Reds vs Pirates 9/3/08

[Red in Chicago]

Reds
Chris Dickerson lf
Jeff Keppinger ss
Brandon Phillips 2b
Joey Votto 1b
Edwin Encarnacion 3b
Jay Bruce rf
Corey Patterson cf
Paul Bako c
Edinson Volquez p

v. RH Ross Ohlendorf

[Degenerate39]

Game thread is alive tonight.

Voltron retires the first two batters

[OnBaseMachine]

Volquez gets two strikeouts and a pop out.

[cumberlandreds]

Game thread is alive tonight.

Voltron retires the first two batters

Apathy is alive and well I'm afraid for all Reds fans.

[cumberlandreds]

It would be nice to see Volquez get to 20 wins. Its been 20 years since the Reds had a 20 game winner,Danny Jackson.

[OnBaseMachine]

Wow. Where was that 2-2 pitch on Doumit? Doesn't matter though as Volquez K'd him one pitch later.

[OnBaseMachine]

LaRoche K's looking. Four K's in 1.2 IP so far.

[OnBaseMachine]

Moss flies out to shallow RF. Two perfect innings from Volquez.

[OnBaseMachine]

The great Ross Ohlendorf is perfect through two.

[OnBaseMachine]

Volquez K's Andy LaRoche on three pitches to begin the third inning. 5 K's.

[OnBaseMachine]

Bixler flies out to RF.

[OnBaseMachine]

Ohlendorf grounds out to Keppinger.

Volquez: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K

[Degenerate39]

Volquez looks very good so far through the first 3 innings.

[Degenerate39]

Volquez also has 35 pitches through 3 innings.

[Degenerate39]

Volquez singles. He's the first baserunner of the game

[OnBaseMachine]

Volquez singles and becomes the first baserunner of the game.

[OnBaseMachine]

Dickerson grounds out on 3-2. No score after three.

[WVRedsFan]

Only offense comes from the pitcher. Volquez allows a double with no one out and you're immediately behind.

[OnBaseMachine]

Volquez was dominant the first three inning and now freaking Morgan doubles and Sanchez singles him in.

[OnBaseMachine]

It seems like Reds pitchers always allow a run after they run the bases the previous inning.

[_Sir_Charles_]

They are really smacking the ball around this inning. Solid contact all over the place. 2-0 buccos.

[OnBaseMachine]

2-0 Pirates after 3 1/2. Those two runs are probably enough for Cy Ohlendorf.

[OnBaseMachine]

Votto homers to make it 2-1 Pirates.

[lollipopcurve]

Phillips looks awful lately. There is no reason to throw him a strike.

[OnBaseMachine]

EdE walk and Bruce doubles to the wall. Second and third with two outs for Patterson.

[OnBaseMachine]

Passed ball scores EdE. Bruce to third. 2-2.

[OnBaseMachine]

2-2 after 4.

[OnBaseMachine]

Volquez: 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 8 K

2-2 after 4 1/2.

[OnBaseMachine]

Paul Bako makes me long for the days of Juan Castro.

[OnBaseMachine]

Dickerson with a long homerun to center! 3-2 Reds.

[Chip R]

Kid has a quick bat.

[OnBaseMachine]

Kid has a quick bat.

Yep. He's very impressive.

Hopefully Volquez can hold this lead and get win #17.

[HumnHilghtFreel]

That was an absolute laser shot. The way the CF was running, you'd think he was chasing down a liner, but it just kept going.

[Tony Cloninger]

I have run out of patience with Keppinger. His injury excuse has run it's course....this guy has turned into Junior Kennedy and needs to be working th bench next year.

[Kc61]

It's not just Dickerson's quick bat.

He waits on the ball exceptionally well. So he doesn't shift his weight too early. Maybe somebody knows how to coach hitting in the Reds system.

[Degenerate39]

I really hope Dickerson can do what he's doing right now next year. I'd love to see him as the starting centerfielder next year.

