Reds vs Braves 4/24/09

[Raisor]

He looked great until he got robbed on that strike three. After that, he totally lost it.

EV needs to learn how to deal emotionally with bad calls.

[dsmith421]

Phillips looks totally lost at the plate...is he just chasing everything or is it an issue with his mechanics?

Looks like a guy who could use a day off, frankly.

[Red in Chicago]

EV needs to learn how to deal emotionally with bad calls.

Our very own Zambrano;)

[_Sir_Charles_]

He looked great until he got robbed on that strike three. After that, he totally lost it.

You mean in the second inning where he walked 2? or in the 5th when he walked 5?

Don't get me wrong, I love Volquez's stuff and I still think he'll be our ace this season, but right now...he's really struggled and is VERY lucky to be 2-1. His walks are WAY too common.

[WMR]

I wonder if Dusty is going to let Willy get away with playing that way too shallow centerfield for the entire season? It's ridiculous.

[WMR]

Volquez' problems seem to be squarely between the ears.

Agree with Raisor that he must learn to harness his emotions even when he doesn't get a call that he thinks he should. The same thing happens to all young pitchers at some point or another. What separates the good ones from the great ones are those who can shake it off and still get the job done without falling apart.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I wonder if Dusty is going to let Willy get away with playing that way too shallow centerfield for the entire season? It's ridiculous.

Not sure I agree with that. He got to the wall in time, it was just out of his reach. I haven't seen too many balls hit over his head because he was too shallow (unless they were smoked and it wouldn't have mattered WHERE he started at). But I wouldn't be upset if they did make him play deeper. He can just use his speed to run IN instead of OUT.

[mth123]

Good inning.

[WMR]

Not sure I agree with that. He got to the wall in time, it was just out of his reach. I haven't seen too many balls hit over his head because he was too shallow (unless they were smoked and it wouldn't have mattered WHERE he started at).

He plays too shallow. I hated it when Jim Edmonds did it and I hate it now.

It's a lot easier to come in then it is to go back.

[Bob Borkowski]

Bottom of the 6th. Reds trail 3-2.

[reds44]

Are people really complaining about how shallow Taveras is playing? Frenchy hit a line drive out of the park and Taveras got their a half step late. It looks like he can get to about anything that is in the yard.

[mth123]

Are people really complaining about how shallow Taveras is playing? Frenchy hit a line drive out of the park and Taveras got their a half step late. It looks like he can get to about anything that is in the yard.

Exactly. Playing too deep and letting the dinkers fall in has been the primary problem with this OF defense this decade.

[WMR]

Are people really complaining about how shallow Taveras is playing? Frenchy hit a line drive out of the park and Taveras got their a half step late. It looks like he can get to about anything that is in the yard.

I am and it's hardly about that one isolated play.

I hate it when OFs play shallow. A main reason is that your ability to prevent balls hit to the gaps from becoming extra base hits is severely curtailed.

[Tony Cloninger]

Paul Blair and the slimmer Andrew Jones say hello.

[GAC]

EV needs to learn how to deal emotionally with bad calls.

Bingo!

And I like what Welsh just said. During EV's start in Houston, in the post-game interview EV stated that he kept looking up at the radar gun reading on the score board, saw he was throwing the ball in the high 90s, and that convinced him he had good stuff, and that nothing was wrong.

Throwing the ball hard does not mean you have good stuff.

I think this kid allows his concentration to get rattled during the game. That's why he has his "spells".

[WMR]

Exactly. Playing too deep and letting the dinkers fall in has been the primary problem with this OF defense this decade.

There's a difference between too deep and a happy medium.

[HokieRed]

The better center fielders always play shallow. You may remember the occasional ball that gets over one of their heads; what you don't remember--but which can be just as damaging--are the ones that drop in in front of the weaker cfers.

[Screwball]

"Next up for Vazquez will be his Gretzky. His 99th pitch." -Grande

I chuckled.

