This is a game where we need our ACE to stand up and show up like AJ did for the Pirates on Sunday. There is no reason Johnny shouldn’t go 7+ with less then a couple runs given up…anything less would be kinda disapointing out of possible Cy Young/Ace picther.
This is a game where we need our ACE to stand up and show up like AJ did for the Pirates on Sunday.There is no reason Johnny shouldn’t go 7+ with less then a couple runs given up…anything less would be kinda disapointing out of possible Cy Young/Ace picther.
Yep. He didn’t do it. Let’s yank the Cy Young award away.
I just hope BP can get back to 100%. Last night’s game convinced me he’s either still hurting or so rusty as to be not worth having out there. Either way, guess we just have to wait and see.
I think we won’t see Votto till at least next Monday when the Reds return home I think to play the Mets, wouldn’t be surprised to see him sit till the home series vs. Cubs.
I don’t think there is any question BP isn’t 100% and again should have been DL’ed and allowed to rest a full 15 days, but hey what do I know…
1. Zack Cozart (R) SS
2. Drew Stubbs (R) CF
3. Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
4. Jay Bruce (L) RF
5. Scott Rolen (R) 3B
6. Xavier Paul (L) LF
7. Todd Frazier (R) 1B
8. Ryan Hanigan (R) C
9. Johnny Cueto (R) P
If we play to potential then we will be fine! Pitching and defense win ball games so here we go again. I would like to see the starters given a bit of rest as we have only used five pitchers all year. Roll along with the momentum or rest them? I vote rest a starter each time through the rotation. 1 missed start per pitcher. Call up Redman?
Not sure what you mean. Dusty -always- bats Frazier down in the order for some inexplicable reason. I think he’s been 3rd once.. 4th-5th not sure, a few times maybe? Lately Todd’s been cooling off but earlier in the year even when he was crushing everything he was still batting 6th/7th.
The opposing pitcher has a pretty dramatic split against LH/RH hitters. It’s actually pretty reasonable to not have Ludwick in the lineup tonight, and Frazier hitting after a hot hitting left handed hitter. Although Baker having Stubbs, who stinks against RHP, in the #2 spot waters down that argument.
I really think the Reds could rake up alot of season awards. Cozart, BP, and Joey win Gold Gloves. Cueto wins Cy Young. The Cuban Missile wins reliever of the year. Joey goes on a tear to end the year and wins the MVP. Reds win the cental and go on to win the WS with BP being WS MVP. Sounds like a pretty good year to me!
Masset pitched for the Bats tonight. He had a clean, 1-2-3 1st inning and came back for the 2nd inning after only throwing 8 pitches in the 1st. He left with 2 outs (both SO) and 2 on (a hit & a walk), but his relief cleared the bases for him so his pitching line didn’t look so good, but he actually pitched well.
i’m watching the brewers feed with MLB.tv, and they were just saying that they asked Fiers what the difference is between the majors and the minors, and he said that the biggest difference was that the players in the bigs will wait for you to throw their pitch.
I think that’s the one thing over all other things I miss about not having Votto in the lineup. He’s not afraid to take pitches and work with 2 strikes against him.
Fay says he thinks Votto is ready to play and wants to play and asked Dusty to play but Baker is adamant that Joey won’t play on the road trip. Fay says Votto is running at full speed and put on a show in batting practice.
Fay says he thinks Votto is ready to play and wants to play and asked Dusty to play but Baker is adamant that Joey won’t play on the road trip. Fay says Votto is running at full speed and put on a show in batting practice.
I don’t say this much.. but in this particular case I’m with Dusty. No offense to Mr. Votto but speaking as a fan.. I do not trust him to self-diagnose.
Fay says he thinks Votto is ready to play and wants to play and asked Dusty to play but Baker is adamant that Joey won’t play on the road trip. Fay says Votto is running at full speed and put on a show in batting practice.
Fay says he thinks Votto is ready to play and wants to play and asked Dusty to play but Baker is adamant that Joey won’t play on the road trip. Fay says Votto is running at full speed and put on a show in batting practice.
Right before Berkman came back all the Cardinals brass were saying how he was moving better than before the surgery and had been put through all the tests and was all ready to go and we see how that turned out.
@Steve Mancuso: i was thinking about that too, and while part of me agrees with dusty on waiting to be sure, there’s another part of me that just thinks the reds do everything backwards with injuries.
when a guy is hurt, he plays, until he can’t play and then he’s on the bench. you only put him on the DL until after he’s been on the bench a good while, and then once he’s on the DL, you don’t let him off, even when he’s 100%.
there strategy seems to minimize the number of days they have healthy players on their roster.
I hate to say this but Reds batters are sucking up again for 3.1 innings. This Brewers dude is making them look like AAA team. They hacked at everything so far.:lol:
Welsh is defending all the swinging early in the count on the grounds that the pitcher throws a lot of strikes, so why wait until you’re behind in the count to swing. I’ll tell you why, Chris: because they aren’t getting on base or forcing the pitcher to throw many pitches. Welsh may be a nice guy who occasionally says something interesting, but is this really the best we can expect?
Welsh is defending all the swinging early in the count on the grounds that the pitcher throws a lot of strikes, so why wait until you’re behind in the count to swing. I’ll tell you why, Chris: because they aren’t getting on base or forcing the pitcher to throw many pitches. Welsh may be a nice guy who occasionally says something interesting, but is this really the best we can expect?
Yeah I heard the first few lines of that routine from Welsh and just tuned him out. He’s said that quite a few times this year.
Hey…I’ve had this thought circulating in my head over the last few Cueto starts, but not sure if I’m way off base or what, well hear it goes.
I believe JC’s increased ERA is due to him throwing his fastball more often and subsequently trying to over power hitters and trying to strike them out. As opposed to mixing things up, keeping hitters guessing and off balance. I’ve noticed it a lot tonight already. I remember a quote by Luddy at the beginning of the season saying how the WLBS used to sit on Cueto’s fastball because they knew he was always trying to strike them out. But now (meaning early in the season and last year according to Luddy) he’d learned how to pitch and was difficult to hit. I also remember a stat someone throughout on a game thread that showed JC was striking more guys out since the All star break.
I think JC needs to return to mixing things up and throwing less fastballs and he will become truly dominant again, like we saw at the beginning of the season. Just my thoughts…now I’ll patiently wait for Mancuso to destroy my theory with some saber metric stat that I won’t understand.
Hey…I’ve had this thought circulating in my head over the last few Cueto starts, but not sure if I’m way off base or what, well hear it goes.
I believe JC’s increased ERA is due to him throwing his fastball more often and subsequently trying to over power hitters and trying to strike them out. As opposed to mixing things up, keeping hitters guessing and off balance.I’ve noticed it a lot tonight already. I remember a quote by Luddy at the beginning of the season saying how the WLBS used to sit on Cueto’s fastball because they knew he was always trying to strike them out. But now (meaning early in the season and last year according to Luddy) he’d learned how to pitch and was difficult to hit. I also remember a stat someone throughout on a game thread that showed JC was striking more guys out since the All star break.
I think JC needs to return to mixing things up and throwing less fastballs and he will become truly dominant again, like we saw at the beginning of the season. Just my thoughts…now I’ll patiently wait for Mancuso to destroy my theory with some saber metric stat that I won’t understand.
I’d have to go back and look but I don’t think the recent HR’s were all on fastballs. If they were then you might have something.
Fiers at 45 pitches through four innings. Working the count is especially important against the Brewers because their bullpen is such a disaster.
It’s a shame nobody collecting a paycheck from the Reds seems to be aware of that fact. I simply don’t understand why this organization refuses to do the EASIEST thing (stand there) when it would almost certainly improve their odds of winning.
It’s a shame nobody collecting a paycheck from the Reds seems to be aware of that fact. I simply don’t understand why this organization refuses to do the EASIEST thing (stand there) when it would almost certainly improve their odds of winning.
Just let Joey coach batting practice while he’s on the DL.
