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View Full Version : 3/26/09 Reds vs Twins



OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 01:25 PM
Don't forget that tonight's game is on TV, channel 668 on DirecTV.

Twins:

Denard Span cf

Alexi Casilla 2b

Brendan Harris 3b

Justin Morneau 1b

Michael Cuddyer rf

Delmon Young lf

Mike Redmond c

Nick Puto ss

Nick Blackburn p

Reds:

Willy Taveras cf

Jeff Hairston Jr. ss

Joey Votto 1b

Jay Bruce rf

Jeff Keppinger 3b

Chris Dickerson lf

Ramon Hernandez c

Micah Owings p

Fay left out the second baseman. I'm guessing Phillips is playing second and batting fourth.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 07:12 PM
Dickerson just made a great throw to nail a runner at the plate. No score after a 1/2 inning.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:18 PM
It was insane that they sent that guy. He was out by 30 feet.

K looking by Taveras. Lazy pop out by Hairston.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:22 PM
Weak check swing ground out from Votto.

Three weak to ugly at-bats from the Reds in the first.

Delmon Young with a single to start the 2nd. Owings getting hit fairly stoutly to start the game.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 07:26 PM
What the heck was Taveras doing there? A routine pop fly to center and Taveras pulls up and forces Phillips to attempt to make the over the shoulder catch. Runners on first and second and nobody out. That is the center fielders ball.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:26 PM
Silly play by Phillips there to try the over-the-shoulder catch. Taveras and/or Bruce was there and should have called him off. Phillips drops it, and runners are on first and second with no outs rather than one out runner on first.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:27 PM
That 2-2 pitch sure looked like a strike. Guess not.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:27 PM
Good gravy, Owing just got squeezed again on the 3-2. Tough call for ball four.

Bases loaded, no outs.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 07:28 PM
Owings is falling behind everyone tonight, though that last pitch should have been strike three. I guess its spring training for umps too.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:28 PM
Supposedly Nick Blackburn is under orders not to swing, so this ought to be a K.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:29 PM
K. Blackburn is no Owings with the bat in hand.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:30 PM
Nice stop by Ramon H. of a ball in the dirt. Very nice.

Owings still can't find the plate.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:31 PM
At 3-0 on Spann, Owings throws two fastballs for strikes to run the count full...

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:32 PM
Ack. Another pitch that looked AWFULLY good, but apparently was off the plate to the outside.

Bases loaded walk, 1-0 Twins.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:33 PM
Owings then gets a soft line drive to SS that turns into an easy inning-ending DP.

1-0 Twins.

7 baserunners through two innings. One run.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 07:33 PM
Owings usually has pretty good control but he's been wild at times tonight. He's also had a couple close 3-2 pitches go against him.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:35 PM
He definitely isn't sharp, but he has also been squeezed.

It's always a chicken/egg question for me when that starts to happen. Is the ump squeezing him because he isn't sharp? Or does he not look sharp because he is getting squeezed?

Caveat Emperor
03-26-2009, 07:38 PM
He definitely isn't sharp, but he has also been squeezed.

It's always a chicken/egg question for me when that starts to happen. Is the ump squeezing him because he isn't sharp? Or does he not look sharp because he is getting squeezed?

Usually the response to getting squeezed is a tendency to overthrow -- which leads to less accuracy.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:39 PM
Blackburn is pumping strikes, at any rate.

And the Reds are not hitting them.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:39 PM
Phillips ground out.

Bruce ground out.

Kepp ground out.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 07:40 PM
Keppinger grounds out weakly to shortstop. I think he's did that in every atbat I've seen of his this spring.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:42 PM
Pop out to start the Twins third.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:44 PM
Owings settling in now, a second quick out. Starting to pound the strike zone more consistently.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:45 PM
And, I jinxed him. A two-out walk.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:46 PM
Deeeeepppp flyball out to LF, caught by Dickerson against the wall, ends the inning.

1-0 Twins middle of three.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:49 PM
Dickerson grounds out to 1b, nice soft hands on a tricky hop by Morneau to field it and get the out.

Hernandez up.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 07:50 PM
Hernandez crushes a homer. 1-1.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:50 PM
Hernandez crushes a home run to Left Center.