[mth123]

Paul Blair and the slimmer Andrew Jones say hello.

No kiddng. Probably the two best defensive CF I ever saw.

[JaxRed]

It would have been a nice play had he made it, but that was a catchable ball. It didn't go out of the park, it hit the fence and then went out.

Taveras didn't catch it because he arrived at the fence at the same time as the ball. Had he been playing deeper he could have timed his leap and made the catch.

That's the chance you take when you play shallow. Every once in a while you'll get burned. The question is, do the balls you catch because you are playing shallow more than make up for the occasional deep ball.

[Bob Borkowski]

After 6, Reds down 3-2.

[GAC]

The better center fielders always play shallow.

Exactly. The BETTER ones do so because they can. ;)

And I don't know if I agree with the assessment that it's easier to come in on a ball then it is going back.

[OnBaseMachine]

Gonzalez possibly bought Vazquez another inning by swinging at the first pitch and making an out.

[mth123]

There's a difference between too deep and a happy medium.

Willy is only an average CF IMO, but his positioning is not the problem. He's not too shallow.

[reds44]

It would have been a nice play had he made it, but that was a catchable ball. It didn't go out of the park, it hit the fence and then went out.

Taveras didn't catch it because he arrived at the fence at the same time as the ball. Had he been playing deeper he could have timed his leap and made the catch.

That's the chance you take when you play shallow. Every once in a while you'll get burned. The question is, do the balls you catch because you are playing shallow more than make up for the occasional deep ball.
So Taveras has to play at a depth that allows him to rob homers?

Uh, no.

[GAC]

Anyone else feel like this watching this game?


http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioassets/photos/2007/8/6/26157_2.jpg

[JaxRed]

Actually, I think he should play shallow. But that does mean he occasionally will get burned. Like he just did.

[Screwball]

Fox Sports has Masset consistently hitting 92, 93 mph. Gameday has his avg. fastball at 94.1. I honestly didn't realize he threw that hard.

[Bob Borkowski]

Pretty sure that earlier Marty said that the last time a Reds pitcher walked 5 batters in one inning was Ryan Dempster in April 2003.

[mth123]

Actually, I think he should play shallow. But that does mean he occasionally will get burned. Like he just did.

Playing shallow makes a guy a better CF IMO. I'll agree he'll have fewer "webgems" on ESPN. I don't care. I want those dinkers to be outs.

[lollipopcurve]

Gonzalez possibly bought Vazquez another inning by swinging at the first pitch and making an out.

Good pitch to hit, and he took it to the warning track in center. I have no problem with that swing.

[dsmith421]

Pretty sure that earlier Marty said that the last time a Reds pitcher walked 5 batters in one inning was Ryan Dempster in April 2003.

I was definitely at that game, having driven an hour from Dayton with friends and a bag of beer. He was Dumpster thereafter.

[Raisor]

HOLY CATS! JFrank walks twice in one game.

I am hiding under the bed.

[CTA513]

10 walks for the Braves

[Screwball]

Francoeur with his 2nd walk of the night. I believe that's a sign of the apocalypse.

[Tom Servo]

4-2 Braves.

[mth123]

Reds doing their best to ensure the large walk-up crowd doesn't come back. Not only are all these walks bad baseball, but its incredibly boring.

[OnBaseMachine]

This team is incapable of winning in front of a big crowd. No wonder the Reds always have poor attendance.

[Tony Cloninger]

I was hoping that the nice road trip would carry over to a good game.....but a late 90's AL game broke out tonight.

[vaticanplum]

Reds doing their best to ensure the large walk-up crowd doesn't come back. Not only are all these walks bad baseball, but its incredibly boring.

There will be a lot of people there tomorrow. It's fleece blanket day. It's supposed to be 88 and humid tomorrow.

This team needs its own mockumentary.