@L.A.Red: You might be right about Cueto’s mix of pitches. That’s pretty easy to look up and see if it’s right. Cueto’s ERA has always been a little lower than the “advanced stats” say it should be. He hadn’t given up a HR to a right handed hitter in over a year. He was due for a few of them. You just can’t keep that up forever, especially when you don’t have dominating stuff.
This is a good observation by one commenter erlier about Cueto. He had harts for 0-2 and threw him a fast ball to try to strike him out, however it was single instead. Johny needs to have his head check out and his battery made should have known better. Therefore both SSSSS.
On the last AB to Braun in the 3rd MLB gamecast said Cueto threw 10 straight fastballs. Now he recorded the out but my god, he was just daring Braun to go deep on him. Why not mix it up.
As I type this he induces a ground out on a slider to Weeks.
Brewers catchers are 10 times better than the Reds catchers.
Is someone paying you to inject negative thoughts into these game threads lately or what? I mean, everyone’s free to speak their mind and all but the last couple nights you have seemed like a person with a vendetta against this team for some reason.
Is someone paying you to inject negative thoughts into these game threads lately or what?I mean, everyone’s free to speak their mind and all but the last couple nights you have seemed like a person with a vendetta against this team for some reason.
Brewers catchers are 10 times better than the Reds catchers.
Lucroy has great numbers so far, but he’s been hurt a lot, and doesn’t have many plate appearances. He’s never put up numbers even close to this in his career.
Maldanado is a good prospect, but he’s pretty terrible behind the plate right now. He just made 3 throwing errors in a game the other night, and now has to have special coaching sessions to throw the ball to second.
I’d certainly take Mesoraco over either of them going forward.
I’m beating a dead horse, but there he goes again (and I know they’re just singles, but they add up) 7 pitches 1 slider, 6 fastballs gives up another single.
Bruce just looks lost.Back to swinging at crap and getting himself out.Gotta move him back down the order.
Not to defend that last 1 pitch at bat.. but Bruce has an 8 game hitting streak at the moment and he worked Fiers for more pitches than any other batter in the order the first time through.
The thing I don’t understand about Bruce’s at bat is that he swung last minute at a bit loopy curve ball. I get swinging at the first pitch on occasion. You’re looking for a specific pitch, say a fast ball. You look for it in a certain place and you say if they pitch it right there you’re going to whack it. Otherwise, you take it and if you go down 0-1, so what. In that case, Bruce swung like he had two strikes, protecting the plate.
I’m not one of the Bruce bashers. I see what he did as more of an indictment of the approach taught or at least tolerated by the manager/hitting coach.
The thing I don’t understand about Bruce’s at bat is that he swung last minute at a bit loopy curve ball. I get swinging at the first pitch on occasion. You’re looking for a specific pitch, say a fast ball. You look for it in a certain place and you say if they pitch it right there you’re going to whack it. Otherwise, you take it and if you go down 0-1, so what. In that case, Bruce swung like he had two strikes, protecting the plate.
I’m not one of the Bruce bashers. I see what he did as more of an indictment of the approach taught or at least tolerated by the manager/hitting coach.
I could not agree more on the organization’s unwillingness to value discipline, but can we really cut Bruce slack on this without trying to figure out what poor approach guys on other teams have been taught?
It seems to me that Bruce ought to know that he’s swinging at everything; he’s made comments to that effect. And he ought to do something about it. I understand how hard hitting is, but Bruce’s approach to hitting leaves a lot to be desired. When he swings at good pitches, he’s awfully good.
@RedForever: The Reds never work counts, so you can’t use that. Again, I think you’re just seeing what a baseball team looks like when a pitcher has them all messed up.
Rolen, Stubbs, and Frazier all have web gems tonight, they’re clearly not “going through the motions.” Everyone has been hustling down the line.
If they had made a lot of mental mistakes in the game you might have something to argue, but I just don’t see it.
I think that ANYBODY who hints, implies, or suggests the Reds might lose tonight, have their Nation account suspended, and be, further, BANNNED, from ever posting on these, or ANY Reds board again. That’s it.
I think that ANYBODY who hints, implies, or suggests the Reds might lose tonight, have their Nation account suspended, and be, further, BANNNED, from ever posting on these, or ANY Reds board again. That’s it.
I guess that means we have to all George Grande where everything is just peachy all the time.
I’ve seen this same crap from this team far too often. It is one thing to lose, it is another thing to not even be in the games.
Well, this one is over. And they will lose tomorrow. Then will see if the Reds get desperate enough to activate Votto before the wheels completely fall off.
This team is just as capable of going on a 10 game losing streak as they werre of winning 10 straight.
I wonder if Marty would get his hair back if the Reds lose 10 straight.
Maybe cutting Marty’s hair cursed the team…since they haven’t won since.
Well, this one is over.And they will lose tomorrow.Then will see if the Reds get desperate enough to activate Votto before the wheels completely fall off.
This team is just as capable of going on a 10 game losing streak as they werre of winning 10 straight.
I wonder if Marty would get his hair back if the Reds lose 10 straight.
Maybe cutting Marty’s hair cursed the team…since they haven’t won since.
Really? They won the very next day against the Pirates.
@Steve Mancuso: The guy threw bruce a really slow hanging breaking ball for first pitch strike in his first AB. You can look it up, it was 70mph, and I noted that because it was crushable.
Bruce went up thinking that if the guy did that again, he was going to make him pay. The guy did it again, and Bruce just missed it. The approach seems fine to me.
What’s worse is that Bruce seems to be missing pitches that he should hit. See his AB last night against K-Rod. He got 4 or 5 fastballs in the heart of the plate and fouled a bunch off before eventually singling. I want Jay to be someone who kills those pitches when he gets 5 of them, or a hanger when he knows it’s coming.
The Pirates are making Saito into a Sakê. He is s–king it up at the moment. The Pirates will blow this game up for sure. I hope the Reds will wak up before it is too late .
@wally mo: This is something I ranted about after last night’s game. What Bruce did might be an okay approach in some situations, but not in THIS CONTEXT. The guy is working on a perfect game, has thrown very few pitches, the Brewers’ bullpen is awful, the Reds are down by 2 runs in the middle of the game. This isn’t the time to think “crush the first pitch.” This is the time to think “make him work.” They should have been thinking that from the 1st inning, but, as they often do, they’ll wait until the 7th or 8th to start taking their ABs seriously.
Yesterday Bruce swung at the first pitch with two outs in the 9th inning down by three runs. That was ALSO not the time to think “crush it.” The team is just dumb about this.
@zippy: it’s a good point. i generally agree with you, and especially on changing their approach from the beginning of the game.
that said, bruce is one of those guys that i think can go up to the plate looking for one pitch, and if he gets it, rip it. this time he did, and it didn’t work, but i’m fine with it in general.
with most guys in the lineup sute, but bruce, if he gets his pitch, should have a good chance at cutting the lead in half.
@zippy: Jay Bruce is having a disappearing act. I don’t think that he is very consistant as a hitter. He can’t keep it going like JVotto for sure. I think the Reds need to continue to search for their Outfielders becuase none is consistant! Just my obsevation
@RedForever: I wish I could bet you actual money on that prediction.
Unfortunately you can just say stuff like that with zero accountability. So I will try, try, try to remember to post next Monday. That would be 8/13.
If the Reds are still in first, will you agree to quit with the doomsday stuff? If they aren’t in first anymore, I’ll never comment on one of your gloom and doom predictions again.
@RedForever: I wish I could bet you actual money on that prediction.
Unfortunately you can just say stuff like that with zero accountability.So I will try, try, try to remember to post next Monday.That would be 8/13.
If the Reds are still in first, will you agree to quit with the doomsday stuff?If they aren’t in first anymore, I’ll never comment on one of your gloom and doom predictions again.
@RedForever: I wish I could bet you actual money on that prediction.
Unfortunately you can just say stuff like that with zero accountability.So I will try, try, try to remember to post next Monday.That would be 8/13.
