9/4/09 - Reds vs. Braves

[Tom Servo]

Stubbs CF
Janish SS
Votto 1B
Phillips 2B
Rolen 3B
Gomes LF
Balentien RF
Miller C
Arroyo P


Bravos:
Diaz
Prado
Chipper
McCann
LaRoche
Escobar
Church
Infante
Lowe

[KoryMac5]

That's almost a lineup I can live with.

[Degenerate39]

That's almost a lineup I can live with.

Yeah if you'd put in Hanigan and Bruce in there that wouldn't look that bad

[membengal]

That is indeed a good looking line-up. As good as can be expected at this point in the year.

[WVRedsFan]

Not a good start for Bronson. It could be an ugly inning.

[nate]

Chat is open.

[WVRedsFan]

That's the value of a Scott Rolen at third base. Out of the inning. Rolen is worth twice what they pay him. We haven't see that at third in years.

[HeatherC1212]

Happy Friday everyone! I hope the Reds can keep up their good playing on this long road trip. That first inning was a little rough but hopefully it settles Bronson down and he gets into his good groove soon. :)

How is everyone doing tonight? I'm SO happy it's Friday and a long weekend! :D

[WVRedsFan]

Hi, Heather. Looks like everyone else is asleep or already partying.

[HeatherC1212]

HR Gomes!! :jump:

[WVRedsFan]

Great goodness. What a blast by Gomes. 1-0 Reds!

[HeatherC1212]

Hi, Heather. Looks like everyone else is asleep or already partying.

I guess so! I won't be partying until Sunday at the fireworks but I don't blame anyone if they're out and about all ready after what feels like a VERY long week, LOL :laugh:

That was a BOMB by Gomes and now Balentein hits a triple! :D

[WVRedsFan]

Wlad can run. triple! They're beginning to hit Lowe.

[HeatherC1212]

Hopefully they can keep hitting Lowe tonight but he's a tough groundball guy. I wonder how many of the current Reds are part of that .186 or whatever batting average they talked about during the start of the game that Lowe has held them too overall. I would bet not too many of them but I could be wrong.

Chris Welsh sounds like he's in a tunnel or something. Thanks for the random sound issues again, FSN Ohio, LOL ;)

[WVRedsFan]

I was wondering what was wrong with Chris. I thought for amoment he was sick.

FSN-OH is bush league when it comes to the FSN channels.

[HeatherC1212]

Stubbs gets a hit. Someone forgot to tell him that he's not supposed to hit well in the majors, LOL :laugh:

[KoryMac5]

Arroyo K's 1 down.

[HeatherC1212]

I wonder if Chris's microphone is either not high enough or under his tie or something. He really does sound like he's in a tunnel.

Darn double play. Those are only good when we're the ones turning them. :p:

[WVRedsFan]

There is the textbook reason why you don't bat the bango-hitting shortstop second. Rally killer lots of the time.

[KoryMac5]

Stubbs with a nice single to left. Went down and got that pitch.

[mth123]

Just noticed that Arroyo's era is actually lower than Derek Lowe's now.

[KoryMac5]

Too bad because I really would like to see what Drew can do on the bases.

[KoryMac5]

Just noticed that Arroyo's era is actually lower than Derek Lowe's now.

Who would you rather have Lowe or Bronson?

[VR]

Janish is slow. Really, really slow.

[KoryMac5]

Diaz flies out, 1 down.

[mth123]

Who would you rather have Lowe or Bronson?

Probably Lowe, but Arroyo is not the throwaway that many on here seem to think. He's a quality major league starter who eats a ton of innings while giving his team a chance to win more often than not.

[KoryMac5]

Bronson seems to be popping the mitt a bit tonight, though the radar gun says 89-90.

[KoryMac5]

Arroyo gets another out on a groundball to the left side.

[KoryMac5]

Nice shovel by Brandon, Arroyo settling in.

[HeatherC1212]

That picture of Bronson and Derek when they were with the RS was pretty funny. :D

[KoryMac5]

Probably Lowe, but Arroyo is not the throwaway that many on here seem to think. He's a quality major league starter who eats a ton of innings while giving his team a chance to win more often than not.

I agree, it's amazing to me that Bronson has shaved more than a point off his ERA so quickly. he definitely needs to focus on what he is doing different in the 2nd half of seasons.

[HeatherC1212]

Brandon probably feels like a walk is a victory against Lowe at this point. :p:

Danny Graves as a starter was an epic fail. :eek:

[KoryMac5]

Votto grounds sharply, one out.

[KoryMac5]

Time to see what good Brandon can do on the basepaths tonight. I really want Dusty to start turning these guys loose.

[KoryMac5]

Brandon with 23 stolen bases on the year, 2 more and he ties Willy T for the lead. Rolen K's and Gomes grounds out. 1-0 Reds.

[HeatherC1212]

Ouch, tough play for Joey. :(

[redhawkfish]

With that BB, BP has tied his career seasn high BB total with 39.

[KoryMac5]

McCann flies to right, 1 down.

[KoryMac5]

Ouch, tough play for Joey. :(

Move him to left :p:

[HeatherC1212]

Ouch! That's not good for either player. :eek:

And Bobby got tossed all ready, LOL :laugh:

[WVRedsFan]

Double Back Hit. First time I've ever seen that.

[HeatherC1212]

Move him to left :p:

Bite your tongue! :p:

Wow, he totally blocked the ball from getting to Joey by leaving the basepaths. I don't think I've seen that before. :eek:

[KoryMac5]

Ouch all the way around on that play.

[VR]

Amazing play by Arroyo on that....his hustle saved himself a run.

[HeatherC1212]

Poor Bronson. He's having a bit of a night so far. Hopefully things settle back down again soon! :D

[KoryMac5]

150 ejections for Cox all time.

[KoryMac5]

Umpires made the right call on that play, Escobar was on the grass not on the basepaths.

[KoryMac5]

Bronson settles back in and gets the third out on a gb to Janish.

[HeatherC1212]

I hope Escobar is all right. I always hate when players get injured on a simple play like running to first base.

[BCubb2003]

Balentien with the bi-cycle.

[KoryMac5]

Wlad swinging a nice bat.

[KoryMac5]

Corky bunts Wlad along to bring up Bronson.

[mbgrayson]

Balentin leads off with a double smoked down the left field line.

Miller places a nice bunt, moving Balentin to third....wasted out.

Arroyo swings at the first pitch, and pops out to shortstop.

Stubbs then flies out to deep right.

[KoryMac5]

Arroyo doesn't help his cause, pops up.

[KoryMac5]

Balentin leads off with a double smoked down the left field line.

Miller places a nice bunt, moving Balentin to third....wasted out.

Arroyo swings at the first pitch, and pops out to shortstop.

Stubbs then flies out to deep right.

Especially when you bunt the runner over to bring up the pitcher.

[RedsManRick]

I really don't understanding bunting ahead of the pitcher. If it works, the pitcher has to drive in the run. If it doesn't work, you need a hit anyways, so there was no reason to give up the out to advance a speedy runner from 2nd to 3rd. Dusty might be the worst tactician I've ever seen -- just completely unable to think for himself. If it's not part of the book as it existing during his playing days, he's not capable of understanding it.

You might say our manager needs a coach. He's got some great raw tools, especially intangibles, but he really needs to refine his approach if he's going to be a contributor in the big leagues.

[KoryMac5]

Even though Stubbs flew out, it is nice to see him using all fields.

[WVRedsFan]

Dusty ball. Go figure.

[HeatherC1212]

Hey, they finally fixed Chris's microphone! :)

[mth123]

I really don't understanding bunting ahead of the pitcher. If it works, the pitcher has to drive in the run. If it doesn't work, you need a hit anyways, so there was no reason to give up the out to advance a speedy runner from 2nd to 3rd. Dusty might be the worst tactician I've ever seen -- just completely clueless.

I second this motion.

All in favor say aye.

[KoryMac5]

Arroyo starting to get hit a bit here.

[HeatherC1212]

Nice play by Miller there to get Lowe off second base. :)

[KoryMac5]

You can't fall asleep on the bases if your the pitcher. What was Lowe thinking.

[mbgrayson]

Especially when you bunt the runner over to bring up the pitcher.

Agreed...

Even without the pitcher coming up, the generic run expectancy with a runner on 2nd and 0 outs is 1.189. With a runner on third and one out it is .983. That assumes that the sacrifice works...which it did. So Dusty's best case scenario was reducing the run exectancy by .2 runs in that inning, on average.

(See the run expectancy table at page 17 of "The Book", by Tom Tango.)

[BCubb2003]

Does every ballpark have a button that plays "Everybody clap yo hands"?

[HeatherC1212]

Boy have the Reds gotten out of some tough jams tonight! Not that I mind although my heart rate keeps changing from inning to inning, LOL :laugh:

[mth123]

Pick-off changed that inning. Prado FO and Chipper GO. Arroyo a bit fortunate tonight.

[KoryMac5]

Boy have the Reds gotten out of some tough jams tonight! Not that I mind although my heart rate keeps changing from inning to inning, LOL :laugh:

We should definitely send a thank you note to Lowe. That was a big out. Lowe has to be glad Cox was ejected.

[KoryMac5]

Bronson's ERA stands at a respectable 4.23 as of right now.

[HeatherC1212]

Dear Mr. Lowe:

Thank you so much for falling asleep on the basepaths. You helped us out a lot by getting picked off at second base and we really appreciate it. If you could now fall asleep and leave a few balls out over the plate for our guys to hit out of your park that would be wonderful.

Best Regards,

Reds Fans :D

[KoryMac5]

Nice touch Heather somehow I don't think he would appreciate it.

[HeatherC1212]

But I was so polite in my wording of the letter.....:p:

[KoryMac5]

Nice AB by Votto to get the walk, good patience.

[HeatherC1212]

Nice job Brandon and GREAT job Joey at flying around the bases! :D

Reds up 2-0 and Brandon finally gets a hit off Lowe. :)

[HeatherC1212]

Rolen just keeps rolling for the Reds.....:D

Reds up 3-0!

[HeatherC1212]

Aww, it's Scott Rolen's son's birthday! :)

[KoryMac5]

Nothing like good hitting during a win streak. Just good appoaches at the plate.

[KoryMac5]

Wlad had owned Lowe, would have liked to seen some patience there at the plate. Got a little over anxious.

[KoryMac5]

3-0 Reds as Wlad grounded out into a DP to end the inning.

[KoryMac5]

71 pitches for Arroyo at this point, this after having the bases loaded in the first. Nice.

[KoryMac5]

Nate Dawg got good wood on that one 3-1 Reds.

[mbgrayson]

After 6, Reds 3, Braves 1.

Arroyo 80 pitches, 53 strikes.
Lowe 85 pitches, 54 strikes.

[KoryMac5]

After 6, Reds 3, Braves 1.

Arroyo 80 pitches, 53 strikes.
Lowe 85 pitches, 54 strikes.

Nice pitchers duel from two guys who keep the game moving.

[KoryMac5]

Prado robs Miller of a sure hit.

[KoryMac5]

Arroyo with the U Turn as he K's.

[KoryMac5]

Stubbs K's as well.

[HeatherC1212]

Anyone else amused about John Schneider and Katherine Bach being in the ballpark tonight? :laugh:

[WVRedsFan]

Anyone else amused about John Schneider and Katherine Bach being in the ballpark tonight? :laugh:
Age is cruel, isn't it?

[KoryMac5]

Anyone else amused about John Schneider and Katherine Bach being in the ballpark tonight? :laugh:

One of my favorite TV shows when I was a kid. Loved Rosco's dog Flash.

[KoryMac5]

Bronson getting away with some pitches tonight. He does a really good job keeping hitters off balance.

[Scrap Irony]

Hot pursuit, Flash. Hot pursuit. Always thought that would be a great snippet to play with a Red on base running and another guy right behind.

[Tom Servo]

King Arthur warming up.

[HeatherC1212]

I loved Dukes of Hazzard when I was younger. I have no idea why but it just amuses me that both of those stars are randomly at a Braves game tonight. :D John actually has a really nice singing voice. I saw him on some talk show a while back and he sang on there. He did a really nice job. :)

[KoryMac5]

Prado flies out to end the inning. 3-1 Reds.

[KoryMac5]

I loved Dukes of Hazzard when I was younger. I have no idea why but it just amuses me that both of those stars are randomly at a Braves game tonight. :D John actually has a really nice singing voice. I saw him on some talk show a while back and he sang on there. He did a really nice job. :)

I would have been really amused had Flash been there with them. Though I would imagine Flash is no longer with us.

[Scrap Irony]

With his last inning, Arroyo takes the Red lead for ERA+ away from Aaron Harang. Arroyo, Harang, and Volquez are slightly above league average at this point, while Cueto (98+), Owings, (83), and Bailey (75) have pitched below.

[KoryMac5]

Lowe is out and the side winder Moylan is in.

[HeatherC1212]

Nice to see Joey walking instead of striking out. :)

[Tony Cloninger]

Listening to Braves announcers out here on MLB....and it amazes me that an announcer can ask if Mike Marshall's games pitched record had been broken recently?
How can you not know something like this when all you do is follow baseball?
You think if someone had it would not have been a big deal there Joe Simpson?
He was talking about the new pitcher pitching in 75 games already.

Rant over...Carry on now.

[Brutus]

What? No Tom Wopat?

Ah. 'Just the Good Ole' Boys. Never meanin' no harm. Beats all you never saw and in trouble with the law since the day they were born.

[HeatherC1212]

Base hit by Brandon. Walking Joey isn't quite the good thing that it was for teams earlier this year with Brandon and Scott hitting well behind him now. ;)

[KoryMac5]

With his last inning, Arroyo takes the Red lead for ERA+ away from Aaron Harang. Arroyo, Harang, and Volquez are slightly above league average at this point, while Cueto (98+), Owings, (83), and Bailey (75) have pitched below.

Too bad Harang got hurt, I thought he had started to turn the corner. Would have been a nice one two punch for the Reds as they make their late season run to respectability.

[Kc61]

Phillips with a hit. Braves announcer says he is 16 for his last 28. When Phillips is hitting this way, he is a very valuable player.

[HeatherC1212]

Ouch! I hope Chipper is all right. This is a dangerous game tonight! :eek:

[Kc61]

Rolen with a smash to Chipper who can't handle it. Bad hop, they say. Chipper shaken up. Bags full. Let's go Reds.

Error on Chipper. Now Gomes with bags full.

[KoryMac5]

Moylan sporting one of Atlanta's rally haircuts.

[Kc61]

Gomes fans. Two down. Bags full.

Wlad ends the inning with a pop up.

[KoryMac5]

Gomes has to get that run in. Especially when your playing for a contract next yr.

[BCubb2003]

Moylan's haircut a tribute to Smoltz.

[KoryMac5]

Bases left juiced, as Wlad pops out. 3-1 Reds.

[Brutus]

Gomes has to get that run in. Especially when your playing for a contract next yr.

He's done more than his fair share for the club the past 2 months.

[Tom Servo]

Old McDonald in at left.

[HeatherC1212]

Rhodes mows everyone down in the 8th. :)

[KoryMac5]

He's done more than his fair share for the club the past 2 months.

Dude needs to make every AB count down the stretch.

[KoryMac5]

Kawakami on to pitch the 9th for the Braves.

[Brutus]

Dude needs to make every AB count down the stretch.

That could be said for everyone. But he's OPS'ing 923 as of this moment. I'd say he's making a lot count.

[KoryMac5]

That could be said for everyone. But he's OPS'ing 923 as of this moment. I'd say he's making a lot count.

I'm firmly in the camp to bring him back I just want him to seal the deal. Leave no doubt.

[Scrap Irony]

Gomes' OPS is higher than any Red since... yep, you guessed it, Adam Dunn in 2007. He sported a 940 for that season. (Minimum 150 ABs)

[KoryMac5]

Nothing doing for the Reds in the ninth. Stubbs hit it hard but right at Diaz for the final out. Drew 1-5 on the night.

[Brutus]

I'm firmly in the camp to bring him back I just want him to seal the deal. Leave no doubt.

Trust me, I don't disagree with that. I'd like to see him latch on to make it a non-issue. At this point, he could hit 6-7 more homers in September and there will still be people that say he's nothing more than a part-time player. I guess what matters is what the Reds think. I want him to be the starter next year, short of signing a Dye, Holliday or Abreu in the offseason. We'll see. But he's doing his part thus far.

[KoryMac5]

Coco on for an uneventful save, hopefully :pray:

[HeatherC1212]

YESSIREE!!! :D

[Tom Servo]

YESIREE

[KoryMac5]

Yesiree +3

[HeatherC1212]

Wow, game over now and Reds win!!! :jump:

[_Sir_Charles_]

And this one belongs to the Reds! 5 straight! :O)

[KoryMac5]

Gamethreads sure are fun when the Reds win. Nice job everybody.

[_Sir_Charles_]

For all the crap Bronson gets here, that's 7 straight quality starts. An ERA over that stretch of under 2.00, 11 bb & 22 k's. And for all that, he's just 2-2 during that stretch.

I thought his stuff tonight was VERY pedestrian, but he PITCHED his way out of jams. I don't want to see the Reds deal away ANY starting pitchers.

[Brutus]

Winning is better than losing.

[mbgrayson]

I like this quote from Baseball Prospectus's Hit List column today:


Homer Bailey tosses eight shutout innings against Chad Billingsley and the Dodgers. It's the best start of Bailey's career; through 30 turns, his ERA stands at an astronomical 6.41, but he's riding a career-best streak of three straight quality starts. The Reds are riding a nice streak of their own, winning four in a row and nine of 11. In completely unrelated news, Willy Taveras is still safely tucked away on the disabled list.

