8/8/2007 Reds vs. Dodgers - Game Thread

[BRM]

Lineups per C. Trent

Reds
Hatteberg 1b
Hopper cf
Griffey rf
Phillips 2b
Dunn lf
Encarnacion 3b
Gonzalez ss
Ross c
Harang p

Dodgers
Pierre cf
Furcal ss
Martin c
Kent 2b
Ethier lf
Garciaparra 3b
Loney 1b
Kemp rf
Billingsley p

[Tom Servo]

Needs more Country Kepp.

[KronoRed]

Needs more Country Kepp.

Hat to LF JR to CF and Dunn to right then :D

[Red Leader]

Yeah, I think this is the ONLY lineup we'll see until Hamilton gets called back up.

[RichRed]

I'd complain about the batting order but what are you supposed to do when you have three 8th-place-caliber hitters in one lineup? :confused:

[nate]

I'd complain about the batting order but what are you supposed to do when you have three 8th-place-caliber hitters in one lineup? :confused:

Not even gonna try?

Josh Towers says "weak, dude!"

[RichRed]

Not even gonna try?

Josh Towers says "weak, dude!"

I may have actually lost the will to complain - and that scares me.

[Redsland]

Is Mark Bellhorn hurt or something? Geez!


:)

[MrCinatit]

I'd complain about the batting order but what are you supposed to do when you have three 8th-place-caliber hitters in one lineup? :confused:

Welcome to 1982

[Chip R]

Thom and Jeff talk about the Dodgers like George Grande talks about the Cardinals.

[Tom Servo]

Thom and Jeff talk about the Dodgers like George Grande talks about the Cardinals.
and Chad Billingsley = Jim Edmonds

[Chip R]

and Chad Billingsley = Jim Edmonds


Indeed. Thom and Jeff should marry him if they love him so much.

[Tom Servo]

WOW! JUNIOR!

[Matt700wlw]

Griffey!

[Reds Fanatic]

4 Ks for Harang tonight.

[Reds Fanatic]

5 Ks through 3 for Harang. 0-0 mid 3rd.

[CTA513]

Harang is getting his fastball up to 93-94 mph at times tonight.

[HumnHilghtFreel]

So has anyone mentioned that Aaron Harang is kind of good?

[Matt700wlw]

It looks like the world is about to end outside.

[Eric_Davis]

9 up 9 down is quite a feat for a REDS' pitcher.

Don't remember seeing that this year, though I'm sure it's happened.

[Tom Servo]

The Brennamens <3 Norris Hopper.

[Reds Fanatic]

Junior singles in a run. 1-0 Reds.

[Chip R]

How did they ever score a run against Jesus Billingsley?

[TOBTTReds]

My new favorite line of the year. Classic.

"That's how you play the game you clown." - Brantley

[TOBTTReds]

I love how Thom knows how to play the game the right way so much and so many players don't. Although he is right about the Hopper AB, he was shocked that not everyone was up high-fiving Hopper. Give it up.

[dougdirt]

If Hopper had such a 'professional' at bat, then why did he swing at a ball? And even more so, why did he make an out?

Thom is a fool. Brantley is as well.

[Reds Fanatic]

Furcal gets the first hit after Harang retired the first 10 batters tonight.

[VR]

"That's how you play the game you clown." - Brantley


who's the 'clown' he was referring to?

[Reds Fanatic]

Martin with a bloop single to right. 1st and 3rd with 1 out for the Dodgers.

[Tom Servo]

who's the 'clown' he was referring to?
Adam Dunn, of course.


:p:

[Reds Fanatic]

Kent strikes out. 6 Ks for Harang.

[Reds Fanatic]

Ethier flies out. Good job by Harang to get out of that. 1-0 Reds mid 4th.

[dougdirt]

So has anyone mentioned that Aaron Harang is kind of good?

Who? Never heard of him.

[Reds Fanatic]

Gonzalez with a long single off the top of the wall in right. Then goes to 2nd on a wild pitch.

[Chip R]

Glad Harang gave up a hit. That way they don't have to worry about leaving him in if he has a no-no.

[Reds Fanatic]

And another wild pitch moves Gonzalez to 3rd.

[MrCinatit]

Who? Never heard of him.

Harang. I'm pretty sure he's a pitcher in Oakland.

