The OFFICIAL Reds Live Game Thread 5/26

[REDSEER]

Reds currently down 1-0 in the top of the third

[REDSEER]

Milty looks decent tonight through 3 innings......

If we could just squeeze out a few runs from Webb......

[jesusfan]

Good try by EE to go down the first base line only to be snagged by Jackson.

[REDSEER]

Man this place is completely dead......this new two game thread thing is not doing good for us that aren't quite to 200 rep pts. yet.......

[GAC]

You're right. It isn't.

Personally, I think it was a bad idea.

It kinda left FANS like yourselves out of it.

Come into chat.

[GAC]

slow night tonight. Both here, and in chat.

People must be at the game. :lol:

[REDSEER]

:laugh: Well then I'm expecting more than 16,000 at the game tonight

[jesusfan]

Yeah... I dont even wanna be on here if we can't post on game threads... lol

[harangatang]

Milton is pitching real well tonight, if he can keep this up he could really go along way to making this team a possible playoff contendor.

[jesusfan]

Meanwhile, Milton has lowered his ERA to 6.18

[harangatang]

Hudson flies out to Kearns, 2 outs

[REDSEER]

come on in to chat....at least we're allowed there :lol:

[BUTLER REDSFAN]

i think thats republican pollster ed rollins behind home plate...for what its worth

[jesusfan]

Webb strikes out for Milton's 6 K of the night....

We need to get something going-- due up: Kearns, Valentin, EE

[REDSEER]

Milton looks like the guy that we wanted when we signed him

[harangatang]

Milton strikes out Webb to end the inning, Going to the bottom of the 5th, D-backs 1, Reds 0.

[harangatang]

Webb strikes out for Milton's 6 K of the night....

We need to get something going-- due up: Kearns, Valentin, EE Don't forget that he hasn't walked a batter yet tonight for an infinite K/BB ratio,

[REDSEER]

How about a run here for the Redlegs.......

[jesusfan]

there we go! Finally, we catch a break

[REDSEER]

no bunt :bang: :bang: , but I guess it works.......

[jesusfan]

well... Kearns and Valentin really worked the count there with two straight first pitch swings...

[Gallen5862]

What happened Redseer?

[jesusfan]

They don't want part of EE, gonna take there chances with DP on Milton!

[harangatang]

Kearns gets the leadoff man on 2nd with a throwing error by Chad Tracy, Valentin grounds out to advance Kearns to 3rd.

[REDSEER]

With a man on 2nd and no outs, I was hoping for a bunt from Valentin, but he grounded to 2nd and advanced him anyway

[Gallen5862]

Thanks.

[jesusfan]

2 down as Kearns gets thrown out by Counsell at home

[jesusfan]

there goes our chance at scoring!

[harangatang]

Kearns thrown out at home, 2 outs.

[harangatang]

Time for Milton to jack one out of here

[REDSEER]

Thanks.
no problem

[harangatang]

Milton strikes out, to the Top of 6, Dbacks 1 Reds 0

[harangatang]

Counsell flies out to right field, 1 out.

[jesusfan]

single by Byrnes... Tracy up

[REDSEER]

Byrnes rips one to left......one on, one out

[harangatang]

Byrnes singles to left field

[REDSEER]

That changeup that Milton is throwing really seems to be effective....it makes his fastball much more effective.....

Did he have the change last year???

[jesusfan]

Milton has officially lowered his era under 6.00... YAY!

[jesusfan]

Another great inning by Milton... Lopez, Phillips, Griff up!

[REDSEER]

Another easy inning for Milton....he has really looked good tonight.... keeping the ball down, throwing an effective change and slider, and eating innings to keep it away from the bullpen.....

[harangatang]

That changeup that Milton is throwing really seems to be effective....it makes his fastball much more effective.....

Did he have the change last year???Yes, it's one of his more effective pitches when he is on, and he has had it for awhile. When he threw his no hitter in 1999, he had it working well.

[jesusfan]

well... we are really working the count 2night

[REDSEER]

The least likely person in our whole lineup (Phillips) to work the count has done it the most tonight......

[REDSEER]

And, what do you know, it works

[REDSEER]

and just like that, the inning is over.......man it just isn't our night

[harangatang]

and just like that, the inning is over.......man it just isn't our nightHow would you feel if you were the D'backs? I would be thinking is Milton really this good or is our offense that bad. I can't believe the way this game is going so far with it being warm and humid and the balls are staying in the park.

