I guess at this point the key heading into 2009 is to decide how to get the good version of the Reds to show up more often than the bad one. Saturday and Sunday's wins over the Indians were picture-perfect textbook victories for the most part, and coming off these good performances I'm fully expecting them to come home and get swept by the Pirates.
Cueto and Arroyo both turned in very good pitching performances. Cueto danced in and out of trouble all night, but allowed no Tribesmen to score. Arroyo looked like Good Bronson, and in a day game, no less. Saturday Paul Bako had a big hit, and Dunnerstag had Jim Jacksons in both games, including a three-run blast today to break it open. The Championship of Ohio belongs to the Reds! The Clippers, Captains, Scrappers and Mud Hens might have something to say about that, though. It's a good thing they aren't all in the running for the Ohio Cup, because the Reds would have to play well in like five straight series, and that's impossible.
In other news, it was Slider's birthday Sunday! Gapper and Slider seem to be good friends. I think the Mariner Moose was also there, and the Rays mascot, and maybe the Oriole. It was awesome! Gapper gave Slider a painting and they hugged! Aww. Do you think the Indians will mail me a Slider hat if I send a letter asking for one? I don't know either.
Reds and Bucs for tres juegos coming up Monday through Wednesday. It's going to be getting kinda hectic at the GABP. Harang against Maholm tomorrow. Let's try to get out of last.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
For Sale: One Used Matress, Free for Anyone Who Will Haul It Away, also I have a HP Pentium Computer, $200 or Best Offer (Also Reds Lose 3 of 4)
So as expected, after playing well against the Yankees, the Reds looked like crap in losing two of three at Toronto, and the swoon continued with a dismal loss to the Indians last night.
This team just doesn't have enough solid pieces to go anywhere. Bob Castellini needs to realize this team is just not close to contending at all, and whoever convinced him it was before the season (Krivsky? Mrs. Castellini? JoJo the Circus Clown?) needed to have their head examined. Without Harang (who continues to look terrible) the rotation is one ace and four question marks, and the one ace is young and is still going to have his ups and downs (just look at the Toronto start, Volquez has had a great year but he's young). The assumption coming into this year was that Bronson had an unlucky 2007 and would revert to 2006 form, but that hasn't happened, and after his start Tuesday his trade value has to be nil, or close to it. Cueto is up-and-down as expected, and Thompson looks to only have a fastball (a good fastball, but this is the majors, you're eventually going to get tagged if you don't throw something else).
The bullpen has a few reliable parts. Bray, Burton and Cordero have all been good-to-excellent this year. Affeldt has had his moments. It's hard to adequately describe the awfulness that is Gary Majewski, though. His stirrups are truly a classic look, but he's just been horrible. His BAA is .375 right now, opponents are just killing him. It's excruciating every time he enters the game. Lincoln Logs has been okayish at times, terrible at others. Weathers' numbers actually are okay, but it's hard to feel secure when he's tossing his slop to the plate. You have to give it up for him, though, because Reds fans have been saying that for about four years now, and he keeps getting guys out.
John Fay was on the broadcast last Saturday and said the guys he thinks will see the most interest on the trading block are the relivers. We heard that last year, too, and the only guy that ended up moving was Jeff Conine, and that was after the deadline. Griffey is finished, Dunn has had trade rumors seemingly since he was called up in 2001 and nothing has ever happened, and all the other pieces are either untouchable or unwanted. This team is staying like it is, for better and for worse.
And lately it's definitely been for worse, because this team is in another funk. No hitting, poor pitching, the works. One win in Cleveland will clinch the Ohio Cup for the Reds (yay), and I'm not sure if they can get it. Cueto goes tonight against Paul Byrd, and Bronson goes against some guy tomorrow. Bronson's numbers are Miltonesque after the Toronto debacle (I almost wanted them to leave him in longer just to see how bad that would get) and it's a day game, so if the win doesn't come tonight, the Reds are in trouble. They've been in trouble since 2001, though, so it's nothing new. Living on the edge, right?
This team just doesn't have enough solid pieces to go anywhere. Bob Castellini needs to realize this team is just not close to contending at all, and whoever convinced him it was before the season (Krivsky? Mrs. Castellini? JoJo the Circus Clown?) needed to have their head examined. Without Harang (who continues to look terrible) the rotation is one ace and four question marks, and the one ace is young and is still going to have his ups and downs (just look at the Toronto start, Volquez has had a great year but he's young). The assumption coming into this year was that Bronson had an unlucky 2007 and would revert to 2006 form, but that hasn't happened, and after his start Tuesday his trade value has to be nil, or close to it. Cueto is up-and-down as expected, and Thompson looks to only have a fastball (a good fastball, but this is the majors, you're eventually going to get tagged if you don't throw something else).
The bullpen has a few reliable parts. Bray, Burton and Cordero have all been good-to-excellent this year. Affeldt has had his moments. It's hard to adequately describe the awfulness that is Gary Majewski, though. His stirrups are truly a classic look, but he's just been horrible. His BAA is .375 right now, opponents are just killing him. It's excruciating every time he enters the game. Lincoln Logs has been okayish at times, terrible at others. Weathers' numbers actually are okay, but it's hard to feel secure when he's tossing his slop to the plate. You have to give it up for him, though, because Reds fans have been saying that for about four years now, and he keeps getting guys out.
John Fay was on the broadcast last Saturday and said the guys he thinks will see the most interest on the trading block are the relivers. We heard that last year, too, and the only guy that ended up moving was Jeff Conine, and that was after the deadline. Griffey is finished, Dunn has had trade rumors seemingly since he was called up in 2001 and nothing has ever happened, and all the other pieces are either untouchable or unwanted. This team is staying like it is, for better and for worse.
And lately it's definitely been for worse, because this team is in another funk. No hitting, poor pitching, the works. One win in Cleveland will clinch the Ohio Cup for the Reds (yay), and I'm not sure if they can get it. Cueto goes tonight against Paul Byrd, and Bronson goes against some guy tomorrow. Bronson's numbers are Miltonesque after the Toronto debacle (I almost wanted them to leave him in longer just to see how bad that would get) and it's a day game, so if the win doesn't come tonight, the Reds are in trouble. They've been in trouble since 2001, though, so it's nothing new. Living on the edge, right?
