So, once again, it’s must-win time.
The Cincinnati Reds have had a few of those scenarios in recent weeks. None of them were quite as must-win as this one is today. But the good news is the Reds showed in the recent past they have the ability to do what is needed when it is needed the most.
Today’s game two of the National League Wild Card series pitting 7th seed Cincinnati against #2 seed Atlanta will start again at the noon hour Eastern time, as did Wednesday’s game.
As we pointed out in an article Tuesday, the Cincinnati resurgence of winning their last five regular-season series was almost completely attributable to their fantastic pitching. It’s going to be up to the pitching again if the Reds are to win these next two must-win games and a sixth consecutive series.
Update: Over the last 17 games (including Wednesday) in which the Reds are 12-5, the pitching staff has a team ERA of 2.79.
Starting Pitchers
| Name | IP | ERA | xFIP | K% | BB% |
| Luis Castillo | 70.0 | 3.21 | 2.82 | 30.5% | 8.2% |
| Ian Anderson | 32.1 | 1.95 | 3.45 | 29.7% | 10.1% |
The statistics paint a picture of two similar righthanders. The big difference is that Anderson has only 32.1 innings of major league pitching experience, while Castillo has three-plus years of experience.
As the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday about Anderson:
Little more than a month ago, he was pitching every fifth day in controlled intra-squad games against other players, mostly prospects, at the Gwinnett camp. Thursday, after just six major-league starts, he will face the Cincinnati Reds in Game 2 of a best-of-three National League wild-card series at Truist Park.
“I feel prepared,” Anderson said. “All the work I’ve put in to get here, and throughout the season since I’ve been up here, has been kind of leading up to this moment.”
The 22-year-old right-hander was promoted to the big leagues for the first time Aug. 25, about halfway through a shortened 60-game schedule, as the Braves tried to piece together a starting rotation that had been decimated by injuries and ineffectiveness.
On a team where 14 different pitchers started games, Anderson held firmly to his spot once he got a chance. His final regular-season resume: 3-2 record, 1.95 ERA, .172 opponents’ batting average, 41 strikeouts (14 walks) in 32-1/3 innings.
According to MLBTradeRumors.com, when Anderson was promoted to the big league team in August:
Anderson, 22, was the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2016 and has steadily ranked among the game’s 50 or so best prospects over the past three years. He spent the 2019 season with the Braves’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, pitching to a combined 3.38 ERA with 11.4 K/9, 4.3 BB/9 and a 44 percent grounder rate. Like so many pitchers, Anderson was blown up in the explosive offensive setting in Triple-A last year, surrendering five homers in 24 2/3 frames. However, he only yielded eight big flies in 111 innings of Double-A work.
Scouting reports on Anderson peg him as more of a mid-rotation starter than a frontline ace. His fastball climbs to 96 mph, and Anderson garners praise for a plus curveball and a changeup that’s a bit behind that offering, though all three are considered above-average pitches.
In the last 16 games of the regular season, Castillo was largely an immovable object for opposing hitters. Over that stretch when the Reds won five straight series, Castillo had a 2.03 ERA in 27.2 innings. Opponents batted only .163 against him and got on base only 22 percent of the time. Reds fans have to hope that caliber of performance continues today.
Bullpen
When you’re in a win-or-go-home situation, everybody is available. (Well, probably not Trevor Bauer.) The only reliever who may not be available after pitching two innings Wednesday is Michael Lorenzen. We’ll see.
Starting Lineups
| Reds | Braves |
| LF Shogo Akiyama | CF Ronald Acuna Jr. |
| RF Nick Castellanos | 1B Freddie Freeman |
| 1B Joey Votto | DH Marcel Ozuna |
| 3B Eugenio Suarez | C Travis d’Arnaud |
| 2B Mike Moustakas | 2B Ozzie Albies |
| DH Jesse Winker | LF Adam Duvall |
| CF Nick Senzel | SS Dansby Swanson |
| SS Freddy Galvis | RF Nick Markakis |
| C Tucker Barnhart | 3B Austin Riley |
Additional insights into the statistical history of the players in today’s game is available all season long at BaseballSavant.com.
News and Notes
Recently, the Reds have fared better in games when opponents started righthanded pitchers than lefthanded starters. Since September 11, they are 11-2 when their opponent starts a righty pitcher, and 1-3 (after Wednesday’s loss) when the opposing team starts a lefty.