1-1 game.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 07:50 PM
Owings breaks his bat and doubles.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:51 PM
Absolutely legit power by Ramon. Yeesh. That will play well in GABP.

Owings doubles down the left field line.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:53 PM
Willy T singles into Left Center, Owings scores.

2-1 Reds.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:53 PM
The Twins TV announcers, who were slagging on Owings for his pitch count while heaping praise on Blackburn half an inning ago, have changed their tune...

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:54 PM
Taveras thrown out trying to steal. Twins picked a nice time to pitch out.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:55 PM
Hairston flies out to CF.

2-1 Reds after three.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 07:55 PM
Taveras thrown out trying to steal. Twins picked a nice time to pitch out.

He was safe. They pitched out and he still beat the throw but the ump called him out.

membengal
03-26-2009, 07:56 PM
Yeah, but you see that more often than not, ump is influenced by the pitch out and close plays to go the defense.

Taveras did at least make it very close.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:01 PM
Pop quiz:

I am picking my fourth selection of five for my minors spots in a keeper league. A good number of the very top prospects are already locked up. My current minors keepers are Brett Anderson, Chris Tillman, and Michael Inoa. Anderson and Tillman were left over from last year, Inoa was my first of three selections for my minors roster for this year.

So, who should I select for my next pick from Greg Halman, JP Arenciba, Mat Gamel, and Michael Taylor?

Twins have lead-off guy on.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:02 PM
Basehit to RF puts runners at first and third with no outs.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:04 PM
Nick Blackburn, he's not good at the plate. Strikes out trying to bunt.

One out, still runners at 1st and third.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:07 PM
Denard Spann getting mad respect from the ump, another close pitch called a ball.

Bases loaded, one out.

Owing REALLY not sharp tonite.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 08:08 PM
Pop quiz:

I am picking my fourth selection of five for my minors spots in a keeper league. A good number of the very top prospects are already locked up. My current minors keepers are Brett Anderson, Chris Tillman, and Michael Inoa. Anderson and Tillman were left over from last year, Inoa was my first of three selections for my minors roster for this year.

So, who should I select for my next pick from Greg Halman, JP Arenciba, Mat Gamel, and Michael Taylor?

Twins have lead-off guy on.

I like Taylor a lot. Halman is toolsy but very raw. Gamel is the closest to the majors... I'd probably pick Taylor.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:08 PM
Grounder to 1b, votto comes home for the force.

Two outs, bases still loaded. Reds still up 2-1.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:09 PM
You're buying Taylor's breakout after his lost years at Stanford as legit?

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:10 PM
Owings gets a ground out from Brendan Harris, escapes trouble again.

2-1 Reds up middle of four.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:13 PM
Votto flies to CF to start the 4th.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 08:14 PM
You're buying Taylor's breakout after his lost years at Stanford as legit?

Yeah. I like his bat a lot.

btw, check your PM's in a minute. I'll send ya something that may help ya with your pick.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:16 PM
Phillips pops out to 1b. Two outs.

I think I will go with Taylor...

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:17 PM
Bruce grounds out.

Thank goodness for the powerful end of the Reds line-up with Hernandez/Owings and back up to Taveras.

2-1 Reds lead after four.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:20 PM
Thanks for the PM, obm.

I will def throw in with Taylor. His size and power, if he develops, would play nicely in Citizen's.

Danny Herrera on for Cincy now.

Caveat Emperor
03-26-2009, 08:20 PM
Owings battled, got the job done with his bat.

All things considered, a good showing.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:21 PM
NASTY change-up from Herrera. Goodness.

Strikeout for the first out.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 08:21 PM
Herrera just made Morneau look foolish. He is fun to watch on the mound.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:22 PM
Agreed, C.E. Owings by hook or crook, kept runs off the board, and his bat helped them to the lead, a fine example of why he is the leader for the 5th spot in the rotation.

Fly ball to CF for second out.

I continue to love to watch Herrera pitch.

The screwball he throws is absolutely delightful to watch.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:23 PM
Goodbye to Delmon Young on a K.

Morneau and Young both Kd that inning.

Herrera looks great, everytime I see him.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 08:23 PM
And now he makes Young look bad. 2 K's and a flyout for Herrera.

nate
03-26-2009, 08:23 PM
I want to call him "Dr. H" (based on his initials: DRH).