If the Reds are still in first, will you agree to quit with the doomsday stuff?If they aren’t in first anymore, I’ll never comment on one of your gloom and doom predictions again.
Deal…and I hope I’m wrong and the Reds are up 7 come Monday.
@RedForever: I wish I could bet you actual money on that prediction.
Unfortunately you can just say stuff like that with zero accountability.So I will try, try, try to remember to post next Monday.That would be 8/13.
If the Reds are still in first, will you agree to quit with the doomsday stuff?If they aren’t in first anymore, I’ll never comment on one of your gloom and doom predictions again.
I third that one. We will not forget, RedForever, right or wrong.
@wally mo: I agree that Bruce is quite capable at hitting home runs when he gets a pitch he likes. But if he had a home run for every first pitch he’s swung at, he’d probably have at least 80 this year. Most of his HRs haven’t come on first pitches, and I’ve venture a guess that he has zero walks when he puts the first pitch in play.
Cueto’s been amazing. Since I’ve started watching in the 4th inning, he’s pitched better than Fiers. Yes I know Fiers hasn’t allowed a base runner yet.
@zippy: I mean, sure, but those numbers sort of miss my point.
The point is, hitting is very hard. It seems to get a great deal easier when you get exactly the pitch you were looking for, but it’s still hard. Just because you get your pitch doesn’t mean you will succeed, just succeed more often.
SO the question is, how many walks and deep counts does a hitter give up in exchange for swinging at their pitch, and what do they get for swinging at their pitch.
If they are a power hitter like Bruce, they’re probably going to turn that into some extrabase hits, and that’s good.
Wow. That was a close play. See, I’m not one of these guys calling for Stubbs to bunt all the time, but that seems like it would have been a good time to try to beat one out.
Nyjer Morgan has a terrible arm. We’re on the board! Fiers still at 84 pitches, we’re going to have to hit him because the Brewers would be crazy to take him out with the bullpen they have.
@zippy: Now Bruce definitely should not have swung at that one.
It was reasonable to think “crush it” at this stage. Within one run, and now probably too late to get the starter out of the game because of all the quick outs when they weren’t taking their ABs seriously. I’m not against ALL first pitch swings, only the ones that make no sense.
Does Jay Bruce just close his eyes and hope he hits it?
I’ve said before, I think a lot of guys on this team decide whether they’ll swing before the pitch is even thrown, and Bruce probably does it more than anyone.
Cueto is becoming like the rest of his pals-Bailey , Leake and Ah-No_yo who can’t hold the opponenta=s after his team has scored to be closed to it or go ahead with it. It is time for Dust man to take him out. Weeks was weak all season and he got a Double-Boo!
I can’ beleive what Cueot and Hannigan are doing tonight with the pitcher coming up and Cueto throws a pitch to Mr. Segura to make another run. Wooow this is getting pretty bad-Uh
I would have considered walking the 8 hole hitter. You set up the double play which can get you out of the inning, and you get to the pitcher, who may just strike out, in which case you don’t need the double play.
That’s one place I like the IBB. When you really can’t allow another run, and you know the pitcher’s going to hit, I’d walk Segura, hope to get the K there on Fiers, and then hope to get Aoki. It’s definitely risking the big inning, but this late in the game, I don’t want that third run up there.
@Sergeant2: The Brewer broadcasters commented that it would have been difficult to throw to 3rd without hitting Weeks. And on the replay it looked that way.
Yeah, I don’t get why you pitch to the 8 hitter there when the pitcher is a pretty sure out, not to mention if they pinch hit for him, you get to the bullpen. Sort of dumb if you ask me…
Yeah, I don’t get why you pitch to the 8 hitter there when the pitcher is a pretty sure out, not to mention if they pinch hit for him, you get to the bullpen.Sort of dumb if you ask me…
It comes down to pitch to a 22 yr old rookie with 1 out or Aoki with 2 outs because pitcher wasn’t coming out.
Yeah, I don’t get why you pitch to the 8 hitter there when the pitcher is a pretty sure out, not to mention if they pinch hit for him, you get to the bullpen.Sort of dumb if you ask me…
I forgot there was only one out… still, it could have set up the dbl play.
It’s a little weird to complain about Jay Bruce’s plate discipline when he’s taking more walks than anyone not named Joey Votto. Could he improve it? Obviously. But…
If you add up Zack Cozart & Brandon Phillips walk rates, it still doesn’t equal Jay Bruce’s BB%.
It’s a little weird to complain about Jay Bruce’s plate discipline when he’s taking more walks than anyone not named Joey Votto.Could he improve it?Obviously.But…
If you add up Zack Cozart & Brandon Phillips walk rates, it still doesn’t equal Jay Bruce’s BB%.
That stinks.
Well, true, but I’d just say that those two guys have absolutely horrendous plate discipline.
XP’s long AB might have at least cost Fiers the ninth inning. Fiers at 102 pitches now. If Hanigan can extend the AB a few more pitches, that should be enough.
Even if Ludwick makes an out here, what Paul and Hanigan did gives the Reds a much better chance in the 9th, as Fiers will be out and they’ll be closer to the middle of the order.
Now that was interesting. When Roenicke got to the mound, Fiers was trying to give him the ball. But he was just there for a pep talk, so he’s staying in.
Wonder if he’s feeling gassed. You don’t see pitchers make the move to give up the ball much.
Los Bucos went to Elsegundo to night , now I hope the Redbirds alos go down tom the tube.-Uh that’s hurt for sure. Good for the Dreds if the both also loss.
This Chris Johnson guy was a reasonable 3B for the Astros. He’s been completely on fire since the trade to the DBacks and has 2 jacks in the last 3 innings.
@nvilleredsfan: I think the \Reds need to provide glasses for their players. Their record at night game is 40-30 . If they use glasses thye may do better than this.
It’s another one of those situations where the GM and Manager are on different pages.
As an aside, someone said here that Jocketty, not Baker, decides when Phillips is ready to come back from injury. That can’t really be true, can it? I mean, I suppose Jocketty has executive authority, but is that really something he does?
As an aside, someone said here that Jocketty, not Baker, decides when Phillips is ready to come back from injury.That can’t really be true, can it?I mean, I suppose Jocketty has executive authority, but is that really something he does?
Jocketty will decide when Votto comes off the DL, not Baker.
There’s one difference between the 1990 Reds and 2012 Reds- Piniella would have never taken Charlton(Marshall) out to bring in Tim Layana(LeCure) in this situation.
There’s one difference between the 1990 Reds and 2012 Reds- Piniella would have never taken Charlton(Marshall) out to bring in Tim Layana(LeCure) in this situation.
There’s one difference between the 1990 Reds and 2012 Reds- Piniella would have never taken Charlton(Marshall) out to bring in Tim Layana(LeCure) in this situation.
What’s funny is that Charlton is thought to be this great pitcher, and Marshall can’t be trusted (according to a vocal minority [maybe?] here).
If you compare Charlton’s 1990 with Marshall’s 2012, Marshall is superior, even if you look at traditional stats.
C13J (or whatever his name is), OhioJim, and the other guy who I suppose could have been an alternate login.The number has shrunk recently, though.
If I could figure out how to successfully search, I could give you a few more.
And I’ll post whatever I wish.After all, you seem to have no problem posting out of bounds comments.
@Racine Red: This is a bogus claim you have made since you got on this blog. Why? It’s untrue. You named 2 names and one 1 can’t verify but 1 I can and will. And a third ‘Mystery” poster. That is weak and you can do better. You bring some good stuff but this stuff is just whiny.
Sean Marshall is very well thought of on this blog. Accept it and get over it. Have a nice evening.
If you compare Charlton’s 1990 with Marshall’s 2012, Marshall is superior, even if you look at traditional stats.
The problem with making that comparison is Marshall is averaging less than an inning per appearance and getting removed in the middle of an inning a lot while Charlton made 13 starts and had 12 relief outings of 2 or more innings.
The problem with making that comparison is Marshall is averaging less than an inning per appearance and getting removed in the middle of an inning a lot while Charlton made 13 starts and had 12 relief outings of 2 or more innings.
