Mariotti Does It Again

[reds44]

On Around the Horn

Should the Cardinals be worred............

"No, there isn't a team in that divison outside of the Cardinals that can win that divison."

It's late June, and we are a game and a half out of first.

Screw you Mariotti.

[Razor Shines]

Originally Posted by reds44

On Around the Horn

Should the Cardinals be worred............

"No, there isn't a team in that divison outside of the Cardinals that can win that divison."

It's late June, and we are a game and a half out of first.

Screw you Mariotti.

I was watching that also, that's awesome. I mean I get it that the Cards are still the favorite but I think we've proven they aren't as good as they are portrayed to be. And for him to say that Reds or even Astros for that matter couldn't win is silly.

[Newman4]

Ditto what Ozzie said.

[redssouth]

I think I am starting to agree with Ozzie Guillen on Jay Mariotti..

[KronoRed]

*looks at bullpen*

Is he wrong?

[harangatang]

Originally Posted by KronoRed

*looks at bullpen*

Is he wrong?

Exactly, until we have a formidable bullpen, no one is going to take the Reds seriously because there is no reason why they should.

[Matt700wlw]

Next time he makes an intelligent comment about anything, let me know.

Sure, the Cardinals are still (and should be until proven otherwise) the favorite, but to say nobody else in this divison can de-thrown them is just idiotic. The Reds are in their rear-view mirror, and everybody remembers what the Astros did last year in the second half...

People say are bullpen is terrible, which it is, but our starting pitching is a lot better than the Cardinals whos whole pitching staff sucks.

[Razor Shines]

Originally Posted by harangatang

Exactly, until we have a formidable bullpen, no one is going to take the Reds seriously because there is no reason why they should.

So you think that if not much changes in the pen, we have no chance of winning the division? I think our chances are not good, and I pray that we get some decent arms in there, but in the event of the worst case senario I still believe we have some chance, not much, but some. That's basically what JM was saying, and if he believes that fine, I don't really care, but do you. Maybe I am just not being objective enough, which I've been guilty of before.

[vaticanplum]

Originally Posted by Razor Shines 1B

So you think that if not much changes in the pen, we have no chance of winning the division? I think our chances are not good, and I pray that we get some decent arms in there, but in the event of the worst case senario I still believe we have some chance, not much, but some. That's basically what JM was saying, and if he believes that fine, I don't really care, but do you.

Anything is possible, but I have to say that from an analytical point of view, I don't believe the Reds can win the division and possibly the wild card without improving the bullpen, regardless of what the other teams do. What we're witnessing at the moment is close to the worst collapse the Cardinals can have. The base ability of their team is high enough that, barring serious and prolific injuries to the team, they can fall back on pretty solid stuff. I expect the Astros to only get better, but if they don't, there are other teams in the league to contend with regarding the wild card.

The thing about a weak bullpen is that it is, of all major weaknesses on a team, the thing most likely to really pull down a team as the season moves on. If you have weak starting pitching but a strong bullpen, you can probably squeak by. If you have weak offense but strong pitching, same thing. If you have a weak bullpen in July and August, though, it gets really tough. Your starters can't work as long or as well in the heat (I rely on one starter falling apart for every team just to be on the safe side), and your hitters and runners start getting injured and tired. The ball carries farther. You're getting by with 25 men through the end of July. The guys in the bullpen are the ones who have the opportunity to limit the damage with the least amount of time, work and sweat. If they're not there, the burden placed on the rest of the team is three times as heavy and hot as it is in April or September.

edit: It is important to note that nothing I just said changes the fact that Jay Mariotti is a complete idiot.

[RedEye]

Originally Posted by whodeynati85

People say are bullpen is terrible, which it is, but our starting pitching is a lot better than the Cardinals whos whole pitching staff sucks.

Our starting pitching is a lot better than the Cards IF Arroyo keeps his ERA under 2.50 for the year, IF Harang stays on his 223 K / 223 INN pace, IF EZ continues to look like a young Brad Radke, and IF Milton keeps respectability alive in the fourth spot. As far as I can tell, there is no body of work for any of these guys that would suggest their first half performances will be repeated except for perhaps Milton, who might have made several other brushes with respectability in his career.

Folks, there is still a very plausible scenario out there that has Bronson and EZ turning back into pumpkins, Harang reverting to his 2005 form (which wasn't bad admittedly, but not close to his current dominance), and Milton staying about the same (perhaps wishful thinking in itself). What we are left with then is a starting rotation with an ERA around 4.50, an inconsistent offense, and a bullpen that... well, you know.

I'm not sayin' I agree with Mariotti ignoring the Reds' success... but I understand.

[RedsManRick]

Mariotti is a... err... idiot.

[Razor Shines]

Originally Posted by vaticanplum

Anything is possible, but I have to say that from an analytical point of view, I don't believe the Reds can win the division and possibly the wild card without improving the bullpen, regardless of what the other teams do. What we're witnessing at the moment is close to the worst collapse the Cardinals can have. The base ability of their team is high enough that, barring serious and prolific injuries to the team, they can fall back on pretty solid stuff. I expect the Astros to only get better, but if they don't, there are other teams in the league to contend with regarding the wild card.

The thing about a weak bullpen is that it is, of all major weaknesses on a team, the thing most likely to really pull down a team as the season moves on. If you have weak starting pitching but a strong bullpen, you can probably squeak by. If you have weak offense but strong pitching, same thing. If you have a weak bullpen in July and August, though, it gets really tough. Your starters can't work as long or as well in the heat (I rely on one starter falling apart for every team just to be on the safe side), and your hitters and runners start getting injured and tired. The ball carries farther. You're getting by with 25 men through the end of July. The guys in the bullpen are the ones who have the opportunity to limit the damage with the least amount of time, work and sweat. If they're not there, the burden placed on the rest of the team is three times as heavy and hot as it is in April or September.

edit: It is important to note that nothing I just said changes the fact that Jay Mariotti is a complete idiot.

That all makes a lot of sense and I'm sure you're right. But my main point was the fact that Mariotti didn't even give us a chance, and I still believe that the Reds would have some chance. But I suppose that's just being naive.

[TeamBoone]

Originally Posted by KronoRed

*looks at bullpen*

Is he wrong?

I don't think we know that at this point... nor does he.

His statement is pretty wide... at this point, the NL Central is NOT the Cards to be had. Does that mean they will not win it? Of course not... but it's certainly not a definite shoe-in, as he seems to state.

I don't like him either, but what Ozzie said is still wrong. I'd rather he had called him an hole. But I more wish he'd taken him out with intelligent words rather than sinking to his level (not that he had to sink to far; I don't have much respect for Ozzie either).

Actually, they deserve each other.

[Hubba]

Originally Posted by reds44

On Around the Horn

Should the Cardinals be worred............

"No, there isn't a team in that divison outside of the Cardinals that can win that divison."

It's late June, and we are a game and a half out of first.

Screw you Mariotti.

Was you refering to Mariotti in a homosexual way? Or what did you mean by that statement?