5/6/06 - Reds vs. Diamondbacks Game Thread

[Reds Fanatic]

Starting Lineups:


Reds (20 - 10)
1st in NL Central
Diamondbacks (17 - 13)
1st in NL West

Starting Lineup

Name AVG HR RBI SB
1. R Freel, CF .247 0 4 8
2. F Lopez, SS .252 3 12 11
3. A Dunn, LF .245 11 19 0
4. E Encarnacion, 3B .289 4 25 0
5. S Hatteberg, 1B .290 1 4 0
6. A Kearns, RF .321 5 21 2
7. B Phillips, 2B .308 3 23 5
8. D Ross, C .276 3 6 0
9. B Arroyo, P .125 2 2 0

Starting Lineup

Name AVG HR RBI SB
1. C Counsell, SS .321 0 9 3
2. J DaVanon, CF .279 1 13 2
3. C Tracy, 3B .299 6 22 1
4. L Gonzalez, LF .252 5 20 0
5. C Jackson, 1B .296 3 16 0
6. S Green, RF .317 2 6 3
7. J Estrada, C .297 3 16 0
8. O Hudson, 2B .217 0 4 4
9. C Vargas, P .111 0 1 0

Starting Pitcher
Name W L ERA* WHIP K
B Arroyo 5 0 2.06 0.89 34

Starting Pitcher
Name W L ERA* WHIP K
C Vargas 3 1 4.32 1.44 17

[OnBaseMachine]

Gotta win this game considering Williams is pitching tomorrow. You don't want to get swept in Arizona.

[KronoRed]

Not a horrible lineup..good start.

[reds44]

Expected that lineup.

[reds44]

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/cin.gif 20-10 | Next: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/ari.gif
Arroyo Cy Young Watch
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/G-FORCE7/capt.jpg
5-0 | 2.06 ERA | 34 SO | 2 HR hit | 1 CG

[Fullboat]

BATTER VS. PITCHER (Career)
vs Claudio Vargas
Player AB H HR BB SO AVG
Lopez 1 1 1 1 0 1.000
Ross 4 2 1 0 1 .500
Freel 7 3 0 0 1 .429
McCracken3 1 0 0 0 .333
Dunn 2 0 0 1 1 0
Complete Batter vs Pitcher

BATTER VS. PITCHER (Career)
vs Bronson Arroyo
Player AB H HR BB SO AVG
Easley 3 2 0 0 0 .667
Gonzalez2 1 0 0 0 .500
DaVanon 12 5 0 0 2 .417
Byrnes 9 3 0 0 1 .333
Clark 4 1 0 1 2 .250
Complete Batter vs Pitcher

Diamondbacks have hit Arroyo well.

[RedsMan3203]

Nothin like our 1st 3 hitters hitting right at, slightly above or below .250

[James B.]

Expected that lineup.


That is what I like about Narron. He is very consistent with his lineups and the managers that we have had in the past would play a different lineup every day. The players on this team know their role and that is part of the reason why they are having success.

[reds44]

Nothin like our 1st 3 hitters hitting right at, slightly above or below .250
i noticed that also, but I didn't mention it in fear of saying something negative about the offense.

[Patrick Bateman]

Nothin like our 1st 3 hitters hitting right at, slightly above or below .250
What's there OBA?

[wheels]

On base percentage is what matters.

[TheBigLebowski]

Alright...let's get the job done today.

[RedFanAlways1966]

REDS Starters Run Support (30G)
Harang - 7.43 R/G
Milton - 7.00 R/G
Arroyo - 6.33 R/G
REDS Avg - 5.53 R/G
Williams - 5.44 R/G
Claussen - 3.50 R/G
Ramirez - 2.33 R/G

[Fullboat]

Astros down 4-0 Mid 4rth.:thumbup:
Cards 7-6 top ninth.

[Dunner44]

BP back in the 7 spot.... I'm happy with that. I also like Eddie batting 4, but he won't get as many ribbies unless FeLo starts hitting. We all know dunn's gonna whif with RISP.... his average is something like .167. Hot stuff there Dunner.

[Dunner44]

BTW... where did everybody go on the board? I know its the weekend so all you posters at work aren't around. Me, I'm studying "hard" for finals, so any excuse to stop is fine with me. Looks like I'm gonna miss at least the first half of the game, bu thats alright.

But seriously, this board has been a ghost town.