[REDSEER]

How would you feel if you were the D'backs? I would be thinking is Milton really this good or is our offense that bad. I can't believe the way this game is going so far with it being warm and humid and the balls are staying in the park.
Well the Dbacks have been great this year, so I don't think that it's their offense......if our offense could just score one run.....

This game really looks like the game where Harang threw a complete game and lost......:bang: :bang:

[REDSEER]

Who says Griff doesn't still have it???????

[harangatang]

Well the Dbacks have been great this year, so I don't think that it's their offense......if our offense could just score one run.....

This game really looks like the game where Harang threw a complete game and lost......:bang: :bang:Yeah but it's improvement, you can't win all those but it should be a complement just to have one. It's much than Ramon Ortiz choking up 6 runs in 2 or 3 inning and putting the ballgame out of reach.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Wow! Junior goes up the wall to grab it. What a play... :thumbup:

[harangatang]

Wow, it's Milton's night after that play by Griff. Only 80 pitches through 7 innings for Milton, I feel a CG coming on. If the offense could just score a couple runs.

[REDSEER]

I love how Griffey just shuts everyone up every single time someone says that he is done.....that is one of the things that make him one of the greatest of all time, in my eyes.....he just loves to play the game.

[harangatang]

Dunn leads off with a double :jump:

[harangatang]

3-0 on Hatteberg

[harangatang]

Dunn goes to third on groundout by Hatteberg, 1 out.

[jesusfan]

Hatteberg moves Dunn over on a GO to 2nd... Let's go Valentin... do something please!

[REDSEER]

great job by Hatte to move Dunn to 3rd

[jesusfan]

Nevermind... Kearns is up

[Ltlabner]

Just got back and turned on the tv. Very pleasantly supprised to see Milton pitching well. I'm very hopefull he can continue to pitch like his first two games. I know I'm hoping against hope with that, but I think it's one of the important keys to success this year.

[REDSEER]

Just got back and turned on the tv. Very pleasantly supprised to see Milton pitching well. I'm very hopefull he can continue to pitch like his first two games. I know I'm hoping against hope with that, but I think it's one of the important keys to success this year.
Milton has been spectacular tonight.....everything is working for him......

[harangatang]

I know I'm hoping against hope with that, but I think it's one of the important keys to success this year.I totally agree, if Milton can pitch well, that also taks pressure of Claussen.

[jesusfan]

You have got to be kidding me!

[REDSEER]

That K by Kearns really killed that inning.....that was the last thing that we needed

[Ltlabner]

I know his lifetime numbers don't really show it but he can be dominating when he's on. Now, if we can keep his "on" button glued down for a while. :pray:

[harangatang]

This offense is all or nothing, it's either 7 runs or nothing. But hey, Webb hasn't been beaten yet so it's not only us.

[REDSEER]

Alright Milton....how about another 0 on that board

[harangatang]

1 pitch, 1 out, Hudson grounds out to Lopez

[jimbo]

Man, that CF Griffey sure has lost it. One of the worst CF's in baseball........yeah right. What a great catch.

Milton is putting on a clinic. I'm feeling pretty giddy thinking about having a lefty who can throw like this constistantly for a whole season.

Too bad the other guy is putting on his own clinic.

[Ltlabner]

Did he just say 83 pitches in the 8th inning? Wow. Milton is on tonight. Very nice.

[harangatang]

Webb K's, that's 9 for Milton vs. no walks.

[REDSEER]

Man, that CF Griffey sure has lost it. One of the worst CF's in baseball........yeah right. What a great catch.

Milton is putting on a clinic. I'm feeling pretty giddy thinking about having a lefty who can throw like this constistantly for a whole season.

Too bad the other guy is putting on his own clinic.
Whoa now.....I agree about Griffey and I think that there is no better option in CF right now for the Reds.

As for Milton, I think he has shown that he can be great one night and horrible the next. I hope that he can keep this up, but I wouldn't count on it.

[jesusfan]

There's that great left side of the infield again...23 errors, D-Backs a total of 13 errors from the starting 9

[Ltlabner]

Yikes...routine grounder and Lopez dosen't get his glove down and boots it. Mercy.

[harangatang]

Counsell gets on by an error on Lopez.

