Jeff Suppan
Paul Maholm
Ian Snell
Tom Gorzelanny
Ryan Dempster
Jeff Suppan
Yovanni Gallardo
Chris Sampson
Jack Cassell
Jonathan Sanchez
Joel Piniero
Braden Looper
All of the above pitchers have made the Reds' offense look helpless so far this season. This is just a poor offensive club. It's a team based on hitting three-run homers, and none of the home run hitters are hitting them right now. The Griffey-Phillips-Dunn triumverate is just killing them in the middle of the order. Dusty has to find a way to move Votto and Encarnacion up in the order until the big three above start hitting. Baker was supposed to be the guy to finally stand up to Griffey's pride, but it sure hasn't happened so far. Cincinnati (12-17) jumped out to a 2-0 lead Wednesday afternoon but that unfortunately was all they would get for a typically solid Aaron Harang. What a hard-luck year his 2008 is turning into. It's got to be even more frustrating for him to live as it is for us to watch. The Cardinals whittled away at the lead while the Reds' offense was snoozing and that was that.
This loss wasn't a total embarassment like Tuesday night, with the horror of Cueto leaving every 2-strike pitch up and over the middle, that ridiculous Keppinger rundown and Dunn throwing the ball behind his head trying to get the ball home. But even the positives are clouded by the spectre of more of the same lurking just around the corner. Yes, they put up two runs early... but Looper's just the kind of mediocre starter the Reds love to fall asleep against. Griffey just feels like an automatic routine out right now. He really isn't hitting the ball hard to any direction, just lazy flyballs to mid-range outfield spots. Brandon Phillips' freeswinging works great when he's golfing balls into the front row in right field, but when he's strking out on pitches that start low and break into the dirt, as a fan you just want to pull your hair out. Save for Votto, Encarnacion and (gulp) Bako there is no bright light offensively, just a bunch of dim bulbs. No one at the top of the order can consistently get on base and score runs. Leadoff continues to be a joke. What was a good start to the series has been pissed away.
The shame of it is this team has the makings of a very good pitching staff. Harang and Volquez have been fantastic all year. Cueto's stuff continues to be electric even when he has location issues. Everyone knew he would be up and down anyway. Arroyo looked like he was really getting it together his last start, and Belisle has the ability to be a servicable fifth starter, even if he hasn't shown it at the major league level in his two starts. The bullpen has been very good, Mercker's poor outing today notwithstanding. With Coffey gone there are no arms in that bullpen where you write "game over" when they come into the game. Bill Bray was fine Tuesday night in mopup duty. Mike Lincoln and Jeremy Affeldt have been solid in middle relief, Burton has been up and down but overall good and Cordero has looked to be worth the money despite his lack of chances.
The offense, however, has been so bad it's hard to not scream for a move just for the sake of doing something different. Adam Dunn hasn't been hitting for two months if you factor in the spring. Could someone so laid-back and already rich be feeling contract year pressure? Reds fans have said a lot of things about him but "thoughtful" isn't a word I've seen applied to a guy nicknamed "Donkey." This lack of production out of Phillips, Griffey and Dunn can't continue. It won't continue... will it?
As far as leadoff/center field goes, it's hard not to scream for Jay Bruce when they keep throwing Ryan Freel and Corey Patterson out there. All I know about Bruce is the hype, but he can't be a worse major leaguer than Ryan Freel at this point in his career. It's an old baseball saying that you can't steal first. Dusty Baker had best be learning that.
From here, the Reds go to Atlanta to face the Braves. It's Matt Belisle's scheduled turn Friday but he's been moved to Saturday to keep Volquez and Cueto pitching every five days. Volquez faces Tim Hudson in the opener Friday night. First pitch is listed on MLB.com as 7:30, which is weird. But that would be 4:30 here in Padreland. Peace.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Game 28: Cardinals 7, Reds 2
The less said about Tuesday's game the better, so a haiku in the name of brevity:
Cueto got destroyed
Dunn homered
But the Reds got beat
Tomorrow gets underway in the afternoon Eastern, in the morning here. Thanks!
Cueto got destroyed
Dunn homered
But the Reds got beat
Tomorrow gets underway in the afternoon Eastern, in the morning here. Thanks!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Game 27: Reds 4, Cardinals 3
The Reds won their third straight game Monday for the first time in 2008 in a 4-3 win at St. Louis.
