7/16/09 Reds vs Brewers

[Red in Chicago]

Yes, real baseball is back!!

Per Fay:
Willy Taveras cf
Jerry Hairston ss
Joey Votto 1b
Brandon Phillips 2b
Ramon Hernandez c
Laynce Nix lf
Jonny Gomes rf
Edwin Encarnacion 3b
Homer Bailey p

vs. RH Braden Looper (7-4, 4.94).

[RedsManRick]

CincinnatiReds Twitter has:

Dickerson RF
Taveras CF
Votto 1B
Phillips 2B
Nix LF
Hernandez C
Encarnacion 3B
Hairston SS
Bailey P

NM, they just sent a new tweet with the lineup above. Dickerson scratched with back spasms. That's not good.

[Red in Chicago]

For those that don't want to listen to George, the game is also on MLB channel.

[IslandRed]

Dickerson was a late scratch, so Red in Chicago's lineup is the one posted now.

[flyer85]

outfield of castoffs

[Tom Servo]

Jason Kendall and his stupid armor gets plunked.

[Reds Fanatic]

For those that don't want to listen to George, the game is also on MLB channel.Unfortunately blacked out in the local area so we are stuck with George.

[Reds Fanatic]

4-3-6 DP.

[Chip R]

Does this mean the fix is on?

[Reds Fanatic]

Broken bat ground out to short ends the inning.

[RedFanAlways1966]

Bad Homer on batter 1. Good Homer on batters 2 & 3.

[RedsManRick]

Announcers saying that Dickerson may be headed to the DL. If so, let's pray we don't get treated to another dose of Darnell McDonald.

[RedsManRick]

Homer not getting calls in the bottom of the zone -- hopefully he can work effectively on the edges.

[WMR]

outfield of castoffs

Sounds like something the marketing team should jump all over.

[Reds Fanatic]

Taveras flies out and Hairston draws a 4 pitch walk.

[RedsManRick]

Taveras still swinging like he's a HR hitter. What happened to putting the ball on the ground?

[Reds Fanatic]

Hairston gets picked off first.

[RedsManRick]

HAVOC!

[Ltlabner]

HAVOC!

:laugh:

Oh yea...tearing it up.

Good to see that the speed game offsets having a hard time finding 1st base. Er. Nevermind.

[jojo]

George just said, "Fielder in at 315" and I thought he was talking about Fielder's weight.

[BCubb2003]

MLB announcer asked if the Ohio River reaches Kentucky.

[WVRedsFan]

Same old same old. Taveras makes an out, the second guy makes an out, Votto gets a hit and the "Cleanup hitter" flies out.

[membengal]

MLB announcer asked if the Ohio River reaches Kentucky.

Um...yes?

[dsmith421]

George in another rhapsodic slobber session for an opposing player. Shocking.

[BCubb2003]

Um...yes?

That's basically how Joe Magrane answered.

[Ltlabner]

Walks.Will.Haunt

[Ltlabner]

Walks.Will.Haunt

Or not.

[jojo]

Walks.Will.Haunt

Fortunately Homer doesn't walk people-he gets pinched. :cool:

[Raisor]

HAVOC!

Havok: Long time member of the X-Men. Younger brother of Cyclops. Currently with the Starjammers out in space.

[CTA513]

Encarnacion got the 2 out hit but Hernandez isn't fast enought to score from 2nd and was thrown out at home to end the inning.

[WVRedsFan]

Always hold Hernandez at third. Even on a sac fly.

[RedsManRick]

With the pitcher up next, I suppose you need to send him, but that was mighty ugly.

[jojo]

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around that play at the plate with RaH getting gunned down.

[reds1869]

I would love to see a race around the base paths between Hernandez and Big Papi. I can't imagine the size of the oxygen tanks you need afterward.

[Reds/Flyers Fan]

Gomes and Nix ... yuck.

[CTA513]

3-0 Brewers

[dsmith421]

Game over.

[jojo]

Dang that location.

[WVRedsFan]

That ought to do it :(

[jojo]

Somewhere Earl Weaver is smiling.

