8-13-17 Reds @ Brewers 2:10 p.m. ET

[Ron Madden]

Reds
CF: Billy Hamilton
RF: Jesse Winker
1B: Joey Votto
LF: Adam Duvall
2B: Scooter Gennett
3B: Eugenio Suarez
SS: Jose Peraza
C: Tucker Barnhart
SP: Sal Romano

Brewers
2B: Jonathan Villar
1B: Eric Thames
LF: Ryan Braun
3B: Neil Walker
RF: Domingo Santana
C: Manny Pina
SS: Eric Sogard
CF: Hernan Perez
SP: Matt Garza

[Mutaman]

Walker was a nice pickup for these guys, at least in the clubhouse.

Hoping for 6 decent innings from Romano.

[Tom Servo]

Billy singled would steal 2nd but the next three down in order.

[Tom Servo]

Leadoff walk from Sal. Not good.

[reds44]

Can't think of a worse combination than Sal pitching and an ump with a small zone to the first batter

[Ron Madden]

Bjg Sal walks the leadoff hitter. Doesn't look like he's missing by much

[mhs95_06]

Can't think of a worse combination than Sal pitching and an ump with a small zone to the first batter

In addition to the strikes he got on pitches 3,4,5 being in the zone, pitches 1,2,6 were also and #7 missed by an eyelash.

[Tom Servo]

Braun again, double. 1-0 Brewers.

[Tom Servo]

2-0 Brewers

I think the Reds gotta reconsider keeping Romano in the big league rotation.

[Wolves198921]

Today is going to be fun..... almost football season.

[reds44]

2-0 Brewers

I think the Reds gotta reconsider keeping Romano in the big league rotation.

Somebody has to come out assuming BobSteve is going back in. With Sal at 25 pitches already I imagine we'll see Stephenson today

[Ron Madden]

Walker single error by Wink allows run to score and Walker move to 2nd base.
Dang! now a ground rule double 3-0

[Tom Servo]

Somebody has to come out assuming BobSteve is going back in. With Sal at 25 pitches already I imagine we'll see Stephenson today
Yeah they said Bob could be used of the pen today. But I think regardless of how that shakes out the Reds need to reassess things with Romano. He just isn't ready for primetime

- - - Updated - - -

3-0 Milwaukee, tough sledding for Winker in RF

[reds44]

This is going great lol

[Norse1978]

This is going great lol
Winker isn't exactly graceful on defense :)

[757690]

Winker looking more like Hal Morris in RF today and less like Pete Rose.

[The Operator]

2-0 Brewers

I think the Reds gotta reconsider keeping Romano in the big league rotation.

C'mon Servo. You heard Bryan, they're teaching him to be a "Tough SOB", because that's how you stay in the big leagues, ya know?

Cody Reed just isn't a tough enough SOB. We'll see about Sal, can he handle the repeated beatings? Because The Reds will continue to trot him out there.

[WVRedsFan]

Sal needs a little seasoning. Putting him in this position, even though choices are limited, is almost criminal.

[mhs95_06]

Ranking the outfielders defensively:
1 Hamilton
2 Duvall
3 Schebler
4 Kivlehan
5 Winker (before today I thought that was the way he was playing, but the 1st inning today confirmed it)

The closest difference is between 2 and 3.

[Kc61]

I've spent some time focusing on the minor league records of these would-be Reds starters.

The theory is that there is a lot of data in their minor league careers. Meaningful sample. Understanding that guys do change, improve, sometimes get worse, as the MILB seasons go by.

I've concluded, just one person's view, that Sal Romano should be a reliever.

He simply does not have the track record of missing bats and avoiding hits in his career.

I dont want to dump him, he throws grounders, he doesn't allow too many long balls, I think he can succeed in GABP.

But he needs the shorter stints, in which his stuff can "play up" IMO.

I know some posters hate this notion, and at the appropriate time maybe we can discuss it for Romano and the others in the ORG forum.

[reds44]

It's pretty amazing how few guys Sal struck out in his minor league career considering how hard he throws

[Kc61]

It's pretty amazing how few guys Sal struck out in his minor league career considering how hard he throws

Speculation - Sal's control problems is lack of confidence that he can deceive hitters in the zone.

I think in all cases with these guys, the "lack of control" thing has an underlying cause. In BobSteve's case, it seems to be mechanics, for example.

I think Sal would do better, miss more bats, as a multi-inning reliever. Each of these guys is an interesting case, should make for good discussion as we go forward here.

[Tom Servo]

It's pretty amazing how few guys Sal struck out in his minor league career considering how hard he throws
Eh, he's a sinkerball guy, it's not shocking. I am a bit surprised though that element of his breakout last year hasn't shown up much.

[Ron Madden]

I honestly believe you gotta be patient with young players especially pitchers..

