5/27/06- Reds vs. D'Backs Game Thread (We're getting hammered)

[reds44]

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/100x100/ari.gif vs. http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/100x100/cin.gif

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/407297.jpg vs. http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/421685.jpg
Cruz (1-3, 5.61 ERA) vs. Harang (5-2, 3.82 ERA)


After dropping Friday's opener, the Reds will play the second of a three-game series against the Diamondbacks on Saturday night at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds will start right-hander Aaron Harang against Diamondbacks righty Juan Cruz.

Harang pitched a complete-game gem on Sunday against the Tigers. He allowed just one run on five hits with nine strikeouts and one walk, but took the loss in a 1-0 defeat. He will try to break a three-game winless streak.

Cruz has not won any of his last three starts dating back to May 12. His last start against the Reds came back on Sept. 13, 2003, when he allowed 10 runs on six hits over five innings in a no-decision.

In the first game, Reds starter Eric Milton allowed one run over eight innings but was outdueled by Brandon Webb's seven-hitter in a 3-0 loss.

Pitching matchup
ARI: RHP Juan Cruz (1-3, 5.61 ERA)
Cruz, a relief pitcher for most of his career, is 0-2 with a 5.35 ERA against Cincinnati and will be making his 15th lifetime appearance against the Reds, including his fifth start.

CIN: RHP Aaron Harang (5-3, 3.82 ERA)
Harang will be making his fifth career start against Arizona. He has had good success lifetime against them, going 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA.

Player to watch
Reds right fielder Austin Kearns has a four-game hitting streak, batting 6-for-15 (.400) with two home runs and three RBIs. Lifetime against Cruz, Kearns is 3-for-7 (.428) with two home runs and two RBIs.

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN Ohio

On radio
• 700 WLW

Up next
• Sunday: Diamondbacks (RHP Enrique Gonzalez, 0-0, 0.00) at Reds (RHP Bronson Arroyo, 6-2, 2.29), 1:15 p.m. ET
• Monday: Reds (RHP Elizardo Ramirez, 2-3, 3.72) at Cubs (RHP Kerry Wood, 0-1, 6.30), 2:20 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Reds (LHP Brandon Claussen, 3-5, 5.25) at Cubs (RHP Greg Maddux, 5-4, 4.28), 8:05 p.m. ET

William S. Hupp is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.



http://sports.espn.go.com/media/mlb/2003/0407/photo/a_ballpark_i.jpg
http://espn.go.com/i/mlb/clubhouses/stadiums/cin.gif
Lineups

Arizona Diamondbacks

C Counsell SS .307 .366 .380
E Byrnes CF 324 .377 .568
C Tracy 3B 301 .360 .519
L Gonzalez LF .286 .382 .476
S Green RF 333 .391 .463
T Clark 1B .169 .310 .390
O Hudson 2B .232 .310 .299
C Snyder C .227 .327 .432
J Cruz P 375 .000


Cincinnati Reds

F Lopez SS .296 .376 .418
B Phillips 2B .310 .344 .458
K Griffey Jr. CF .244 .293 .500
A Dunn LF .239 .388 .577
R Aurilia 3B .271 .333 .510
S Hatteberg 1B.294 .407 .429
A Kearns RF .294 .371 .539
J LaRue C .212 .312 .379
A Harang P .217 .217 .217
__________________

[Matt700wlw]

you beat me to it. :)

[reds44]

I hate having RA and Hatteberg playing at the same time. If EE needed a day off I would have rather had Freel start at 3rd. Freel hasn't got a start in awhile.

[Gallen5862]

Is Freel hurt or has he got into Narrons doghouse? He has not been playing much lately.

[pedro]

I think Freel's got a pulled groin.

[reds44]

I think Freel's got a pulled groin.
Then put him on the DL and get Olmedo or Deno back up here.

[OnBaseMachine]

Good to see EE on the bench after going 1-for-3 with a double last night and another hard out that was almost a double.

Need to get those two scrappy vets in there.