Dr. H's last pitch for the strikeout looked like something out of a cartoon.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 08:25 PM
Keppinger singles to CF.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:28 PM
Nice to see Kepp get a hit.

I cannot underscore to all of you who cannot see this enough how ridiculously fun it is to watch Herrera spin that junk up there.

Remember vintage Doug Jones? Slow, slower, slowest? Infuriating to watch him shut your team down? Herrera will be that infuriating to opposing teams...

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:31 PM
Dickerson on base (ground single), runners at 1st and 2nd, no outs.

Ramon H up.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 08:31 PM
This ump has a tight zone. Dickerson just took a 2-2 fastball right down the middle at the knees and the ump called it a ball. Next pitch he singled to right. At least he's consistent.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:33 PM
Ramon H takes a called strike three, inside part of the plate.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:34 PM
Reds send Nix up to pinch hit for Herrera.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:35 PM
Jesse Crain inordinantly interested in keeping Kepp close at 2b.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:36 PM
Nix nice pinch hit single to the opposite field, Young misplays ball in LF, Kepp scores.

3-1 Reds.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:37 PM
I continue to advocate that Nix make this team head of Jones. Well ahead of him.

Taveras up, runners on 2nd and 3rd.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 08:38 PM
I continue to advocate that Nix make this team head of Jones. Well ahead of him.


Agreed.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:39 PM
Good at-bat from Willy T, working a walk to load the bases.

Hairston up, one out, sacks full.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 08:41 PM
btw, Herrera has now retired 19 of the 20 batters he's faced this spring.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:42 PM
Hairston bloops a single into LF along the line, two score.

5-1 Reds.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:43 PM
btw, Herrera has now retired 19 of the 20 batters he's faced this spring.


Why could HE not fill the 12th spot in the pen, exactly?

HokieRed
03-26-2009, 08:44 PM
Bray down, Herrera up. If performance counts, I don't see how you avoid that conclusion.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:46 PM
How about both stay up? Three lefties would be fine by me...

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:47 PM
Votto lines hard to CF, call caught, but Taveras tags up and scores easily on the Sac Fly.

6-1 Reds.

Jesse Crain getting pulled.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:51 PM
Phillips chops out to 2b, inning over.

After 5, Reds up 6-1.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:54 PM
Mike Lincoln on for the Reds in the 6th.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:55 PM
Nice easy ground out to SS to start the inning. One down.

Lincoln's curveball is sharp.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:57 PM
K looking for Lincoln against Punto for out number two in the sixth. Good stuff in general from him tonite, that was a fastball on the inside corner at the knees.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:58 PM
Pops up Jason Kubel, Votto showing good fundamentals, calls everyone off by the pitcher's mound.

Three up, three down. Solid work from Lincoln.

6-1 Reds middle of 6.

membengal
03-26-2009, 08:59 PM
Finally, the execrable Pitt/Purdue game switched away from those of us stuck with it in Memphis, X/Pitt now on, X up 41-40, approaching halfway point of 2nd period.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:00 PM
Joe Nathan on to pitch the bottom of the 6th for Minny. Bruce up against one of baseball's top closers.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:01 PM
Bruce Ks.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:02 PM
The Twins TV guys are interviewing Morneau, and he is shaking his head over how silly Herrera made him look. Quoth the Morneau:


"I saw him warming up, but I didn't realize how slow it was..."

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:03 PM
Kepp ground out to SS for out number two.

Dickerson up against Nathan.

11larkin11
03-26-2009, 09:04 PM
Kepp ground out to SS for out number two.

Dickerson up against Nathan.

Seriously, how many times is that gonna happen?

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:05 PM
Dickerson Ks. Thrown out in a close play at 1b after the ball gets through Redmond.

6-1 Reds after six.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 09:06 PM
Dickerson Ks. Thrown out in a close play at 1b after the ball gets through Redmond.

6-1 Reds after six.

That was Jacque Jones.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:07 PM
Oh.

Seriously?

Again?

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:08 PM
Jacque Jones, he's not at ALL a help right now. That was an awful at-bat.

David Weathers on for Cincy.

Ground out to SS for first Twins out.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:10 PM
Missed how the second out happened. I have to stop flipping over to BB, I am jinxing X every time I do.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:11 PM
Weathers gets a K for the third out of the inning.

