Saturday 8.29.09 Reds v Dodgers

[klw]

Stubbs 8
Janish 6
Votto 3
Phillips 4
Rolen 5
Balentien 7
Gomes 9
Tatum 2
Maloney 1
vs. RH Charlie Haeger (1-1, 1.93), a knuckleballer.

Reds on season-high five-game winning streak, their longest since 6-game winning streak from May 12-18 of 2008.
--
1B Kevin Barker has been optioned to Louisville as LHP Matt Maloney comes up to start today's game, manager Dusty Baker told us at his pre-game media session.
"It's always a tough decision, but there are a couple of guys with a little more versatility," Baker said.
Baker said Barker will return once Louisville finishes its Triple-A playoffs.
--
OF Laynce Nix hopes to return in a day or two from a stiff neck. Nix had an MRI on Friday and said he has a bulging disk, and is doing treatments. He said the problem stems from an outfield collision he had with then-Milwaukee teammate Geoff Jenkins a few years ago; after occasional problems since, he finally had it checked out.
--
OF Jay Bruce (disabled/broken wrist) said he has begun swinging a bat but is not yet cleared to hit.
Bruce also will take the lineup card out again today, as he has done during the Reds' current winning streak.
--
Francisco Cordero probably not available today after pitching 4 straight days, Baker says; Rhodes/Masset/Burton could close if needed.
--
Dodgers lineup
Furcal 6
Pierre 8
MRamirez 7
Kemp 9
Loney 3
Loretta 5
Hudson 4
Ausmus 2
Haeger 1

[Matt700wlw]

I'm glad to see Dusty giving Stubbs a lot of at bats. It needs to be seen what he can do offensively. Defensively, he's fine.

[Matt700wlw]

Maloney reportedly has a sinker and a cutter now.....

[KoryMac5]

Knuckler going for the Dodgers today could give these free swingers some trouble.

[mth123]

Furcal flies to Gomes.

Got no Video today, so please chime in.

[mth123]

Pierre Singles. Dusty gets inspired.

[KoryMac5]

Same old Matt Maloney.

[mth123]

ManRam Homers. Hard to knock a guy for giving up a HR to Manny, but Maloney sure gives up a lot of them. Dumatrait territory.

[mth123]

Kemp pops to Votto. 2 Down.

[Matt700wlw]

I leave the room for 5 minutes and it's 2-0.

My fault. I will no longer leave the room :D

[HokieRed]

What kind of pitch did Manny hit?

[mth123]

What kind of pitch did Manny hit?

Gameday says 4 Seam Fastball at the usual 87 MPH. Maloney was a guy to deal not a guy to hang on to. I think that ship has sailed.

[mth123]

Loney grounded out to Votto.

[_Sir_Charles_]

What kind of pitch did Manny hit?

The kind that hit his bat squarely. :D

[KoryMac5]

Kind of excited to see a knuckleballer at GABP.

[Matt700wlw]

That was a nasty pitch, and Stubbs had no idea

[mth123]

Stubbs K's. He did foul one which is more than I expected against the knuckler.

[Matt700wlw]

I was supposed to go to this game, but nobody wanted to go, so the outing fell apart.

[mth123]

Janish FO to Manny.

[KoryMac5]

Manny remains an adventure in the field.

[mth123]

I was supposed to go to this game, but nobody wanted to go, so the outing fell apart.

Cincy baseball in a nutshell here in the 21st century.

[Matt700wlw]

that knuckleball is odd.

[mth123]

Votto K's.

[Matt700wlw]

Cincy baseball in a nutshell here in the 21st century.

I was geared to go. I just like to watch baseball. Nothing better than sitting at a ballpark, in the beautiful weather, drinking a couple of $7 beers, and just being a part of the atmosphere. :)

It was a pretty cool setup too....meet at the local tavern, get on a bus (beer provided), sit in the bleachers, and go back to the bar. $16!

Oh well.

[mth123]

Loretta with a single. Maloney touched 90 on the pitch he hit. Sure doesn't live up to his namesake.

[mth123]

Hudson singles. 1st and second.

[Matt700wlw]

This isn't starting well

[mth123]

Ausmus singles. Loretta scores. Hudson to 3B.

[Matt700wlw]

the start isn't ending well...

[mth123]

Haeger SAC Ausmus to 2B
Furcal with a SF. Hudson scores. 4-0.

[Matt700wlw]

Stubbs!

Chubbs!

:D

[mth123]

Pierre singles and Stubbs nails Ausmus. Someone with video please chime in.

[KoryMac5]

Maloney may have to take the hit tonight. Can't see Baker wanting to burn through the pen early.

[Matt700wlw]

Pierre singles and Stubbs nails Ausmus. Someone with video please chime in.



