I took four years of Spanish in school, 3 in high school and 1 in college. With that much, you would think I could make this post in Spanish to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Unfortunately I can’t. I am also sure the game thread title is incorrect as well, but since we’re talking about the Stupid Cubs, I’ll let it go as is.
Mat Latos takes to the mound today to try and complete the 3-game sweep of the Cubbies today and secure the Reds a .500 road trip. The Reds probably need to start doing better on these trips if they have any real hopes of winning a championship this season, but considering how the last road trip went and how this one started, I’ll take a 5-5 trip at this point.
So let’s break out the brooms and get going Reds! Discuss the game here.
La escoba!
And take five minutes to vote for your Reds for the All Star team!!
More Choo!!!
@Steve Mancuso: Just voted 50 more times. Let’s vote while we’re watching/listening to the Reds sweep the stupid Cubs today.
@Steve Mancuso: And post a comment when you vote!
@Steve Mancuso: 140 votes cast that were not previously mentioned.
@Shchi Cossack: I think we’re going to carry Irkutsk precinct.
@Steve Mancuso: 100 Votes so far for today. I might do a few more variations on my gmail account while watching the game. 🙂
Choo 8
Cozart 6
Votto 3
Phillips 4
Bruce 9
Frazier 5
Paul 7
Mesoraco 2
Latos RHP
DeJesus 8
Castro 6
Rizzo 3
Soriano 7 (can we stop throwing him strikes yet?)
Schierholtz 9
Navarro 2
Valbuena 5
Barney 4
Jackson RHP
Jackson has been flat out BAD this season. No reason the Reds shouldn’t be able to knock him around a bit. Cubs shouldn’t stand a chance as long as the Latos has his usual stuff. I also firmly belive that Soriano is on fire as he’s gonna get this year, no sense giving him anything to hit.
¡Go Reds!
Baker on Cozart, “I’d like to see him get more aggressive and swing earlier in the count.” He proved that worked with Drew Stubbs.
@TC: I read that comment this morning and nearly threw my coffee cup at the dog. The same old (emphasis on old) narrow-minded philosophy continues to plague the Reds’ hitters.
@TC:
And we see what happens in the first inning…
Chris Wilson, is that you?!
This is Me!?!?
I like Cozart at SS, but Dusty will simply continue to hit Cozart in the #2 hole. Since Dusty has to hit the SS in the top of the lineup, how about a trade with the Padres in order to try and Dusty-proof the lineup again?
Zack Cozart & Chris Heisey for Everth Cabrera & Jesus Guzman? I personally like Cozart more at SS than Cabrera, but not hitting at the top of the lineup. Does that trade make sense for both teams, perhaps with some balancing prospects?
@Shchi Cossack: I can’t attest to any knowledge of either of those Padre’s ability defensively, but based on their offensive numbers (as well as Guzman’s cost and team control) it would take some valuable prospects to pry them away. If I were Walt, I don’t know if I pursue that trade. It sure would be nice to have a SS with a nice OBP though…
@Shchi Cossack: i know this has been said a thousand times, but a simple solution that doesn’t involve trading away a potential gold glove at shortstop… move him to 7th/8th in the lineup. BINGO!!!
@Larkin219: I know. It’s really sad and borderline pathetic.
I’m not mexican, nor do I speak Spanish, so what does the headline mean? By the way, the only Independence Day that I celebrate is America’s. USA!
@RedForever: Actually, Cinco de Mayo doesn’t celebrate Mexican independence. It celebrates a battle won by Mexico over the French at a time when the French were considering breaking up the American Union during the Civil War.
Bat XPaul 2nd. If Choo is on 1st and held on, there’s a hole on that side of the field for Xpaul the left hitting batter. XPaul has decent speed and is a good contact hitter. Not that complicated.
Why are Cozarts numbers so much lower than his minor league numbers? I think Jacoby/Reds try to change the hitters once they make it to the majors. You must go to right. Easier said than done if you haven’t batted that way up till now. It takes time but Cozart is a mess at the plate. Last year with his low ob% I would have never had traded Gregoriuos.
Reds vs Cubs is free game on mlb.tv today! 🙂
@Love4Reds: Well TY sir! Whoops, the games blacked out. That’s pretty stupid. Oh yeah, Stupid Cubs.
@Shchi Cossack: Actually its Miss 🙂
Sorry its blacked out for you … :/
@Love4Reds: Most sincere appologies from the Old Cossack, ma’am.
Edwin Jackson got lit up in his last start. he didn’t throw a ton of strikes and when he did throw one, they were not quality.
Reds bats should get well today.
Let’s Play Ball! Get ’em started Choo!
More Choo, please.
@Steve Mancuso: Less Cozart in 2-hole, please
FYI- Reds @ Cubs game is being broadcast on WGN and is also the free game on mlb.com t.v. Go Reds! Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!
Dusty’s advice paying off early for Zack.
What’s the point of the Los Rojos jerseys if we aren’t going to wear them on Cinco de Mayo?
Dusty Baker got his wish. Cozart swung at the first pitch.
The strategy of putting the worst hitter in the lineup between the two best hitters didn’t seem to work that time.