The Reds should be favored today (and hopefully tomorrow) based on the starting pitching matchup.
I get starting Castillo over Gray. When setting up the rotation you have to assume your ace gets you the win in game 1 so you then decide who is the guy you want in a do or die scenario (Gray for sure).
Time to see if yesterday’s debacle filled the team with fiery resolve or whether they have a fatalistic sense of impending doom.
“Fiery resolve.” I like that.
This team under David Bell has never played with any fire. They are dull.
Dear Freddy Galvis,
Take the bat off your shoulder! You’re a baseball player!
Love,
RLN
Lol, at least you said it with love …
Barnhart instead of Casali? When Castillo and Casali had been on a good roll.
It is not like Tucker can out hit Casali. Got to forget the LHB vs. the RHP at least I believe so.
Hope Tucker can make me eat my words and have a huge game.
Worried about that same thing. Casali has been Castillo’s guy.
Casali’s wrist is hurting, according to Bell.
There’s a lot of negativity regarding Tucker in the past few years, but I can recall many times during his time with the Reds when Barnhart came through when needed with the big hit.
I can recall one very specific time very recently in which Tucker Barnhart did NOT come through with a big hit and instead struck out on ball 4.
Correction, Cleveland … per A-Rod that was Ball 5!!! Makes it even worse!
While it’s true he’s often (but not always) been a disappointment at the plate, he is having an excellent season defensively. Several broadcasters (outside the Reds family as well as within) have noted this. Defensively, he’s one of the best catchers in the NL. Not perfect, but among the best (especially in terms of blocking balls in the dirt and throwing out runners). Casali, for sure, is the better hitter.
Who talked about Tucker’s defense and jinxed that throw on the steal?
I take it all back! 🙂
Line-up can be set in any way, but it’s to Castellanos, Suarez and Moose to produce, otherwise it’ll be the same story.
Reds are who they are.
Terrible at situational hitting. Terrible team batting average. Terrible baseball IQ.
We need some homeruns and more elite pitching to win.
What team shows up today. The Reds team that makes the other teams pitcher look like Cy Young or the Reds team that gets guys on and strands them there? This team needs something to rally around and fast. Maybe anyway on and keep the line moving. It has to be better than swing really hard and hope you run into one.
The team that makes first inning errors is the one that showed up today.
Hope to never see Galvis in a Reds uniform again.
And to think they kept him over Jose Iglesias, who batted 400 with RISP this year
Anderson didn’t look nervous at all in the first. 😉
Cracks showing in the second inning…it’s just that the Reds are so helpful that they bring out some glue and fix them for the guy.
Well that was quick and easy. No way Castillo holds down the Braves offence. Going to take 4-5 runs to win this
Awful start
If Castillo doesn’t have his great changeup today this series is over after 3 innings
Depends on whether the ump squeezes the corners, and the defense not giving away outs
Galvis is terrible at SS. That was not a easy play but a average ML SS makes the play.
Can’t believe they scored it a hit.
Home-cookin’
0-2 count, why not pitch out?
Big big K
20 pitches at that rate we may get 5 out of Castillo.
If Ryan Braun retires he can get a job with ESPN. He can sit next to Arod and we can here them talk about “playing the game the right way.”
Too funny
Great AB For Geno.
After today’s game, the front office’s off-season mantra is going to have to be #GetTheNewManager and #GetTheHitting-Vol.2-RHHitting.
After yesterday’s game, and especially if the Reds keep Bell on as manager, I have decided to get rid of most of my Reds memorabilia on eBay. It goes back to 1939, a World Series Reds-Yankees game program. Autographed baseballs and other World Series game programs from 1940, 1970, 1975, and 1976. Getting rid of the whole lot. Many of the baseballs I got signed at Redsfest and the Reds Caravan so they are mostly since 2010. MLB Baseballs with signatures of Bruce, Votto, Phillips, Rolen, Chapman, Frazier, Homer Bailey, and Billy Hamilton to name a few. I have one baseball autographed by Pete Rose and John Dowd, who investigated Rose, on a National League baseball with Bart Giamatti as NL President.
Still going to be a fan of the Reds, but just not as emotionally invested in this team, front office and ownership group as before. Been a Reds fan since 1965. Life is short and it is time to take a couple of steps back from these heartbreakers.
