4.12.13 v Pirates

[klw]

Shin-Soo Choo 8
Chris Heisey 7
Joey Votto 3
Brandon Phillips 4
Jay Bruce 9
Jack Hannahan 5
Zack Cozart 6
Devin Mesoraco 2
Mike Leake RHP

vs. A.J. Burnett (0-2, 3.27).


Burnett is 5-5 with a 4.06 ERA against the Reds in 12 starts.



John Fay ‏@johnfayman 1h
RT @cincynotebook What's up with Frazier? //Guessing he's getting a day. did get hit on left arm by 98 mph heater Monday.

#Pirates tonight vs. #Reds:
Marte 7,
Walker 4,
McCutchen 8,
Jones 3,
Martin 2,
Alvarez 5,
Snider 9,
Barmes 6,
Burnett 1

[malcontent]

I'd have more faith in Cingrani than Leake against that Pittsburgh lineup.

And Paul should be in LF tonight.

[TOBTTReds]

Fay said Frazier is just getting a day off. 20 straight games coming up, 0 for last 12. This gives him two days off in a row to refresh.

[malcontent]

Fay said Frazier is just getting a day off. 20 straight games coming up, 0 for last 12. This gives him two days off in a row to refresh.
Good idea, IMO.

[RichRed]

Todd is 1 for 10 career against Burnett, Handsome Jack is 4 for 19. That was probably a factor for Dusty, whether or not we agree that it should be.

[edabbs44]

Free Hanigan!

[RichRed]

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/uG6MJxvnTiQoSnw1yiRtBg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusmlbexperts/burnettshirt041113.jpg

[NeilHamburger]

Ugh, Leake vs. Burnett.

I don't like that matchup at all. Me no likey.

[dubc47834]

Votto has a big game tonite!!!

[jmac]

Just curious..with the offday, couldnt the Reds have skipped Leake and came back with Johnny tonight ?

[cumberlandreds]

Just curious..with the offday, couldnt the Reds have skipped Leake and came back with Johnny tonight ?


Yes, should have don't it too, IMO.

[LeDoux]

Just curious..with the offday, couldnt the Reds have skipped Leake and came back with Johnny tonight ?

According to Marty about a week ago- that was the plan. I don't know why they would have changed it.

[goreds2]

According to Marty about a week ago- that was the plan. I don't know why they would have changed it. We have 20 games in a row. Give our number 1 an extra days rest.

[kbrake]

I'm just going to do my best to tolerate Heisey starting this weekend and just hold out hope that he will be replaced starting Monday.

[50YrRedsFan]

Burnett makes Heisey & Votto look bad.

[tomnuetten]

choo flied out to left field
heisey strike out swinging (3 pitches)
votto strike out swinging (4 pitches)

[marcshoe]

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/uG6MJxvnTiQoSnw1yiRtBg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusmlbexperts/burnettshirt041113.jpg

Why aren't the Pirates wearing this as their jersey tonight?

[50YrRedsFan]

How long is Dusty going keep putting Heisey in the lineup? He just doesn't make contact
enough to hit 2nd.

[kbrake]

Sometimes it is easier to just blame our guys but Burnett looked really good in the first. Hope that changes.

[LeDoux]

We have 20 games in a row. Give our number 1 an extra days rest.

I am pretty sure the schedule is the same as it was a week ago.

[50YrRedsFan]

This isn't starting well for Leake

[kbrake]

Leake isn't good enough to handle getting squeezed like that.

[hebroncougar]

Leake isn't good enough to handle getting squeezed like that.

I was just getting ready to post the same thing.

[OesterPoster]

I really don't feel good about Leake getting out of this.

[kbrake]

I was just getting ready to post the same thing.

It continued in that AB to Jones. Leake deserves some credit for dealing with this. Latos head would have probably exploded by now.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Pirates first base coach...is it me or is that Davey Lopes?

[Chip R]

Take a breath, Case.

[LeDoux]

Leake isn't good enough to handle getting squeezed like that.

That's true. And he is getting squeezed pretty bad.

[Chip R]

Pirates first base coach...is it me or is that Davey Lopes?

I think it's just you.

[Stray]

Leake isn't getting any corners. If he has to live in the middle of the plate it'll be ugly.

[Cedric]

I wonder if Mike Leake being a bad pitcher is Mes fault?

[TheBigLebowski]

Mike Leake doing his best Mike Leake impression already. 1-0 Bucs on a Martin single.