[mth123]

There will be a lot of people there tomorrow. It's fleece blanket day. It's supposed to be 88 and humid tomorrow.

This team needs its own mockumentary.

Maybe people can fan themselves with those blankets.

[dsmith421]

This team needs its own mockumentary.

"I do not, for one, think that the problem was that the band was down. I think that the problem may have been, that there was a Stonehenge monument on the stage that was in danger of being crushed by a dwarf. Alright? That tended to understate the hugeness of the object."

[HokieRed]

I'm really disappointed. I thought we'd get a big offensive breakout tonight and a good game from Volquez.

[vaticanplum]

I'm really disappointed. I thought we'd get a big offensive breakout tonight and a good game from Volquez.

Volquez falls in the wake of the mighty Vazquez. It was bound to happen at least once.

[OnBaseMachine]

The Braves bullpen is awful. Can they score some runs?

[dsmith421]

Can I get confirmation that Danny Herrera was sporting a wispy, 1977 John Candelaria mustache?

[Tony Cloninger]

I hope Dickerson does not go Jon Nunnally on us this year.

Hey?? 2 lefties in a row? What in the name of Al Oliver and Willie Stargell is going on.

[Raisor]

http://www.nunnie.com/joname1.jpg


Hey, I'm not a lumberjack, or a fur trader....
I don't live in an igloo or eat blubber, or own a dogsled....
and I don't know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada,
although I'm certain they're really really nice.

I have a Prime Minister, not a president.
I speak English and French, not American.
And I pronounce it 'about', not 'a boot'.

I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack.
I believe in peace keeping, not policing,
diversity, not assimilation,
and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal.
A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch,
and it is pronounced 'zed' not 'zee', 'zed' !!!!

Canada is the second largest landmass!
The first nation of hockey!
and the best part of North America

My name is Joe!!
And I am Canadian!!!


http://thm-a01.yimg.com/image/232d13cadc793b5c


http://thm-a01.yimg.com/image/daccbb9aaa424990

[Tom Servo]

Hustling Joey Votto making stuff happen!

[mth123]

Phillips could have a tough time with Moylan. Lets hope for the best here.

[OnBaseMachine]

Phillips up with two on and two outs. I'd feel better if Owings was hitting right now.

[vaticanplum]

Wow. Joey Votto is now so feared that he makes pitchers fumble sweet little grounders.

Do we violate some kind of international law if we clone Canadians?

[Bob Borkowski]

BP with a chance to be a hero.

[Raisor]

Wow. Joey Votto is now so feared that he makes pitchers fumble sweet little grounders.

Do we violate some kind of international law if we clone Canadians?

NAFTA

North American Free Touque Alliance

[vaticanplum]

Don't be a hero...just don't get OUT.

[Team Clark]

Hope he gets a hanger here and blasts it.

[Tom Servo]

And BP flies out.

[BCubb2003]

Do we violate some kind of international law if we clone Canadians?

Aren't they all the same?

[mth123]

That may be the game there.

[vaticanplum]

sweet little pop up. Lame. LAME.

[dsmith421]

Note to Brandon: put away the sand wedge.

[alloverjr]

Glad he's back in the 4 hole.

[OnBaseMachine]

Phillips needs to bat eighth. He's the worse cleanup hitter in the game.

[dsmith421]

sweet little pop up. Lame. LAME.

He has an absolutely horrible approach at the plate. All uppercuts and hacks at bad balls.

[Team Clark]

Brandon has Corey Pattersonitis. Small man who wants to hit big homeruns.

[mth123]

To be fair, Moylan is tough on righties. Not sure why Dusty used McDonald there.

[vaticanplum]

Aren't they all the same?

:laugh:

[Tony Cloninger]

He took a strike then it was hack away......2nd pitch might have been a ball....3rd pitch was borderline....and that last pitch....maybe if you are Rod Carew or Paul Waner...or Wee Willie Keeler...you flick that for a base hit.

