After splitting the first two games of the series the Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets will face off one final time to see who takes the series. First pitch is set for 12:35pm this afternoon.
Starting Lineups
New York Mets
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| Brandon Nimmo – CF | Jonathan India – 2B |
| Jeff McNeil – 2B | Jesse Winker – LF |
| Pete Alonso – 1B | Tyler Stephenson – C |
| Dominic Smith – LF | Joey Votto – 1B |
| Michael Conforto – RF | Tyler Naquin – CF |
| Jonathan Villar – 3B | Eugenio Suárez – 3B |
| Tomás Nido – C | Aristides Aquino – RF |
| Luis Guillorme – SS | Kyle Farmer – SS |
| Marcus Stroman – SP | Jeff Hoffman – SP |
Starting Pitchers
Jeff Hoffman
The Reds are handing the ball over to Jeff Hoffman. He has spent the last month on a rehab assignment as he’s worked his way back from a shoulder injury. While in the minors he made five starts with a 3.44 ERA, striking out 25 batters in 18.1 innings between Triple-A Louisville (four starts) and High-A Dayton (one start). Before he hit the injured list his ERA was 4.61 with the Reds through 10 starts.
Hoffman has weird splits this season. Both lefties and righties have a .747 OPS against him, but they get there in very different ways. Righties are hitting .250/.322/.425 against him with nine walks and 25 strikeouts. Lefties are htiting .237/.392/.355 against him with 18 walks and 14 strikeouts. Left-handed hitters don’t hit for power against him, nor for much of an average, but they make contact and draw a ton of walks. Right-handed hitters show a moderate amount of power against him but don’t get on base a lot and strike out quite often. He has pitched significantly better at home than on the road, though. His ERA in Cincinnati this season is 3.09 – it’s 6.62 on the road – and hitters have a .696 OPS against him compared to an .810 OPS on the road.
Pitch usage from 2021
| 4-Seam | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 93.6 | 77.5 | 82.5 | 85.3 |
| Usage | 53.9% | 11.8% | 18.2% | 11.8% |
Marcus Stroman
Through 19 starts this season Marcus Stroman has been outstanding, posting a 2.79 ERA in 103.1 innings with 25 walks and 86 strikeouts. One of the bigger ground ball pitchers since reaching the Major Leagues, he doesn’t miss a lot of bats, but relies on keeping the ball in the yard and not walking guys and he’s been quite successful at those things throughout his career.
There are some splits for Stroman. Right-handed hitters have had more success against him this year as they’ve hit .256/.310/.372 on the season. Lefties are hitting .225/.271/.305 against him this year.
Pitch usage from 2021
| 4-Seam | 2-Seam | Slider | Cutter | Split | Curve | |
| Velo | 92.5 | 92.2 | 85.3 | 89.8 | 85.9 | 80.2 |
| Usage | 3.1% | 44.6% | 19.9% | 16.6% | 14.3% | 1.5% |
When and Where
- Game time: 12:35pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv, MLB Network (out of market)
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 76°, partly cloudy, 1% chance of rain.
News and Notes
Aston Goodbye
After being called up yesterday, Ashton Goudeau has been optioned back to Triple-A Louisville to make room for Jeff Hoffman on the 26-man roster.
Nick Senzel to get time at SS and CF on rehab
David Bell says he anticipates Nick Senzel playing CF and SS during his rehab assignment next week. #Reds
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) July 21, 2021
The Reds have signed 15 draft picks
The Cincinnati Reds have announced that they have signed 15 of their 22 draft picks so far. You can see the full list here. Of the three 1st round picks only high school outfielder Jay Allen has signed so far.
NL Central Standings
Playoff odds via Fangraphs
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff % |
| Brewers | 56 | 40 | 0 | 90.9% |
| Reds | 49 | 46 | 6.5 | 12.8% |
| Cubs | 47 | 48 | 8.5 | 3.6% |
| Cardinals | 47 | 48 | 8.5 | 2.6% |
| Pirates | 36 | 59 | 19.5 | 0.0% |
Aquino will show up again today. Hopefully Hoffman last 6 innings
where is our right fielder – is he going onto the ten day I r ?
