5/13/16 - Reds vs Phillies

[Reds Fanatic]

Reds Lineup
SS - Cozart
3B - Suarez
1B - Votto
2B - Phillips
RF - Bruce
LF - Duvall
CF - Holt
C - Barnhart
P - Finnegan

I hate then bringing Peraza up and then not playing him

[Reds Fanatic]

Phillies Lineup:

Herrera CF
Hernandez 2B
Franco 3B
Ruiz C
Galvis SS
Joseph 1B
Goeddel LF
Hellickson P
Bourjos RF

[klw]

Zach Buchanan ‏@ZachENQ 24m24 minutes ago

Jim Riggleman will manage tonight's game.


Zach Buchanan ‏@ZachENQ 26m26 minutes ago

Ohlendorf suspended 3 games after hitting a batter vs. Pirates. Will appeal, can pitch tonight. Bryan Price suspended for tonight, no appeal

[JaxRed]

Zach Buchanan ‏@ZachENQ 24m24 minutes ago






I've heard speculation that Riggleman has demanded a raise to manage tonight...:devil:

[Tom Servo]

George Grande in the booth tonight.

[marcshoe]

George Grande in the booth tonight.

The powers that be saw Odubel Herrera was leading off for the Phils, and they locked Thom in his hotel room.

[Tom Servo]

Hellickson already made Cozart and Suarez look bad on K's.

Votto K's too for good measure. Could be a long night.

[OnBaseMachine]

Suarez had a great plate approach all through out spring training and the first two weeks of the season. Now, he's swinging at everything.

Hellickson has made Votto look silly in the four at bats they've faced off this year.

[Tom Servo]

Add "Ode-a-bell" Herrera to the big list of names George Grande mangles.

[OnBaseMachine]

Herrera has a .450 OBP

[OnBaseMachine]

Finnegan has to cut down the walks if he's going to start.

[Gandalf the Red]

Add "Ode-a-bell" Herrera to the big list of names George Grande mangles.

Makes me miss watching the Reds-Cubs on WGN and hearing Harry Caray's trademark "Chris Sawbow stands in . . ."

[50YrRedsFan]

Finnegan lucky there.....could have been trouble. He better find the plate or it will be a short night for him.

[Tom Servo]

Finnegan has to cut down the walks if he's going to start.
Hard to blame him for that Herrera walk. Like you said, he has a .450 OBP, he's behind only Harper, Goldschmidt, and Belt in the NL in walks.

But the K/BB ratio is getting perilously close of late.

[Big Klu]

Makes me miss watching the Reds-Cubs on WGN and hearing Harry Caray's trademark "Chris Sawbow stands in . . ."

"Pugh spelled backwards is 'H-goop'."

[Tom Servo]

Ah man, Bruce almost had one, but only got it off the end of the bat and it's caught right at the wall.

Duvall with a really nice swing for a double

[Gandalf the Red]

Ah man, Bruce almost had one, but only got it off the end of the bat and it's caught right at the wall.

George sounded so excited for a second that I thought Jim Edmonds had come out of retirement.

[RiverRat13]

I know there's the thought out there that the Reds are a decent bullpen away from being .500. But that ignores that the starters have been pretty fortunate considering their peripherals. The starters collective FIP is almost a run and half higher than their ERA. And that's not just an Alfredo Simon inflated stat. Guys like Finnegan have to get that K:BB ratio moving in the right direction or this season could get REALLY ugly.

[The Operator]

2-0 Reds on some great Philly LF defense

[Tom Servo]

What luck! Goeddel in LF drops the ball on a Barnhart drive, two runs score!

2-0 Redlegs

[NebraskaRed]

PhiLOLies

[Chuckie]

LOL! This kid in LF for the Phils looks like he's in middle school. Nice muff there buddy.

[Gandalf the Red]

Reds offensive strategy = "Waiting for Goeddel"

[The Operator]

It would appear that Adam Dunn was not, in fact, the worst LF of all time.

[The Operator]

Bunt single for Galvis.