[lollipopcurve]

Dickerson has a little Bonds in his swing -- relatively small bat, very quick hands and legit power. I don't think I've ever been as surprised at how good a player looks upon entering the league.

[lollipopcurve]

He waits on the ball exceptionally well.

Yes he does.

[OnBaseMachine]

Looks like Volquez is about to cough the lead up. He looked like he had no-hit stuff and command through the first three innings but has struggled since then.

[HokieRed]

Have to agree with Tony C. on Keppinger. I'm hoping Richar plays the rest of the way after the Bats finish.

[OnBaseMachine]

3-3 and Pirates have two on with nobody out. Volquez won't get win #17 tonight.

[Tony Cloninger]

These are the 2 most depressing games to watch......when you consider how terrible this Pirates teams was....coming in here. I figured this would be a great chance for Volquez to rack up a win and for the offense to rake....yet they continue to show a complete loser mentality in their approach to this pitcher.

Take Volquez out.....i mean he hits a batter...hangs a curve and then lays one right down the pipe to the next guy....now a bloop hit? He was done before the inning began and seems to be tiring faster than an Eric Milton meltdown.

People have said they play to the level of their competition......and these last 2 games bear this out.

[OnBaseMachine]

10 K's in 5.2 for Volquez but it's now 4-3 Pirates.

[OnBaseMachine]

Volquez: 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 11 K

He threw four 1-2-3 innings but struggled in the 4th and 6th inning.

[OnBaseMachine]

Votto picks up a one out triple. Hopefully they can get him in and get Volquez off the hook.

[OnBaseMachine]

EdE singles to score Votto. 4-4.

[OnBaseMachine]

Bruce flied out to CF and Patterson bloops a single. First and second with two outs for automatic out Bako.

[lollipopcurve]

That could be the frailest base hit I've ever seen. Patterson strikes.

[OnBaseMachine]

Bako is worthless. I'm not sure I've seen a worse player in my lifetime than Bako.

4-4 after six. No decision for Volquez.

[lollipopcurve]

Volquez at 107 pitches -- there is no way he should be out there. Ridiculous.

[OnBaseMachine]

Volquez has thrown 107 pitches in six innings and Dusty brings him back out for the 7th?!? What?!? Unreal.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Okay, I don't get this one. I haven't been critical of Dusty this season for the most part, but I don't agree with this one. I know he's trying to get a W for Edinson, but the last few innings only lead one to believe he's really leaning towards an L here by going out again.

~edit for clarification~ I don't have a problem with a 120 pitch count...I think that's more realistic than a 100 pitch count. My problem is more of the fact that he's really struggled the past few innings. More of a performance issue than a stamina one IMO.

[Big Klu]

Okay, I don't get this one. I haven't been critical of Dusty this season for the most part, but I don't agree with this one. I know he's trying to get a W for Edinson, but the last few innings only lead one to believe he's really leaning towards an L here by going out again.

Or maybe not. That's the best he's looked all night.

[CTA513]

Why was Morgan trying to bunt when he was at 0-2?

[Chip R]

Volquez has thrown 107 pitches in six innings and Dusty brings him back out for the 7th?!? What?!? Unreal.


This is September, dude. That's how he learns to pitch in a pennant race. As my good friend Hank Aaron told me...

[OnBaseMachine]

Volquez throws a 1-2-3 7th inning with a flyout and 2 K's.

7 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 13 K

The 13 K's are a career high. He threw 117 pitches... no way that should happen with this team 16 games below .500. I believe the future of this rotation is bright unless Dusty continues to pull this crap and ruins the staff.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Nice to see Edinson bounce back with a solid inning, but I really don't think it was a good move by Dusty. Hindsight's 20-20 and all, but he'd been getting smacked around pretty good the past 2 innings.

5 k's in 6 consecutive batters is pretty darned impressive though. New career high of 13 K's for Edinson. Now get him OUT of there.

