6/13/09 Reds vs Royals

[Red in Chicago]

Per Fay:
Reds
Taveras 8
Gonzalez 6
Phillips 4
Nix 7
Gomes DH
Bruce 9
Hernandez 3
Rosales 5
Hanigan 2
Arroyo 1

Royals
DeJesus 7
Bloomquist 6
Butler 3
Jacobs DH
Guillen 9
Teahen 5
Callaspo 4
Olivo 2
Maier 8
Davies 1

[WMR]

Nice to see Dusty sticking with what works.

[Bob Borkowski]

Reds go down 1-2-3 in the top of the first.

[mth123]

Reds go down 1-2-3 in the top of the first.

surprise!

[VR]

Milwaukie and Chicago lost.....StL won.

[Bob Borkowski]

After two out...two straight singles for KC.

[VR]

Arroyo just missing w/ his curve tonight.

[Bob Borkowski]

Teahen whiffs with the sacks loaded.

0-0 after 1.

[BCubb2003]

Teahen whiffs with the sacks loaded.

0-0 after 1.

That's a lot of OBP.

[reds44]

Laynce Nix will swing and miss at a slider low and inside 100 times out of 100

[VR]

Gomes with a good ab to work the walk.

[Kc61]

Gomes walks but doesn't realize it and doesn't run to first. Probably the shock of a Reds player getting on base.

[VR]

Bruce gets ahead 2-0...then nearly bounces into a DP.

Reds just not getting any good swings tonight.

[Kc61]

Bruce gets ahead 2-0...then nearly bounces into a DP.

Reds just not getting any good swings tonight.

This Royals pitcher hasn't been in the strike zone too much. Reds getting themselves out swinging at bad pitches. Gonzo swung at a bunch of them. Bruce was too impatient in his at bat.

[VR]

Perhaps they forgot what to do once they are on base?

[reds44]

What the hell was that?

[11larkin11]

Why are the Royals a better team than the Reds?

[Kc61]

Arroyo all over the place now allows two baserunners.

[Bob Borkowski]

KC now has bases loaded with nobody out. (bottom of 2nd)

[nate]

I think Bruce made the right decision not diving for that ball.

[11larkin11]

Dusty knows the Reds can't score, yet they're giving up a run by playing back. Smart move Dusty.

[Kc61]

KC now has bases loaded with nobody out. (bottom of 2nd)

Single loaded the bases. Royals TV guys thought Bruce should have had it.

[reds44]

Ight, out at home.

Turn two now.

[nate]

Chat is open!

[11larkin11]

Rosales says "I have a cannon, I'll play back and still throw you out at home to make my manager look smart."

[WebScorpion]

Their leadoff hitter has a .293 OBP?? Is their coach named Dusty too? :eek:

[WebScorpion]

Rosales says "I have a cannon, I'll play back and still throw you out at home to make my manager look smart."
and it worked. :D

[reds44]

And this ballgame is over.

[11larkin11]

And theres the game. No way we're scoring three runs.

[nate]

Ugh.

[reds44]

Arroyo is bad.

[Blitz Dorsey]

Thanks to stuff like the Votto situation, a promising season has turned into a hellacious one. Man it's been frustrating to be a Reds fan recently. Hopefully the team can get healthy and turn things back around.

[flyer85]

what are the odds the Reds can score 3 or more?

[Homer Bailey]

This team is hysterical. ESPN has KC an 84% favorite to win the game in the 2nd inning.

[reds44]

That was three batters too late

[sonny]

yay. a double play

[WVRedsFan]

Unfortunately, with the Reds offense, this game is probably over. There is no margin of error for Reds pitching.

[sonny]

I predict a scorless inning

[reds44]

Tieing run at the plate.

Odds we score?

[nate]

Time for the rally chaps.

[WVRedsFan]

The antichrist makes an appearance at the game (John Allen). :-)

Just kidding of course...

[sonny]

Tieing run at the plate.

