The Reds got off to a big start on Sunday afternoon. The first five Reds batters reached base, including a three-run homer from Joey Votto. The Reds forced Adam Wainwright to throw 45 pitches in the first inning, and it could have been even worse for Wainwright if not for an alert double play by Matt Carpenter.
Things escalated quick and without warning for Homer Bailey in the second inning. The Cardinals had five consecutive hits of their own, including three doubles on three consecutive pitches. The Reds out of nowhere found themselves trailing 4-3 after two innings. Bailey got himself out of a jam in the third inning, but couldn’t find his way out of the fourth inning. Bailey finished the day with 10 earned runs allowed.
Things did get much better, with the exception of David Letterman being interviewed by the FOX Sports Ohio crew sitting in the diamond seats. Reds fall 13-4.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (45-66) | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| St. Louis Cardinals (55-56) | 13 | 16 | 0 |
| W: Cecil (2-4) L: Bailey (3-6) | |||
| FanGraphs Win Probability | Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Positives
Joey Votto hit another home run (93.5 EV, 345 ft), and it was a 3-run shot in the first inning that just barely cleared the rightfield wall. It was a big milestone homer too, as it was the 250th of Votto’s career, and the 135th of his career at GABP, tying Jay Bruce for the record. Votto also now has an 11-game hitting streak.
The Reds offense had some great, patient at-bats against Wainwright. They actually chased Wainwright after just three innings because they forced him to throw 88 pitches.
Eugenio Suarez hit his 18th home run of the season, and it was an absolute bomb (105.8 EV, 430 ft). I wrote about Suarez earlier today on RN.
Zack Cozart returned to the Reds lineup, played the entire game, and collected a hit.
Kevin Shackleford pitched two scoreless innings, and Drew Storen pitched a scoreless inning in front of his friend David Letterman.
Negatives
Homer Bailey had been pitching pretty well for the most part since the start of July. He started out strong today, getting through the first inning facing the minimum after picking off Tommy Pham. Then the wheels fell off. Bailey at one point gave up 3 doubles on 3 consecutive pitches, and was done in after giving up a grand slam to Jose Martinez. Bailey’s final line: 3.1 IP, 10 H, 10 ER, 4 BB, 3 K.
I am a big Homer Bailey fan, make no mistake about that. I thought the criticism after his first couple starts coming back from a long DL stint was misguided.  While I do think we should still have patience with Bailey, I do get the frustration after today’s start. The 4 walks today are what really kills me. Bailey has to better for the Reds.
Just one of those days.
Homer Bailey reassures there was no setback in his recovery, it was just one of games. pic.twitter.com/saDssiImG4
— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) August 6, 2017
Luis Bonilla was the first reliever into the game for Bailey, and he didn’t fare much better: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K.
Billy Hamilton appeared to get a little banged up, and left the game early. It sounds like it was purely precautionary as the Reds were getting their brains beat in.
Not so random thoughts……….
David Letterman and his friend Bill reveal to @JimDayTV what the legendary Late Night host has been doing in retirement. pic.twitter.com/0KdMLt00ma
— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) August 6, 2017
In a game the Reds are losing 13-3, analyst Marty Brennaman just declared turning point was an at bat by Jesse Winker.
— Steve Mancuso (@spmancuso) August 6, 2017
Up Next:
Padres at Reds
Monday, 7:10 PM
TV: FOX Sports Ohio
Tim Adleman (5.42 ERA) vs Jhoulys ChacÃÂn (3.99 ERA)
All statistics are used courtesy of Fangraphs, ESPN Stats & Info, and Baseball-Reference.
In the box score,the starting pitcher is given a score for the game.Not even sure how that is determined other then the better you perform the higher the score and of course the worse you perform the lower the score.Homer’s score today was a minus 1 and I don’t think I have ever seen that.Nick,I am also a big Homer fan and you are right he has to do better then that.The Cards are no where near the offensive team they used to be and the walks are just unacceptable for a veteran pitcher at any time for any reason short of injury.
Nick,
Thanks for posting the Letterman clip. The seersucker jacket is top notch.
Bailey is going to be a target for fan frustration and impatience with the rebuild, until the end of 2019, when the Reds send him on his way with a $5 million check to buy out his contract for 2020.
It is what it is.