[smith288]

The 9:50 start time isnt exactly a prime hour for folks

[KronoRed]

The 9:50 start time isnt exactly a prime hour for folks
Cept those weird west coasters

[Dunner44]

The 9:50 start time isnt exactly a prime hour for folks


Point made. I was ready to go to bed after the 5th inning last night, and wished I had before the second. :bang:

I wonder if the attendance tonight will crack 10,000. With the Suns/Lakers going to game 7, no one will give a crap about the second month of baseball. We can only hope they'll show highlights on the jumbotron and distract Shawn Green while he's doing that crazy defense he does.

[reds44]

Point made. I was ready to go to bed after the 5th inning last night, and wished I had before the second. :bang:

I wonder if the attendance tonight will crack 10,000. With the Suns/Lakers going to game 7, no one will give a crap about the second week of baseball. We can only hope they'll show highlights on the jumbotron and distract Shawn Green while he's doing that crazy defense he does.
month right?

[smith288]

Unless they moved Cincy and region to the west coast... redszoners may not be in vast supply

[Dunner44]

month right?

Yeah I fixed it.... maybe I should go to bed again.... what a long week.

[GAC]

chats open

[Big Klu]

Halftime score:

Lakers 45
Suns 60

[Big Klu]

Chris says that George is streaking in the desert! :eek:

[TheBigLebowski]

Heere we goo....Go Reds!

[RedFanAlways1966]

In the 3 games played so far on the REDS 5-game COL/ARZ roadtrip, the attendance has averaged only 19,163 per game.

The REDS have played before an average of 29,082 per game in 16 raod games.

[Reds Fanatic]

Freel lines out to 2nd. 1 out.

[harangatang]

Chris says that George is streaking in the desert! :eek:Did Jim Edmonds get traded to the Reds?

[Big Klu]

Inside-the-park HR for FeLo!

[Reds Fanatic]

Inside the park homer for Lopez off the center field wall. 1-0 Reds!!!

[reds44]

Inside The Parker!!!

[TheBigLebowski]

Feee - Lo!!!!

[RedFanAlways1966]

WOW!! Inside-the-park HR for Felipe!

[Fullboat]

Heck of a start.:thumbup:

[CrackerJack]

welcome back felo!? That was a very good AB for him.

[Fullboat]

has there ever been back to back Inside-the-park HR's?

[Reds Fanatic]

Dunn walks.

[Big Klu]

has there ever been back to back Inside-the-park HR's?

I'm sure that it has happened at one time or another.

[Larry Schuler]

Plate discipline is a good sign for the Reds. The more balls they take the better they hit as a team.

[Reds Fanatic]

Encarnacion walks on 4 pitches. 1st and 2nd with 1 out.

[MississippiRed]

Here's a great quote from the Reds announcers: It is good to score early and then have your pitcher go out and shut the other team down 1,2,3. Ya think?

[TheBigLebowski]

Here's a great quote from the Reds announcers: It is good to score early and then have your pitcher go out and shut the other team down 1,2,3. Ya think?

Madden-esque.

[Big Klu]

Here's a great quote from the Reds announcers: It is good to score early and then have your pitcher go out and shut the other team down 1,2,3. Ya think?

And it's a bad idea to jam yourself repeatedly in the crotch with a pair of scissors.

[Redeye fly]

Doesn't look like putting runs on the board is going to be a problem tonight.
Two hard hit balls (one inside the park HR), and back to back walks. Of course the one thing we don't need is a double play ball here.

[Reds Fanatic]

Hatterberg pops out to short. 2 outs.

[VR]

On base percentage is what matters.

Last 7 games...

Freel.... .269
Felipe... .194
Dunn... .276


Have faced some great pitching, and certainly no one is on a 'tear' right now.

It's nice to know half the lineup doesn't need to be on fire as long as you have pitching. The fact that the team has been rolling the past 2 weeks despite the offense dropping off is exceptional news.

[deltachi8]

Here's a great quote from the Reds announcers: It is good to score early and then have your pitcher go out and shut the other team down 1,2,3. Ya think?

Once, when boroadcasting a high school basketball game, I said one of the keys of the game is that the home team needs to score my points then the other team. Sometimes you just dont think until its too late. Of course, I was 17 at the time.

[VR]

Vargas not long for this night, over 30 pitches already.

[Reds Fanatic]

Kearns walks. Bases loaded for Phillips.

[Fullboat]

Runners will be scampering=Grande lol

[Larry Schuler]

Joe West for mayor!

[GAC]

42 pitches for Vargas in the 1st inning.

