8/18/07 vs Brewskies

[Matt700wlw]

Same lineup!!

Hamilton cf
Keppinger ss
Griffey rf
Phillips 2b
Dunn lf
Hatteberg 1b
Valentin c
Encarnacion 3b
Ramirez p


And the alcoholics...

Weeks 2b
Gross rf
Fielder 1b
Braun 3b
Jenkins lf
Hall cf
Estrada c
Hardy ss
Vargas p

[Falls City Beer]

I actually think the Reds will kick the crap out of the Brewers tonight. (And I think Ned Yost won't have a job in October).

[Matt700wlw]

I actually think the Reds will kick the crap out of the Brewers tonight. (And I think Ned Yost won't have a job in October).

Didn't he just get an extension? Not that it really matters....(see Narron, Jerry)

[Ron Madden]

Marty and Jeff say the blame for the recent decline of the Brewers
is the fact that they live and die by the HR.

[Matt700wlw]

Marty and Jeff say the blame for the recent decline of the Brewers
is the fact that they live and die by the HR.

Sounds familiar...

[WVRedsFan]

Marty and Jeff say the blame for the recent decline of the Brewers
is the fact that they live and die by the HR.

And injuries had nothing to do with it?

[Matt700wlw]

And injuries had nothing to do with it?

Injuries are part of the game.

They are, actually. :D

[Ron Madden]

And injuries had nothing to do with it?

Nope.

HR's are BAD. Winning teams must manufacture runs.

[mbgrayson]

8 pitch walk by Dunn
Double-play, 4-6-3, by Hatte....
Line single to center by Valentin
EE K's

After 1 and a 1/2, no score.

But, glad to see them working Vargas hard....39 pitches so far

[Gallen5862]

Thanks for updates. How is the Lizzard doing?

[mbgrayson]

Braun pops out to Phillips in shallow right.
Jenkins grounds to 1st.
Hall flies to Hamilton.

The Lizard thru two on only 19 pitches....

[Matt700wlw]

Keppinger continues to get it done.

[mbgrayson]

EZ flies to right.
Hamilton grounds to second on a 3-1 count.
Keppinger grounds a seeing eye single to right.
Griffey walks.
Phillips K's.

Looked like an easy inning for Vargas, only to have two get on base and end up making him throw a bunch of pitches.

Vargas now at 62 pitches.

Through 2.5 innings; no score.

[OnBaseMachine]

Phillips swung at ball four with Dunn on deck. Bases would have been loaded.

[mbgrayson]

Phillips clearly swung at ball four. He is pressing...he could have walked and brought Dunn up with the sacks juiced....

[Gallen5862]

Nice that Vargas pitch count is high. What about Lizzards?

[mbgrayson]

Johnny Estrada listed at 5' 11" and 210 pounds. He looks to me to be more like 230 or 240....but he does line a single to left.

[Matt700wlw]

shouldn't have been a homer...but it was

[Red in Chicago]

Wow, this inning turned into a disaster all of a sudden

[mbgrayson]

Estrada singles to left.
Hardy grounds a nice 5-4-3 double play.
Vargas grounds a single past EZ's glove into center.
Weeks grounds one off EZ's glove, Phillips picks it up and holds it; infield single.
Gross hits a homer to center off Hamilton's glove.
Fielder K's.

EZ is now at 44 pitches.
After 3 innings, Brewers 3, Reds 0.

All three Brewers that scored hit the ball off a Reds glove...LOL.

[Razor Shines]

Protect your faces when Dunn is up.

[CrackerJack]

n/m

[mbgrayson]

Dunn lines a single that Weeks deflects away with his glove. (That one was hit so hard it coulda killed a guy).
Hatte walks.
Valentin lines to Hardy at short, who doubles Dunn off unassisted.
EE K's; every pitch he swung at was out on the zone according to GameDay(and me).

After 3.5 innings, Brewers 3, Reds 0
Vargas at 79 pitches now.

[PuffyPig]

With a little luck (and some patience from Phillips and EE), we'd have about 8 runs and Vargas would be long gone.

[WVRedsFan]

With a little luck (and some patience from Phillips and EE), we'd have about 8 runs and Vargas would be long gone.

I don't think either of them know patience tonight. And Phillips ever. Put Valentin in that hole too.

[Red in Chicago]

is it really that hard to yield to the person calling for the popup?

[mbgrayson]

EZ flies to left.
Hamilton doubles.
Kepp flies to right, Hamilton to 3rd.
Griffey flies to left.