[GAC]

Lets try and get a good size crew in chat tonight. :beerme:

[reds44]

Good to see EE on the bench after going 1-for-3 with a double last night and another hard out that was almost a double.

Need to get those two scrappy vets in there.
That really got to me.

EE has been struggling lately, but it appeared that he was starting to get going last night.

Why bench him today?

[deltachi8]

I think Freel's got a pulled groin.

his own i hope.

[GAC]

I think Freel's got a pulled groin.

yep

[cumberlandreds]

For those of you who get MLBEI and depend on it,like myself, to watch the Reds,they won't be on it tonight. The game falls into the 1 to 7pm range that Fox has exclusive rights. So that means these home games that start at 6:10pm won't be on EI most of the season. I knew that would be the case when I heard back in the Winter the Reds said they were moving the start times up one hour for Saturday games. I wish they hadn't have done that.

[GAC]

That really got to me.

EE has been struggling lately, but it appeared that he was starting to get going last night.

Why bench him today?

He is still available though if need be.

Look on the bright side - we've got some solid PHers if needed tonight. :D

[reds44]

For those of you who get MLBEI and depend on it,like myself, to watch the Reds,they won't be on it tonight. The game falls into the 1 to 7pm range that Fox has exclusive rights. So that means these home games that start at 6:10pm won't be on EI most of the season. I knew that would be the case when I heard back in the Winter the Reds said they were moving the start times up one hour for Saturday games. I wish they hadn't have done that.
Omg you're right. Same goes for mlb.tv. Will I not be able to watch the entire game or just until 7?

[cumberlandreds]

Omg you're right. Same goes for mlb.tv. Will I not be able to watch the entire game or just until 7?

The entire game.:(

[deltachi8]

see stuff like this just keeps talking me out of MLBEI all the time. Firts I live in a market (Buffalo) where they will black out Indians and Pirates games....just not gonna pay the dough to get the games they feel like sending me

[37red]

I like the way the chat room is set up, first time I've checked it out this year.

[Kc61]

That really got to me.

EE has been struggling lately, but it appeared that he was starting to get going last night.

Why bench him today?

EE did hit a couple of shots last night. Also made key error in the game. Also didn't come through with man on third and one out.

He'll play tomorrow, no big deal if he sits one night.

[GAC]

Chat is open

[reds44]

for those of you that are getting screwed by mlb.tv and EI www.wkki.net is working tonight.

[reds44]

Counsell pops out to Dunn
Byrnes flies out DEEP to CF

2 outs

[GAC]

1-2-3 inning for Aaron

[reds44]

He Gone!

Inning ovah.

[OnBaseMachine]

Another nice crowd tonight. Hopefully the Reds can give them something to cheer for unlike the previous four times they played in front of a big crowd in the GAB.

[reds44]

Felipe flies out to CF

1 out

[reds44]

BP makes an out

*missed what it was*

2 out

[reds44]

Junior drops a single into LF

1 on, 2 out

Dunn up.

[reds44]

Dunn flies out to right

inning over

0-0

[Matt700wlw]

Not quite enough on that one.

[OnBaseMachine]

Good atbat by Dunn to work the count to 3-2, but he missed some good pitches to hit in that atbat.

[RBA]

Darn it. No game on MLB.tv. This bites. Another DUMB move by the Reds to move their games to 6:10. I'm sure the fans will enjoy sitting in the hotter daytime temperature in July and August than having the games start later when it's cooler.

[reds44]

Darn it. No game on MLB.tv. This bites. Another DUMB move by the Reds to move there game to 6:10. I'm sure the fans will enjoy sitting in the hotter daytime temperature in July and August than having the games start later when it's cooler.
I agree it is horrible.

www.wkki.net if ya wanna listen.

[reds44]

He Gone!
Gonzo K's

1 out

[reds44]

Kearns takes back a homer!!!!

[Matt700wlw]

That ball was crushed.

[GAC]

the ball is gonna carry tonight in this weather

[reds44]

He Gone!
Clark k's

6 up, 6 down

[reds44]

RA crushes a ball to the pitcher who throws him out at 1st.