Still 6-1 Reds middle of 7.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:14 PM
Luis Ayala on for Minny now.

Ryan Hanigan up for the Reds, hitting for Ramon H.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:16 PM
Hanigan pops out.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:17 PM
Jonny Gomes at-bat.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:19 PM
Good eye from Gomes against the RHer, works a walk.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:20 PM
Hopper grounds out to 2b on the first pitch he sees, Gomes moves to 2b.

Janish up.

Anyone remotely close to being a regular in the clubhouse watching X/Pitt I would presume...

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:22 PM
Ump badly wants to go home, rings Janish up on a pitch high and outside.

Janish close to irate, demonstrably reacts to the call.

6-1 Reds after 7.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:24 PM
Cordero on to pitch. Paying close attention now.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:26 PM
0-2 count, now 2-2. Cordero's stuff looks plenty lively, but you can see he is still trying to find his release point and command.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:26 PM
Loses lead-off guy on two breaking balls off the plate for a walk.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:27 PM
His fastball is being clocked on the Minny TV gun at around 94. His breaking ball is really not close to being thrown for a strike.

Cuddyer singles to RF, runners at 1st and 2nd, no outs.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:29 PM
Cordero pumping fastballs now, between 93 and 95 on the TV gun.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:31 PM
Back-up C Morales, trying to make club in light of Mauer's delayed launch to the season, fouling balls off.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:31 PM
Still fouling pitches off.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:32 PM
And still fouling pitches off.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:32 PM
And another foul souvenir.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:33 PM
A breaking ball from Cordero was in the strike zone. That's the good news. It was fouled off. That's the bad news.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:34 PM
Good hard breaking ball in the dirt finally gets the K.

Runner moves up to third on the strikout as Hanigan had the ball kick away from him a bit.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:34 PM
Flyball to left-center gets runner on third home.

Two outs, runner on first base. 6-2 Reds.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:36 PM
Cordero still not able to throw his breaking ball for strikes, ends up walking next hitter on five pitches.

First and second, two outs.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:37 PM
Ball. Ball.

Lots of balls.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:38 PM
Time called. Ump may have swallowed some sort of bug. Ump going for some water.

Hanigan can perhaps take the break in action to draw a map to the strike zone for Cordero...

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:40 PM
There's a K. A breaking ball no less. What is left of the crowd gives it the exaggerated cheer. Another strike. Hanigan's map must have worked. 2-2 count.

Unfortunately, 2-2 pitch ground to 1b, booted by Rosales, recovers, but flips the ball over Cordero's head for an easy E-3. First and third, two outs, 6-3 Reds.

Dusty lifts Cordero.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:41 PM
Pedro Viola on the mound for Cincy.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:43 PM
Viola comes in pumping strikes, nice to see.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:44 PM
Nasty 0-2 fastball, apparently just high. Came in at 94 with movement.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:44 PM
Sadly, a 1-2 breaking ball hung out over the plate, single to RF results.

6-4 Reds, Twins runners on first and second, still two outs in a now very long inning.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:45 PM
Really good live fastball from Viola. Gracious. Throw more of that, young fella.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:46 PM
0-2 count on two nasty fastballs, the second of which was chased way up and out of the zone.

A third fastball, that apparently was not a strike because this ump is schizo, makes it a 1-2 count.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:47 PM
Next two pitches out of zone, running count full...

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:47 PM
More cheese, gets the swinging K, ends the inning.

6-4 Reds middle of 8.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:51 PM
Rosales, up and trying to atone for his error, flies out. No atonement for him on this evening.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:52 PM
Wilkin Castillo up for Cincy, ground an 0-2 pitch into lf for a hit.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:53 PM
Todd Frazier up for the Reds now.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:55 PM
Fraizer battling, count 1-2, fouling a few off.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:56 PM
Real nice at-bat for Frazier, goes the opposite way for a ground-rule double to dead right field. Ball bounced once on the track and over the wall.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:56 PM
Darnell McDonald now up for Cincy, runners on 2nd and 3rd, one out.

membengal
03-26-2009, 09:58 PM
McDonald grounds to 3b, Castillo caught off bag and out at home. McDonald moves up to 2nd, so still runners on 2nd and 3rd, but now two outs.