Vargas has his easiest inning pitch wise; now at 91.
After 4.5, Brew crew 3, Reds 0.

[mbgrayson]

Phillips single to right, then steals second.
Dunn K's swinging.
Hatte lines one to center, Phillips has to stay at 2nd.
Valentin singles to left-center, Phillips scores.
EE lines a single to left.
EZ pulled for Bellhorn...Bellhorn walks.

Pitching change, a lefty, Shouse, in for Vargas.
Hamilton K's swinging after two outside pitches are called strikes (According to GameDay and I)...Very bad umping here!

Now after 5.5 innings, 3 to 1, Brewers.
Vargas at 115 pitches.

Stanton warming in bullpen...EZ is done: he only threw 65 pitches.

[WVRedsFan]

Only 21 following the game thread and only mbgrayson posting. Could it be that folks have lost interest?

[Matt700wlw]

Stop! Stanton time!

[Matt700wlw]

Stanton almost makes his appearance known in quick fashion...

[Kc61]

Would have hit Hopper for Hamilton there. I know some people deny the lefty/lefty thing, but with the sacks full would have gone with the percentages.

[OnBaseMachine]

In other news, Joey Votto has has two homeruns tonight. This coming a night after he hit two last night. Joey now has two consecutive 2-HR games and a total of six homers in a week.

[WVRedsFan]

In other news, Joey Votto has has two homeruns tonight. This coming a night after he hit two last night. Joey now has two consecutive 2-HR games and a total of six homers in a week.

He's not ready yet, and besides. What would you do with fan favorite Scott Hatteberg? I mean, how do you bench him? :D

[WVRedsFan]

Fingers crossed hoping Stanton doesn't leave one up in the zone. At 70 mph, it could be 6-1 in a heartbeat...

[Tom Servo]

Stanton rocks.

[Matt700wlw]

Thank you Mike Stanton. Please pack your bags and go on with your life

[WVRedsFan]

See?

[dougdirt]

Mike Stanton is the suck.

[CTA513]

Make Stanton pitch the rest of the game.

[Ron Madden]

Haven't we seen enough of Mike Stanton?

[WVRedsFan]

For all those worshiping at the feet of Pete Macklanin, keep this in mind. Like Narron, he always goes to Stanton which is sin enough for me to find another manager even though I like him.

What do they see in him? Very poor judgment.

[Red in Chicago]

I picked the wrong night to stop sniffing glue

[CTA513]

Haven't we seen enough of Mike Stanton?

The fans have, but the Reds organization hasn't.

[mbgrayson]

Stanton in for EZ.
Weeks flies to left.
Hart in for Gross, and doubles.
Fielder K's looking on a knee-bending curve.
Braun walked intentionally.
Jenkins hits a monster 3 run HR to dead center.
Hall lines a single the other way to right.
Estrada pops out to 2nd.

Now after 6, Brewers 6, Reds 1.

What time is it? Time to DFA Stanton, he of the 5.93 ERA.

[mbgrayson]

Make Stanton pitch the rest of the game.

You are right...the game is now effectively over.

[jesusfan]

Good job Dunn....

[Red in Chicago]

Good job Dunn....

Well, he has cut down on his k's;)

[Red in Chicago]

javy with his typical lack of patience

[CTA513]

Good job Dunn....

He should have struck out.

[mbgrayson]

Carlos Villaneuva in to pitch for the Crew.

Kepp walks on 4 straight.
Griffey slashes a single to right.
Yost out to see Villaneuva...leaves him in.
Phillips singles to center, Hall dives and short-hops it. Sacks loaded, none out.
Dunn hits two screaming fouls to right, then grounds into a doubleplay, Kepp scores.
Hatte bounces a single through to right, Griffey scores.
Valentin pops to center on 1st pitch.

After 6.5, Brewers 6, Reds 3.

Villaneuva threw 26 pitches that inning; they had him on the ropes and couldn't put him away.
Reds 3 for 12 tonight with RISP.

[Matt700wlw]

Brantley struggling. His voice is shot.

[nate]

Brantley struggling. His voice is shot.

Maybe he's choking?

[mbgrayson]

Majewski in to pitch.
Hardy flies out.
Dillon grounds.
Weeks grounds out.

Nice quick inning for Gary; only 5 pitches.

[mbgrayson]

Turnbow in for the Brewers.

EE K's swinging.
Hopper in to pinch hit, K's swinging (ball dropped, thrown out at 1st)
Hamilton works a walk.
Keppinger flies to right.

Middle of the 8th: still 6 to 3.

