The Cincinnati Reds will wrap up part one of their final road trip of the first half with game three of their series this afternoon against the Kansas City Royals. The winner today will take the series after the Reds won the first game and then collapsed in game two last night. First pitch is set for 2:10pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Cincinnati Reds
|
Kansas City Royals
|
| Jonathan India – 2B | Whit Merrifield – 2B |
| Jesse Winker – LF | Andrew Benintendi – LF |
| Tyler Stephenson – 1B | Salvador Perez – C |
| Joey Votto – DH | Carlos Santana – 1B |
| Tyler Naquin – RF | Ryan O’Hearn – RF |
| Eugenio Suárez – 3B | Jorge Soler – DH |
| Tucker Barnhart – C | Hunter Dozier – 3B |
| Shogo Akiyama – CF | Michael A. Taylor – CF |
| Mike Freeman – SS | Nicky Lopez – SS |
| Sonny Gray – SP | Brady Singer – SP |
Starting Pitchers
Sonny Gray
While he’s only made 11 starts this season, Sonny Gray has been very good when he has been on the mound. He’s posted a 3.27 ERA in 55.0 innings and struck out 73 batters. Unfortunately he simply hasn’t gotten a ton of run support and despite being very good at keeping runs off of the board, he’s picked up credit for just one win on the year.
Sonny Gray has big reverse splits this season. Right-handed hitters are hitting .276/.350/.467 against him. Left-handed hitters are struggling in a big way, hitting just .194/.269/.324 against him this season. On the road he’s held hitters to a slightly lower OPS, but his ERA is also a little bit higher on the road (3.60).
Pitch usage from 2021
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Slider | Curve | Change | |
| Velo | 92.7 | 92.9 | 82.6 | 79.9 | 87.9 |
| Usage | 24.8% | 28.1% | 16.8% | 26.0% | 4.3% |
Brady Singer
This season has been fairly league average for Brady Singer. He’s posted a 4.74 ERA in 17 starts. That’s a 97 ERA+, which is ever so slightly below the league average (100). He’s given up 86 hits, eight home runs, walked 35 batters, and he’s struck out 85.
In the last four starts he’s only pitched into the 5th inning one time and he’s struggled with his control, walking 11 batters in 14.2 innings in that span. But he’s magically kept the runs at a minimum despite hitters having a .290/.397/.548 line against him in that stretch.
Left-handed batters are hitting .270/.357/.444 against him this season. Right-handed hitters are hitting .268/.342/.366 against him. The difference between the two is the power – lefties show a lot more of it against him. His home and road splits are significant, too. At home he’s holding hitters to a .710 OPS (.822 on the road), and his ERA is 4.33 at home (5.25 on the road).
Pitch usage from 2021
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 92.5 | 93.6 | 85.1 | 87.8 |
| Usage | 2.2% | 58.7% | 35.5% | 3.7% |
When and Where
- Game time: 2:10pm ET
- Where: Kauffman Stadium, Kansas City
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 83°, scattered thunderstorms throughout the afternoon
News and Notes
Tom Browning and the rooftop
???? ?, ????
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tom Browning left the Reds dugout at Wrigley Field, walked across the street, and sat with a group of Cubs fans on the roof of an apartment building behind the right field bleachers. pic.twitter.com/KHiV7T5Vfc
— This Day in Chicago Sports (@ChiSportsDay) July 7, 2021
NL Central Standings
Playoff odds via Fangraphs
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff % |
| Brewers | 51 | 35 | 0 | 87.8% |
| Reds | 44 | 41 | 6.5 | 17.0% |
| Cardinals | 43 | 44 | 8.5 | 2.9% |
| Cubs | 42 | 44 | 9.0 | 5.5% |
| Pirates | 32 | 53 | 18.5 | 0.0% |
Why in the everlasting world is Mike Freeman in this starting lineup !!!!!
Dude has absolutely NO BUSINESS ON THE ROSTER !
I mean is Farmer hurt or something ?????!!!!!
They must ha e NO plans of sliding Suarez back to SS this season for one reason or another.
Also if a guy (India) is running poorly enough in the 6th inning of a night game to be pulled, what’s the chances he makes it through a following matinee game? Lopez may be in early at 2B.
Bell was quoted a couple of days ago that Farmer was battling “bumps and bruises”
Those bumps and bruises seemed to be working in his favor yesterday. Unless he asked to sit, this makes no sense whatsoever.
Bullpen at it again. Bases loaded.
Maybe Sonny can just go 9 today.