[Big Klu]

Once, when boroadcasting a high school basketball game, I said one of the keys of the game is that the home team needs to score my points then the other team. Sometimes you just dont think until its too late. Of course, I was 17 at the time.


Reminds me of a post-game interview that Bob Knight gave when he was still at Indiana. A female reporter asked Coach Knight, "What was the key to the victory tonight?" And he replied, "The key was we scored more g** d***ed points than the other team! What the hell kind of question is that?!" :D

[Reds Fanatic]

Phillips strikes out swinging. 1-0 Reds mid 1st.

[TheBigLebowski]

Dammit...really stinks to come out of that inning with only one run. Crap.

[MississippiRed]

Cardinals won a close one over the Marlins tonight, 7 to 6. Marlins comeback came up just a little short in the 8th. I don't know why, but the Cardinals don't scare me so much this year. I think the Astros and Brewers are who the Reds really have to worry about.

[VR]

eesh over 40 pitches and only 1 run to show for it.
Phillips did not look comfortable up there at all.

[OnBaseMachine]

One damn run out of all that. Jeez.

Phillips went after ball 3.

[Larry Schuler]

Cardinals won a close one over the Marlins tonight, 7 to 6. Marlins comeback came up just a little short in the 8th. I don't know why, but the Cardinals don't scare me so much this year. I think the Astros and Brewers are who the Reds really have to worry about.

It wouldn't have mattered if they came back, Pujols would have hit a home run in the 8th or 9th.

[Reds Fanatic]

Counsell flies out to left. 1 out.

[flynn78]

The silver lining of that inning is that their may be nothing more scrappy than scoring your only run of the inning on a HR and it being an "inside the park" HR.;)

[Aronchis]

The Phillips boom looks about over. Good time to start Deno in CF and put Freel back at 2nd base.

[Reds Fanatic]

DaVanon singles off Arroyo's glove.

[flynn78]

The Phillips boom looks about over. Good time to start Deno in CF and put Freel back at 2nd base.
After a couple of bad at-bats? Does not sound like enough to say Phillips is done.

[Reds Fanatic]

Tracy flies out to the warning track in left. 2 outs.

[Kc61]

After a couple of bad at-bats? Does not sound like enough to say Phillips is done.

And Freel is not exactly ripping the cover off the ball. And Phillips is far superior in the infield.

Give Phillips some more time.

[flyer85]

The Phillips boom looks about over. Good time to start Deno in CF and put Freel back at 2nd base.you thought he was going to hit .310+?

[OnBaseMachine]

Astros trail 5-0 in the bottom of the 8th in Coors.

[pedro]

The Phillips boom looks about over. Good time to start Deno in CF and put Freel back at 2nd base.


I thought that was a pretty good ab.

[Reds Fanatic]

Gonzalez grounds out to 1st. 1-0 Reds after 1.

[Larry Schuler]

Phillips has ripped some balls right at people the past few games. He also just missed Vargas' fastball twice that at bat.

[Falls City Beer]

Freel gives the Reds three GREAT years of OBP, but people want to sit him in favor of a guy who's done absolutely NOTHING in MLB in Phillips. Wow. Now THAT'S fickle.

[GAC]

The Phillips boom looks about over. Good time to start Deno in CF and put Freel back at 2nd base.

NO WAY!

You keep BP at 2B. His "D" is far superior there then Freel's.

[MWM]

I thought that was a pretty good ab.

I was thinking the same thing. The last pitch he swung at was a ball that started over the plate and tailed in. That's a tough pitch to lay off and an impossible one to hit. Sometimes major league pitchers make good pitches. That's why even the best of the best make an out about 60% of the time.

[Patrick Bateman]

It wouldn't have mattered if they came back, Pujols would have hit a home run in the 8th or 9th.

Would have been hard to do if the Marlins got 2 in the 9th.

[Reds Fanatic]

Ross grounds out to the pitcher. 1 out.

[flyer85]

He also just missed Vargas' fastball twice that at bat.had them timed, just was under it and fouled them back.

[MWM]

Why does George call Arroyo "Brunson"?

[Reds Fanatic]

Arroyo strikes out swinging. 2 outs.

[flynn78]

Freel gives the Reds three GREAT years of OBP, but people want to sit him in favor of a guy who's done absolutely NOTHING in MLB in Phillips. Wow. Now THAT'S fickle.
I am not dicounting the contribution of Freel over the past few years. In a perfect world he would not have to go out of the lineup in the future and could play CF. (Not JR bashing) I like Phillips better defensively at 2B. Freel also deserves time though. It is a tough situation.