CW said he is better when he is patient but it is impossible for him to be so.

This pitcher has already 5 walks!!

[Screwball]

Sure wish this team had a clean-up hitter. Well, in addition to Votto.

[reds44]

There's just not enough bats in the lineup right now. The only two hitters I have any confidence at all in is Votto and Bruce. They need to be hitting 3-4.

[OnBaseMachine]

Sure wish this team had a clean-up hitter.

Nick Swisher was available for next to nothing.

[reds44]

Sure wish this team had a clean-up hitter.
They do. He's hitting 5th.

[Bob Borkowski]

4-2 Braves...top of the 8th.

[vaticanplum]

Nick Swisher was available for next to nothing.

And he can pitch!

[reds44]

Nick Swisher was available for next to nothing.
He's not a cleanup hitter.

[RedsManRick]

Against righties, Phillips really has no business batting higher than 6th -- period. Sure, EE is no classic cleanup guy, but I'd much rather have him taking that PA.

[dsmith421]

They do. He's hitting 5th.

OK, then we need another five hitter.

[mth123]

Against righties, Phillips really has no business batting higher than 6th -- period. Sure, EE is no classic cleanup guy, but I'd much rather have him taking that PA.

Yep.

[Team Clark]

Votto scares me in the field. I'm sorry. Maybe with time he'll be more comfortable over at 1B.

[Degenerate39]

And he can pitch!

That would be nice to have another batter/pitcher

[reds44]

Taveras
Encarnacion
Votto
Bruce
Phillips
Hernandez
Dickerson
Gonzalez

I actually wouldn't mind seeing McDonald get a start in LF. Did I just say that?

[OnBaseMachine]

He's not a cleanup hitter.

He's a lot better than what we have. He's a .370+ OBP guy with 25-30 homer power. I'd take that in between Votto and Bruce.

[alloverjr]

Votto scares me in the field. I'm sorry. Maybe with time he'll be more comfortable over at 1B.

or in LF

[reds44]

He's a lot better than what we have. He's a .370+ OBP guy with 25-30 homer power. I'd take that in between Votto and Bruce.
And he's still not a cleanup hitter.

[HokieRed]

I'm not sure what makes a guy with a sub .700 lifetime OPS against righties even a 6 hitter. I think you bat Phillips in line with his platoon stats: probably 5th against lefties, 8th against righties. (Of course this presumes either a little better hitting from H and G or replacement of one or both of them)

[HeatherC1212]

Nice inning for Burton. :)

[OnBaseMachine]

And he's still not a cleanup hitter.

I wouldn't complain too much about a .370+ OBP and 25-30 homers out of the cleanup spot.

[mth123]

Nice inning for Burton. :)

May be the highlight of this game so far.

[dsmith421]

And he's still not a cleanup hitter.

and, what, pray tell, is the acme of a "cleanup hitter" if you don't have access to Pujols, Berkman, Lee, etc.?

[Team Clark]

or in LF

He's enough of an athlete to do it. I think at some point he will be Ok. Casey was not a good 1B when he came up. He ended up decent. Votto is 25x the athlete that Casey is/was.

[Raisor]

And he's still not a cleanup hitter.

.292 .444 .542 .986 as a cleanup hitter

ok, it's in 66TPA but still...

[mth123]

Bruce doubles.

[Tom Servo]

Bruuuuuce!

[Raisor]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1194/1468773932_33f1438c99.jpg?v=0

[Chip R]

Nice hit for Jay the Bruce.

[Screwball]

Good on ya, Bruce.

Let's make it count, boys.

[OnBaseMachine]

Need to get him in.

[HokieRed]

Anybody think Jim Edmonds would look good in either the 4 or 6 spot right now?

[Degenerate39]

I'd love to see Jay and Joey bat back to back one of these days but it won't happen as long as Dusty is manager.

[mth123]

EdE with a BB

[Chip R]

Say hello to the Bad Guy.