Then inning ends on a groundout to BP.

[kbrake]

I can't crush Leake for that inning. That zone was brutal. I'm glad he only gave up one. Heisey throws about as well as he hits though.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I think it's just you.

Probably.

Just found it. Lopes is the 1st base coach for the Dodgers. Sure did look like him though.

[LeDoux]

No one just posted "ballgame?" The sundeck would have never suffered such an omission.

[reds44]

I want to know how the Reds came to the conclusion Leake was a better option to start than Chapman. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Leake sucks or he should go to AAA yet, but lord.

[50YrRedsFan]

.043 hitter Russell Martin with a single to make it 1-0 Bucs after 1

[Kc61]

XPaul should be playing against Burnett. Rather than Heisey.

[50YrRedsFan]

Phillips ties it with a bomb to center.

[Chip R]

Probably.

Just found it. Lopes is the 1st base coach for the Dodgers. Sure did look like him though.

Guy named Rick Sofield is 1st base coach for PIT.

[TheBigLebowski]

BP!!

[LeDoux]

I want to know how the Reds came to the conclusion Leake was a better option to start than Chapman. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Leake sucks or he should go to AAA yet, but lord.

Yeah, I am not sure if Chapman would have worked or not, but I think Leake will likely lose his spot in the rotation to someone.

[tomnuetten]

brandon ties it with a long shot to center :thumbup:

[TheBigLebowski]

XPaul should be playing against Burnett. Rather than Heisey.

Completely agree. At this point, I don't think Heisey should be playing at all, much less against tough righties.

[holster10]

Mez's fault? Leake is the Reds worst starter regardless of who is catching.

[50YrRedsFan]

Guy named Rick Sofield is 1st base coach for PIT.

Maybe it's Dick Scofield in disguise:laugh:

[TheBigLebowski]

I want to know how the Reds came to the conclusion Leake was a better option to start than Chapman. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Leake sucks or he should go to AAA yet, but lord.

I'm not certain that's what happened. I think it was a combination of the fact that Chapman wanted to stay where he was and the braintrust of the Reds concurred that he was a greater asset as a closer. Anyone who thinks Leake is a better option in a rotation than an admittedly untested Chapman has no business being in a decision-making role for a professional baseball club.

[TheBigLebowski]

Mez's fault? Leake is the Reds worst starter regardless of who is catching.

Sarcasm is trying to get through on call-waiting.

[Chip R]

Maybe it's Dick Scofield in disguise:laugh:

Maybe he's in Witsec. Drop the "c" in the last name and call himself Rick instead of Dick. No one would ever figure it out.

[reds44]

This strikezone sucks. Strikes being called balls, balls being called strikes. Slow calls.

[dougdirt]

This is an awfully interesting strikezone being called thus far. For both pitchers.

[50YrRedsFan]

Burnett with 4 k's already

[TheBigLebowski]

Would love to see Devin crush one here.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I like listening to Casey....but only for a while. He's just 100 mph all the time. Calm down Case....take a breath. LOL.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I missed the beginning of the game...any reason Frazier's off. I'm assuming just a day off.

[kbrake]

I missed the beginning of the game...any reason Frazier's off. I'm assuming just a day off.

Correct assumption.

[membengal]

Sean Casey is exhausting.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Thanks

[OesterPoster]

I missed the beginning of the game...any reason Frazier's off. I'm assuming just a day off.

0 for his last 12 and 20 games in 20 days upcoming.

[Buckeye33]

I like listening to Casey....but only for a while. He's just 100 mph all the time. Calm down Case....take a breath. LOL.

I was just about to post the same thing. Love his enthusiasm and all but just slow down a little bit. Baseball is a 3.5-4 hour process.

[redsfaninbsg]

At least Burnett is going to be in excess of 40 pitches.

[kbrake]

Back to back identical pitches called two different things.

[Stray]

Thought that would fall in off of the bat.

[50YrRedsFan]

Leake has a better plate approach than Heisey, Cozart and Bruce. At least he makes contact consistently.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Darn. Nice pick by Cozart, but his throw pulls Joey off the bag.

[reds44]

Nice play by Mes.

[50YrRedsFan]

Here we go again

[_Sir_Charles_]

I haven't seen Hanahan play yet, so I'm looking forward to seeing him showoff his defense. I've read he's fantastic.

