Max Schrock — starting at second base — homered, tripled and doubled to lead a formidable Cincinnati Reds offensive attack in an 11-1 Memorial Day thrashing of the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Phillies (25-29) | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Cincinnati Reds (24-28) |
11 | 11 | 0 |
| W: Miley (5-4) L: Velasquez (2-1) |
|||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Schrock left the game with an apparent leg muscle injury after doubling in the bottom of the seventh inning. Before that unfortunate turn of bad luck, he had improved his batting average to .267 and OPS to .824 with a 3-for-4-and-three-RBI stat line. David Bell gave an update on Schrock’s status after the game:
"That's what a team is all about."
David Bell applauds Kyle Farmer and Max Schrock, who combined for 6 hits and 8 runs batted in today. He also provides the latest update on Schrock's injury: "Initial thoughts are that it is a slight strain. It could lead to the IL tomorrow." pic.twitter.com/6yhYErH0Ml
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) May 31, 2021
Kyle Farmer was the second Red in the game who came up one hit short of hitting for the cycle. In his case, he needed a triple. His career-day batting line: 3-for-4 with five runs batted in.
So focused on helping the @Reds win, @kFarm17 didn't realize he was a triple shy of the cycle until Geno told him.#ATOBTTR | @JimDayTV pic.twitter.com/MLgXC1gwj6
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) May 31, 2021
Cincinnati’s second straight win improved the team record to 24-28, ensuring that the team will remain no further than six games behind first-place St. Louis. The Cardinals have a night game at Dodger Stadium.
The Offense
With the game scoreless in the second inning, Schrock untied it:
Schrockin' N' Rollin' pic.twitter.com/ks7qZ7NqDQ
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 31, 2021
Tyler Naquin then delivered with the bases loaded:
Tyler's two-run single caps a four-run frame for the @Reds! ?? pic.twitter.com/MHbrSlENuk
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) May 31, 2021
With two outs in the third inning, Farmer plowed into one to put his team up by five:
A Farmer raking in the dirt. pic.twitter.com/8SlmyQSB2K
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 31, 2021
From that point, the outcome of the game was never in doubt.
The Pitching
Wade Miley was his usual effective self. He limited the Phillies to only a run despite surrendering six hits and three walks over six innings and 102 pitches. Sean Doolittle, Brad Brach and Michael Feliz finished up with a scoreless inning apiece.
"Gotta give a shout out to Nick Castellanos."
Wade Miley recaps a successful return to the mound, finding his form in the 4th, and being a cheerleader for his @Reds teammates while he was on the IL. pic.twitter.com/jCW1W2ilaU
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) May 31, 2021
Notes Worth Noting
In the second inning, Nick Castellanos made this very, very nice catch:
CastyCatchâ„¢ pic.twitter.com/lcqvvbzXA6
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 31, 2021
A little “Inside Baseball:” After the 2020 season, Strat-O-Matic asked me to help them set their defensive ratings for Reds players for their new set of player cards. I told them that Castellanos should get their absolute worst defensive rating for any player who played regularly in the outfield. I’ve been watching Reds baseball regularly for nearly 50 years, and I can’t remember a player who I have seen make more improvement defensively from one season to the next than Castellanos. You combine his bat …
Nick Castellanos extends his hitting streak to 17 games, tying the longest streak in MLB this season?? pic.twitter.com/ejUcsSryKt
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) May 31, 2021
… with defensive performance that is at least average, and you have a true game-changing player who belongs in the short list of the top players in the sport.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Philadelphia Phillies at Cincinnati Reds
Tuesday, June 1, 7:10 p.m. ET
Aaron Nola (3-4, 3.72 ERA) vs Sonny Gray (1-3, 3.40 ERA)
Happy for the win! Checked the standings for the NL and noticed the D’Backs are last in the NL West at 19-35. Against the Reds the D’backs are 5-1. For the mathematically challenged out there that means more than 1/4th of the D’backs wins are against one team, the Reds. Done is done! Need to keep winning series! A sweep here or there would be nice!
OUCH!!
Weird stat, almost seems negative for no reason.
Ya what a pointless excercise, only the statistically challenged would think of these things
If that were reversed, the Reds would be 28 – 24 rather than 24 – 28.
Funny I just saw that tonight too.. I don’t know why the Reds played so badly against them in both series.
Listened and watched some game day.
Just some random notes: Suarez got squeezed bad on his strikeout. The ump was loving the outside ball as a strike so long as it was belt level.
Seeing Janikowski playing made me feel a little sorry got the Phils.
I wonder if they could get Didi from them for Shogo and a B level prospect?
Doubt they could, but even if they could Didi seems to be kinda injury prone lately, starting with the arm injury when with the Yankees. Nice to see Torreyes today. The little guy had one of the great leadership seasons with the Dayton Dragons a few years ago. When he joined the team mid-season the team took off. The little guy can flat hit.