[Reds Fanatic]

Freel flies out to right. 1-0 Reds mid 2nd.

[reds44]

Freel is in a slump

and I swear to God don't tell me about his OBP, he is in a slump. Just because he still has a very good OBP doesn't mean he isn't in a slump; it means he had an amazing start.

[Reds Fanatic]

Jackson leads off with a double.

[Falls City Beer]

Freel is in a slump

and I swear to God don't tell me about his OBP, he is in a slump. Just because he still has a very good OBP doesn't mean he isn't in a slump; it means he had an amazing start.

Yeah, he's in a slump. So is Phillips. What's your point? You give someone like Freel a chance to work through it.

[reds44]

Yeah, he's in a slump. So is Phillips. What's your point? You give someone like Freel a chance to work through it.
You should give Phillips a chance to work through his slump to.

And stop acting like Freel is an all-star because he isn't.

[flynn78]

Bronson doesn't have his best stuff right now. Let's hope he can get through until he finds it.

[Reds Fanatic]

Green grounds out to 2nd. Runner to 3rd. 1 out.

[Reds Fanatic]

Estrada lines a double to right. 1-1.

[flynn78]

I spoke too soon.

[Falls City Beer]

You should give Phillips a chance to work through his slump to.

And stop acting like Freel is an all-star because he isn't.

What are you talking about? This is the most pointless discussion I think I've ever had. What the hell is your point?

[Patrick Bateman]

The anouncer apologizes becasue there's a problem with MLB and some people having problems logging in.

Who's he apologizing too??

If you haven't logged in, how can you hear it?

[flynn78]

Hudson with the rare double flapped helmet. Is this Little League?

[Reds Fanatic]

Hudson lines a single to right. 1st and 3rd with 1 out.

[CrackerJack]

sheesh another hit

[Falls City Beer]

Lefty-heavy lineup like the D-Backs is going to take Arroyo to the shed.

[Reds Fanatic]

Vargas strikes out swinging. 2 outs.

[Reds Fanatic]

Counsell singles to left. 2-1 Dbacks. 1st and 2nd.

[reds44]

Lefty-heavy lineup like the D-Backs is going to take Arroyo to the shed.
Wow you are ripping the pitching?


shocking.

[flynn78]

Arroyo really struggling. Slap-hitting Craig Counsell with a base-hit 2-1 Backs.

[Reds Fanatic]

DaVanon grounds out to 2nd. 2-1 Dbacks after 2.

[TheBigLebowski]

F'ing ay...

Not liking the way this is looking. We wasted a BIG opportunity to blow this open in the first.

Bronson's not fooling them so far.

Gotta right the ship. Some runs this upcoming inning would be beautiful.

[Kc61]

Phillips shows some good range there.

[flyer85]

Maybe this is a night that sub .200 BABIP starts to normalize

[flynn78]

Wow you are ripping the pitching?


shocking.
Guys one more and I'm bringing out the Nerf bats for a little anger management:) Let's take it easy.

[Aronchis]

The Dback lineup construction is made to handle Arroyo if he doesn't throw his best on that night. They are taking him to the cleaners.

Looks like the Reds have cooled.

[Falls City Beer]

Wow you are ripping the pitching?


shocking.

So I should attack the high OBP hitters and the defense? Sounds like a good idea. :)

Arroyo's weakness: lefty hitters--always have been, always will be. Check out all the lefties.

[Reds Fanatic]

Lopez grounds out to 2nd. 1 out.

[RedsMan3203]

FeLo shows up and swings at the 1st pitch... And Grounds out.


Shouldn't he be taking pitches?

And why did Dunner show bunt?

[reds44]

So I should attack the high OBP hitters and the defense? Sounds like a good idea. :)

Arroyo's weakness: lefty hitters--always have been, always will be. Check out all the lefties.
No, but you always rip the pitching. It is always the pitchers fault.

And you know you do it.

[Patrick Bateman]

The Dback lineup construction is made to handle Arroyo if he doesn't throw his best on that night. They are taking him to the cleaners.

Looks like the Reds have cooled.

Wouldn't be the first time that the 8-9-1 hitters didn't produce a run.

A litte early to suggest the hitters have suddenly cooled. Not that 1 hit in the first was exactly "tearing the cover off the ball".

[TheBigLebowski]

So I should attack the high OBP hitters and the defense? Sounds like a good idea. :)

Arroyo's weakness: lefty hitters--always have been, always will be. Check out all the lefties.