Sunday, June 22, 2008
The Rain Drowns Your Hopes; Reds Lose
The Reds lost a rain-delayed decision Sunday as the Yankees salvaged game three of the set, beating the Nasti 4-1.
Johnny Greato was superb, only allowing one run on four hits in five innings of work, but was removed down 1-0 after a rain stoppage in the middle of the sixth. Leave it to Majewski and Affeldt to completely mess that up. Canadian Intensity and Jay Hoops both struck out with the bases loaded in the fourth in the Reds biggest sustained rally of the afternoon, and alas, they came up empty. Griffey's 601st homer of his career in the eighth provided the Reds lone run.
So it was disappointing to see the Reds drop the last game, but beggars can't be choosers and there's nothing wrong with taking two of three. It might be interesting to note that Canadian Intensity had another at-bat in the sixth, this time with two on, and struck out in a pouring rainstorm. Of course, they pulled tarp right after that. Had the rain not come, Greato likely wasn't going to be removed after seventy-five pitches and who knows what happens.
In better news, Jeff Keppinger is back, as mentioned earlier, and has a beard now. Reminded me of my senior year of college, when I started an English class with a Mr. Clean-like instructor, promptly ditched it for quite a while, so long that when I returned he suddenly had hair and a bald spot and everyone I sat around had thought I'd dropped the class entirely. Anyway, per Hal or somebody he was trying to get rid of it but why mess with something so awesome? This game has enough cool goatees and linebeards. Time for someone who looks like a real man.
Per the trainers he's fully recovered. APhil 2.0 was DFA'd as a result, and if he clears waivers will go to Louisville. 2.0 was out of options so he couldn't be outrighted without clearing waivers, hence the DFA.
So now it's another interesting test for the Reds. After giving the Yankees all they can handle, they go to Toronto starting Tuesday night to play Cito Gaston's Blue Jays. Former Jays manager John Gibbons was just fired last week and things haven't been going all that well since the firing. The Cincinnastians seem to perenially be a team that can play well against good teams but lets down horribly against bad ones. Let's hope they come out of this series with confidence and a strong feeling and do their best to win some at Skydome.
PEACE
Johnny Greato was superb, only allowing one run on four hits in five innings of work, but was removed down 1-0 after a rain stoppage in the middle of the sixth. Leave it to Majewski and Affeldt to completely mess that up. Canadian Intensity and Jay Hoops both struck out with the bases loaded in the fourth in the Reds biggest sustained rally of the afternoon, and alas, they came up empty. Griffey's 601st homer of his career in the eighth provided the Reds lone run.
So it was disappointing to see the Reds drop the last game, but beggars can't be choosers and there's nothing wrong with taking two of three. It might be interesting to note that Canadian Intensity had another at-bat in the sixth, this time with two on, and struck out in a pouring rainstorm. Of course, they pulled tarp right after that. Had the rain not come, Greato likely wasn't going to be removed after seventy-five pitches and who knows what happens.
In better news, Jeff Keppinger is back, as mentioned earlier, and has a beard now. Reminded me of my senior year of college, when I started an English class with a Mr. Clean-like instructor, promptly ditched it for quite a while, so long that when I returned he suddenly had hair and a bald spot and everyone I sat around had thought I'd dropped the class entirely. Anyway, per Hal or somebody he was trying to get rid of it but why mess with something so awesome? This game has enough cool goatees and linebeards. Time for someone who looks like a real man.
Per the trainers he's fully recovered. APhil 2.0 was DFA'd as a result, and if he clears waivers will go to Louisville. 2.0 was out of options so he couldn't be outrighted without clearing waivers, hence the DFA.
So now it's another interesting test for the Reds. After giving the Yankees all they can handle, they go to Toronto starting Tuesday night to play Cito Gaston's Blue Jays. Former Jays manager John Gibbons was just fired last week and things haven't been going all that well since the firing. The Cincinnastians seem to perenially be a team that can play well against good teams but lets down horribly against bad ones. Let's hope they come out of this series with confidence and a strong feeling and do their best to win some at Skydome.
PEACE
Obviously, if Jesus doesn't love the Reds, he at least is looking out for them a little bit, at least today...
Additionally, thanks to the YES broadcast, Votto now has a codename: CANADIAN INTENSITY. I love it!
Saturday, June 21, 2008
My Friends, We Have Seen the Dark Night, and Clawed Out of the Abyss For Now
I played baseball from age six to age twelve. It was a terrifying experience. I wasn't good. I rarely had a plate appearance where my primary emotion wasn't abject terror. It wasn't a fear of getting hit by a pitch; that happened a few times, sometimes it hurt worse than others, but never more than a bruise. Maybe it was fear of failure, but more than anything it was a fear of the spotlight, of everyone looking at me. I just hated the feeling of being the focal point. My batting average in five years was probably somewhere around .100. I did have a decent OBP because I went to the plate looking for a walk, and often got it in Little League.
There were a couple of times, though, when the opposing pitcher wasn't three years older than me, or didn't throw hard, or maybe I was just seeing the ball better, when I would swing hard and really get ahold of it, send a gapper to right-center, feel like I'd really done something, even though the feeling going to the plate was just as terrified. Wow, I'd think, I really did something good.
The Cincinnastians came into the Bronx losers of five straight, running into a Yankees team that had been doing nothing but win, and have taken the first two of the series. Suddenly this team is capable of clutch hitting. The starting pitching and bullpen have been lights-out. The Reds pursue a sweep tomorrow afternoon.
As a longtime Yankee hater I don't want to admit it, but there is definitely something special about watching the Reds play at Yankee Stadium. Seeing them win there last night on the back of an Edinson Volquez gem (seriously, there is no justice if he doesn't start the All-Star Game) brought back memories of seeing the Ohio basketball team win at North Carolina my sophomore year. Obviously the feeling wasn't as strong, just because I'm not going to see Paul Janish at the grocery store tomorrow afternoon and be able to honk at him and hold up the student newspaper or anything. But it's a similar feeling. The Reds hadn't played at Yankee Stadium since the 1976 World Series, and to see this group go there and win the first two brings out a definite feeling of pride, of accomplishment, like they finally got a couple of wins this year that will feel significant for a long time, even if they really aren't that meaningful in the big picture.