[OnBaseMachine]

Wilkin Castillo with a pinch hit single, the first hit of his career.

Get him in.

[lollipopcurve]

Volquez should get an extra day before his next start. Go 6-man rotation with Ramirez or whoever. 20 wins means nothing.

[Tony Cloninger]

Brantley thinks a fastball/changeup pitcher is more inclined to handle this many pitches as opposed to one who throws a slider more.........i still am very weary of it and do not feel the need to figure out at this time...if Volquez is the type of pitcher who can handle this workload right now.

[_Sir_Charles_]

1st MLB hit for Castillo (in 2 ab's). Congrats kid.

[Big Klu]

Wilkin Castillo does not look like a catcher.

However, if he can hit a little, I like his versatility off the bench--especially with the limited five-man bench. Does he have any speed? The Pirates seem to be paying attention to him.

[Kc61]

This is September, dude. That's how he learns to pitch in a pennant race. As my good friend Hank Aaron told me...

Go ahead, laugh, but that was a great move by Baker. Volquez was dying to pitch that inning. He felt good. Baker says to Volquez, in effect, I care about your goals, I'll let you pitch the extra frame to help you meet your goal of possibly winning twenty.

That's the way you build a team. It's not all mechanics, pitch counts, and OPS numbers. It's building team spirit and loyalty that makes a young player want to play hard for you.

[Big Klu]

Why was Morgan trying to bunt when he was at 0-2?

Because he lost track of the count.

[reds44]

Wilkin Castillo does not look like a catcher.

However, if he can hit a little, I like his versatility off the bench--especially with the limited five-man bench. Does he have any speed? The Pirates seem to be paying attention to him.
He looks nothing like a catcher at all. He looks like a little CFer or 2nd baseman. He can run, it's one of his best tools.

[OnBaseMachine]

Go ahead, laugh, but that was a great move by Baker. Volquez was dying to pitch that inning. He felt good. Baker says to Volquez, in effect, I care about your goals, I'll let you pitch the extra frame to help you meet your goal of possibly winning twenty.

That's the way you build a team. It's not all mechanics, pitch counts, and OPS numbers. It's building team spirit and loyalty that makes a young player want to play hard for you.

Sorry, but letting your young ace throw 117 pitches in September when the team is awful is far from a great move. I'd like to have him healthy for the long term.

[Tony Cloninger]

Craig Biggio did not look like a catcher either.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Go ahead, laugh, but that was a great move by Baker. Volquez was dying to pitch that inning. He felt good. Baker says to Volquez, in effect, I care about your goals, I'll let you pitch the extra frame to help you meet your goal of possibly winning twenty.

That's the way you build a team. It's not all mechanics, pitch counts, and OPS numbers. It's building team spirit and loyalty that makes a young player want to play hard for you.

I'm not laughing. I agree with that mentality. I only question the fact that he'd been getting hit rather hard the past 2 innings. Of course, he did finish that 6th inning off with 3 straight K's, so that could've been the deciding factor for Dusty. But that late in a game, nothing really on the line, and his recent struggles....Edinson must've really sold Dusty that he was fine. VERY questionable decision though. IMO though, the pitch count wasn't that big of a deal.

[OnBaseMachine]

Keppinger GIDP. I called that one. That's all he does these days.

[Big Klu]

He looks nothing like a catcher at all. He looks like a little CFer or 2nd baseman. He can run, it's one of his best tools.

Sounds a little like Eli Marrero.

Is he a legitimate option as a second or third catcher? Unlike many others on here, I like carrying three catchers, but at least one of them has to be a viable option at other positions. If Castillo can stick as a utility INF/OF and switch-hitter with speed off the bench, he can be very useful.

[LoganBuck]

Jeff Keppinger annoys me greatly.

[Matt700wlw]

No 17 tonight...

[Kc61]

Sorry, but letting your young ace throw 117 pitches when the team is awful is far from a great move. I'd like to have him healthy for the long term.

