9/12/07 Redlegs vs Redbirds

[Matt700wlw]

Hamilton cf
Gonzalez ss
Griffey rf
Phillips 2b
Dunn lf
Encarnacion 3b
Votto 1b
Valentin c
Arroyo p

[Ltlabner]

You know....I complained and moaned about having a set line up.

Now we pretty much have one.

I'm not happy that I got what I asked for.

[RedLegSuperStar]

C Trent -

Redbirds
Eckstein ss
Ankiel rf
Pujols 1b
Edmonds cf
Ludwick lf
Molina c
Branyan 3b
Reyes p
Miles 2b

Kirk Saarloos will start for the Reds on Saturday

[RedLegSuperStar]

If LaRussa does leave the Cards after the season.. and ownership does go after him.. I hope he doesn't start batting Arroyo, Harang, and others 8th..

[Matt700wlw]

C Trent -


Kirk Saarloos will start for the Reds on Saturday


:bowrofl: :laugh: :bowrofl:


Oh...wait, you're serious

[Matt700wlw]

If LaRussa does leave the Cards after the season.. and ownership does go after him.. I hope he doesn't start batting Arroyo, Harang, and others 8th..

Unless Jason Ellison or Juan Castro is spot-starting :D

[Matt700wlw]

I guess Eckstein doesn't try to get out of the way of balls that come toward him...

[Heath]

C Trent -

Kirk Saarloos will start for the Reds on Saturday


http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/images/Burn.gif

[KronoRed]

You know....I complained and moaned about having a set line up.

Now we pretty much have one.

I'm not happy that I got what I asked for.

Out macines in the 2 and 4 spots? who doesn't love that? :thumbup:

[VR]

Yadier Molina vs. Reds this year.

.577 BA
.536 OBP
.846 Slugging

[Red in Chicago]

Yadier Molina vs. Reds this year.

.577 BA
.536 OBP
.846 Slugging

sickening, isn't it:rolleyes:

[Falls City Beer]

I'd like to throw Dave Eckstein and Yadier Molina into a woodchipper.

[OnBaseMachine]

C.B. Buckner is a horrible ump.

[oneupper]

C.B. Buckner is a horrible ump.

Buckner making a case for Roboump all by himself.

[Chip R]

C.B. Buckner is a horrible ump.


In other news, the sky is blue.

[VR]

In other news, the sky is blue.

Arroyo has 1 less k than Roy Oswalt this year.

[oneupper]

Welsh invents a new word: "velocitizing"

[Matt700wlw]

Welsh invents a new word: "velocitizing"

Country of origin?

Could you use it in a sentence?

[Matt700wlw]

Bronson gets plunked...

[OnBaseMachine]

First and second and 0 outs against Anthony freakin' Reyes and the Reds don't score. That ain't too good.

[oneupper]

AGon got called on two balls six inches inside...

Frustrated...rolls one over.

[mbgrayson]

Boy would I like to see Keppinger at shortstop tonight. Gonzalez looks very lackluster to me.

He hesitated and didn't run full out at first. Then it looked like he remembered there could be a double play, and tried to hurry to beat the throw, but couldn't by then.

[oneupper]

Boy would I like to see Keppinger at shortstop tonight. Gonzalez looks very lackluster to me.

He hesitated and didn't run full out at first. Then it looked like he remembered there could be a double play, and tried to hurry to beat the throw, but couldn't by then.

You just got your wish....Gonzo appears to be hurt.

[MrCinatit]

Boy would I like to see Keppinger at shortstop tonight. Gonzalez looks very lackluster to me.

He hesitated and didn't run full out at first. Then it looked like he remembered there could be a double play, and tried to hurry to beat the throw, but couldn't by then.

Keppinger in.
Gonzolaz might be hurt - guy is not getting many breaks this year.

[mbgrayson]

You just got your wish....Gonzo appears to be hurt.