[RedsManRick]

Harang suggests making Fielder beat him the other way -- and Fielder does so. Pretty clear what the Reds approach was there as Fielder was sitting away and dove in to the fastball on the corner.

[alloverjr]

Homer really has no idea where the ball is going.

[Reds/Flyers Fan]

Game over.


The fact that Reds fans say that in the third inning speaks volumes about how little Walt and Co. have done to improve this miserable offense.

[CTA513]

The next guy strikes out looking.

3-0 Brewers in the 3rd inning with the Reds coming up to bat.

[Big Klu]

Havok: Long time member of the X-Men. Younger brother of Cyclops. Currently with the Starjammers out in space.

If I remember correctly, Cyclops and Havok are immune to each other's abilities.

[membengal]

Homer really has no idea where the ball is going.

Full disagreement. 100%.

He got beat by an All-star and MVP candidate who fouled off a series of nasty pitches and then went with a good fastball at the knees on the corner for a homerun opposite field. There are maybe three players in baseball who can do that. Maybe.

I am not seeing anything from Homer to be remotely upset about it in the first three innings.

[Superdude]

Homer really has no idea where the ball is going.

Most guys aren't gonna blast an opposite field homer on a 98MPH fastball on the outer part of the plate. bit of an overreaction

[dsmith421]

Welsh: "When Taveras and Hairston get on, they give you some speed."

Or, conversely, they bunt directly back to the pitcher and/or get picked off.

Boring.

[mbgrayson]

Willy T bunts one right back to Looper. Any idea on his % of success when he bunts for a hit? Low I am sure....

[SirFelixCat]

Second verse, same as the first.

*sigh*

[SirFelixCat]

And then Votto goes yard!

[jojo]

I am not seeing anything from Homer to be remotely upset about it in the first three innings.

The 6 base runners in 3 innings aren't even a small pebble in your sandals? :cool:

[Big Klu]

I am not seeing anything from Homer to be remotely upset about it in the first three innings.

Except for allowing a hit to Braden Looper.



Home run Votto! :thumbup:

[membengal]

The 6 base runners in 3 innings aren't even a small pebble in your sandals? :cool:

No. A few flares, a few close pitches. Unlike you, friend, I don't wig over normal innings like that from pitchers.

[Raisor]

Welsh: "When Taveras and Hairston get on, they give you some speed."



If my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a wagon.

[SirFelixCat]

It's so sad...It's Votto and BP and then 7 other guys on this team, offensively.


While I don't expect miracles, I sure would like to see Stubbs & Heisey patrolling the OF for the next couple of weeks. At least give us something to enjoy watching.

[Homer Bailey]

Willy T bunts one right back to Looper. Any idea on his % of success when he bunts for a hit? Low I am sure....

32% (Which is higher than I was expecting). His career average is about 47%.

[Raisor]

And then Votto goes yard!


Hey..

I'm not a lumberjack, or a furtrader,
and I don't live in an igloo, eat blubber, or own a dogsled,
and I don't know Jimmy, Sally, or Susie from Canada,
although I'm sure they're really really nice.

I have a Prime Minister, not a President.
I speak English and French, not American,
and I pronounce it about, not aboot
I can proudly sew my country's flag on my backpack;
I believe in peacekeeping, not policing;
and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal

a tuque is a hat,
a chesterfield is a couch,
and it is pronounced zed, not zee, zed!

Canada is the second largest land-mass,
the first nation of hockey,
and the best part of North America!

MY NAME IS JOE(y Votto), AND I AM CANADIAN!

Thank you.
__________________

[SirFelixCat]

Very nice grab by Gomes!

[jojo]

No. A few flares, a few close pitches. Unlike you, friend, I don't wig over normal innings like that from pitchers.

Characterize Homer's performance however you'd like but don't characterize me as a biased reactionary.

[alloverjr]

Full disagreement. 100%.

He got beat by an All-star and MVP candidate who fouled off a series of nasty pitches and then went with a good fastball at the knees on the corner for a homerun opposite field. There are maybe three players in baseball who can do that. Maybe.

I am not seeing anything from Homer to be remotely upset about it in the first three innings.

