Day Game Again 1:05 start; Thursday 4.12.12 Reds @ Nationals

[Roy Tucker]

Originally Posted by RichRed

This was a team loss: players, manager, bullpen.

Big sigh.... I suppose.

But managers are supposed to be smart. One thing I admired about Tony LaRussa was his utter ruthlessness to win a game. Nothing came above that. Every move was designed to win *that* game. No other agendas.

And a good manager puts guys in situations where they can succeed. I can see putting Simon in if they got to the 14th inning and the bullpen is running low. But the top of the 10th just is not a good aplce to put a guy like Simon in.

[RichRed]

Originally Posted by kbrake

The bullpen? They gave up one run in 5 innings and didn't throw their 2 best arms. I'll go with offense and Dusty.

By bullpen, I'm specifically referring to Simon. I'm sure he tried his best though; his manager had no business leaving him in there in that situation.

[oneupper]

Should have put Valdez on the mound.

[reds44]

Originally Posted by Roy Tucker

Big sigh.... I suppose.

But managers are supposed to be smart. One thing I admired about Tony LaRussa was his utter ruthlessness to win a game. Nothing came above that. Every move was designed to win *that* game. No other agendas.

And a good manager puts guys in situations where they can succeed. I can see putting Simon in if they got to the 14th inning and the bullpen is running low. But the top of the 10th just is not a good aplce to put a guy like Simon in.

Ehhh. I don't think that's true. LaRussa pitched position players in tie games and left starting pitchers out there forever when they were getting torched to save the bullpen.

With that being said, watching Dusty this year is making me think TLR might not be as bad of an idea as I thought.

[Reds/Flyers Fan]

Originally Posted by durl

Nothing quite like losing a game on a wild pitch. Especially when the manager is seeing quite clearly that his pitcher is lacking control.

Even so, the offense has GOT to start doing something on a consistent basis.

We've seen this inconsistency for the past two years. Why would it magically change now? They disappear completely for long stretches, have a random series against the Cubs where they knock the ball all over the park and jack up the statistics, then disappear for another three weeks.

Frankly, until this offense does not contain Drew Stubbs, it's never going to be what it can be. He's just awful.

[Nasty_Boy]

I'm sorry but there is no excuse to leave Simon in the game right there... Dusty lets the save situation dictate he's bullpen use! There is no reason to not have Bray or Marshall in the game. Also, you had Votto Rolen and Bruce coming up in the top of the inning... You have to give your guys a chance. If it means using Marshall in that spot and turning to someone else later to possibly close the so be it. That was very weak managing in that situation.

[reds44]

Stubbs has looked completely lost. How many times has he struck out looking already this year?

[reds44]

I don't blame Dusty for not using Marshall. If the Reds were going to win that game, there's a 98% chance somebody was going to have to close.

[CrackerJack]

Originally Posted by powersackers

I'd rather blame the millionaires on the field that aren't getting it done.

They can't help it if they're not very good and people still give them jobs.

[Brutus]

Originally Posted by Roy Tucker

Big sigh.... I suppose.

But managers are supposed to be smart. One thing I admired about Tony LaRussa was his utter ruthlessness to win a game. Nothing came above that. Every move was designed to win *that* game. No other agendas.

And a good manager puts guys in situations where they can succeed. I can see putting Simon in if they got to the 14th inning and the bullpen is running low. But the top of the 10th just is not a good aplce to put a guy like Simon in.

It's April 12. Instead of Dusty letting the fans decide who should and shouldn't be pitching, or rather telling him who isn't capable of handling situations, he should be finding that out for himself.

I'm glad he's handling it this way. It's too early for anyone, fans, managers or otherwise, to be making snap judgments at who's incapable of handling certain situations. This is a 162-game season. He should absolutely be concerned about the Macro, not the Micro, especially in April.

[CySeymour]

Originally Posted by reds44

I don't blame Dusty for not using Marshall. If the Reds were going to win that game, there's a 98% chance somebody was going to have to close.

but you have to keep them from scoring to get a chance to win. That comes before managing for a save.

[RichRed]

Originally Posted by Roy Tucker

Big sigh.... I suppose.

But managers are supposed to be smart. One thing I admired about Tony LaRussa was his utter ruthlessness to win a game. Nothing came above that. Every move was designed to win *that* game. No other agendas.

And a good manager puts guys in situations where they can succeed. I can see putting Simon in if they got to the 14th inning and the bullpen is running low. But the top of the 10th just is not a good aplce to put a guy like Simon in.

Trust me, even though I posted that it's a team loss - because it's technically true - Dusty's the one I'm most furious at. If Marshall's in there, I'm convinced the Reds get at least one more chance to scrape a run or two across.

I never wanted Dusty to be the Reds' manager to begin with but I had softened my criticism over the past couple of years. Close games like this really expose his weaknesses though. When the margin for error is small, I don't want Dusty to be the one making the tough calls.

[Nasty_Boy]

Originally Posted by kbrake

The bullpen? They gave up one run in 5 innings and didn't throw their 2 best arms. I'll go with offense and Dusty.

You couldn't be more right! You can't lose that game with Marshall, Bray, and Chapman left in the pen. Dusty makes 99% of his late inning bullpen moves based on the save situation.

[Reds/Flyers Fan]

When does Brook Jacoby start taking some heat for this offense? Two years of this now and nothing changes. There is no different approach from Stubbs this year from past years.

Broken record.

[Caveat Emperor]

Picking up dude off waivers and immediately using him in the bullpen/rotation is so mid-200s Reds.