Odds we score?
40-1:thumbup:

[11larkin11]

I predict K, then GIDP

[sonny]

we are a sour bunch arent we?

[11larkin11]

we are a sour bunch arent we?

I'm about as optimistic as they come, but after scoring one run in two games against the Nationals and Royals, we need an upgrade. This offense has nothing right now. Nothing. A complete game on 80 pitches? Thats one of the worst things I've ever seen.

[reds44]

Oh wow two runs

3-2

[11larkin11]

I'm about as optimistic as they come, but after scoring one run in two games against the Nationals and Royals, we need an upgrade. This offense has nothing right now. Nothing. A complete game on 80 pitches? Thats one of the worst things I've ever seen.

And Hanigan proves me wrong. :) I'm glad he proved me wrong.

[nate]

Hanigan doubles in 2 runs after an excellent AB!

[WVRedsFan]

Reds score 2! Hanigan comes through.

[WVRedsFan]

Now, we get Taveras and Gonzo. Yuck.

[reds44]

If Taveras doesn't get this down...

[reds44]

He gets it down, but I thought he was fast?

[reds44]

And we start a new

[WVRedsFan]

If George says "get em on, get em over, get em in" one more time, I'm going to Elvis the TV!

[reds44]

Arroyo is hot garbage.

[11larkin11]

Arroyo has nothing. Get him out before he gives up his usual 9.

[reds44]

This is brutal.

[reds44]

He's throwing batting practice.

[sonny]

DRH is warming up.

[CTA513]

Arroyo has already given up 10 hits in 3 innings.

[Falls City Beer]

Arroyo is approaching uselessness.

[11larkin11]

11 hits in 2.2 innings.

[reds44]

11 hits in 3 innings.

[KoryMac5]

Nice cut off there saved a run the way Arroyo was pitching

[sonny]

Arroyo is approaching uselessness.

Almost Milton-esque, no?

[GAC]

nice base running mistake gets BA out of inning.

5-3 Royals

[sonny]

I predict a scorless inning here.


Hey, it worked last time.

[reds44]

We have 1 hit.

[BCubb2003]

George Foster was one of the fiercest ballplayers ever, but on the radio he sounds like he's 12.

[reds44]

Nix can't hit a breaking ball.

[Bob Borkowski]

5 runs on 11 hits
3 runs on 1 hit

[sonny]

We have 1 hit.

So did vanilla ice,

What's Davies Pitch count thus far?

[nate]

Chat re-opens with aplomb.

[durl]

How bout those Royals? On pace for 30 hits tonight. Reds are on pace for 3. Geez. Good thing we're using the DH.

[Scrap Irony]

Love the PBP. Oh, wait. Nevermind.

You'd think the Reds were 25 games back and already out of the playoff chase instead of 2.5 games back of a pennant.

It's a losing streak of, what, two games? They've played poorly-- incredibly so-- but have found a way to struggle to a .500 record while struggling. Give me this team over any since 2000.

[reds44]

This team has zero chance of going anywhere with this offense.

[GAC]

chat is open

[Falls City Beer]

This team has zero chance of going anywhere with this offense.

Several problems with this team over the long haul.

[durl]

The Brewers, Cubs, and Cards are all struggling. This would be a prime opportunity to get near the top again if they could beat teams that are 9 games below .500.

Trust me, I'm ecstatic that they're only a couple of games out but they really need to get this offense going again.

[mth123]

Several problems with this team over the long haul.

Starts at the top.

[reds44]

Looks foul to me.

[reds44]

Starts at the top.
And the top starts with them.

[Scrap Irony]

Heisey, Stubbs, or Dickerson for CF?

Frazier at the hot corner until EdE comes back? Or after, perhaps, as full-time LF?

[BCubb2003]

This is where baseball feels like football.

[jojo]

Beautiful camera work on the loud foul from Butler

[mth123]

Heisey, Stubbs, or Dickerson for CF?

Frazier at the hot corner until EdE comes back? Or after, perhaps, as full-time LF?