1 out

[reds44]

The Hat singles

1 on, 1 out

[reds44]

Strike em out throw em out

inning over

[Kc61]

Kearns, 46 strikeouts 19 walks this year.

[reds44]

Hudson singles

[reds44]

Stike him out throw him out (on interference)

2 outs

[reds44]

Ground out

inning ovah

[reds44]

LaRue grounds out.

[reds44]

Harang gorund out

2 out

[reds44]

Wow the gamethread is dead tonight.

[reds44]

Felipe singles!

1 out, 2 out

[reds44]

BP gets beaned on the hand.

2 on, 2 out

[reds44]

Giles gets picked off by Molina in the 9th, Cards win 4-3.

[reds44]

Junior K's

no offense again

0-0 end 3

[OnBaseMachine]

15 innings since the Reds last scored.

[RBA]

The game is now on MLB.TV!!!!!!

[reds44]

Woo-hoo Reds now on MLB.TV!!!!

:beerme:

[Kc61]

Question of the day: Will the Reds score another run this month?

Team has a 4.01 ERA for month of May, a pretty amazing stat for this outfit. Yet game after game they have trouble scoring. They are not getting the walks they got earlier in the season, almost never get the key hit.

I'm sure it will turn around, hopefully before they are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

[Falls City Beer]

Please let it be good Aaron who shows up tonight.

[OnBaseMachine]

Reds pitchers, with exception to Arroyo, can't field their positions at all. That should have been an out instead of a RBI single.

[Falls City Beer]

Yeah--getting pegged by Byrnes and Counsell--probably bad Aaron's arrived.

[reds44]

Oh My!!!!

[RedsMan3203]

Edwin throws him out by 3 steps there ;)

[RBA]

OMG! The TV guys think Rich Aurilia is the best 1st, 2nd, and 3rd basemen on the team.

[RBA]

"He knows how to play the game with the glove and the bat" Not sure who they were talking about.

[Falls City Beer]

Add the D-Backs to the Florida Marlins as teams that have torn down and rebuilt in the space between the Reds' last winning season and now.

[JaxRed]

What channel on MLBEI is this supposed to be on?

[OnBaseMachine]

-Dunn walks on four pitches
-Aurilia walks on a 3-2 pitch
-Ump calls first pitch a strike on Hatteberg despite the pitch being at his ankles, Hat then flies out
-Kearns K's

LaRue up

[pedro]

What channel on MLBEI is this supposed to be on?

It's not.

[TeamBoone]

I don't buy those first two pitches to Kearns clipping the outside corner either. He finally swung on the same pitch as the first two because the ump was calling it a strike. Wasn't!

[OnBaseMachine]

LaRue K's on a 3-2 pitch away.

Runners on 1st and 2nd, 0 outs, and the Reds fail to score. Again.

16 innings without a run for the Reds.

[Matt700wlw]

That was an awful call

[OnBaseMachine]

I don't buy those first two pitches to Kearns clipping the outside corner either. He finally swung on the same pitch as the first two because the ump was calling it a strike. Wasn't!

Agreed. Both pitches appeared to be four inches off the plate.

Questec!;)

[KronoRed]

Dear Reds

Please score

Love Krono

[OnBaseMachine]

Dunn drops a flyball.

[RedsMan3203]

Oh boy... Here comes the bash.

[Marc D]

and as soon as they are given a chance the opponent makes us pay

[OnBaseMachine]

And of course the guy that reaches on the error scores. Is it just me or does every mistake the Reds make always come back to bite them in the butt?

[reds44]

Oh boy... Here comes the bash.
And if it comes, it will be deserved.

[oneupper]

No bashing. Sadness...just sadness.

[KronoRed]

OMG! The TV guys think Rich Aurilia is the best 1st, 2nd, and 3rd basemen on the team.
I guess we should just send Rich out there alone and we'd go undefeated ;)

[Falls City Beer]

My beef with the Reds lately is that they've gotten miserably boring.

