8/7/09 Reds vs Giants

[Red in Chicago]

Per Fay:
Willy Taveras cf
Alex Gonzalez ss
Joey Votto 1b
Brandon Phillips 2b
Scott Rolen 3b
Wladimir Balentien rf
Jonny Gomes lf
Ryan Hanigan c
Homer Bailey p

vs. Tim Lincecum (12-3, 2.18 ERA).

[_Sir_Charles_]

Ummmm...Gameday is showing JANISH in left? That just CAN'T be right, can it?

[RedFanAlways1966]

The mighty REDS against Tim Lincecum. He is human, right? I believe. :thumbup:

[Tom Servo]

Lincecum vs. Taveras isn't even fair.

[Tom Servo]

2-0 Giants off a Molina homerun.

[CTA513]

Couldn't catch up to the fastball so you throw him a curve...

[Tom Servo]

Chris Welsh is not impressed.

[Tom Servo]

I'm getting the feeling it could be a while before the Reds get a hit. If at all.

[alloverjr]

Real impressed with Wlad's plate discipline since he's gotten a chance to play. Gomes, however, is a giant hack. Fits in well on this team and should be locked up long term.

[lollipopcurve]

I'm calling no hitter. 6 outs, 21 to go.

[Tom Servo]

A hit!


And a run!

[reds44]

Love me some Wlad.

[CTA513]

hanging slider for called strike 3 on Gomes

2-1 Giants

[CTA513]

2-1 Giants after 4 innings

[Tom Servo]

Tie game!

[Kc61]

Taveras reaches second on a double error by the shortstop. All due to his speed. If he would only hit the ball on the ground more often. And walk occasionally.

Now a single by Gonzo knocks Taveras in. That's what the Reds had in mind with Willy, but it just happens too infrequently.

[CTA513]

Taveras reaches and goes to 2nd on an error by Renteria.
Gonzalez follows up with an RBI single

2-2 in the 5th inning

[Tom Servo]

Homer gives up a homer to a 100 pound, 15 year old kid.

[Red in Chicago]

velez with a two run shot...how sad...

[REDSEER]

Homer just isn't putting anyone away with the fastball tonight and doesn't seem to have control of the secondary pitches. The splitter has been non-existent and the curve has been up in the zone....I really would like to see Homer put a few fastballs in on the hands of the hitters to make them a little less comfortable up there.

[CTA513]

Lincecum with a single and then someone about the size of a bat boy homers.

[Kc61]

Homer has these games where he is going fine and then suddenly has problems in the middle innings. It seemed to happen quite often in the minor leagues.

i doubt it's fatigue. It could be that he loses some concentration and makes mistakes. But with maturity hopefully he will avoid this problem.

Two outs and a man on second for SF with a two run lead.

[WVRedsFan]

Does anyone but me see the difference between the chaff we call a ball team and Scot Rolen? I'm not talking about everyone, but he's a professional hitter and it shows.

[Tom Servo]

Gomes with a productive veteran out.

I meant Gomes.

[Doc. Scott]

Rolen doubles with one out in the sixth. Balentien singles to move him to third (he hasn't made an out tonight) and Gomes grounds into a force play to score Scott and make it 4-3.

[REDSEER]

Not gonna lie, I really like what I see out of Balentien so far.

[Doc. Scott]

Homer gives up a two-out single to Rowand but gets through the sixth without major incident. He's likely gone for a pinch-hitter in the seventh; not a terrible start for him. Lapses in concentration begat a pair of two-run homers, but he was pretty decent beyond that.

[Doc. Scott]

Never mind- Homer bats for himself to start the seventh. Can't say I agree with that decision by ol' Dust.

[reds44]

Why is Homer hitting for himself?

[Doc. Scott]

Homer burns up eight Lincecum pitches before grounding out to second. Tim now at 110 pitches with one out in the seventh.

[Doc. Scott]

Then Taveras hacks at the second Lincecum pitch and taps out to second. Sigh.

[reds44]

Not in this place.

[Doc. Scott]

Inning over, 4-3 Giants going to the bottom of 7. Homer's at 95 pitches.

[klw]

Oh why oh why is Bailey not pulled for a ph? Great ab but don't send him back out.

[Doc. Scott]

Lincecum is taken out for a pinch-hitter, Fred Lewis, who uses up eight Bailey offerings before doubling up the left-center field gap.

[reds44]

Leaving Homer in was a swell idea.

[Doc. Scott]

Homer then gets ahead of Velez 0-2, but he pokes a single.