I am not a David Bell fan and I never will be. I thought I would at least give him a chance though to win me over. He lost me in April of 2019 and it has gotten worse with each month he has managed the Reds in 2019 and 2020.
Good Luck to the Reds and their players. You are going to need it with the fools that manage and run this team.
You got Only a couple years on me, but I understand competely.
With Covid and that offense I expect season tickets to be down. Firing Bell might get another 100 season tickets sold.
Bauer is gone even if the Reds had the money! Not even with all the analytics of pitching. He should have 1 loss MAYBE. No CY, who does he blame.
I sometimes wonder what they was looking at signing Cosco and Moose. No OBP. Did the Cubs n Mil a favor.
Ozuna turned the Reds down. Clearly he wanted to rebuild his value. Even money. Reds better hitters park but he goes to ATL.
Moose was an early overpay and too many years for a 30 something 2nd baseman.
Cosco wants out after every year but no one offered him more than a 2 yr contract (mlbrumors) and it took the reds a 4 yr with opt outs lol.
Something isnt right in management!
So the Braves SP Anderson was taken 3rd in the 2016 draft, right after Senzel…
LHB……c’mon Tucker!!!
The Reds way. 4 pitch walk followed by a grand slam swing on pitch one.
Who is the veteran here?
Anderson throws 4 balls to Gslvis and Barnhsrt swings at a ball on first pitch.
Is this a rerun of yesterday’s game?
Not yet, no TOOTBLAN or pinch hitting a righty for a righty (although maybe Curt’s wrist was the reason yesterday).
Two walks previously and Tucker is hacking first pitch. *facepalm*
Yep.
Only Barnhart makes swing to the first pitch after two consecutives BB, best rally killer ever.
He has taken over Billy Hamiltons role. Best part they will bring him and Casali back next year and leave Stephenson in AAA.
Barnhart couldn’t hit it in the Atlantic Ocean if he was standing on the shoreline – pathetic
That would be a 1 in 4 chance of success, the odds are never that good.
Nothing typifies this team’s approach better than the #9 hitter swinging at ball one with the bases loaded and a pitcher who’s obviously having trouble throwing strikes. When you absolutely refuse to do what is literally the easiest thing to do (not swing) when it gives you the best chance to score, you deserve to lose.
Who’s this Pedro guy they keep talking about?
As much as I love Trevor Bauer , the Reds cant spend over 30 million a year on him and bring this offensive offense back again. They need to upgrade big time on this team.
Unless they strike some bold trades it’s very unlikely to happen, all positions are locked for next year but SS.
They need to trade. They cant go in with this 5 outfielders for 2 spots crap. Castellanos doesnt sit and told Bell that earlier in the year. Cant have Goodwin getting more playing time over Senzel. They wouldnt trade him supposedly for Lindor so he needs to play every day. If not he needs to go. Simien for Oakland is a free agent and there are quite a few SS next year they can trade and sign.
Man–JV looks terrible.
Big hole in the line-up there, he’s no longer an offense thread, can’t understand why still hitting third in the order.
sadly, he was 2nd or 3rd best hitter on the team in 2020
It’s really hurt this time around. Reminds me of when Dusty insisted on playing Rolen over TodFather.
He was actually one of their better hitters this year. Except his road numbers are really bad.
None of the starters besides Winker can hit. JV has the 2nd highest wRC+ on the team.
If that’s the case obviously wRC+ overvalued walks. A terribly flawed model.
That was a terrific AB by RAJr. That’s what good hitters look like.
The way he stayed on that change-up was really impressive.
It looks like yesterday’s offense is also today’s offense. One lousy hit and they are in top of the 4th with 2 outs.
Anderson’s change-up must really be something. Looks like it falls off the table.
I was worried that the Reds would get no hitted in a 3 game series. They are going to score no runs and set the record for futility in that dept. Instead.
The Reds realize they have to score to win right???? Doesn’t matter how good your pitching is if you don’t score you can’t win.
Not sure they do, really.
I would rather listen to Thom than A-ROD.
I couldn’t disagree more. THom was the worst in my opinion. But that’s why they’re opinions.
Third time through the lineup guys are laying off the change-up of Anderson. At least Senzel did
…and he smoked the ball
Yes I wanted to see the exit velo on that one
Kudos to Anderson, he adjusted quickly. Getting them on fastballs now.