[Marc D]

And of course the guy that reaches on the error scores. Is it just me or does every mistake the Reds make always come back to bite them in the butt?

good teams make you pay for mistakes bad ones don't

[OnBaseMachine]

And if it comes, it will be deserved.

Just like the bashing on Junior's defense is deserved.

[pedro]

Was that just a routine flyball?

[reds44]

Just like the bashing on Junior's defense is deserved.
It is.

Did I ever say it wasn't?

[oneupper]

Two runs shouldn't a concern. Unfortunately, they are.

I'm waiting to hear how the offense will be fine and we should give the pitcher credit.

[OnBaseMachine]

Was that just a routine flyball?

No, he was running in toward shallow left-center and had the ball hit in the glove and pop out.

[reds44]

Was that just a routine flyball?
Nah he was on the run, but it should have been caught.

[oneupper]

Was that just a routine flyball?

He had to run a bit, but it hit his glove waist high and plopped out.

[pedro]

Thanks.

[OnBaseMachine]

It is.

Did I ever say it wasn't?

Actually you have. Not today but you have in the past.

[KronoRed]

I blame the ball.

[George Foster]

Reds starters the last 13 innings have given up only 2 earned runs....the bad news the Reds lead the league in allowing un-earned runs.

[Matt700wlw]

I'm waiting to hear how the offense will be fine and we should give the pitcher credit.

I can if you want... :D

[Marc D]

The irony of the Reds wasting good pitching performances due to anemic offense is just too cruel.

[OnBaseMachine]

Harang singles on a 3-1 count.

[reds44]

Actually you have. Not today but you have in the past.
Thanks for starting something for no reason.

Apparently you missed this thread.
http://www.redszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46382

Thanks for playing though.

[KronoRed]

Harang starts the rally

[oneupper]

Hey,...Harang can hit.

[Falls City Beer]

Aaron's going to steal home in this inning. He'll come lumbering in like golem.

[pedro]

Reds pitching in May has been pretty good. (.750 OPS against, 4.01? ERA)

[oneupper]

George is saying that the situation dictates bunt. Where does he get that?

[KronoRed]

Some of these ball/strike calls are terrible.

[KronoRed]

George is saying that the situation dictates bunt. Where does he get that?
No clue, Hanrag is about as fast as an upside down turtle.

[OnBaseMachine]

Double play after the ump decided to expand the zone on the previous pitch.

[Falls City Beer]

http://www.eaudrey.com/myth/images/Golem.jpg

[Marc D]

Aaron's going to steal home in this inning. He'll come lumbering in like golem.

Otherwise known as Dunn playing LF. ;)

[KronoRed]

A casey erases Harang..2 down

[pedro]

I haven't even been able to get the game on teh radio. The mlb audio player crashes in both firefox and IE.

[reds44]

awesome

[reds44]

I haven't even been able to get the game on teh radio. The mlb audio player crashes in both firefox and IE.
www.wkki.net

[oneupper]

I haven't even been able to get the game on teh radio. The mlb audio player crashes in both firefox and IE.

Consider yourself lucky.

[KronoRed]

Phillips K's on a pitcher near his eyes

[reds44]

We need more contact guys.

[oneupper]

Cruz and Relaford shutting down the REDS walk-based offense tonight.

[George Foster]

The last three games have been brutal to watch. Nothing going our way. We need a slump buster to run onto the field!:D

[KronoRed]

We need more contact guys.
Contact leads to Casey's :devil:

[OnBaseMachine]

17 innings without a run.

With the surprisingly good pitching the Reds have gotten in May, this should have been a 17 or 18 win month. Instead it looks like it will be a below .500 month.

[George Foster]

We need more contact guys.

One of our best contact guy's we got, Kearns, has been striking out ALOT lately, especially with runners in scoring position.

[oneupper]

One of our best contact guy's we got, Kearns, has been striking out ALOT lately, especially with runners in scoring position.

Kearns is on pace to over 150Ks this season...not a contact guy.

[cumberlandreds]

17 innings without a run.