I didn't wish for him to be hurt....he did look a little off running to first though. Too bad, he has had a tough year.

[OnBaseMachine]

Griffey, Phillips, or Dunn are going deep this inning. I'm just not sure which one.

[MrCinatit]

Griffey, Phillips, or Dunn are going deep this inning. I'm just not sure which one.



:D

[OnBaseMachine]

Griffey, Phillips, or Dunn are going deep this inning. I'm just not sure which one.

Told ya!

Phillips belts homerun #29.

[Matt700wlw]

:phillips:

:jump:

[Red in Chicago]

Griffey, Phillips, or Dunn are going deep this inning. I'm just not sure which one.

you win a cookie:)

[oneupper]

Griffey, Phillips, or Dunn are going deep this inning. I'm just not sure which one.

Nice call.

[Red in Chicago]

Someone will win this game tonight, I'm just not sure who:p:

[OnBaseMachine]

93rd walk for Dunn.

[Matt700wlw]

:ede:

:jump:

[OnBaseMachine]

EdE belts an upper-decker!

[oneupper]

EdE belts an upper-decker!

CRUSHED

[oneupper]

Reyes out. Tyler Johnson in.

[Red in Chicago]

Unfortunately, mighty mouse eckstein made a nice over the shoulder catch on Bronson

[oneupper]

Votto with some range to his right. Don't think Hatte ventures that far.

[SteelSD]

Y'know, Encarnacion is making his way toward another .800 OPS season. I like him. I don't want to trade him.

But knowing that Minnesota has been running out Nick Punto at 3B this year to the tune of a .198 BA/.286 OPB/.254 SLG, I look at their roster and see the names "Kevin Slowey" and "Scott Baker".

And my brain starts churning with offseason trade scenarios...

[Matt700wlw]

Hamilton limping....

[OnBaseMachine]

Y'know, Encarnacion is making his way toward another .800 OPS season. I like him. I don't want to trade him.

But knowing that Minnesota has been running out Nick Punto at 3B this year to the tune of a .198 BA/.286 OPB/.254 SLG, I look at their roster and see the names "Kevin Slowey" and "Scott Baker".

And my brain starts churning with offseason trade scenarios...

I feel the same way. I like Edwin Encarnacion a whole lot and would love to see him remain a Cincinnati Red. However, if the Twins were to offer up Matt Garza straight up or Slowey AND Baker for EdE, I pull the trigger on the deal. But not for Slowey or Baker straight up. And then I put Todd Frazier on the fast track.

[OnBaseMachine]

Bronson threw some chin music to Pujols. I love it.

[OnBaseMachine]

Arroyo throws a 0-2 fastball right down the middle and Edmonds lines it into CF for a single.

[oneupper]

Bronson threw some chin music to Pujols. I love it.

Arroyo also went in standing up to break up a DP...

[oneupper]

Arroyo up to 91 pitches. 3-1 REDS.

[oneupper]

Phillips swipes second. Now just one HR away from 30/30

[OnBaseMachine]

Dunn ropes a single to RF, Phillips holds at 3rd.

[OnBaseMachine]

Edwin singles, 4-1 Reds. Dunn moves to 2nd.

[mbgrayson]

Mission Impossible?

"Pete MacKanin, your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to get Bronson Arroyo out of the game BEFORE pitch #105. Should any bullpen member be shelled or blow the game, WK will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds."

[OnBaseMachine]

Valentin drives in Dunn on a single to left. Two runs scored tonight by Dunn give him 97 on the season.

[oneupper]

Mackanin started the runners with Javy on a full count and one out. :eek::eek:

[oneupper]

Mackanin hits for Arroyo. Nice move. No need to stretch him at this point in the season.

[Matt700wlw]

Branyan with evidence of roid rage snaps the bat over his knee...

;)

[oneupper]

Stanton out. Majewski in. Reds holding speed BP tryouts tonight.

[oneupper]

Mission Impossible?