[Chip R]

Finnegan has to cut down the walks if he's going to start.

If he doesn't cut down on the walks, the bullpen isn't the best place for him either. Ask Cingrani.

[Chuckie]

George Grande just said "midget" in reference to a short person. That is offensive. He should be fired.

[Tom Servo]

Goeddell was considered the best Rule 5 guy. Jabari Blash was DFAed today. Jake Cave hit well in AA and just got promoted to AAA. Reds might have been right about him, but we'll never reap the benefits. :/

[Elam]

George just said "midget" and I get the sense he instantly realized he probably shouldn't have said that

[NebraskaRed]

Tyler Holt is a really good bench piece. Competent defense. Not bad at the plate

[Chuckie]

George just said "midget" and I get the sense he instantly realized he probably shouldn't have said that

#FireGeorge

[Tom Servo]

George just said "midget" and I get the sense he instantly realized he probably shouldn't have said that
The Best Darn Midget Show Period

[Kc61]

I know there's the thought out there that the Reds are a decent bullpen away from being .500. But that ignores that the starters have been pretty fortunate considering their peripherals. The starters collective FIP is almost a run and half higher than their ERA. And that's not just an Alfredo Simon inflated stat. Guys like Finnegan have to get that K:BB ratio moving in the right direction or this season could get REALLY ugly.

Statistically, the Reds have the worst pitching in the NL and it's not close. Reds fWAR pitching is -2.3. The Brewers are next worst, -0.2.

Finnegan is a kid pitching every fifth day in the bigs, I'm not expecting miracles. This is really development for him.

The only way the Reds pitching is going to improve meaningfully is to replace about 7-8 of the 12 pitchers on their staff. Which will happen in time.

[Chuckie]

Nice rope from Geno for a single.

[WrongVerb]

The Reds' pitching is going to stink for a few more months, but things are going to turn around as long as we have some patience.

[Kc61]

Nice hit for Suarez, well struck, hope he gets it going.

[Gandalf the Red]

George just said "midget" and I get the sense he instantly realized he probably shouldn't have said that

Yeah, George is going to have to be more careful.
10785

[Chuckie]

Just need George to say something racist now and we can be done with him for good.

[RiverRat13]

Statistically, the Reds have the worst pitching in the NL and it's not close. Reds fWAR pitching is -2.3. The Brewers are next worst, -0.2.

Finnegan is a kid pitching every fifth day in the bigs, I'm not expecting miracles. This is really development for him.

The only way the Reds pitching is going to improve meaningfully is to replace about 7-8 of the 12 pitchers on their staff. Which will happen in time.

I'm definitely in the camp that thinks Finnegan should be starting this year. My post was more a reaction to those who think that had the front office invested in the bullpen that this team would be .500 or better.

[Tom Servo]

Suarez snapped an 0-14 skid with that hit.

[Chuckie]

Votto is struggling against Hellickson's weak stuff.

[Tom Servo]

Joey just has no clue against Hellickson for whatever reason.

[Chuckie]

Votto is too concerned about fancy coffees and designer clothes, IMO.

[WrongVerb]

#notelite

[Chuckie]

oh my god... Suarez looked slower than a sumo wrestler trying to steal there. Bad pitch and he was still gunned down easily.

[Tom Servo]

Nobody besides Hamilton should be running, stop giving away outs.

[WrongVerb]

Terrible jump by Suarez.

[NebraskaRed]

oh my god... Suarez looked slower than a sumo wrestler trying to steal there. Bad pitch and he was still gunned down easily.

that's the kind of racism I expect out of Grande

[Big Klu]

George Grande just said "midget" in reference to a short person. That is offensive. He should be fired.

I think the preferred term is "hobbit".

[NebraskaRed]

I do not remember Wilson Valdez pitching in a game.

[Tom Servo]

The Cuban pastry story!