[Reds Fanatic]

Ross walks. 1st and 3rd with no outs.

[VR]

Who? Never heard of him.

If things work out, he should be the #4 starter next year, behind Livingston, Dumatrait and Gosling.

[Reds Fanatic]

Harang sacrifices the runner to 2nd. 2nd and 3rd.

[Reds Fanatic]

Martin just saved Billingsley from his 3rd wild pitch of the inning.

[Matt700wlw]

:lol: Gonzalez :lol:

[Reds Fanatic]

Hatteberg grounds to 1st. Gonzalez gets caught in a rundown and eventually runs way out of the baseline. Hatteberg goes to 2nd. 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs.

[Reds Fanatic]

Hopper walks. Bases loaded.

[Matt700wlw]

Drunk sacks for Junior

[Reds Fanatic]

Junior flies out to left. 1-0 Reds after 4.

[Eric_Davis]

2 walks, a single, a sacrifice, and 2 wild pitches and no strikeouts = zero runs.

[Reds Fanatic]

This game may end up delayed at some point a thunderstorm is not too far from Cincy.

http://image.weather.com/web/radar/us_ind_closeradar_plus_usen.jpg

[Reds Fanatic]

Garciaparra leads off with a single.

[Matt700wlw]

Hopefully it stays south...

[Reds Fanatic]

Nice play by Hatteberg. Runner at 2nd with 1 out.

[Reds Fanatic]

Kemp strikes out looking. 7 Ks for Harang.

[Tom Servo]

Harang rocks. Seriously.

[Reds Fanatic]

8 Ks for Harang through 5. 1-0 Reds mid 5th. 71 pitches for Harang.

[Matt700wlw]

Nope. Not a true ace.

:p:

[Reds Fanatic]

Game is now official even if it does rain.

[Eric_Davis]

14 shutout innings by the REDS' Aces so far.....dash those Dodgers' playoff hopes.

[Matt700wlw]

Game is now official even if it does rain.

I don't think we have too much to worry about. IF it rains, it won't be a wash out

[Reds Fanatic]

Dunn walks.

[Chip R]

14 shutout innings by the REDS' Aces so far.....dash those Dodgers' playoff hopes.

[seinfeld]

That's a shame.

[Reds Fanatic]

1-2-3 inning for Harang. 1-0 Reds mid 6th. 83 pitches for Harang. 98 pitches for Billingsley.

[M2]

I'm willing to go out on a limb and declare that this Aaron Harang guy is a good pitcher.

[Reds Fanatic]

Scott Proctor in to pitch.

[red-in-la]

"Hello Newman"

[redsfan30]

Gotta love seeing The Kid with that hat on backwards!

[Eric_Davis]

I'm willing to go out on a limb and declare that this Aaron Harang guy is a good pitcher.

knowing this, I would have offered Harang and Dunn to Detroit for Andrew Miller at the trade deadline.

Who gets the better of this deal or is it a win-win for both teams. I think it would be a win-win.

[Eric_Davis]

Way to work that count, Ross.

[redsfan30]

knowing this, I would have offered Harang and Dunn to Detroit for Andrew Miller at the trade deadline.

Who gets the better of this deal or is it a win-win for both teams. I think it would be a win-win.

Andrew Miller is a nice young lefty, but you'd seriously offer Dunn AND Harang for him??

[Reds Fanatic]

1-2-3 inning for Proctor on 8 pitches. 1-0 Reds after 6.

[Reds Fanatic]

Nice play by Junior.

[HumnHilghtFreel]

Jr. Just Jim Edmonds'ed that one a little bit :)

[Eric_Davis]

Guess Coutlangus is justifying his demotion.

He's pitched to four batters.

Triple
Homerun
Single
Homerun

[Eric_Davis]

Andrew Miller is a nice young lefty, but you'd seriously offer Dunn AND Harang for him??

Absolutely. Dunn's gone anyway, and we'd be getting a player who should be better than Harang next year or the year after and we'll have him cheap for six years.

[Reds Fanatic]

Another 1-2-3 inning for Harang. 1-0 Reds mid 7th. 100 pitches for Harang.

[Eric_Davis]

Another 1-2-3 inning for Harang. 1-0 Reds mid 7th. 100 pitches for Harang.


He's just warming up.