Thank you, Tucker, for at least not GIDP
LOL, it’s bad when you feel like it is a productive AB for a guy cuz he doesn’t ground into a DP. But it IS true
Our opening day catcher!
He had his year or two in the sun…but most can’t stay there very long. It’s a crime that Tyler Stevenson isn’t on the playoff roster. It really shows you how poorly the organization evaluates talent.
No reason not to send Galvis there. If he gets thrown out, you have your leadoff hitter leading off.
Well, there is a reason. Because David Bell.
I wonder, as the ownership and FO watch this, if they are thinking, wow, this is a really good team from the manager to the 28th man…money well spent.
I would not be shocked if indeed they are thinking something similar.
Finally figured out what Barnhart’s swing looks like, actually my wife said it. It’s a cricket swing. Go for the googli Tucker!
Please tell me these guys are not going to get swept right out of this series without scoring a run??
I wish that I could, but sadly I cannot.
No after the Braves score 4 or 5 runs. The pressure will be off and some Reds will hit a meaningless HR
Just waiting for the Braves to score to put this game in the books. Will it be regulation or extra innings. Honestly there cant be one person who thinks the Reds are actually going to score.
I don’t expect them to win today and if they score it will only be because they are so far down in the game they get a cookie to hit.Reds have fallen to an all time low in hitting running the bases and baseball IQ.Unless they homer and can jog around the bases they have no chance of doing anything on offense.No reason to think they will score unless the Braves just kick it around if we actually make contact 3 or 4 times in an inning.
I bet Bauer and Castillo are thinking give me a bat….we’ll do it ourselves
At least Lorenzen
Game over. Thanks for coming everybody.
Ut oh
Ok, folks. That one ATL run should do it from what we’ve seen today.
Oh–NOW you walk FF
I’ve seen enough
What I mean is, there is no difference in the logic going into the decision to walk FF between yesterday and today, so why the change? Seems like an admission of error. The manager needs to tender his resignation–maybe he’ll get caught on an open mic saying something he shouldn’t. It’s the only way to defeat the Reds’ nepotism.
Not sure why people keeping harping on whether Freeman should have been walked. At that point in the game, the Braves had an 85% chance of winning. The Reds lost because they couldn’t score a run in 13 innings, not because Price didn’t walk Freeman.
Because in the playoffs you make every move to try to win. So, as some guys are saying how this game isn’t over yet, so it was in yesterday’s game at that point. While they had not scored a run, every effort should have been made to make sure they stayed in the game.
The fact that they hadn’t scored a run yet gives every reason to walk Freddy and at least have righty-righty matchup.
85% chance of winning means the Braves were probably already going to win no matter what Bell did with Freeman.
At 91 pitches, Castillo probably has only one more inning tops.
If they were not pressing to hit before they sure will now, the K rate may sky rocket
Should have been strike three on Acuna.
That kind of call cannot happen in a playoff game. That was a perfect pitch.
Wow, such optimism must be fun
List the reasons for optimism. Get us rolling…
Game is half over so still time and its not like we haven’t had opportunities. Not like Atlanta is dominating us so i choose to be happy we are here and wait until end to quit.
Fair enough
What is there offensively to be optimistic about?
It’s a minor detail compared to the lack of runs, but that 1-2 pitch was terrible, and they’ve been doing it the whole game. Instead of trying to get him to hit a “pitcher’s pitch” when you’ve got him behind in the count, Tucker got out of his crouch and called for the pitch to be a foot or two high, which is was, and nobody has been swinging at it all day. I don’t understand the point of wasting pitches like that and getting yourself into trouble that you don’t need to get yourself into. Throw a pitch slightly low and let the hitter get himself out.
Announcer saying Castillo is better with Casali over Barnhart. True, but when you can’t score and you only give up 1 run to the opposing team, the argument is pointless.
They’d all be better with this player called Tyler Stevenson, but the Reds don’t know about him
Seen enough of Suarez. He is a strikeout machine.
He has regressed as a hitter. He used to be a good hitter. The HR has ruined him
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A lineup full of guess hitters. No wonder they strike out so much.
Nailed it.