Where are the acquisitions to improve the roster? When are they going to sign their top two picks? And while I think starting Stephenson, it’s kind of a non-Bell kind of move. Is Barnhart injured?
day game after night game
I miss guys that could play every inning of a traditional double header.
1) They’ve signed their 2nd overall pick: Jay Allen and now have just signed Mat Nelson #3.
2) The catcher position is a very tough position if you have ever played it. So you are saying Tyler Stephenson should not play today???
I was not saying that Stephenson shouldn’t start. I was saying I’m surprised that Bell started him. Nothing more.
The reds did sign their comp pick for losing Trevor . I believe that they also signed their second round pick.
Hope the Reds find a way to win this one. On paper, looks like a tough one
Makes zero sense to play Castellanos today with the off day tomorrow aquino can play RF
As for Senzel- thats good news to develop him as a multi-positional flex player.
While unpopular- I think Barrero needs to stay in AAA. Hes only had 61 at bats and theres a risk for all young players in 2022 of getting shutdown again … on the heels of a 2020 shutdown
Let Barrero greene and Lodolo have a normal season to develop, sandwiched in between 2 highly unusual truncated seasons
Those 3 are too important
There has to be a record for the number of transactions that the teams have made over the last three days. Reds have a chance to steal one here. Got the best No Nick lineup out there although I would bat Aquino over suarez. Just got to play like its not getaway day. Lets see if the Arm issues were responsible for Jeff Hoffmans early troubles and if he can lock onto the #5 spot
With Suarez ahead of him, AA will likely be hitting with bases empty. Who knows maybe the Reds will get lucky today but I’m not putting money on that idea.
Think positive! Suarez is due to break out any day now! Right!
Question answered. His injury seems to have had little to do with his ineffectiveness. I never thought we’d see him back in the rotation when he lat walked off the field weeks ago.
Not expecting much pitching from us.
Hope Can get Stroman up in the Zone.
Not as good so hoping that is what happens.
I posted this comment (“One final comment before I turn in for the night! A plea, request, suggestion for Mr. Bell. Please find a way to put AA and Ty Steve in the lineup full time! Good night all!”) at the end of last night’s game! Glad to see that Mr. Bell is reading the RLN blogs and implementing our “suggestions”! Go Reds! Score early & often today!
AA has had one good month last year and everyone thinks he’s the second coming of Babe Ruth
Stephenson has hit the ball very well but his defense is borderline atrocious
AA has had multiple good months. His OBS in 2021 is 1.024. His lifetime OBS is .869. These are MVP and All Star levels (on a small sample size). Winker, Castellanos and Aquino should be playing if healthy….Senzel and Naquin in CF if Aquino is not a CF.
He’s not Babe Ruth, he does have the top OBS on the team (would be in the top few in the league if had enough AB’s) without consistent playing time, and over two years with streaks and slumps is overall hitting at an all star level. He is young and under team control for multiple years.
It’s certainly fair to say he wouldn’t hit so well with FT playing, fair to also argue that he would hit better with consistent playing time. The only way to measure is what he has done when he has played and that is hit BETTER than India and Stephenson (both doing great) while blowing away the OF competition, two of whom are all-stars.
He is a good fielder with a great arm, needs some work on the basepaths. He should be getting very consistent time over the other alternatives.
Naquin had a great start, his OBS in 2021 (including that great start) is now .760, certainly better then Billy Hamilton and worth keeping yet nothing special. His lifetime OBS is .765, so he is what would be expected. He is 30 and a free agent after this year.
Akiyama is a $7M/Year sunk cost. He is 33 and not a solution going forward. He has a .511 OBS this year and .600 Lifetime. Was ok to give him another chance as he did much better in second half last year after getting used to the Majors. He has ZERO HR’s in 251 AB’s.
Senzel at SS after they tried to move Suarez there already just seems like they have no plan and are just throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks. Doesn’t engender a lot of faith in the front office.
Having multiple options at shortstop is not a bad thing and just because NS is practicing there doesn’t not mean the Reds are backtracking. No one in the FO says he is starting there when he comes back. He (NS) stated he’d like to be an uber-player (much like the mold of Kris Bryant). Stating they have no plan is a little off base when taking those that into account.