Quick turnaround needed after last night.
Winker got the rest last night and Castellanos today.
They will both need with no rest at the All Star break.
Big next 5 days.
Go Reds and Mets.
absolutely…lets hope the NY double header wears the Brew Crew down
I would rather see them bring up Alf-Rod from Louisville then run Freeman out there. He is hitting for avg now and brings defensive value. He is clearly not the long term solution but may be better than the current options.
Show of hands of those who believe Akiyama at this stage of his career is actually a better CF defender than Naquin. Not questioning Akiyama getting the start vs RH pitcher but am questioning the positioning
I think I’d rather take my chances with AA. My expectations of Naquin are sinking like the setting sun.
Akiyama to me is a much better CF defender. Akiyama covers much more group. Naquin has not done much to impress defensively, he is usually in a bad position on a catch, even on a high pop up where he camps under it, he then watches to see if a runner tags and then tries to throw him out. instead of catching in a position to throw like Castellanos, Winker, Akiyama, Senzel, Aquino all do and make the throw to prevent the runner from attempting to take the base.
Freeman & Suarez should both be on the bench. I’d rather see Lopez go 0-5 than Suarez get a home run and everyone start jumping on the Suarez is back bandwagon. He isn’t and isn’t likely to be.
You’d rather an 0 for 5 than Suarez HR? There is no Suarez is back bandwagon, but not everyone is actively rooting against him. It’s all about W’s not grudges. I think Farmer is in over his head, as an everyday player, but when he has a good game, I’m happy about it. Same with our pen, they’re overmatched, but I’m always happy to see them put up zero’s.
correct
Not a grudge. Simply numbers. The myth that he can play his way out of this has been established. It’s been this way since the end of 2019. And there is a bandwagon, it’s all over BR, RLN, RR, etc. Part of managing objectively and fairly is recognizing that, regardless of past performance, it’s time to move in another direction. Happens in corporate America every day.
Lopez is like 160 lbs. How many tiny 3B are crushing it in the big leagues? Thats what I thought….zero
.930 ops for Suarez in 2019. Thats only 2 years ago. $11 mil ain’t much for .930
Simply numbers….like you said
suarez (2016 to 2021)
OPS
728 to 828 to 892 to 930 to 781 to 636 (so far 2021)
OPS+
92 to 115 to 136 to 129 to 98 to 64(so far 2021)
That certainly looks like a rise and fall curve to me.
He peaked in 2018 and 2019.
a 64 for OPS+ for $10.5million
or
Farmer 66 for OPS+ for $640K
The Reds are getting better offensive performance from Farmer with better defense than Suarez @ 6% of the cost.
Go look at his stats for 2020 and 2021, splits, etc. I don’t care what he did in 2019. That’s in the past. Everyone, including Bell, keeps saying magic will happen if he plays everyday and “works through it”. According to some of the analytics that everyone tends to hang their hat on these days, players typically peak at 25-27. Suarez was 27 in 2019. In 2019, he hit L/R .276/.270. In 2020, that had slipped to .176/.211. This year, he has fallen to .118/.197. In 2019, he hit .291 with someone on base. In 2020, that number fell to .218. This year? He’s down to .165. If baseball is going to be data-driven then baseball needs to be objective about it. As for Lopez being smaller in stature, again Joe Morgan was 5’7″. Move Lopez to second and India back to 3rd and play them in their traditional positions.
@Indy, is is expensive for his post 2019 production?
Suarez 20 & 21 .694 OPS, 29.9% K rate, poor defense, in 569 PAs. This is who he is now. If he were a free agent, doubt he would get a guaranteed deal. His contract is an albatross now and it is the only reason he is rostered. Yet he plays, every day.
Whats the alternative to Geno? Moose or Senzel might be playing if they were available. Don’t tell me 160 lb Lopez. I’m rooting for the kid, but c’mon? Geno .781 ops last year. Farmer can’t do that.
Geno led the bigs in HRs from like 2018-2020 or whatever. If he ever gets it going then he’s 100x better then Farmer or Lopez could ever be.
The Reds need a big bat. If he fails then he fails, but they don’t have an alternative right now
And there it is – if he ever gets it going. How long do we wait? How about that pop up with 2 on just now?
Lopez, Shrock, Moose, Senzel (when the latter 2 return) all > Suarez. Suarez will play because of his contract. That’s what big contracts do, ensure playing time.
