4/20 Miami vs the Reds

[Maker_84]

Seriously, I don't see how they could let him walk at this rate.

He's gonna ask for alot of money and we also gotta work in getting homer back

[Buckeye33]

It probably depends on the location of where you catch the ball. Since the ball would have to beat the runner in order to wipe out the run, it's a smart play if you're shaded toward left center. If you have to go straight back or toward the line, I still think you're better off trying to throw out the guy at home.

That was the exact scenario that played out. He was going out towards RC to catch the ball and had ZERO chance to throw Choo out at home, even with him jogging home. His only chance was the dart to first which he did. On the replay Votto had just got back to first when the ball bounced past first base with no Marlin there.

[Falcon7]

Love the play Ruggiano made on the last fly ball. Just a guy who is smart and understands the game. It did not work and probably only works 1 out of 100 but still. He has no chance to get the guy at home and instead fires a dart to first hoping the runner is thinking the game is over and doesn't get back to first. I think if it would have worked out perfect his throw would have beat Choo to the plate and the inning would have been over.

To bad his teammate playing first was not as smart and was in the dugout already.

What the H was Votto doing? He should be PLANTED on the bag until Choo scores PERIOD!

[_Sir_Charles_]

Seriously, cut it out. Take it to a private conversation if you're going to insist.

My apologies OGB. It was starting to heavily distract me as well.

[malcontent]

[_Sir_Charles_]

The Marlins rolled the dice thinking BP would hit into a double play, which is a good play. Brandon hasn't done a lot of that so far this year though.

How about ONCE. 1 gidp for Phillips.

[malcontent]

What the H was Votto doing? He should be PLANTED on the bag until Choo scores PERIOD!

Yep.

[Brutus]

It's hard to believe someone with almost 9000 posts on a message board could have such a superiority complex. Enjoy your afternoon.

Oh, wow, now you're resorting to insults after that impassioned speech about being mature.

I'm impressed with your restraint.

[marcshoe]

I had to leave around the fourth inning. Did Choo do anything useful today?

[_Sir_Charles_]

It probably depends on the location of where you catch the ball. Since the ball would have to beat the runner in order to wipe out the run, it's a smart play if you're shaded toward left center. If you have to go straight back or toward the line, I still think you're better off trying to throw out the guy at home.

In this case though, Choo was walking home. The throw to first would've easily have beaten home. But it wouldn't have mattered because Votto was paying attention and was following the throw. I thought it was a smart play as he had ZERO chance at home. Choo would've been running.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I had to leave around the fourth inning. Did Choo do anything useful today?

Nothing. Just clogged up the bases. Scrub.

[jmac]

Choo did what Choo does.

[Big Klu]

Congratulations to Joey Votto, who passed Jay Bruce for 17th place on the Reds' all-time home run list!


Updated Reds HR list (players in italics are active):

Reds 100-Home Run Club
1. Johnny Bench - 389
2. Frank Robinson - 324
3. Tony Perez - 287
4. Adam Dunn - 270
5. Ted Kluszewski - 251
6. George Foster - 244
7. Ken Griffey, Jr. - 210
8. Eric Davis - 203
9. Barry Larkin - 198
10. Vada Pinson - 186
11. Wally Post - 172
12. Gus Bell - 160
13. Joe Morgan - 152
13. Pete Rose - 152
15. Lee May - 147
16. Brandon Phillips - 146
17. Joey Votto - 135
18. Jay Bruce - 134
19. Dan Driessen - 133
20. Reggie Sanders - 125
21. Ernie Lombardi - 120
22. Sean Casey - 118
23. Frank McCormick - 110
24. Dave Parker - 107
25. Chris Sabo - 104
26. Dave Concepcion - 101

[Redhook]

Calling into question a player's intelligence is excessive, especially since there's no way anyone can back up such remarks. How can you argue with "his baseball IQ is 53."

I don't think it was excessive, just a little sarcasm. Heisey could be a genius for all we know, but IMO and many others, he has a very low "baseball IQ". It's kind of like saying someone is smart, but they're not street smart.

When you watch him play, he just does a lot of things that go against how the game was taught to so many of us. For example, a relief pitcher comes late in the game and walks the first batter wildly on 4 pitches. Guess who comes up hacking at the first pitch? I've seen that happen too many times. Put some pressure on the pitcher and make him earn a strike. I'm just surprised the coaches never seem to give him the take sign. This is just one example of the things he does that earn him a low baseball IQ in my mind.

[TOBTTReds]

What the H was Votto doing? He should be PLANTED on the bag until Choo scores PERIOD!

Seriously. It's like he wasn't thinking out the situation. Even if the ball drops, he doesn't even have to get to 2nd as long as Phillips reaches 1st. It would just be a force out at 2nd and everyone else is safe.