Brantley just described the #2 spot in the lineup as having reached a “critical juncture” given Choo and Votto’s performance.
Wow. You don’t often see Votto swing at a pitch that bad.
I miss when saying “Zack Cozart starts some of the prettiest double plays in baseball” was a reference to his defense. But on the bright side, he’s doing a fantastic job of unclogging that pesky Choo from the base paths this season.
Latos got Castro to do the same thing that Jackson got Votto to do.
I saw the Reds had Teddy be the honorary bat boy. I wish they would let someone be the honorary manager. Maybe Dusty could learn something about lineup construction.
@RedForever: Hell. Make it Teddy.
Just voted 25 more times for the All Star lineup. More Choo!
@Steve Mancuso: Up to 200 for the day 🙂
@Love4Reds: 🙂
Latos dealing some good lead-off double defense. Go get one more big guy.
Hard to believe Latos is only 25. Seams like he has been pitching forever.
Ole! Latos!
Good job by Tatts to get out of that inning unscathed.
They just said the Reds have allowed the fewest first inning runs in MLB. And then I think of Volquez. And breath a huge sigh of relief.
@Matt WI: Yeah, my “Yorktown Red” friend occasionally reminds me that the Reds offered Volquez an extension at the same time they extended Cueto, but Volquez turned the team down.
Marty just suggested that maybe the extra offday for Phillips wasn’t the best idea when he was hitting so well before that
@Brian Van Hook: Yep, don’t want BP to get too overheated too soon in the season. Dusty logic. Same thing last year with Bruce: Jay was killing the ball going in to a series with Buccos so obviously a good time to cool Jay off. It worked.
@Brian Van Hook: DustyBall: Sit hot hitting player, and start struggling player “to get him going”
@Sergeant2: I looked it up. Actually it was against the Mets in New York. Going into a 4-game series, on May 16th, Jay was hitting .300/.343/.643/.973, 10 HRs. That started a descent that by May 29th, Jay had 1 HR and 4 RBI’s in that span his number s had dropped to .254/.309/.533/.841. Jay Bruce, more than anyone else on the team, needs to remain in the lineup when he is red hot. May be a coincidence but I remember that day complaining about getting a day off and many folks here giving me a hard time about it. He is in his 20’s and doesn’t need “days off”.
@CharlotteNCRedsFan: Excellent post.
Bruce being Bruce.
Todd Frazier should go with the high socks. It seems to work for Choo and Votto.
Good AB by Frazier there but the middle of the lineup right now is just not doing anything.
Love to Mes deposit one here.
Why cant XP bat 2nd?
@beavertucky: Because he’s batting over .220, and idiot don’t play that.
A Cubs pitcher gave up a walk? How unusual.
Mes just missed that pitch. Got the fastball and was just a bit tardy on it.
Jackson has been throwing a lot of first pitches out of the zone. You don’t think the Cubs are reading the paper, do you?
Cards just buried the Brewers in Milwaukee this weekend. 4 game sweep it looks like. Dang.
@ajswartz888:
They are looking really good right now.
St. Louis already up 6-0 after 2 in Milwaukee.
@bhrubin1: Nobody on the Cubs can read. So no, I don’t worry about that. 🙂
Cubs announcers talking about how the Reds are sixth in runs scored even though they are near the bottom in slugging because of OBP, they don’t make outs. Cubs are the exact opposite, high in slugging but low in OBP. I wish Dusty was listening.
@AnnapolisHoosier:
I didn’t believe that they are near the bottom in slugging but darned if they aren’t. How ’bout Bruce starts hitting some bombs?
Another good inning by Latos.
Well, at least Barney is the best defensive second baseman in the league.
Hard to believe he won the gold glove. It was only because of his consecutive errorless games streak. he doesn’t get to half the balls that Phillips does.
¡Olé Latos!
Latos was trying to win this one himself.
With the way this offense is, he probably will have to.
Good thing he didn’t hit it out, though……He’s not paid to hit home runs.
Terrible strike three call on Choo.
Más Choo!
@Steve Mancuso: I was ok with that one. Would have wanted it if it was Latos… right on the black
Just as long as he gives those to Latos as well…
I see the Reds offense is still moribund. Will it ever get well?
@RedForever: The Reds scored 6 runs in each of the last two games, in the face of strong winds in their faces. You want more?
Cozart’s swing would appear to be long and it doesn’t vary based upon pitch location too much
Cozart clearly needed to be pressured by his manager to swing earlier in the count. He tapped that pitch out of the strike zone all the way back to the pitcher.
Zach Mendoza
Not a big fan of the “OPS” stat just because IMO they are 2 clearly different stats thrown together to make a new stat. Would rather just look at OBP and Slugging seperately
I kind of agree with that.
Looks like Latos is getting squeezed. Inconsistent umpiring, again.
25 more All Star votes. Anyone else voting?
does anyone else feel worry-free when Latos is on the mound? if it wasnt such a windy day, he would even have had a home run.
Two solid base hits. This inning should produce some runs.
That slumping Joey Votto…. man.. he needs to work on his swing.
25 more votes!
BRUUUUCE!!!