"Pete MacKanin, your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to get Bronson Arroyo out of the game BEFORE pitch #105. Should any bullpen member be shelled or blow the game, WK will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds."

Accomplished. And LaRussa didn't get a shot at Arroyo (after Bronson brushed Pujols back). :D

[oneupper]

Majic gets two grounders. One is a hit, one is a DP.

[mbgrayson]

After 7,
Reds 5, Cards 1.

Burton in to pitch.

[oneupper]

Ankiel 2 for 22 since being outed for HGH.

[oneupper]

Pujols out at the track. Lacking a little "boost" perhaps?

[SteelSD]

I feel the same way. I like Edwin Encarnacion a whole lot and would love to see him remain a Cincinnati Red. However, if the Twins were to offer up Matt Garza straight up or Slowey AND Baker for EdE, I pull the trigger on the deal. But not for Slowey or Baker straight up.

Well, I'd like Slowey or Baker and something else but a Slowey/Baker combo is, IMHO, asking for a bit much. Too bad Jesse Crain turned up so lame. Boof Bonser would be pretty interesting if he projected to keep his HR rate down. But he doesn't. Sigh. But there is Glen Perkins. Hmn... I also wouldn't mind the inclusion of Anthony Swarzak in that deal.

And don't even get me started on a sign-and-trade option including Hatteberg or an addition of Alex Gonzalez if the Twins were to include Jason Bartlett. Double ditto on that if the Reds could grab Joe Nathan in his walk year...and even if it's only for his walk year.

Man, is the Twins' offense offensive. They have exactly two players who've produced as many as 10 Runs Above Position (Hunter- 13.6, Mauer- 15.0). They've got pretty much nothing in the pipeline to enhance the offense due to poor recent drafts (go figure) but they do have pitching to swap for it.

[OnBaseMachine]

Burton never gets any close calls go his way.

[M2]

Burton never gets any close calls go his way.

He could use one of them electronically-monitored strike zones.

[oneupper]

Nice inning by Burton, balk and all.

[OnBaseMachine]

Nice inning by Burton, balk and all.

We've been saying that a lot lately, minus the balk.

[CTA513]

Burton never gets any close calls go his way.

That 2-2 pitch to Edmonds was closer to being a strike than that called strike 3 to Votto earlier in the game.

[oneupper]

Dunn rung up on a pitch high and outside.

[OnBaseMachine]

C.B. Buckner again shows wh he is constantly voted the worst umpire in baseball. That 3-2 pitch to Dunn was shoulder height. What a terrible call.

Questec please.

[SteelSD]

Valentin drives in Dunn on a single to left. Two runs scored tonight by Dunn give him 97 on the season.

And lost in this awful season is the fact that Adam Dunn has now produced four consecutive 100+ Runs Created seasons. He is the only Reds player since Frank Robinson to do that prior to the age of 30.

[CTA513]

How was that a strike 3 to Dunn when the pitch to Edmonds was even better than that?

[flyer85]

Burton never gets any close calls go his way.
the pitch CB rung up Dunn on was 4-5 inches outside of the ball he called on Edmonds.

[remdog]

So do we have a roboump for checked swings?

Rem

[oneupper]

EdE rung up on a checked swing.

[oneupper]

Votto swings at an awful pitch.

[remdog]

That's the first time I've seen Votto look that bad.

Rem

[mth123]

Well, I'd like Slowey or Baker and something else but a Slowey/Baker combo is, IMHO, asking for a bit much. Too bad Jesse Crain turned up so lame. Boof Bonser would be pretty interesting if he projected to keep his HR rate down. But he doesn't. Sigh. But there is Glen Perkins. Hmn... I also wouldn't mind the inclusion of Anthony Swarzak in that deal.

And don't even get me started on a sign-and-trade option including Hatteberg or an addition of Alex Gonzalez if the Twins were to include Jason Bartlett. Double ditto on that if the Reds could grab Joe Nathan in his walk year...and even if it's only for his walk year.

Man, is the Twins' offense offensive. They have exactly two players who've produced as many as 10 Runs Above Position (Hunter- 13.6, Mauer- 15.0). They've got pretty much nothing in the pipeline to enhance the offense due to poor recent drafts (go figure) but they do have pitching to swap for it.

I'd be all for EdE for Slowey and Swarzak. Its the kind of deal that needs to be made. I just don't see much pitching coming back for the high dollar guys.

[oneupper]

TOBTTR.

Series Win.

Harang tomorrow for the sweep!

[OnBaseMachine]

Votto swings at an awful pitch.

CB would have called it a strike anyway.

[mbgrayson]

Ankiel 2 for 22 since being outed for HGH.

On Friday morning September 7th, the NY Daily News broke the story on Rick Ankiel of the Cardinals getting a 1 year supply of HGH through a Florida drug store in 2004, the year before the substance was banned.

Since that time, the Cardinals are 0-6.

Rick Ankiel is 2 for 22, both singles, since the allegations came out. Fans in Cincinnati and Chicago have reportedly been yelling "HGH, HGH" when Ankiel comes up for bat.

My take on it: Ankiel’s problems have distracted the Cardinals and Ankiel from their pursuit of the NL Central crown.

[oneupper]

My take on it: Ankiel’s problems have distracted the Cardinals and Ankiel from their pursuit of the NL Central crown.

A convenient excuse. Their starting pitching has sucked pretty bad also.

[edabbs44]

I'd be all for EdE for Slowey and Swarzak. Its the kind of deal that needs to be made. I just don't see much pitching coming back for the high dollar guys.

That's a lot to ask. One of those guys (or Baker) would probably be enough.

[M2]

My take on it: Ankiel’s problems have distracted the Cardinals and Ankiel from their pursuit of the NL Central crown.

Agreed. The Birds were playing dominant baseball just over a week ago and now they look like someone keeps punching them in the stomach.

[mth123]

That's a lot to ask. One of those guys (or Baker) would probably be enough.

You're probably right, but EdE is an established 3B now and since he's still cheap he should get more than just a prospect. Maybe EdE for Baker is fair, but since Slowey could still be a bust, I think the team should get some type of "kicker." You're probably right that Swarzak is too much.

[SteelSD]

I'd be all for EdE for Slowey and Swarzak. Its the kind of deal that needs to be made. I just don't see much pitching coming back for the high dollar guys.

Agreed. The Reds are desperate for pitching and the Twins, at this point, should be desperate for offense.

[Falls City Beer]

Agreed. The Reds are desperate for pitching and the Twins, at this point, should be desperate for offense.

The Twins should have been desperate for offense all season long.

And just as I predicted, no postseason for them. Santana's gone soon. The bloom may well be off the Twins' rose before long.

A nice, but somewhat unexceptional, run, if that's the case. A run scuttled by inaction, as so many teams discover after it's too late.

My guess is that even with Wayne's connections to Minny, Ryan won't deal any pitching. Not even for a significant offensive upgrade at a premium position.

[PuffyPig]

Agreed. The Birds were playing dominant baseball just over a week ago and now they look like someone keeps punching them in the stomach.


Not much different than the Reds. Sometimes we look great, othertimes very bad.

The Cards don't have a very good team. Their starters are putrid, absolutely rubish. Other than wainwright.

They aren't capable of playing well for extented streaks.You can't when you are running out guys like Reyes/Pineiro/Mulder/Maroth/Looper on a consistent basis.

[dabvu2498]

Out macines in the 2 and 4 spots? who doesn't love that? :thumbup:

You know. I've been reading this all summer long.

Did a little research and found something interesting.

Here's where Red's #2 hitters, collectively rank in the National League:

OPS (3rd)
SLG (4th)
OBP (3rd)
BA (2nd)
Runs (t-2nd)
Hits (2nd)
HR (4th)

[SunDeck]

TOBTTR.