[R_Webb18]

ryan h would never of missed that :)

[R_Webb18]

reds need score 5+ tonight it looks like

[_Sir_Charles_]

Nice play by Mes.

No kidding. I'd heard he was quite good behind the dish his last 2 years in the minors, but I sure haven't seen it up here. Average at best from what I've seen.

[TheBigLebowski]

This inning is disgusting already.

[Stray]

Throw pulls Votto off of the bag, Mes has a pitch bounce off of his glove, and then a soft liner off of the hands falls in.

[50YrRedsFan]

Mike Leake, the cure for what ails your hitters.

[Chip R]

Our catchers seem to have a lot of passed balls this year.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Throw pulls Votto off of the bag, Mes has a pitch bounce off of his glove, and then a soft liner off of the hands falls in.

Not exactly on Leake.

[Big Klu]

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 - 145
17. Jay Bruce - 134
18. Dan Driessen - 133
18. Joey Votto - 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

[TheBigLebowski]

HOW was that not a strike? Why is no one complaining?

[R_Webb18]

hit batter. they are loaded

[_Sir_Charles_]

Really small zone so far. Crap. HBP.

[scott91575]

:explode:

[holster10]

Leake....hit batter. really hard to root for the guy

[R_Webb18]

HOW was that not a strike? Why is no one complaining?

it was super close

[Chip R]

HOW was that not a strike? Why is no one complaining?

I complained.

[LeDoux]

I will take a groundball here.

[TheBigLebowski]

it was super close

Clearly caught the plate. This guy is awful.

[tomnuetten]

Leake....hit batter. really hard to root for the guy

he didn´t pitch that bad in this inning... passed ball, soft liner, votto off the bag....

[R_Webb18]

2 score

[Red Raindog]

this could be ugly real fast

[Stray]

This is going well

[edabbs44]

Leake....hit batter. really hard to root for the guy

He's a Red, pretty easy for me.

[TheBigLebowski]

Mike Leake is good.

[50YrRedsFan]

This is going to be a long game, and not a good one.

[reds44]

Terrible decision by Choo.

[R_Webb18]

2nd and 3rd 1 out

[holster10]

Leake getting the ball up and not keeping hitters off balance.

[coachpipe]

I've given up on mike leake

[_Sir_Charles_]

Do you think that the ridiculously small strike zone is making Leake pitch more to the heart of the dish?

[kbrake]

Choo doing Leake no favors there.

[scott91575]

Mike Leake the slump buster.

[R_Webb18]

5-1

[holster10]

It's funny, listening to Pirates telecast. They said Pirates had .183 team ave. coming into the game.

[50YrRedsFan]

Now can we say ballgame?

[WebScorpion]

Terrible decision by Choo.It would have been ok if he'd have made the throw. He was wide right...not too impressed with Choo's arm yet. :(

[coachpipe]

Pull him ha

[Cedric]

Sometimes I wonder how Leake gets anyone out. He is terrible.

[TheBigLebowski]

Geez...he's totally pathetic. Gotta replace him in the rotation.

[R_Webb18]

everyone is crushing the ball

[foxfire123]

Anyone else having deja vu? Win the division, tank the next year, win the division, and tank again? Why hello 2011, nice to see you again!

[coachpipe]

But for real. He's not helping his cause. This team. Or the bullpen

[reds44]

Leake is throwing BP.

[redsfaninbsg]

Batting practice.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Right in the middle of the zone. Again. Jeez.

[50YrRedsFan]

It's funny, listening to Pirates telecast. They said Pirates had .183 team ave. coming into the game.

No, it was .153 and worst in the majors before tonight.

[reds44]

Anyone else having deja vu? Win the division, tank the next year, win the division, and tank again? Why hello 2011, nice to see you again!
lol oh yeah, at 5-4 9 games in they clearly suck.

[Norm Chortleton]

Leake throwing BP for the Pirates.

:(

[coachpipe]

It would have been ok if he'd have made the throw. He was wide right...not too impressed with Choo's arm yet. :(

Not even when he gunned down a cardinal at the plate on a perfect throw?

[OesterPoster]

Can't burn the bullpen on the first of 20 in a row. Leake, this is yours.

[PuffyPig]

Any one else finding Sean Casey exceptionally annoying tonight?

He never shuts up.

I had to put the Pirates broadcast on.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Anyone else having deja vu? Win the division, tank the next year, win the division, and tank again? Why hello 2011, nice to see you again!

Tank again? Really? You do realize that we're in first place, right?