Many right-handed pitchers struggle against lefties. Not rocket science.

Going out on a limb here, but I predict the 'Backs get no more than one additional run off Bronson tonight.

[Falls City Beer]

No, but you always rip the pitching. It is always the pitchers fault.

And you know you do it.

When hasn't the pitching been the Reds' problem? And, even though it's improved somewhat this season, it's still the problem with the Reds.

[RedsMan3203]

And back to the game. Dunn K's.

[flynn78]

Dunn K

[VR]

FeLo shows up and swings at the 1st pitch... And Grounds out.


Shouldn't he be taking pitches?

And why did Dunner show bunt?

Get that left side to play him a bit honest. At some point he needs to prove he can do that.

[Reds Fanatic]

Dunn strikes out swinging. 2 outs.

[TheBigLebowski]

Dunn struck out? No way.

[MWM]

Shouldn't he be taking pitches?


He does take lots of pitches. It's the third inning so the idea of taking pitches just to take pitches isn't alwasy a good thing. Somtimes you need to jump on pitches early to let pitchers know they can't just sneak one by you the first pitch.

[deltachi8]

Wow you are ripping the pitching?


shocking.

or maybe he is just pointing out the fact that Arroyo has historicall done worse against lefties...much worse in fact.

Career vs RH (353.2 IP)
WHIP 1.19
K 257
BB 88

Career vs LH (306.1 IP)
WHIP 1.48
K 144
BB: 112

[GAC]

Chat's open :beerme:

[Falls City Beer]

Brain drain.

[reds44]

When hasn't the pitching been the Reds' problem? And, even though it's improved somewhat this season, it's still the problem with the Reds.
Normally it is.

But lately it hasn't been, and you still rip them.

Sorry, but it gets annoying.


But I apologize, the Lakers game has got me in a pretty rotten mood. I shouldn't have called you out.

[flynn78]

Dunn struck out? No way.
Shocking, but true.

[RedsMan3203]

He does take lots of pitches. It's the third inning so the idea of taking pitches just to take pitches isn't alwasy a good thing. Somtimes you need to jump on pitches early to let pitchers know they can't just sneak one by you the first pitch.

If this guy had a good 1st inning I would buy that.

But after having a horrible 1st inning control wise... I'd be taking the 1st. pitch.

[flynn78]

Single EE

[Reds Fanatic]

Encarnacion singles to center.

[reds44]

EE with a quality AB ending in a single

[smith288]

Im amazed after the 1st inning vargas had that Hatte is still 1st pitch swinging.

[Reds Fanatic]

Hatteberg grounds out to the pitcher. 2-1 Dbacks mid 3rd.

[MWM]

If this guy had a good 1st inning I would buy that.

But after having a horrible 1st inning control wise... I'd be taking the 1st. pitch.

Every single AB? That doesn't make much sense to me. FeLo does a good job at not swinging at junk early in the count. Sometimes if a you get the pitch you're looking for, you jump on it. The exception would be late in a close game with men on base and a pitcher struggling to throw strikes. But in the third inning of a 2-1 game, I don't believe in taking pitches just to take them. Vargas settled down in the second inning and threw almost all strikes.

[Falls City Beer]

Im amazed after the 1st inning vargas had that Hatte is still 1st pitch swinging.

They're going to remove the Hatteberg chapter in the next reprinting of Moneyball.

[Larry Schuler]

I think the Reds could use of one of those rare long balls. The 3 walk and one inside the park home run approach isn't cutting it.

Oh and it would be great to have Freel get on a base.

[Reds Fanatic]

Tracy lines a single to center.

[smith288]

Methinks a few of these lefties need brushed back...

[Reds Fanatic]

Gonzalez flies out to center as Freel makes a running catch. 1 out.

[KronoRed]

They're going to remove the Hatteberg chapter in the next reprinting of Moneyball.
Swing to contact

[Reds Fanatic]

Jackson grounds out to 3rd. Runner goes to 2nd. 2 outs.

[smith288]

Kearns with an above average play... ho hum. :)

[CrackerJack]

yay an impressive def play

[reds44]

lol

don't run on ears

[Reds Fanatic]

Green singles to right. Kearns throws Tracy out at the plate!! 2-1 Dbacks after 3.

[OnBaseMachine]

Offense needs to wake up and realize that Vargas is a bad pitcher.

[Larry Schuler]

Not only can Kearns hit singles and doubles exclusively, he can also toss a ball 200 feet on the fly. Nice!

[Gallen5862]

How close was the play at the plate?