Fair enough. I wish we could compare them better, but Marshall isn’t used in multi-inning appearances very often.
There’s one difference between the 1990 Reds and 2012 Reds- Piniella would have never taken Charlton(Marshall) out to bring in Tim Layana(LeCure) in this situation.
You mean a Reds manager who has actually won a World Series?
Heisey is 4 – 13 as a pinch hitter this year and 23 – 70 over the last 3 years. L:udwick is now 2 – 12 this year.
Heisey is clearly the better choice.
You’re joking, right? Based on 12 at bats? Ludwick has about 150 points of OPS on Heisey. Plus you get the chance of a homer, which you don’t with Heisey.
You’re joking, right?Based on 12 at bats?Ludwick has about 150 points of OPS on Heisey.Plus you get the chance of a homer, which you don’t with Heisey.
@Racine Red: Red, you need a stat book, my friend.
I would suggest resist belittling others unless you have your own act together.
You are a real piece of work, plus, I have no idea what you are even talking about. Ludwick’s season is far better than Heisey’s. Is that even in dispute?
And talking about belittling, look in the mirror. You post about bedroom issues. Give me a break.
@Racine Red: I only belittle you because of your looking down on others and you don’t even have the facts on your side. You can do better. Putting other folks down does not lift you up.
The stats I listed are lifetime pinch-hitting. Heisey is a better ph. Go back and look at how you put that guy down over his comment.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: I think Drew has gone on his tear and is ready to settle back to K’ing 3 times a night.
@tgarretson82: I’m not there yet but he needs to play if he is in the lineup. Sometimes, he looks like he would rather just go back to the dugout. He needs to play for Gibson or Hurdle. He is squandering his talent.
@RedForever: The thing that makes me mad about this situation is the Reds seem to be pretty hush, hush on Votto’s progress or any sort of date of return.
Hopefully Latos can put a stop this three game losing streak. The team looks like its mentally fatigued. Votto can’t get back soon enough, he sets the tone for this team. Back at em tomorrow. Go Reds!!!
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: I felt discouraged about Stubbs’ 9th inning AB tonite. He’s facing a career minor leaguer with his first ML save opportunity. Gets behind 0-2, fair enough. But now you know a way outside slider is coming, right Drew ? He waves at it and walks back to the dugout. It was as if Stubbs was the career minor leaguer and Henderson the experienced, confident major leaguer.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: I felt discouraged about Stubbs’ 9th inning AB tonite. He’s facing a career minor leaguer with his first ML save opportunity. Gets behind 0-2, fair enough. But now you know a way outside slider is coming, right Drew ? He waves at it and walks back to the dugout. It was as if Stubbs was the career minor leaguer and Henderson the experienced, confident major leaguer.
You know that I am a Stubbs fan but a couple of ABs, the last two nights, are just hard to defend. I want him to be more professional. Maybe I shouldn’t. But I just believe he has so much to offer this team. Seems like he needs a good “strong” pep talk, sometimes. I think the guy cares but, IMO, it is more of a self-confidence thing. I’m probably way off base but it is just frustrating. And heck, no “Front Row Amy” tonight. That makes losing in Milwaukee doubly tough.
2011 Interviews:
-- Reds farmhand Matt Klinker
-- Reds Minor League Player of the Year Devin Mesoraco
-- Redleg Nation's Newest Spotlight Player, Reds farmhand Tucker Barnhart
-- Bakersfield Blaze Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations Dan Besbris
2012 Interviews:
-- Reds farmhand Tucker Barnhart
-- Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco
-- Redsminorleagues.com guru Doug Gray
-- Cincinnati Enquirer beat writer John Fay
-- Reds broadcaster Chris Welsh
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Is Ludwick hurt?
looks like Votto is only a day or 2 away.
This is a game where we need our ACE to stand up and show up like AJ did for the Pirates on Sunday. There is no reason Johnny shouldn’t go 7+ with less then a couple runs given up…anything less would be kinda disapointing out of possible Cy Young/Ace picther.
Yep. He didn’t do it. Let’s yank the Cy Young award away.
I just hope BP can get back to 100%. Last night’s game convinced me he’s either still hurting or so rusty as to be not worth having out there. Either way, guess we just have to wait and see.
I think we won’t see Votto till at least next Monday when the Reds return home I think to play the Mets, wouldn’t be surprised to see him sit till the home series vs. Cubs.
I don’t think there is any question BP isn’t 100% and again should have been DL’ed and allowed to rest a full 15 days, but hey what do I know…
Tonight’s lineup:
1. Zack Cozart (R) SS
2. Drew Stubbs (R) CF
3. Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
4. Jay Bruce (L) RF
5. Scott Rolen (R) 3B
6. Xavier Paul (L) LF
7. Todd Frazier (R) 1B
8. Ryan Hanigan (R) C
9. Johnny Cueto (R) P
Yes, I believe I read that Votto is with the team on the road, but likely won’t play until they get back in town to play the Mets.
No need to rush him.
You know, I’d say something about the lineup but considering that Cueto usually gets the Sunday Special lineups.. that’s fine.
I have no problem with giving XP a start or two especially while he’s still hot but why does he get to hit ahead of TF21. Eesh Dusty.
I guess on the bright side Dusty didn’t decide to start XP, Cairo, AND Valdez…
I can’t figure a way to put a picture in here, but as opposed to keep calm and carry on:
http://bearingdrift.com/wp-content/uploads/panic.jpg
Can someone give the link to set up an avatar?
If we play to potential then we will be fine! Pitching and defense win ball games so here we go again. I would like to see the starters given a bit of rest as we have only used five pitchers all year. Roll along with the momentum or rest them? I vote rest a starter each time through the rotation. 1 missed start per pitcher. Call up Redman?
Okay who did Frazier piss off?
Not sure what you mean. Dusty -always- bats Frazier down in the order for some inexplicable reason. I think he’s been 3rd once.. 4th-5th not sure, a few times maybe? Lately Todd’s been cooling off but earlier in the year even when he was crushing everything he was still batting 6th/7th.
I think Dusty sends out the B-Team because he knows JC only needs 1-2 runs to win the ballgame.
Who’s out when Votto returns?
The opposing pitcher has a pretty dramatic split against LH/RH hitters. It’s actually pretty reasonable to not have Ludwick in the lineup tonight, and Frazier hitting after a hot hitting left handed hitter. Although Baker having Stubbs, who stinks against RHP, in the #2 spot waters down that argument.
Found it
I really think the Reds could rake up alot of season awards. Cozart, BP, and Joey win Gold Gloves. Cueto wins Cy Young. The Cuban Missile wins reliever of the year. Joey goes on a tear to end the year and wins the MVP. Reds win the cental and go on to win the WS with BP being WS MVP. Sounds like a pretty good year to me!
ok
Masset pitched for the Bats tonight. He had a clean, 1-2-3 1st inning and came back for the 2nd inning after only throwing 8 pitches in the 1st. He left with 2 outs (both SO) and 2 on (a hit & a walk), but his relief cleared the bases for him so his pitching line didn’t look so good, but he actually pitched well.
Fiers is tough. It might be tough night.
We have to remember how young this team is and the growth they might make. Hoooyah!
Well, ump is calling some low stikes so far. Could be good for JC.
Get your head in the game. Drew.
Another brutal inning.
8 pitch inning. Wonderful.
Phillips = limited mobility on that effort
I hope the Reds win tonight so I come down off the ledge.
Cueto really jammed Braun.
Remind me – which of these teams won 10 in a row? The one that saw 8 pitches between its first three hitters?
Irates losing 3-2.
Here we go again.
There are definite signs that the wheels are starting to wobble.
I’m starting to see some of the early season stuff crop up.
Team-wide hitting slump, pitchers are starting to struggle, lack of hustle…
not the start i was hoping for. it would be nice to see the bats come alive a little and get johnny those 2 back right away.