Imagine if corporate America thought that way – we have to keep him because he’s the highest paid guy in the company. Hint, they don’t. Even Hollywood eventually quits casting someone because they had a monster hit ten years ago.
@LDS, Corp America doesn’t have guaranteed contracts. Why are the O’s still rostering Davis? He should have been DFA’d several seasons ago. In baseball, big GUARANTEED contracts on small market teams also guarantees playing time. Just the way it is, unfortunately.
Actually there are such contracts in corporate America. They just usually include buyout clauses. In baseball, they are option years. All teams should have severability clauses with all players. If you aren’t performing, here’s $500K or $1M or whatever, go have a nice life. The Suarez contract is the baseball version of the sunk money fallacy.
In MLB, players always have the advantage in contracts. Player agents would never allow such an “out” clause for teams. Basically, small market teams can’t miss with big contracts, because not only do they have to pay, they also have to play as well. We saw it with Bailey but at least he spent a lot of time on DL and didn’t hurt the team too much with his play. Suarez will continue to get significant playing time as they try to re-coup lost value. The team will only get better @ 3B if he gets hurt and has to be DL’d.
@LDS, if it were simply numbers you’d be happy with good numbers from anyone. You are so unhappy with Suarez, that you’re actively rooting against him. Call it numbers, grudge, or whatever you want, it’s not about W’s. To be clear I am not saying Suarez has been playing good, or he will turn it around. He has not, and I can’t predict the future. I will say you’d be happier if you looked for the positives, because Suarez will be here for 3 1/2 more seasons. You might as well root for a turn around, instead of screaming into the void.
Sorry MBS but results matter. Three more years like the last two ? Who wants that? Again, go by the numbers or go by gut/contract but don’t pretend that the team is being “analytic” and then defend such decisions. Other than that we’ll just see things differently.
Agree about Suarez and Freeman. Much rather have Lopez, Farmer and Castellanos out there. After giving away a game last night, this is the lineup they think will give them the best chance to win the series? Wow!
thank you Doug for all you do
even when we are mad at the REDS we love the forum we have here
+many
I found a picture of Wilbur on bing.com this morning. Don’t make me use it Reds!!!
MLB just put out an article on the one thing that each contender needs via trade. Yes, they included the Reds in the article. They of course pointed at the bullpen and named Yimi Garcia of the Marlins. Having had him on my fantasy teams this year his performance has been reminiscent of Iglesias so I’d much rather who they said for the Cardinals, who also need RP… the Mariner’s Kendall Graveman… plus that last name is a perfect name for announcing… here comes Kendall to put the Brewers’ chances of a comeback in the grave! (or substitute your own catch phrase)
must, must get the win today. Get yesterday out of the mind. Understand Casti sitting, even if he effectivly sat yesterday as the DH but do not understand Freeman starting. Playing with fire with this lineup. ROyals are bad enough to let it slide. Get the win and Go Mets. (today)
When will this front office GET A REAL SS?!!!!
The Brewers front office actually makes personnel moves to improve the team. The Red’s front office makes words to say they may improve the team.
Yea I’m not believing anything they say AT ALL about adding ANYTHING at the deadline . Bunch of hot air …. but ain’t changing till there is an owner that gives a crap about fielding a winning team .
Quite a contrast with the Brewers at this critical point in the season where the Reds are making a move in the NLC. It’s like the Red’s front office has lost the art of trading ballplayers and that change is sometimes needed. With this ownership, what will be will be.
Every trade isn’t a win-win. What would everyone on this board say if the Reds traded for a minor league first baseman?
unless it is a fire sale the REDs should just stay out of the trade market
they will screw up any improvement for a playoff run they will make
it is not worth over paying for a team that breaks up at the end of the season, if they want to build for the future fine if not ride it out
No need to fuss about the line up cause Bell is going to play everybody including the players that don’t belong in the big leagues.He can give reasons for why guys are playing and why guys are setting in every game.He set Farmer the next game after he had his best game ever earlier this year.He scripts everything in advance.Guys no when they will get a day off to rest,some guys play every day,some guys play as part of a platoon,some guys play because others are injured or hobbling and so on and so on.Makes no difference of what may have happened the game before.You may set if you had 3 hits and the money guys play even if they punched out 4 times.Every manager does this to some extent but our guy and what he does gets a lot of attention because he has bad players that he continues to play and like I said he can tell you exactly why.We know that the guys setting today give us a better chance to win then the guys playing but believe it or not Bell has his reasons.
Maybe Bell is in the wrong business? Since he scripts everything in advance maybe he should be a movie producer or something similar!