With the surprisingly good pitching the Reds have gotten in May, this should have been a 17 or 18 win month. Instead it looks like it will be a below .500 month.

That is bad news with a very tough month of June upcoming. Prepare for the freefall.:(

[reds44]

One of our best contact guy's we got, Kearns, has been striking out ALOT lately, especially with runners in scoring position.
When Kearns is one of your contact guys, you need more contact guys.

[KronoRed]

If they get more then 3 runs I think we're in trouble

[Matt700wlw]

I'm getting real tired of seeing error after error after error.

Pathetic.

[OnBaseMachine]

We need more contact guys.

The 2005 Reds led the NL in runs despite also leading the league in strikeouts.

This year the Reds are only 4th in runs scored despite having less strikeouts(4th in NL).

[George Foster]

The bat hit LaRue in the back.

[reds44]

We need better defenders

[oneupper]

This is depressing. I'm going out with the family. Good luck, guys!

[George Foster]

If they get more then 3 runs I think we're in trouble
We're already in trouble!

[KronoRed]

Nice. might get out of this without giving up more runs

[OnBaseMachine]

Wow. Another error.

[KronoRed]

Some of those guys are good defenders :help:

[reds44]

oy

[GAC]

we're cursed. Someone sacrifice a goat or something!

[George Foster]

I'm getting real tired of seeing error after error after error.

Pathetic.

We better get use to it. There is no reason to believe it is going to be any better. The ball not stopped by Lopez cost us yet another run....unearned.

[KronoRed]

we're cursed. Someone sacrifice a goat or something!
We need a live chicken

[OnBaseMachine]

I am amazed that a MLB team can be this bad defensively.

[reds44]

We need a live chicken
http://www.sportshollywood.com/images/cerrano.jpg

[George Foster]

If we are going to do anything, it's got to be this inning.

[reds44]

http://img15.imgspot.com/u/05/332/22/delgadojobu11133319787.jpg

Time for Jobu to wake up bat.

[George Foster]

we're cursed. Someone sacrifice a goat or something!

We're not cursed. We just need to get these guys out of bed before noon, and take an hour and 1/2 on infield practice EVERYDAY.

[KronoRed]

http://www.sportshollywood.com/images/cerrano.jpg
http://www.pamspaulding.com/Pam/surgery/bucket.jpg

[George Foster]

Gozo shows Dunn how to do it.

[GAC]

Gonzo shows Dunn how to catch those. ;)

[OnBaseMachine]

Dunn *should* have walked, but the blind ump called a 2-1 pitch at Dunn's ankle a called strike. I hate MLB umps.

[reds44]

This team has been sleep walking for a month now.

Something needs to be done.

[reds44]

Dunn *should* have walked, but the blind ump called a 2-1 pitch at Dunn's ankle a called strike. I hate MLB umps.
It's always the umps fault.

Never the Reds' offense.

Maybe they just aren't as good as we all thought.

[KronoRed]

This team has been sleep walking for a month now.

Something needs to be done.
Only thing that can be done is fire someone.

[KronoRed]

Rich fails to will that over the wall with veteran presence, onto the 7th

[George Foster]

This team has been sleep walking for a month now.

Something needs to be done.

No real leader in the dugout. Hasen't been one since Vaughn in 99.

[reds44]

Only thing that can be done is fire someone.
Who?

[reds44]

No real leader in the dugout. Hasen't been one since Vaughn in 99.
It's seems like it is almost to laid back.

[KronoRed]

Who?
Did manager and pitching coach last year, how bout batting coach? ;)

RedRead would say Allen :devil:

[KronoRed]

2 on none out..keep it together Aaron

[George Foster]

It's seems like it is almost to laid back.

My point exactly. What would I give if Kearns or Dunn took a bat to a couple of Water coolers....not going to happen.

[OnBaseMachine]

It's always the umps fault.


Now where did I say that? Stop putting words in my mouth.

[reds44]

Now, where did I say that? Stop putting words in my mouth.
*Sigh*

Let's not start this again.