A nice throw, and a very nice play by Tatum....caught Ausmus on the shoulder just as he crossed the plate

[HokieRed]

Agree Maloney needs to hang in there for at least six.

[KoryMac5]

Just audio here, stupid blackout rules.

[TeamBoone]

That was one outrageous throw from right field to the plate on one short bounce!

[mth123]

Phillips K's.

[KoryMac5]

The story on Haeger is an interesting one. Originally a 25th round choice, left baseball to play golf at a local college. Started messin around with a knuckleball and came back to baseball and the rest is history. Supposedly has the best knuckleball since Wakefield.

[mth123]

Rolen GO to Furcal. Wlad up. Should be comical.

[mth123]

Wlad Walks. I'm impressed.

[KoryMac5]

Looking forward to seeing what Gomes does with the knuckler.

[nate]

The story on Haeger is an interesting one. Originally a 25th round choice, left baseball to play golf at a local college. Started messin around with a knuckleball and came back to baseball and the rest is history. Supposedly has the best knuckleball since Wakefield.

I thought he joined Van Halen.

Maybe that was someone else...

:cool:

[mth123]

Gomes FO to CF.

[Matt700wlw]

I thought he joined Van Halen.

Maybe that was someone else...

:cool:

His new band is called Chickenfoot.

http://www.chickenfoot.us/

[mth123]

Manny K's.

[mth123]

Kemp GO to Janish.

[mth123]

Loney K's. Nice Inning.

[KoryMac5]

Nice inning there for Maloney, hopefully he has found a groove.

[Matt700wlw]

Woah!

:jump:

[mth123]

Tatum Homers. Nice moment for him.

[mth123]

Maloney GO.

[Matt700wlw]

Stubbs is a base clogger

[mth123]

Stubbs walks.

[Matt700wlw]

Stubbs steals!

[Brutus]

Stubbs steals!

Amazing. The Reds exploit a knuckleballer by stealing. Who'da thunk it.

[Matt700wlw]

Janish!

:jump:

[WVRedsFan]

Janish with power to make it 4-3.

Wow.

[KoryMac5]

Janish's bat speed was perfect for that knuckler.

[mth123]

Janis Homers on a change-up from Haeger. 4-3.

[WVRedsFan]

Janish is winning me over even though I still think the Reds should go shortstop shopping in the off season.

[Brutus]

When you can get it done against Billingsley, but the going gets rough against Charlie Haeger, Craig Tatum and Paul Janish shall bail you out.

[mth123]

Votto doubles.

[Matt700wlw]

That Votto guy is pretty good.....too bad his BA has slipped to the lower .300s

:p:

[Tom Servo]

Tatum and Janish homered? REALLY?

[membengal]

Tatum and Janish homered? REALLY?

It's not on TV here, so I am guessing it is all a well-executed practical joke by mth and others...

[Brutus]

It's not on TV here, so I am guessing it is all a well-executed practical joke by mth and others...

It's a pretty well-executed one, too. They even got the gamecenter and gamecast folks with the respective sites to go along with it.

[WVRedsFan]

You know, Phillips swings at so many pitches way outside of the strike zone. IF he would just hold up on those...

[membengal]

It's a pretty well-executed one, too. They even got the gamecenter and gamecast folks with the respective sites to go along with it.

You can't half-ass a good practical joke, so I tip my hat to them...

[WVRedsFan]

Brand new ball game as Phillips drives Votto in.

[mth123]

Phillips singles ties it.

[Matt700wlw]

Sammy's leaving!

Wait, wrong profession.

[WVRedsFan]

haeger pulled in the 3rd. Now we get that fantastic Dodger Bluepen.

[Brutus]

haeger pulled in the 3rd. Now we get that fantastic Dodger Bluepen.

that fantastic, much overworked Dodger Bluepen.

[KoryMac5]

Haeger looked like a world beater that first inning. Didn't take long for the Reds to adjust.

[Tom Servo]

There's something different about this Reds team in the last week or so. I thought that game where Lehr gave up 4 runs to the Brewers in the 1st and this one were both over (and would have earlier in the season) but both times we've tied it up early.

[Brutus]

You can't half-ass a good practical joke, so I tip my hat to them...

I was really hoping, as part of the joke, this knuckleball character would stay around a few more batters. I thought for sure they'd stage Phillips stealing 2nd, 3rd and home against him.

[mth123]

There's something different about this Reds team in the last week or so. I thought that game where Lehr gave up 4 runs to the Brewers in the 1st and this one were both over (and would have earlier in the season) but both times we've tied it up early.

Its called No Willy and No Seabass.

[Matt700wlw]

No pressure.

[mth123]

Jeff Weaver pitching. Rolen Singles. Phillips to 2B.

[mth123]

Wlad flies out. 2 down.

[WVRedsFan]

Its called No Willy and No Seabass.