[Puffy]

I have no problems with Votto choking up with 2 strikes. But not as much as he just did against Hellickson. It's close to impossible to hit a baseball with any authority when you take a 34 inch bat and cut it down to 18 - which is how much he choked up. Just not smart

[Tom Servo]

I wouldn't recommend walking Jeremy Hellickson :/

[Gandalf the Red]

The Cuban pastry story!

Chapman's kryptonite.

[757690]

I think the preferred term is "hobbit".

Here is what I don't understand:

"Little people." Is the preferred term over "midget." "Little people " sounds so much more offensive to me.

[NebraskaRed]

Wilson Valdez getting mentioned left and right.

[Gandalf the Red]

Here is what I don't understand:

"Little people." Is the preferred term over "midget." "Little people " sounds so much more offensive to me.

Probably better to stick with scientific nomenclature and use "Ewok."

[Tom Servo]

Wilson Valdez getting mentioned left and right.
I think he hit some little single once that gave the Reds a walkoff win, basically the only hit Valdez had with the Reds.

[Big Klu]

Wilson Valdez getting mentioned left and right.

And he totally sucked as a Red! Worst backup SS for the Reds since Rafael Landestoy.

[Tom Servo]

I wouldn't recommend walking Cesar Hernandez, especially ahead of Franco.

[Big Klu]

Probably better to stick with scientific nomenclature and use "Ewok."

Geez! I would have thought that with a username like yours, you would have appreciated my post! :D

[The Operator]

He got it!!! He got it!!!!

[Tom Servo]

Love me some Tyler Holt

[NebraskaRed]

I'm gonna start the Tyler Holt fan club. I need some ideas for a good name for it

[Big Klu]

Tyler Holt is a very useful backup OF! Excellent defense, good speed, and makes contact (at least so far)!

[Kc61]

Holt is a good ball player. Like him as a backup outfielder. They should keep him.

[WrongVerb]

Billy Pipp?

[Knightro28]

Statistically, the Reds have the worst pitching in the NL and it's not close. Reds fWAR pitching is -2.3. The Brewers are next worst, -0.2.

Finnegan is a kid pitching every fifth day in the bigs, I'm not expecting miracles. This is really development for him.

The only way the Reds pitching is going to improve meaningfully is to replace about 7-8 of the 12 pitchers on their staff. Which will happen in time.

I kind of feel for Finnegan. AAA would be the best place for him to hone his craft (see: Reed & Stephenson), yet he is out there throwing 20 pitches every inning in the big leagues out of necessity.

That said, must be nice to collect that MLB paycheck. So I only KIND OF feel for him.

[Big Klu]

Holt is a good ball player. Like him as a backup outfielder. They should keep him.

Of course, there was a significant number of folks here on RedsZone who wanted to keep Jake Cave instead. I even saw someone suggest trading Holt to the Yankees to keep Cave's rights.

[Tom Servo]

Of course, there was a significant number of folks here on RedsZone who wanted to keep Jake Cave instead. I even saw someone suggest trading Holt to the Yankees to keep Cave's rights.
I probably would have kept Cave over Holt, only cause Holt had options. That said, I was in favor of sending Schebler to AAA to begin the season, so with Yorman on the DL, I would have kept both Cave and Holt.

As I noted earlier, Cave is off to a very hot start in the minors and was just promoted to AAA the other day and has already homered. He can really hit righties.

- - - Updated - - -

Duvall with a two out, broken bat single.

[Gandalf the Red]

Another lead-off walk. Brandon "Danger Powers" Finnegan likes to live dangerously.

[Ron Madden]

I do not remember Wilson Valdez pitching in a game.

I remember him getting the Win for the Phillies against the Reds in a 19 inning game a few yrs ago.

[Tom Servo]

High highs and low lows for Finnegan. Struck out nine Phillies last month, walked five of them so far today.

[OnBaseMachine]

Walks will haunt.

[Gandalf the Red]

Riggleman on the phone to the bullpen. Pryce wouldn't let Brandon leave the mound until he'd given up seven runs and eaten all of his brussels sprouts.

[Tom Servo]

Welp, of course. First non-bunt hit for the Phils is a triple just fair down the line.