Show ‘em how it’s done Bruce, 3-2 count.
i’m watching the brewers feed with MLB.tv, and they were just saying that they asked Fiers what the difference is between the majors and the minors, and he said that the biggest difference was that the players in the bigs will wait for you to throw their pitch.
If only that were true.
wow, Fiers has a filthy curveball and changeup. his fastball looks eminantly hitable though.
We just need to make Fiers work and get into that bullpen I think…
Fiers with a perfect game thru 2.
I think that’s the one thing over all other things I miss about not having Votto in the lineup. He’s not afraid to take pitches and work with 2 strikes against him.
Xavier can definitely hit a breaking pitch. Nice to see that.
we need to stop hitting it to aoki.
SF 3, STL 0 Top of the 1st
XP has a nice stroke
Gonna be another loooooooooooooong game.
I’ve had about enough of Aoki out in right.
Cueto not fooling anyone.
awesome catch though slightly tentative
Fay says he thinks Votto is ready to play and wants to play and asked Dusty to play but Baker is adamant that Joey won’t play on the road trip. Fay says Votto is running at full speed and put on a show in batting practice.
I don’t say this much.. but in this particular case I’m with Dusty. No offense to Mr. Votto but speaking as a fan.. I do not trust him to self-diagnose.
Its not Dusty’s say. Jocketty sets the roster.
Right before Berkman came back all the Cardinals brass were saying how he was moving better than before the surgery and had been put through all the tests and was all ready to go and we see how that turned out.
Giants 3 – Cards 0 top 2nd.
@Steve Mancuso: i was thinking about that too, and while part of me agrees with dusty on waiting to be sure, there’s another part of me that just thinks the reds do everything backwards with injuries.
when a guy is hurt, he plays, until he can’t play and then he’s on the bench. you only put him on the DL until after he’s been on the bench a good while, and then once he’s on the DL, you don’t let him off, even when he’s 100%.
there strategy seems to minimize the number of days they have healthy players on their roster.
Fiers still perfect thru 3. We need Votto back NOW!
TOS!!!!!
This guy is just not that good. He had an ERA over 4 in AAA.
blech. this guy seems good, but the reds need to start getting some hits. his fastball is 89 and straight, he’s not verlander.
Ball was over Aoki’s head. Strike three. Struck him out twice tonight.
The club has done well keeping Rolen healthy and productive. Our pitching staff has been healthy.
Brandon has been rushed back and he has done little.
I have no complaints about how the club deals with protecting the health of the players.
Really?
Cueto needs to realize that Aramis is his daddy. What a dumb decision to pitch to him when he kicked Cueto’s butt so many times already.
Nice job Scotty.
Rolen, wow.
Rolen’s Fountain of Youth tour continues in the field.
Time for the Reds to get to Fiers. Make him throw some strikes.
Fiers seems to be getting a lot of strike zone love.
Say what you want about Stubbs, but no one runs harder to first base on every ground ball.
I hate to say this but Reds batters are sucking up again for 3.1 innings. This Brewers dude is making them look like AAA team. They hacked at everything so far.:lol:
Welsh is defending all the swinging early in the count on the grounds that the pitcher throws a lot of strikes, so why wait until you’re behind in the count to swing. I’ll tell you why, Chris: because they aren’t getting on base or forcing the pitcher to throw many pitches. Welsh may be a nice guy who occasionally says something interesting, but is this really the best we can expect?
Yeah I heard the first few lines of that routine from Welsh and just tuned him out. He’s said that quite a few times this year.
Hey…I’ve had this thought circulating in my head over the last few Cueto starts, but not sure if I’m way off base or what, well hear it goes.
I believe JC’s increased ERA is due to him throwing his fastball more often and subsequently trying to over power hitters and trying to strike them out. As opposed to mixing things up, keeping hitters guessing and off balance. I’ve noticed it a lot tonight already. I remember a quote by Luddy at the beginning of the season saying how the WLBS used to sit on Cueto’s fastball because they knew he was always trying to strike them out. But now (meaning early in the season and last year according to Luddy) he’d learned how to pitch and was difficult to hit. I also remember a stat someone throughout on a game thread that showed JC was striking more guys out since the All star break.
I think JC needs to return to mixing things up and throwing less fastballs and he will become truly dominant again, like we saw at the beginning of the season. Just my thoughts…now I’ll patiently wait for Mancuso to destroy my theory with some saber metric stat that I won’t understand.
I’d have to go back and look but I don’t think the recent HR’s were all on fastballs. If they were then you might have something.
Now Cueto’s daddy is coming to the plate.
Fiers STILL perfect thru 4.
Fire Brook Jacoby. This Offense Stinks!
Fiers at 45 pitches through four innings. Working the count is especially important against the Brewers because their bullpen is such a disaster.
It’s a shame nobody collecting a paycheck from the Reds seems to be aware of that fact. I simply don’t understand why this organization refuses to do the EASIEST thing (stand there) when it would almost certainly improve their odds of winning.
Just let Joey coach batting practice while he’s on the DL.
MLB gamecast says JC threw 1 slider then 2 straight fastballs and Hart got the singe.
It seems like BP is a different player since he’s come back. I wonder if he’s ok.
@L.A.Red: You might be right about Cueto’s mix of pitches. That’s pretty easy to look up and see if it’s right. Cueto’s ERA has always been a little lower than the “advanced stats” say it should be. He hadn’t given up a HR to a right handed hitter in over a year. He was due for a few of them. You just can’t keep that up forever, especially when you don’t have dominating stuff.
Singles don’t bother me though, JC always gets a lot of contact on his fastball.. usually for flyball/groundouts.
Hopefully it’s just timing.
This is a good observation by one commenter erlier about Cueto. He had harts for 0-2 and threw him a fast ball to try to strike him out, however it was single instead. Johny needs to have his head check out and his battery made should have known better. Therefore both SSSSS.
Brantley: It looks like the Reds just aren’t concentrating tonight.
This might get interesting. I kinda hope Fiers gets the perfect game. It would be about the only thing that would be interesting in this game.
The Reds look dead.
This is a comment I see a lot, and I wonder what you mean when you say that.
Is it possible for a team to have no hits and not look dead? There have been 3 excellent plays in the field already.
It seems like you’re just seeing a team get no-hit.
No energy, no fire, no enthusiasm. They look like they are just going through the motions. No one is working the counts, etc.
On the last AB to Braun in the 3rd MLB gamecast said Cueto threw 10 straight fastballs. Now he recorded the out but my god, he was just daring Braun to go deep on him. Why not mix it up.
As I type this he induces a ground out on a slider to Weeks.
Can’t remember his exact words, but basically Cowboy said the Reds are playing like their heads are not in the game tonight, and in yesterdays game.
Brewers catchers are 10 times better than the Reds catchers.
Is someone paying you to inject negative thoughts into these game threads lately or what? I mean, everyone’s free to speak their mind and all but the last couple nights you have seemed like a person with a vendetta against this team for some reason.
I’m betting you money this guy is a Cards’ troll.
Lucroy has great numbers so far, but he’s been hurt a lot, and doesn’t have many plate appearances. He’s never put up numbers even close to this in his career.
Maldanado is a good prospect, but he’s pretty terrible behind the plate right now. He just made 3 throwing errors in a game the other night, and now has to have special coaching sessions to throw the ball to second.
I’d certainly take Mesoraco over either of them going forward.
That’s probably the longest Lucroy has been at plate all season.
I’m beating a dead horse, but there he goes again (and I know they’re just singles, but they add up) 7 pitches 1 slider, 6 fastballs gives up another single.
Cueto is ssss-cking it again with the 0-2 pitch. Is he a dope or what? I think Hannigan is sss it up also.
And Bruce swings at the first pitch…awful.
Yup, why wait for a second pitch, when swinging at the first one is producing so many hits.
Bruce just looks lost. Back to swinging at crap and getting himself out. Gotta move him back down the order.
Not to defend that last 1 pitch at bat.. but Bruce has an 8 game hitting streak at the moment and he worked Fiers for more pitches than any other batter in the order the first time through.