Alrighty then. Farmer, the SS of the future. Nice game.
Bullpen. Nails.
This team has potential. If it could just get healthy and overcome Castillo and Hoffman.
If a age 31, wRC+ 55, negative WAR guy is the Reds “SS of the future” ….
Scooter Gennett was once the “2B of the future” around here.
And Scooter was actually good, Farmer is not a starter.
Scooter was playing very well until the injury.
Let’s keep winning. 🙂 Happy Memorial Day 🙂
Regardless Castellanos …
For those who follow NHL hockey (Go Leafs Go in Game 7 tonight) …. “contract year” is a very real thing.
Having a great year as your contract ends … so someone overpays you on a new deal.
Castellanos is pulling a master class in putting up a “contract year.”
Entering today, his BABIP overall in 2021 is .409 … at GABP, it’s .439 … sustainable long term?
For better or worse … Castellanos in 2021 feels like Bauer in 2020 … take the great season, hopefully make the playoffs with it.
But, look under the hood … carefully … on underlying numbers before thinking of a long-term offer for a guy soon entering his 30s … who will get paid big, by someone.
Let’s enjoy it while we can. I’d be hesitant to give him any more money than what he’s already getting. I’d also be hesitant to give Winker a long term contract with his injury history. Hard to let either one go though.
Does a player have control over BAPIP?
The 2020 Reds want to know.
😉
@SLIOTAR> NHL and contract years. If you got a star player in his contract year who indicates he intends to test free agency should he be traded or held onto as a “self rental” (Asking for 2 guys I heard arguing about this in a bar located in the Columbus Area district. One’s was wearing a “JK” monogrammed shirt. The other’s shirt had no monogram but looked like a patch shaped like a NYR logo had been recently removed) 😉
LOL.
This is also a contract year for manager David Bell.
I’m not buying much of that. Yes, Nick is having a great year. But because it’s potentially a contract year? Having a great year in a contract year is not the same thing as having a great year BECAUSE it’s a contract year (and assume the implication is that he wouldn’t be having this kind of year if it wasn’t a contract year). That doesn’t seem like the Nick Castellanos I see and hear.
David Bell, Wade Miley and Kyle Farmer post-game comments just added above.
Thanks Tom.
Nice win. Career days from Schrock & Farmer. Miley now leads Reds starters in wins & ERA? Surreal day. Miley, Mahle, & Gray are looking good. Now if Gutierrez can follow up on his first start and if, a big if, Castillo could figure out how to pitch again, the Reds may actually be able to do something. Particularly, with a new manager and a couple of roster moves.
Totally agree! Need LC to “find his groove”! If he does, I like the Reds chances in a MLB Central Division that’s up for grabs with 110 games to go!
Why bang on the manager after a win, productive line up shakeup with Suarez, playing without 3 starters, continual injuries just enjoy the win.
Because people believe that they’d be better managers. And would continue to believe this until somebody called their bluffs and they had to deal with actual players in real time, not hindsight.
Apparently David Bell stole someones milk money
Reds don’t need a new manager.
Why? For the same reason we don’t label Farmer a future Superstar after a career game, as some have or drool when Suarez doesn’t strike out four times in a game. Some of us are looking at the big picture, informed by decades of observation and/or in some cases, decades of managing in Fortune 500 companies where results actually matter. Bell provides abundant examples of managerial failure as does the ownership, e.g. still starting Suarez despite the fact he hasn’t had a hit with RISP in awhile, or giving up the game once the Reds fall behind by bringing in the least effective reliever in high leverage situations. Reds fans have become too complacent about losing.
+1
He didn’t steal my milk money, he has instead shown me what he can do and I’ve paid attention to his performance.
It ain’t horse shoes and hand grenades, so the performance is sorely lacking, current injury woes notwithstanding
Been following the reds for over 60 years. Second guessing fans like you are always around. Most have little knowledge of how to manage or lead. My observation comes from 21 years of active military service and another 28 in industry. I’ve negotiated labor deals and managed people for many years. My feeling from your post is you have little knowledge and would have a very difficult time forming a team environment. Your takes remind me of a person trying to convince their self that they have qualifications. Your a fan. If you want to help the franchise buy a ticket and watch the games. Your comments make it very apparent to me your not qualified to question the manager of the team.
Actually, Jim T, I’ve managed in the Fortune 500 for more than 30 years and my teams have produced applications that have impacted nearly everyone. Thank you for your service but be careful about jumping to conclusions.
I have 28 years in a Fortune 500 company. It doesn’t mean I’m quickest to manage a professional baseball team my friend.
I agree. There needs to be a change in attitude about winning and losing and what it really takes to win consistently. We’ve forgotten I assume/hope because if not it means we really don’t care.
It just plain felt good today. The only exception is Schrock’s injury. Feel for the guy if he ends up on the IL. Feel for us as he did seem to be pulling it together (I know – small sample).