[KronoRed]

4-0 on a single to left.

[Marc D]

chalk up another

[Matt700wlw]

This game is absolutely boring me to death.

I need a kick.

[reds44]

I need a kick.
So does this team.

[KronoRed]

How bout a Chuck Norris kick? :D

[reds44]

How bout a Chuck Norris kick? :D
roundhouse!

Golly LaRue has been bad this year.

[reds44]

inning ovah

[Heath]

Where's Jose Rijo when we need him to yell?

[KronoRed]

Where's Jose Rijo when we need him to yell?
Yelling at someone else?

[pedro]

At least we get to listen to Joe.

[reds44]

lol

[KronoRed]

Teams in purple are not manly

[pedro]

He's laboring but he's still doing a good job.

[reds44]

Ears singles

[GAC]

You guys on the game thread excited yet?

We're getting drunk in chat and talking about lesbians! :lol:

[George Foster]

When was the last time LaRue got a RBI?

[pedro]

Joe just said walks count. :)

[pedro]

You guys on the game thread excited yet?

We're getting drunk in chat and talking about lesbians! :lol:

what do you got on tap over there?

[KronoRed]

I *heart* walks

[reds44]

LaWalk

come on EE!

[GAC]

what do you got on tap over there?

Harps

[KronoRed]

EE k's

[George Foster]

that worked out well.

[reds44]

good AB right there

[KronoRed]

Fly balls just dieing out there

[George Foster]

Wow a runner left in scoring postion...not seen that in a while.

[GAC]

These guys definitely have not been earning there money. ;)

[GAC]

Watching this team... where is the passion?

It's like they are simply going thru the motions.


Maybe they should switch to incentive pay. ;)

[Matt700wlw]

Maybe the next team meeting shouldn't be the manager telling the players he believes in them and to play the game they know how to play.

This one needs to have some yelling and some threats. You want to play? You produce. Period.

[KronoRed]

Kent...get a haircut dude.

[pedro]

Maybe the next team meeting shouldn't be the manager telling the players he believes in them and to play the game they know how to play.

This one needs to have some yelling and some threats. You want to play? You produce. Period.


That's great if you actually have some people to replace them with.

[traderumor]

OK, last night it was the Brandon Webb is pitching excuse, so what's our excuse tonight to apologize for this pathetic performance for the second night in a row? The defense is just beyond description bad and is not going to improve one lick as currently configured. It isn't like Dunn is going to figure it out and Griffey is going to get faster. Felipe costs us a run by oleing LaRue's bad throw. Just gets old after one, two, three, four...seasons of the same core team that just does not play good baseball. They can outslug other teams. That's it.

Woooooo, feel better now.

[westofyou]

Remember the Reds whooped up on the O's last year and then went into Boston and scored 5 runs in 3 games.. or in that neighborhood.

That's what these 2 games remind me of.

[pedro]

ok, marty just made me me spit up food.

[KronoRed]

Outta here, 7-0 snakes

[traderumor]

Orlando Hudson, new Reds' killer

[westofyou]

ok, marty just made me me spit up food.
I just had tempura sushi... mmmmmmm

[Matt700wlw]

Let's get this over with.

[GAC]

THANK YOU SIR, CAN I HAVE ANOTHER!

Nice catch right there by Jr though. ;)

[KronoRed]

In the last two days over 70,000 at the park for this

Yikes.

[Kc61]

Maybe the next team meeting shouldn't be the manager telling the players he believes in them and to play the game they know how to play.

This one needs to have some yelling and some threats. You want to play? You produce. Period.

Team has probably lost some confidence offensively. They press with men on base. Particularly a problem in close games.

I don't know if threats are the answer. A shame, though, to waste all this good pitching.

Team is not as good offensively as in April, not as bad as in May.

Narron said Freel will play tomorrow, which is good since he plays with some passion and can spark the team. Another guy who could help about now is Deno, who is an aggressive, sparkplug type.

Right now team is basically unwatchable.

[traderumor]

Want some good news? My son's team was down 15-6 in the last inning, won 16-15.