Good point, but whoda figured Stubbs and Janish at the top of the order would make a difference? I prefer the idea that Rolen and Gomes are part of the resurgence.

[mth123]

Good point, but whoda figured Stubbs and Janish at the top of the order would make a difference? I prefer the idea that Rolen and Gomes are part of the resurgence.

They are as well. But Willy Taveras is the most soul suckingly awful baseball player in history. His absence helps the most IMO.

[mth123]

Gomes grounds out.

[Brutus]

They are as well. But Willy Taveras is the most soul suckingly awful baseball player in history. His absence helps the most IMO.

Think about the implications of what I'm about to say...

The Reds upgraded their leadoff OBP to .260

[Matt700wlw]

Dusty's on TV

[mth123]

Dusty's on TV

Since I have no video here, for a moment my mood soared as I thought maybe he got canned as was back with ESPN. Then I remembered that this game is on Fox.

[Brutus]

Another 1-2-3 inning for Maloney. Like Lehr did against Milwaukee, he's settling in.

[mth123]

Loretta FO 8.
Hudson K's.
Ausmus GO.

Maloney getting it together?

[mth123]

Babe Tatum leading off the inning GO on the first pitch.

[mth123]

Maloney up for the second time (I'd have lost that bet) singles.

[mth123]

Wild pitch. Maloney to 2B.

[mth123]

Stubbs Ks.

[Brutus]

Stubbs Ks.

Did you have to type that or was it copied already on your computer's clipboard?
:thumbup:

[mth123]

Janish Ks.

[mth123]

Maloney has righted the ship, but his HR tendancies scare the bejeebers out of me. I fear the 3rd time through the order.

[mth123]

Weaver Ks.

[Matt700wlw]

wow

[mth123]

Furcal Homers.

[Matt700wlw]

That's some good shortstop play right there!

[mth123]

Pierre GO.

[mth123]

Manny FO. 5-4 LA.

[Matt700wlw]

Votto is cool

[Matt700wlw]

Phillips is pretty cool, too..

[jojo]

Maloney has righted the ship, but his HR tendancies scare the bejeebers out of me. I fear the 3rd time through the order.

And it's not just on bad days....it's an ever present danger.....kinda like a one pitch at a time concern.

[mth123]

Votto Singles, Phillips Doubles. 2nd and 3rd. No out. Need Runs here.

[mth123]

Rolen HBP. Loaded for Wlad.

[Brutus]

Way to go Roger Dorn!

[Matt700wlw]

No excuse to not score runs in this inning.

[Matt700wlw]

Is that an unproductive out?

[mth123]

Wlad hits into a FC. Votto out at home. Still loaded for Gomes.

[Brutus]

Dodgers have already thrown 106 pitches through 4.1 innings, though it's hardly a consolation if the Reds can't make them pay this inning.

[mth123]

Gomes pops to Furcal. 2 outs. The Reds showed back-up.

[Matt700wlw]

Pathetic inning.

[mth123]

Tatum Ks. Ugh

[mth123]

Most Dangerous time of the game IMO. I'd have Herrera and Fisher warming.

[Strikes Out Looking]

Whatever happened to Micha Owings? Did Dusty decide he'd make him his scapegoat once Chris Dickerson went on the DL?

[VR]

Jeff Weaver, who throws 90% slider/spinners these days....loads up the bases...and the next three Reds all try to hit dingers down the left field line on the 1st pitch, take a strike, and then try to yank another outside pitch down the left field line resulting in a feeble groundout, feeble pop up, and feeble k....all against Jeff Weaver.
You just have to wonder if they have scouting reports that they share with the players? or the players just ignore them.
Hit the ball to right field if your are facing a crafty dude like Weaver. Simple stuff.

[Matt700wlw]

Maloney got away with one there.....that was a ball.

[Matt700wlw]

Reds get a huge break! Time to win this one, boys!

[mth123]

Was away for a minute.

Kemp singled
Loney walked
Lorettta K's
Kemp picked off
Hudson walked
Ausmus Popped out.

escaped unharmed.

[mth123]

Sutton hitting for Maloney. Good time to get him out of there.

[mth123]

Sutton Ks.

[mth123]

Stubbs GO.

[Matt700wlw]

Wow. Furcal.

Wow.

[mth123]

Janish doubles. He's making a charge for 2010 SS job.

[mth123]

Votto Free pass. 1st and 2nd for Phillips.

[mth123]

Phillips with an IF hit. Loaded. Chance for the Rolen effect here.

[mth123]

Ramon Troncoso in to pitch.

[mth123]

Rolen GO. Inning over.

[mth123]

Personal Favorite Carlos Fisher pitching to PH Andre Ethier

[mth123]

Ethier doubles.

[mth123]

Furcal bunts. In typical Reds style Fisher with an error. 2nd and 3rd no outs.