The thing that stands out the most about tonight’s game is, Front Row Amy is missing in action. Hope she’s not on the DL.
reds are playing like they did not have anything to loose for. Thes dudes need a kick in the rear.
Five pitches. Progress!
This ump’s consistency at the bottom of the strike zone leaves a lot to be desired.
Fiers still perfect thru 5. Can this offense suck any worse?
Nine pitches that inning. Progress!
No hitter thru 5. Very impressive and on the other hand, very embarrassing.
Wow Fiers has retired 15 Reds in a row.
this offense is horrible
The thing I don’t understand about Bruce’s at bat is that he swung last minute at a bit loopy curve ball. I get swinging at the first pitch on occasion. You’re looking for a specific pitch, say a fast ball. You look for it in a certain place and you say if they pitch it right there you’re going to whack it. Otherwise, you take it and if you go down 0-1, so what. In that case, Bruce swung like he had two strikes, protecting the plate.
I’m not one of the Bruce bashers. I see what he did as more of an indictment of the approach taught or at least tolerated by the manager/hitting coach.
I could not agree more on the organization’s unwillingness to value discipline, but can we really cut Bruce slack on this without trying to figure out what poor approach guys on other teams have been taught?
It seems to me that Bruce ought to know that he’s swinging at everything; he’s made comments to that effect. And he ought to do something about it. I understand how hard hitting is, but Bruce’s approach to hitting leaves a lot to be desired. When he swings at good pitches, he’s awfully good.
Our offense is doing the cha cha cha tonite.
@RedForever: The Reds never work counts, so you can’t use that. Again, I think you’re just seeing what a baseball team looks like when a pitcher has them all messed up.
Rolen, Stubbs, and Frazier all have web gems tonight, they’re clearly not “going through the motions.” Everyone has been hustling down the line.
If they had made a lot of mental mistakes in the game you might have something to argue, but I just don’t see it.
I think that ANYBODY who hints, implies, or suggests the Reds might lose tonight, have their Nation account suspended, and be, further, BANNNED, from ever posting on these, or ANY Reds board again. That’s it.
I guess that means we have to all George Grande where everything is just peachy all the time.
I’ve seen this same crap from this team far too often. It is one thing to lose, it is another thing to not even be in the games.
I went to the store and came back to find out Fiers has a no hitter going, really??
Pirates tied up now.
Well, this one is over. And they will lose tomorrow. Then will see if the Reds get desperate enough to activate Votto before the wheels completely fall off.
This team is just as capable of going on a 10 game losing streak as they werre of winning 10 straight.
I wonder if Marty would get his hair back if the Reds lose 10 straight.
Maybe cutting Marty’s hair cursed the team…since they haven’t won since.
Really? They won the very next day against the Pirates.
@Steve Mancuso: The guy threw bruce a really slow hanging breaking ball for first pitch strike in his first AB. You can look it up, it was 70mph, and I noted that because it was crushable.
Bruce went up thinking that if the guy did that again, he was going to make him pay. The guy did it again, and Bruce just missed it. The approach seems fine to me.
What’s worse is that Bruce seems to be missing pitches that he should hit. See his AB last night against K-Rod. He got 4 or 5 fastballs in the heart of the plate and fouled a bunch off before eventually singling. I want Jay to be someone who kills those pitches when he gets 5 of them, or a hanger when he knows it’s coming.
@athensRed:
Not just a no hitter.
I bet XP is the one to break it up…
I hope not! he wouldn’t come up til 2 out in the 8th.
@RedForever: Ha. If you want to work on your troll rep you’re doing a great job.
Down 2 – 0 in the 5th, against a team with a terrible bullpen? Yeah, that game is TOTALLY out of reach.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: You hit the nail on the head. Troll Alert.
Pirates have bases loaded 0 out.
@RedForever: Dude, how are they not in this game!? The tying run is in the on-deck circle every AB!
That’s one definition of a save situation. It’s clearly a close game that’s halfway over.
Step back off that ledge my friend!
I’m only on the edge of my couch. I;m sick of seeing them throw away the division.
@LVW oh god, I’m following on Gamecast and just saw that no one has walked either…drats.
The Pirates are making Saito into a Sakê. He is s–king it up at the moment. The Pirates will blow this game up for sure. I hope the Reds will wak up before it is too late .
Dang. I thought Todd had the first hit.
@wally mo: This is something I ranted about after last night’s game. What Bruce did might be an okay approach in some situations, but not in THIS CONTEXT. The guy is working on a perfect game, has thrown very few pitches, the Brewers’ bullpen is awful, the Reds are down by 2 runs in the middle of the game. This isn’t the time to think “crush the first pitch.” This is the time to think “make him work.” They should have been thinking that from the 1st inning, but, as they often do, they’ll wait until the 7th or 8th to start taking their ABs seriously.
Everything hit hard is right at someone. The stars are aligning for this guy
Yesterday Bruce swung at the first pitch with two outs in the 9th inning down by three runs. That was ALSO not the time to think “crush it.” The team is just dumb about this.
And the perfect game for Fiers continues through 6.
sac fly 4-3 P’s.
@zippy: it’s a good point. i generally agree with you, and especially on changing their approach from the beginning of the game.
that said, bruce is one of those guys that i think can go up to the plate looking for one pitch, and if he gets it, rip it. this time he did, and it didn’t work, but i’m fine with it in general.
with most guys in the lineup sute, but bruce, if he gets his pitch, should have a good chance at cutting the lead in half.
The Pirates have gone ahead-Uh this not good!
I told you guys, the Pirates will lead the division by next Monday.
Why is Cueto swinging at a 2-0 pitch?
Yes, and why is Cueto not given take sign on a 2-0 pitch ? At least make Fiers throw some more pitches.
1-2-3 cha cha cha
I’m going with Stubby breaking up the perfect game.
@Redgoggles: I’m going with Cozart.
Good call.
@zippy: Jay Bruce is having a disappearing act. I don’t think that he is very consistant as a hitter. He can’t keep it going like JVotto for sure. I think the Reds need to continue to search for their Outfielders becuase none is consistant!
Just my obsevation
P’s got just that run on the sac fly.
Can’t have a perfect game, when you lose.
Cueto is really pitching well now. That was a nasty fast ball to K Braun.
@RedForever: I wish I could bet you actual money on that prediction.
Unfortunately you can just say stuff like that with zero accountability. So I will try, try, try to remember to post next Monday. That would be 8/13.
If the Reds are still in first, will you agree to quit with the doomsday stuff? If they aren’t in first anymore, I’ll never comment on one of your gloom and doom predictions again.
I second that one.
Deal…and I hope I’m wrong and the Reds are up 7 come Monday.
I third that one. We will not forget, RedForever, right or wrong.
I bet Votto could work a walk.
Cueto is mixing his pitches a little better now and getting results.
Yeah, this is actually quite a pitchers’ duel. One mistake to Aramis (which he didn’t miss) is the difference.
@wally mo: I agree that Bruce is quite capable at hitting home runs when he gets a pitch he likes. But if he had a home run for every first pitch he’s swung at, he’d probably have at least 80 this year. Most of his HRs haven’t come on first pitches, and I’ve venture a guess that he has zero walks when he puts the first pitch in play.
leadoff double for 1 of my favorite players- Goldschmidt!
JC is absolutely tearing through guys now.
And strikes out on a change up! Very nice!
1st and 3rd 0 out for Arizona.
Cueto’s been amazing. Since I’ve started watching in the 4th inning, he’s pitched better than Fiers. Yes I know Fiers hasn’t allowed a base runner yet.
another solo shot for Craig.
@zippy: I mean, sure, but those numbers sort of miss my point.
The point is, hitting is very hard. It seems to get a great deal easier when you get exactly the pitch you were looking for, but it’s still hard. Just because you get your pitch doesn’t mean you will succeed, just succeed more often.
SO the question is, how many walks and deep counts does a hitter give up in exchange for swinging at their pitch, and what do they get for swinging at their pitch.
If they are a power hitter like Bruce, they’re probably going to turn that into some extrabase hits, and that’s good.