Jacque Jones, 0 for 1, w/ a K on the night, now up.

membengal
03-26-2009, 10:01 PM
On a 3-2 pitch, Jones takes a called strike three.

Oof.

membengal
03-26-2009, 10:01 PM
6-4 Reds after 8.

membengal
03-26-2009, 10:03 PM
Josh Roenicke in to try and close the game out.

_Sir_Charles_
03-26-2009, 10:04 PM
I don't care HOW many times I see that MLB '09 commercial with Dustin Pedroia asking to fix the game....I laugh my tuckus off every time. :O) "apart from you?....." Just classic.

membengal
03-26-2009, 10:04 PM
First pitch chopped to 3b for an easy out.

One away.

membengal
03-26-2009, 10:05 PM
Another nice easy power arm for Cincinnati. An easy motion 94 mph popping up on the Twins' TV gun.

membengal
03-26-2009, 10:05 PM
Easy ground ball to 1b for out number two.

_Sir_Charles_
03-26-2009, 10:06 PM
I really like Roenicke's stuff. I think he'll be the real deal and a solid closer in the next couple of years.

membengal
03-26-2009, 10:07 PM
The several hundred fans who are left are eager for the promised fireworks display after the game. A chant of "let's go fireworks" is heard.

A triple from #73 for the Twins prolongs the game.

Nice effort from Jacque Jones to try and make a spectacular catch in deep left center, his dive couldn't quite get there. That ball was tagged...

membengal
03-26-2009, 10:07 PM
96 on that last pitch according to the Twins TV gun. Roenicke is a BIG dude.

membengal
03-26-2009, 10:08 PM
Ground ball to 3b ends the game.

Reds win 6-4.

Hope the reading was pleasant.

Have a good evening.

_Sir_Charles_
03-26-2009, 10:09 PM
Thanks membengal. Entertaining as always.

SirFelixCat
03-26-2009, 10:55 PM
Ground ball to 3b ends the game.

Reds win 6-4.

Hope the reading was pleasant.

Have a good evening.

Hell, I watched the game and enjoyed the pbp by you, membengal. Thanks for the chuckles!:beerme:

My takes:

Owings was really struggling today, but even so, STILL was able to limit the damage. What more can you ask for from a #5?!?

DRH: He has to make the team, right? I just don't get why everyone is so enamored w/ Bray.:confused: Far too inconsistent his whole time in Cincy.

Viola/Roenicke: I like the looks of our BP both this year and going forward. Lots of live arms coming up!

Jacque Jones: Please, just go away. Great effort in LF tonight, esp on that dive, but his bat is atrocious and I just don't see how in ANY way he helps the team (other than his 'veteran presence":rolleyes:).

CoCo: Please locate the plate...and soon.

All-in-all, a good game. The pitching is really going to be amazing this year, imo. Should be fun to watch!

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 11:14 PM
Pedro Viola was impressive. His fastball was consistently at 93/94 and he also showed a nice breaking ball. He threw one low and away from a lefty and got him to chase it, though he did hang one later in the atbat. Kid has a great arm. The Reds have some impressive power arms ready to step in soon in Pedro Viola, Josh Roenicke, and Carlos Fisher. That doesn't even include Zach Stewart, who may reach the majors late this season. Then on the other end of the spectrum is Danny Ray Herrera. I like the future of this bullpen.

OnBaseMachine
03-26-2009, 11:26 PM
BTW, Frazier looked good in his atbat. He took a pitch on the outside corner and smashed it to the wall in right field. Just a great piece of hitting.

Caseyfan21
03-26-2009, 11:42 PM
Another nice easy power arm for Cincinnati. An easy motion 94 mph popping up on the Twins' TV gun.

Scouts behind home had his fastball at 92-93 and his curve at 81-82. We were peering over shoulders. :cool:

Ron Madden
03-27-2009, 04:57 AM
Thanks for the pbp membengal, you did a great job..

:thumbup:

lollipopcurve
03-27-2009, 07:18 AM
thanks for the pbp guys -- excellent job

did Roenicke throw his secondary stuff for strikes?

NJReds
03-27-2009, 10:20 AM
I wonder if Cordero starts the season on the DL and stays in extended spring training to work on his stuff. The Reds have a number of options for the pen to hold down the fort.