[mth123]

Pierre drives in 2 on a deflected single.

[Reds4Life]

Now Tatum airs a ball into center field trying to throw out a runner.

This inning is comical.

[mth123]

Manny walks. Bad day for Carlos.

[Reds4Life]

Ball game, baby. 3 run HR for Kemp.

10-4 Dodgers.

[Tony Cloninger]

Rolen did more than just GO....he got robbed by Hudson.

This ump.....calls any close 2-0...3-0 pitch a strike....then the same pitch that he calls a strike to Ramirez on 3-0...which was worse than the more obvious strike to Ethier before he hits a double.... A whatever.....long bomb.....this stinks. Its one of those games that was right there but the luck run out for them this game.

[mth123]

I guess I jinxed Carlos by calling him a favorite. Ugh.

[mth123]

Herrera pitching now.

[BCubb2003]

Maybe the Rolen Effect ran out of power.

[Reds4Life]

HR from Hudson.

11-4 Dodgers now.

[Red in Chicago]

well, we knew it wasn't going to last...after winning 5 in a row, they'll now probably go on to lose 6 or 7 in a row...

[TheNext44]

well, we knew it wasn't going to last...after winning 5 in a row, they'll now probably go on to lose 6 or 7 in a row...

Where'd everyone go?

I mean if Janish hits a 6 run homer, the Reds are right back in this game!

[BCubb2003]

Isn't there a rule that if the other team throws a glove at the ball then the batter gets a triple? So if seven or more players throw gloves at the ball, we should be in good shape.

[Spring~Fields]

LA Dodgers 11, Cincinnati 4

Scoring Summary
Top 1st: LA Dodgers
- M. Ramirez homered to right, J. Pierre scored

Top 2nd: LA Dodgers
- B. Ausmus singled to first, M. Loretta scored, O. Hudson to third
- R. Furcal hit sacrifice fly to left, O. Hudson scored

Bot 3rd: Cincinnati
- C. Tatum homered to left
- P. Janish homered to left, D. Stubbs scored
- B. Phillips singled to shallow center, J. Votto scored

Top 5th: LA Dodgers
- R. Furcal homered to right

Top 7th: LA Dodgers
- J. Pierre singled to pitcher, A. Ethier and R. Furcal scored
- M. Kemp homered to deep right center, J. Pierre and M. Ramirez scored
- O. Hudson homered to deep left


Dodgers Batting
2B - A Ethier (34, C Fisher).

HR - R Furcal (7, 5th inning off M Maloney 0 on, 1 Out), M Ramirez (14, 1st inning off M Maloney 1 on, 1 Out), M Kemp (20, 7th inning off C Fisher 2 on, 0 Out), O Hudson (9, 7th inning off D Herrera 0 on, 2 Out).

S - C Haeger.

SF - R Furcal.

RBI - R Furcal 2 (38), J Pierre 2 (28), M Ramirez 2 (48), M Kemp 3 (83), O Hudson (58), B Ausmus (9).

2-out RBI - O Hudson.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Ausmus 1.

GIDP - M Loretta.

Team LOB - 4.

Base Running
CS - M Kemp (7, 3rd base by M Maloney/C Tatum).

Fielding
E - O Hudson (6, field).

DP - 1 (O Hudson-J Loney).

Reds Batting
2B - P Janish (9, J Weaver); J Votto (21, C Haeger); B Phillips (23, J Weaver).

HR - P Janish (1, 3rd inning off C Haeger 1 on, 1 Out), C Tatum (1, 3rd inning off C Haeger 0 on, 0 Out).

RBI - P Janish 2 (10), B Phillips (79), C Tatum (2).

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - P Janish 1, S Rolen 2, J Gomes 1, C Tatum 2.

GIDP - P Janish.

Team LOB - 11.

Base Running
SB - D Stubbs (2, 2nd base off C Haeger/B Ausmus).

Fielding
E - C Tatum (1, field); C Fisher (1, field).

Outfield assists - D Stubbs.

DP - 1 (P Janish-B Phillips-J Votto).

Pitching


IP H R ER BB K HR WHIP Season ERA
C. Haeger 2.1 4 4 4 2 3 2 1.10 3.86
J. Weaver 3.1 6 0 0 1 4 0 1.47 3.52 (W, 6-4)
R. Troncoso 0.1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.36 2.65 (H, 12)
R. Belisario 2.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.13 2.18
G. Mota 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.16 3.34


IP H R ER BB K HR WHIP Season ERA
M. Maloney 6.0 8 5 5 2 5 2 1.39 6.46 (L, 0-3)
C. Fisher 0.0 4 5 5 1 0 1 1.42 3.94
D. Herrera 1.0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1.42 2.70
M. Owings 2.0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1.60 5.42