The Short Version: Reds lose.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (56-74) | 6 | 12 | 2 |
| Chicago Cubs (75-53) | 10 | 12 | 0 |
| W: Quintana (11-9) L: Castillo (7-11) | |||
| FanGraphs Win Probability | Box Score | |||
The Good
–Curt Casali doubled, homered, and drove in three runs. Preston Tucker hit a pinch-hit homer. Eugenio Suarez had two hits and scored two runs. Phillip Ervin singled, walked twice, and scored two runs.
–Scott Schebler singled on the first pitch of the game, in his return to the lineup.
–David Hernandez pitched a scoreless eighth.
The Bad
–Luis Castillo gave up five runs on five hits and a walk in 3.1 innings. His stuff often looks as electric as ever, but he just hasn’t been able to put it all together yet.
Yet. It’s going to happen.
–The bullpen, with the exception of Hernandez, was pretty much a disaster today. Amir Garrett gave up a run on two hits and a walk, and retired only three hitters. Sal Romano gave up another run on a hit and a walk in an inning and a third. And Wandy Peralta was horrific, surrendering three runs on four hits and two walks in an inning and a third.
–Schebler and Jose Peraza each committed errors.
Not-So-Random Thoughts
–Only 32 games to go, mercifully.
–The Reds will try to improve to 2-16 in games started by Homer Bailey tomorrow.
Today’s Tweets
This is a sobering tweet. https://t.co/HNR1sRQ508
— Mo Egger (@MoEgger1530) August 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/joe_sheehan/status/1033056795412054016
.@redlegnation pic.twitter.com/8DciibTvYr
— Stormchasernick (@stormchasernick) August 24, 2018
I think I give up. https://t.co/WCQmuQxUtX
— Chris Garber (@cgarber8) August 24, 2018
Ten days later, this piece I wrote for @cincinnatimag seems more timely than ever.
Is Ownership Meddling in Baseball Operations? https://t.co/fJPPdJRkRu
— Chad Dotson (@dotsonc) August 25, 2018
Really, so much angst over failing to trade Matt Harvey? You all admit he’s not that good. What could they have gotten for a half dozen starts from a #4/5 type who is averaging just over 5 innings per? And don’t give me the opportunity cost of more starts by Reed or Stephenson or Mahle or any of the other AAAA pitchers we’ve accumulated?
Let it go, redlegnation. Trading Matt Harvey wasn’t going to make us any better. There are many, many other things going on in this organization to get your panties bunched about.
I actually agree with this 100%. I want them to sign Harvey but because it’s a good baseball decision IMHO. To find out that Williams and Karly potentially disagree with me, maybe they do or don’t, but their professional assessment will be overridden is truly depressing. Just because Bob and I have the same opinion isn’t even a consolation prize honestly. It’s not our opinion that matters.
Very, very bad.
Is keeping Matt Harvey and Homer Bailey on the starting staff making the Reds better when young pitchers need to start games as this rebuild, losing season winds down?
#donttrusttheprocess
The good thing right now is that Casali,Ervin,Herrera,Williams,Tucker and others right now are getting to play.Even though it was cookie time in the 8th down by 8 runs,Casali and Tucker both went deep and Ervin had a good game as well.Can any of these hold down a job next year while we identify others that are better that could bring us some starting pitching help.Should anybody be untradeable to on this team not named Suarez?You can’t keep acquiring prospects or stock piling players.You must trade from a surplus to fill needs.Get creative.What would a package of say Scooter and Iggy get you?Heck throw in Billy if you want too.We have guys that are younger and cheaper that may do just as well.If it takes losing 100 I am all for it if we let some guys play that may help us get what we need.
The owner can meddle in his own team any time and any manner he wants. It is the entitlement of being the owner. However, he also wants people to spend their hard-earned money, time, and energy to support his team. When the people stop paying for game tix, concessions, parking, merchandise, live-streaming the games, and stop watching or listening to games resulting in a drastic decline in ratings, then he’ll realize that meddling with his team’s management is not only detrimental, but actually unprofitable.
“Positive momentum”, “winning culture”- such are lies & promises. The Reds are making solid progress lately though, they’ve slipped beneath the Rangers & Mets. They are currently 7th in the 2019 drafting order. Detroit & Miami are only a couple games worse than the Reds. That #5 pick next year is the most the Reds can accomplish this season. Ask Harvey to either sign a contract now, or take up middle relief in the bullpen for the next 5 weeks. It’s business. Time to swoon.
What about the double over Scheblers head? Looked like he was gun shy with the wall. When he turned to play it off the wall he could just as easly turned around and caught it chest high. Does not matter in the least though, just found that kinda odd.
I will be at the game tomorrow. i just saw Homer is pitching. Yikes!
I was hoping to see Stephenson or Reed.
Possible future versus ghost of past. Look at this way, you will be seeing a guy who has pitched 2 MLB no hitters. That’s not an everyday accomplishment .
Got it. Glass is half full. Who knows, maybe Homer will return to his nono form for a few innings.
I’ve been hoping for Castillo to turn it around all season . Jim, I am sad to say you are on to something. Maybe he’s a closer type at best.
So, why the organization is spending money in a Director of Baseball Operations and in a General Manager salaries if the very same owner keeps making roster decision? Sadly, it won’t get any better as long as it goes on.
Peraza does make some bad plays at SS. But he is only 24. Maybe you are right and maybe you are wrong but everybody on here criticized Suarez for his lack of play at Short when he started there. Now they want him back? They loved his defense at 3rd last year and now this year they criticize his lack of defense . One thing with Reds fans is they have no patience. Myself included. I remember when Votto came up and was making error after error at first. People hated him and said stick him in left, he will never make it at first. I know Reds organization makes terrible moves but let’s leave him there for another year and it will sort itself out.