Finding the best players a spot to play is what the FO do. Backward thinking would never had put Jonathan India at 2nd base.
Alright Jeff…. had me scared on the walk…but worked around it
At least one walk from every Reds pitcher is manadatory don’t you know!
As is 1 home run
Here’s some food for thought:
In 64 PA this season, Aquino has 0.6 WAR.
If you extrapolate that over a full season (roughly 650 PA), then that means Aquino would be a 6 WAR player!
I don’t actually think he would get there, but I do believe Aquino could be a well-above average player if given then chance. Defensively, he’s already really good. His power is already well-known, and he seems to have improved his ability to take a walk as well. I believe with reps, the batting average would also come around.
And he’s just 24 years old.
Really hope the Reds give him a chance. He could become another young piece of the future puzzle like Winker, India, Stephenson, and Senzel. Or maybe he won’t.
But the Reds need to play him and find out what they’ve got, one way or another.
he is an extra on the roster this year due to lack of options, but I am sure next year and beyond he will be the starting RF
Whoops, sorry, meant to type Aquino is 27 years old, not 24. Not sure what happened there.
We all love Castellanos
I cant see a scenario he doesnt opt out and hit FA or BC extends him in a huge deal
Reds dont have Quality OF in high minors so AA and winker and Naquin and Senzel would be a good top 4 with Shogo as the 5th wheel
2022 likely a truncated season so Shogo contract will get easier to absorb after this year
The key to beating Stroman is getting some loft on the ball. He’s a ground ball pitcher! That was his pattern when he pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays!
Horrible pitch after being way ahead in count – horrible
Yep, grooved that ball with a note that said “Hit me far”!
0-2 count on the opposing pitcher then 3 straight balls? C’mon Jeff, you’re smarter than that!
Just not that impressed by Hoffman – looks like same dude before he got hurt – constantly pitches from behind , I mean constantly
I think votto went. It was close
Good umpiring to
Let him vent and not escalate
it was certainly close enough that you dont risk getting thrown out about it
Why the need to throw Hoffman? Let him be long relief.
This is my thought as well, even before this game. Seems like we do need some bullpen arms worse than starters….unless they are preparing to trade Miley/Gray and need Vlad/Hoffman stretched out.
Hey, remember when we traded Jay Bruce to the Mets for Dilson Herrera?
Also, did you know Dilson Herrera is the same age as Aqunio (27) and is in the Toronto Blue Jays minor leagues now?
The more you know!
Brandon Nimmo was the original guy in that trade, not Herrera. For what I remember Nimmo was hurt or the Reds medical team didnt like what they seen.
Yeah, I remember.
Nimmo sure would look nice on this current Reds team, wouldn’t he?
Allmost all the HRs are pitching mistakes.
Don’t you think the team needs to score some runs to support a Pitcher who ‘s not played for a while?
Need small ball or something but not let your returning pitcher backs the team. It should be just the opposite.
Most good Ml hitters turn mistake pitches into souvenirs!
Won’t last 5 innings – throws too many pitches and stuff just is not that good
Throwing batting practice
SO it was not the Arm issues… he is just bad. Got what we paid for with Robert Stephenson. SHould see Tony S. soon and pretty sure that Vlad will be making the turnaround in about 8 more days
Hoffman absolutely cannot be a fifth starter on a contending team.
Nope he can’t – can’t pitch at this level
no…. not sure about the bullpen, but if the organization does not think Vlad can be the 5th starter then they need to do some shopping.
You put him in the same box with all of the waiver claim guys. Most of them have proven why they were available.
+10000000
Or the 6th
Time to give ol’ Rick Porcello a call. Ha.
Suarez with strikeout #116 on an 82 mph off speed pitch down broadway from Johnny Cueto…errr Marcus Stroman
Drew stubbs historically awful 2011 season and club record 205 K is in reach . Stubbs was an elite defensive CF however.
The Big Donkey is second at 195. He’s somewhere saying you got this Geno
89 away with 67 to play. Oh he has it. It will keep us going in September when they are 20 out. Bob will have bobblehead nights of Suarez and fireworks to celebrate this incredible achievement.