Cueto is wheeling and dealing now, hopefully it’ll inspire his teammates. How about a bunt to get someone on?
There was that big get-ahead curveball again.
Work the count, get a hit.
Nice at bat Cozart. Waited on that breaking pitch and hit it in the gap.
Bring the tying run to the plate!
Finally. Nice call wally mo!
RBI hit for Montero tie game 1st and 2nd 0 out.
If you had Cozart in the 6th in the break the no no pool, You may now collect.
Cozart!
D-Backs have tied the Irates, 4-4.
Nice slide too by Cozart.
Wow. That was a close play. See, I’m not one of these guys calling for Stubbs to bunt all the time, but that seems like it would have been a good time to try to beat one out.
7-4 Arizona, Irates losing.
3run HR Chris Johnson! 7-4 Dbacks.
Lest I remind everyone, John Axford will come up to save this.
BP just not seeing the ball right now? It’s really hard to tell.
Have to get the run in Bradon. You HAVE to get the run in Brandon.
BPs bat looks slow.
@RedForever: Dont’be so sure becuase the Snakes just cam back and tied the game wit no one out and two on bases
Snakes up 7-4
Way to battle back from being down 0-2.
Nyjer Morgan has a terrible arm. We’re on the board! Fiers still at 84 pitches, we’re going to have to hit him because the Brewers would be crazy to take him out with the bullpen they have.
@zippy: Now Bruce definitely should not have swung at that one.
It was reasonable to think “crush it” at this stage. Within one run, and now probably too late to get the starter out of the game because of all the quick outs when they weren’t taking their ABs seriously. I’m not against ALL first pitch swings, only the ones that make no sense.
Another quality Bruce AB?
Terrible at bat.
Bruce really can’t hit this guy. Swinging at everything.
Does Jay Bruce just close his eyes and hope he hits it?
I’ve said before, I think a lot of guys on this team decide whether they’ll swing before the pitch is even thrown, and Bruce probably does it more than anyone.
Jay Bruce ???????????????
Nice tour of the bases by Cozart. He’s got some speed.
Good part of the order up next inning. We need Cueto to put up another 0 here bigtime.
J Bruce is counting his money too much and did not have time to do hitting practice. The dude is becoming a Joker these days.
that was a good/bad sac fly.
Giants now up 4-2. If the others lose, i can handle a Reds loss. Takes a little of the sting out of it.
We can still win this one.
You, my friend, have whiplash.
Maybe that is why my neck hurts.
How’s Bruce’s bunt working? You, know, in case he gets back up there.
@zippy: I meant that it was at his eyes.
I actually didn’t see the pitch. My cable was momentarily out, yet again. (Thanks Time-Warner!)
Reeks Weeks owes the Reds organization some kind of compensation. Just saying…
Reeky.
Cueto is becoming like the rest of his pals-Bailey , Leake and Ah-No_yo who can’t hold the opponenta=s after his team has scored to be closed to it or go ahead with it. It is time for Dust man to take him out. Weeks was weak all season and he got a Double-Boo!
From the quick replay they showed it looked like they could have got Weeks at the 3rd, but there was no one covering 3rd.
Rolen should have thrown that home.
Bad luck night both in the field and at the dish.
Damn, that takes the wind out of the sails.
That was kind of unlucky. Two ground balls after the double and Weeks can advance on both of them.
Segura is one of the guys they got in the Greinke trade.
Well, that makes things a little more complicated.
I can’ beleive what Cueot and Hannigan are doing tonight with the pitcher coming up and Cueto throws a pitch to Mr. Segura to make another run. Wooow this is getting pretty bad-Uh
I would have considered walking the 8 hole hitter. You set up the double play which can get you out of the inning, and you get to the pitcher, who may just strike out, in which case you don’t need the double play.
Weeks looks good in this series. Did he wake up from a long nap ?
How much longer does Dusty leave Cueto in?
That’s one place I like the IBB. When you really can’t allow another run, and you know the pitcher’s going to hit, I’d walk Segura, hope to get the K there on Fiers, and then hope to get Aoki. It’s definitely risking the big inning, but this late in the game, I don’t want that third run up there.
Dustman needs to wake up and stop chewing that downgone toothpick and playing with his wrist band.
Pittsburgh out 1-2-3 in the 8th, still trailing 7-4.
@Racine Red: That sounds like a good idea.
@Sergeant2: The Brewer broadcasters commented that it would have been difficult to throw to 3rd without hitting Weeks. And on the replay it looked that way.
Yeah, I don’t get why you pitch to the 8 hitter there when the pitcher is a pretty sure out, not to mention if they pinch hit for him, you get to the bullpen. Sort of dumb if you ask me…
It comes down to pitch to a 22 yr old rookie with 1 out or Aoki with 2 outs because pitcher wasn’t coming out.
I forgot there was only one out… still, it could have set up the dbl play.
Joey Votto can’t come soon enough.
What was Rolen looking for if not an 89 MPH fastball down the middle with 2 strikes?
41,213 on hand for tonight’s titanic struggle, 41,213.
XP is having the best AB of the night for the Reds.
X Paul has good at bats.
@pinson343: Thanks for the info. I wasn’t sure exactly what happened.
How about a Super Todd sighting here?
Time for Todd Frazier to do what he does.
It’s a little weird to complain about Jay Bruce’s plate discipline when he’s taking more walks than anyone not named Joey Votto. Could he improve it? Obviously. But…
If you add up Zack Cozart & Brandon Phillips walk rates, it still doesn’t equal Jay Bruce’s BB%.
That stinks.
Well, true, but I’d just say that those two guys have absolutely horrendous plate discipline.
The snakes are up by 4 on their half of the ninth
How about a gapper from Hanigan?
XP’s long AB might have at least cost Fiers the ninth inning. Fiers at 102 pitches now. If Hanigan can extend the AB a few more pitches, that should be enough.
If Hannigan walks, Ludwick could do some damage.
@CP: That’s a good point about Bruce’s walk-rate. He’s just having a bad night against Fiers.
Hanigan gets a hit!
Does Dusty send Cueto back out, if Hanigan K?
UH_UH to the Bucos fans, your team:lol: stunk it up tonight-10-4 and signing out.
Chris Johnson just destroyed the Pirates tonight. 2nd HR, 5 RBI. Thanks. Now we need a couple more hits.
Another 3 run HR for Chris Johnson.
Great at bat by Hanigan.
here we go…play all night for this at bat.
D-Backs laying it on the Irates now, 10-4.
Frazier, why has thou forsaken us. If its Dusty, he does not speak for us.
Ludwick is the guy I would want up here. Get it done, Ryan!
@wildwestLV: Well, you can tell the speed of my cable provider, I guess.
No way they were pulling Fiers there… He’s been pretty much nails this far.
Seriously? Cairo swaps out for Hanigan.. to run?
Paging Billy Hamilton….
Maybe they Reds can put Prince Fielder in to run next time.
Even if Ludwick makes an out here, what Paul and Hanigan did gives the Reds a much better chance in the 9th, as Fiers will be out and they’ll be closer to the middle of the order.
Now that was interesting. When Roenicke got to the mound, Fiers was trying to give him the ball. But he was just there for a pep talk, so he’s staying in.
Wonder if he’s feeling gassed. You don’t see pitchers make the move to give up the ball much.
Fiers does not deserve to lose this as well as he’s pitched BUT, Since they’ve left him in, it’s time to jump
Famous moments of our outstanding bench. Miguel Cairo is pinch running. Unbelievable.
Welcome to the high and outside strike, Mr Ludwick.
I’m missing me some Heisey.
Raise your hand if you’d rather have Mike Leake running instead of Miguel Cairo.
On the other hand, Leake is a better pinch hitter than Cairo if we get to extra innings.
Why do these guys swing at balls up in their eyes? This guy much be crazy deceptive.
Swinging at crap is catching like the flu.
*Raised hand*
God, Ludwick just had his pitch on the 1-2 fastball down.