[WebScorpion]

It's funny, listening to Pirates telecast. They said Pirates had .183 team ave. coming into the game.They are homers...the Pirates were only batting .153. But no team can hit that badly forever. ;)

[holster10]

I checked out with Leake when he got torched in postseason last year. Want to support the guy but he doesn't help himself.

[R_Webb18]

about walk someone

[R_Webb18]

double play

[LeDoux]

LeCure up.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Can't burn the bullpen on the first of 20 in a row. Leake, this is yours.

I'd have no problem with them pulling Mike here. But Simon will have to go 4 or 5 innings I think.

[R_Webb18]

5-1 pitts after 2

[TheBigLebowski]

Fettucini Alfredo preparing to plug the Leake.

Not a good night to watch Reds Baseball.

But how could it be? What, with it being AJ Burnett ***** T-Shirt night and all..

[coachpipe]

He's a Red, pretty easy for me.

Doesn't deserve it

[Blitz Dorsey]

The Leake situation is yet another reminder of why it's completely foolish to make BIG decisions based on meaningless spring training results.

[Red Raindog]

Any one else finding Sean Casey exceptionally annoying tonight?

He never shuts up.

I had to put the Pirates broadcast on.

I have trouble listening to him too - but it's every time.

[Maker_84]

Team is starting to go into a real funk.

[Tornon]

To be fair, the Pirates are one of the top 15 offenses in the NL

[jojo]

Hopefully Leake's new high velocity, pin point command, make 'em miss fastball will come out of hiding when the temperature gets warmer.

[WebScorpion]

Not even when he gunned down a cardinal at the plate on a perfect throw?Missed that one...do you remember which game it was? I can go back and look at it. ;)

[50YrRedsFan]

Leake not giving us much of a chance.

[_Sir_Charles_]

The Leake situation is yet another reminder of why it's completely foolish to make BIG decisions based on meaningless spring training results.

What do you mean by this Blitz? You think the Chapman decision was based on Aroldis' spring stats and Mike's spring stats? I sure don't. I think this was based on what both Aroldis and Dusty wanted.

[UPRedsFan]

His ball has no movement. I think I could get a hit.

Who's ready for Cingrani?

Dusty? Walt?

[Griffey4MVP]

i mean why pitch to mcutcheon there with first base open?

[kbrake]

The Leake situation is yet another reminder of why it's completely foolish to make BIG decisions based on meaningless spring training results.

What decision was made based on Spring Training results?

[R_Webb18]

Heisey is lost at the plate tonight

[alloverjr]

First game I get to see this year and Leake pitches. The only game I went to last year Leake pitched (didn't make it out of the 3rd). I'm cursed.

Like to see Leake sent down and another reliever brought up to compensate for the work the pen is going to do tonight. Bring somebody else to make Leake's spot in 5 days.

[TheBigLebowski]

Heisey looks embarrassingly bad in that AB. Never saw that one coming.

[Red in Chicago]

hi-c solid swing

[R_Webb18]

votto single

[Kc61]

The Leake situation is yet another reminder of why it's completely foolish to make BIG decisions based on meaningless spring training results.

Not sure what you are referring to here. What decision was made based on meaningless spring training results?

[Virginia Beach Reds]

If this is the Heisey for the next three months we better look at other options. What a terrible approach at the plate. Just hack and hope.

[foxfire123]

Tank again? Really? You do realize that we're in first place, right?

Yes, I do realize that. and you realize that I am female and am allowed the occasional hysterical, over the top, post before I think, completely temporary overreaction once in a while? It's part of the genetics my friend! ;) :thumbup:

[Red Raindog]

Hi-C is putting a pine bench under his derriere

[Kc61]

Heisey, the guy who supposedly hits righties well -- news flash, he doesn't.

[KittyDuran]

Not sure what you are referring to here. What decision was made based on meaningless spring training results?

Maybe he referring back to 2010 when Leake made the team out of spring training?

[TheBigLebowski]

Hi-C is putting a pine bench under his derriere

Don't think so. Dusty is going to stick with his vet and hope he course-corrects.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Yes, I do realize that. and you realize that I am female and am allowed the occasional hysterical, over the top, post before I think, completely temporary overreaction once in a while? ;) :thumbup:

Didn't know you were a girl...and yes I'm fully versed on that type of reaction. I'm married with 4 daughters. I'm VAGUELY familiar with it. :lol:

[WebScorpion]

Heisey is lost at the plate tonightHe's going to see that pitch all night until he learns how to lay off it. Ugh.:bang:

[Kc61]

Heisey is going to have trouble hitting a guy like Burnett.