Hoffman may have just cancelled the season
Dude does not belong in this roster
today was a “you lose a third” loss out the gate, so I am not angry. We had an opportunity to see if Hoffman was the answer. He isn’t, so we move on.
Answer for what? Starting pitching really hasn’t been the problem.
answer for Starter #5
Think the first 5 are set at this point. Castillo, Gray, Miley, Mahle, Guti. Hoffman didn’t really need to make this start.
I’ve never understood why Hoffman was acquired in the first place for a team loaded with potential starting pitching. It’s in the same category of why was Moustakas and Akiyama acquired?
Hoffman should have backed up Santallian or however you spell his name.. And honestly I don’t think Santallian should have come out of the bullpen. He seems more like a starting pitcher. Have not seen good results from him so far as a reliver.
So much for winning the two series this week. Oh and to bring in Dolittle in, is Bell trying to lose this game for sure.
Hoffman out there throwing big fat pumpkins. Not fooling anyone.
game over – thanks Hoffmann
Wow Hoffman just wow
Teams are looking for relief pitchers and starting pitchers. I would not mind the Reds trading Hoffman at the deadline. He is average at best but more like below average.
The Mets dont have a starter named for Sunday or the doubleheader on Monday. Trade him for some nachos and batting practice balls.
Maybe they can trade Hoffman for Robert Stephenson. 😉
Thats cruel and unusual punishment to Reds and Rockies fans
DFA both and we won the trade
Case Williams is pitching in Daytona
Thank God we’re giving Hoffman a chance to start. Would be a shame to give Greene or Lodolo a chance already.
Greene has been shaky at Triple-A and Lodolo has not cleared 5 innings at Double A in nearly 2 months. Neither are ready. You are not seeing Lodolo this year and it is highly unlikely that you are seeing Greene either
I mean, I’ll take a shaky Greene over Hoffman any day. Get the extra bat in the lineup too.
in the short term yea, he would be better than Hoffman, but the risk of short-circuiting his development is too great. We know that Vlad and Tony are better than Hoffman as well, Tony starts next time out and by that point, you can recall Vlad from the minors
I mean yea, I’d start Tony over Santillan too, but you can also develop in the majors as well. Can’t remember the last Reds pitcher to come up at such a young age. Mike Leake maybe? Cueto was probably around the same age. I’m probably missing someone, but it’d be fun to see Greene get up here either way.
Putting Hoffman out there shows the Reds don’t care about winning. When you go cheap, this is what happens. Could have resigned Disco last year for 1yr/6 mil.
I was pretty sad to see Disco go too.. I knew he wouldn’t cost too much and honestly he is s decent pitcher overall. I have been very happy for him with the success he has had this season and he gets to play on a playoff team.
Gee, who saw THIS coming?
Every Reds fan with eyeballs.
trying to win a division & your running this kind of crap out there is a disgrace….he has no business being out there on the mound
Please get Hoffman out of there! This guy can’t be a starter or maybe not anywhere. Getting behind on every batter with no movement. Terrible.
Get Santillan in the game and let him go 5 innings
Theres literally no one in the bullpen available capable of holding this game for an unlikely come back
Let Santillan get some innings
Hoffman 61pitches in 2 and 2/3 innings
Geeen , Lodolo , Barrero …. they can’t help this team though … just leave em in minors
Outstanding front office Reds got , just outstanding …. got some great decision makers
Could have one of the youngest starting teams in baseball if they brought back up Barrero and Lopez to let them start at SS and 3rd respectively. Would be better off imo. Wouldn’t hurt to throw one of the younger arms out there, too. They’re gonna pitch innings in the minors anyway. The Reds should be favored almost every Greene start in a NL game with him hitting as well.
You’re telling me the guy who gave up 3 homers, 4 earned runs in 3 innings in his last start at single A is struggling in the majors right now? Who would have thunk it.
Gotta send the Mets back to NY happy!
So much for the 6 man rotation!
either Tony S starts the 4th or someone bet the over
Hoffmen should not be batting and replaced next inning. he doesn’t have his stuff today.