[REDSEER]

Great play by EE to end the inning.....that's probably it for Milton as he is due up 1st this inning....great night for the lefty....

[billy117]

Yikes...routine grounder and Lopez dosen't get his glove down and boots it. Mercy.
apperently we've just got accept that's going to happen with him.

[jesusfan]

We need to score to get Milton the W for his great effort 2night...

[harangatang]

Larkin made 29 errors in 1988, things like this are to be expected with young players like EdE and Lopez but they'll be OK in the long haul.

[jesusfan]

EE, Aurilia, Lopez... my guess

[jesusfan]

maybe Freel, if EE gets on

[Ltlabner]

As for Milton, I think he has shown that he can be great one night and horrible the next. I hope that he can keep this up, but I wouldn't count on it.

After last year it's hard to believe he can get the ball over the plate. But you are right, it's hard to have confidence in him at this point. I'll be honest, however, I'm not opposed at all to letting him stay in the rotation IF he can put up 15 or so wins, keep is ERA down in the 4's and get into the 7th inning while keeping us in the game. He doesn't have to pitch like tonight all the time, although that would be nice.

[jesusfan]

Double for EE... please, lets get him in!

[REDSEER]

Alright, lets try this leadoff double thing again...lets go here we need one

[harangatang]

Leadoff double for EdE

[billy117]

bunt please

[jesusfan]

Okay... c'mon Lopey~!

[harangatang]

Milton's gone, EdE goes to third with McCracken bunting.

[Ltlabner]

McQ lays down a nice bunt. EE at 3rd. Lopez at the plate.

[billy117]

great!...... Q finally does something i can praise

[jesusfan]

we need this... Squeeze maybe??? nah

[REDSEER]

Alright Lopez, put it in play at least......we really need one here.....

[jesusfan]

I will freaking die if we dont get this run in!!!

[harangatang]

Lopez grounds out in retalitation to sitting him on his bobblehead night. 2 outs.

[harangatang]

0-2 on Phillips

[billy117]

well, this ab isn't looking good, come on bp

[Ltlabner]

Lopez grounds out in retalitation to sitting him on his bobblehead night. 2 outs.

:bowrofl:

[harangatang]

Estrada saves a run on a wild pitch

[jesusfan]

it's official we suck!

[harangatang]

BP ground out, going to Top 9, D'backs 1 Reds 0

[billy117]

I will freaking die if we dont get this run in!!!
how are you going to end it

[George Foster]

I don't agree with the mentality of sacrificing the runner to third with a sinker ball pitcher. It's stupid. With no outs take two chances with the runner on second to get a hit, instead of taking one chance to get a sac fly.

[REDSEER]

Man, I feel bad for Milton.....he pitched one heck of a game and comes away with nothing, maybe a loss....hopefully this can continue to his next start

[jesusfan]

Griff-Dunn-Hatteberg due up in the 9th!

[dabvu2498]

Man, I feel bad for Milton.....he pitched one heck of a game and comes away with nothing, maybe a loss....hopefully this can continue to his next start
I never thought I'd say... Milton deserves better.

[jesusfan]

Hopefully Griffey doesnt lead off with a Double

[Ltlabner]

Lets hope the guys in the 9th are patient and just don't start hacking away because they are under pressure to perform.

[billy117]

are we going to see valverde?

[REDSEER]

Hopefully Griffey doesnt lead off with a Double
:laugh: I agree, I never thought I would say that:laugh:

[jesusfan]

I hope so...

[jesusfan]

Tonight has been absolutely horrible....

[REDSEER]

Dang it......Green HR 3-0 D'backs

[Ltlabner]

Shawn Green hits 2 run homer of Coffie. No doubter to right field. 3-0.

[billy117]

well that was more depressing than not getting that run in last inning

[Ltlabner]

Estrada (Eric?) gets a single of Coffey.

438ft estimated distance on the Green homerun.

[billy117]

Estrada (Eric?) gets a single of Coffey.

438ft estimated distance on the Green homerun.
i thought he was the guy from chips......could be wrong

[jesusfan]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say we will not score 3 runs against Webb in the 9th...

[Ltlabner]

I was just kidding around there billy117 ;)

[REDSEER]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say we will not score 3 runs against Webb in the 9th...
I bet you'll still watch though........

We could......with the power in our lineup you never know

[jesusfan]

I guess they're taking him out.... Good!

[Ltlabner]

Pitch hitting for Webb. Not sure who is warming up right now.

[jesusfan]

okay Griff-Dunn-Hatte... BACK-BACK-BB LOL- HR!!!!

[billy117]

I was just kidding around there billy117 ;)
so was ltlabner;)

or i was......either way

[Ltlabner]

So how do they change their hitting approach/stratigy for the 9th, if at all?

[REDSEER]

and Webb's back for more

[jesusfan]

Okay JR, we'll take a BB

[Ltlabner]

JR fly's out to CF.

[REDSEER]

I don't understand swinging at that pitch....

not Jr. hating, I just think that we need runners and any way would be nice

[Ltlabner]

Dunn...first pitch swing and grounds out to 1B. :bang:

[billy117]

So how do they change their hitting approach/stratigy for the 9th, if at all?
apperently not at all

[JohhnyBench1001]

Man I never thought that our offense would be the problem with the team. We haven't hit the ball very much at all in the month of May, and have been shutout more this year than I can remember in the past 3 seasons...:cry:

[Ltlabner]

Hattiburg gets a single rolling into CF. Kearns up.

[REDSEER]

Just get on base kearns

[Ltlabner]

Kearns. 0-2.

[Ltlabner]

Kearns stikes out! This one doesn't belong to the Reds.

[dabvu2498]

I don't understand swinging at that pitch....

not Jr. hating, I just think that we need runners and any way would be nice
Was it 2-0?

[REDSEER]

Kearns K's......D'backs win 3-0

Positives on the night:

Obviously it's good to see Milton throwing the way he is capable of throwing. If he can keep this up, it will be a huge boost to our team.

Another postive: Dunn 3-4, maybe breaking out of his little slump???

[REDSEER]

Was it 2-0?
yep

[dabvu2498]

yep
Man, I hate that!

[REDSEER]

Who goes tomorrow for the D'backs??

[Ltlabner]

I missed Jrs catch and all but one of Dunn's hits because I was away from a TV. Milton was a big postive. He he goes out tonight and struggles then it could be a huge psycological (sp?) set back for him. Now he shows himself that he can infact pitch at a MLB level. Of course, what will we get next time? He'll need a few more solid outings for people to start to have some faith in him, but tonight was a step in the right direction.

[REDSEER]

I forgot about Jr's catch in my positives list....amidst the controversy of the past few days, he goes out and makes another spectacular play that many others cannot make.

Say all that you want about stats and range, he still is a natural in CF.

[dabvu2498]

Who goes tomorrow for the D'backs??
Juan Cruz 1-3 5.61

[REDSEER]

Juan Cruz 1-3 5.61
Good, maybe we'll score a few runs for Harang tomorrow......

[dabvu2498]

33 IP, 35 K's We could also strike out a lot.

21 BB, 1.37 WHIP

I'm trying to figure out why his ERA is so high.

LH's .296 vs him, RH's .132

Ahhhh... one miserable outing two starts ago vs. SD
.2 IP, 9 Runs, 5 hits, 3 walks, 1 HBP

[TeamBoone]

Both pitchers did well. Our guys found it hard to hit off Webb and there's found it hard to hit off Milton. It would have been 0-0 going into the 9th if the error hadn't allowed the run to score. Somehow, I just knew that was going to be huge in this game.

Coffey didn't have it tonight... but how can we possibly complain with the way he's pitched this year? Unfortunately, the timing was critical.

FWIW, I think they should have left Milton in... this is not hindsight. I knew if there were runners on in the 8th that they'd take him out.

I'm as disappointed as anyone, but hey! Milton pitched a whale of a game and Dunn was 3-4. Progress.

The Reds are gonna go get the next two and take the series!

[TeamBoone]

Man I never thought that our offense would be the problem with the team. We haven't hit the ball very much at all in the month of May, and have been shutout more this year than I can remember in the past 3 seasons...:cry:

The offense wasn't the problem... the pitching was that good, on both sides!

[BUTLER REDSFAN]

this is the 3rd game in a week we've lost because of an error-2 last week in detroit and now this--when does this stupidity stop

[TeamBoone]

this is the 3rd game in a week we've lost because of an error-2 last week in detroit and now this--when does this stupidity stop

You mean the stupidity of being human?

I hate it too... it's a tough way to lose, but unfortunately it happens.

[reds44]

this is the 3rd game in a week we've lost because of an error-2 last week in detroit and now this--when does this stupidity stop
We didn't lose because of the error, we lost because we score 0 runs.

0 runs=0 wins

[KronoRed]

EE wasn't going to stop that guy from scoring, blaming him is crazy.

[reds44]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060527/capt.3255bb6bb91c4373a825f8c158635ac0.diamondbacks _reds_baseball_csb107.jpg

[KittyDuran]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20060527/capt.3255bb6bb91c4373a825f8c158635ac0.diamondbacks _reds_baseball_csb107.jpgLooked even better in person! :notworthy

[Heath]

Looked even better in person! :notworthy

That's because it was your birthday :D

[KronoRed]

Looked even better in person! :notworthy
Sure did :thumbup:

[TeamBoone]

05-27-2006

That sinking feeling
D-backs' Webb (8-0) baffles Reds
By Josh Katzowitz / Post staff reporter

Brandon Webb was on the mound, Chad Moeller was behind the plate, and Mark Grace was ready to bat.

It was an intrasquad spring training game four years ago, and Moeller made sure to tell Grace that the kid on the mound had a big-time sinkerball.

"OK," Grace thought to himself. "Let's see it."

The first pitch came, and it was headed straight for Grace. He knew, just knew, that Webb had introduced himself by beaning him in a meaningless exhibition game.

"The next thing I know, Moeller caught it, and the ump says, 'Strike!'" said Grace, a 16-year veteran with the Cubs and Diamondbacks who's now a TV analyst with Arizona. "I say, 'Huh?' I ask Moeller if it was strike and he said, 'Gracie, it was right down the middle.'"

So, Grace knew about Webb's talent. Even when the Ashland, Ky., native and former University of Kentucky standout was struggling though a 16-loss season in 2004, Grace knew Webb had ability.

It just took an extra season or two for the rest of the National League to take notice.

Friday's show was another indication that the 27-year-old Webb - who earned his major-league best eighth win with a complete-game 3-0 win against the Reds - is a completely different pitcher.

"He gets better every year," Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin said. "He's got better command of all his pitches, he's got better off-speed stuff and he's pitching to both sides of the plate. He has the confidence of a No.1 guy. When you have a sinker like that, you can mix it up and use your other pitches as well and keep hitters off-balance. They know it's not sinker, sinker, sinker anymore."

The sinkerball wasn't always part of Webb's repertoire. It's not a pitch Reds rightfielder Austin Kearns, a Lexington, Ky., native, remembers seeing when the two met on the field in high school.

"When I faced him, he was a senior and his fastball was as straight as could be," Kearns said. "It didn't move a bit. Then, somebody taught him a sinker. We need to find the guy who taught him that."
Presumably, to beat him up. The rest of the league probably wouldn't mind witnessing that.

Well, here's the name: Royal Clayton, who worked with Webb during his first professional season when Webb played for the Class A South Bend Silver Hawks. Clayton told Webb he thought it'd be a good pitch for him to learn.

Royal Clayton was right. The Reds will attest to that.

"When a sinkerballer's on, it's tough," Ken Griffey Jr. said. "Tonight, he was pretty good. He didn't come in here 7-0 for nothing, so he's obviously been good all season."

Yes he has. Friday's win moved his record to 8-0 and it lowered his ERA to an NL-leading 2.18. This, from a pitcher who finished the 2004 season with a 7-16 record and a league-leading 119 walks.

It's a year Webb - who has issued only nine walks this season - has tried to disregard, particularly since the Diamondbacks committed the most errors in the league that year and finished 51-111 for easily the worst record in the majors.

"I just forget about it," said Webb, who struck out five and induced 18 ground ball outs, including two double plays, from the Reds Friday. "That was a tough season. All around, the team wasn't real good. The defense, I think, kind of got to me. It kind of took my confidence away. I was trying to nitpick around the corners, strike people out and pitch away from contact. I wasn't real confident in the fielders."

Apparently, he's changed his approach, and the friends and family that traveled to Great American Ball Park from Ashland and Lexington to watch likely would approve. They'd also probably be happy with this statement: He's much better than he was two seasons ago.

"It's probably been the biggest progression I've ever seen in a young pitcher," Grace said.
http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060527/SPT05/605270385/1035/SPT