[KronoRed]

:clap:

[VR]

Bronson fooling no one tonight, needs a quick inning in the fourth with 7-8-9 coming up to get on track.

[flynn78]

How close was the play at the plate?
Got him by a whisker.

[Larry Schuler]

A red whisker.

[SteelSD]

How close was the play at the plate?

Close enough that if the throw had hopped, the runner most likely would have been safe. But it didn't, so he wasn't.

[Reds Fanatic]

Kearns pops out to 2nd. 1 out.

[OnBaseMachine]

Wow. The Reds are making Vargas look awesome. Hatteberg(twice), Dunn, and now Kearns have all missed belt high fastballs down the middle and either popped them up or swung and missed them.

[Reds Fanatic]

Phillips lines out to short. 2 outs.

[KronoRed]

I loath west coast trips.

[MWM]

Wow. The Reds are making Vargas look awesome. Hatteberg(twice), Dunn, and now Kearns have all missed belt high fastballs down the middle and either popped them up or swung and missed them.

Vargas has good stuff with no consistency. Ptichers like frequently are tough to hit in stretches. HItting major league pitchers is hard. Hitting ones throwing 95 MPH is even harder.

[Falls City Beer]

I loath west coast trips.

I agree. From top to bottom they look "off."

Probably a ketamine party.

[VR]

Not only can Kearns hit singles and doubles exclusively, he can also toss a ball 200 feet on the fly. Nice!

With only a 25Hr- 100Ribeye pace as a #6 hitter, he better throw someone out once in a while.

[smith288]

Phillips nailed that one right at SS.... I hate when things are going "wrong" because no matter what you do, it just seems like nothing goes your way (blissfully ignoring the FeLo HR).

[Reds Fanatic]

Ross strikes out swinging. 2-1 Dbacks mid 4th.

[smith288]

This "potent" lineup looks impotent.. this team needs a little blue pill or something.

[Reds Fanatic]

Estrada lines a ground rule double to right.

[KronoRed]

This "potent" lineup looks impotent.. this team needs a little blue pill or something.
Place a call to Palmero

[OnBaseMachine]

Arroyo is getting hammered. Looks like Arizona is about to bust this game wide open.

[Reds Fanatic]

Hudson singles to center. 1st and 3rd with no outs.

[Falls City Beer]

There's no law that says you have to pitch to Estrada, Bronson.

[MWM]

No pitcher can dominate every game. This is an off-night for Arroyo. It happens, and I agree with those who said you could see this one coming with the AZ lineup construction.

[reds44]

Place a call to Palmero
Make sure he doesn't give you a tainted B-12 shot instead.

[Kc61]

Arroyo basically being ripped tonight. Seems to be throwing a lot of junk and fooling nobody.

[MWM]

The good news is that the Reds will see probably 3, maybe four innings of the D-Backs bully.

[flyer85]

BABIP on the rise

[George Foster]

Arroyo is getting hammered. Looks like Arizona is about to bust this game wide open.

He is hanging the braking ball tonight. They are hanging right over the strike zone.

[reds44]

Arroyo basically being ripped tonight. Seems to be throwing a lot of junk and fooling nobody.
You are bound for these sometimes.

[Reds Fanatic]

Vargas sacrifices to the pitcher. 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.

[WMR]

But I apologize, the Lakers game has got me in a pretty rotten mood. I shouldn't have called you out.

BOO, Kobe.

I thought Kobe was 'clutch?'

[Reds Fanatic]

Counsell grounds out to 2nd. 3-1 Dbacks. Runner on 3rd. 2 outs.

[reds44]

BOO, Kobe.

I thought Kobe was 'clutch?'
Problem was the rest of his team.

[George Foster]

Councell is a great contact hitter. With a man on third, he will hit it to the right side of the infield 8 out of 10 times.

[VR]

So much for the get-through-the-bottom-of-the-lineup-quickly approach.

Vargas is over 80 pitches, Reds have a lot of game to get this one back.

[smith288]

Bronson must have stopped taking the Reds-Pitching-Immunization pill... he is showing ill effects tonight.

[Reds Fanatic]

DaVanon grounds out to 2nd. 3-1 Dbacks after 4.

[OnBaseMachine]

The Cubs have been shutout in three of their last four games; the other game they scored just one run. Tonight they are getting shutout through 3 innings.

[reds44]

Never good when the other team has more runs then you do hits.

[George Foster]

We are just down 2 runs. We are just not getting on base, and causing havic, that's our game.