Volquez was just transcendent again, just pitched a fantastic seven innings last night. Votto's homer was monstrous and Jolbert Cabrera broke the tie with a big double. Unfortunately the Reds' shortstop woes continued as he dislocated a finger sliding into second late in the contest. All the talk after the game, though, was Volquez, who had the Yankees' veteran lineup spellbound. Of course, now the national media likely will treat it as if he's a new discovery or something, even though he's pitched this well all year.
Really, though, as good as Volquez has been, I predicted Friday would at least be a close game, even if the Reds didn't win. Today I didn't really have such a good feeling about, but the Legs blew open a scoreless game with a four-run seventh and downed the Highlanders, 6-0.
I only had radio for this one but it seemed that Darryl Thompson acquainted himself well, dancing out of trouble for most of his first five big-league innings. Per Brantley he showed nice poise and good velocity. Edwin came through with a two-run single to put the Reds on the board (again Edwin with the clutch hitting, he hasn't been setting the world on fire the last couple of weeks but there's no one at the plate in a big situation I'd rather have up there) and -- get this --Corey Patterson hit a two-run upper deck shot.
When stuff like that's happening, you know things are going well.
Tomorrow it's Johnny Greato (does he seem to start every other Sunday afternoon game or what?) against Andy Pettite. Greato's actually settled down a bit as far as start quality as of late; he's lasted at least five in his last seven starts and hasn't been awful in any of them, save his first inning against the Cardinals at home. He hasn't looked unhittable like at first, but he hasn't looked lost either, and that's the really encouraging thing. Pettite is Pettite; veteran lefty who knows how to get guys out. Let's get three straight, eh? Game time is 1:05 Eastern, 10:05 here in Burritoville.
There were a couple of times, though, when the opposing pitcher wasn't three years older than me, or didn't throw hard, or maybe I was just seeing the ball better, when I would swing hard and really get ahold of it, send a gapper to right-center, feel like I'd really done something, even though the feeling going to the plate was just as terrified. Wow, I'd think, I really did something good.
The Cincinnastians came into the Bronx losers of five straight, running into a Yankees team that had been doing nothing but win, and have taken the first two of the series. Suddenly this team is capable of clutch hitting. The starting pitching and bullpen have been lights-out. The Reds pursue a sweep tomorrow afternoon.
As a longtime Yankee hater I don't want to admit it, but there is definitely something special about watching the Reds play at Yankee Stadium. Seeing them win there last night on the back of an Edinson Volquez gem (seriously, there is no justice if he doesn't start the All-Star Game) brought back memories of seeing the Ohio basketball team win at North Carolina my sophomore year. Obviously the feeling wasn't as strong, just because I'm not going to see Paul Janish at the grocery store tomorrow afternoon and be able to honk at him and hold up the student newspaper or anything. But it's a similar feeling. The Reds hadn't played at Yankee Stadium since the 1976 World Series, and to see this group go there and win the first two brings out a definite feeling of pride, of accomplishment, like they finally got a couple of wins this year that will feel significant for a long time, even if they really aren't that meaningful in the big picture.
Volquez was just transcendent again, just pitched a fantastic seven innings last night. Votto's homer was monstrous and Jolbert Cabrera broke the tie with a big double. Unfortunately the Reds' shortstop woes continued as he dislocated a finger sliding into second late in the contest. All the talk after the game, though, was Volquez, who had the Yankees' veteran lineup spellbound. Of course, now the national media likely will treat it as if he's a new discovery or something, even though he's pitched this well all year.
Really, though, as good as Volquez has been, I predicted Friday would at least be a close game, even if the Reds didn't win. Today I didn't really have such a good feeling about, but the Legs blew open a scoreless game with a four-run seventh and downed the Highlanders, 6-0.
I only had radio for this one but it seemed that Darryl Thompson acquainted himself well, dancing out of trouble for most of his first five big-league innings. Per Brantley he showed nice poise and good velocity. Edwin came through with a two-run single to put the Reds on the board (again Edwin with the clutch hitting, he hasn't been setting the world on fire the last couple of weeks but there's no one at the plate in a big situation I'd rather have up there) and -- get this --Corey Patterson hit a two-run upper deck shot.
When stuff like that's happening, you know things are going well.
Tomorrow it's Johnny Greato (does he seem to start every other Sunday afternoon game or what?) against Andy Pettite. Greato's actually settled down a bit as far as start quality as of late; he's lasted at least five in his last seven starts and hasn't been awful in any of them, save his first inning against the Cardinals at home. He hasn't looked unhittable like at first, but he hasn't looked lost either, and that's the really encouraging thing. Pettite is Pettite; veteran lefty who knows how to get guys out. Let's get three straight, eh? Game time is 1:05 Eastern, 10:05 here in Burritoville.
Friday, June 20, 2008
The Season is Slow and Painful, and My Friend, the Deck is Stacked
So coming off the completion of the season series with Los Angeles (for the record, seven of LA's thirty-four wins this year have come against the Reds), a 7-4 loss where the Reds fought like hungry trout after an early deficit but came up short, the Cincinnastians roll into Yankee Stadium to face the hot-as-balls New York nine. What do we know about the Red Rovers as they come over to the eassyde?
- Jay Hoops isn't completely the Balls... yet. He's been slumping after his initial angelic play (see boss MS Paint work in previous entries for evidence) and the ninth inning timeout incident seemed like as good a welcome to the seedy underbelly of The Show as he's likely to receive. Big Dust should have gotten himself run as well for that one, it was ridiculous. Apparently, young man, you only get time if blue grants time, so sit y'ass down, son. Hoops' average is down to like .320 or something (that's SABRmetric talk, we crunch the numbers like no other) and people aren't throwing it in the wheelhouse anymore. He'll adjust, but it'd be nice if Dust didn't already have him cemented into the top three spots in the order. How many times can you bang on that talking point before it gets boring, though? At this point Dusty's lineups sucking should just be an assumed truth, like the laws of gravity or the poor economy or something.