Can't hurt.

[reds44]

Platoon Dickerson and Stubbs.

I'll say it until my eyes bleed.

[jojo]

Boy though, when Arroyo gets hit, he gets hit.

[KoryMac5]

I think losing Edison was bad news for Arroyo, as now he pitches behind Maloney.

[reds44]

Why does he hit the ball in the air so much?

[VR]

Somebody needs to teach Wily to pound the ball into the ground.

[Blitz Dorsey]

Taveras is like Willie Mays Hayes... every time he pops one up like that, he should have to drop and do 20 push-ups.

[11larkin11]

Platoon Dickerson and Stubbs.

I'll say it until my eyes bleed.

I'm not sure about that. You face many more righties than lefties, and you have Stubbs wasting away on the bench. I only bring him up to start full time. If he proves he can't do it, then you platoon him.

Edit: Also, he hits both almost the same. Lefties a little better at .301, but hits righties at .287. .817 OPS to .792

[jojo]

Why does he hit the ball in the air so much?

All power hitters do that.

[KoryMac5]

Somebody needs to teach Wily to pound the ball into the ground.

Earlier in the year he was on top of the ball, but now he is under everything. Totally has changed his approach at the plate. We need to find Jamie Quirk and thank him for this gift.

[reds44]

lol Phillips swings at ball 4 on 3-0 and pops out.

Such a stupid baseball team

[Bob Borkowski]

Middle of the 5th, 5-3 KC. Hey, we are still in this thing...it's not early but it's not late either.

[KoryMac5]

4 walks tonight for the Reds at least they are showing some patience, as I say that Phillips swings at ball 4 and pops up to Guillen

[reds44]

I'm not sure about that. You face many more righties than lefties, and you have Stubbs wasting away on the bench. I only bring him up to start full time. If he proves he can't do it, then you platoon him.

Edit: Also, he hits both almost the same. Lefties a little better at .301, but hits righties at .287. .817 OPS to .792
But will he hit righties better than Dickerson does?

[Homer Bailey]

Unbelievable. Nice 3-0 swing bp.

[11larkin11]

lol Phillips swings at ball 4 on 3-0 and pops out.

Such a stupid baseball team

I agree to give him the green light there with the way Nix has swung the bat lately, but that was a bad pitch to swing at. Take the walk.

[Ltlabner]

Taveras is like Willie Mays Hayes... every time he pops one up like that, he should have to drop and do 20 push-ups.

http://www.bozerdesigns.com/blog/images/epic-fail2.jpg

[GAC]

Somebody needs to teach Wily to pound the ball into the ground.

Can't we just pound Willie in the ground? :D

[GAC]

chat is open for business.

Free beer

[jojo]

lol Phillips swings at ball 4 on 3-0 and pops out.

Such a stupid baseball team

Phillips was picked up from the Island of Misfit Toys...... complaining about him misses the point of him...

[Bob Borkowski]

6 straight retired by Arroyo.

[BCubb2003]

Arroyo's settling down now.

[VR]

Arroyo's settling down now.

Will end up with a W out of this one.

[jojo]

Arroyo's settling down now.

I think the Royals just remembered who they are....

[Bob Borkowski]

Going into the top of 6th, still 5-3 Royals.

[reds44]

We really need to get to Davies.

[jojo]

The Reds have 12 outs left and 4 replacement level bats in line...

[Bob Borkowski]

We really need to get to Davies.

His manager got to him first.

[11larkin11]

Bruce is so unlucky

[VR]

Have the Reds gone back to back....or hit a 3 run or grand slam this year? Can't recall.

[jojo]

Bruce is so unlucky

DeJesus is a good fielder.

[jojo]

Have the Reds gone back to back....or hit a 3 run or grand slam this year? Can't recall.

Maybe tonight.

[reds44]

Corey Patterson was better.

[Homer Bailey]

Have the Reds gone back to back....or hit a 3 run or grand slam this year? Can't recall.