[Doc. Scott]

Why is Homer constantly left in to face two batters too many? It happens over and over and over.

[CTA513]

Why is Homer constantly left in to face two batters too many? It happens over and over and over.

Reds baseball

[Doc. Scott]

On comes Nick Masset with men on the corners and nobody out.

[REDSEER]

I just don't get it. He had 95 pitches....had been a little shaky with the control...but hadn't thrown a bad game. 6 IP 4 ER is nothing to cry about...no reason to run Homer back out there for the 7th. Hopefully Masset can make us forget about it.

[Doc. Scott]

Gonzo charges Sanchez' grounder and cuts down Lewis at the plate. One down, men on first and second.

[REDSEER]

Masset's got some nasty stuff tonight....and he's hitting spots. Sandoval is a heck of a hitter to spoil some of these pitches.

[reds44]

Masset has been just turrible the last few months.

[CTA513]

5-3 Giants

[Doc. Scott]

Sandoval, the big gun in the Giant lineup, falls behind 0-2 on a fouled-off breaking ball and a swing and a miss on a 94-mph heater. Fastball stays outside. Another heater fouled away. Slider fouled away as well. Fastball stays away, 2-2. Yet another foul. And another.

Single up the middle makes it 5-3. Dang. Seriously, this Pablo Sandoval kid has just come out of nowhere this year.

[Red in Chicago]

I'd be interested in knowing the number of inherited runners that Masset as allowed this season, because it seems like it's every time he comes in.

[Doc. Scott]

Masset thinks about walking Molina (who has a grand total of six walks for 2009, making Willy Taveras look like Job) but Bengie refuses and pops up to short.

[Doc. Scott]

Winn strikes out swinging. 5-3 after 7.

[Doc. Scott]

On comes ex-Red Jeremy Affeldt and his 1.50 ERA to dominate.

[reds44]

Or walk 1 batter

[Doc. Scott]

Quite the landing strip Affeldt's got on his face. It looks like he stuck a piece of Velcro on his chin.

He walks Votto to start the inning.

Out comes Affeldt. In goes righty Sergio Romo.

[Doc. Scott]

Crap, Romo's got the landing strip too!

[WVRedsFan]

Crap, Romo's got the landing strip too!

San Francisco style.

[Doc. Scott]

Phillips doubles Votto to third

[reds44]

What are you swinging at?

[Doc. Scott]

San Francisco style.

It looks dumb. Every time I see one of those I imagine the owner wearing an Ed Hardy T-shirt and rocking a barbed-wire arm tattoo.

[Doc. Scott]

Rolen goes after a breaking ball in the dirt and strikes out. One down.

[Tom Servo]

Romo's sure got some slide on that slider.


But he fears Wlady.

[reds44]

Gomes will either
A. K
B. GIDP
C. Both

[Doc. Scott]

Balentien gets ahead 3-1, then draws the walk. Bases loaded, one out for Gomes.

[Tom Servo]

Awww crap. I do NOT like the decision to PH Nix for Gomes...

[fearofpopvol1]

i know most people are mad about the reds and how awful they have been as of late...but this is honestly one of the best and most entertaining reds games i have seen in a long time. this has been a very good game.

[Doc. Scott]

Gomes will either
A. K
B. GIDP
C. Both

And Nix pinch-hits for Gomes, greatly increasing the chance of both A and B.

[reds44]

Oh god Nix for Gomes.

Here comes slider, slider, slider, slider, slider, slider, slider, slider, slider

[Red in Chicago]

Awww crap. I do NOT like the decision to PH Nix for Gomes...

i'm not a fan of this move either. hope he proves us wrong though.

[Doc. Scott]

On comes Giant closer Brian Wilson to even further increase the chance of an A.

[Tom Servo]

On comes Giant closer Brian Wilson to even further increase the chance of an A.
And to increase the chances of singing a Beach Boys song.

[penantboundreds]

I like the move....Gomer looked lost against Lincecum, Come on Lance!

[Red in Chicago]

On comes Giant closer Brian Wilson to even further increase the chance of an A.

what's this "closer" in the 8th inning stuff about;)

[Doc. Scott]

According to Gameday, Nix is 1-for-5 when Loaded.

[fearofpopvol1]

yeah Nix!!

[penantboundreds]

Bang!!!!

[reds44]

We start a new.

[Tom Servo]

Well, what do I know? Good job Nixxie.

[fearofpopvol1]

this game is AWESOME! it's been such a joy to watch in this lost season. i can't say it enough.

[Doc. Scott]

97-mph fastball: Ball.
89-mph slider: Strike.
88-mph slider: Ball.