- This is an offensively poor club overall. That's just a fact. You can't explain poor hitting away by saying the other pitcher was on his game every single day. Once a week, you can use the "other pitcher was on his game" excuse. Beyond that, if you aren't scoring at least a couple on a consistent basis, you're just a bad offense. The Dodgers came into this series with some scary numbers from their pitching staff, and other than a brief flareup late yesterday the Reds still couldn't do anything. They're just bad. Shortstop is an offensive zero, as is catcher. Edwin has been struggling. Brandon is feast or famine. The outfield spot that isn't Dunn or Bruce has been a disaster all year. It seems management's main concern coming into the offseason this year was the pitching, but as "meh" as the pitching has been, it's been the inability to hit "meh" opposing pitchers that's doomed the Reds to a 33-41 record.
With the way the Yankees have been playing lately, this is going to be a tough series this weekend no matter what. Beyond that, three-game series at Toronto and the underachieving Indians shouldn't be a reason to squirm particularly vigorously. But wait, this is a team full of free-swingers (Dunn and Bruce excluded) and any unfamiliar arm looks like Cy Young against the Reds. On top of that issue, they have to use a DH in an American League park, and that's probably going to put Corey Patterson in the lineup at least three or four of these games (and knowing Dusty, only three or four games is a best-case scenario).
- More interesting things will happen behind closed doors in the next month than anything that happens on the field. Pretty much every year since 2001 (with the exception of 2002 and 2006) the Reds have been out of the race at this point in the year, and 2008 is no exception. They've gone from just a couple below .500 to being 12.5 out of first in the last week and a half, no surprise from looking at the June schedule. Milwaukee has distanced themselves from the pack and it's going to be the Reds, Houston and the Buccos in a three-way dance for fourth down the stretch. Every year except the two mentioned above, the Reds have been mentioned as major sellers in the trade market. 2003's fire sale obviously hasn't produced a winner, Harang nonwithstanding. Other years the deadline came and went without anything earthshaking happening.
Will this year be different? Walt Jocketty may be jonesing to do something to put his mark on the team. He's already come out and said the only untouchables are Greato, Volquez, Votto, Hoops and Edwin. The names left contain some crumbs (who's going to trade for Bako?) and some possibly-movable pieces (Affeldt could probably help someone in a middle relief role). Or will something happen to impact the team beyond 2008? Will someone take Cordero's three years left on his deal and give the Legs some tasty morsels? Can the Reds get something for Dunn that's better than the draft picks? Is Dunn even part of their long-term plan? Is there a long-term plan?
Every Reds-related report in the national media has them as major sellers, but they have a "win-now" mini-Steinbrenner owner. Will he let Jocketty shape the team as he sees fit? Then you have to consider that Jocketty has never really had to do a fire sale. Does this organization have the eye for talent they'll need to get a return on their investment?
T'will be verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry interesting, homie. Now that's worth talking about.
The three-game set with the Highlanders opens tonight at 7:05, 4:05 here in the Land of In-N-Out. Edinson Volquez gets the ball against Mike Mussina. Volquez should be fired up to pitch in Yankee Stadium and make his mark on the world. Mussina is a veteran the Reds haven't seen that much who knows how to pitch, so I'm predicting a 3-1 Yankee win, with Volquez leaving tied and the bullpen getting the loss. But what do I know? I don't even like baseball.
Peace!!!
- Jay Hoops isn't completely the Balls... yet. He's been slumping after his initial angelic play (see boss MS Paint work in previous entries for evidence) and the ninth inning timeout incident seemed like as good a welcome to the seedy underbelly of The Show as he's likely to receive. Big Dust should have gotten himself run as well for that one, it was ridiculous. Apparently, young man, you only get time if blue grants time, so sit y'ass down, son. Hoops' average is down to like .320 or something (that's SABRmetric talk, we crunch the numbers like no other) and people aren't throwing it in the wheelhouse anymore. He'll adjust, but it'd be nice if Dust didn't already have him cemented into the top three spots in the order. How many times can you bang on that talking point before it gets boring, though? At this point Dusty's lineups sucking should just be an assumed truth, like the laws of gravity or the poor economy or something.
- This is an offensively poor club overall. That's just a fact. You can't explain poor hitting away by saying the other pitcher was on his game every single day. Once a week, you can use the "other pitcher was on his game" excuse. Beyond that, if you aren't scoring at least a couple on a consistent basis, you're just a bad offense. The Dodgers came into this series with some scary numbers from their pitching staff, and other than a brief flareup late yesterday the Reds still couldn't do anything. They're just bad. Shortstop is an offensive zero, as is catcher. Edwin has been struggling. Brandon is feast or famine. The outfield spot that isn't Dunn or Bruce has been a disaster all year. It seems management's main concern coming into the offseason this year was the pitching, but as "meh" as the pitching has been, it's been the inability to hit "meh" opposing pitchers that's doomed the Reds to a 33-41 record.
With the way the Yankees have been playing lately, this is going to be a tough series this weekend no matter what. Beyond that, three-game series at Toronto and the underachieving Indians shouldn't be a reason to squirm particularly vigorously. But wait, this is a team full of free-swingers (Dunn and Bruce excluded) and any unfamiliar arm looks like Cy Young against the Reds. On top of that issue, they have to use a DH in an American League park, and that's probably going to put Corey Patterson in the lineup at least three or four of these games (and knowing Dusty, only three or four games is a best-case scenario).
- More interesting things will happen behind closed doors in the next month than anything that happens on the field. Pretty much every year since 2001 (with the exception of 2002 and 2006) the Reds have been out of the race at this point in the year, and 2008 is no exception. They've gone from just a couple below .500 to being 12.5 out of first in the last week and a half, no surprise from looking at the June schedule. Milwaukee has distanced themselves from the pack and it's going to be the Reds, Houston and the Buccos in a three-way dance for fourth down the stretch. Every year except the two mentioned above, the Reds have been mentioned as major sellers in the trade market. 2003's fire sale obviously hasn't produced a winner, Harang nonwithstanding. Other years the deadline came and went without anything earthshaking happening.