[Patrick Bateman]

There's no law that says you have to pitch to Estrada, Bronson.
No law true...but common sense dictates you pitch to Estrada leading off an inning with the 8-9 hitters coming next.

[Falls City Beer]

No law true...but common sense dictates you pitch to Estrada leading off an inning with the 8-9 hitters coming next.

Unintentional intentional.

[Larry Schuler]

If Freel can get one base at least once today, we will win.

[Reds Fanatic]

Arroyo strikes out swinging. 1 out.

[George Foster]

The Cubs have been shutout in three of their last four games; the other game they scored just one run. Tonight they are getting shutout through 3 innings.

They were winning games with smoke and mirrors without Lee, it is starting to catch up with them. Lee lead them in every offensive catagory.

[Reds Fanatic]

Freel flies out to center. 2 outs.

[GAC]

C'mon Ryan!

1st pitch FO to CF

[WMR]

Problem was the rest of his team.

Didn't they used to have a really good big guy who could play Center?

Who ran that guy off?

Sorry, I have no sympathy for Kobe Bryant. He wanted to be 'the man.' Well, now he is.

He was willing to put his 'status' on the team above winning more championships... that's not the sort of guy I root for.

Esp. after reading The Last Season by Phil 'Show Me The Money' Jackson.

[reds44]

Down goes the BA even further.

If this was RA or Womack he would be getting murdered.

[flyer85]

Ryan has started making a lot of his outs early in the count

[Reds Fanatic]

Lopez lines a single to left.

[reds44]

Didn't they used to have a really good big guy who could play Center?

Who ran that guy off?

Sorry, I have sympathy for Kobe Bryant. He wanted to be 'the man.' Well, now he is.

He was willing to put his 'status' on the team above winning more championships... that's not the sort of guy I root for.

Esp. after reading The Last Season by Phil 'Show Me The Money' Jackson.
Kobe didn't run him off. He almost signed with the Bulls.

The Lakers management ran Shaq off to try to get Kobe to come back.

Not his fault.

[George Foster]

Ryan has started making a lot of his outs early in the count

I was just thinking the same thing. The last couple of weeks he was taking more pitches. Maybe the scouting report says to pitch to him early.

[indyred]

come on Dunn...........let's tie it up

[MWM]

This has been the best balls and strike umping I"ve seen this year.

[George Foster]

Dunn is pressing, chasing a lot of bad pitches

[OnBaseMachine]

Dunn swings at two pitches over his head. Great.

[Reds Fanatic]

Dunn strikes out swinging. 3-1 Dbacks mid 5th.

[indyred]

Dunn can't catch up to the high heat..........

[OnBaseMachine]

Looks like the month of May will own Dunn again this year. I've never understood why he always struggles in this month.

[smith288]

I did a "strike three" motion before Dunn's 2-2 pitch... I wish I could say I was a fortune teller..but thats just not "fortune" in my book.

[MWM]

Looks like the month of May will own Dunn again this year. I've never understood why he always struggles in this month.

Just one of those things. The month of April owned Barry Larkin. He never started to play until May.

[indyred]

Do any other mlb parks have the dirt path from the pitcher's mound to the plate?

[Patrick Bateman]

Unintentional intentional.

I wouldn't advocate pitching around a catcher who OPS about .670 last year.

[OnBaseMachine]

May 2006

Ryan Freel-.176/.176/.235

Felipe Lopez-.238/.273/.239

Adam Dunn-.158/.238/.526

Those stats are before tonight's game.

Not gonna score too many runs when your top three hitters can't get on base.

[Big Klu]

Do any other mlb parks have the dirt path from the pitcher's mound to the plate?

Comerica Park in Detroit, I think.

[KronoRed]

Do any other mlb parks have the dirt path from the pitcher's mound to the plate?
I thought Detroit did.

I wish they all did..it's classy.

[Patrick Bateman]

I did a "strike three" motion before Dunn's 2-2 pitch...

I did a different motion.

[Reds Fanatic]

Tracy lines a single to right. 10 hits for the Dbacks.

[George Foster]

I think Dunn is trying to hit homeruns, which is a no,no. You hit what they give you, singles are ok too.

[Reds Fanatic]

Gonzalez flies out to right. 1 out.

[indyred]

just flipped to the cubs game and they had there first home run in 8 games......wonder how long reds have gone without a dinger, can't be more than couple games..

[TheBigLebowski]

F'ing Dunn...he's out of it right now.

[Falls City Beer]

I wouldn't advocate pitching around a catcher who OPS about .670 last year.