91-mph cutter is SMACKED INTO LEFT FIELD, BASE HIT! TIE GAME!

[Tom Servo]

Hanigan seems to be terrible with RISP. I think Thom said the other night he hasn't had an RBI in nearly 2 months.

[Doc. Scott]

Hanigan grounds into a 4-3 double play to end the inning.

5-5 after 7.5.

[Red in Chicago]

the question is, will the pen give those runs back now

[reds44]

Does Hanigan still have 8 RBI?

[Tony Cloninger]

That is why Hanigan is better off hitting 2nd.....where his lack of driving in runs....will not be as bad and his OBP skills can be better used.

He is however.....hitting less than .200 and has an OBP less than .300 since the AS break.

[Tom Servo]

Stormy in.

[penantboundreds]

Hey, I noticed no one said anything about Velez's victory dance and KGJ type walk out of the batters box after hitting his home run. I'm not sure if there was a place in this game to do it, maybe the next batter...but shouldn't someone have been buzzed for that?

Seemed kind of bush to me, considering it is the second HR of his career...

[Red in Chicago]

i cannot handle extras tonight, so i sure hope we score here...

[Doc. Scott]

1-2-3 eighth from Stormy. 5-5 headed to the ninth.

Previous poster is right about Velez' Barry Bonds BS on his second home run of the season.

[Tom Servo]

Sutton impact!

[Doc. Scott]

Sutton bunts his way on! Maybe he should teach Willy T how to do this.

[Doc. Scott]

Willy T makes an out, of course. A "sacrifice bunt" as they call it.

[Tom Servo]

A-Gon walks

[Doc. Scott]

Gonzo completely loses his head and draws a walk.

[Tom Servo]

Brian Wilson competing for the coveted "worst hair in baseball" award.

[Red in Chicago]

good plate appearance by votto...come on bp...let's get 'em in...

[Tom Servo]

Please BP, just don't hit into a Phillips.

[Doc. Scott]

Wilson is true to his school and throws Votto a bunch of 97-98 fastballs, but God only knows how he manages to draw a walk.

Bases loaded, one out for Phillips!

[Tom Servo]

BP walks! 6-5 Reds!

[Red in Chicago]

:beerme:

[Doc. Scott]

Brandon gets ahead 3-1!

BALL FOUR! REDS LEAD REDS LEAD REDS LEAD

[reds44]

Oh wow Reds lead.

[CTA513]

Phillips did a good job not chasing anything and making Wilson throw strikes.

6-5 Reds after a bases loaded walk

[Doc. Scott]

Wilson is sandboxed in favor of Brandon Medders.

[penantboundreds]

When Phillips is concentrating (which sometimes I think he loses) he is really really tough.

[Doc. Scott]

Randy Qua- I mean Scott Rolen steps in.

[Kc61]

Rolen hits grounder, throw home is low, Molina can't hang on and gets error. Reds get run.

[Tom Servo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GflexlvVvDE

[reds44]

The Panda is having issues playing 3rd.

[Red in Chicago]

molina giveth a run back :thumbup:

and now so does pablo

[Kc61]

Another grounder, this time to third. Another bad throw home. Another run. Five Giant errors, Reds by three.

[Doc. Scott]

Rolen reaches on a error'd force play, making it 7-5. Bases still loaded.

[WVRedsFan]

I cannot believe what I just saw. The Giants look like the Reds. 8-5 Reds. On the west coast? I must have died or am dreaming.

[redsfandan]

Wow, who would've thought this could've happened with Lincecum starting for San Fran?

[Doc. Scott]

And now another Giant error on Balentien's grounder makes it 8-5. Wow.

[Tom Servo]

Let's play the Giants every night! 9-5!

[reds44]

Apparently the Reds are playing the Reds tonight.

[Doc. Scott]

A wild pitch scores another run.

[Kc61]

Wild pitch, Reds up by four.

This inning shows you what happens when you just hit the ball. Even these squib grounders are resulting in runs. Sometimes it's good to just hit the ball.

It also shows how patience at the plate is good. Three walks this inning.

[Kc61]

Nix Sac fly, ten five game.

[Doc. Scott]

And now a productive out (Nix sac-fly). Dusty has got to be floating in a dreamworld of magic mammaries in that there dugout.

[WVRedsFan]

Nix with the coveted SF makes it 10-5. Really unusual start to a wc series for the Reds. Reds got 5 runs on exactly 1 hit!

Glad I stayed up and checked in tonight--something I thought I wouldn't do again for awhile.