Now 10 of the last 12, and still no Willy T.... ;)

[TRF]

if they run the table, it's 89 wins....

meh, never happen. still i actually looked it up.

[Brutus]

I like this quote from Baseball Prospectus's Hit List column today:



Now 10 of the last 12, and still no Willy T.... ;)

+ Rolen
- Tavares
= Improvement

It's almost as easy as 2 + 2

[Tony Cloninger]

I think they do not trust BA beacuse of his low K totals....and HR giving up propensity. That always rubs people the wrong way. :D

[KoryMac5]

if they run the table, it's 89 wins....

meh, never happen. still i actually looked it up.

You gotta believe!

[Spring~Fields]

Final Cincinnati 3, Atlanta 1

Winning has such a good feeling. :)

Scoring Summary
Top 2nd: Cincinnati
- J. Gomes homered to deep left center


Top 6th: Cincinnati
- B. Phillips doubled to deep right center, J. Votto scored

- S. Rolen singled to shallow center, B. Phillips scored


Bot 6th: Atlanta
- N. McLouth homered to right

Cincinnati Batting
2B - B Phillips (25, D Lowe); W Balentien (5, D Lowe).

3B - W Balentien (1, D Lowe).

HR - J Gomes (17, 2nd inning off D Lowe 0 on, 2 Out).

S - C Miller.

RBI - B Phillips (85), S Rolen (7), J Gomes (43).

2-out RBI - J Gomes.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - D Stubbs 1, J Gomes 1, W Balentien 2, C Miller 1.

GIDP - P Janish, W Balentien.

Team LOB - 7.

Base Running
SB - B Phillips (23, 2nd base off D Lowe/B McCann).

Fielding
E - J Votto (9, field).

PB - C Miller.

DP - 2 (S Rolen-C Miller-J Votto, P Janish-B Phillips-J Votto).

Atlanta Batting
HR - N McLouth (16, 6th inning off B Arroyo 0 on, 2 Out).

RBI - N McLouth (57).

2-out RBI - N McLouth.

Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Prado 1, A LaRoche 2, O Infante 1.

GIDP - B McCann, R Church.

Team LOB - 7.

Base Running
Picked Off - D Lowe (2nd base, C Miller).

Fielding
E - C Jones (18, field).

DP - 2 (Y Escobar-M Prado-A LaRoche, C Jones-A LaRoche).


Pitching


IP H R ER BB K HR WHIP Season ERA
B. Arroyo 7.0 6 1 1 3 4 1 1.36 4.23 (W, 12-12)
A. Rhodes 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.09 2.49 (H, 22)
F. Cordero 1.0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1.31 2.24 (S, 31)

Atlanta
IP H R ER BB K HR WHIP Season ERA
D. Lowe 7.0 7 3 3 2 5 1 1.45 4.36 (L, 13-9)
P. Moylan 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1.42 3.00
K. Kawakami 1.0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1.34 3.95


Pitches-strikes - A Rhodes 6-5; F Cordero 14-8; B Arroyo 100-64; D Lowe 97-64; P Moylan 17-9; K Kawakami 17-14.

Ground balls-fly balls - A Rhodes 1-1; F Cordero 2-0; B Arroyo 8-8; D Lowe 11-7; P Moylan 1-3; K Kawakami 0-1.

Batters faced - A Rhodes 3; F Cordero 3; B Arroyo 29; D Lowe 28; P Moylan 6; K Kawakami 3.

[Tom Servo]

if they run the table, it's 89 wins....

meh, never happen. still i actually looked it up.
If they manage to lose no more than 8 games the rest of the season, they can finish at .500. :beerme:

[membengal]

It's the .500 thing that intrigues.

[Raisor]

Had free tix for last night's game, had a good time. Gomes' home run was just a monster. One of the longest I've seen at Turner Field.

Arroyo pitched really well. His breaking stuff was breaking hard and he was hitting 90 consistently on the stadium gun.

More free tix for Sunday, so I'll be there again. Watching the game on TV tonight.

[Brutus]

Had free tix for last night's game, had a good time. Gomes' home run was just a monster. One of the longest I've seen at Turner Field.

Arroyo pitched really well. His breaking stuff was breaking hard and he was hitting 90 consistently on the stadium gun.

More free tix for Sunday, so I'll be there again. Watching the game on TV tonight.

Having lived in Marietta there for a year and a half, until last fall, I was surprised at how easy it was to score free tickets for games. It's kind of sad to see such poor support for the Braves. I know they're not in the middle of that incredible run they had for 10 years, but they've still been a pretty solid franchise and yet they just don't get much support. Really weird.