I'd like to see him healthy too but I stand on my comment.

[reds44]

Jeff Keppinger is exactly the type of player I don't want on the team next year. He does nothing well other then play a lot of positions.

[reds44]

Sounds a little like Eli Marrero.

Is he a legitimate option as a second or third catcher? Unlike many others on here, I like carrying three catchers, but at least one of them has to be a viable option at other positions. If Castillo can stick as a utility INF/OF and switch-hitter with speed off the bench, he can be very useful.
There is no way he could be a ctacher everyday, but like you said if the Reds are going to do the carrying three catchers thing he'd be the guy I'd want as a 3rd stringer.

[Spring~Fields]

Jeff Keppinger annoys me greatly.

Me too, let him have time off and put some young guy into play.

All this time should be is tryouts for young guys that might be with the team anyway.

[LoganBuck]

The lineup that Dusty ran out there tonight has 4 automatic outs, plus Brandon Phillips. How does he expect the team to win? Patterson and Bako are well documented, but Phillips and Keppinger leave me baffled. Do the Adam Dunn haters (who I assume are Phillips and Keppinger fans) not see how many times they screw up? I am moving toward outward disgust at Keppinger. Phillips continues to bat third.

[_Sir_Charles_]

I'd like to see him healthy too but I stand on my comment.

Agreed. I think too many fans place too high a priority on a SPECIFIC pitch count number. 100 pitches and you need to pull your young pitchers. Who says? Who came up with that specific number? Every interview I've read or heard from PITCHERS say 120 is a more appropriate number. I just don't really care for pitch counts overall. They're too generic and don't reflect specific pitchers' strengths/weaknesses/durability/stamina. But hey, I'm no pitching coach. *coughs* I'm not sure Pole is either *cough* :O)

[Matt700wlw]

The comedy of errors begins...

[LoganBuck]

Brantley loves him some Nate McClouth

[OnBaseMachine]

Castillo's strong suit is his catching skills. He's considered a pretty good defensive catcher with a good arm.

[Chip R]

Jeff Keppinger is exactly the type of player I don't want on the team next year. He does nothing well other then play a lot of positions.


There are plenty of guys on the roster who fit that description.

[Spring~Fields]

I am moving toward outward disgust at Keppinger. Phillips continues to bat third.

I started out the season as Phillips my favorite, and I have been disgusted with him for couple months now, I honestly thought that he would become a more intelligent hitter with an improved approach at the plate, wrong. It won’t hurt my feelings one bit if Jocketty deals most of these incomplete baseball players.

[Spring~Fields]

There are plenty of guys on the roster who fit that description.

Amen to that.

[Tony Cloninger]

Again....Craig Biggio......if he could catch.....so could this guy...just not every day.

Sir Charles....I am with you on he pitch count thingy that you speak of.

[Big Klu]

Agreed. I think too many fans place too high a priority on a SPECIFIC pitch count number. 100 pitches and you need to pull your young pitchers. Who says? Who came up with that specific number? Every interview I've read or heard from PITCHERS say 120 is a more appropriate number. I just don't really care for pitch counts overall. They're too generic and don't reflect specific pitchers' strengths/weaknesses/durability/stamina. But hey, I'm no pitching coach. *coughs* I'm not sure Pole is either *cough* :O)

I agree. Sometimes I would like to say to those who preach the magic 100-pitch count, "Why not 80? Or 65? Wouldn't that be better protection for pitchers?" What is so special about 100? If somebody would show me data that something happens to a pitcher's arm at Pitch #100, I would be more than happy to listen. But it seems more like "conventional wisdom" than any hard evidence.

[LoganBuck]

I started out the season as Phillips my favorite, and I have been disgusted with him for couple months now, I honestly thought that he would become a more intelligent hitter with an improved approach at the plate, wrong. It won’t hurt my feelings one bit if Jocketty deals most of these incomplete baseball players.