[HumnHilghtFreel]

I know it's been mentioned before, but watching Jr. tucking in his shirt on 1b, it really shows that he's slimmed down quite a bit this year.

[Cyclone792]

Brandon Phillips just grounded into his 20th double play of the season, and it's only August 8th.

FYI, in 2005 when Sean Casey acquired the phrase "grounded into a Casey," Casey grounded into 27 double plays. Phillips has a good shot to catch him.

[Reds Fanatic]

Leadoff double for Loney.

[Eric_Davis]

Brandon Phillips just grounded into his 20th double play of the season, and it's only August 8th.

FYI, in 2005 when Sean Casey acquired the phrase "grounded into a Casey," Casey grounded into 27 double plays. Phillips has a good shot to catch him.

20-20-20


With Loney leading off, Harang has his work cut out for him. Enjoy watching him work.

[Matt700wlw]

Wow!

:clap: :clap:

[Reds Fanatic]

What a play by Phillips. A diving catch starts a 4-6 DP!

[GAC]

Wow! Phillips!

[Eric_Davis]

Except for Utley, there isn't a better 2nd baseman.

[Reds Fanatic]

Saenz pinch hits and walks. 109 pitches now for Harang.

[Reds Fanatic]

Pierre lines out to Dunn. 1-0 Reds mid 8th.

[GAC]

What a solid year for Harang. Just think where this guy would be if it weren't for the BP's 4 blown saves this year? ;)

[Reds Fanatic]

Jonathan Broxton in to pitch.

[Eric_Davis]

How hot has the temperature been?

How much tougher is that for what Harang is doing tonight?

[Reds Fanatic]

Gonzalez just misses a HR for the 2nd time tonight. Doubling off the wall in center.

[Reds Fanatic]

Ross flies out. 1-0 Reds after 8. Weathers coming in.

[Reds Fanatic]

How hot has the temperature been?

How much tougher is that for what Harang is doing tonight?
Currently it is 83 with heat index of 90. Tomorrow afternoon's game is going to be brutal. It is going up to 99 with a heat index of 108.

[Reds Fanatic]

Nice play by Weathers as he bare hands the bunt by Furcal. 1 out.

[Reds Fanatic]

Martin pops out to 2nd. 2 outs.

[Cyclone792]

That was a freakin' ridiculous play by Phillips! Wow!

[Eric_Davis]

10 games back.

No August elimination.

[HumnHilghtFreel]

Phillips is amazing.

[Red in Chicago]

BP with "the glove"

[Reds Fanatic]

What a play by Phillips again!!! 1-0 Reds win. 2 straight shutouts of the Dodgers. A combined 4 hitter tonight.

[Eric_Davis]

That was a freakin' ridiculous play by Phillips! Wow!

He was showing Kent how Hall-of-Famers are supposed to play 2nd base.

[CTA513]

Phillips didn't get any hits tonight, but he made up for it with the glove.

[Red in Chicago]

Hattie showing some glovework on that throw by BP as well:beerme:

[redsfan30]

Great play on both ends right there!

[Eric_Davis]

Maybe Harang will get a vote or two from the Cy Young writers.

I think he's proved himself.

[pedro]

Phillips is a lot of fun to watch.

[Falls City Beer]

When you watch these Dodgers, you're looking at the future of the Reds' offense without Dunn.

[edabbs44]

When you watch these Dodgers, you're looking at the future of the Reds' offense without Dunn.

I'll take my chances with Votto, Hamilton, Phillips, EdE and Bruce with the Dodgers pitching.

[Falls City Beer]

I'll take my chances with Votto, Hamilton, Phillips, EdE and Bruce with the Dodgers pitching.

I wouldn't.

Not a single one of those guys has Dunn-esque power. Bruce may develop it, but he won't have it upon arrival.

[edabbs44]

I wouldn't.

I'm talking about the next few years.

[Falls City Beer]

I'm talking about the next few years.

I think Phillips is touching his offensive ceiling as we speak, Hamilton has health issues, EE is, well, let's be nice, awful anymore, Votto's looking more like Brandon Larson than Jim Thome.

Like it or not--you gotta have pop. It's gotta come from somewhere.

[edabbs44]

I think Phillips is touching his offensive ceiling as we speak, Hamilton has health issues, EE is, well, let's be nice, awful anymore, Votto's looking more like Brandon Larson than Jim Thome.