[Matt700wlw]

Cueto tonight: Not good.

[corkedbat]

Being only 9 games out I guess we have to go with crafty vets like Stanton and Guardado - it only makes sense!

:bang: :bang: :bang:

[Razor Shines]

You know things aren't going well when your team's pitcher flinches and ducks after every single pitch.

[edabbs44]

Cueto tonight: Not good.

Sympathy start, after seeing what this bullpen looks like yet again.

[mbgrayson]

Everyday Eddie in to pitch.

Hart doubles to left-center; Hamilton ALMOST had him at 2nd.
Fielder doubles to right-center; Hart scores.
Braun singles on a ground ball up the middle, Fielder scores.
Jenkins K's swinging.
Hall lines a single past Kepp to left, Braun stops at 3rd.
Estrada (batting right-handed now) hits a soft liner to Phillips up the middle...nice catch.
Hardy flies to right.

Eddie's fastest pitch was 87 according to GameDay. Most 'fastballs' were 85 to 86. Eddie ended up throwing 29 pitches. He did not look good.

2 runs in, now 8 to 3 Brewers.

Reds lefty reliever's ERA:
Stanton 5.93
Eddie Guardado 21.00
Gosling 4.18
Bray 2.70


In Louisville:
Coutlangus MLB ERA 3.93

[jojo]

I'm sickened by watching Eddie get pounded. It's unwatchable to see him now knowing what a warrior he once was...

[WVRedsFan]

You have to wonder why Bray was ignored tonight. We were close and they bring in Stanton with the inevitable result. then bring in Eddie, who simply is not ready (if he ever will be). The result is giving a game away.

I wonder if Krivsky (as rumored) is demanding Stanton get in so many games and Eddie too?

[WVRedsFan]

I'm sickened by watching Eddie get pounded. It's unwatchable to see him now knowing what a warrior he once was...

Eddie is probably done. and Stanton is too, but we've got another year of him which we will apparently honor. The legacy of Wayne Krivsky is bringing low-grade stew beef to town and selling it as filet minon and then giving the stew beef a LTC.

And like you, I don't like to see anyone struggle like this when they were so good at one time.

[jojo]

Eddie is probably done. and Stanton is too, but we've got another year of him which we will apparently honor. The legacy of Wayne Krivsky is bringing low-grade stew beef to town and selling it as filet minon and then giving the stew beef a LTC.

And like you, I don't like to see anyone struggle like this when they were so good at one time.

Eddie was done before the Reds acquired him last year. I so wished he was going to retire during the off season.

He's one guy that I don't want to remember as the butt of jokes.

[traderumor]

I don't know what you guys are talking about, Guardado's ERA actually went down ;)

[traderumor]

In both of the Reds losses this week, the bullpen should be arrested for arson. They came into perfectly close ballgames and torched the place with their rag arms.

[traderumor]

And I know they have to put someone out there to throw the ball, but there is no good reason that Mike Stanton should be on the mound in anything but a blowout game. In both of the aforementioned games, he was in the middle of things getting out of hand. Eat the contract, Cast.

[KronoRed]

Wayne needs to take the bad options away from Mack.

[mbgrayson]

You have to wonder why Bray was ignored tonight. We were close and they bring in Stanton with the inevitable result. then bring in Eddie, who simply is not ready (if he ever will be). The result is giving a game away.

I wonder if Krivsky (as rumored) is demanding Stanton get in so many games and Eddie too?

I think MacKanin is saving Bray/Burton/Weathers for games where we are ahead or tied, and the others for games we are losing....

[WVRedsFan]

Wayne needs to take the bad options away from Mack.

My accusation, though it will never be admitted nor believed, is that Wayne is giving Mac the order to use these guys. That is, unless I'm completely misjudging Mack. He just seems like a guy who wouldn't continue to put guys in he knows will fail. Looks like Krivsky handiwork to me.

Tonight, Mack used Stanton, Majewski, and Guardado--all Krivsky aquisitions while leaving better relievers in the bullpen. The result was 3 innings where the trio (and to be fair, Gary had a good inning) if 7-hit, 5-run ball (ERA of 15.00). Why? Mack has seen Stanton too many times and Eddie lately. Why would you do that unless you're forced to?

I don't know the answer, but I've got a sneaking suspicion on why.

[Big Klu]

I missed the game tonight because I had to go to a wedding. I set the VCR to record the game; however, it malfunctioned, and I didn't get it. Sounds like I didn't miss much. Evidently the Lizard King pitched OK, though.