Hey, I like Homer and don't think any less of his future on the mound based on this game to date. But, to think I was referencing 1 pitch would be incorrect. He's hit a batter walked 2 along with giving up 3 hits in 3 innings. Nothing stellar imo. And the pitch that Fielder hit out was suppose to be on the corner but he missed the target to the middle of the plate. Many players are going to drive that ball.

And another ball in the middle of the plate gets drilled but Gomes makes a nice play. - never thaught I'd say that.

[membengal]

Characterize Homer's performance however you'd like but don't characterize me as a biased reactionary.

After the Harang stuff, kinda.

[membengal]

Hey, I like Homer and don't think any less of his future on the mound based on this game to date. But, to think I was referencing 1 pitch would be incorrect. He's hit a batter walked 2 along with giving up 3 hits in 3 innings. Nothing stellar imo. And the pitch that Fielder hit out was suppose to be on the corner but he missed the target to the middle of the plate. Many players are going to drive that ball.

And another ball in the middle of the plate gets drilled but Gomes makes a nice play. - never thaught I'd say that.

Your statement was that "he doesn't know where the ball is going". I am NOT getting that from this game from him. At all. And I have seen plenty of games from him where that is the case. This ain't one of them.

[SirFelixCat]

Is it me or does Nix not see a pitch he doesn't like? The dude swings at EVERYTHING!

[jojo]

After the Harang stuff, kinda.

You mean the comment that allowing lots of baserunners is flirting with disaster?

Funny you should bring that up....

BTW, make your case without making it personal. No one really gives a rip about debating the merits of me.

[SirFelixCat]

EdE stands in the box for the 1-1 count and immediately asks for time..ump ignores him and he takes strike 2. Grrr.


But he battles back to draw a walk.


EdE has been a welcome surprise since coming off of the DL (after his first series or so back). Dude's been pretty solid both offensively and defensively.

[membengal]

Not being personal. You say that a lot, but it's not personal. At all.

[jojo]

Not being personal. You say that a lot, but it's not personal. At all.

Then argue why allowing lots of baserunners isn't something to take notice of...

[BCubb2003]

EdE stands in the box for the 1-1 count and immediately asks for time..ump ignores him and he takes strike 2. Grrr.


But he battles back to draw a walk.


EdE has been a welcome surprise since coming off of the DL (after his first series or so back). Dude's been pretty solid both offensively and defensively.

Isn't that the second time Edwin's been denied a timeout?

[SirFelixCat]

Isn't that the second time Edwin's been denied a timeout?

I think so.

[jojo]

I thought Gomes was gonna take out Brandon....

[membengal]

Then argue why allowing lots of baserunners isn't something to take notice of...

Because baserunners happen. Sometimes flares fall. Sometimes balls find holes. I am not seeing anything in Homer's performance tonite that gives me pause that he "doesn't know where the ball is going" or that something is askew. He gave up a few flares, and then got beat by a really, really good player. It happens. It happened to Tim Lincecum Tuesday night.

[reds44]

EdE stands in the box for the 1-1 count and immediately asks for time..ump ignores him and he takes strike 2. Grrr.


But he battles back to draw a walk.


EdE has been a welcome surprise since coming off of the DL (after his first series or so back). Dude's been pretty solid both offensively and defensively.
Is it really a surprise?

And what a DP turned by JHJ and BP

[jojo]

Nice DP....

[SirFelixCat]

Wow...that was absolutely beautiful 6-4-3. Wow.

[CTA513]

Hairston and Phillips turned a nice double play to end the Brewers half of the inning.

[mbgrayson]

Hairston barely gets to a grounder going up the middle, and then flips directly from his glove to second, where Brandon Phillips catches the ball bare handed, and in one motion pivots and guns the hitter out at first. 6-4-3 doesn;t do that one any justice....

[membengal]

Um, that was a "nice" double play like Jessica Alba is a "nice" looking human being.

That was spectacular from Phillips and JHJ.

[BCubb2003]

If only there was something the announcer could say to convey how exciting that double play is, like exclaiming "yessirree" in the middle of it.

[jojo]

Um, that was a "nice" double play like Jessica Alba is a "nice" looking human being.