Series Win.

Harang tomorrow for the sweep!

I don't care how bad the Cards are right now, it's sweet to see the Reds take a series from them. A sweep would would be outstanding.

[redsmetz]

You know. I've been reading this all summer long.

Did a little research and found something interesting.

Here's where Red's #2 hitters, collectively rank in the National League:

OPS (3rd)
SLG (4th)
OBP (3rd)
BA (2nd)
Runs (t-2nd)
Hits (2nd)
HR (4th)

There you go, letting facts getting in the way of entrenched perceptions. Of course, the truth is, even the best hitters are "out machines" - the very best ever still failed 60% of the time.

[BRM]

You know. I've been reading this all summer long.

Did a little research and found something interesting.

Here's where Red's #2 hitters, collectively rank in the National League:

OPS (3rd)
SLG (4th)
OBP (3rd)
BA (2nd)
Runs (t-2nd)
Hits (2nd)
HR (4th)

The bulk of those at-bats have went to Phillips and Keppinger. That certainly helps. Looking at the splits for Gonzalez shows he's raked in the 2 hole this year as well. I still wouldn't expect him to continue that trend for very long though.

[BRM]

There you go, letting facts getting in the way of entrenched perceptions. Of course, the truth is, even the best hitters are "out machines" - the very best ever still failed 60% of the time.

Alex Gonzalez is a big-time out machine. That's not perception, that's reality. Granted, he has hit pretty well in the #2 slot so far but I really wouldn't count on him continuing to hit at that pace.

[dabvu2498]

There you go, letting facts getting in the way of entrenched perceptions. Of course, the truth is, even the best hitters are "out machines" - the very best ever still failed 60% of the time.

For the record, here are the rankings in the NL for Reds #4 hitters:

OPS (9th)
SLG (7th)
OBP (12th)
BA (8th)
Runs (5th)
Hits (6th)
HR (5th)
RBI (7th)

Not so great.

[BRM]

For the record, here are the rankings in the NL for Reds #4 hitters:

OPS (9th)
SLG (7th)
OBP (12th)
BA (8th)
Runs (5th)
Hits (6th)
HR (5th)
RBI (7th)

Not so great.

The bulk of those at-bats have gone to Brandon Phillips with Jeff Conine a distant second. That OBP is atrocius.

[dabvu2498]

The bulk of those at-bats have gone to Brandon Phillips with Jeff Conine a distant second. That OBP is atrocius.

Phillips - 70 starts in 4th spot
Conine - 28
Dunn - 22

Reds OBP by lineup position (rank in NL)
1st - .364 (3rd)
2nd - .362 (3rd)
3rd - .370 (10th) -- .370 looks nice, but relative to the rest of the league, not all that good
4th - .345 (12th)
5th - .355 (6th)
6th - .345 (8th)
7th - .343 (3rd)
8th - .289 (15th) -- Ugh
9th - .215 (14th) -- Ugh

[dabvu2498]

Same exercise, but with OPS:

1st - .819 (5th)
2nd - .834 (3rd)
3rd - .880 (8th)
4th - .839 (9th)
5th - .796 (7th)
6th - .797 (7th)
7th - .795 (3rd)
8th - .706 (8th)
9th - .454 (13th)

[redsmetz]

One last observation about last nights game, which my wife and two of our kids went to. What a lovely night for a ballgame. I hadn't really guessed the attendance, but was shocked after the game when they announced it as just over 16,000. Ouch! I know it was a school night, and I'd be interested in seeing historical data for Septembers, but wow, that's a small turnout. I commented to someone around me that, in some ways, Castellini selling half price tickets last year looks a bit wise now - they would have been better off selling another 5,000 plus tickets at half price and putting some more fannies in the seats.

All in all, it was a nice game. I thought Arroyo pitched well and I liked what I saw from the relievers. I was surprised to look at the box score this a.m. and see we walked no one. Very nice.