Phillips is just miscast, imo. He needs to be what he is, a 6th or 7th position hitter. Let his speed, power and defense be what they are, valuable assets. Don't over expose him in high leverage positions in the batting order. Batting he and Keppinger back to back just kills innings. Phillips has gotten lucky in regards to the number of GDP this year. At last count he had gotten off the hook on 5 DPs that infielders had saved in from with errors. I am sure there are more.

[LoganBuck]

Walt Jocketty has got to have a cull list. I am amazed that he hasn't started releasing players.

[OnBaseMachine]

EdE walks with two outs and Bruce follows with a four pitch walk.

[Spring~Fields]

Walt Jocketty has got to have a cull list. I am amazed that he hasn't started releasing players.

Or at least to have sent down orders from headquarters to play Dickerson in CF and to play his two younger catchers that have been called up the rest of the way to see if they might be of some value next year. Gee there is even Cabrera if they wanted a little more offense to play SS or LF, might have been a difference maker tonight, maybe not. How does one ever find out with Patterson and Bako becoming part of the fixtures taking up the playing time and AB after they have been known to be what they are for some time.

I agree that Phillips is miscast.

[Doc. Scott]

Now watch Patterson and his .154 average versus lefties stay in despite multiple right-handed bats on the bench.

---
Never mind, it's PH time! Thank the lord.

[OnBaseMachine]

Cabrera infield single. Bases loaded and two outs for Bako. Nope, Hanigan will pinch hit. Good move.

[Doc. Scott]

Now Hanigan for Bako! Truly my cup runneth over.

[Spring~Fields]

Now Hanigan for Bako! Truly my cup runneth over.

:) That was good, I needed that. :lol:

[OnBaseMachine]

Hanigan walks to drive in a run. I love his patience at the plate. 6-5.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Hanigan shows a good eye and earns a BB....6-5 bucs.

[Doc. Scott]

Hanigan walks to make it 6-5 and now Andy Phillips for the pitcher's spot.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Andy Phillips PH'ing

[OnBaseMachine]

What a terrible 2-1 strike call on Phillips.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Grabow struggling to find the zone. Now would be a VERY good time for patience. Almost hit Phillips there.

[Big Klu]

That 2-1 pitch was outside, and changed the dynamics of A. Phillips' at-bat.

[OnBaseMachine]

Andy Phillips took a 2-1 pitch six inches off the plate for a called strike two and then chased a pitch at his ankles to strikeout. 6-5 Pirates after eight.

[_Sir_Charles_]

What a terrible 2-1 strike call on Phillips.

Agreed. High AND outside. Oh well, whatcha gonna do.

[Spring~Fields]

That 2-1 pitch was outside, and changed the dynamics of A. Phillips' at-bat.

Yes......I said the same thing here at home.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Leadoff single, ANOTHER stolen base, and then a walk. *sigh*

What was that Marty was saying about the Pirates not being a running team? 4 for 5 in SB's this series. Yuck.

[LoganBuck]

More McLouth love. The kid is a nice player, but come on.

[Big Klu]

Yes......I said the same thing here at home.

It totally changed the entire at-bat. As a hitter, there's a HUGE difference between waiting for a 3-1 pitch with two outs and the bases loaded after having watched the pitcher walk the previous batter to force in a run, and waiting for a 2-2 pitch after seeing a pitch six inches off the plate get called for a strike. Andy Phillips figured he had to swing at anything, because he had just seen a terrible pitch get called for a strike.

[mbgrayson]

That Cordero fellow is good.....lol.

[Spring~Fields]

The lineup that Dusty ran out there tonight has 4 automatic outs, plus Brandon Phillips.