There have been quite a few injuries this year, certainly more than most. Many Bell is just being cautious and wanting to have his best players available in September and October.
1 game off and Jesse goes to left for a hit…It’s seems like 8-10 games since he’s done that.
Following today’s game at work today! Based upon Doug’s intro stats on KC’s starting pitcher (Singer) it would behoove the Reds hitters to be patient at the plate today given Singer’s control issues related to issuing walks!
Votto doesn’t agree. Watched 2 down and in sliders (leftys dream pitches) then swung at one in the dirt.
Starting where we left off last night, stranding runner in scoring position!
Little surprised India starting. Going to rest anyone, feels like it might be him.
Cy Singer on the mound for KC today!
Sonny with a smart baseball play…letting it drop….then throwing to the correct base. It looked so simple….but MLB’ers mess it all the time.
I get the temptation to trade him, especially if things crater, but short of a knockout offer I wouldn’t do it. The young core could be competitive next year even if we lose Cast., and Gray has had success here he did not have in NYC. That makes me think this is a good fit for both.
Only two innings. One of the things that I think makes baseball harder to follow today (and yes grumpy old man, get off my lawn) is that the instantaneous of the internet makes us all (myself certainly included) overreact to every play/decision.
picked a good day for the under it seems today. Missed the winker 2nd AB what happend
groundout to 1B who was standing on the bag holding the runner. winker didn’t run, wanted the foul ball call
Remember when RLN used to holler about Billy Hamilton batting .240?
I present to you Shogo .205 and Freeman .175 in the lineup at the same time.
Yes, I remember those days! Billy’s low batting average was offset by his base stealing skills and his awesome coverage in center field.
Plus another unnamed 3B batting .179
I think a lot of the hollering had to do with Billy Hamilton leading off. If he had consistently hit 8th or 9th, I think a lot of people would have been at least semi-okay with it. Also, he was consistently a bad hitter, playing every day, for years. Doesn’t apply to Shogo. Now, why Freeman is even on the roster — I have no idea.
do not forget Suarez at .179
We have a lot to holler about these days with batting avgs.
Not sure what’s worse
1.Rooting against one of your own players (Suarez)
2.Blaming Bell because ownership has no interest in winning
3.Acting like AA is the second coming of George Foster because he had one good month last year
not rooting against Suarez, hoping he does well but his numbers are showing that he is not and the eye test when he swings seems he is trying to hit a HR each AB as he said he was going for 53 HRs in 2021.
Most of the rest of the team is trying to hit line drives and taking homers when they happen which is giving them much better BABIP in 2021 vs 2021 and better numbers across the board. Suarez does not seem to have done what the rest of the team has done.
Want to give someone else a chance that needs an opportunity to see if they are any better and this needs more than 2 games to accomplish.
Jose Barrero’s bat has struggled in AAA, but his defense has not. His range factor is 4.8. He is on pace for 479 assists in a 150 game season, which is Dave Concepcion-like.
I hear more cheering for the Red’s plays at today’s game…and they are in Kansas City.
Shogo relents to the other fielders several times now. He appeared to pull up…He might not have made the play, but just bad optics IMO.
Someone has to catch that, it seemed as though Naquin was waiting on Shogo
Shogo sucks. I’ve never seen a guy hit the ball softer in my life. Lorenzen is a 100x better hitter then Shogo. He pulls his hips out vs lefties like a high school kid. I’m sure they’ll carry him next year because they don’t want to eat $7 mil, but he’s a bust. Decent defensive OFer, but that gets diluted too when half our games are in little gabp.
Barnhart and Suarez force the ROyal TOolban, Saving the inning
That was a great play by Tucker. Before we trade him, please remember that…
Reds pregame on WLW mentioned our catching tandem. Basically #2 thru #4-5 in every offensive stat except HRs/steals
Heck of a play by Bernhardt
Yes Tucker! Need more of those, where the runner on 3rd is getting a huge lead because of the shift.
Royals gonna Red.
Well, that’s not something you see every day! Runner picked off 3rd! Great play by all invollved!
Great play by Tucker. Reds are probably now trying to figure out how to make a trade for Michael Taylor.
SInger playing with fire with some of these pitches…. sooner or later a reds batter is going to square one of the mistakes up
I think Suarez at times is about as automatic out as you could be. I think this may be one of the worst line ups of the season.
Primary task of a MLB manager is to put the best lineup together in order to give your team a chance to win! As you stated, this is NOT it!
He rarely does – Bell is a big problem. Clueless
Primary task is to get his team in a position to win over the season, not every game. Players need rest, to be their best. Look at all the injuries we have. Do you think Sims and Antone would be on the DL, if they were used like normal relievers? Antone is asked to throw too many innings too often, and Sims was asked to throw to much. I’m not blaming Bell on the overuse btw, that’s a front office issue, not giving the manager quality arms in the pen.
I know Naquin has went south since April, but Aquino misses sliders from righties worse then slumping Geno. IDK? I think we need Naquin. He will atleast take a pitch and draw a walk and he’s got crazy power when he connects!
Same thing I say about Geno….if we had a alternative? Senzel plays CF like the German Wehrmacht mined it pregame. Better warm up the cart for Senzel…..theres a flyball to the track in CF.
Two men left on 2nd with less than 2 outs thru 4 innings! Reds must lead MLB in leaving RISP.
I still believe this team needs a solid center fielder as much as a short stop.
White Sox just released Adam Eaton. He can get hot and he’s not that old
Mentioned it in the thread last night but they gave away a potential starting CF last year in Fairchild for a few appearances by Bradley. DBacks just called him up after he OPSd over 1.000 at AAA.
Nice play by Suarez with the bat coming at him. And, I am not a fan of his “defense” at all.
India can’t attempt that throw….no chance of ever getting 2.
Mental error.
He does that all the time. Throws it when they have no shot. He would’ve scored anyway, but your point is valid
How did Santana score on that play?
so freeman to India, with the runner sliding in. As India throws his throwing hand hits the helmet of the royal comming up, the ball is deflected and Santana scores
India threw the relay off the runners helmut and the ball bounced away so Santana scored from 2nd
you see it all…. india’s throw “not interfered” with to first to break up a potential inning-ending double play. Reds down one. Not insurmountable, but the reds need to play like a potential playoff team and not like it is getaway day
Well the manager put a get away day lineup out there.
2 run lead by KC may be more than enough today with the lineup the Reds have! Can’t afford to lose another game to a weak team and hope to gain ground on the Brewers!
and now sonny gray is running into trouble. This is not the script for today.
Milw up and about 6 outs from Hader. That’ll make it 7.5 back. I recommend we get our excess matter together and win this game!
Smart move by Brewers to move Burnes up to start the first game of two 7 inning games! Like the syaing goes, can’t sweep a double-header if you don’t win the first game!
Sonny out of gas again in the 4th inning. The Reds are basically stretching him back out in MLB games after his IL stints versus giving Santillan 2 more starts to get to the All break. Not sure this was a wise decision.
How do you say “Couldn’t homer on a tee ball field” in Japanese?
Akiyama
He hits like a girls softball slap hitter.
Mets just do not score a lot of runs for deGrom! His ERA of 1.10 is going to waste!
Freeman has no business being on a major league roster. Farmers’ injury better be of the 1-day variety.
Akiyama and Freeman overmatched. These are players who dont hit for power so they have to grind out at bats and run deep counts and get on base. SInger just blew them away with mlb average 93 mph FB.
Winker hits ball into short RF hard into the shift with pitcher covering 1b.
Reds need to find away to get off the mat after last night. Swimming upstream right now.
I can remember Dusty/Coco Cordero screwing up a series in Milwaukee right the break and we never recovered that year. Last night is starting to feel like that. 3 of 4 in Milwaukee feels like mandatory
Yep. Dusty let Coco lose one game right after another,..over and over. Stubborn, stupid, typical Dusty Baker. I bet he let Cordero blow like 8 or 10 saves in a row. Why do the Reds always get these kinds of managers? Sparky is turning over in his grave. Sparky was brilliant. We’ve not had a smart manager since him. Oh well.
Forgetting Pinella?
Anyone who didn’t expect this game to follow exactly this script hasn’t been paying much attention to this team. I would have been shocked if they took any sort of early lead today. I’ll be pleasantly surprised if they manage to score. It wouldn’t really matter who’s pitching against them.
Exactly it was scripted from the get go.Royals going with their best and we didn’t but there are reasons.No way we were going to win this game after last night and all of us knew that.
That didn’t age well.
I agree. Singer is just throwing 92-93 and they’re doing nothing so far. He gets behind guys too. He’s nothing special today
The Shogo signing has been a major bust and mid market teams like the Reds can not make that kind of mistakes. Today is looking just like the San Diego loss and the 4 straight losses that followed. Teams that want to compete don’t lose 2 out of 3 to the Royals. Right now one of the biggest problems is that Winker has cooled off big time.