Will this year be different? Walt Jocketty may be jonesing to do something to put his mark on the team. He's already come out and said the only untouchables are Greato, Volquez, Votto, Hoops and Edwin. The names left contain some crumbs (who's going to trade for Bako?) and some possibly-movable pieces (Affeldt could probably help someone in a middle relief role). Or will something happen to impact the team beyond 2008? Will someone take Cordero's three years left on his deal and give the Legs some tasty morsels? Can the Reds get something for Dunn that's better than the draft picks? Is Dunn even part of their long-term plan? Is there a long-term plan?
Every Reds-related report in the national media has them as major sellers, but they have a "win-now" mini-Steinbrenner owner. Will he let Jocketty shape the team as he sees fit? Then you have to consider that Jocketty has never really had to do a fire sale. Does this organization have the eye for talent they'll need to get a return on their investment?
T'will be verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry interesting, homie. Now that's worth talking about.
The three-game set with the Highlanders opens tonight at 7:05, 4:05 here in the Land of In-N-Out. Edinson Volquez gets the ball against Mike Mussina. Volquez should be fired up to pitch in Yankee Stadium and make his mark on the world. Mussina is a veteran the Reds haven't seen that much who knows how to pitch, so I'm predicting a 3-1 Yankee win, with Volquez leaving tied and the bullpen getting the loss. But what do I know? I don't even like baseball.
Peace!!!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Reds rolling... down the tubes
As predicted the Boston series has been difficult. Yesterday's loss was tough. Lincoln Logs was shelled last time he went two innings, so why would they leave him in for the tenth? Just bullpen mismanagement. The shot at two of three evaporated with yesterday's loss as Josh Beckett has a 3-0 lead and this game is as good as done. Maybe I'm wrong... but I doubt it.
Good to see Paul Janish finally out of the lineup. He's obviously overmatched but of course, Jolbert Cabrera, today's shortstop, is still in the two slot. Yesterday C. Trent Rosecrans was on the radio in the top of the 2nd, saying Dusty's rationale behind Janish in the two slot is this: with Bruce at leadoff the two hitter will have bunt and hit-and-run opportunities, and will have protection from Griffey in the three hole as well. First off, you don't want someone who can't make contact trying to bunt and hit-and-run on a regular basis. Second, if Griffey is hitting third (ostensibly a run producer) you shouldn't need to bunt and hit-and-run to produce runs. Third, Griffey offers no protection anymore because if he doesn't get a fastball right where he's guessing it'll be he can't get around anymore. But you know what? Good job, Dusty. Let's go ahead and pretend Griffey still hits like it's 1998. It's working out so well so far. An ESPN article said he's been struggling because of the pressure in the chase for 600 homers. I've seen just about every Griffey at-bat this season and I don't see a guy who's pressing, I see a guy who's finished.
Speaking of overmatched, Homer Bailey is one out into the third and has allowed five runs. Boston is a fantastic offensive team but this is ridiculous. All the talk about this team having tons of starting pitching depth has sure turned out to be bunk, hasn't it? They're going to rue their selling Tom Shearn to Taiwan or whatever they did before this year is over.
Bailey was just removed. God.
It gets harder and harder to write about this team on a daily basis, seeing as how for like eight years in a row, it's been the same old story. Bad team after bad team. I know the Reds have rarely been the worst team in the National League since 2001, but for my money this decade has been just as excruciating as the Bengals' 1990s run.
So now do you even give Bailey another start on the big league stage? His next start would be the Saturday game at Yankee Stadium if they keep a five-man rotation going. He wasn't pitching particularly well at Louisville before his callup, and in the big leagues he's had three starts, one okayish, two awful. Might be Daryl Thompson time; his numbers looked sensational in Chattanooga and pretty good with the Bats.
So this is the final game of the 20-straight-games stretch. Assuming today is a loss (fairly safe assumption from the looks of things) they'll end up 10-10. That actually... isn't that bad. Maybe everything written above is premature. Part of what's maddening about this team is many of their wins feel miraculous (lead the league in walkoffs) and when they look bad, they usually look really terrible. They can't hit good pitching to save their lives, any pitcher who they've never seen before looks like Cy Young, and they can't get any consistency with their starting pitching (Harang, Cueto and Arroyo have all been either great or terrible in most of their starts; no consistency). Offensively they're either awesome or don't score any, with nothing in between. Griffey in the three spot has been killing them. They've gotten nothing offensively from their catchers and the lineup needs Keppinger's consistency in the worst way. He's rehabbing, so hopefully he'll be back soon.
Maybe a comeback is coming! We shall see! Laterz!
Good to see Paul Janish finally out of the lineup. He's obviously overmatched but of course, Jolbert Cabrera, today's shortstop, is still in the two slot. Yesterday C. Trent Rosecrans was on the radio in the top of the 2nd, saying Dusty's rationale behind Janish in the two slot is this: with Bruce at leadoff the two hitter will have bunt and hit-and-run opportunities, and will have protection from Griffey in the three hole as well. First off, you don't want someone who can't make contact trying to bunt and hit-and-run on a regular basis. Second, if Griffey is hitting third (ostensibly a run producer) you shouldn't need to bunt and hit-and-run to produce runs. Third, Griffey offers no protection anymore because if he doesn't get a fastball right where he's guessing it'll be he can't get around anymore. But you know what? Good job, Dusty. Let's go ahead and pretend Griffey still hits like it's 1998. It's working out so well so far. An ESPN article said he's been struggling because of the pressure in the chase for 600 homers. I've seen just about every Griffey at-bat this season and I don't see a guy who's pressing, I see a guy who's finished.
Speaking of overmatched, Homer Bailey is one out into the third and has allowed five runs. Boston is a fantastic offensive team but this is ridiculous. All the talk about this team having tons of starting pitching depth has sure turned out to be bunk, hasn't it? They're going to rue their selling Tom Shearn to Taiwan or whatever they did before this year is over.