Two key defensive plays by Edwin Encarnacion, including a diving seventh-inning grab resulting in the third out and a sliding catch under Paul Bako to end the game, sealed the deal on a night when the Reds seemed destined to lose an early 4-0 lead. Edwin also drove in two of the team's four runs, one on a second-inning double and one on a third-inning double.
On the pitching side, Bronson Arroyo looked like the good Bronson for the first time all year. His delivery looked more sidearm/three quarters than it has all year, he did a great job changing speeds and his curve had a ton of bite coming from the strange angle. He wound up allowing three runs in six innings but really pitched much better than that. Jared Burton, Jeremy Affeldt and Francisco Cordero also had a scoreless inning of work each to finish things up, although Burton made it interesting, allowing two hits and forcing Edwin to save the day on a hard smash to third from Yadier Molina.
This was a fantastic win for the Reds to open the series in St. Louis. Beating the team in first always helps you, obviously, and Busch has been a bit of a house of horrors since the place opened (7-11 since it opened). It seems like every year the Reds blow a few games at that park and it was nice getting an early lead and more importantly, holding on. If Bronson can keep up his quality starts, this rotation is going to be in great shape.
Offensively, Ken Griffey Jr., Brandon Phillips and Adam Dunn each had two hits, another reason for encouragement. I'm telling you, the pitching has been good enough that if the Reds can get it going at all offensively they're going to make some noise in this division.
PLAYER MOVE!!!!!
No handwringing on this one: Toddrick Coffey is a Louisville Bat once more, and The Honourable Sir William of House Bray has been called up. The move gives the Reds three lefties in the bullpen, but all accounts have been that Bray has been lights-out in AAA, and he looked very good down the stretch last year. Exchanging a useful arm for a black hole? Works for me.
So far this is the only move that has come out of the big Jocketty Meeting with front office officials.
TOMORROW
Johnny Cueto vs. Joel Piniero lock up as the Reds try to ensure a series win. First pitch 8:15 Eastern, 5:15 here in paradise. Peace!
Two key defensive plays by Edwin Encarnacion, including a diving seventh-inning grab resulting in the third out and a sliding catch under Paul Bako to end the game, sealed the deal on a night when the Reds seemed destined to lose an early 4-0 lead. Edwin also drove in two of the team's four runs, one on a second-inning double and one on a third-inning double.
On the pitching side, Bronson Arroyo looked like the good Bronson for the first time all year. His delivery looked more sidearm/three quarters than it has all year, he did a great job changing speeds and his curve had a ton of bite coming from the strange angle. He wound up allowing three runs in six innings but really pitched much better than that. Jared Burton, Jeremy Affeldt and Francisco Cordero also had a scoreless inning of work each to finish things up, although Burton made it interesting, allowing two hits and forcing Edwin to save the day on a hard smash to third from Yadier Molina.
This was a fantastic win for the Reds to open the series in St. Louis. Beating the team in first always helps you, obviously, and Busch has been a bit of a house of horrors since the place opened (7-11 since it opened). It seems like every year the Reds blow a few games at that park and it was nice getting an early lead and more importantly, holding on. If Bronson can keep up his quality starts, this rotation is going to be in great shape.
Offensively, Ken Griffey Jr., Brandon Phillips and Adam Dunn each had two hits, another reason for encouragement. I'm telling you, the pitching has been good enough that if the Reds can get it going at all offensively they're going to make some noise in this division.
PLAYER MOVE!!!!!
No handwringing on this one: Toddrick Coffey is a Louisville Bat once more, and The Honourable Sir William of House Bray has been called up. The move gives the Reds three lefties in the bullpen, but all accounts have been that Bray has been lights-out in AAA, and he looked very good down the stretch last year. Exchanging a useful arm for a black hole? Works for me.
So far this is the only move that has come out of the big Jocketty Meeting with front office officials.
TOMORROW
Johnny Cueto vs. Joel Piniero lock up as the Reds try to ensure a series win. First pitch 8:15 Eastern, 5:15 here in paradise. Peace!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Game 26: Reds 10, Giants 1
Any concern that the Reds were completely unable to hit any lefty with a pulse was alleviated Sunday afternoon. Cincinnati jumped all over a helpless Barry Zito and pounded the Giants, 10-1 to earn a series victory.