It was partially tongue in cheek. Added to the fact that the Reds, in two straight game, haven't yet been able to retire him.

[George Foster]

I thought Detroit did.

I wish they all did..it's classy.

It's classy unless your the pitcher with a "come-backer" ground ball...then it sucks! The grass will slow it down a little.

[Reds Fanatic]

Jackson flies out to center. 2 outs.

[smith288]

Im really becoming annoyed with Freel's ball hog defense.

[MWM]

F'ing Dunn...he's out of it right now.

Yeah because he should never struggle against major league pitching. He should be perfect and go 4-4 every game with 4 grand slams.

[OnBaseMachine]

Freel is going to get killed in CF one of these days.

[Big Klu]

just flipped to the cubs game and they had there first home run in 8 games......wonder how long reds have gone without a dinger, can't be more than couple games..

Felipe Lopez homered in the first inning tonight.

[Reds Fanatic]

Green flies out to left. 3-1 Dbacks after 5.

[reds44]

Im really becoming annoyed with Freel's ball hog defense.
I bet Dunn didn't appreciate that either.

[KronoRed]

Yeah because he should never struggle against major league pitching. He should be perfect and go 4-4 every game with 4 grand slams.
No way, it should be 0-0 with 4 sacrifices

[smith288]

Felipe Lopez homered in the first inning tonight.
That wasnt a "REAL" homer...cmon, get with da program. ;)

[George Foster]

After catching the ball right in front of Dunn, do you think Freel is just a little upset about his offense lately?

[TheBigLebowski]

Geez..the u-turn this game has taken since that promising first inning....ugh.

Let's get some runs back, boys....Vargas actually sucks. Dunno if any of you got the memo...

[MWM]

Actually, Arroyo is showing us something tonight. He's battling against a tough matchup for him. He's had men on all night and has managed to only give up 3 runs and not let it get out of hand. The mark of a good pitcher is when they can battle to keep it respectable on nights they don't have their best stuff. I actually like what I've seen tonight from Arroyo even though they're hitting him pretty good.

[indyred]

Im really becoming annoyed with Freel's ball hog defense.
yep......wonder how many locker room fights he has been in....seems guys get annoyed with him at times

[OnBaseMachine]

EE is a stud.

[smith288]

When you are going bad, ever first pitch is an impossible to hit first pitch strike. Ugh.

EDIT: Nice 2nd pitch swing. :)

[Reds Fanatic]

Encarnacion lines a double to the left field corner.

[KronoRed]

yep......wonder how many locker room fights he has been in....seems guys get annoyed with him at times
He'd be a fool to fight Dunn, no matter how much speed he has he'd be crushed.

[reds44]

EE doubles machine

2-2, single, 2B, BB

[smith288]

Freel strikes me as one of those twerpy tough drunks..err... guys.

[George Foster]

Do you hit for Arroyo if the inning dictates?

[KronoRed]

EE should be an all star.

[CrackerJack]

100 pitches for Vargas

[TheBigLebowski]

Yeah because he should never struggle against major league pitching. He should be perfect and go 4-4 every game with 4 grand slams.


Oh please....his average is down in the .240's right now. You think he's raking? Counter my argument, with something other than the stupid "he can't go 4-4 every night." I know that, Captain Obvious.

[Reds Fanatic]

Hatteberg fouls out to the catcher. 1 out.

[GAC]

After throwing 42 pitches in the 1st inning, we have really helped Vargas with our impatience at the plate.

[Big Klu]

Actually, Arroyo is showing us something tonight. He's battling against a tough matchup for him. He's had men on all night and has managed to only give up 3 runs and not let it get out of hand. The mark of a good pitcher is when they can battle to keep it respectable on nights they don't have their best stuff. I actually like what I've seen tonight from Arroyo even though they're hitting him pretty good.

Good point. Arroyo was due for a game in which he didn't have his good stuff. The fact that he has battled and kept the Reds in the game is a testimonial to his ability.

[smith288]

Apparently, getting to second is more relaxing than sitting in the bench because you aint moving from there tonight.

[flyer85]

this inning is critical

[indyred]

has there ever been any fights that made the media on this current roster.....

[CrackerJack]

wow the girl behind home plate has a couple of big....drinks

[WMR]

Hatte's regress to career averages continues...

[saboforthird]

Freel is going to get killed in CF one of these days.

Didn't he run into some players last season? It's not really funny -- actually pretty damn dangerous -- but I can't help from laughing. :D