Agreed. Winker was carrying the offense (along with Castellanos) they can’t afford for him and Suarez both to struggle at the same time
Current Reds Team stats:
1. #8 in MLB Slugging%
2. #4 on base%
3. #7 runs per game
4. #7 OPS
This is a good offensive team. Top 10 in most categories in MLB. If the team has limited resources (I have no idea but it seems that way) wouldn’t it seem more important to upgrade the pitching staff? Trevor Story seems like a big gamble and may cost more in terms of younger players. I don’t see lots of names on the market that would be huge upgrades in the bullpen. Who do they target? I am fine with Farmer at SS for this year and Barerro later this summer. What else upgrades the roster?
I think the difference is that there are potentially more option internally pitching-wise that could come back (Lorenzen, Antone, Sims, Santillan, even Lodolo or Greene late in the year if they are still in it). Position-wise, they are only missing Moustakos right now and he’s duplicative of some of the other players they play everyday. And Senzel, but it’s unclear if he’s a better option than Aquino or Naquin at this point.
A dominant lefty reliever with team control beyond 2021 would be helpful. That’s a need now and later.
Doubt much will happen in the next 2 weeks- MLB draft coming up, 7 games against the Brewers, and injury updates to multiple key players.
I haven’t seen any names of players who fit that description. That’s why I ask. Who is that guy?
Gregory Soto All Star Detroit Tigers
I haven’t seen any signs that ownership wants to improve so I’m expecting some salary dumps
Gray rebounded with easy inning.
That 2 seam FB coming back to the inside corner against lefties was Greg Maddux like x 93. Santana had no chance but to turn around.
Cowboy talking about Stephenson at first base looking like a natural
Nice quick work by Sonny there. He needed an efficient inning. Need some runs.
This is going to be a horrible day in this season going to get shutout by a not so good Royal team and of course Brewers will win 2 today.
Singer is a mediocre righty this year and looks like another Reds nominated Cy Young candidate. Singer has a 1.5 WHIP and the Reds are bringing that number down.
The Reds offensive stats are very skewed because of all the blow out games where they scored 10 plus runs, there have been way to many games like today against an average pitcher at best.
Riding high and looking at another 6 game winning streak and then it all comes crashing down. Needed a big bounce back and have the pitching advantage on paper, but they do nothing. I’m bailing out for now
Seriously? 4 hits against a pitcher who probably wouldn’t make the roster on most MLB teams!
I heard that!!! Embarrassing.
You can see the future with the scenario of not having Castellanos in the Line Up. Pirates, and the likes
If at least this sole game serves to evidence what terrible idea is to trade him. Repeat with me TERRIBLE.
Let’s wait for a one hit wonder or KC to kill themselves to get this game.
Whenever the Reds come up with a late-inning win, the guys being interviewed always use cliches like “this team never gives up,” “we always believe we have a chance to win every game,” etc. That’s all well and good, but when they play like this after a collapse like last night, it doesn’t feel like a team that really expects to win. It feels like a team that’s going through the motions and hoping things somehow work out. The head-scratcher lineup, the swings at balls in the dirt, nobody ever bunts for a hit (or even attempts to), very few guys looking to hit the ball the other way, no steal attempts, no hit and run, etc. There’s just no sense of urgency with this team until they get to the 7th or 8th inning. It’s hard to pinpoint anything in particular that anyone is specially doing wrong, but the fact that this sort of game is SO predictable tells me that they’re doing something wrong. Baseball shouldn’t be THIS predictable.
*specifically (not specially)
Mets just left the bases loaded in the bottom of the 6th! Brewers still up 2-1 and now it’s Hader time!
Shogo slaps one thru the infield
Bunt
also not understanding why the bunt is not on for freeman
well I will just shut my mouth now
Freeman slaps to LF
I’m pleasantly surprised!
Haha Doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have bunted but we’ll be happy and take it.
INDIA!!!!
wow!!!! Maybe we just need to start with the other team having some runs so we can come from behind every time
Apparently the Reds just need to make sure they’re always behind in the 7th inning? That seems to be their best strategy.
And Perazza for the Mets off Hader in bottom 7th to tie it 2-2 !
India has some areas to improve upon but for a 24 year old rookie, its looking like the Reds have their lead off hitter and 2b of the future. This guy is a gamer. Love watching him play.
ROY
Jim Day just said Jose Peraza took Josh Hader deep to tie game bottom 7
Jose Peraza!
Jose Peraza comes through for the reds. Homers in bottom 7th at NY to tie the game
The best game he’s ever played for the Reds
Laughed at that.
off Josh Hader!
and i just found out which of you guys are watching the reds broadcast lol
Sonny Gray pitching his heart out. 10 in a row. 7 innings. 98 pitches. Raining hard.
10 K’s. Gotta win this game
Here comes the tarp.
we are going to a delay, obviously would benefit from a rain-shortened game here.
(listening while at work) 😉 That final out of Merrifield was critical. Now that the bottom of the seventh inning is complete, the entire inning is official. Correct me if I am wrong (cough — Doug Gray), but had the full inning not been completed, the final would have reverted to six full innings (and a 2-0 Royals lead/win) in the event of a rainout.
Tom, you are correct, game would have reverted to end of 6th if home team is behind and inning has not been completed.
And it is nice to be a run ahead at the end of an inning when a rain delay besets an official game.
it was huge for Gray to get that 3rd out in 7th. If he did not and they called the game, would have reverted to end of 6th.
Reds can get a break now with the weather
Thanks, Don. You confirmed my understanding.
Yes- why Gray was zeroed in. Entire team congratulated in dugout, Castillo hugged him for 2 seconds. He walked into the clubhouse and high fived a KC 13 yo ballboy standing at the steps of the clubhouse before descending down.
I think not. Based on what I found last week, since about 1980, it would have become a suspended game versus reverting back
From the MLB. Com Glossary
https://www.mlb.com/glossary/rules/regulation-game
If a regulation game is terminated early due to weather, the results are considered final if the home team is leading. If the home team is trailing, the results are considered final if the game is not in the midst of an inning when the visiting team has taken the lead.
“If a regulation game is terminated early due to weather and the game is either tied or in the midst of an inning in which the visiting team has taken the lead, it becomes a suspended game that will be completed at a later date from the point of termination.”
Jim,
Thanks I learned something new from you today.
I never realized that they changed that rule.
Thanks for the updated info.
now can watch the extras in the Mets game
Who you got?
obviously hoping for the Mets here
Sick. Diaz? 2 outs, but he walks 2 guys to load them up and then hit Yelich. Can he keep it 3-2 and will Hader come back out? Hader finally blew a save!
Jose Peraza pinch hit hr off Hader.loooooooooollllllll
You just never know. Peraza and Shogo could take batting practice at 2B and still not reach the seats normally
AlfRod is there with them. No power.
Michael Conforto .204 with 2 hrs. What in the world? I thought he would be one of the top hitters in the NL for many years with that swing. Baseball is hard
Brewers have used all the big name RP in game 1 so far, listening to NY broadcast still another game to go, will assume that the bullpen will be taxed by the time CIN comes in
Brewers lose to Mets in extras, 4-3.
Is this the Mets fans for a day support group?
Reds win and take series. Mets also get it done.
Council used his best in Willams and Hader to try and win it but it didn’t work out.Suter didn’t get an out in the 8th and took the loss.I could live with Williams and Hader every night and take my chances but some times it just doesn’t work out.Peraza of all people ties it off of Hader.
Williams is good….not great. They used Boxberger against us in the 7th and he’s no better then our guys imo. Suter same thing. He’s better then our lefties, but nothing special overall. If our pen has Antone/Lorenzen/Warren/Brach/Sims/Hembree then I’d take ours over theirs overall
We could be just as good but Williams has that almost unhittable change up and an upper 90’s fastball combo.
Who was the RLN daily poster that LOVED Jose Peraza and posted every day when he was with the Reds? Wherever you are! Props to your boy Jose!! Could be a huge turnaround for the Reds if we get the W and the Brewers lose twice. Or atleast don’t win twice.
Seat101
Looked at the Radar, the current cell is already clearing the area, however, the forecast for the next half hour has another cell forming west of the city and coming over. I know its a theory but if its long enough….. Mets walk it off
It wasn’t me.I still see him and Billy trying to hit and get chills down my back.
Ball wasn’t even down-n-in. It was high and out over the plate. He only drove the ball down-n-in with us. Everything else was a Shogo swing. Usually soft F9
Billy is a right hand hitter only now for the ChiSox and made another superhuman catch in CF yesterday.
But I don’t miss him—just saw that randomly today
Storm is not very big and heavy rain forecast to stop in less than an hour.
