3/26/16 - Reds @ White Sox / Indians @ Reds

[Tom Servo]

Split squad action today. Finnegan takes on Chicago and looks for a rebound performance while Melville takes on Cleveland.

C. Trent Rosecrans ‏@ctrent 4h4 hours ago
Reds lineup @CWS: Hamilton DH, Holt 8, Phillips 4, Mesoraco 2, Duvall 7, De Jesus 6, Pacheco 3, Rodriguez 9, Curtis 5. Finnegan 1

C. Trent Rosecrans ‏@ctrent 4h4 hours ago
#Reds lineup vs. Cle: Peraza 4, Cozart DH, Votto 3, Bruce 9, Suarez 5, Schebler 7, Cave 8, Cabrera 2, Trahan 6. Melville P


Game against the White Sox is televised with ChiSox feed on MLB.tv

[tomnuetten]

I´d rather see the lineup vs. cle... but better than nothing ;)

[Tom Servo]

Finnegan strikes out Eaton and Lawrie, but Frazier raps a single to right thanks to a shift on the first pitch.

Finnegan strikes out Ishikawa. Considering he went just 1 inning in his last start with no strikeouts, I'd say striking out 3 in the first inning today is a good sign.

[tomnuetten]

Duvall with a line drive double to right field... 3rd and 2nd with no outs

[Tom Servo]

Mesoraco singles deep into the shortstop shift, and Duvall lines a double down the left field line to the wall. They don't test Mesoraco, he stops at third.

[Tom Servo]

Ivan The Jesus! :jump:

3 run bomb

[tomnuetten]

3 run homer from Jesus... I thought Jesus is still dead :confused::dunno:

[Tom Servo]

Pacheco doubles, and Yorman grounds out to 2nd to move Pacheco to 3rd. Announcers praise Yorman for getting the job done, saying that's what Bryan Price wants to see.

Jermaine Curtis with a little single on a drawn-in infield to make it 4-0 Redlegs.

[Tom Servo]

Very nice changeup by Finnegan on a 3-2 pitch to get his 4th punchout.

Some jabroni named Coats muscles a single to left that scores Garcia who lead off the inning with a walk, but Coats is out trying to take 2nd. 4-1 game after 2.

[tomnuetten]

mhm we are rather lonely here today.. ;)

for who do you do play by play?

[Tom Servo]

mhm we are rather lonely here today.. ;)

for who do you do play by play?
Force of habit, I figure someone will eventually want to know what's going on!

[OnBaseMachine]

I think Mesoraco is primed for a big season at the plate. If Votto bats 3rd, I'm hoping Price goes with Suarez/Votto/Mesoraco.

[tomnuetten]

I like it, I´m watching the game but watch soccer on TV so don´t get everything ....

Jesus is on fire, he does like easter

[Tom Servo]

5th K (Avila) by Finnegan, again on the changeup.

6th K (Eaton) by Finnegan, gets him on a check swing.

Groundout to short by Lawrie to snap the K streak but end the inning.

[tomnuetten]

Eaton is not happy at all ;)

[Tom Servo]

https://twitter.com/Reds/status/713819888373129216

Having fun over at the other game

[Tom Servo]

Kind of a repeat inning here. Frazier singles, again, Garcia walks, again, and Rollins makes solid contact, again, and this time it falls out in LF. Duvall is really not a good fielder. 4-2 game. 4 pitch walk now to Jerry Sands. Finnegan scuffling.

Goes full on that jabroni Coats, and puts one in the dirt that Coats lays off. Seems like a bad idea not to just throw the heat. 4-3 game now.

[tomnuetten]

finnegan has trouble finding his spots

[Tom Servo]

Ugh. A sawed off bloop and Yorman lets it fall in front of him. Tie game. Boy, these spring training games are tough to watch, getting me prepared for the season.

And now a little bleeder through the SS hole scores two. 6-4. Finnegan's day is done. The walks in this inning were his own fault, but he didn't pitch as poorly as his line would suggest.

[tomnuetten]

and finnegan is done.. 6-4 bad guys

[texasdave]

Sliding Billy is 0-3 and now OPSing well under the Janish Line (.500). Yorman Rodriguez is a comfortable 0-2 now and has joined Billy in looking up at the JL.

I am not encouraged, Spring Training or not.

[tomnuetten]

hey we´re not alone anymore :)

Duvall :thumbup:

[Tom Servo]

Duvall! :jump:

tied 7-7.

[Donder]

DOO-vuhl! :jump:

[Tom Servo]

Small consolation is that Rondon got lit up too, his day is done.

[tomnuetten]

and the good guys lead again thx to billy´s double

[Tom Servo]

Sliding Billy is 0-3 and now OPSing well under the Janish Line (.500). Yorman Rodriguez is a comfortable 0-2 now and has joined Billy in looking up at the JL.

I am not encouraged, Spring Training or not.
Both with hits in this inning.