Another great bunt by a Reds pitcher. Why bother?
is there any pitcher on this team that knows how to put down a good bunt?
Blandino probably alright.
Embarrassing homestand and no
confidence front office / ownership will do anything to improve this ball club . Reds fans deserve way better than this.
If Bell sends Hoffman out to pitch the 4th he should be fired today!
Reds are making the best of a bad situation. Obviously going to leave Hoffman out there to Pitch 100 pitches to protect the bullpen with Tony coming in behind him. Obviously going to try to protect the rest of the bullpen
Larking defending Hoffman … are you
kidding me !!!!
Larkin ….
Hoffman just missed the entire home plate battery of catcher hitter umpire
Good thing for netting
80 pitches in 3 and 2/3 innings down 5-0
Clearly the Reds are filling innings
Mahle gray and miley must have some health issues so buying time
Still doesn’t explain Santillan not pitching unless hes sore too
What kills me it’s only 5-0. The Reds hitters can get that back. But let’s save the bullpen garbage and give a game away.
against yesterday or Monday’s starter no doubt. I think that part of the impetus is Stroman though. Good Pitcher there
This team cannot afford to give away games if they have any hope of catching the Brewers or grabbing one of the 2 Wild Card spots. I would rather have Santillan or Vlad as the 5th starter!
+100 thank you. At least they make a effort to stay in games. I don’t like Santillian as a reliever he doesn’t seem to handle it real well so far. I know small sample but when he comes out of the bullpen he just doesn’t seem his usual self.
Statcast says the Smith grand slam had an xBA of .110.
(if there’s anyone who wants to argue bad luck for Hoffman) 😉
I think his line says enough.
Exactly … same pitcher today as when he left (actually worse !)
I dont believe in bad luck or good luck. Just Jinxes.
You create your own luck! Good or bad!
Gee, I’m glad we got Hoffman back!
Get winker and Votto out of the game
Put shogo and freeman in and Farmer at first
Everyone could see days ago Reds mailing this game in
Repeat
Dont make this worse
Get winker and Votto out
Well, thought I’d check the score. Sure glad they sent Gutierrez back down so a good pitcher could start. Ignoring the shelling that he endured in his last start, he was at least as effective as Hoffman. But then the Reds need a starter with a career ERA about 6. Hence Hoffman. As for firing Bell? That should have happened a long time ago. It didn’t. It won’t. And he’ll likely get a new contract. Glad to see Suarez picked up another strikeout. Consistency is something you look for in starters.
Wow. 1 hit in 4 innings vs Cy Stroman
I think the fact that the Reds decided to throw this curveball of a 6th starter out there on the day the Mets were throwing out their current best pitcher, not counting deGrom, instead of the last 2 days against way weaker starters, just says a lot about how big brained the Reds management is.
Is it time for a double switch yet? It would be like Bell to change pitchers now with Hoffman do up 5th next inning and remove Votto.
Nah, he’ll wait til Winker homers, then take him out for the double switch. Then pinch run Castellanos when India gets on base.
He will take Winker out at 5-4 too. Then Winkers spit will come up in the 9th with runners on and have nobody left but Freeman.
Spot
Don’t forget slugger Wade Miley as a possible hitter in a game winning spot.
Tony Santillan pitching for the scouts
Hes the trade bait for a controlled lefty bullpen arm
I actually could see that and not be too upset about it either
That was A GABP special
Routine out at mets or sandiego or kc or dodger stadium
Potential opportunity for Santillan here. If he can go a few shutout innings he should be able to increase the likelihood for more impactful situations. Hoffman should be sent to the bullpen
I mean, yea, we deserved this.
The Mets average 1.5 Homers at GABP. That’s the most at any ballpark for them. I think they have hit 100 this series
I’m not sure any of Vlad, Hoffman, or Santillan will ever have better than an AAAA pitch arsenal. They can be useful as starter backfill depth until they are out of options, and then adios.
I disagree Vlad has done a decent job so far as the 5th starter. He has overall kept the team in games that they were losing while he was pitching.
I am not debating what Vlad has done, or the quality starts he was able to put together. As my post alluded, stuff-wise Vlad does not have an arsenal to get MLB batters out long term. None of those three do, currently.