Bailey was just removed. God.
It gets harder and harder to write about this team on a daily basis, seeing as how for like eight years in a row, it's been the same old story. Bad team after bad team. I know the Reds have rarely been the worst team in the National League since 2001, but for my money this decade has been just as excruciating as the Bengals' 1990s run.
So now do you even give Bailey another start on the big league stage? His next start would be the Saturday game at Yankee Stadium if they keep a five-man rotation going. He wasn't pitching particularly well at Louisville before his callup, and in the big leagues he's had three starts, one okayish, two awful. Might be Daryl Thompson time; his numbers looked sensational in Chattanooga and pretty good with the Bats.
So this is the final game of the 20-straight-games stretch. Assuming today is a loss (fairly safe assumption from the looks of things) they'll end up 10-10. That actually... isn't that bad. Maybe everything written above is premature. Part of what's maddening about this team is many of their wins feel miraculous (lead the league in walkoffs) and when they look bad, they usually look really terrible. They can't hit good pitching to save their lives, any pitcher who they've never seen before looks like Cy Young, and they can't get any consistency with their starting pitching (Harang, Cueto and Arroyo have all been either great or terrible in most of their starts; no consistency). Offensively they're either awesome or don't score any, with nothing in between. Griffey in the three spot has been killing them. They've gotten nothing offensively from their catchers and the lineup needs Keppinger's consistency in the worst way. He's rehabbing, so hopefully he'll be back soon.
Maybe a comeback is coming! We shall see! Laterz!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Woe is us...
Since the offseason we've looked at the schedule and fretted about it. Game after game, good team after good team, many on the road... how would the Reds ever get out of June with a decent record?
Folks, it looks like this Reds season is flying off the tracks. Johnny Cueto is down 5-0 on my DVR. So be it if this post looks really dumb if the Reds come back, but it doesn't get any easier from here, and this bullpen may be spent after this series, with no day off til Monday. The rallies aren't coming and four of the five rotation slots are question marks right now. This isn't good. This isn't good at all.
Folks, it looks like this Reds season is flying off the tracks. Johnny Cueto is down 5-0 on my DVR. So be it if this post looks really dumb if the Reds come back, but it doesn't get any easier from here, and this bullpen may be spent after this series, with no day off til Monday. The rallies aren't coming and four of the five rotation slots are question marks right now. This isn't good. This isn't good at all.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Game 66: Bailey's Honeymoon Over, Reds Lose
Reds pitcher Homer Bailey's 2008 renaissance lasted all of one game as he was battered and bruised Tuesday in a dismal 7-2 loss to the Cardinals.
Once again Cincinnati saw an opposing starter for the first time, and once again he looked terrific, as the Cardinals' Mitchell Boggs allowed two runs and four hits in five innings of work. Bailey, on the other hand, didn't make it through the fourth, allowing eight hits and five runs. The performance echoed Bailey's start against the Cards last year, another three and two-thirds job, although he allowed seven in that start. The location just wasn't there for Homer this time, and he allowed bombs to Albert Pujols and Rick Ankiel in St. Louis' four-run third. All four runs came with two out; it was that kind of night for the Reds.
Joey Votto proivded the Reds' two tallies with a bomb in the fourth that plated Adam Dunn. Really the only other positive was a solid two innings from Lincoln Logs in relief of Bailey; other than that the Reds were bad and boring this evening.
Pujols is day-to-day after straining his calf out of the batter's box in the seventh. Maybe he'll be out for the series and won't be able to terrorize the Reds.
Really not much to say about this one. Reds sort-of threatened a couple of times but couldn't do anything. Just another day, another loss, and Bailey's obviously going to have to be much better then he was tonight to stick in the rotation. The Nasti is now 31-35 on the year and faces the Cards tomorrow night as well. Johnny Greato takes on Braden Looper, game time 7:10, 4:10 here in agaveland. Peace out.
Once again Cincinnati saw an opposing starter for the first time, and once again he looked terrific, as the Cardinals' Mitchell Boggs allowed two runs and four hits in five innings of work. Bailey, on the other hand, didn't make it through the fourth, allowing eight hits and five runs. The performance echoed Bailey's start against the Cards last year, another three and two-thirds job, although he allowed seven in that start. The location just wasn't there for Homer this time, and he allowed bombs to Albert Pujols and Rick Ankiel in St. Louis' four-run third. All four runs came with two out; it was that kind of night for the Reds.
Joey Votto proivded the Reds' two tallies with a bomb in the fourth that plated Adam Dunn. Really the only other positive was a solid two innings from Lincoln Logs in relief of Bailey; other than that the Reds were bad and boring this evening.
Pujols is day-to-day after straining his calf out of the batter's box in the seventh. Maybe he'll be out for the series and won't be able to terrorize the Reds.
Really not much to say about this one. Reds sort-of threatened a couple of times but couldn't do anything. Just another day, another loss, and Bailey's obviously going to have to be much better then he was tonight to stick in the rotation. The Nasti is now 31-35 on the year and faces the Cards tomorrow night as well. Johnny Greato takes on Braden Looper, game time 7:10, 4:10 here in agaveland. Peace out.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Griffey Belts No. 600, Reds Belt Marlins 9-4
The Reds salvaged a split and a 3-5 road trip with a 9-4 win over the Marlins Monday night.
Ken Griffey Jr.'s 600th career homer highlighted the Reds' 31st win of 2008, and Paul Bako provided two dingers to power the Reds offense.
Junior getting to 600 is something that just makes me feel old. I was seven when he broke in with Seattle, had a Griffey poster in my room as a kid and as a senior in high school couldn't sleep that unforgettable night the Reds traded for him. It just didn't seem real, and like so many things that seem too good to be true, Griffey's stint in Cincinnati hasn't worked out the way it was supposed to work out. Still, lots of guys with his continued injury problems would have hung it up a long time ago, particularly after 2004, when he finally had his power stroke and again lost half the year to injury. He never really seemed happy until later in his time with the Reds, when he seemed to get comfortable in his old-man role, adjusted to not being able to run anymore, and just did the best he could and wasn't so hard on himself. I remember seeing him late in 2000 or possibly sometime in 2001 and telling someone, "he looks happy today," and thinking, wait, this is a baseball player, we aren't supposed to psychoanalyze him. He just looked so miserable in his early times in Cincinnati, with the pressure, the death threats, the booing, the Phil Nevin trade rumours.