Swung again at a pitch up in his eyes. I don’t get it.
Man, this guy must be some kind of sneaky to be getting the results he has with that fastball. Blew Ludwick away with 89 with no movement.
Swinging at pitches In the EYES? Why?
Sorry…weak at bat.
Bummer. Good pitching by them. Good thing they got rid of Greinke, huh? Keep it at 2 runs.
LMAO. Ludwick did no worse than any other Reds hitter tonight. We’ve just been OWNED, people. Deal with it.
Los Bucos went to Elsegundo to night , now I hope the Redbirds alos go down tom the tube.-Uh that’s hurt for sure. Good for the Dreds if the both also loss.
This Chris Johnson guy was a reasonable 3B for the Astros. He’s been completely on fire since the trade to the DBacks and has 2 jacks in the last 3 innings.
Pirates lose.
I wonder what Marty would agree to shave if the Reds lose 10 in a row? Now might be the time to ask for a commitment.
@nvilleredsfan: I think the \Reds need to provide glasses for their players. Their record at night game is 40-30 . If they use glasses thye may do better than this.
Has Heisey been DL’d? I thought he was the best pinchhitter we had the last couple of years.
You’ve got to hit Ludwick there. HR threat.
Annnd…Aoki gets on. Only a matter of time. That guy has the Reds number, that’s for sure.
I know Dusty loves the right/lefty thing but that move still feels odd to me (Marshal out for LeCure to face Braun.)
oh my god, did dusty just seriously take out Marshall in favor of LECURE?
No reason to take Marshall out here.
Looked like Marshall yelled something back to Dusty.
Why, Dusty?
And the 5 million dollar relief pitcher needs to be yanked after two batters. What a waste of money.
It’s another one of those situations where the GM and Manager are on different pages.
As an aside, someone said here that Jocketty, not Baker, decides when Phillips is ready to come back from injury. That can’t really be true, can it? I mean, I suppose Jocketty has executive authority, but is that really something he does?
Jocketty will decide when Votto comes off the DL, not Baker.
@Redgoggles: B/c none of our pitchers have been able get Braun out, this series.
@wildwestLV: Yeah, 0 for his last 15 against the Reds. He is killing us.
I don’t know what the numbers are on this, but I’d rather have Marshall against Braun.
It’s pretty close, Marshall vs righties or Lecure vs righties. Marshall has a bit better OPS against.
I don’t see the need to burn another pitcher for a slight downgrade.
i would have let marshall stay in. he’s not a LOOGy
@Racine Red:
A hit would have scored at least one. A double would have had a chance to tie the game.
Ludwick is a far, far, far better hitter. I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.
If I was Marshall I would tell my agent to get me the hell outta here.
Nice job Sam, I really like him I just thought the pitching switch was weird considering how good Marshal is.
@Racine Red:
Whiff.
There’s one difference between the 1990 Reds and 2012 Reds- Piniella would have never taken Charlton(Marshall) out to bring in Tim Layana(LeCure) in this situation.
Hah!
What’s funny is that Charlton is thought to be this great pitcher, and Marshall can’t be trusted (according to a vocal minority [maybe?] here).
If you compare Charlton’s 1990 with Marshall’s 2012, Marshall is superior, even if you look at traditional stats.
Name some names. This statement is totally without basis. Please stop unless you can name some people.
C13J (or whatever his name is), OhioJim, and the other guy who I suppose could have been an alternate login. The number has shrunk recently, though.
If I could figure out how to successfully search, I could give you a few more.
And I’ll post whatever I wish. After all, you seem to have no problem posting out of bounds comments.
@Racine Red: This is a bogus claim you have made since you got on this blog. Why? It’s untrue. You named 2 names and one 1 can’t verify but 1 I can and will. And a third ‘Mystery” poster. That is weak and you can do better. You bring some good stuff but this stuff is just whiny.
Sean Marshall is very well thought of on this blog. Accept it and get over it. Have a nice evening.
The problem with making that comparison is Marshall is averaging less than an inning per appearance and getting removed in the middle of an inning a lot while Charlton made 13 starts and had 12 relief outings of 2 or more innings.
Fair enough. I wish we could compare them better, but Marshall isn’t used in multi-inning appearances very often.
You mean a Reds manager who has actually won a World Series?
But he didn’t have one while playing the 1990 regular season.
Reds would probably be tied or ahead right now if everyone had started taking their ABs seriously in the 1st inning instead of the 7th.
10 year minor league vet getting a save opp here.
Where was DB with the bullpen in the 6th inning last night?
@Racine Red:
Heisey is 4 – 13 as a pinch hitter this year and 23 – 70 over the last 3 years. L:udwick is now 2 – 12 this year.
Heisey is clearly the better choice.
You’re joking, right? Based on 12 at bats? Ludwick has about 150 points of OPS on Heisey. Plus you get the chance of a homer, which you don’t with Heisey.
@Racine Red: Red, you need a stat book, my friend.
Lifetime:
Heisey: 70 ABs, .330 average, 6 HRs, 16 RBIS
Ludwick: 91 ABs, .250 average, 5 HRs, 11 RBIs
I would suggest resist belittling others unless you have your own act together.
You are a real piece of work, plus, I have no idea what you are even talking about. Ludwick’s season is far better than Heisey’s. Is that even in dispute?
And talking about belittling, look in the mirror. You post about bedroom issues. Give me a break.
@Racine Red: I only belittle you because of your looking down on others and you don’t even have the facts on your side. You can do better. Putting other folks down does not lift you up.
The stats I listed are lifetime pinch-hitting. Heisey is a better ph. Go back and look at how you put that guy down over his comment.
I hope you bring more to the table tomorrow.
Marshall pitching a complete inning vs. Votto return to the lineup. Which will happen first?
Who is Henderson?
I am really tired of seeing Aoki catch balls.
@Racine Red: The guy about to get a save.
@Racine Red:
And you’re ignoring 3 years worth of success at it by Heisey?
Aoki must have a Shinto shrine in his locker! Complete with a Reds calander as a centerpiece.
Some nights Drew just doesn’t bother to show up.
never in strike zone
Without so much as a whisper.
Better get the offense fixed.
wow, did they even try tonight? Just awful
3 hits. Tomorrow starts a new streak.
@RedForever: Walt’s sure pleased with the makeup of this offense. No offensive moves at trade deadline.
Not where I’d like to be at, in the season. Scoreboard watching & rooting for the Bucs & Cards to lose in order to consider the night a success.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: I think Drew has gone on his tear and is ready to settle back to K’ing 3 times a night.
@tgarretson82: I’m not there yet but he needs to play if he is in the lineup. Sometimes, he looks like he would rather just go back to the dugout. He needs to play for Gibson or Hurdle. He is squandering his talent.
@RedForever: The thing that makes me mad about this situation is the Reds seem to be pretty hush, hush on Votto’s progress or any sort of date of return.
Hopefully Latos can put a stop this three game losing streak. The team looks like its mentally fatigued. Votto can’t get back soon enough, he sets the tone for this team. Back at em tomorrow. Go Reds!!!
And let this sink in: we just lost a series to the 2012 Brewers (post trade deadline). Avoid the sweep tomorrow. Go Reds.
tomorrow look for Valdez in CF
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: I felt discouraged about Stubbs’ 9th inning AB tonite. He’s facing a career minor leaguer with his first ML save opportunity. Gets behind 0-2, fair enough. But now you know a way outside slider is coming, right Drew ? He waves at it and walks back to the dugout. It was as if Stubbs was the career minor leaguer and Henderson the experienced, confident major leaguer.
You know that I am a Stubbs fan but a couple of ABs, the last two nights, are just hard to defend. I want him to be more professional. Maybe I shouldn’t. But I just believe he has so much to offer this team. Seems like he needs a good “strong” pep talk, sometimes. I think the guy cares but, IMO, it is more of a self-confidence thing. I’m probably way off base but it is just frustrating. And heck, no “Front Row Amy” tonight. That makes losing in Milwaukee doubly tough.
Good seeing your posts, my friend.