[HeatherC1212]

Now would be a great time for Ramon's first HR in GABP. ;)

[dsmith421]

"Not a clutch person" draws a base on balls.

[mth123]

Hernandez with a SAC bunt.

[HeatherC1212]

Or just sacrifice the runners over, LOL :laugh:

[HokieRed]

How seriously was EE pitched to? First base open, Ramon and Gonzo due up? Semi-intentional?

[Raisor]

Being two down, not sure if I like giving up an out there.

I'll have to think about it.

[OnBaseMachine]

Sac bunt with Gonzalez on deck. Man oh man. Please pinch-hit for him. Bring on Nix or Owings.

[mth123]

2nd and 3rd, 1 out, Gonzalez and the pitcher's spot coming up.

[Degenerate39]

JUST foul

[mth123]

Being two down, not sure if I like giving up an out there.

I'll have to think about it.

I'm sure I hate it.

[OnBaseMachine]

I have zero confidence in Gonzalez to get a run in.

[Raisor]

I think they just showed Puffy on the braves feed. Big dude in overalls, right?

[Tom Servo]

Nice sac for Gonzo.

[HeatherC1212]

Gets the run in! :)

[mth123]

Sac Fly. 4-3

[Raisor]

sub warning track power is helpful every now and then

[mth123]

EdE at 2B. Nix up.

[Team Clark]

Wow..Gonzo acting like he knows what to do with the stick tonight. Hope he starts something with this tonight.

[Chip R]

Ohhhhhhhh, fuuuuuuuudge!

[Tom Servo]

Argh, Nix hit it hard but towards Escobar.

[Raisor]

Laynce Nyx no styx.

[Degenerate39]

At least Votto will bat 3rd in the 9th inning

[mth123]

GO 6-3 . To the 9th. 4 -3 Braves.

[Raisor]

At least Votto will bat 3rd in the 9th inning


http://thm-a01.yimg.com/image/232d13cadc793b5c

[Screwball]

Argh, Nix hit it hard but towards Escobar.

Yep, that one was tagged. Not too much more you can do.

[Tom Servo]

A beautiful Braves fan in Cincinnati.

[Bob Borkowski]

30,060 there tonite.

[HeatherC1212]

Rats to not getting the other runner in. :( (I'm glad to see such a great crowd there tonight though!)

[mth123]

Rhodes pitching

[Raisor]

King Arthur pitching

[Tom Servo]

King Arthur pitching
All hail King Arthur!

[mth123]

Chipper FO 9.

[dsmith421]

Love that McCann is doing the customary bald guy with a gross huge beard ploy. That's been a keeper for thousands of years. As David Cross once said, people might believe you have your head on upside down.

[Raisor]

All hail King Arthur!


http://thm-a01.yimg.com/image/fb90bc1aa94a21a4

[Chip R]

King Arthur pitching


http://www.elainemacintyre.net/images/cool/film_2004/kingarthur_montypython.jpg

[Raisor]

http://www.elainemacintyre.net/images/cool/film_2004/kingarthur_montypython.jpg



A little slow moderator.

[mth123]

Frenchy up. Runner on 1st. 1 out.

[Screwball]

Tell you what, Rhodes hits his spots. Hernandez rarely has to move his glove much.

[mth123]

Rhodes with a lot of pitches. Anybody have a count?

[Raisor]

Frenchy up. Runner on 1st. 1 out.

If he walks again, I'm selling all my property and sitting on the roof waiting for the comet to come by.

[mth123]

FO 8. 2 out.

[mth123]

If he walks again, I'm selling all my property and sitting on the roof waiting for the comet to come by.

If you sell all your property, you won't have a roof.

[Degenerate39]

FO 8. 2 out.

That'll stay in the park

[Raisor]

If you sell all your property, you won't have a roof.

I didn't say "my" roof.

...and there's Puffy again on the tv.

