Hugs, smiling, and interactive Twitter accounts, don't mean winning baseball. Until this community understands that we are cursed to relive the madness.
Maybe its Thompson thats insisting on starting. I dont know if they would let him make that choice but he might be trying to force their hands.
Games are won on run differential -- scoring more than your opponent. Runs are runs, scored or prevented they all count the same. Worry about scoring more and allowing fewer, not which positions contribute to which side of the equation or how "consistent" you are at your current level of performance.
The way the Reds starters are rolling right now, I don't think Matt would get enough work in. Leave him in Louisville to keep him on a regular schedule.
But that being said...I'd still consider sending Fisher back to Louisville and bring up an extra bat instead. 1 too many bullpen arms for my taste right now.
The Reds already have a long man, his name is Micah Owings and he hardly ever pitches. Why would we need another one?
Dave Sappelt singled in two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to give Carolina an 8-7 victory. The Mudcats had led early, 6-1, but the bullpen squandered the lead in the late innings.
Also today, the Lynchburg and Louisville bullpens squandered leads in the seventh inning. This comes after Dayton's bullpen squandered a lead last night in the 14th. It's an epidemic.
This is what I saw while at the game...
Thompson took a hard hit grounder off, what appeared to be, his right foot during the top of the fifth inning with one out. The ball was deflected to the shortstop who played the ball and threw the runner out at first. Thompson threw one pitch after that and stepped off the back of the mound toward second base. After a brief discussion with Negron, Bell and Mattocks (manager and trainer), rush out to the mound. After some discussion Thompson and company head for the dugout. I believe this is a foot injury rather than an arm issue. I'll look into this.
It is a shame in that Thompson was really in control and was very sharp. He was one out from being eligible for a win. His pitch speeds were 59-95 during his time on the mound today. He had a very good off speed pitch that was a beautiful compliment to his fast ball. He was using his fastball to set up the off speed pitch, and done a really good job of it.
He handled the bat extrememly well also. He was two for two with two RBI. He punched an outside pitch right over the first baseman's mitt to drive in two runs. I told my wife that he could not have thrown the ball in a better spot if he had wanted to. He waited on the pitch and just punched it into right field.
I'm planning on getting out to tomorrow's game although the forecast is ugly. It is Tom Cochran versus the fading Andrew Miller.
From Conner Glassey of Baseball America:
#Reds LHP Philippe Valiquette sitting 94-96 mph, touched 98 with armside run for Mudcats. Highlight of the day, for me.
http://twitter.com/conorglassey
I say it's time to push the guy up a notch in the system. Let Power work with him nad his control. Adkins has become ineffective and a non factor to the big league club. Valiquette could be a legitimate candidate in taking Rhodes role over next season if Bray is still having arm, elbow and shoulder complications.
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