Maybe Reds should start Chris again when the Reds someday face -- Mike Leake.

[Red Raindog]

Don't think so. Dusty is going to stick with his vet and hope he course-corrects.

you may be right

sigh

[scott91575]

Hi-C is putting a pine bench under his derriere

https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/2928307456/h7C1FD214/

[TheBigLebowski]

Wow. I've seen enough.

[holster10]

wow....Reds have been on a K run the last 4 games or so.

[Jamz]

This hurts. I really like Leake.

[foxfire123]

Didn't know you were a girl...and yes I'm fully versed on that type of reaction. I'm married with 4 daughters. I'm VAGUELY familiar with it. :lol:

You poor thing! Swimming in the estrogen ocean...

You need a beer. or two. Heck, we all do tonight. *sigh* :beerme:

[50YrRedsFan]

First game I get to see this year and Leake pitches. The only game I went to last year Leake pitched (didn't make it out of the 3rd). I'm cursed.

Like to see Leake sent down and another reliever brought up to compensate for the work the pen is going to do tonight. Bring somebody else to make Leake's spot in 5 days.

Cingrani is scheduled to pitch on Sunday. Bring him up and adjust the rotation to let everyone continue with normal rest. I think we've seen enough of Leake and Heisey both. Neither are helping this team at all.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Wow. Where the hell did THAT miss?

[R_Webb18]

more base runners

[Kc61]

Sure, Mike, good idea to give up a lead off walk in the third.

You've shown real aptitude at working well with men on base.

This is unwatchable, get this pitcher out of there.

[Virginia Beach Reds]

Rock bottom is giving hits to Barmes and Russell Martin

[LeDoux]

I am trying to guess the shape of the strikezone. I think zebra. A dancing zebra.

[Virginia Beach Reds]

Ump zone is so tight but still reds have five k's. lol.

[Kc61]

Ump zone is so tight but still reds have five k's. lol.

Heisey is a big part of the explanation.

[dsmith421]

It was my understanding that they wanted Chapman in the rotation to replace Leake. Further, the organization did absolutely nothing in the offseason to add rotation depth behind the five they planned for, figuring that Leake would be that depth.

And then, scant weeks before Opening Day, they reverse course. So now we have Leake, a low-ceiling junkballer that has never been more than sporadically effective, throwing every fifth day while one of the best pitchers in baseball features only when the Reds are leading or tied, and then for one inning tops. And zero major league ready rotation depth.

I really do not get it.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Sure, Mike, good idea to give up a lead off walk in the third.

You've shown real aptitude at working well with men on base.

This is unwatchable, get this pitcher out of there.

To be fair, there was 1 out and he got squeezed considerably that AB. 2 strikes called balls.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Bruce shoots one right back up the middle.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Nice! Hanahan with a liner to left. 2 on no outs.

[50YrRedsFan]

Six k's through 3 innings...we are 3rd in MLB in k's. We aren't helping ourselves by not making contact.

[Virginia Beach Reds]

Nice approach hanahan. Cozart must room with Heisey. Another pitch that looked outside. Strike!

[Tom Servo]

The season is young, but Leake's act is very old.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Nice block by Martin.

[WebScorpion]

This is where a guy with Frazier's versatility is nice to have...if Hanahan gets hot, he can play 3rd and Frazier can cover left field. :D

[_Sir_Charles_]

Zach out on a grounder to third. He just missed a double down the line the previous hack.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Devin really needs to get going with the bat. With Hanny struggling, now is his chance to grab the reins.

[_Sir_Charles_]

RBI ground out to 3rd. 5-2 Pirates.

[dougdirt]

Mesoraco is hitting the ball hard. Just right at people.

[_Sir_Charles_]

WP moves Jack to third.

[_Sir_Charles_]

K to end the inning.

[Virginia Beach Reds]

12 outs and 7 of them are strikeouts. So frustrating with swing and misses!!

[50YrRedsFan]

We are also 3rd worst in MLB in leaving runners in scoring position.

[Kc61]

This is where a guy with Frazier's versatility is nice to have...if Hanahan gets hot, he can play 3rd and Frazier can cover left field. :D

I'd hoped that Frazier would play third steadily all year. But if Reds don't have an answer for LF, I agree Frazier in left and Hannahan at third.