[mth123]

That'll stay in the park

Right or I'd have typed "HR."

[mth123]

FO 9.

[Tom Servo]

King Arthur remains perfecto.

[Chip R]

Where's Javy Valentin when we need him?

[Screwball]

Right or I'd have typed "HR."

I think he was referring to Grande. :)

[mth123]

I think he was referring to Grande. :)

OH. Sound off. Sorry.

[Raisor]

Where's Javy Valentin when we need him?

It's Friday night, where the heck do you think he is?

Home combing his stash.

[HeatherC1212]

I like the King Arthur nickname and I like it even better when he pitches well! :)

[Degenerate39]

OH. Sound off. Sorry.

After hearing that phrase whenever the ball leaves the bat mine's off too

[Raisor]

I like the King Arthur nickname and I like it even better when he pitches well! :)



We need it to catch on, then we, and by "we" I mean "I", need a percentage of the merchandising.

[Tom Servo]

Willy T goes K's looking.

[mth123]

Willy K's.

[Screwball]

Mike Gonzalez is annoying. I'd charge the mound before he even threw a pitch.

[Chip R]

Our good luck charm is up.

[SMcGavin]

Next up Jerry "Harriston" pinch-hitting.

[mth123]

Hairston hitting for Dickerson. I'd have used Owings.

[Degenerate39]

By the time Gonzales throws a fricken pitch the world will end

[Raisor]

Mike Gonzalez is annoying. I'd charge the mound before he even threw a pitch.

That rocking hitch he has going into the windup deserves him getting a punch in the chops.

[OnBaseMachine]

Hairston over Owings. Why?

[HeatherC1212]

Gonzalez has the weirdest wind up. :eek:

[Degenerate39]

Hairston over Owings. Why?

Respect dude

[Raisor]

Hairston over Owings. Why?

he pitches tomorrow

[SMcGavin]

Mike Gonzalez is annoying. I'd charge the mound before he even threw a pitch.

No kidding... what is he doing out there?

[mth123]

Hairston GO to the pitcher.

[Tom Servo]

Gonzalez gets the glove down in time to get JHJ's groundout.

[OnBaseMachine]

he pitches tomorrow

He pitches Sunday.

[Matt700wlw]

Hairston jogged...

[dsmith421]

That's a perfect move for a closer...put doubt in people's minds, piss a few dudes off. Awesome. Wish we had gone after him.

[HeatherC1212]

he pitches tomorrow

He pitches on Sunday. Bronson pitches tomorrow.

[mth123]

No kidding... what is he doing out there?

Looks like an illness of some type.

[OnBaseMachine]

Gonzalez entered the game with a 5.68 ERA but he dominated the Reds in the 9th.

[HeatherC1212]

Oh that SUCKS to end the game that way. :bang:

[Tom Servo]

Votto didn't stand a chance there.


Disapointing game.

[mth123]

Votto Ks. Game over.

[Screwball]

No kidding... what is he doing out there?

At first I thought he was drunk.

[Raisor]

He pitches Sunday.

Then I got nothing..

[Matt700wlw]

Votto Ks and he knew it...

[OnBaseMachine]

Another nice job by the pitching staff holding the Braves to four runs, but once again the "offense" was awful. But Walt says he's not worried about the offense.

[reds44]

That entire game was painful to watch.

[Red in Chicago]

10 BB and 1 HBP is deserving of a loss.

[Caseyfan21]

Gotta get the bat off the shoulder to do any damage. I think Hairston's GO back to the pitcher was the only swing they took in the 9th.

[Raisor]

Another nice job by the pitching staff holding the Braves to four runs, but once again the "offense" was awful. But Walt says he's not worried about the offense.

Votto isn't doing enough, we should start blaming the offense on him.

[mth123]

Another nice job by the pitching staff holding the Braves to four runs, but once again the "offense" was awful. But Walt says he's not worried about the offense.

All those walks weren't so good either. The reds burned up 5 pitchers including both lefties in the pen. I think it was a poor game all around. The defense was ok.

[SMcGavin]

Gotta get the bat off the shoulder to do any damage. I think Hairston's GO back to the pitcher was the only swing they took in the 9th.

Ironic you say that in a game Atlanta won by taking 10 walks and only getting four hits, no?

[Screwball]

That entire game was painful to watch.

1st inning was pretty sweet, but after that, yeah, not very fun.

[vaticanplum]

I really thought they were going to pull this out.

I'm still so punchdrunk on seeing baseball at all that this kind of loss doesn't bother me. Come august, this is a different story. Actually in August this is the WORST kind of loss.

[WVRedsFan]

Chris Welch said Volquez was more concerned with velocity than throwing strikes.
Jeff Brantley said that Volquez showed a total lack of concentration tonight.
One sports radio type (not in Cincinnati) said this week that the worst thing that could have happend to Volquez was the All-Star game last year.

Regardless, it is very important to this team that Volquez rights the ship. Going into 2009, he was supposed to be our ace and with a team scoring so few runs, aces are important. Tonight Volquez gave Atlanta two runs--and that was the winning margin.

It's just my opinion, but I see trouble on the horizon. Maybe the AS game start gave him the big head or maybe he had it anyway, i don't know. What I do know is what I saw in that video over the winter with the guns. What I have seen is a pitcher with all the talent in the world throwing in the neighborhoold of 12 pitches out of the strike zone. We can argue all we want about how he was getting squeezed, but that's not the point. He continued to throw hard and did not adjust his pitches--something good pitchers do. Is Welsh right? Is Brantley? I don't know, but what I do know is they had better get him righted quickly because four runs will beat this team most nights. And giving the other club 2 of those runs is unforgivable.

[HokieRed]

There never was any reason, apart from wishful thinking and the fact we gave up a terrific player for him, to consider Volquez an ace. What we need to hope for is that he can find enough consistency to be a reasonably good fourth starter.

[WVRedsFan]

There never was any reason, apart from wishful thinking and the fact we gave up a terrific player for him, to consider Volquez an ace. What we need to hope for is that he can find enough consistency to be a reasonably good fourth starter.His first half last year, he was an ace. No doubt about that. After the AS break, nt so much, though he did pitch well in spots. The figures don't lie.

Pre AS breat he was 12-3 with a 2.30 ERA. Post AS break, he was 5-3 with a 4.60 ERA. So far this year, he is 2-2 with a 6.20 ERA. The last 17 games he has pitched have yielded 98 innings (5.76 innings per start), he's allowed 54 earned runs and walked 57. His ERA is 4.95, which is far off the 2.30 standard he set the first half.

Somebody better get to him quick and straighten him out. A 17 game stretch is a pattern.

[OnBaseMachine]

There never was any reason, apart from wishful thinking and the fact we gave up a terrific player for him, to consider Volquez an ace. What we need to hope for is that he can find enough consistency to be a reasonably good fourth starter.

Volquez has the stuff to be ace. I consider him a #1 caliber starter, at worst a #2. And that great player we gave up to get Volquez is struggling too.

I've heard Dusty say a few times that he thinks the WBC set Volquez back. Who knows if that's true or not.

The pitching wasn't the problem tonight. Sure, it wasn't pretty, but they held the Braves to four runs. If the offense shows up the Reds win that game.

[OnBaseMachine]

Chipper Jones on Yunel Escobar:

Jones agreed with Baker's assertion.

"Esco is high strung and he overreacts sometimes," said Jones. "There was no intent there. If you're going to stand on top of the plate, you've got to expect to get hit. If you do get hit, take your base. There's no sense in getting everybody all geared up. It was unnecessary."

Volquez said he has no prior history with Escobar.

"I don't even know him," Volquez said. "I told him I was just trying to get inside."

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090424&content_id=4406174&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin

[BuckeyeRedleg]

Chris Welch said Volquez was more concerned with velocity than throwing strikes.
Jeff Brantley said that Volquez showed a total lack of concentration tonight.
One sports radio type (not in Cincinnati) said this week that the worst thing that could have happend to Volquez was the All-Star game last year.

Regardless, it is very important to this team that Volquez rights the ship. Going into 2009, he was supposed to be our ace and with a team scoring so few runs, aces are important. Tonight Volquez gave Atlanta two runs--and that was the winning margin.

It's just my opinion, but I see trouble on the horizon. Maybe the AS game start gave him the big head or maybe he had it anyway, i don't know. What I do know is what I saw in that video over the winter with the guns. What I have seen is a pitcher with all the talent in the world throwing in the neighborhoold of 12 pitches out of the strike zone. We can argue all we want about how he was getting squeezed, but that's not the point. He continued to throw hard and did not adjust his pitches--something good pitchers do. Is Welsh right? Is Brantley? I don't know, but what I do know is they had better get him righted quickly because four runs will beat this team most nights. And giving the other club 2 of those runs is unforgivable.

Agree. As I mentioned in the ORG thread on this subject, I'm concerned he's more of a thrower and less of a pitcher. Welsh and Brantley's observations further validate these concerns and perception.

[kaldaniels]

duplicate post

[kaldaniels]

Tim Tschida.

Watching the Braves telecast tonight I heard his name mentioned way too many times. Best when the ump is not noticed.

[Ron Madden]

Votto isn't doing enough, we should start blaming the offense on him.

Just to carry on The Power of Tradition? :laugh::laugh::laugh:


The blame for any lost game must be placed at the feet of the clubs best offensive player.

[membengal]

That was no less frustrating to watch in person.

I have the Braves. And Braves poser fans.

[PuffyPig]

Gonzalez entered the game with a 5.68 ERA but he dominated the Reds in the 9th.

I wouldn't look at a relievers ERA after 6 innings or so to base an opinion on him.

His FIP ERA is 2.64, he has 13 K's in 7.1 innings and saves about 90% of his chances. He's one of the major's elite closers when healthy.

He generally dominates teams.

[nate]

It seemed like Gonzales is always on the edge of balking (is that a word?). I guess he gets away with it because he's not moving his hands from the set position.

That would be extremely annoying to hit against, methinks.

[membengal]

Hate, I mean.

[OnBaseMachine]

Anyone else have a bad feeling that this homestand is going to be a disaster? They lost a winnable game last night, and today they are facing Derek Lowe. Arroyo has pitched well so far, but I don't like our offense against Lowe. Tomorrow we have our fifth starter going against a guy they've never faced before. Monday they face Oswalt and Tuesday Wandy Rodriguez. I was hoping for a 3-3 or 4-2 homestand, but I'm not feeling confident right now...

[PuffyPig]

Anyone else have a bad feeling that this homestand is going to be a disaster? They lost a winnable game last night, and today they are facing Derek Lowe. Arroyo has pitched well so far, but I don't like our offense against Lowe. Tomorrow we have our fifth starter going against a guy they've never faced before. Monday they face Oswalt and Tuesday Wandy Rodriguez. I was hoping for a 3-3 or 4-2 homestand, but I'm not feeling confident right now...

I wouldn't start fretting already. You can't win every game. We are facing 3 of the same pitchers we faced in Houston, where we won 3 out of 4. As good as Wandy pitches at home, he pitches just as bad on the road.

[OnBaseMachine]

I wouldn't start fretting already. You can't win every game. We are facing 3 of the same pitchers we faced in Houston, where we won 3 out of 4. As good as Wandy pitches at home, he pitches just as bad on the road.

True, but all three of those pitchers shut our offense down. We can't expect our pitching to shut down the opposition every night. This team desperately needs another bat.