That was spectacular from Phillips and JHJ.

Jessica Alba needs to eat more. Was Counsell's play nice or spectacular?

[membengal]

It was closer to nice.

[dsmith421]

Ten bucks says JD makes Tea Leoni really uncomfortable in the next 90 seconds...

WINNAH!

[Big Klu]

Jessica Alba needs to eat more. Was Counsell's play nice or spectacular?

I don't know, but George said he made agreat play to rob his counterpart on "the other team" of a hit.

George, the other team is called the "Reds". You know, the guys who pay your salary.


And now Jim Day is wasting the entire inning interviewing a "celebrity". Woo-woo.

[Big Klu]

Ten bucks says JD makes Tea Leoni really uncomfortable in the next 90 seconds...

Is he going to ask her about David Duchovny? :D

[reds44]

Did that go into the river?

[Kc61]

Fielder hits an extremely long foul ball.

[Big Klu]

Did that go into the river?

Fielder is entirely too comfortable in the box. A little chin music may be in order.

[jojo]

Fielder looks angry.

[redsmetz]

I don't know, but George said he made agreat play to rob his counterpart on "the other team" of a hit.

George, the other team is called the "Reds". You know, the guys who pay your salary.


And now Jim Day is wasting the entire inning interviewing a "celebrity". Woo-woo.

Am I to understand that Tea Leoni is here in Cincinnati?

Dang, I wish I wasn't sick and had gone to the game tonight...

[CTA513]

Fielder was posing for his long foul ball

[BCubb2003]

Fielder was posing for his long foul ball

The umpire had to push him out of the way.

[reds44]

Danger right here

[jojo]

Luckily getting through Braun/Fielder is the getting past the scariest part of the lineup.

[CTA513]

Bailey strikes McGehee out for the 1st out.

[jojo]

I love Cameron but I hope he strikes out.

[jojo]

Base runners have a way of scoring sometimes especially when location isn't precise.

[CTA513]

4-2 Brewers

[flyer85]

Bruce would likely have caught that one

[reds44]

Yeah if Dickerson and Bruce are out there I bet that ball is caught.

[reds44]

Meanwhile, Bailey is getting rocked.

[Homer Bailey]

What happened. Did Willy misplay it?

[mbgrayson]

Was it just me, or did Willy T. take a really bad route to that ball by Cameron? Cameron hit it well, but it COULD have been caught, maybe....

[reds44]

What was that?

[flyer85]

What happened. Did Willy misplay it?
Gomes is a statue in RF

[jojo]

Hart sets up the double play with his slow roller turned infoeld hit but EE and Hairston had a bit of a miscommunication.

[Homer Bailey]

What was that?

As much as this helps someone who can't see the game, could someone say what happened?

[Kc61]

Taveras actually played it nicely off the wall and got it back very quickly into the infield. The ball hit the wall on the fly so I don't think it was very catchable.

The ball was way over WT's head, he had no chance to catch the ball.

[mbgrayson]

Braun on second, Fielder on first, one out. Cameron hits a long fly to right-center, Willy T. takes a bad angle, Gomes nowhere in sight, ball hits off the wall about three feet high, and Cameron gets a double. Braun is barely able to score cuz he had to wait to see if the ball got caught.

[jojo]

Masset instead of Majewski.....progress?

[CTA513]

Masset instead of Majewski.....progress?

Not tonight

[jojo]

Crud.

[dsmith421]

7 ER for Bailey tonight. The wheels have fallen off this team.

[reds44]

Bailey still isn't very good.

[Tony Cloninger]

Bad angle my whatever......the ball was way over his head...he was not catching that even if he did a Jesse Owens impression.

[jojo]

Chris W is talking about how Hardy's ball, if hit a few inches one way or the other, would've resulted in a dramatically different inning.

[CTA513]

4 runs score before Masset gets out #2 of the inning.

[CTA513]

Masset finally gets out #3

8-2 Brewers

[Kc61]

Massett has basically been bled to death.

WT goes back on a catchable ball and makes the third out. The earlier one by Cameron was well struck and was way over his head.