Season against right handed pitching
B. Phillips .250 .294 .392 .686
Encarnacion .228 .305 .452 .757
J. Keppinger .224 .263 .281 .545
Paul Bako .210 .294 .283 .577
C. Patterson .207 .243 .357 .600

[Spring~Fields]

It totally changed the entire at-bat. As a hitter, there's a HUGE difference between waiting for a 3-1 pitch with two outs and the bases loaded after having watched the pitcher walk the previous batter to force in a run, and waiting for a 2-2 pitch after seeing a pitch six inches off the plate get called for a strike. Andy Phillips figured he had to swing at anything, because he had just seen a terrible pitch get called for a strike.

I agree, he had to bat defensive after the bad call. The ump basically set him up to fail.

[LoganBuck]

Season against right handed pitching
B. Phillips .250 .294 .392 .686
Encarnacion .228 .305 .452 .757
J. Keppinger .224 .263 .281 .545
Paul Bako .210 .294 .283 .577
C. Patterson .207 .243 .357 .600


My four were Patterson, Bako, Keppinger, and the pitcher. Encarnacion at least has some punch in his bat. But yeah.........

[Spring~Fields]

Final 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Pittsburgh 0 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 6 10 0
Cincinnati 0 0 0 2 1 1 0 1 0 5 9 1


Scoring Summary
Top 4th: Pittsburgh
- F. Sanchez doubled to deep right center, N. Morgan scored

- R. Doumit doubled to deep left center, F. Sanchez scored


Bot 4th: Cincinnati
- J. Votto homered to deep right

- E. Encarnacion scored, J. Bruce to third on passed ball


Bot 5th: Cincinnati
- C. Dickerson homered to deep center


Top 6th: Pittsburgh
- R. Doumit singled to center, F. Sanchez scored, N. McLouth to third

- A. LaRoche singled to right, N. McLouth scored, R. Doumit to second


Bot 6th: Cincinnati
- E. Encarnacion singled to left, J. Votto scored


Top 8th: Pittsburgh
- A. LaRoche singled to right, N. McLouth scored, R. Doumit to third

- A. LaRoche singled to left center, R. Doumit scored, A. LaRoche to second


Bot 8th: Cincinnati
- R. Hanigan walked, E. Encarnacion scored, J. Bruce to third, J. Cabrera to second

Batting Cincinnati
2B - J Bruce (13, R Ohlendorf).

3B - J Votto (2, R Ohlendorf).

HR - J Votto (16, 4th inning off R Ohlendorf 0 on, 2 Out), C Dickerson (6, 5th inning off R Ohlendorf 0 on, 2 Out).

RBI - J Votto (65), C Dickerson (12), E Encarnacion (58), R Hanigan (7).

2-out RBI - J Votto, C Dickerson, R Hanigan.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - A Phillips 2, P Bako 1, C Patterson 1.

GIDP - J Keppinger.

Team LOB - 7.

Fielding
E - J Affeldt (1, throw).

DP - 1 (J Keppinger-B Phillips-J Votto).

Batting Pittsburgh
2B - N Morgan (6, E Volquez); F Sanchez (25, E Volquez); R Doumit (29, E Volquez).

S - N McLouth.

RBI - F Sanchez (48), R Doumit 2 (53), Ad LaRoche 2 (61), An LaRoche (13).

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Michaels 1, An LaRoche 1, B Bixler 1.

GIDP - Ad LaRoche.

Team LOB - 8.

Base Running
SB - N McLouth 2 (17, 2nd base off J Affeldt/P Bako, 2nd base off E Volquez/P Bako), N Morgan (5, 2nd base off F Cordero/R Hanigan).

Fielding
PB - R Doumit.

DP - 1 (F Sanchez-B Bixler-Ad LaRoche).