Like it or not--you gotta have pop. It's gotta come from somewhere.

Sure you do, but you can have less with a good pitching staff. That lineup has a pretty high ceiling...give them a good pitching staff and they can do some damage.

[11larkin11]

quick question for Matt or anyone who knows, during the payoff inning, has anyone ever won the grand prize with the grand slam?

[redsmetz]

quick question for Matt or anyone who knows, during the payoff inning, has anyone ever won the grand prize with the grand slam?

I remember back in the days when you just won and didn't have to call in, someone won it on, I think, an Eric Davis Grand Slam.

[Heath]

I remember back in the days when you just won and didn't have to call in, someone won it on, I think, an Eric Davis Grand Slam.

Someone won one on in the later 90's either on a Willie Greene or Jon Nunnally GS. It was a new Chevrolet from Marge Schott Chevrolet.

[Reds Fanatic]

With this shutout the Dodgers have now not scored in 28 consecutive innings and it is the first time they have been shutout in 3 straight games since 1966.

[WVRedsFan]

Despite the soap opera the FO has become (or circus, if you prefer), the last two nights have given me a bunch of satisfaction. Being old, I still remember the days when the Dodgers were our main rivals. I hated the Dodgers. I once attended a game at Dodger Stadium and hated it that I loved the atmosphere there and the hot dogs.

Anyway, beating the Dodgers two in a row on shutouts from our two best pitchers was sweet. Nothing like it. It made my week and the defensive plays by Junior and Phillips kept the game interesting.

Aaron Harang is one of the best pitchers in MLB. And no, you don't trade him for a young guy and especially not with Dunn included. Given the proper treatment, he will always be your best pitcher. Same witrh Arroyo. After that, we have problems. And tomorrow we'll see what the Reds are like without our two best on the mound.

[WVRedsFan]

ONe last thing...

Pete Mac is now 18-13 as the Reds manager. And his career record is 30-27.

The cries to keep him as manager will start any day now.

They'll neer learn.

And I really like Pete Mac. A lot.

[pedro]

ONe last thing...

Pete Mac is now 18-13 as the Reds manager. And his career record is 30-27.

The cries to keep him as manager will start any day now.

They'll neer learn.

And I really like Pete Mac. A lot.

Brantley was really blowing it up Pete's skirt tonight that's for sure.

It'd sure be interesting to talk to a player directly and get their thoughts.

BTW- I loved tonights game. It was just a really good baseball game. I know people get bored by pitching duels but I really thought the game tonight was exciting despite the low score.

[Big Klu]

I just got home from tonight's game. It was HOT!!! I had to go to the game somewhat incognito--I was a guest of the Dodgers, so I felt that I shouldn't wear Reds gear. Instead, I wore a plain shirt and my navy blue Team USA cap from last year's World Baseball Classic.

Anyway, some observations:

Aaron Harang is really good. He was definitely on top of his game tonight.

Brandon Phillips made two outstanding defensive plays late in the game. I truly believe he is a star in the making.

Despite what some people think, low-scoring pitching duels are very exciting!

[pedro]

Brandon Phillips made two outstanding defensive plays late in the game. I truly believe he is a star in the making.

Despite what some people think, low-scoring pitching duels are very exciting!

I think Phillips is there already. To me he's far and away the Reds most exciting player. Sure he isn't very OBP oriented but he really puts the wood on the ball most of the time he is up there and the Reds really need that. The one thing I do think though is that while the HR's are nice I wouldn't mind it if Phillips tried to hit it to the gaps every once in a while. He could stand to hit a few more doubles.

Defensively, what can I say? Those two plays are why I watch baseball. Just really good stuff.

Oh, and that Griffey kid had a pretty good game, I think he might stick.

Anyway, I bet it was great game to attend. Harang was really in control tonight. That's fun to watch.

I really wish we had a team here.....

[cumberlandreds]

Two thoughts:

Who would have thought this pitching staff was capable of two straight shutouts?

It is always nice to beat the Dodgers two in a row even if it's not a rivalry anymore.

[M2]

knowing this, I would have offered Harang and Dunn to Detroit for Andrew Miller at the trade deadline.

Who gets the better of this deal or is it a win-win for both teams. I think it would be a win-win.

I love Andrew Miller, but bad teams can't afford to turn two players (let alone arguably their two best players) into one.