This game is on Homer. He threw well but seemed to give the Brewers a lot of pitches in the hitting zone. The three run homer by Fielder was a terrible pitch.

[mbgrayson]

Bad angle my whatever......the ball was way over his head...he was not catching that even if he did a Jesse Owens impression.


I can't see a replay yet, but what I saw on the Cameron hit was Willy Taveras running toward a spot, then making a cut to the left when he realized the ball was hit deeper. He picked it up directly off the wall, and was close. He got so close that Braun was held to see if the ball was going to be caught, and there was a play at the plate on a Braun (who was clearly safe) despite the fact Braun was at second and could barely score on a double off the wall. Had he taken a direct route to the ball, I think he could have caught it. It would have been a nice play, but I have seen better.

[Homer Bailey]

Bailey still isn't very good.

Yeah 2 extra base hits given up tonight. One by an all star on a 98 MPH fastball to the opposite field. Rough night.

[Tony Cloninger]

I guess i am just cutting Omar Taveras some slack......at least it did not go for a triple.

[Big Klu]

Yeah 2 extra base hits given up tonight. One by an all star on a 98 MPH fastball to the opposite field. Rough night.

He also gave up two hits to Braden Looper, who entered the game with a .100 BA.

Not his best performance, but it wasn't as bad as some of his starts from the previous two years.

[reds44]

Rosales needs to go yard.

[jojo]

He also gave up two hits to Braden Looper, who entered the game with a .100 BA.

Not his best performance, but it wasn't as bad as some of his starts from the previous two years.

He had good velocity but had trouble locating and stuff happened against a pretty decent lineup. He's not likely to have good results on any night where he only throws 57% strikes and doesn't miss bats (only 6 swinging strikes). He did nothing to help himself tonight.

[reds44]

That was a wonderful AB.

[dsmith421]

After Encarnacion's hit, the Reds had Pitcher, Pitcher, Pitcher, Votto coming to the plate.

So many worthless hitters on this team.

[Kc61]

He had good velocity but had trouble locating and stuff happened against a pretty decent lineup. He's not likely to have good results on any night where he only throws 57% strikes and doesn't miss bats (only 6 swinging strikes). He did nothing to help himself tonight.

Bailey's home run pitch to Fielder was a very poor pitch. Two out, two on, a rookie on deck, you can't give Fielder a good pitch. If you walk him, you walk him. Bailey grooved a fastball which resulted in three runs.

Bailey is inexperienced, I don't blame him, but that's the kind of mistake you get from a very young player.

[alloverjr]

Yeah 2 extra base hits given up tonight. One by an all star on a 98 MPH fastball to the opposite field. Rough night.

The stadium scoreboard showed the pitch Fielder hit out was at 93. Not sure where the 98 comes from. Again, he missed his spots tonight with good but not overpowering stuff - at least not consistently - and got burned.

[Kc61]

The stadium scoreboard showed the pitch Fielder hit out was at 93. Not sure where the 98 comes from. Again, he missed his spots tonight with good but not overpowering stuff - at least not consistently - and got burned.

The velocity of the pitch is really irrelevant. Prince Fielder can hit the ball at any speed. It was poor location and was particularly upsetting because there was no need to pitch to Fielder there. Homer should have just thrown him pitches off the plate.

[jojo]

Bailey's home run pitch to Fielder was a very poor pitch. Two out, two on, a rookie on deck, you can't give Fielder a good pitch. If you walk him, you walk him. Bailey grooved a fastball which resulted in three runs.

Bailey is inexperienced, I don't blame him, but that's the kind of mistake you get from a very young player.

The pitch to Cameron wasn't artwork either.

[mbgrayson]

The stadium scoreboard showed the pitch Fielder hit out was at 93. Not sure where the 98 comes from. Again, he missed his spots tonight with good but not overpowering stuff - at least not consistently - and got burned.

Gameday shows that pitch at 98. It also shows that pitch in the lower half of the zone, near the outside edge of the zone.

However, it was a 1-2 pitch, after Fielder had fouled off 4 pitches. Bailey should have thrown the ball just outside the zone on 1-2, and risked Fielder taking ball two, and if he hits it, not being able to drive the ball.