Whatever Bailey can provide as a 31 year old, trying to comeback after numerous injuries, it is still good enough to justify a starting rotation spot on the 2017 Reds, whatever his salary.
The interesting scenario is when (if?) the Reds could field 5 better starters, would the team have the courage to make Bailey baseball’s most expensive ever mop-up guy?
We are some way from that bridge, though, it would seem. (Sadly).
why not make him a closer if he keeps getting hurt being a starter?, maybe make your best pitcher a starter besides that had a few stints on the DL
Just seen that Smoltz had success and from what I heard he is the only TJ surgery playing to make the HoF
I am NOT a big Homer Bailey fan, but just like everybody else, we are stuck with him until his contract runs out. I am sure he will be modestly better next year. Just like everyone else.
That’s assuming he won’t get hurt again (?)
I thought his velocity was way down last week, what was the case today?
Don’t know his splits at all, but it seems from my memory that I recall Homer Bailey quite a few times getting killed during day games. I know I saw a couple of them in person.
Just curious: Why would anyone with the Reds’ interests at heart be a Homer Bailey fan?
Bailey and Mesoraco get $34 mil for next year and yet Jocketty is still seen at GABP in a position of authority? What else does he have to do before they move on? Did they give a new fleet of tankers to the captain of the Exxon Valdez? The man destroyed the Reds….he’s done enough.
Totally agree!
I actually have more faith in Mesoraco having a positive contribution than Homer Bailey.
What did you do flip a coin? 🙂
yes, why do you ask? 🙂
I dislike Bailey more than any Reds in a long time. I will be happy when his contract is done.
I don’t personally dislike Homer, but I think that the big contract, with perfect 20/20 hindsight, was a mistake. In my mind, the Reds had three choices to anchor the starting pitching staff going forward. Leake, Bailey and Cueto. The numbers for an extension for Cueto was well thought out by Jim Walker, above. But Cueto was coming off an injury year (2013), and the Reds were “risk averse”. Still, three choices, and the Reds rolled craps.
Homer and Anthony Desclafani will never be right again, within a reasonable amount of time. Desclafani is injury prone, and will never rise above that. There are numerous examples of pro-athletes that this happens to.
Homer was a #1 draft choice, and a “crown jewel” of the Reds organization, and they were determined to prove all along that they were right. His internal stats in the year leading up to the contract were good (discounting wins/losses and ERA), but he has never been and will never be able to sustain those numbers.
I feel bad for Homer, the Reds, and the fans. But this is the way it really is. Sure, he may bounce back and look good the next start, but I will wager he gets hammered like this at least twice more before the season is over.
Its been ugly but I wouldn’t include Romano in that mess. Not yet anyway. He has good stuff and keeps the ball on the ground. He was out and he’s barely pitched this year plus he’s still 23. I think he has a good chance to be a solid middle of the rotation guy. Its not been a good year for Lorenzen but the talent is there. He’s also a groundball machine when he’s on. He’s not polished either though? He was rushed thru the minors.
Finally, Price has talked about getting someone dependable outside the organization. Lance Lynn just faced us and Chacin from SD goes tonite. They’re both free agents. They really need Cozart back but if they have to bite the bullet and pay a new pitcher with Cozart’s $ then so be it!
Jhoulys Chacin is interesting! He’ll be 30 next January. He has a 3.99 era on the season, but if you throw out his first start vs LA then it drops to 3.44 on the season! In his last 21 starts, he’s only allowed more then 3 ER twice and has 13 starts with 2 ER or less. A 3.95 career era looks pretty good when 2/3 of his career was in Colorado. He’s also rolled up 13 double plays and only allowed 3 steals on the season. Lets see how he looks tonite? I think the Reds could definitely use him!!
That’s ugly. We’ll see what happens tonite?
I’m sort of grasping at straws here anyway….sort of like the Reds when they sign people like Scott Feldman. They don’t enough $ to sign a top guy. A guy like Jose Urena has great stuff and Florida is always in firesale mode. Juan Nicasio will be a free agent and he’s having a great year out of the pen for the Pirates. He was a starter previously and may be finally figuring it out? He throws hard and if he bombed in the rotation, then move him back to the pen. They need to catch lightning somewhere? Most of our guys can’t cut it and they can’t outbid the big boys for obvious top talent.