I was thinking about this exact thing earlier this week. I think I remember one BP 3 run jack.

[Falls City Beer]

Tonight was a perfect illustration of how important it is for Arroyo to face a pitcher through the first 5 or 6 innings in order to be effective.

[VR]

Bullet by Bloomquist, scores the run. Wily T muffs the roller on the turf....Bloomsquist makes it to second.

It would seem Wily has his mind on things other than baseball.

[Bob Borkowski]

I was thinking about this exact thing earlier this week. I think I remember one BP 3 run jack.

I thought Votto had one.

[11larkin11]

Have the Reds gone back to back....or hit a 3 run or grand slam this year? Can't recall.

Votto 3-R I believe

[BCubb2003]

Corey Patterson was better.

Corey Patterson doubled off John Smoltz yesterday.

[Scrap Irony]

In the minor leagues.

[Joseph]

Embarrassing as a fan.

[Falls City Beer]

Reds' pitching: No DH's need apply.

[VR]

Monday better be a doozy of a transaction day.

[jojo]

Will Bloomquist is punking the Reds as a shortstop.... The Reds are two games over .500 and I want to put a paper bag over my head.....

We need something cool to happen tonight to slap some perspective back on the season....

[reds44]

Monday better be a doozy of a transaction day.
You know it's not going to be.

[reds44]

Burton is awful too.
And Nix bobbles it in LF.

It looks like this entire team is sleep walking.

[Falls City Beer]

You know it's not going to be.

Yeah. Not like there's anything on the farm. The vaunted farm.

[jojo]

BTW, Billy Beane probably doesn't kick himself over Burton.

[reds44]

Yeah. Not like there's anything on the farm. The vaunted farm.
It's all in AA right now.

Show me one team who pumps out prospects every single year. There's going to be some down time.

Last year we had Bruce, Votto, Cueto, Hanigan, and Dickerson.

[reds44]

BTW, Billy Beane probably doesn't kick himself over Burton.
Krivsky was a master of fools gold.

[Falls City Beer]

It's all in AA right now.

Show me one team who pumps out prospects every single year. There's going to be some down time.

.

A's, Brewers, Red Sox, Tigers, Marlins, Braves have been doing it for some time.

[reds44]

A's, Brewers, Red Sox, Tigers, Marlins, Braves have been doing it for some time.
The Brewers? The same franchise that made the playoffs for the first time in 20 years last season? What prospects are the Marlins pumping out this year? Where are these vaunted A's prospects the last few seasons? The Tigers? The same franchise that set a record for losses in a season this decade? The Braves? You gonna throw Jordan Schaffer and his sub .600 OPS at me?

Nobody pumps out prospects EVERY year. It does not happen. Where are the Red Sox rookies this season?

[traderumor]

Will Bloomquist is punking the Reds as a shortstop.... The Reds are two games over .500 and I want to put a paper bag over my head.....

We need something cool to happen tonight to slap some perspective back on the season....Perspective? Slumps are slumps. Fortunately in this one, we've been able to win a few games.

[jojo]

Taveras is on a roll in this game..... it's almost like he's daring Dusty.

[flyer85]

Willy and Dusty ... a match made in heaven. You go guys

[reds44]

Perspective? Slumps are slumps. Fortunately in this one, we've been able to win a few games.
Nothing to do with slumps.

Laynce Nix, Willy Taveras, Adam Rosales, old Alex Gonzalez and Ramon Hernandez, Jerry Hairston all who they are. These aren't slumps, these are who they are.

I'll give you Jay Bruce. That's about it.

[Blitz Dorsey]

Everyone on the Reds team should have to watch video of how Hanigan handles an at-bat. He probably has the least-amount of talent on the team (did I say "probably"?) yet he is always going to be an effective hitter at the MLB level. He works the count, walks more than he strikes out (the only player on the Reds' team that can say that) and always gives a good at-bat. If more-talented players would take this approach, good things would happen. I've turned into a Ryan Hanigan fan.

[Homer Bailey]

KC has a 97% chance of winning this game.