The Reds started Ryan Freel, Corey Patterson and Scott Hairston in the outfield and still had a 6-0 lead before Zito managed to get the second out of the first inning. From there really it was academic with Edinson Volquez having his 'A' stuff working for the Reds on the hill. On the day he threw seven innings, striking out ten and walking three, allowing one run and five hits. The Giants lineup isn't something to be feared generally but it still was a fantastic performance.
I almost feel bad for Barry Zito. He's got to feel like he's stealing money at this point. The loss put him at 0-6 for the year with a 7.53 ERA. It's almost like Milton's 2005 so far, except if Milton had seven more years on his deal instead of two. Zito's making so much money they have to keep throwing him out there unless he's hurt, but they have no chance when he's on the hill most of the time.
For the Reds, this is the second straight game where their struggling offense put up ten runs. Brandon Phillips had two homers and three RBI, Ryan Freel drove in two, and Joey Votto, Jeff Keppinger and Volquez each had one RBI. We'll see a much better indication of whether this outburst was a result of the Reds pulling it together or if the Giants are just that bad when the Reds open a three-game set at division leading St. Louis Monday. Bronson Arroyo takes the hill looking to turn things around for his 2008 season for the Reds (11-15), while righty Todd Wellemeyer toes the rubber for the Cardinals. Game time is 8:10 Eastern, 5:10 here in paradise. Peace.
The Reds started Ryan Freel, Corey Patterson and Scott Hairston in the outfield and still had a 6-0 lead before Zito managed to get the second out of the first inning. From there really it was academic with Edinson Volquez having his 'A' stuff working for the Reds on the hill. On the day he threw seven innings, striking out ten and walking three, allowing one run and five hits. The Giants lineup isn't something to be feared generally but it still was a fantastic performance.
I almost feel bad for Barry Zito. He's got to feel like he's stealing money at this point. The loss put him at 0-6 for the year with a 7.53 ERA. It's almost like Milton's 2005 so far, except if Milton had seven more years on his deal instead of two. Zito's making so much money they have to keep throwing him out there unless he's hurt, but they have no chance when he's on the hill most of the time.
For the Reds, this is the second straight game where their struggling offense put up ten runs. Brandon Phillips had two homers and three RBI, Ryan Freel drove in two, and Joey Votto, Jeff Keppinger and Volquez each had one RBI. We'll see a much better indication of whether this outburst was a result of the Reds pulling it together or if the Giants are just that bad when the Reds open a three-game set at division leading St. Louis Monday. Bronson Arroyo takes the hill looking to turn things around for his 2008 season for the Reds (11-15), while righty Todd Wellemeyer toes the rubber for the Cardinals. Game time is 8:10 Eastern, 5:10 here in paradise. Peace.
Barry Zito
This may end up looking really dumb if the Reds lose, but good Lord has Barry Zito looked awful so far today. If it isn't two feet out of the strike zone it's a hanger right down the middle. Mechanical adjustments, indeed. Poor Giants fans. The Reds are playing their AAA lineup and it's 6-0 with one out gone in the first. Paul Bako just got his THIRD triple of the year. Ridiculous.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Game 25: Reds 10, Giants 9
The Reds held on to win a back-and-forth slugfest Saturday night, 10-9 over San Francisco.
Cincinnati was paced by a three-RBI night from Brandon Phillips, who went 2-for-6 with a double. Paul Bako had the Reds' lone homer, and Joey Votto had three hits. The action largely came against San Francisco's bullpen after starter Kevin Correia left after a third of an inning with a strained muscle in his left side. Brad Hennessey, Keiichi Yabu and Jack Taschner gave up a combined nine runs in six and one-third innings, giving the Reds a 10-5 lead headed to the top of the ninth. There, Todd Coffey immediately gave up two hits and eventually was charged three runs without getting an out. Francisco Cordero gave up a run making it 10-9 before nailing it down for his third save.