[KronoRed]

Want some good news? My son's team was down 15-6 in the last inning, won 16-15.
Sign those kids up :D

[GAC]

walk, dbl, HR - someone send Merck a Hallmark card

[traderumor]

If Mercker went on the DL because he was sucking, he should go back on it, is he done?

[traderumor]

Sign those kids up :DA walk off passed ball

[Matt700wlw]

These fans should demand their money back.

[traderumor]

So, what's the adjustment for our offense to respond to the shutdown that occurs when pitchers pound the zone on them?

[GAC]

So, what's the adjustment for our offense to respond to the shutdown that occurs when pitchers pound the zone on them?


cry "UNCLE"?

[reds44]

So, what's the adjustment for our offense to respond to the shutdown that occurs when pitchers pound the zone on them?
The team needs more balanced.

with the exception of Hatteberg (who is a 1 tool player) eveyone of our starters might strike out 100 times.

We need speed and contact at the top, and power in the middle. Not power and k's in the entire lineup except for our 1 tool 1st baseman.

[reds44]

These fans should demand their money back.
Not as bad as the 11-0 brewers game i was at.

[KronoRed]

Belisle in.

[KronoRed]

DS, Freel in..JR out.

[Heath]

In the last two days over 70,000 at the park for this

Yikes.

Sad part is that 100,000 could have been in attendance for the 3-game series.

We need the Cubs bad.

[traderumor]

Sad part is that 100,000 could have been in attendance for the 3-game series.

We need the Cubs bad.The Cubs are going so bad that they'll probably start turning it around just as we arrive

[Matt700wlw]

Joy. Tomorrow the Reds face a pitcher making his major league debut.

We all know that story....

[KronoRed]

We're not doing the little things apparently

So say Chris and George ;)

[KronoRed]

Game over...booing commences

[reds44]

We never got a runner to 3rd tonight.

[KronoRed]

Joy. Tomorrow the Reds face a pitcher making his major league debut.

We all know that story....
Only if he's a soft tosser

[reds44]

wow

[Matt700wlw]

I'm glad that one is over....that was hard to watch.

[KronoRed]

They should storm the field and demand justice

[Aronchis]

The Reds are 8-14 since peeking at 19-8 earlier this season. The Recession has been long, somewhat slow, but steady.

[traderumor]

The Reds are 8-14 since peeking at 19-8 earlier this season. The Recession has been long, somewhat slow, but steady.slow and painful, sort of like root canal

[oneupper]

Just got back. I'm glad I left. Wow..two straight shutouts.

As the REDS search for a contact hitter, Chris Denorfia silently rots in Louisville with a .348 avg (13 Ks in 135 AB).

[KronoRed]

As the REDS search for a contact hitter, Chris Denorfia silently rots in Louisville with a .348 avg (13 Ks in 135 AB).
End the platoon at 1st base stick Dunn there and tell him to like it, avoid the JR question for now and stick Deno in LF.

Let the Hat and Aurilia be backups.

[reds44]

End the platoon at 1st base stick Dunn there and tell him to like it, avoid the JR question for now and stick Deno in LF.

Let the Hat and Aurilia be backups.
I agree 100%

I actually I'm not as high on Deno as many are, but I would do this right now. I would bring him up and let him bat second. Let BP go back to hitting 7th.

[Ron Madden]

End the platoon at 1st base stick Dunn there and tell him to like it, avoid the JR question for now and stick Deno in LF.

Let the Hat and Aurilia be backups.

That is what they were signed to do.:)

[37red]

errors, errors, errors, can't blame it on pitching.

[OnBaseMachine]

In the last two days over 70,000 at the park for this

Yikes.

The Reds always lay an egg in front of a big crowd. The biggest crowds this year, IIRC, are: Opening Day, Dunn figurine night, Lopez bobblehead, and the last two nights.

Opening Day they scored seven runs but gave up 16. The other fours games they got good pitching, bad defense, and absolutely no offense.