[reds44]

Ranking the outfielders defensively:
1 Hamilton
2 Duvall
3 Schebler
4 Kivlehan
5 Winker (before today I thought that was the way he was playing, but the 1st inning today confirmed it)

The closest difference is between 2 and 3.

We're really going to beat Winker up off one poor defensive inning? A lot of RFers don't catch that ball.

[Tom Servo]

I honestly believe you gotta be patient with young players especially pitchers..
Agreed. I'm also coming around to M2's theory that there's little reason to bring these guys up before they are 24.

[Kc61]

Eh, he's a sinkerball guy, it's not shocking. I am a bit surprised though that element of his breakout last year hasn't shown up much.

The minor league hot streaks must be taken in context. Cody Reed had one too, as you know.

I think there's more truth buried in the overall minor league career stats than any one season, or hot streak, or cold streak.

And of all the main would-be starters, Sal's numbers scream bullpen to me.

Some of the others are close calls.

[mhs95_06]

We're really going to beat Winker up off one poor defensive inning? A lot of RFers don't catch that ball.

No, I'm choosing the occasion to mention what I thought all along!

[Ron Madden]

Man Garza works S L O W...

[Tom Servo]

The minor league hot streaks must be taken in context. Cody Reed had one too, as you know.

I think there's more truth buried in the overall minor league career stats than any one season, or hot streak, or cold streak.

You say this a lot but it never makes sense to me. What it comes down to the need to look at a guy's talent level. If he plays poorly at first but was a top pick or flashes potential (ie: Deivn Mesoraco, who did nothing his first three years in the system), it's not a "hot streak" when he starts playing well.

Cody Reed didn't have a "hot streak". He was a top 50 pick in the 2013 draft who had an excellent 2015 and followed it up with a great 2016 in the minors.

[Tom Servo]

Another double for Braun. But he gets thrown out trying to steal 3rd like a big dum-dum.

[Kc61]

You say this a lot but it never makes sense to me. What it comes down to the need to look at a guy's talent level. If he plays poorly at first but was a top pick or flashes potential (ie: Deivn Mesoraco, who did nothing his first three years in the system), it's not a "hot streak" when he starts playing well.

Cody Reed didn't have a "hot streak". He was a top 50 pick in the 2013 draft who had an excellent 2015 and followed it up with a great 2016 in the minors.

I understand the desire to cherry pick good seasons and good facts to hold out hope for players.

And some guys do outshine minor league performance. Not sure Mesoraco is the best example, take an objective look at his career, of course hampered by injury.

But Cody Reed is a ground ball pitcher, low homer rate, but relatively high WHIP, 1 to 1 hit to inning pitch ratio in the minors, K rate of 8 which probably shrinks to below average in the majors.

I think that is very consistent with where he is today and it's naive to look at Reed as a clear, good MLB starter, just get the walks down. I think there are more questions than that.

[mhs95_06]

Why do base coverers often think that with a throw on line they can make a quicker tag by going to meet the throw rather than letting it come to them? Billy should have had an assist!

[Tom Servo]

I understand the desire to cherry pick good seasons and good facts to hold out hope for players.

It's not cherry picking, it's development. Not all guys are consistent from day one.

[Ron Madden]

Duvall Goes BOOM!!!!

3-2 Brewers

[Tom Servo]

Duvall! :jump:

[Kc61]

It's not cherry picking, it's development. Not all guys are consistent from day one.

They aren't consistent from day one. But you like to emphasize the hot streaks, as if that's how the pitcher is likely to play. Sometimes it's development, but overall tendencies usually remain.

When a minor league pitcher has an 8 K rate for his whole career, it's naive to assume he'll have a 9 K rate in the major leagues. Even if his K rate plays up in the minors for a couple of months.

There are exceptions. But it seems like some posters look for the height of performance by a kid, and then expect that (a) will continue in the big leagues and (b) is representative of his MILB performance.

[mhs95_06]

Seems like an inordinate percentage of hits into the outfield corners in this series!

[Ron Madden]

Geno with another walk, Peraza HBP Tuck at the plate.

[Ironman92]

"We may not ever compare Peraza to Nolan Arenado...offensively"

Uh definitely not going to happen defensively either

[Kc61]

Garza not having a good inning, too bad the bottom of the order is up.

[Ironman92]

Seems like an inordinate percentage of hits into the outfield corners in this series!

Seems like a lot of balls being hit down the OF lines too

[Big Klu]

I see that Front Row Amy was a late arrival to the game.

[reds44]

Sal has rebounded nicely since we all started kicking dirt on him

[JaxRed]

I see that Front Row Amy was a late arrival to the game.

Is that her above the Be Safe sign?

[reds44]

Sal has rebounded nicely since we all started kicking dirt on him
Oops

[Tom Servo]

Sal has rebounded nicely since we all started kicking dirt on him
I regret no dirt kicking, I still think a return to AAA until rosters expand might be good.