For the Reds, Matt Belisle was better than his first start in the sense that he didn't get completley bombed, but he still was somewhat short of good, allowing four runs in five innings. He still got way too much of the plate at times, but it was closer to acceptable than his last start. Mike Lincoln allowed a run in two innings and Jeremy Affeldt pitched a scoreless inning before the ninth.
Todd Coffey is so unreliable, and was so unreliable last year that it's hard to see him staying up much longer. There has to be someone in AAA who can get outs with some level of consistency. He came in tonight and almost blew a five-run lead singlehandedly. It's just ridiculous. There are way too many black holes and guys the Reds can't count on with this roster. Coffey can't be trusted with anything but a five-run or more deficit. There is one too many catcher and a first baseman who isn't particularly skilled at pinch-hitting. The center field options are all disasters and getting any playing time for Hairston if he isn't in center involves benching a key cog of this team's offense (Keppinger, Encarnacion, Phillips). Walt Jocketty is apparently going to meet with key members of the front office in St. Louis. Changes might be coming.
Cincinnati (10-15) and San Francisco (11-14) lock up in the rubber game of their three-game set tomorrow. Edinson Volquez gets the ball for the Reds, while Barry Zito starts for the Giants. Tomorrow's game will perhaps be the ultimate test of the Reds' ability to hit lefties; Zito has been awful his entire Giants tenure. If the Reds can't get anything going against him, they may not hit anyone. Game time is 4:05 Eastern, 1:05 here in paradise. Peace.
Cincinnati was paced by a three-RBI night from Brandon Phillips, who went 2-for-6 with a double. Paul Bako had the Reds' lone homer, and Joey Votto had three hits. The action largely came against San Francisco's bullpen after starter Kevin Correia left after a third of an inning with a strained muscle in his left side. Brad Hennessey, Keiichi Yabu and Jack Taschner gave up a combined nine runs in six and one-third innings, giving the Reds a 10-5 lead headed to the top of the ninth. There, Todd Coffey immediately gave up two hits and eventually was charged three runs without getting an out. Francisco Cordero gave up a run making it 10-9 before nailing it down for his third save.
For the Reds, Matt Belisle was better than his first start in the sense that he didn't get completley bombed, but he still was somewhat short of good, allowing four runs in five innings. He still got way too much of the plate at times, but it was closer to acceptable than his last start. Mike Lincoln allowed a run in two innings and Jeremy Affeldt pitched a scoreless inning before the ninth.
Todd Coffey is so unreliable, and was so unreliable last year that it's hard to see him staying up much longer. There has to be someone in AAA who can get outs with some level of consistency. He came in tonight and almost blew a five-run lead singlehandedly. It's just ridiculous. There are way too many black holes and guys the Reds can't count on with this roster. Coffey can't be trusted with anything but a five-run or more deficit. There is one too many catcher and a first baseman who isn't particularly skilled at pinch-hitting. The center field options are all disasters and getting any playing time for Hairston if he isn't in center involves benching a key cog of this team's offense (Keppinger, Encarnacion, Phillips). Walt Jocketty is apparently going to meet with key members of the front office in St. Louis. Changes might be coming.
Cincinnati (10-15) and San Francisco (11-14) lock up in the rubber game of their three-game set tomorrow. Edinson Volquez gets the ball for the Reds, while Barry Zito starts for the Giants. Tomorrow's game will perhaps be the ultimate test of the Reds' ability to hit lefties; Zito has been awful his entire Giants tenure. If the Reds can't get anything going against him, they may not hit anyone. Game time is 4:05 Eastern, 1:05 here in paradise. Peace.
Bengals draft...
I'm not really a Bengals or NFL fan anymore. I find most games I do watch to be dull and the product is overrated. I enjoyed college football this past year more than I've enjoyed the NFL since about 2000. Still, I do keep up on the Bengals. Here's a sampling of thread titles on their website after day one of the draft:
- I'm Sick!
- The Bengals Have Cancer
- Mike Brown Stupid Thread
- I don't know how much more I can take...
- After we go 6-10 this year, I don't want to hear...
Looks like it's business as usual with Cincinnati's other team, too!
- I'm Sick!
- The Bengals Have Cancer
- Mike Brown Stupid Thread
- I don't know how much more I can take...
- After we go 6-10 this year, I don't want to hear...
Looks like it's business as usual with Cincinnati's other team, too!
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