Yep! Like I’ve said for years,..embarrassing. If anyone needs three swings, it’s Suarez! “Golden Sombrero” Suarez normally takes a couple pitches right down the middle, and then swings his only swing at a pitch in the dirt. That’s been the case for years. When the Reds first got him, he was not like that. Early on, he put a bat on the ball. Now he won’t even swing, unless he’s got two strikes and the pitch is in the dirt. Votto and Suarez has killed us for years. Sad thing is, they’ll both be back next year too. And it will be the same story. I feel bad for the Reds pitching. They deserve better.
I’ll still wear my “Respect Cincinnati” shirt when it arrives. We left the boys for dead less than a month ago. Atlanta is a VERY good team. Our hitting is absent again today, and that makes the difference.
I’m prepared for us to head home before the afternoon is out. I hope we stick around to play tomorrow, but if we don’t, I will say it was a wild and wonderful September.
At this point, it looks like the Reds hitters have no self-respect. Can’t even scratch out a single run when everything depends upon it.
Look at the Braves young guys actually being given the chance to play and contribute…Acuna 22, Albies 23, Anderson 22, Swanson 26, even Riley 23…Reds, Senzel 25…crickets. There is a deeper issue…
yes
I can’t agree more. The Braves like to do their “sorting” at the MLB level. I think the Reds’s first priority is contract control. They delay and hedge with their prospects to maintain control for as long as possible. It is all financial, I think.
@chris holbert
Good point.
Adding to it … Acuna is 3 for 3, has the RBi, hitting leadoff. Dangerous every at-bat.
OPS .987/ISO .331
If the Reds can get anything going, Akiyama will get a key at bat …
OPS .654/ISO .052
Who is more likely to hit the HR late to turn the game?
Put one of your best players at leadoff (Senzel/Winker) and leave them.
Nine outs left … things can still turn today … but the flaws, away from home, continue to show up.
Bell has to shoulder some blame for allowing this team to be HR or nothing/poor lineup construction.
Everyone needs to chill out. GOOD VIBES ONLY.
Everyone needs to chill out. GOOD VIBES ONLY.
This offence is one of the worst ever. How they even make the playoffs.
Votto said they would be a nightmare…he was right….a nightmare if you’re a Reds fan
Great job Luis.
Signing him to an extension is offseason priority #1 IMO.
We are done but maybe ownership can look objectively at this roster and admit they have made some mistakes and correct them going into 2021.They have to see a bunch of just bad baseball players that could not start or in some cases even be on the roster of other teams.Just time to move on from some of these vets if they can find a trading partner.No way they can compete next year unless they make some changes in their position players
With or without Bauer the starting pitching will be good. Bullpen has come around and is a plus as well. Offensively? Major problems. First thing to fix that is to find out if Castellanos is opting out or not. Does anybody know when he has to decide?
I’m not so sure he does opt-out. He didn’t have that great a year. Started off well and ended poorly. He might not get the money offered this offseason because of no fans in the stands cheap owners. He may be back and possibly opt-out after next year and take his what 16mil from the Reds for next year.
Not sure they have the insight to see the mistakes, or if they do, not sure there is humility enough to own up to them, based on past actions of the ownership.
They had the insight to add two players whose track record showed they were very good hitters. So much for track record, but can’t blame front office.
Can blame the front office for HR or bust philosophy.
This is the inning. We must do some damage at the plate — NOW!
Let’s go, guys! Be the nightmare you claim to be.
Guess not. Asleep at the plate as usual.
20 straight innings without scoring a single run. Embarrassing.
The T shirts really should say Respect Cincinnati Pitching…
The book on Senzel is soft soft soft.
he still looks better up there than Votto or Suarez
YES!!! I second that emotion. Suarez & Votto will be back. They are the common denominators to the Reds losing woes for all these years. I wish the Reds would pay someone to take them off our hands. We pay their salaries PLUS pay that team to take them off our hands. That’s the only way we will win. It matters not how much pitching we have if those two are in the line-up for the whole year.
I tend to cut him some slack, he seems to just be getting back into game shape…
He’s the best player on the Reds not named Bauer. End of story
I wonder who the new hitting coach will be?
This wildcard series is a perfect representation of the Reds 2020 season. Brilliant pitching and an awful offense. Let’s hope Castellini is as fed up as the fans are.
Feels like the season is already over. To that end, I’m actually optimistic about 2021.