I’ve been told Bell never gets any credit at RLN for his good moves. Since Freeman and Shogo both got key hits in the rally, are we supposed to give Bell credit for being smart enough to play both of them today? I’m not sure how this “credit” thing is supposed to work, so I want to make sure I give him appropriate credit whenever it’s due.
Exactly! I could list 20 problems he’s had with this team, but nobody cares. They just expect him to blindly win and be 15 games over .500
Suarez?
Castillo? Our “ace” was the worst pitcher in the NL for 2 months and we went 1-10 in his first 11 starts
Sonny had 55 innings coming in and we’re over halfway
Antone on the DL twice
etc etc etc
Indy, here’s one problem with your argument. Whenever people complained about Antone not pitching enough, the defense of Bell was always something about wanting to protect Antone from injury. Antone is now on the IL for the second time this year. If Bell deserves credit for protecting Antone from injury, then why is he not to blame for the fact that Antone has already been out twice with injuries? You can’t have it both ways. You can’t give him credit when a guy doesn’t get hurt, and then say he also deserves credit whenever a guy DOES get hurt because he’s forced to manage a team without the injured guy. You’ve created a situation in which Bell deserves credit no matter what happens. If a guy gets hurt, give Bell credit for dealing with it. If a guy doesn’t get hurt, give Bell credit for protecting him. If a guy pitches badly, give Bell credit for having to deal with a guy who can’t pitch. If a guy pitches well and wins, give Bell credit for his team’s performance…
So J you want to blame managers when guys get arm injuries when they haven’t been overused. Not much logic there. Injuries happen.
No, John. I don’t want to give Bell credit for saving guys from injuries, nor do I blame him when guys get injured. I think injuries are basically random. That’s why I get annoyed when Bell makes decisions based on “protecting players from injuries.” I don’t think he (or anyone) really knows how to protect anyone from injury, so I think it’s silly to base decisions on something that’s basically just guesswork.
Bell also probably deserves credit for leaving Gray in the game to pitch the 7th instead of opting for Perez, as a lesser manager might have. Am I getting this right?
Managers are pretty negligible in terms of in-game decisions. A random fan could make the lineup everyday and the team’s record wouldn’t be much different. All the stuff a manager does that matters it outside the game. All the credit and all the blame falls on the players and the front office.
Bell’s not the guy who is pitching or hitting. He’s also not the one making roster decisions either.
Reports that the KC ground crew may be moving in the direction of the Tarp
Update: tarps off expect we will be starting up soon. So much for the win by weather when we want it.
Somebody, quick! project a force field around the tarp roller
alas its not to be. 540 restart time
lets argue again why this game wasn’t “called” like the Padres game!
Baez, and Kimbrel for Sani, Hinds, and Davis Seems like a perfect fit for both teams
guess the break worked for Geno
Akiyama has had enough of you comments it seems
Big hit for Shogo, glad to see that.
2 big hits for Shogo and big one for Geno too! Geno has 2 game winning rbis already in July and they act like he’s 1 for 34. Granted last night sucked
Shh, they’ll hear you. lol 😉
Geno has a 6 game hitting streak
Akiyama! Comes through with an insurance for all you haters ?? lol
Stephenson looks good with that reach at 1B
This is where it gets tough for guys like Warren. They might pitch well in the middle innings, but most of them put those high leverage outs on a pedestal and they psych themselves out. He’s earned the chance! I’d give him the 9th too if he gets this guy!
Comeon, lets get this last out
A grand slam at GABP is an out at Kaufmann…. good work
The Warren Commission comes thru….barely
Wow, that was close.
Would love to see India steal here
India 3-4 with a walk. He just goes out and plays the game! Gotta love what he’s doing! I’m always all over Senzel, but he hit just like India in college at Tennessee. It would be insane if they were both rolling like that and getting on base constantly
Yea Senzel was playing well when he got injured
with that, all starters have had a hit today
Terrible at bat by Votto there
Way to pick him up there Naquin
Naquin comes through. Now lets get three outs.
Geno hit that ball about 380 and another deep fly to LF earlier that he just missed. He’s looking better
Ughhhh?? Why does Bell like HH so much? 7.84 era in June. He blew the game last night. Just let Warren finish it up already?
Nine pitches for Warren and back to HH who pitched last night? He threw 11 pitches and lost the game. Which team is Bell hoping wins? Oh well, maybe it works out.
It worked.
HH confidence builder right now. Got the series, get a game, and just in time to root the Mets for the sweep
Congratulations to Gray and the bull pen. India and Naquin come through.