[_Sir_Charles_]

And with all these struggles you guys are listing...in first place we remain. Doesn't that bode well for us instead of doom and gloom?

[LeDoux]

Do people really like these budwieser beercoach/peptalk radio commercials? I think this is the third year for them.

[edabbs44]

The Reds have as many wins as the Angels and Toronto combined, two teams who had many pundits in heat for a lot of the offseason. In other words, it's early.

[Tom Servo]

We are also 3rd worst in MLB in leaving runners in scoring position.
I prefer to think we are the 28th best.

[Kc61]

The Pirates announcer has now twice called the Reds third baseman "Cozart."

Now he finally recognizes it is Hannahan.

[reds44]

And with all these struggles you guys are listing...in first place we remain. Doesn't that bode well for us instead of doom and gloom?
Nope. We suck.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Nope. We suck.

Oh. Sorry. My bad. :O)

[_Sir_Charles_]

Walker scorched that one. Right off Votto's glove. 2 out single.

[RedsBrick]

What is it with Reds' pitchers giving up huge innings lately?

[_Sir_Charles_]

'Cutch pops out to Heisey to end the inning.

[Gizmo]

for all the doom and gloom we're only down 3 with 5 innings to play. Just keep chipping away.

[powersackers]

This is where a guy with Frazier's versatility is nice to have...if Hanahan gets hot, he can play 3rd and Frazier can cover left field. :D

Yes please

[alloverjr]

Heisey almost swung at that. And it almost hit Votto.

[_Sir_Charles_]

How can Heisey not see that slider?

[_Sir_Charles_]

Chris with a soft broken-bat pop out to left. 2 down for Votto.

[50YrRedsFan]

Heisey made contact, for an out.

[dubc47834]

Hiesey is fools gold. When we first saw him we thought he was the real deal. Then upon closer inspection....realize he is worthless.

[nate]

We are also 3rd worst in MLB in leaving runners in scoring position.

Yet our OPS (http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/split_stats_lg.cgi?full=1&params=bases%7CRISP%7CML%7C2013%7Cbat%7CAB%7C) is .839 and we've scored the 4th-most runs in the league with RISP.

Teams that score a lot of runs, leave a lot of runners on.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I like Heisey, but we see a good Hi-C ab as often as we see a bad Votto ab. That's not a good thing.

[dubc47834]

I like Heisey, but we see a good Hi-C ab as often as we see a bad Votto ab. That's not a good thing.

I did initially, but he is making it hard.

[dougdirt]

Hiesey is fools gold. When we first saw him we thought he was the real deal. Then upon closer inspection....realize he is worthless.

Worthless seems like a bit much. At worst, he is a good defender and base runner (you know, outside of that slide in St Louis the other day).

[_Sir_Charles_]

Fly out to right by Phillips to end the inning. 5-2 Pirates.

[dubc47834]

Worthless seems like a bit much. At worst, he is a good defender and base runner (you know, outside of that slide in St Louis the other day).

Yeah your probably right, he should be a bench guy as far as I concerned. It's just hard to like the guy with the way he is playing so far.

[WebScorpion]

Heisey made contact, for an out.That was a hanging curve which he should have drilled, but he's so off balance from those sliders he just pops it up. It does not appear to be his night.

[RedsBrick]

Worthless seems like a bit much. At worst, he is a good defender and base runner (you know, outside of that slide in St Louis the other day).

Yeah, worthless is certainly a bit much. He's a utility outfielder good for the occasional start.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Pretty pitch. Jones K

[WebScorpion]

Hiesey is fools gold. When we first saw him we thought he was the real deal. Then upon closer inspection....realize he is worthless.IMO he's still a really solid 4th outfielder. He's no starter though. ;)

[dubc47834]

Yeah, worthless is certainly a bit much. He's a utility outfielder good for the occasional start.

Yeah, just venting a bit!

[WVRedsFan]

Sean Casey drives me nuts. Why is he in the booth? That is all.

[_Sir_Charles_]

That's what I expect to see from Leake. Changing speeds, mixing it in and out, keeping it down for grounders. It's just been rare to see thus far.

[Gandalf the Red]

Back in high school, I used to wonder what it'd be like to be a fly on the wall listening in on the slumber parties the girls in my class used to throw. For some reason, it seems like it would be a lot like listening to Sean Casey's incessant chattering, except instead of "crushing" Skyline and B-dubs menu items, just substitute "crushing on" Popular Guy X, Y, or Z from my class.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Alvarez reaches out and pokes one to left. 2 out single.