One game at a time. We can sweep these guys. It’s going to take a focus on some fundamentals and then jumping on the opportunity to pound some over the fences.
Two ways of looking at it for Schrock. Always hate to see a guy hurt; but, he started his age 26 season (2021) with 75 days of MLB service time. He got injured in an MLB game which means if he ends up on the IL, it will be the MLB IL at the MLB minimum pay and not the lower tier pay of a 40 man roster guy on option. I think we are easily talking a difference of $500K over a full season. In addition, he will get MLB service days which could figure down the line in retirement/ pension vesting.
Looking around at all the guys the Reds have on IL now who will come off in the next couple of weeks (probably) that are ahead of Schrock on the active roster spot food chain, a stay on the MLB IL mght not be all bad for him personally.
Yeah, I pay attention to that stuff, too. Farmer and Blandino are always on the edge, too. They’ve both now made enough money in baseball to justify the 8 years or so of work (and lost opportunity in another career), but are certainly not set for life. Aquino is in that same boat.
I think the pension vests immediately now, although it likely wouldn’t be much for one game. Maxes out at 10 years, but guys who’ve played 10 years should have saved enough for it not to be a big deal.
I figure that it is worth almost $3,000/day for the fringe guys to be in the Majors instead of AAA. An extra month at $3,000/day is real money to a 28-year-old guy on the brink of being cut.
Having said that, Schrock can actually hit. He has as nice, compact, repeatable swing that is as good as as anybody’s on the Reds team, and it oughta earn him a few years in a utility spot or maybe a regular 2B gig somewhere. He had a homer to right, a triple to right-center and a double to left yesterday.
Just enjoying the good parts of the team, haven’t seen such a productive OF in a long time, the catching duo and Antone. As mentioned above, a couple of rosters moves plus returning players from IL should make it, GO REDS!
Can the Suarez at leadoff experiment please be over? Otherwise a really nice day for the Reds with the exception of yet another injury…
Shogo’s line doesn’t tell the whole story.
– His walk was 8 pitches, he worked for it.
– He had the hardest hit ball (107 mph) of the day for the Reds team on his RBI groundout (came while down 1-2 in the count)
– He had highest xBA out too with a lineout in the 5th
If yestyerday was any indication, he’s got his timing down and should start to see more PT and get an opportunity at the top of the order. I just don’t know how you sit Naquin
Agreed about Suarez. His is at least playing league average since batting at 1 but his approach hasn’t changed in the least. He doesn’t see all that many pitches and he’s still swinging for the fences.
At this point moving Castellanos back to 3rd base to get all the OF in the lineup sounds like a big upgrade to the lineup.
I’m afraid Aki is the odd man out. Has to be traded if possible. I like him though. Honestly, although good range and tracking, he’s a left fielder only because of his arm, not that Naquin’s is a whole lot better. This team is constructed poorly. it’s a mess and needs to be fixed.
I did read today that Naquin let the American League in 2019 with nine assists from RF. He also was second in 2020 with five. I guess he may have a better arm than he’s shown this year or maybe his arm strength has dropped off.
Only other thing I wished for was for Akiyama to have a god game at the plate. I just don’t seem him getting much time over Castellanos, Winker and Naquin.
Shogo Akiyama is a bit of a conundrum for the Reds. He is a potential leadoff man with speed and good defensive skills for centerfield, but finding him playing time is a problem for now. This could be resolved in the offseason when some major changes with the Reds are expected.
Don’t understand Shogo situation – normally you don’t loose your spot due to injury – personal issue w/ his wife and all. Again, w/ Moose, Senzel, Punisher and Joey out for extended period and Shogo back, Reds had an optimal time to get him some ABs by moving Winker to 1B. Or, just giving each OF an off day once a week so he could play 2-3 days in a row. He was instrumental in their playoff push last season and as you noted a good LO option when he is playing well. Likewise, they spent some $$$ to acquire him…so you’d think they’d want him to earn it? Sounds like Joey is out another 7-10 days so maybe he’ll get a chance to play more. 1B situation is another mystery IMO. Reds knew they had no real option other than Moose to back up Joey and even then they R both LHH. Good they worked w/ Stephenson to develop a RHH option; could Nick have been an option as well in ST?? He has played in the inf in his younger days. It wasn’t like they didn’t know they had a crowded OF especially if they were all playing well at same time….?
Team was not built correctly.Most feel they went all in last year but they really went all in for 3 or 4 years based on the money and years they handed out to Shogo,Moose and Casty.Today Shogo can’t find any playing time,Moose is hurt and Casty is playing like a guy that will get over 20 mil per year from somebody else next season.Casty will bring a good player at the deadline,may be able to package Moose or Shogo with a starter like Miley or Castillo and relieve some salary as well to bring back a player at a position of need.Its not all doom and gloom but Reds have to react quickly and decisively.They won’t of course.