8-14-24 Reds vs Cardinals 6:40 PM

[Ron Madden]

Reds
1. India (R) 2B
2. E De La Cruz (S) SS
3. T Stephenson (R) C
4. T Friedl (L) CF
5. S Steer (R) 1B
6. J Candelario (S) DH
7. J Fraley (L) RF
8. W Benson (L) LF
9. N Marte (R) 3B
P. Emilio Pagán RHP

Cardinals
1. M Winn (R) SS
2. A Burleson (L) DH
3. W Contreras (R) C
4. N Arenado (R) 3B
5. B Donovan (L) 2B
6. P Goldschmidt (R) 1B
7. L Nootbaar (L) RF
8. T Pham (R) LF
9. V Scott II (L) CF
P. Kyle Gibson RHP

[Strikes Out Looking]

Not sure why India is still leading off, unless they want to get that first out out of the way quickly so Elly can get on base and steal second. I'd move Fraley up to first.

[OldFashionedRed]

Not sure why India is still leading off, unless they want to get that first out out of the way quickly so Elly can get on base and steal second. I'd move Fraley up to first.

Do players ever just approach a manager and say, you know, "I think someone else would be better for that slot"? I don't know why he's there, either. Little speed, good OBP, but no real power.

[CrosleyVet]

Do players ever just approach a manager and say, you know, "I think someone else would be better for that slot"? I don't know why he's there, either. Little speed, good OBP, but no real power.

No they dont

[Ky Fried Redleg]

Do players ever just approach a manager and say, you know, "I think someone else would be better for that slot"? I don't know why he's there, either. Little speed, good OBP, but no real power.

I've been told David doesn't make those kind of decisions. Apparently, some mysterious Reds Illuminati determine batting slots.

[Kingspoint]

Kyle Gibson gives up a lot of flyballs.

I'm predicting another Candy Homerun today.

In addition, Elly launches one, too.

Friedl gets 3 hits.

India draws the only REDS' Walk against Gibson.

REDS will score 5 runs against Gibson, the most he's given up since May 17th against BOS.

[Kingspoint]

REDS score 5 runs against Gibson, the most he's given up since May 17th against BOS.

REDS score 6 runs against Gibson, the most he's given up since April 7th against MIA (7 ER's).

[cumberlandreds]

Do players ever just approach a manager and say, you know, "I think someone else would be better for that slot"? I don't know why he's there, either. Little speed, good OBP, but no real power.

Do you ever approach your manager at work ask him why he so ugly?

[OldFashionedRed]

Do you ever approach your manager at work ask him why he so ugly?

That's completely different than what I'm talking about. There's this thing known as being humble and sometimes recognizing that you can best help your team (coworkers) in other ways. If you're suggesting that being humble and maybe even self-deprecating is something a manager would get upset about, then I don't know what to tell you.

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Or they could just lead Elly off

Elly
India
Friedl
Steer
Candelario
Stephenson
Fraley
Bensonchild
Martinal

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This lineup just needs McLain desperately. Plus another guy to go on a heater.

If you lead Elly off, then there's a better chance he comes around to score without a homerun, but then you take away the number of runs he could knock in with that power.

[Kingspoint]

Not sure why India is still leading off, unless they want to get that first out out of the way quickly so Elly can get on base and steal second. I'd move Fraley up to first.

Isn't Fraley injured? Not sure I'd want him leading off. He doesn't walk. He doesn't take pitches. He's probably the last guy in Major League Baseball I would want leading off for a team.

[Mitri]

Not sure why India is still leading off, unless they want to get that first out out of the way quickly so Elly can get on base and steal second. I'd move Fraley up to first.

Just a guess, but it could be because he has a .350 obp for the year (and his career).

[LeatherPants]

Just a guess, but it could be because he has a .350 obp for the year (and his career).

I really don't know the right thing to do here, yes for the year he has a very nice .350 OBP, but he's in a huuuuuge slump right now, 133/247/193 over the last four weeks.

On the one hand, hitting ahead of Elly should get him some more fastballs to hit, on the other hand, he's got 5 hits in August.

I'd probably leave him at leadoff, because he's got to start getting on base again soon, right?

[Mitri]

I really don't know the right thing to do here, yes for the year he has a very nice .350 OBP, but he's in a huuuuuge slump right now, 133/247/193 over the last four weeks.

On the one hand, hitting ahead of Elly should get him some more fastballs to hit, on the other hand, he's got 5 hits in August.

I'd probably leave him at leadoff, because he's got to start getting on base again soon, right?

I actually liked Steer in the leadoff spot for that one day but that removes one of the few power sources from the heart of the order.

Maybe Candelario? I just don’t see how Fraley is a better option than India.

[LeatherPants]

I actually liked Steer in the leadoff spot for that one day but that removes one of the few power sources from the heart of the order.

Maybe Candelario? I just don’t see how Fraley is a better option than India.

Easy answer would be TJ Friedl

[Kingspoint]

Just a guess, but it could be because he has a .350 obp for the year (and his career).

Also, and this is very important for a leadoff hitter, he takes more pitches than any player on the team so not only others can get a look at him, but it's likely that after his 3 PA's, he's seen 20 pitches. Since Gibson is usually removed before he gets to 100, that's more than 20% of the total of pitches that Gibson is likely to throw. He helps tremendously to get the team into the bullpen sooner, while giving others in the on-deck circle a chance to see a slough of his pitches, too. We have a very young team that hasn't seen most of the pitchers in the Majors more than once or twice, if at all. India helps a lot in that regard (as does Friedl, probably the team's best leadoff hitter and best #2 hitter, but Elly gets #2 for many reasons by Bell). Gibson went 7 innings in his last outing. We'd like to make it 5 innings.