[reds44]

The pitch to Fileder was right down the middle.

[mbgrayson]

The pitch to Fileder was right down the middle.

Here is GameDay:

http://www.graysonlawfirm.com/FielderHomer.jpg

[reds44]

Cool. I'm watching the game the game with my two eyes. It was right down the middle.

It wasn't 98 either.

[mbgrayson]

Cool. I'm watching the game the game with my two eyes. It was right down the middle.

It wasn't 98 either.

Well, I was watching too, and I thought Gameday was right on.

I often watch with Gameday going on the computer at the same time. Your eyes can be deceived more easily than Gameday, because you have one point of view: the camera angle they are showing you at that moment. Gameday uses multiple cameras to track the balls speed, location, and the amount of break.

Also, remember we are talking about a difference of about an inch or two. Even if the pitch was 'only' 93, it crosses the zone in a fraction of a second.

Of course in this case, the pitch never really crossed the zone at all, because Mr. Fielder deposited it into the left-center field seats. lol

[Joseph]

He clearly missed his spot there.

Season over yet boys and girls?

[RedFanAlways1966]

REDS starters...

ERA by Month
Apr = 3.98
May = 4.64
June = 4.72
July = 6.06

Last 9 Games
* 44.1 IP, 67 H, 42 ER, 31 K, 18 BB.
>> 8.53 ERA, 1.92 WHIP

Hitting? Definitely a problem. The promising rotation? Volquez hurt. Bailey/Maloney not getting it done. All (but Arroyo) north of 5.00 ERA in July.

[reds44]

EE has remembered how to hit.

9-6

[BCubb2003]

Meanwhile, Encarnacion hasn't given up on this game.

[jojo]

Scott Rolen who?

[Larry Schuler]

Yeah now JANISH is up! Keep the dream alive!

[CrackerJack]

Coffey looking svelt!

[Raisor]

Coffey looking svelt!

Decaf?

THANK YOU! I'll be here all week.

[Kc61]

They showed the replay on the Fielder homer last inning. It was in the lower part of the zone. It may have been ever so slightly to the outside part of the zone. But the pitch was very close to the middle of the plate, easily hittable by Fielder.

[BCubb2003]

This game is going to look closer than it was.

[reds44]

The Reds have three real offensive players. Laynce Nix is just awful.

[forfreelin04]

The Reds have three real offensive players. Laynce Nix is just awful.

Yep and the rest are just offensive

[Larry Schuler]

We have to play better than we did in the first half and with worse players. Season is a wash. No surprise to most but it's still sad to see actively before your eyes.

[Raisor]

We have to play better than we did in the first half and with worse players. .



I can't play any better then I did the first half.

[traderumor]

it's going to be a long second half

[Larry Schuler]

I can't play any better then I did the first half.

But you're already doing better! :D

[BuckeyeRedleg]

What's that smell? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Football is in the air.

Picked up my Phil Steele college football preview today. Time to move on and look forward to stuff.

[Matt700wlw]

Missed the game tonight....I see the boys are off to a good start.

Bengals signed their 5th round pick today, the UC punter!

[Ltlabner]

Early reports that Homer had turned a corner and become a dominate lock for Cy Young awards for years to come might have been premature.

[lollipopcurve]

Early reports that Homer had turned a corner and become a dominate lock for Cy Young awards for years to come might have been premature.

Absolutely ridiculous baiting.

He has turned a corner.

No one has claimed he is a dominant lock for Cy Young awards.

[Ltlabner]

Absolutely ridiculous baiting.

He has turned a corner.

No one has claimed he is a dominant lock for Cy Young awards.

Lolli..I was making a joke.

I don't actually think people think he's a dominate lock for a Cy Young award.

[Matt700wlw]

Lolli..I was making a joke.

I don't actually think people think he's a dominate lock for a Cy Young award.

Joking is not permitted on Redszone. :cool:

[Ltlabner]

Joking is not permitted on Redszone. :cool:

I often forget the serriousness of the important work we are doing here.

[Matt700wlw]

Just don't let it happen again.