF how this game turns out, or how the rest of Latos’ career turns out. Chapman in the rotation, Alonso at 3rd, Grandal learning how to play LF>Latos.
In my opinion, of course.
A decision to leave the pitcher in to bunt didn’t turn out as Dusty hoped? I’m shocked.
Dusty really underestimates his own bullpen. I don’t get it. Isn’t that the strength of the team? Is 3-innings too much relief work with a 1-run lead?
He needs to get Latos going.
It would be great if Heisey would do something here to make us forget Stubbs more.
C’mon, Chris – dude just walked a guy. Don’t hack at the first pitch.
@Ima Funhaver: That is an excellent point, and another huge what-if. No Latos deal, maybe Aroldis is the second Ace we’ve been craving. But I’ll critique you just a bit- I think Alonso would play left and Grandal would convert to third. But that is obviously an irrelevant point.
Instead Votto will get to lead off another inning. DejaVotto.
Man. What would we do without Dusty? who would be our punchline? I’d honestly love to find out. Maybe Walt keeps Dusty around because he doesn’t want the heat.
@Ima Funhaver: I’ll gladly put Chapman in the rotation regardless of the trade, Frazier at 3rd, and Heisey at CF (leaving LF open for Hamilton to help negate his defensive woes)… Alonso is hitting like ~.260 and has ONE home run/14 RBI.
Latos back in. Us non-baseball minds just don’t understand Dusty’s impossible-to-be-incorrect baseball savvy.
Question: Will Cairo get another hit for the Reds?
Question #2: Will Cairo get another hit for anyone?
Bot. 4th Injuns 3 – Cards 3
@Robert: When Rolen returns, does Cairo get DFAd? Obviously Negron will be sent down, but Cairo getting sent packing is the better move. Even if all Negron can do is have big hair.
No no no Cards 0
Interesting theory from Chris “Yoda” Welsh: It’s not a good idea to bunt with the count 0-1, because if you foul it off, you’re at 0-2. Apparently if you swing you never miss and never foul it off. I didn’t realize that.
He makes some very astute observations, Welsh does.
Got that right, you do.
meltdown continues…
Someone REALLY needs to tell Dusty this game has started.
Off Topic
I have MLB AT-BAT and the audio is nearly 2 minutes behind TV /radio broadcast. Is this common?
I’m Mat Latos; I give up leadoff hits to sub .200 hitters!
Just call me “future ace”
When it’s 7-4 maybe then Dusty will bring in a reliever
Dusty. Leash. Latos?
Hanigan to Latos, “WTF”.
@hermanbates: One of the many things that frustrated me about last season was Alonso not getting a better look at third than that one game where he didn’t get a chance. There was mention in an article about how well he looked at 3rd, and got a ringing endorsement from Rolen, Phillips and Speier. I thought he lacked the overall footspeed to cover a lot of ground in left, but was athletic enough for 3rd. Francisco was “their guy” though and he’s gone so it doesn’t really matter now.
@FreeHeisey: Alonso had a better approach at the plate last season than anyone not named Votto.
Not a great throw, but that’s on Cozy.
REALLY? How are you supposed to distinguish in .05 seconds that the throw is going to go into the dirt, so you need to go from the one knee position you’re in to tag, to 5ft over to block the ball with your body?
Does this guy listen to what he says sometimes? It literally sounded like he was making it up on the spot with the pauses he had.
Hanigan got Latos through that AB. No doubt in my mind.
Ah, so that’s why Dusty left him in to bunt. Needed him to get one more out, and now the bullpen can take over.
have there been any non grounder through the hole hits? Other than the homer and the ground rule double.
Whew!
@hermanbates:
There was a bloop to right.
Well, sheet.
2 out, runner at third, base hit right back up the box. Why didn’t Boesch try to pull that ball down the right field line?
Call me crazy, but I think the Reds are up by at least one run right now if Valdez or Leake had hit for Latos.
Given the effectiveness of the Reds bullpen that would be a decent bet.
Tigers get a runner on 3rd with less than 2 out, and find a way to get him in. On that stat the Reds are losing 2-0 tonight.
Dusty has a hard and fast rule, if a pitcher gives up three runs or less, and loads the bases two times or less in the same inning, you never take that pitcher out. With Dustyball logic when a pitcher is struggling that badly its an indicator that he is on the verge of “getting it going”
sheesh.. losing 1-0. You get the idea.
BP starts by taking a gigantic swing at a ball a foot low and outside, then a big swing at a ball 6 inches low and inside, then pops up with a huge swing on an 0-2 count.
Let’s just go up there hacking at bad pitches!
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: Not to mention the fact that it’s possible the Reds would have scored if they hadn’t just given away an out with a runner on base and the top of the order due up.
Forget the bad luck bleeder hits. Latos just simply isn’t dominating right now. The Reds didn’t trade for him to strike out 3 in 6 innings.
I shouldn’t admit this, but I can’t stop myself from thinking about what the Yankees would be willing to give up to get Chapman. How many good lefty outfielders, top prospects, tens of millions of dollars, etc. I just can’t stop myself from thinking about it.
I hope all the small ball fans here are thrilled that Phillips got Votto to 3rd with one out. At least Phillips is the 8th place hitter. Oh, yeah, he’s cleanup.
Arredondo is allowed to go 2 innings but Chapman can’t?
Looks like the Reds Central lead will be down to 1.
I told you the Reds were going to get whipped in this series.
Oh well. It was nice to imagine winning this game.
I swear the best bat tonight on the Reds bench is Mike Leake.
D*rn!
@zippy: Brett Gardner would be nice to have.
@zippy: Bad Zippy! A dominant closer is worth far more than all of that!… *Cough*
There’s always Valverde, who has 15 BB, 17Ks, and 2 HR in 23 innings I believe. There’s a chance.
The Reds being down 1 run with six outs left wouldn’t seem like a problem. Unless you’ve been paying attention.
Don’t look now but the Pirates WILL be in first by the end of the weekend.
No way the Reds beat Verlander tomorrow.
I certainly want the Reds to win the division but if they don’t, I like those gritty Pirates and no-nonsense manager. How do they do it with that roster. With Dusty they would be 15 games out of first.
Oh, by the way, TOS!
@Robert: Man, you win the award for crabbiness. You should get a cat so you can chuck it when the Reds screw up.
Bot. 6th Cleveland 4 – Cards 0
Bottom of the order up, ouch!
Delmon Young would be interesting on this team. The park plays to his strengths. He obviously has talent being a #1 pick and his past stats. He is only 26 and entering his prime. I’m not sure what his defense is like…oh forget it. He would have to beat out Ludwick.
Why not H&R?
It’s going to be okay. We’ll get Delmon Young all liquored up in OTR and we’ll take the next two.
In a nice German neighborhood like Over The Rhine?
You bunt Hanigan, your second best on base guy, to bring up a bench player and Cozart?
Jeez.
You know.. with how much Dusty loves pinch runners.. wouldn’t you throw Leake out there at 2nd? At least Leake has a CHANCE of scoring on well hit single, and a good probability of scoring on a double.
Bunts, bunts, bunts! Will no one rid me of these turbulent bunts?!
Now, why on earth do you not pinch run Negron for Cairo and then hit-and-run with Hanigan? What’s the point of having Negron if not EXACTLY that situation?
I thought Frazier was unavailable. The bunt isn’t nearly as bad given that he can hit.
Silly bunt!
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: Bucs seem to own the Reds, as well as the Nats. I’ll bet the over that Cincy & DC will be playing in the postseason and the Pirates will be watching at home.
No doubt but Pirates milk their available talent as well as anyone in the league.
The only good bunt, is a good bunt.
Baker’s a genius!
Todd Frazier is money! Can’t wait to Rolen returns.
FRAZIER !!!!
Welcome to the bigs, punk. And the bunt pays dividends, however small. I’ll shut up about it.
For tonight.
Cozart swings at a ball over his head. If he walks it nearly guarantees Votto an AB with RISP.
C’mon Heisey your due for a HR
Or an infield base hit.
Todd Coffey!!
I’m IBB Votto if I’m Leyland.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: Like last year when they finished 1000 games out and lost 19 in a row.
The Mat Latos PSA profile as seen on tv:
Hi I’m Mr. Mat Latos, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. Here’s what I can do- I can fool the Reds into thinking I’m worth trading 4 players; I can dominate the Pittsburgh Pirates for 6 innings when they have just 2 legitimate major league hitters in their lineup.
Unfortunately there are these things I can’t do- I can’t pitch worth a crap against the Cardinals; I can’t hold a 6 run lead; I can’t hold a 4 run lead; I can’t get sub .200 leadoff hitters out; I can’t get my ERA below 4.35; I can’t be an ace or even a #2 starter.
Oh, One more thing- for the more shallow baseball fans that see my 4-2 record that think I’m great- even though I pitch like crap most of the time, I’m undefeated in my last 9 starts! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!
When Votto gives the Reds the lead, naturally about the weakest pitcher in the pen will come in to get the save opportunity.
Time for Votto to crack a hit off Coke.
Wow, you don’t see Votto get schooled like that very often.
Its now Indians 6 – Cards 0 top 7th
Coke was a fiend.
How is that not a balk every time he does it?
@Racine Red: Yep Red, they won 7 fewer games than the Reds in 2011. Overachieved and our boys not so much.
@Racine Red: When Votto gives the Reds the lead, naturally about the weakest pitcher in the pen will come in to get the save opportunity.
So sayeth the seer.
Ok, maybe I don’t fully understand the balk rule (but who does?), but how is it not a balk to bring your hands down to your waste, stop very briefly, then shrug your shoulders, and then pitch? With all the stupid little things that are called balks, THAT isn’t one?
Bob Davidson sure as heck does.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: No doubt. AND I like Clint Hurdle, too. But, I can’t stand the Pirates.
O.K. Who’s going to hit the walk off for the Redlegs tonight. I say Jay Bruce, I said he would redeem himself later in the game. (fingers crossed)
@zippy:
A lot of times if a pitcher’s mannerims are consistent they’ll allow some leeway as long as the pitcher doesn’t abuse it.
Let’s end it right here.
This is the part of the game where every Reds hitter dips their back shoulder and swings for the river.
just get on base
By not going to the pen with the 4-1 lead, in reality might end up burning up the pen even more.
@LVW: True, but what he was doing seemed to be almost the very definition of a balk. He brings his hands down, sort of semi-pauses, then does a big shrug with his arms, then throws it. I’ve never seen a pitcher get away with anything like that. (It may not be a balk for some technical reason, but it’s hard to believe.)
I assume everyone is swinging for the fences here.
Who wants to go with Ludwick with the walkoff?
I can’t even figure out – when he brings his hands down before the shrug, is that when he’s set? Or is it after the shrug?
@zippy: You’re crazy, and your welcome.
Did I miss anything?
Ludwick strikes out in an at bat in which he was thrown all five pitches well out of the strike zone.
This might be a game where the Juan Valdez trade pays dividends.
@Myles: That’s why he commands 2 millions dollars.
Can I DENY the world a Coke?
Dangerous leaving LeCure out there with big home run bats coming up.
I just watched Phil Coke throw 13 balls and 1 strike.
Phillips: 4 pitches, all balls, he swung at the last two and grounded out.
Bruce: 5 pitches, first 4 balls but he swung at 2 of them, then flies out on a strike.
Ludwick: 5 pitches, all balls, swings at the first, fourth, and fifth pitches, and they were all curve balls in the dirt. The other two he took were much closer.
BakerBall at its finest.
That’s a fact.
@Racine Red:
Getting Bruce, Ludwick, Phillips, and I’ll add Heisey to show any plate discipline doesn’t take a baseball manager or hitting coach.
It would take a shock collar.
@Myles: What would you do?
I learned an important lesson tonight, crossing your fingers doesn’t work.
At the beginning of the season, Dustys reasoning for when he played Heisey vs Ludwick was, I know the players and want to put them in position to succeed. Heisey is better with hard throwers while Ludwick is better with soft throwers. We now see how well Dusty knows his players and their abilities.
@eastcoast redsfan:
Huh?
If you’re a major league pitcher, why would you ever throw anything but breaking balls out of the zone to Ludwick?
Lecure just threw about as good of a pitch as you can throw to ring up Cabrera.
@nvilleredsfan: The next time he lays off that pitch will be the first.
If its any consolation, Edinson Volquez still can’t pitch against the Brewers.
Nice job Sam!
whew!
Bottom 3rd coming up. Not good.
They need to win it this inning or Ondrusek is coming in.
I’d rather see Marshall.
At the beginning of the season, Dusty said he was playing Heisey vs hard throwers and Ludwick vs soft throwers because he knew his players and he wanted to give them the best chance to succeed. Well obviously, Ludwick can’t handle offspeed pitches at all which means Dusty didnt know crap about his own players. He put them in a position to fail not succeed.
Are we going to be treated to Valdez pinch hitting? Or Negron?
Yes.
This Cairo kid can hit.
Cairo is smoking baby!
My eyes doth deceive me.
Cairo stole Votto’s triple!
Just like you guys have been saying all night, Cairo really stinks doesn’t he?
DustyBall here would be Hanigan bunt, Valdez strike out, Cozart hit fly ball.
@eastcoast redsfan: yep.
Old man Miggie. Kinda makes you feel good for the guy. FB wins it.
Grandpa hit a triple, Grandpa hit a triple. Man on 3rd no outs.
That works for Cairo, big hit.
Leake
Did I miss Negron being used somewhere? Why isn’t he running?
@earmbrister: That’s very funny.
Bunt?
Best shot is right here withH ani.
This is the best guy to have up. He won’t chase like everyone else (I hope).
But he didn’t get the sac fly. So you’re going to get Wilson Valdez to have to do it, which isn’t that great of a bet.
Shirt.
@Racine Red: That insurance commercial with Mr. Mayhem as a dog watching burgulars is an all time fav …
Dustyball!
Valdez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good call Dusty.
And they shall be saved by the bunt.
DAT BUNT!!
wow, DustyBall FTW.
Cairo + Valdez.
Really nice slide by Cairo.
Great win tonight.
Bunt wins Bunt wins Bunt wins. Put that in your anti bunt pipe and smoke it baby.
Did Dusty did make the call?
Valdez said he did that on his own. No Dusty.
Heh! That last shot, with Cairo chugging down the linen while Valdez bunts, was so “Major League”.
Cairo and Valdez. I expected a bunt from Valdez, and I liked our chance of scoring that way. With a good bunter, you’ve got to love the safety squeeze.
It was a good call. Take a bow Dusty.
@Sergeant2: That wasn’t a sacrifice bunt, and it was with a guy who can’t hit. At all.
Sorry, but that’s not the same as almost all of Baker’s bunts.
Some people can be neck deep in water and still deny being wet. Whatta ya gonna do.
Speaking of Valdez, apparently he’s moved that weird red chin thing to the top of his head.
Crow is so good. I’m always glad to be wrong!
Go Reds!
Great slide by Cairo, great win. But I still don’t understand why the fast runner on your bench (who can’t hit) isn’t put in to run in that situation. But who am I to question Dusty’s logic.
“This is a battle of wits between Baker and Leyland.” Paraphrase of Welch, and my god, the Reds won the battle of wits! Safety squeeze for the win. Miracles happen, and Baker is still a turd. Sorry, Dusty lovers, not won over.
Where’s Robert, who already had the Reds in second place in the 8th inning?
Trading an out for a run is a big difference than trading an out for 90 feet.
It’s a nice win.
Latos has now blown 10 runs of lead over two games, so he’s definitely in the “Negatives”
Indeed. It is time to right the ship, Mat.
@Robert: Well at least he didn’t screw it up somehow so I’ll still give him a “little” credit.
Old buddy Volquez got torched tonight. Turns out you can’t pitch every game at Petco. (He had 7 of his 11 starts there, and ERA+ assumes that you’ll make half your starts at home, I believe.)
His ERA+ is sure to be under 100. The guy is no loss. (Though Latos isn’t exactly tearing it up.)
Another four walks.
Didn’t Valdez just say he did it on his own, i.e. not a set play?
@Robert: Valdez said he did that on his own. No Dusty.
The one downside about this win is that people like you get to enjoy it with the rest of us after all the barbs you have thrown the way of Cairo, Baker, etc.
Needed that win!
Time to watch Kelly Pavlik KO some dude on Friday Night Fights.
To quote Ashley Schaeffer: “Woooo”
Friday Night Fights, never miss it.
I was just rewatching Frasiers double. He does remind me of Sabo. Someone needs to get him a pair of goggles… and a corked bat.
@Robert:
Thanks! My boys were still screaming – I could not hear.
I’m not opposed to bunting to win the game with (1) a terrible, awful hitter up, (2) a pretty good bunter up, and (3) the on deck hitter isn’t a really good hitter either.
Somehow the Baker fans think this vindicates all his strategy? Whether he called it or not, it matters not. It’s a perfectly reasonable play to bunt there, in that situation. Even if it were not to work.
If Votto had been on deck, no.
@Sergeant2:
Whoever decided on the bunt, it was definitely a DustyBall win. He’s getting yer’ Cairos and your Valdezes going.
Have to give it to them: at least for one night they are the heroes. I’ll take it as I’m not too picky.
@Sergeant2: The sun shines on every Seargent twice a day! Congrats. The team is now what you want.
Its spelled Sergeant, not Seargent.
Who was Sergeant1?
The one before me.
Double
Is that guys M.O. the same every night or what.
Lost in all the discussion of Dustyball and the Latos trade is the fact that Sam LeCure was fantastic tonight.
@Sergeant2: Wow, we’re doing spelling lessons now. I saloote you, sir. The buntt won the game.
Looking forward to tomorrows game, gonna be exciting. Really nice win for the Reds tonight. It was touch & go the whole game. We’ll get em again tomorrow. Go Reds! P.S. Really enjoyed the comments tonight, lotta give and take, but civil.
@zippy: As of right now, the Reds “second in command” in the bullpen is their worst bullpen pitcher, below both Lecure and Simon.
@Sergeant2: Sure, the old fling the insult followed by “everyone’s been civil”.
After hearing LeCure interviewed tonight, there’s no doubt who plays him in the Reds movie. He IS Giovanni Ribisi.