[WVRedsFan]

And now a productive out (Nix sac-fly). Dusty has got to be floating in a dreamworld of magic mammaries in that there dugout.

Magic mammaries?

I'd like to see some of those :).

[CTA513]

Its good to be on the other side of a meltdown like that.

[Tom Servo]

Nature Boy Rich Aurilia

[Doc. Scott]

Cordero in for the... uh... non-save?

[WVRedsFan]

He was out!!!

[Tom Servo]

Giants get a gift. Ump calls Aurilia safe but he was out.

[Red in Chicago]

richie was out

[Doc. Scott]

Magic mammaries?

I'd like to see some of those :).

I use a slightly more explicit version of that phrase all the time. Often I forget that I made it up (based on a line from the "Lazy Sunday" SNL sketch) and use it like it's actually part of pop culture.

Sorry for the confusion.

[Kc61]

Aurelia safe on grounder to deep short.

Of course, he was really out by two feet. Terrible, terrible call.

Dusty argues to no avail.

That one was just ridiculous.

[Doc. Scott]

Aurilia jacks his average to .217. If only he could be starting every day...

[penantboundreds]

Umpires hate the Reds. Those two calls on EdE in Chi-town, pitchers getting squeezed, Votto regularly gets bad calls on pitches, I wonder what they did??

Anyone feel that way?

...he was out at first obviously

[WVRedsFan]

Aurilia jacks his average to .217. If only he could be starting every day...

If he was on the Reds, he'd be starting alongside Gonzo and Taveras. Sub-.250 is our mantra.

[Kc61]

Pop up to third. Rolen catches it. Surprised the ump gave the Reds an out.

[Doc. Scott]

Velez and Cordero have an epic 12-pitch battle before the batboy pops out to Rolen.

[Tony Cloninger]

Votto got the call on ball 4.... but yes that was a terrible call....worthy of the Don Denkinger award for blatantly obtuse decisions made without any semblance of reason.

When is Dusty going to blow a fuse? Lou would have had 2 heart attacks and a triple bypass as the Reds manager.

[Kc61]

Coco walks Sanchez. Giants announcers excited that Cordero is getting his pitch count up. They probably don't realize that the Reds haven't had any save opportunities in about a month. Coco is beyond rested.

RBI single now and the Giants are within four.

[Tom Servo]

Figured this would happen.

[Red in Chicago]

bases loaded...are you kidding me? NO extra innings tonight!!

[11larkin11]

Coco did this on purpose right? Tying run in on deck circle makes this a save situation right? He's going to get out of this right?

[Doc. Scott]

Now Cordero's loaded the bases.

[Kc61]

Fly out to Willy T. One to go. Runners all hold.

[Tony Cloninger]

Is Rollie Fingers throwing up in the bullpen yet?

[WVRedsFan]

You know, Codero rarely throws a strike. If you're patient, you can get on. Most can't be patient, though.

[Doc. Scott]

Molina flies out to short center. Two out.

[Tom Servo]

This one belongs to the Reds.

[Kc61]

Game over. Somehow the Giants didn't score in the ninth. Reds on a winning streak.

[CTA513]

Only took him 32 pitches to hold down the 5 run lead.

:cool:

[Doc. Scott]

Winn grounds to second. THIS ONE BELONGS TO THE REDS

[Tom Servo]

Laynce Nix seems unimpressed with himself and his team.

[WVRedsFan]

Observations.

1. Reds scored 5 unearned runs tonight (the difference in the game)
2. Hanagan's hitless night put him below .300 for the first time since April.
3. Gonzo is now at .200 for the first time in who knows how long
4. Homer continues to allow runs. 5 tonight. On any other night he loses. Thank the Giant defense. say what you want, but the kid is not a good pitcher. IMHO, he never will be.
5. Two in a row and with Zito pitching, maybe three. Go figure.

[traderumor]

Coco did this on purpose right? Tying run in on deck circle makes this a save situation right? He's going to get out of this right?
No, he can't create his own save situation. That has to be the situation, at the least, when a reliever comes into the game to qualify for a save.

[KoryMac5]

Observations.

1. Reds scored 5 unearned runs tonight (the difference in the game)
2. Hanagan's hitless night put him below .300 for the first time since April.
3. Gonzo is now at .200 for the first time in who knows how long
4. Homer continues to allow runs. 5 tonight. On any other night he loses. Thank the Giant defense. say what you want, but the kid is not a good pitcher. IMHO, he never will be.
5. Two in a row and with Zito pitching, maybe three. Go figure.

Thanks for the indepth analysis :rolleyes:.