But he's adjusted, and now he is what he is, a constant reminder for some of the promising future that never was, but I've come to just appreciate him for what he is, a legend in his time, the former best player in the game, one of the only untainted surefire Hall of Famers of his era and one of the only dominant players from my childhood and teenage years left in baseball (he's one of the only ones still playing, along with Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux and Frank Thomas, and I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting). Despite it all, and despite all the years of frustration, I'm glad he's been a Red. 2005 through 2007 have been such bittersweet redemption for all the frustration from 2001 to 2004, and it's hard not to think that if he'd just been healthy and played 140 games those years with normal regression, he would have been the first to pass Aaron, and do it the right way. But what happened happened, and it's silly to wonder what might have been.
More than anything, I think about where I was in 2000 and that huge contract was signed, and where I am now compared to then. It's hard to believe that this is the last year of that deal if the Reds don't pick up the option (and they most certainly won't). It seemed so long at that time it was almost incomprehensible. I've seen players from my childhood baseball cards show up on coaching staffs all around the league but The Kid hitting his 600th homer may take the cake for baseball showing you how quickly life moves. He's not a kid anymore, and neither am I. But for both of us, it's been a great ride.
Edinson Volquez held the Floridians hitless through four before running into trouble, allowing three in the fifth before ending his night with a scoreless sixth. He was good-but-not-great and picked up another win.
As far as the Philly series and the rest of the Florida series go, it was a mixed bag. I said going in that I wouldn't be too crestfallen with a 3-5 trip. That isn't a ringing endorsement of the Reds, but such is the state of their play on the road. A 1-7 or 2-6 trip wouldn't have shocked me in the least. I'm really glad the Reds are done with the Phillies for the year. That lineup continues to be scary, and if I never see Chase Utley terrorize Reds pitching again I won't be crying. Volquez was their only salvation at Philly, although they did keep two of the other games close. Of course they couldn't salvage the split against Cole Hamels, a really good lefty.
As for the rest of the Marlins series, really the Reds should have won three of four but the Cordero blown save in the second game was epic. Really, it happens, and what can you do about it? Nothing. Chalk it up and move on, and I'm glad they got the split.
Big homestand coming up. The Reds have won thirteen of fifteen at home and need these games coming up. Three vs. second-place St. Louis, three vs. defending World Champion Boston, then the Dodgers. Some dude named Mitchell Boggs goes for Luigi against Homer Bailey for the Reds, who was very good against the Phils in his first start despite losing. He was clearly a victim of poor defense, and deserved better. Let's see how he does his second time out. Certainly he looked like more of a pitcher than he did last year, just trying to toss rising fastballs past everyone. Seems to have filled out a bit as well, although that may be my imagination. Game time is 7:10 for the Reds and Cards tomorrow, 4:10 here in California. Peace.
Ken Griffey Jr.'s 600th career homer highlighted the Reds' 31st win of 2008, and Paul Bako provided two dingers to power the Reds offense.
Junior getting to 600 is something that just makes me feel old. I was seven when he broke in with Seattle, had a Griffey poster in my room as a kid and as a senior in high school couldn't sleep that unforgettable night the Reds traded for him. It just didn't seem real, and like so many things that seem too good to be true, Griffey's stint in Cincinnati hasn't worked out the way it was supposed to work out. Still, lots of guys with his continued injury problems would have hung it up a long time ago, particularly after 2004, when he finally had his power stroke and again lost half the year to injury. He never really seemed happy until later in his time with the Reds, when he seemed to get comfortable in his old-man role, adjusted to not being able to run anymore, and just did the best he could and wasn't so hard on himself. I remember seeing him late in 2000 or possibly sometime in 2001 and telling someone, "he looks happy today," and thinking, wait, this is a baseball player, we aren't supposed to psychoanalyze him. He just looked so miserable in his early times in Cincinnati, with the pressure, the death threats, the booing, the Phil Nevin trade rumours.
But he's adjusted, and now he is what he is, a constant reminder for some of the promising future that never was, but I've come to just appreciate him for what he is, a legend in his time, the former best player in the game, one of the only untainted surefire Hall of Famers of his era and one of the only dominant players from my childhood and teenage years left in baseball (he's one of the only ones still playing, along with Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux and Frank Thomas, and I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting). Despite it all, and despite all the years of frustration, I'm glad he's been a Red. 2005 through 2007 have been such bittersweet redemption for all the frustration from 2001 to 2004, and it's hard not to think that if he'd just been healthy and played 140 games those years with normal regression, he would have been the first to pass Aaron, and do it the right way. But what happened happened, and it's silly to wonder what might have been.
More than anything, I think about where I was in 2000 and that huge contract was signed, and where I am now compared to then. It's hard to believe that this is the last year of that deal if the Reds don't pick up the option (and they most certainly won't). It seemed so long at that time it was almost incomprehensible. I've seen players from my childhood baseball cards show up on coaching staffs all around the league but The Kid hitting his 600th homer may take the cake for baseball showing you how quickly life moves. He's not a kid anymore, and neither am I. But for both of us, it's been a great ride.
Edinson Volquez held the Floridians hitless through four before running into trouble, allowing three in the fifth before ending his night with a scoreless sixth. He was good-but-not-great and picked up another win.
As far as the Philly series and the rest of the Florida series go, it was a mixed bag. I said going in that I wouldn't be too crestfallen with a 3-5 trip. That isn't a ringing endorsement of the Reds, but such is the state of their play on the road. A 1-7 or 2-6 trip wouldn't have shocked me in the least. I'm really glad the Reds are done with the Phillies for the year. That lineup continues to be scary, and if I never see Chase Utley terrorize Reds pitching again I won't be crying. Volquez was their only salvation at Philly, although they did keep two of the other games close. Of course they couldn't salvage the split against Cole Hamels, a really good lefty.