Pitching


Pittsburgh
R. Ohlendorf 6.0 7 4 3 1 2 2 4.50
T.J. Beam 0.1 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.97
T. Yates 0.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.14 (W, 5-3)
D. Bautista 0.2 0 1 1 1 0 0 4.41 (H, 6)
J. Grabow 0.1 1 0 0 2 1 0 2.98 (H, 13)
M. Capps 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3.38 (S, 19)

Cincinnati
E. Volquez 7.0 6 4 4 1 13 0 3.12
J. Affeldt 0.1 2 2 2 1 1 0 3.71 (L, 1-1)
M. Lincoln 0.2 1 0 0 0 1 0 4.55
F. Cordero 1.0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3.58


WP - J Affeldt.

IBB - B Moss (by E Volquez), R Doumit (by F Cordero).

HBP - F Sanchez (by E Volquez).

Pitches-strikes - R Ohlendorf 90-56; T Beam 6-4; T Yates 3-1; D Bautista 10-4; J Grabow 17-6; M Capps 13-8; E Volquez 117-79; J Affeldt 19-11; M Lincoln 11-8; F Cordero 19-8.

Ground balls-fly balls - R Ohlendorf 10-6; T Beam 0-0; T Yates 2-0; D Bautista 1-1; J Grabow 0-0; M Capps 2-0; E Volquez 2-6; J Affeldt 0-0; M Lincoln 1-0; F Cordero 3-0.

Batters faced - R Ohlendorf 26; T Beam 2; T Yates 1; D Bautista 3; J Grabow 4; M Capps 3; E Volquez 29; J Affeldt 4; M Lincoln 3; F Cordero 5.

Time: 3:16.
Attendance: 18,561

[Spring~Fields]

My four were Patterson, Bako, Keppinger, and the pitcher. Encarnacion at least has some punch in his bat. But yeah.........

Sorry, I thought that I was helping with some support info. :bang:

I forgot about the pitcher :)

Encarncion true .305 .452 .757

[Spring~Fields]

Did that loss make anyone else mad, or am I the only one at my age that can’t take the loss?

I need an icon for steam coming out of the ears. Save everyone time reading me. :(

[WVRedsFan]

Yeah. But I get mad at different things. Like Andy Phillips. Chased two bad pitches in that at-bat. That one call could have been negated with patience. For as much praise that is heaped on him, I don't see a reason for him to be around next year. The Reds need hitters from the right side.

One more thing...why do we keep running Keppinger out there at short? I'd be sharing that spot with some of the kids. The season is over. Why are the Reds so gall-darned infatuated with Volquez winning 20 games? To the point of exhaustion.

Finally, why Patterson always in CF? Automatic out on a team that needs every run and hit it can get.

Pitching lost this game tonight, but those other things didn't help.

[HokieRed]

There are currently two players I'd like to see back and a third candidate: Votto, Bruce, and Dickerson. The rest are completely fungible, IMO. I think they can be replaced by a variety of inhouse or other players. I hope WJ moves Phillips and EE in particular and it should be clear by now that Keppinger is not a regular.

[WVRedsFan]

There are currently two players I'd like to see back and a third candidate: Votto, Bruce, and Dickerson. The rest are completely fungible, IMO. I think they can be replaced by a variety of inhouse or other players. I hope WJ moves Phillips and EE in particular and it should be clear by now that Keppinger is not a regular.

Certainly wouldn't go that far, but it is clear that performance isn't there. Look at the lineup:

Player - AVG - OBP - OPS -
Kepp .262 .312 .660
Phillips .263 .314 .768
Bruce .257 .307 .731
CPatt .199 .233 .571
EdE .252 .338 .817
Bako .204 .279 .594
APhill .203 .314 .584

How can you win with that (I added Andy Phillips because I see no reason for his being on this team along with Bako and Patterson)? Of the starters, this is an anemic club.

Pray for Walt. Although the pitching lost this one, this offense has to be addressed.

[Spring~Fields]

Finally, why Patterson always in CF?

Mulitple Choice

Because the fans love him and pay good money to see him play? :confused:

Because season ticket holders look forward to increased prices and Patterson in center? :dunno:

Because Fox wants to increase advertising revenue and Patterson is a key to getting a higher audience share, and to that success? :dunno: