Lack Of Hustle

The biggest hate of my is that players will watch the ball instead of running every time. Today with Javier showed what happens when you do that. Glad to see Dusty address it

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One small play, one big difference

Javy Valentin thought the ball he hit in the third might be out. He broke out of the box slowly. The ball hit the ball of fence in right. He ended up with 330-foot single.

Could it have been a double?

"Maybe," Valentin said. "If I run right away, I got an opportunity."

"It's been addressed," Dusty Baker said.

"I apologized," Valentin said. "It's not going to happen again."

The play might not have been the difference in the Reds' 4-2 loss to the Diamondbacks on Opening Day, but it was something Baker won't tolerate. When Brandon Webb was pitching like he was Monday, the margin for error is extremely slim. Valentin's mistake was one glaring mistake that wasn't physical. Edwin Encarnacion's error led to a run. Aaron Harang didn't get a bunt down immediately after Valentin's long single. But those mistakes have nothing to do with effort.

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http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs...difference.asp

Also I still don't get why Hatteberg just walked off after a strike 3 in the dirt. I think some of the fans booed and were confused why he didn't run and just walked off. I don't see how he missed the catcher scrambling around, so he has to see it - just shocking from a guy who is supposed to be the professional hitter here.

It really didn't look like he saw that it was dropped. Should he have looked to make sure it was caught? Yes. But he didn't and I don't think he saw it

The true test is if Dusty addresses issues to Jr and Dunner.

The Reds weren't with it today. I've seen them all play better, and for some reason they were not in the game mentally today. Maybe it was the weather I don't know.

Yea, Hatteberg looked rough today. He has been a good clubhouse guy for years and got the nod over Votto today, I dont know what his deal was. He took some awful swings out there too. I wouldnt mind seeing Votto get the start Weds.

I didnt think they looked that bad today. You cant expect for them to be clicking offensively on opening day against Brandon Webb. Pitching looked decent for us as well.

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Originally Posted by keeganbrick

I didnt think they looked that bad today. You cant expect for them to be clicking offensively on opening day against Brandon Webb. Pitching looked decent for us as well.

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Then what's spring training for?

IMO spring training is so you get back in the game, get your timing, wind etc back, and the chemistry of the team starts to build.

Did he apologize for the wild pitch that led to a run?

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Originally Posted by keeganbrick

I didnt think they looked that bad today. You cant expect for them to be clicking offensively on opening day against Brandon Webb. Pitching looked decent for us as well.

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The reds looked like most teams will look when facing Webb.
He is one the NL's best and his ball moves like a whiffle ball. Still, Harang went toe to toe ( 6 ip 2 er 6 k's) and we came out on the short end. Let's get'em wednesday.

I'm not as depressed as I should be. Harang looked good except for one bad inning, Patterson looks good in centerfield, I liked that Dusty took Harang out after 6 and it sure is nice having Cordero.

No excuse for giving up 3 HRs to Arizona and Burton has got to get us through the 7th. But its no disgrace losing to Webb and those relief pitchers either. Arizona proves it all comes down to pitching and defense.

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Originally Posted by Mutaman

I'm not as depressed as I should be. Harang looked good except for one bad inning, Patterson looks good in centerfield, I liked that Dusty took Harang out after 6 and it sure is nice having Cordero.

No excuse for giving up 3 HRs to Arizona and Burton has got to get us through the 7th. But its no disgrace losing to Webb and those relief pitchers either. Arizona proves it all comes down to pitching and defense.

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Agreed. No tears when losing to Webb. His change and sinker were nasty today.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and, sometimes it rains.

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Originally Posted by smoke6

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and, sometimes it rains.

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and sometimes it's just " fogg-y" :D

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Originally Posted by smoke6

Agreed. No tears when losing to Webb. His change and sinker were nasty today.

Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and, sometimes it rains.

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Yeah, Webb was on today, Qualls was nasty, and Pena pitched effectively. Harang was a bit rusty for an inning, same as every OD for him, and Burton pitched like a 2nd year pitcher.

No need to get worked up.

Anyone else kind of 2nd guessing Baker pinch hitting with Hopper instead of Votto. I mean what the hell is he doing on the club if he is not going to get a chance to get his swings.

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Originally Posted by fugowitribe

Anyone else kind of 2nd guessing Baker pinch hitting with Hopper instead of Votto. I mean what the hell is he doing on the club if he is not going to get a chance to get his swings.

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If I am not mistaken we were 2 runs down and he was probably just wanting to get Hopper on to get tying run to plate.
Anyhow, I hope Votto plays wednesday though Haren is just a notch below Webb.
Course Votto couldnt do much worse than Hatt did today.