As for the rest of the Marlins series, really the Reds should have won three of four but the Cordero blown save in the second game was epic. Really, it happens, and what can you do about it? Nothing. Chalk it up and move on, and I'm glad they got the split.
Big homestand coming up. The Reds have won thirteen of fifteen at home and need these games coming up. Three vs. second-place St. Louis, three vs. defending World Champion Boston, then the Dodgers. Some dude named Mitchell Boggs goes for Luigi against Homer Bailey for the Reds, who was very good against the Phils in his first start despite losing. He was clearly a victim of poor defense, and deserved better. Let's see how he does his second time out. Certainly he looked like more of a pitcher than he did last year, just trying to toss rising fastballs past everyone. Seems to have filled out a bit as well, although that may be my imagination. Game time is 7:10 for the Reds and Cards tomorrow, 4:10 here in California. Peace.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Reds rolling...
Cueto pitching well, the Olympia beer is cold, Jay Bruce hit another dinger... we're halfway through the Sunday game and it's good times in SoCal.
What a homestand this has been. Bruce's first taste of the majors has continued to be too good to be true. The game-winner was a blast, a true no-doubter, and masked the frustration of another awful appearance from Josh Fogg. The Reds kept battling and the win was great despite the 'pen having to pitch six innings. One thing that concerns me is the Reds just keep winning these walkoffs (their seven walkoffs leads the majors), and that type of thing just isn't likely to sustain itself over an entire season. Bruce's performance isn't going to sustain itself either, of course, but this year is shaping into something really fun. Easy to say that when you've won four of five.
Bruce is at the plate right now, and Tim Hudson, one of the better starters in the NL, is scared to throw him a strike. Seriously, is this for real?
Anyway, back to Saturday. I didn't even start watching the game until close to nine PM eastern because the MLB.tv feed wasn't available til about half an hour after the end of the game. So I kind of knew when the game was going to end, the only question was, would the game-winner come from Bruce, or on Griffey's 600th HR? It came from Bruce and it was sweet. Now the Reds are going for the sweep.
CREDIT FOR DUSTY
Dusty takes a lot of abuse for moves he makes, particularly moves like the one he made in the ninth yesterday, pinch-running Freel for Adam Dunn. Normally I hate removing the big bats from the game, but there is no way Adam Dunn scores the tying run the way Freel did, waiting til the instant Soriano released the ball to first to run home, then barely beating the throw.
PLAYER MOVE!!!
Josh Fogg to the DL with back spasms or something, Gary Majewski to the big club for a little bit of bullpen help. He's been awful in every stint with the Reds since the big trade, but has been good in AAA (of course, he always has been good in AAA). Much like Norris Hopper's "sore elbow" lingering for two months, this move reeks of a phantom injury to avoid having to send someone to Louisville, but really, whatever. If by some miracle the Rockies are still interested in Fogg I would deal him for a bag of baseballs at this point.
JERRY HAIRSTON JR.
He's just hitting and hitting right now. Coming into this year the talk was that Hairston was fully healthy for the first time in a few years, and he's really raking right now. He's been just what this team needed so far, and thankfully now that Corey Patterson is gone, replaced by Bruce, there isn't an open outfield spot for Dusty to use on him, and as everyone knows if Patterson was in the lineup he just had to hit leadoff. These recent player moves almost seem to have "Dusty-proofed" this team, which could only be considered a good thing.
TODAY
It's the sixth right now, Reds up 3-0. May be back for more later.
What a homestand this has been. Bruce's first taste of the majors has continued to be too good to be true. The game-winner was a blast, a true no-doubter, and masked the frustration of another awful appearance from Josh Fogg. The Reds kept battling and the win was great despite the 'pen having to pitch six innings. One thing that concerns me is the Reds just keep winning these walkoffs (their seven walkoffs leads the majors), and that type of thing just isn't likely to sustain itself over an entire season. Bruce's performance isn't going to sustain itself either, of course, but this year is shaping into something really fun. Easy to say that when you've won four of five.
Bruce is at the plate right now, and Tim Hudson, one of the better starters in the NL, is scared to throw him a strike. Seriously, is this for real?
Anyway, back to Saturday. I didn't even start watching the game until close to nine PM eastern because the MLB.tv feed wasn't available til about half an hour after the end of the game. So I kind of knew when the game was going to end, the only question was, would the game-winner come from Bruce, or on Griffey's 600th HR? It came from Bruce and it was sweet. Now the Reds are going for the sweep.
CREDIT FOR DUSTY
Dusty takes a lot of abuse for moves he makes, particularly moves like the one he made in the ninth yesterday, pinch-running Freel for Adam Dunn. Normally I hate removing the big bats from the game, but there is no way Adam Dunn scores the tying run the way Freel did, waiting til the instant Soriano released the ball to first to run home, then barely beating the throw.
PLAYER MOVE!!!
Josh Fogg to the DL with back spasms or something, Gary Majewski to the big club for a little bit of bullpen help. He's been awful in every stint with the Reds since the big trade, but has been good in AAA (of course, he always has been good in AAA). Much like Norris Hopper's "sore elbow" lingering for two months, this move reeks of a phantom injury to avoid having to send someone to Louisville, but really, whatever. If by some miracle the Rockies are still interested in Fogg I would deal him for a bag of baseballs at this point.
JERRY HAIRSTON JR.
He's just hitting and hitting right now. Coming into this year the talk was that Hairston was fully healthy for the first time in a few years, and he's really raking right now. He's been just what this team needed so far, and thankfully now that Corey Patterson is gone, replaced by Bruce, there isn't an open outfield spot for Dusty to use on him, and as everyone knows if Patterson was in the lineup he just had to hit leadoff. These recent player moves almost seem to have "Dusty-proofed" this team, which could only be considered a good thing.
TODAY
It's the sixth right now, Reds up 3-0. May be back for more later.
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