[Kc61]

Duvall's had a good spring. I'd give him the everyday role in LF unless and until he shows he can't handle it.

Can't see using Duvall only against lefties.

[Chuckie]

Man, Finnegan continues to disappoint.

[Tom Servo]

Man, Finnegan continues to disappoint.
Saw these posts coming. If you watched the game, you'd know he threw the ball well except for one inning, and that one inning was about as much bad luck as it was bad performance.

[Tom Servo]

Suarez homers in the game against Cleveland to tie it up 1-1.

[Chuckie]

Saw these posts coming. If you watched the game, you'd know he threw the ball well except for one inning, and that one inning was about as much bad luck as it was bad performance.

OK cool. And the rest of his spring? Do you have a bunch of excuses for it as well?

[Tom Servo]

OK cool. And the rest of his spring? Do you have a bunch of excuses for it as well?
Sure. He was destroyed in his last outing in 1 inning which blew up his ERA, before that he pitched okay (3.60 ERA).

But I know, what a bunch of excuses for why a 22 year old drafted less than 2 years ago isn't already a Cy Young contender. Bullpen or whatever.

[TheBigLebowski]

I'm not going to bag on him. I just hope he gets all of 2016 in the rotation. If he has a bad year, then maybe we talk bullpen. But he has 2 great pitches and I think a full year in the rotation will give him plenty of chance to develop a good enough 3rd.

[Kc61]

I think Finnegan is almost a lock to have a rotation spot early. I don't think his spring numbers will make a difference. No reflexive decisions based on a few spring outings please, stick with the plan.

If Finnegan really, really blows up, then Lamb can take his spot later on and Finny can go to AAA for awhile. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

[Raisor]

It's Spring Training.

Get in. Get out. Don't get hurt.

[Chuckie]

Sure. He was destroyed in his last outing in 1 inning which blew up his ERA, before that he pitched okay (3.60 ERA).

But I know, what a bunch of excuses for why a 22 year old drafted less than 2 years ago isn't already a Cy Young contender. Bullpen or whatever.

Calm down. I said he's been a disappointment. No one said he's "garbage" or anything like that.

[Chuckie]

I think Finnegan is almost a lock to have a rotation spot early. I don't think his spring numbers will make a difference. No reflexive decisions based on a few spring outings please, stick with the plan.

If Finnegan really, really blows up, then Lamb can take his spot later on and Finny can go to AAA for awhile. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

I agree. He will be given a chance to start for the Reds to begin the season. Hopefully he performs well. IMO, he won't pitch well and will be in the 'pen as soon as Bailey comes back (if not before).

[Tom Servo]

Pretty good outing from Tim Melville (trying to prove that he is not, in fact, garbage) against Cleveland's A lineup so far. 5 innings, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts. Last two numbers are key.

[Chuckie]

In other news, Caleb Cotham with a fantastic outing thus far.

[TheBigLebowski]

10524

[Chuckie]

10524

You misspelled "disappointed" ... but nice try.

[Tom Servo]

Pretty good outing from Tim Melville (trying to prove that he is not, in fact, garbage) against Cleveland's A lineup so far. 5 innings, 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 0 walks, 5 strikeouts. Last two numbers are key.
Looking like he's been left in a big too long. Kipnis single but erased on a double play. Just one batter shy of 6 full innings, but then Napoli and Santana both hits homers.

[Chuckie]

Looking like he's been left in a big too long. Kipnis single but erased on a double play. Just one batter shy of 6 full innings, but then Napoli and Santana both hits homers.

LOL. Yep, that must have been why. Probably has nothing to do with the fact we're talking about a guy with a career minor league ERA close to 5.

[Tom Servo]

LOL. Yep, that must have been why. Probably has nothing to do with the fact we're talking about a guy with a career minor league ERA close to 5.
Or maybe the fact that most pitchers struggle the third time through the order (http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/managers-on-the-third-time-through-the-order/), let alone against a potent Cleveland lineup, but sure, let's go back to "he's garbage".

[TheBigLebowski]

10525

[TheBigLebowski]

Crap. Misspelled it agin.

[InsaneinthBrame]

It is interesting seeing Byrd with the Indians on a minor league deal.

[Raisor]

It is interesting seeing Byrd with the Indians on a minor league deal.

They'll flip him at the deadline

[InsaneinthBrame]

They'll flip him at the deadline

Got to love flipping the Byrd

[Tom Servo]

Cincinnati Reds ‏@Reds 2m2 minutes ago
And these two belong to the Reds! #RedsST

FINAL: Reds 7, Indians 4
FINAL: Reds 9, White Sox 7

[TheBigLebowski]

Just wait 'till we start split-splitting squads...

[Crumbley]

Or maybe the fact that most pitchers struggle the third time through the order (http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/managers-on-the-third-time-through-the-order/), let alone against a potent Cleveland lineup, but sure, let's go back to "he's garbage".
Starters need to go six innings. That's not an unfair expectation.