[jojo]

Perspective? Slumps are slumps. Fortunately in this one, we've been able to win a few games.

There is nothing slumpy about a lineup that has Taveras and Gonzo batting 1 and 2 with more at bats going to Rosales and Hernandez. It's a poor lineup.

[reds44]

Everyone on the Reds team should have to watch video of how Hanigan handles an at-bats. He probably has the least-amount of talent on the team (did I say "probably"?) yet he is always going to be an effective hitter at the MLB level. He works the count, walks more than he strikes out (the only player on the Reds' team that can say that) and always gives a good at-bat. If more-talented players would take this approach, good things would happen. I've turned into a Ryan Hanigan fan.
Dickerson does the same thing. Dickerson and Hanigan should bat 1-2 every night for this team. Every night.

EDIT: except against lefties

[CTA513]

BTW, Billy Beane probably doesn't kick himself over Burton.

Burton was pitching pretty well until he injured his arm last season.

[traderumor]

Yeah. Not like there's anything on the farm. The vaunted farm.Other than Rosales being forced into too much playing time and Homer's spot start being ho-hum, the promotions have been productive. I guess if you criticize everything, you will be right sometimes.

[BCubb2003]

Willy and Dusty ... a match made in heaven. You go guys

Didn't Merle Haggard sing that?

[Falls City Beer]

Burton was pitching pretty well until he injured his arm last season.

Sure, but he's done. Know that and things get better.

[Falls City Beer]

Other than Rosales being forced into too much playing time and Homer's spot start being ho-hum, the promotions have been productive. I guess if you criticize everything, you will be right sometimes.

Carlos Fisher represents the extent of the farm's contribution this season.

[CTA513]

Sure, but he's done. Know that and things get better.

or send him to AAA and see if things get better before declaring that hes done.

[reds44]

Carlos Fisher represents the extent of the farm's contribution this season.
If you're going to say Carlos Fisher, then Matt Maloney belongs there too.

[traderumor]

There is nothing slumpy about a lineup that has Taveras and Gonzo batting 1 and 2 with more at bats going to Rosales and Hernandez. It's a poor lineup.That held its own for an extended period of time without Votto and EE. We went through this in April, the red emergency phone was used, and there was a bounceback to a slightly below average offense in May. We're only half way through June. It is the ebb and flow of a baseball season. As much as you pay attention to baseball, I would expect you to have more perspective than ready to put a bag over your head because of a deep, teamwide slump.

[Falls City Beer]

If you're going to say Carlos Fisher, then Matt Maloney belongs there too.

Okay, fair enough. He's there until he starts getting pounded. We got a little taste last night.

[Blitz Dorsey]

If you're going to say Carlos Fisher, then Matt Maloney belongs there too.

And no one makes sure their batting helmet is on tight better than Jonny Gomes. We can't forget about him.

[mth123]

I'd say the farm the GM inherited has contributed more than the players that the GM brought in.

[Falls City Beer]

or send him to AAA and see if things get better before declaring that hes done.

That's fine. Whatever it takes for him not to pitch for the MLB team.

[reds44]

Well Gomes wasn't really the farm system.

[Blitz Dorsey]

And it's been a while, but Rosales came from the minors this year too (not that he's set the world on fire, just sayin...).

[traderumor]

If you're going to say Carlos Fisher, then Matt Maloney belongs there too.and Jonny Gomes.

[reds44]

Rosales is part of the problem, not the solution.

Dude runs fast on homers and walks though. That has to count for something, right?

[Falls City Beer]

I'd say the farm the GM inherited has contributed more than the players that the GM brought in.

Masset, Rhodes, Nix and Gomes have far outpaced anything the farm has produced.

[jojo]

That held its own for an extended period of time without Votto and EE. We went through this in April, the red emergency phone was used, and there was a bounceback to a slightly below average offense in May. We're only half way through June. It is the ebb and flow of a baseball season. As much as you pay attention to baseball, I would expect you to have more perspective than ready to put a bag over your head because of a deep, teamwide slump.