We know the pitching will still be above average even w/o Bauer. We’ll get full seasons from Garcia/Tyler Stephenson/Senzel/Winker. The core is solid. Most importantly, the other teams in the division are trending down. We’ll be the team to beat over 162 games.
I would not say we will see a full season of Garcia or Stephenson. I agree we should and it would be nice…
But I don’t trust the leadership of the team to give Garcia/T Stevenson/Senzel/Winker and I’ll add Shogo their chances to be everyday players, as long as David Bell is the manager.
Agree.
If we get a full year from Senzel, it will be the first in a long time.
Senzel demonstrating the Reds’ hitting philosophy right there. On a 2-1 pitch he took a half swing on a pitch a foot outside the strike zone, and then took strike three because it seemed like it might be an inch or two off the plate with an umpire who’s been calling those pitches strikes. They really have no concept of “situational” at all. The count, the runners on base, the number of outs, the score, the pitcher’s ability to throw strikes — it’s all completely irrelevant to most of these guys.
What I don’t understand is why these pros seem to forget about all the things they did to get them there in the first place?
Baseball IQ.
We obviously have the pitching. NO surprise there. This series will LOOK like a match-up of great pitching. Wrong. The Reds had the great pitching. The Reds held the hottest offense to almost nothing for two straight games.
Holding an historically bad offense to no runs is not quite the same accomplishment.
Sucks to be such a bad offense.
“The Reds held the hottest offense to almost nothing for two straight games.”
That right there is probably the most noteworthy accomplishment of the pitching staff this season, until if/when Bauer gets the Cy
Come on, guys. The Reds are setting MLB records right and left, rewriting the record book. They are now at the top of the heap for consecutive scoreless innings in a playoff game. They can get it all to themselves in the eighth. Acuña has more hits than the Reds in this game.
And there you have it–optimism.
Nice work!
If a tie is like kissing your sister, losing two games 1-0 in a best of 3 playoff series is like french kissing your Covid uncle.
Ewww
It seems the Braves win or lose with the best players they have. The Reds give everyone an opportunity, regardless. Bell thinks it is Travel MLB…
It’s just a real darn shame that it does appear the Reds will fritter away the chance to compete in the rest of the post-season with this unbelievable pitching. I’ve been watching this team for nearly half a century and this is without question the best pitching they have had.
I have been a fan since he early 70s and I agree Tom, and the worst offense..
To be sure (sounds like we’re about the same age).
Yes and what is sad for nearly every year in the last 50 the Reds had great offences and no pitching. Now they get best staff ever but combine it with the worst offence in history.
It really, really stinks.
The team has really showcased it’s strengths and weaknesses to the extreme of each. That’s no easy task.
Can you imagine what this team would be like with the hitters on the 1999 team — along with today’s pitchers? Those guys in 1999 could hit and score loads of runs!
The issue is, they are paying a lot for this offensive juggernaut, With the exception of Bauer the pitching is inexpensive relatively speaking..
Reds pitching has been excellent really in this serie. The offense … no words.
One of the many offensive problems is Reds left-handed hitters don’t hit opposing teams left-handed pitchers but right-handed hitters don’t hit them either
There is the proverbial nail….
RI to the rescue….
“…Groovin’…on a Thursday afternoon…”
x2 to boot!
I love Duvall, though
Well, Anderson > Senzel and Ozuna > Castellanos and Akiyama. Which makes Braves > Reds.
That’s our boy Iggy. Spotting the Braves 2 more runs.
Turn out the Lights, the Party’s over.
Iglesius put the final nail in the coffin. Now I hope it ends quickly. If we complete the series without scoring we will hold that record for all time!
Well, that does it for me. It was a great run in September. Sad to see it end, but that’s just how it plays out.
Take care, friends. +1,000,000 all around!
Wish it would end better!
Take care Mark. Bless you and be safe.
Suarez is one lazy defender.
You will get to see more of him and his partner at first do damage with the glove for a few more years.Great leadership skills.
The thing that’s so weird about this team is that you go down the lineup and most of these guys seem like good hitters. The two Nicks, Winker, Suarez, Moose, Shogo, Votto, and even Galvis and Casali at times. And they’ve got one of the strongest benches I can remember. They ought to be able to score runs regularly. They just don’t seem to have any idea how to utilize their abilities, they don’t complement each other well, and they’re completely unwilling to adjust their approaches based on situations. I’ve never seen a team where the sum of the parts seems to be SO much worse than the individual parts.