[holster10]

Personally, I was surprised Baker started Heisey tonight given the pitching matchup.

[dubc47834]

Sean Casey drives me nuts. Why is he in the booth? That is all.

OH man....I love Casey. It's a change in the booth. Don't know if I could do it full time, but as often as he does games I think it's great.

[Jamz]

That's what I expect to see from Leake. Changing speeds, mixing it in and out, keeping it down for grounders. It's just been rare to see thus far.

Season is still young. I'm not ready to give up on him. I hope he can pull it together.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Heisey runs down a liner to end the inning.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Season is still young. I'm not ready to give up on him. I hope he can pull it together.

Same here. I'm really high on the kid. But so far he's really been struggling with his location. Maybe it's his release point, his arm slot, who knows. I'm no mechanic guru. But he's not putting the ball where he normally does.

[Kc61]

Personally, I was surprised Baker started Heisey tonight given the pitching matchup.

Baker said the other day that Heisey would play all three games in Pittsburgh.

I guess he's giving Chris a chance to get comfortable and get it going.

Hard to imagine that any pitcher will give Heisey a fastball to hit. He'll swing at anything.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Jay with a drive to left. Got under it too much.

[dubc47834]

Hanahan looking good

[_Sir_Charles_]

Nice. Single to left for Hanahan. On a shift no less. Why shift on him?

[RedsBrick]

I know it's been discussed at length on the board, but I would still like to see XP get a shot out there.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I know it's been discussed at length on the board, but I would still like to see XP get a shot out there.

I like Xavier too. But he's another guy who'll get exposed with extra playing time IMO.

[LeDoux]

Hannahan is hitting .625. Better than Ted Williams!

[WVRedsFan]

Baker said the other day that Heisey would play all three games in Pittsburgh.

I guess he's giving Chris a chance to get comfortable and get it going.

Hard to imagine that any pitcher will give Heisey a fastball to hit. He'll swing at anything.

True. Year after year he has one hot month and then goes back to usual-- swinging early and striking out. I see no reason to believe he will ever get any better. And since I got in here late, why Hanahan and not Frazier?

[coachpipe]

Just saw Cairo on the bench

[_Sir_Charles_]

Who was that they just showed in the dugout? Blowing the bubble. Was that Miggy?

[RedsBrick]

I like Xavier too. But he's another guy who'll get exposed with extra playing time IMO.

Probably true, but with RL out it's worth a shot.

[klw]

Hard to imagine that any pitcher will give Heisey a fastball to hit. He'll swing at anything.
Wily Mo Heisey?

[coachpipe]

Who was that they just showed in the dugout? Blowing the bubble. Was that Miggy?

I was wondering the same thing

[WVRedsFan]

Way to go, Devin!

[RedsBrick]

Atta boy, Mes!

[dougdirt]

Personally, I was surprised Baker started Heisey tonight given the pitching matchup.

Heisey is from Pennsylvania. He probably has family in for the series. Dusty does things like that. He lets home town guys play in their home town.

[_Sir_Charles_]

That was a ROCKET from Mesoraco! Double to plate Cozy! 5-3 Pirates

[Stray]

Working our way back into it.

[50YrRedsFan]

Mes with an RBI 2b

[RollyInRaleigh]

I think Mes is gonna hit. Nice piece of hitting.

[OesterPoster]

Man, Cozart looked slow there. Maybe he had to hold up to make sure it wasn't caught.

[LeDoux]

Anyone else shocked that Leake is hitting here? I am.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Leake up with 2 down Mes on 2nd. Burnett at 100 pitches, Leake at 85. Good decision to keep him in I think. 3 straight innings of zeros.

[dougdirt]

That was a ROCKET from Mesoraco! Double to plate Cozy! 5-3 Pirates

That is the 4th laser that Mesoraco has hit this year in 11 at bats. It is the first hit on any of them.

[kaldaniels]

That is the 4th laser that Mesoraco has hit this year in 11 at bats. It is the first hit on any of them.

It's oversimplifying but he hits the ball hard on a regular basis.

[kbrake]

That is the 4th laser that Mesoraco has hit this year in 11 at bats. It is the first hit on any of them.

Hope he enjoyed it because he won't see the field for at least the next 3 days.