I'm in the 99th percentile when it comes to perspective on redszone.....

We're pinning our hopes on guys that are longshots.

And by the way, the comment you're referring to was clearly indicating that we shouldn't be feeling like making a mad dash for grocery bags.

[jojo]

and Jonny Gomes.

That's a bit of a stretch.

[reds44]

Yeah Johnny Gomes wasn't produced at all through the farm system.

He'd fall in the category of "doods the GM brought in"

[Scrap Irony]

I'm in the 99th percentile when it comes to perspective on redszone.....

Uh-huh. Perspective is all around here.

[reds44]

Meanwhile, Reds have something cookin

[jojo]

The Reds are putting on their rally caps.

[reds44]

I wonder how this is going to end...

[reds44]

Nix swings at a slider 2 feet outside for the first out.

[jojo]

Nix and lefties don't mix.

[reds44]

lol lovely AB from Gomes.

[traderumor]

Well Gomes wasn't really the farm system.I'm not talking about someone that the Reds necessarily developed. I consider the farm system as "Reds minor leaguers" at this point in time.

[membengal]

Sooooo...hour 29 without power in Memphis. My house is 100 degrees. The family started vacation yesterday without me because I can't miss work this week, and I am perched in a starbucks to find some AC and the internet to check in on ...well, it doesn't sound good.

FCB...there IS help in the minors, and I have no idea why your sainted GM won't access it. But, I promise you, either Heisey or Stubbs is a massive upgrade on Willy T, and Frazier at 3b would upgrade what they are running out there in EE's absence.

Frankly, Walt has been deer in the headlights for too many weeks now. It is irresponsible to think that Votto's return fixes everything.

Walt wants to DO something? Check and see if Stephen Drew is REALLY available in Arizona. If so, get him. Now. Bring up one of the kids to take over CF or platoon there with Dickerson. Go get a bat for LF. Consider sitting Bruce against lefties for a bit.

There ARE moves that can be made, and the longer they go status quo with guys who we all knew were replacement level AT BEST, and sub that at worst, is just weird. Bordering on cruel to a fanbase that hasn't seen decent pitching like this in nearly two decades.

[BCubb2003]

I wonder how this is going to end...

Fire, ice, tears, whimper?

[VR]

Everyone on the Reds team should have to watch video of how Hanigan handles an at-bat. He probably has the least-amount of talent on the team (did I say "probably"?) yet he is always going to be an effective hitter at the MLB level. He works the count, walks more than he strikes out (the only player on the Reds' team that can say that) and always gives a good at-bat. If more-talented players would take this approach, good things would happen. I've turned into a Ryan Hanigan fan.

It can't be learned....players develop before they get to the big leagues. :)

[traderumor]

That's a bit of a stretch.Why? Minor leagues is minor leagues. I guess we won't count Drew Sutton when he comes up, and we really can't count Matt Maloney since we didn't draft him...who else can't we count?

[reds44]

Johnny Gomes is how old and spent how long in our system?

[reds44]

And he strikes out the side.

[traderumor]

Johnny Gomes is how old and spent how long in our system?Who made up those arbitrary rules? FCB is trying to say there is no help in the minors, and mocked the idea that our minors is strong right now. Jonny Gomes was in the minors and has provided help. Last I checked, that is what the minors are for.

[jojo]

Sooooo...hour 29 without power in Memphis. My house is 100 degrees. The family started vacation yesterday without me because I can't miss work this week, and I am perched in a starbucks to find some AC and the internet to check in on ...well, it doesn't sound good.

FCB...there IS help in the minors, and I have no idea why your sainted GM won't access it. But, I promise you, either Heisey or Stubbs is a massive upgrade on Willy T, and Frazier at 3b would upgrade what they are running out there in EE's absence.

Frankly, Walt has been deer in the headlights for too many weeks now. It is irresponsible to think that Votto's return fixes everything.