Nice way to put it. Wish you were wrong, but you’re probably right.
Iglesias gives Ozuna a fastball down the pipe. The last place you want to throw that. Baseball IQ
On the bright side, hopefully we’ve seen the last of Barnhart and Galvis (among others) in Reds uniforms.
Don’t count on it. This is the Reds front office we’re talking about.
LOL Barhart had the third highest fWAR on the Reds this year.
Which shows just how terrible the offense is.
FIRE DAVID BELL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE DAVID BELL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FIRE DAVID BELL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go David Bell, and take Zinter with you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just saw the Orioles cleared their dougout. fired everyone except the hitting coach, Don Long. What a mistake of letting him go.
See Iglesias brought his gas can with him today – need to try to trade him for something next year too – 1 run game in 9th and he torches it – and by the way – please start this offseason by getting rid of Bell and his entire staff with exception of pitching coach
Yes I’ve thought that all along, about Don Long also!
They packed for a month.
They only needed an overnight bag.
Your right.They can’t believe what they saw so they will roll the dice next year.
The only pitch all series Duvall got in his zone and he crushed it.
I can hear Dusty now, “Duvy got goin’!”
Iglesias ends the year the way he started it.
He wasn’t used properly.He only can pitch with a 3 run lead in the ninth inning.Bell knows this,we all know this cause Iggy told us.This wasn’t on him this was on Bell.
Why was Iggy even in there start the inning? Simms was dealing. But this was a signature David Bell move. Bell has to go. wouldn’t be sad to see Suarez and Bam Bam Barnhart go with him. Oh and Iggy too.
Where’s Antone?
Playing cards with Tyler Stephenson
Arby’s…roast beef sale.
Why the hell did he pull Sims on 19 pitches?
David Bell special – cause of his little league participation rule ! Total buffoon as a manager
Now it is over and done see you in offseason
Peace. Until then..
Take care everyone. See you in the off season after some great trades and free Agent signings. Bless you all and be safe.
Now that they’re down at least 5 runs so far they’ll probably score 2 or 3 in the 9th
It’ll be 5-1 final with Galvis taking strike 3 with the bases loaded…
The Reds are in official tailspin now.
From my vantage point, it looks like a Death Spiral.
I’m a fan from the late 60s era myself. If the FO doesn’t fire Bell & Zinter after this embarrassing debacle, then they aren’t serious about winning. Bell has NEVER been the guy. It’s time to quit pretending. And if Buddy doesn’t like it, fire him too. And they’ve obviously decided DeSclafani doesn’t figure in the plans for next year. Bauer damn sure won’t be back. I don’t see why Castellanos would want to stay. Let Galvis go. Trade both of the catchers. Go with Garcia & Stephenson and see how it works out. Can it actually be worse than this. BTW – Ozuna just homered, there goes the ballgame.
If only our offense wasn’t so darn unlucky! #eyeroll
For an organization who has publicly prided themselves in being “smart”, they look awful trying to pound a square peg into a round hole over and over and over again this year. (Pull swing HARD for the fences in every game situation with very few exceptions.) So disappointing in this teams offense all year, hopefully they make some organizational (and player) adjustments for next year.
I am thankful for Reds baseball this year, and it was a fun ending stretch to make the playoffs. Hoping for enough offense, but wasn’t to be. Feel bad for the pitchers, Sonny Gray especially.
This was a frustrating pandemic shortened season, except for the exciting run over the past 2 weeks. Hopefully next year will see even more growth and changes.
I’m out until David Bell no longer manages our Cincinnati Reds. Until then, catch you at RML!
The biggest problem is I don’t see how they could have done anything differently. They signed 2 of the top 6 hitters on the market. Most of the lineup are all really good players with a history of success. On paper this offense is average to above average, and they just collectively all failed. Maybe it is the hitting coach. It’s definitely not the manager, because he isn’t the one at the plate whiffing. This isn’t a front office failure, they did exactly what they are supposed to do. But, it just didn’t matter.
A lot of tough conversations need to be had in the front office and ownership this off-season on how to fix this team’s hitting woes. This has been a major problem for 224 games now. Someone or several will take the blame for this fiasco. I can not think of one player that hit above my expectations this year. Don Long did a much better job than the last two hitting coaches. Just brutal.
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