Tie game.

[Tom Servo]

Sac bunt drives in another run, 3-2 Phils lead.

[Knightro28]

First brain fart from Barnhart I can recall. Why would he field that and leave home plate wide open?

[NebraskaRed]

Might as well bring out Finnegan for the 5th with this bullpen.

[Kc61]

First brain fart from Barnhart I can recall. Why would he field that and leave home plate wide open?

I'll defend Barnhart on that one.

He thought it was his ball to field.

Just made the judgment not to mess around and get the hitter out.

[Knightro28]

I'll defend Barnhart on that one.

He thought it was his ball to field.

Just made the judgment not to mess around and get the hitter out.

I'm not paying too close attention to the game. Was the infield drawn in to prevent a run? Or were they playing for the out 100%?

[Kc61]

I'm not paying too close attention to the game. Was the infield drawn in to prevent a run? Or were they playing for the out 100%?

I don't recall, but it seemed like Barnhart's play.

The Reds announcers criticized Tucker there, but not for fielding the ball.

They said he should have looked back at the runner and maybe run back to tag him.

I think he made the play he had, too bad a run scored.

[Tom Servo]

Might as well bring out Finnegan for the 5th with this bullpen.
If he had lost Herrera I'd have said he should be yanked but yeah, might as well let him at least start the 5th.

Tough night for a Finnegan fan. I am also a believer in stats and I know Finnegan's will look especially ugly after tonight, but I do think he has the potential to stick as a starter. Still just 23 and never started for an extended time in the minors, still learning on the fly. Lesson one: Throwing strikes is good.

[Chuckie]

Has George said anything fire-able in recent innings? Haven't been watching since his last offensive comment.

[Kc61]

If Cozart doesn't get more patient at the plate, his numbers will sink to career norms.

His luck is going to run out. Patience, Zack.

[Big Klu]

I don't recall, but it seemed like Barnhart's play.

The Reds announcers criticized Tucker there, but not for fielding the ball.

They said he should have looked back at the runner and maybe run back to tag him.

I think he made the play he had, too bad a run scored.

I would say that 95-99% of the time, if the offense gives you an out, you take it.

[Tom Servo]

Finnegan out after four, an unfortunately short outing for the second straight time. Delabar in.

[Kc61]

Odd situation here. Finnegan hit for himself. But then he's removed for Delabar on the mound.

Finny is a good hitter for a pitcher, and it is early.

[Gandalf the Red]

If Cozart doesn't get more patient at the plate, his numbers will sink to career norms.

His luck is going to run out. Patience, Zack.

Maybe it's just that Zack looked at his stats so far this year and realized that he likes Cincinnati as much as Brandon does.

[Big Klu]

Finnegan out after four, an unfortunately short outing for the second straight time. Delabar in.

What was his pitch count? I wasn't really paying attention to that.

[BCubb2003]

Sounds like Delabar crashed the game when he wasn't actually wanted.

[Kc61]

Finnegan out after four, an unfortunately short outing for the second straight time. Delabar in.

It is a way to keep Finny's pitch count down. If he's struggling or behind, lift him early.

People shouldn't get hung up on his ERA or FIP or any of that. He's generally still effective.

Wish he didn't have such a strenuous motion, though, wish Finny could throw with a little less effort.

- - - Updated - - -


What was his pitch count? I wasn't really paying attention to that.

I'm just looking at Zack's numbers. 1.9% walk rate coming into this game. Very, very low.

[Tom Servo]

What was his pitch count? I wasn't really paying attention to that.
85 pitches.

[Big Klu]

Odd situation here. Finnegan hit for himself. But then he's removed for Delabar on the mound.

Finny is a good hitter for a pitcher, and it is early.

As you said, he is a good hitter for a pitcher, and the Reds are playing with a short bench (only four position players). And he did get on base, so he got the job done.

[Kc61]

Sounds like Delabar crashed the game when he wasn't actually wanted.

Maybe that was it. Riggleman was talking to the ump, maybe the Reds got their signals crossed.

No big deal, probably wise to get Finnegan out of there anyway. Let Delabar work a few innings tonight.

[Gandalf the Red]

Sounds like Delabar crashed the game when he wasn't actually wanted.

Riggleman feels that he doesn't have to explain everything to Steve. He feels that Steve understands immediately.

ETA: Steve enjoys understanding.

[Tom Servo]

http://cdn.phillymag.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/phanatic.cameo-1.jpg

[klw]

Votto put it in play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Owned no more!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tom Servo]

BTW I called it back on Opening Day, Hellickson has been fairly horrible against everyone else, but our guys just can't touch him.

Votto still has no idea against him.

[Knightro28]

Votto put it in play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Owned no more!!!!!!!!!!!!

That exit velocity though

[Tom Servo]

Lamb update: Expects to start on Monday, his mustache/goatee is getting thicker to match the hair.

[Kc61]

Nice two innings for Delabar. One more?

[Tom Servo]

Nice work from Delabar.

- - - Updated - - -


Nice two innings for Delabar. One more?
Sure.

[Gandalf the Red]

Nice two innings for Delabar. One more?

10787

[Tom Servo]

On the plus side, this would be the last time we face Hellickson this year*.


*Watch him get traded to an NL Central team at the deadline

[malcontent]

The CW around here is that Votto is choking up more and more to avoid the SO.

But he's striking out at a 25% clip, over 5% higher than his previous high.

[Kc61]

Chris correctly points out that Reds are swinging at pitches out of the zone. Constantly tonight.

Not that Hellickson is wild, his pitches are dropping off the table.

[Kc61]

The CW around here is that Votto is choking up more and more to avoid the SO.

But he's striking out at a 25% clip, over 5% higher than his previous high.

Don't know what is going on with Votto. Sometimes I think the pitchers have found a weakness inside. Sometimes I think it's the shift. Or both.

Not the same hitter this year. He is helping Hamilton though.

[Knightro28]

I've seen more successful bunts from the Phillies in 7 innings than I've seen from the Reds all season.

[Tom Servo]

Bunts, walks, and one triple just fair down the line. Not the most impressive, but effective for Philly's offense tonight.

[Knightro28]

I've seen more successful bunts from the Phillies in 7 innings than I've seen from the Reds all season.

To be fair, it looks like the Phillies have the upper hand in the TOOTBLAN dept.

[Kc61]

To be fair, it looks like the Phillies have the upper hand in the TOOTBLAN dept.

They also have the upper hand in the pitching department.

[OnBaseMachine]

Pacheco over Peraza. Cool.

[Tom Servo]

Four scoreless innings from the bullpen

[Ron Madden]

I'm afraid it's time to Replace Jim Riggleman as manager of the Reds.
The team looks lifeless and unmotivated.
Get rid of Riggleman and hire a manager with some fire!!!

[Chip R]

Four scoreless innings from the bullpen

[Chuckie]

LOL this scrub umpire. That ball was a foot outside.

[Knightro28]

Four scoreless innings from the bullpen

I like Delabar. May have found something there.

[Chuckie]

Votto is on. HBP.

[Chuckie]

Dat Dude DP. Game over.

[Tom Servo]

Well, that game was no good.

#FreePeraza

[Ron Madden]

Well, that game was no good.

#FreePeraza

Not a very exciting game. Was it? :(
Oh well, come back and get'em tomorrow..

[757690]

Well, that game was no good.


Riggleman was so upset over the game that he quit as manager... again.

[Tuff Nut]

Votto still has no idea against him.

To be fair, Votto really hasn't had an idea against anyone this season. Time for him to get his act together

[Raisor]

To be fair, Votto really hasn't had an idea against anyone this season. Time for him to get his act together

7 days 1.017
14 days 0.990
28 days 0.770
2016 0.739

[757690]

7 days 1.017
14 days 0.990
28 days 0.770
2016 0.739

Good stuff. It looks like the Ferrari is revving it's engine.