Walt wants to DO something? Check and see if Stephen Drew is REALLY available in Arizona. If so, get him. Now. Bring up one of the kids to take over CF or platoon there with Dickerson. Go get a bat for LF. Consider sitting Bruce against lefties for a bit.

There ARE moves that can be made, and the longer they go status quo with guys who we all knew were replacement level AT BEST, and sub that at worst, is just weird. Bordering on cruel to a fanbase that hasn't seen decent pitching like this in nearly two decades.

I think Walt knows there is opportunity here and he's not going to bring up guys before they're deemed ready.

The Reds are truly going with the guys they think will give them the best shot.

[reds44]

Come on, you know as well as I do that is a massive stretch. So if Gomes started the year in the majors rather than the month he was in the minors it wouldn't count as the minors?

What happens when Votto or EE go out on rehab? Do we count that as the minors as well? (Granted, the both came from our farm system, but you get the point).

[Tony Cloninger]

Bruce swings over and under pitches. Gomes looked like he was ready to swing at everything.


Can we compare what just happened to Hubbell striking out Ruth, Lou and Foxx?

[jojo]

Why?

Because you're stretching the spirit of the comment in question.

[mth123]

Johnny Gomes is how old and spent how long in our system?

But are minor league free agents guys the GM acquired or guys the farm director brought in? I really don't know. Could be that the same guy running the draft is the guy bringing in these guys Walt is getting credit for.

[Blitz Dorsey]

Rosales is part of the problem, not the solution.

Dude runs fast on homers and walks though. That has to count for something, right?

Yeah, problem is we don't have many guys that are better and that's why he's pretty much an everyday starter. And there you have the 2009 Cincinnati Reds. That Jermaine Dye-for-Homer Bailey trade is looking real good right about now. Oh wait...

[reds44]

Yeah, problem is we don't have many guys that are better and that's why he's pretty much an everyday starter. And there you have the 2009 Cincinnati Reds. That Jermaine Dye-for-Homer Bailey trade is looking real good right about now. Oh wait...
We have (a) guy who is better than Rosales that is on the DL that half the fan base wants to run out of town anyway.

Two of our four best hitters are on the DL, that's a problem.

[BCubb2003]

I don't think a snapshot is a good way to judge a farm system. On one day, the farm system is loaded. The next day, it sends an impact player to the majors, and its quality takes a hit. Sending four major league starters in one year and none the next is just the "cash flow" not the overall quality.

[reds44]

I don't think a snapshot is a good way to judge a farm system. On one day, the farm system is loaded. The next day, it sends an impact player to the majors, and its quality takes a hit. Sending four major league starters in one year and none the next is just the "cash flow" not the overall quality.
I agree with this.

[mth123]

I don't think a snapshot is a good way to judge a farm system. On one day, the farm system is loaded. The next day, it sends an impact player to the majors, and its quality takes a hit. Sending four major league starters in one year and none the next is just the "cash flow" not the overall quality.

Exactly

[Patrick Bateman]

Why? Minor leagues is minor leagues. I guess we won't count Drew Sutton when he comes up, and we really can't count Matt Maloney since we didn't draft him...who else can't we count?

Well for one thing, Gomes was already an established major leaguer, with a small pit stop in AAA to begin the year. He was developed long ago into a fringe major leaguer, one that the Reds minor leagues had basically nothing to do with.

[Blitz Dorsey]

It's one thing to struggle. It's another thing to struggle against teams like the Nationals and Royals. We took 2 out of 3 from the Nats, but we played bad baseball. No one could argue against that. Now we're going to lose the series and might get swept by the freakin' Royals! They are better this year, but they are still the Royals and they will not finish with a good record this year.

I can't believe I allowed my hopes to get up about this team this year. I really thought the Reds were going to hang in the race all year. Oh well, nothing new I guess. There's always next year.

[Blitz Dorsey]

Atta boy Ramon!

[reds44]

There's one.

7-4

[Blitz Dorsey]

Rosales' nickname should be "Skippy" ... not sure why, but it just fits.