I know our pitchers are getting shelled — but it would be helpful if our batters would come alive at the plate, too … (sigh)
No one has reached 2B safe yet.
If refs reach 3rd base, that should be counted as a run
Strikeout #117 for Suarez. Even Ron Darling on the Mets feed pointed out Suarez’s head is completely off the ball when he swings. Lol he has been doing it all year. Seems like everybody knows it but Suarez and the Reds.
not knocking Suarez when the team is getting one hit. Furthermore, strike one was clearly a ball. Strike 2 should have been appealed. Umps have gone into getaway day mode.
Please both sides are getting the same calls. Suarez is terrible and making excuses for him makes you just as pathetic as Bell.
What about the other 116 Strikeouts this season and the .165 average and the 9 men left on base last night and 8 men left on base against brewers loss in Milwaukee
Has any player left 17 men on base in 2 separate games in the same month/season ever?
I am not saying he isnt bad and shouldn’t be benched. But the zone is awful and Stroman has gotten a lot more leeway than Hoffman did
Not even close. Stroman has thrown strikes that have been called balls. He just threw 2 strikes to India that were called balls. As Old School would say – Keep Digging.
IlWe know what will happen when Bell gets fired, Bob will make a some stupid declaratory statement like “the losing stops today” then turn around and hire Barry Larkin. If that happens I’m done.
If reds score only 6 now, it would make the pitching look awful, best not score at all today. Get beat 7-0 then really can’t blame the pitchers for not pitching a shutout.
This actually happen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Suarez with 384 plate appearances.
Weve reached the point where he needs to be benched permanently
Theres no credible 3b now on the roster with Senzel hurt and moose hurt and india thriving at 2b and lopez in AAA(on purpose)
The Reds are creating a situation by rehabbing Senzel at SS to further postpone a decision on Suarez until Moose is healthy
That means Suarez gets another 3 weeks as every day 3b
Yeah, had the Reds dealt Suarez before the season started they may have been able to get at least a decent bullpen arm for him. Hard to see them getting anything at all for him now.
Suarez’s team friendly contract, doesn’t seem so friendly now.
Just to be clear
Hes by all accounts a great guy
He was signing autographs for kids sunday at the game and we all root for him
I was ecstatic when they signed him to that extension
Hes such an easy guy to root for
Just a really really bad 2 years now and Reds spent a ton of capital on Senzel(prospect capital for years of losing) and Moose( 60 mil cash) so its time to pivot to plan B
Senzel rehabbing at short? I missed this.
Snuck out of work to watch game. Now wondering if can sneak back.
SS and CF
Not to mention moving Senzel to SS after all the claims that he couldn’t play SS and doing it immediately following knee surgery just seems stupid. Yes they need a SS and yes they need a 3B and a bunch of other things. But Senzel is injury prone on a good day. Makes no sense to me. It’s like they are flushing any chance the guy has of being a successful player.
Its a tell
Reds arent bringing up barrero
They arent trading for a SS
Just like the same tell last offseason
They werent paying for a SS
Senzel to SS is pivot # 7 since Cozart left
It was Peraza then it was Iglesias then it was galvis then it was suarez then it was farmer/ freeman and then finally Senzel
Reds FO clearly knows the owners CBA future stance and whatever that is means Barrera stays in AAA
I agree. The Reds organization doesn’t have any aspirations of winning, let alone contending. Until Castellini sells, odds are the Reds will continue the mediocrity that has defined his ownership.
If they ever sit Suarez, it will only be very temporary. Suarez will get plenty of PAs in the next three years as the Reds try to recoup some value from that contract.
Chris Davis is the blueprint. O’s still have him on 60 day, not willing to give up hope that they can get some value from that contract.
Right because no one in the Reds organization has ever heard of the sunk cost fallacy. If they don’t trade Suarez by deadline or at least acquire some functional assets then it’s time to quit pretending that the organization cares one iota about winning or the fans. And fans should, but won’t, stay home.
Suarez is still blowing big bubbles so that skill has remained. Is that covered in analytics?
Reds aren’t even trying to work the count, just going through the lineup as fast as possible to get the game over and enjoy the rest of the day.