[WrongVerb]

Oops

Hard hit ball but on the ground. Lucky bounce for Sogard resulted in the triple.

[Big Klu]

Is that her above the Be Safe sign?

Yes

[reds44]

Welp

[Tom Servo]

There's the big blow Romano usually avoided.

[Tony Cloninger]

Locating pitches is an oxymoron for a lot of these starters. Heck all of them.

[Ironman92]

Locating pitches is an oxymoron for a lot of these starters. Heck all of them.

And not many in the bigs can you get away with missing over the plate. They don't seem to always have the focus not to miss where you can get hurt.

[Ironman92]

Scooter going to go deep here

[The Operator]

I see that Front Row Amy was a late arrival to the game.

I thought you were just making up a name but a quick Google search proved me wrong. Lady has her own website.

What does she do, exactly? All I see are a bunch of pictures, some of which are with athletes.


Is she a professional cleat chaser?

[Tony Cloninger]

She must have sold her IBM stock at the right time so she can hang out at every game.

[Ironman92]

Well, up 7-2 Garza pitched Scooter like he pitches Votto...fortunately Scooter took the walk.

[Kc61]

Romano's stuff seems doesn't seem to deceive or overpower the hitters. His attribute is his sinking action on some of his pitches. Somehow the Reds need to build on that.

[reds44]

Peraza needs to play more

[Kc61]

Peraza needs to play more

Peraza's mechanical adjustment seems to allow him to elevate the ball for line drives more often. Very hopeful sign, he certainly can make contact frequently.

[Ironman92]

I thought you were just making up a name but a quick Google search proved me wrong. Lady has her own website.

What does she do, exactly? All I see are a bunch of pictures, some of which are with athletes.


Is she a professional cleat chaser?


Huge (chested) Brewers fan. Keeps scorebook while watching every home game. She's fairly modest today.....she's no Mack Jenkins but she has nice shirt stuffers

[Big Klu]

I thought you were just making up a name but a quick Google search proved me wrong. Lady has her own website.

What does she do, exactly? All I see are a bunch of pictures, some of which are with athletes.


Is she a professional cleat chaser?

No, she's just a big fan. Has one season ticket, and goes to most of the home games. She keeps her own scorebook. She doesn't really interact much with other fans, nor does she really interact with the players, except for an occasional photo op. She's happily married, so she's not a "chaser". She just really likes baseball and the Brewers.

[JaxRed]

No, she's just a big fan. Has one season ticket, and goes to most of the home games. She keeps her own scorebook. She doesn't really interact much with other fans, nor does she really interact with the players, except for an occasional photo op. She's happily married, so she's not a "chaser". She just really likes baseball and the Brewers.

Yes....she is a big fan. :thumbup:

[Tom Servo]

Peraza's mechanical adjustment seems to allow him to elevate the ball for line drives more often. Very hopeful sign, he certainly can make contact frequently.
I think he's seeing the ball a lot better too, something Jose Altuve talked about being pivotal early in his career when he made a mechanical adjustment.

[Kc61]

I think he's seeing the ball a lot better too, something Jose Altuve talked about being pivotal early in his career when he made a mechanical adjustment.

Yes. He seems more upright now, maybe will help him judge the strike zone better too.

Stephenson threw well that inning, very hopeful he will finish the season strong. Got out some tough hitters there.

Despite a walk and hit batsman, Stephenson looked excellent in two innings.

[Tom Servo]

Some nice work from RobSteve.

[reds44]

BobSteve looked strong

[CrackerJack]

No, she's just a big fan. Has one season ticket, and goes to most of the home games. She keeps her own scorebook. She doesn't really interact much with other fans, nor does she really interact with the players, except for an occasional photo op. She's happily married, so she's not a "chaser". She just really likes baseball and the Brewers.

I might have an easier time believing that's 100% of the case if she had a seat off-camera - but the plastic knobs and endless bikini/instagram photos tell me otherwise.

[Tom Servo]

Votto nearly homers but instead the final out is recorded right near the wall. We're still bad.

[JaxRed]

I might have an easier time believing that's 100% of the case if she had a seat off-camera - but the plastic knobs and endless bikini/instagram photos tell me otherwise.

She likes baseball, the Brewers, and attention!!

[Big Klu]

Today's Joe Nuxhall Star of the Game is Robert Stephenson, who pitched 2 innings allowing no runs on no hits with 3 K's and only 1 BB.

[Big Klu]

On pace for 67-95.

[The Operator]

No, she's just a big fan. Has one season ticket, and goes to most of the home games. She keeps her own scorebook. She doesn't really interact much with other fans, nor does she really interact with the players, except for an occasional photo op. She's happily married, so she's not a "chaser". She just really likes baseball and the Brewers.Well I'll be danged. I'd never heard of her. Learn something new every day I guess. :dunno: