Reds at Padres 5-23-08. Try this one more time! :)

[Big Klu]

Updated Reds HR list (players in italics are active):

Reds All-Time Home Run Leaders
1. Johnny Bench - 389
2. Frank Robinson - 324
3. Tony Perez - 287
4. Ted Kluszewski - 251
5. Adam Dunn - 250
6. George Foster - 244
7. Eric Davis - 203
8. Ken Griffey, Jr. - 200
9. Barry Larkin - 198
10. Vada Pinson - 186
11. Wally Post - 172
12. Gus Bell - 160
13. Joe Morgan - 152
13. Pete Rose - 152
15. Lee May - 147
16. Dan Driessen - 133
17. Reggie Sanders - 125
18. Ernie Lombardi - 120
19. Sean Casey - 118
20. Frank McCormick - 110
21. Dave Parker - 107
22. Chris Sabo - 104
23. Dave Concepcion - 101
24. Gordy Coleman - 98
25. Paul O'Neill - 96

[OnBaseMachine]

BTW Volquez had an outstanding curveball tonight. When he is consistently commanding that pitch then high walk totals will drop (as evidenced tonight).

[Caveat Emperor]

If Patterson (.399 ops vs. lefties) and Bako (2 for his last 30) are starting again tomorrow vs. a lefty.....I will officially throw my arms up in disgust.

Ross will catch Arroyo.

Hopefully the authorities will catch Patterson and charge him with theft of his gamecheck.

[lollipopcurve]

Well it was an ugly win with lots of laughter, but a win is a win thanks to the efforts from Edison Volquez on the mound, Adam Dunn at the plate, and Joey Votto in the field.

Tip o' the Reds cap to Affeldt too.

[MWM]

On TV they showed a stat that Reds pen has worst pen ERA in NL. Yet the team is 9-4 in one run games. Shows you how you can't take some stats at face value. Pen has done well in close games, which is probably the most important job it has.

And hopefully can preserve another close one tonight.

Nice hit for Votto to opposite field.

Actually, I think it shows the folly of looking at ERA and W-L loss record, especially with a bullpen. And it shows the error of cherry picking situations (i.e. 1 run games) to make any kind of evaluation. For example, the bullpen comes in with a 1 run lead, gives up 3 runs, it's not a 1 run game any more, and it's a loss. It doesn't make much sense to only look at the final score of a game to evaulate how a bully does in close games. If a game is close at the end, it doesn't mean it was close when the bullpen came in. The opposite is also true, if it's not close in the end, it doesn't mean it wasn't close when they came in. If they inherit a 5 run lead, and give up 4 runs, it's still a win in a 1 run game. Heck, the Florida game where the bullpen gave up 6 runs in the 9th inning, wound up as a win by 1 run. Did they pitch well that game?

If you want a shorthand way to look at the effectiveness of a bullpen, look at baserunners. It's not the best, but it generally should give you a decent idea of how they're throwing. The Reds bully is allowing 1.51 runners per inning. They're allowing an OPS of .780 (3rd worst in the NL) with an OBP of .350. That's not good. So I disagree that they've pitched well in close games based on their W-L record in 1 run games.

[TeamBoone]

Ross will catch Arroyo.

He didn't last time. In fact, I don't think he did the time before that either.

[PuffyPig]

So I disagree that they've pitched well in close games based on their W-L record in 1 run games.

They have pitched well in games in which they have inherited a lead from the starter. Only twice have they allowed the other team to even tie, and in each case hung on for the win.

[VR]

They have pitched well in games in which they have inherited a lead from the starter. Only twice have they allowed the other team to even tie, and in each case hung on for the win.

Indeed. Their problem hasn't been blowing leads, rather letting teams play add-on after a lousy start or lack of offense by the rojo's