I’ll try not to post a jinx on the club tonight like I did last night by guaranteeing a win. Odds are by the time this game thread posts the country will either be celebrating a USA World Cup victory or weeping over defeat. I feel dirty watching as much soccer as I have this week so I need a good showing by the Reds tonight to cleanse my sports soul.
Whatever happens in the soccer, I do know the Reds play the Padres tonight. I like the Reds chances, whatever its worth.
Lineup:
1. Hamilton CF
2. Frazier 3B
3. Votto 1B
4. Phillips 2B
5. Bruce RF
6. Mesoraco C
7. Schumaker LF
8. Cozart SS
9. Leake P
Lets go reds, need to support the pitching staff.
Hopefully a good nights rest for the boys with 6 runs to follow…Go Reds!!
Weeping over defeat, unfortunately…
It hurts to watch…but it’s his choice as the franchise player. He knows he can’t hit for power, but also knows he can still hit better than any bench player and contribute with walks and singles. Quite the conundrum.
Not sure I agree with this “can’t hit for power” thing with Votto. Even playing hurt he has launched some balls, several of which would have been HR if we weren’t playing on the west coast. He’s also driven several balls into the gap that were caught.
I’m hoping for a home plate umpire that will actually call a decent strike zone instead of what we had last night. Sheesh
Why not rest Votto, use him for a key pinch hit AB late in the game, slide Mesoraco up in the order and bat Pena lower in the order. Somehow Joey is going to have to get better for playoffs if they want to go anywhere in the post season.
Playoffs? Don’t talk about  playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game! Another game.
One day Mesoraco will bat ahead of Phillips. That day doesn’t seem to be anytime soon at all though.
Just a guess but I suspect the Votto thing isn’t going to clear up with some rest. I think it’s something they’ve determined he either has to be shut down for (which we can’t afford to do) or he’s going to have to play through it. That said, he’s still probably the second-best hitter on the team playing hurt depending on what state of streakiness Bruce is currently in. Frazier is the only consistently better bat in the lineup right now than Votto. I’d count Mez ahead of him but I’m still wondering how much of it is what he is and how much of it is just him having a stellar first half.
Joey can’t score on a single the way he is moving
And Jay with the K –
How in the crap is Mes all the way back to 6th in this order – rediculous
Horrible pitch location , horrible !
Ok leaky , settle down and go to work
Well that’ll do it. I’m out. They’re not gonna score off Kennedy either. In fact, I’m calling a Padres sweep. See you guys on Friday.
0-2 fastball is the only words out of Brantley’s mouth on that HR. Proceeded by “right down Broadway”. That pretty much sums it up I would say.
TOOTBLAN !!!!