Bruce being Bruce. RBI in each game of this series.
@Steve Mancuso: And yet, he still sucks for most people. I don’t get it.
@Matt WI: Ask Marty. You have to wonder if Marty’s relentless criticism of Bruce on the radio broadcasts has contributed to the negativity Bruce faces on Twitter.
@Steve Mancuso: We get Bruce & Frazier really going and this team becomes almost unbeatable. Of course, I’m assuming no DB-mandated “off days” for those two. DB, they are young, they’ll live.
This is how we like to do it.
YES BRUCE! god i love that, going the other way. used to never see that. get those Ks down please.
Bruce being Bruce. 😀
Maybe Bruce should go on twitter rants more often. He looks great since!
Super Todd!
More of the moribund Reds offense. Four straight hits – three runs.
It is that reverse curse. Talk about how bad it is and it immediately gets better! 😉
I didn’t think the middle of your lineup was supposed to clog bases.
Useful WGN stat… Reds have 100% run expectancy this year with runners on 2nd and 3rd no outs. Take that, Marty.
I’m suprised we’ve had guys on second and third with no outs. Usually we’ve bunted to get them in that position.
@preach: Good point Preach! Could be a sample of one!
Mes needs to start flashing his power if he ever wants consistent playing time this season.
@CP: Agreed. I wonder if he’d see more good pitches to drive if he wasn’t hitting before the pitcher.
I’d move Paul to 2, Mes to 7 and Cozart to 8. But that’s me. Dusty would look at me and go “Huh?”
Ugly pitch, ugly swing.
Brantley: Hitting in the #8 spot is tough on a young player because you know the pitcher isn’t going to give you any good pitches to hit. #someonetellDusty
@Steve Mancuso: Kinda wonder if Mes wasn’t hearing Dusty’s voice in his head saying “don’t take walks with the pitcher up next in RBI situations.”
how about hanigan with cueto do-rag
I think “moribund” means “potent” in Spanish. (my Spanish is a little rusty) The Cubs have the best camera crew in MLB.
Joey Votto catches Soriano’s infield fly… remarks “Yeah, I never do that.”
25 votos más
If the second base ump hadn’t been in front of that ball, I think BP sees it better and gets it. Hopefully it won’t matter.
It’s too bad Reds can’t play the Cubs about 30 times. They are just god awful. I can’t imagine being a Cubs fan. Sheeeeesh
GameDay has the first three of Latos’ pitches in the strike zone. All called balls by the ump.
All of a sudden, Latos struggling with his control.
Heck of a play there by Bruce.
Looked like that ball was right in the sun. That’s a big ole hang with ’em.
That was close with a capital C
I almost feel bad for pitchers who have to face Votto two innings in a row…almost.
Loved that sheepish grin on Bruce as he ran off after the faceplant. Bet he caught a little guff in the dugout.
Nice play though, if not the most gazelle-like graceful.
That Choo guy is pretty good, though. Where’d he come from?
Is Choo doing his job or what.
Choo is this year’s Frazier.. and we still have Frazier.
Más Choo!
Reds should do a little hit-and-run here. They are last in MLB in stolen bases but they need to run more, especially when the wind is blowing in and you have one of your worst hitters up.
@RedForever: Doesn’t your worst hitter kind of nullify the “hit” portion of hit and run? If you’re worried about a double play, just send Choo.
@Matt WI: And so they did!
Cozart being all aggressive and stuff. I didn’t realize we’ve been seeing the patient Cozart all along.
Choo just taking care of business.
Cubs be cubbin’ — más Choo!
Mas Cubs!
Sweet. Glad to see Cozart get the sac fly.
Nice job by Zach.
An attaboy for Cozart!
And that’s the way you do it boys and girls.
Cozart is pretty good in that type of situation. If only Choo could be on third and not first all the time.
Cubs gonna cub
Anyone still remember when Votto was slumping? I think it was sometime last year.
@Mwv: Slumping? Shirley you jest.
@Sergeant2: Who you calling Shirley?
@Mwv: Whatta ya gonna do, put me in the hospital.
@Sergeant2: Wise guy eh?
@Mwv: Hospital?
@Sergeant2: Oi. Let’s hope that wasn’t an omen.
@Sergeant2: Its a big building with a lot of windows, and filled with sick people. (I’m done, no more Airplane jokes, enough is enough)
@Sergeant2: *Grins* We can do some more next game, it’s a long season.
And stop calling me Shirley!
Man… two opposite field hits for Vottomatic today. He’s such a joy to watch.
cachorros siendo cachorros
St. Louis 8-1, 5th inning. Boo.
Chris Heisey (hamstring) has been jogging and hitting.
He’s yet to do any running, but Heisey said that doesn’t mean the hamstring isn’t getting better. “I can’t come off the DL for a week,” Heisey said. “There’s no reason to test it now. It feels good. Every day I’ve been able to go a little faster.”
Looks like Marmol will come in in the 6th inning. Talk about being demoted.
@RedForever: He’s lucky to have a job at all. His walk rate is just sad. Career 6.1/9. This year it’s sitting at 9. Good things the Cubs suck and they don’t have to care.