[jojo]

We have (a) guy who is better than Rosales that is on the DL that half the fan base wants to run out of town anyway.

Two of our four best hitters are on the DL, that's a problem.

It's a big problem.

[reds44]

For the love of god find a way to get this to Phillips and let him swing out of his shoes and hope he connects.

[reds44]

I would have PH with Dickerson.

But that's me.

[reds44]

Good AB, but same result.

[jojo]

Taveras saw more pitches in this at bat then he did all of last night... good job regardless of the weak contact to end the PA.

[lollipopcurve]

As I said early in last night's game, I smell tailspin.

[jojo]

Cueto tomorrow.... hypothetical dilemma-if Leake was pitching at the same time and you couldn't tape a game, would you watch the Reds or the CWS?

[CrackerJack]

As I said early in last night's game, I smell tailspin.


The annual June swoon is now in full effect?

[flyer85]

Didn't Merle Haggard sing that?or was it Johnny Paycheck?

[traderumor]

Because you're stretching the spirit of the comment in question.Hmmm, it seems to me like folks are making their own arbitrary rules for what is meant by a mocking wisecrack about the ability of the Reds' minor league system to start plugging holes that currently exist.

I see the Reds minor league system recently producing three stars (Votto, Cueto, Bruce), some immediate help for short term needs (Gomes, Maloney, Rosales, Hanigan, Fisher), some folks on the cusp of getting their chance to prove themselves (Bailey, Stubbs, Frazier, Heisey, Roenicke, Sutton, Wood, Viola, Manuel, et al), and that is just off the top of my head. I'd say that is a healthy, contributing farm system, and the FCB's mocking is just FCB being FCB (sort of like Manny being Manny), so I'm not sure why folks are trying to help defend it with arbitrary rules of what counts as a minor league contribution.

I don't know if wrapped up in that is some strawman that FCB has created whereby people think that every answer to any question the major league club has is in the system, but I sure don't mean that, nor do I think others do that think the Reds farm system is pretty healthy right now (and I could care less about how it is ranked since those types of rankings have proven near worthless over the years).

[Raisor]

or was it Johnny Paycheck?

The correct answer is "David Allan Coe"

[traderumor]

Cueto tomorrow.... hypothetical dilemma-if Leake was pitching at the same time and you couldn't tape a game, would you watch the Reds or the CWS?I do not like College Baseball, so that is easy for me.

[Ron Madden]

Four runs, an offensive explosion.

[jojo]

Hmmm, it seems to me like folks are making their own arbitrary rules for what is meant by a mocking wisecrack about the ability of the Reds' minor league system to start plugging holes that currently exist.

I see the Reds minor league system recently producing three stars (Votto, Cueto, Bruce), some immediate help for short term needs (Gomes, Maloney, Rosales, Hanigan, Fisher), some folks on the cusp of getting their chance to prove themselves (Bailey, Stubbs, Frazier, Heisey, Roenicke, Sutton, Wood, Viola, Manuel, et al), and that is just off the top of my head. I'd say that is a healthy, contributing farm system, and the FCB's mocking is just FCB being FCB (sort of like Manny being Manny), so I'm not sure why folks are trying to help defend it with arbitrary rules of what counts as a minor league contribution.

I don't know if wrapped up in that is some strawman that FCB has created whereby people think that every answer to any question the major league club has is in the system, but I sure don't mean that, nor do I think others do that think the Reds farm system is pretty healthy right now (and I could care less about how it is ranked since those types of rankings have proven near worthless over the years).

I didn't say FCB was right. I just don't think Gomes is an example of the Reds farm system producing. He's basically freely available talent with roughly 1500 major league PAs under his belt before McDonald beat him out for the 25th roster spot in April.

Gomes is better characterized as a line in Jocketty's column rather than a feather in the farm system's cap.

[Red in Chicago]

This is supposed to be a game thread and since very little about the actual game was discussed, I'm closing this.