[Falls City Beer]

Get Freel in the lineup. Now. Get Rich out. Now.

[reds44]

Reds need a spark, Ryan Freel is the definition of a spark plug.

Seems logical.

[KronoRed]

Freel at 3rd?

[reds44]

Freel at 3rd?
No, EE didn't play today.

2nd maybe, or Center or Right.

[KronoRed]

Wish we knew when Phillips was going to heat up, we could split time with Freel

[GAC]

I'd take Phillips in the lineup and over Freel at 2B any day of the week.

The reason Freel is out of the lineup is because Ryan Freel fell back to earth - hard!

in 76 AB's/April, he walked 20 times.

in 54 AB's/May, he walked a grand total of 3 times.

a .434 OB% in April.... a .250 OB% in May

A whopping .476 OPS in May (.655 overall).

And a .287 SLG%

I'm simply enamored.

Where do you want to play Freel at again?

[membengal]

It's always the umps fault.

Never the Reds' offense.

Maybe they just aren't as good as we all thought.


I don't understand blanket statements like this.

Not ALL thought the Reds had turned a corner. In fact, very few in here did. The consensus, in the spring training prediction threads was this was a 77 win team with bad breaks or up to about an 85 win team with some breaks.

The fast start doesn't change that. The bad May doesn't change that. I will keep rooting for them to be better than my own hunch of 81-81, but at this point have no illusions about this club, and have not had any illusions.

I know people are posting from frustration because they can't hit right now, but that too will change. Enjoy the ride folks, that's what a baseball season is.

[Chip R]

I'd take Phillips in the lineup and over Freel at 2B any day of the week.

The reason Freel is out of the lineup is because Ryan Freel fell back to earth - hard!

in 76 AB's/April, he walked 20 times.

in 54 AB's/May, he walked a grand total of 3 times.

a .434 OB% in April.... a .250 OB% in May

A whopping .476 OPS in May (.655 overall).

And a .287 SLG%

I'm simply enamored.

Where do you want to play Freel at again?

I agree that there is no easy place to put Freel in the lineup now that Jr. is back and he and Dunn shall not be moved. But it seems like everyone on this team gets a chance to play out of a slump except for Freel. The topic of Dunn slumping has been addressed ad nauseum. La Rue was down to below .200 before his big game in DET. Phillips started off hot as a firecracker but he too has fallen back to earth. Encarnacion was doing quite well and he has slumped too but is in the lineup most of the time. Freel slumps and sees nothing but pine for a couple of weeks. I know he has that stamp of a utility guy but that seems to be a pretty convenient excuse to keep him on the bench. It is a Catch 22 for him. He cannot ever slump or he runs the risk of being shunted back to Utility Guy status and then everyone says he never played over 120 games in a year so that proves he is a utility guy.

[KronoRed]

I like Freel back in the lineup today

;)

[GAC]

I like Freel back in the lineup today

;)

he made some darn good throws... and botched some others.

So he broke even. ;)

[GAC]

I agree that there is no easy place to put Freel in the lineup now that Jr. is back and he and Dunn shall not be moved. But it seems like everyone on this team gets a chance to play out of a slump except for Freel. The topic of Dunn slumping has been addressed ad nauseum. La Rue was down to below .200 before his big game in DET. Phillips started off hot as a firecracker but he too has fallen back to earth. Encarnacion was doing quite well and he has slumped too but is in the lineup most of the time. Freel slumps and sees nothing but pine for a couple of weeks. I know he has that stamp of a utility guy but that seems to be a pretty convenient excuse to keep him on the bench. It is a Catch 22 for him. He cannot ever slump or he runs the risk of being shunted back to Utility Guy status and then everyone says he never played over 120 games in a year so that proves he is a utility guy.

I agree Chip. Ryan is between a rock and a hard place.

And I wonder if his age has a factor in it, since we are playing younger players that have a greater upside/potential?

You're just not gonna see/get much improvement in a 30 yr old.

[KronoRed]

he made some darn good throws... and botched some others.

So he broke even. ;)
No love for the solo HR? :D