Stroman at 69 after 6!
69 pitches in 6 innings for Cy Stroman.
Not working the AB.
Did anybody notice mets BP is depleted?
Opposite teams do always the same va reds… extend pitch count on SP then face the BP
JA, that’s a great hitting approach you came up with, extending the AB making it harder on the SP, so maybe you get to the BP faster. Just wondering have you ever told the Reds about this century old approach. Just kidding with you! Its been a sad 2nd half so far for us fans.
Correct! One of the keys to today’s game was to run up the pitch count for Stroman, keep the score close and force the Mets to use their depleted bullpen! Alas! Those goals are like Geno’s ABs today, 0 for 3!
The trade deadline is next Saturday. Have the Reds done enough to prove they are sellers now? The Reds are competitive, but they are not contenders, and are probably not even a playoff team. Given that their roster is only going to be another year older next year, it’s time for the Reds to cash in on their valuable pieces NOW, not wait until they become too old to deal.
I have been saying this since before the season began. The team, as it is currently constructed, is not a contender. But they do have a solid young core, and the Reds need to add to that. Keep Winker, Aquino, Senzel, India, Stephenson, Mahle, Castillo, and all the young pitchers. Every other player should be on the trading block.
Castellanos and Gray might bring something nice back.
Suarez could be sold as a “change of scenery” candidate who at least still has decent power.
Miley could probably fetch a lottery ticket.
Moose and Akiyama, we’re probably stuck with, unfortunately.
Take Senzel out of the OF. Put him back at 3B. Enough with these injuries.
Bring up Barrero, let’s see what he can do.
This team has the pieces to be pretty good in a year or two. But they need to sell high RIGHT NOW to capitalize. It won’t be a “rebuild”, it will be “reloading”.
Let the youth movement begin!
Selling is probably the right move, but most likely the Reds will do nothing at the deadline and wait til the offseason.
The thought of this front office orchestrating trade deadline deals – especially if dealing away talent like Castellanos and Gray like you mention – scares the heck out of me.
Totally agree. Let the kids play.
Start next season with the young core including Barrero, Greene and Lodolo plus what the Reds get by trading Castellanos, Gray and others. And don’t think of the relief staff as an afterthought.
Agree with most of your comments! I would keep Gray & Miley as you need veteran pitchers and they are difficult to trade for! Love Nick but the reality is the Reds can’t afford another high dollar long-term contract player (See Suarez, Votto). That being said, if the right offer came along I agree that they too should be available in the trade market!
I agree with what you are saying, but I don’t think the Red’s front office is competent enough to get anything of value in return.
Who has Nick Krall even added so far? Sean Doolittle? Noe Ramirez?
The Reds will do nothing at the deadline and Nick Castellanous will walk away this winter.
I think the team will be in “Almost good” mode for the next few seasons.
Hopefully, in 2024 or so the young players will be established, the bad contracts will come off the books and we will have a GM who knows what he is doing.
I’m afraid we are stuck with the cheap owner though until the Lord calls him home.
If you’re scenario happened I’d move India to 3B, and put Senzel at 2B. Senzel is the better defender, plus if he were to get injured again, Lopez has more time at 2B than he does at 3B.
I also agree it’s time to shop our players, but I would add Castillo, and Miley into the shopping list. There is no need to pull the trigger on any trade deadline moves, unless the return is very good.
Miley was on my “to sell” list.
Castillo, I go back and forth on. I feel like selling him this season would be selling low, since he has the talent to be a Cy Young contender. Plus, he’s still young enough that he could be a “veteran” pitcher on the next good Reds team, assuming it happens in a few years.
Games like 15-11 the other night can fool you into thinking this offense is pretty good.
Its been like this for years. They beat up the garbage pitchers but can’t touch the good ones;
Woodruff = 2 runs, but error and missed K on Geno so basically zero
Burnes = zero
Stroman = zero
Worse yet, only one (1) hit off a pitcher that does not throw gas!
This game reminds me of last year’s playoff games against Atlanta.
speaking about Suarez yesterday…..Larkin said something like: ” Geno is a professional and he understands players go thru stretches like this…..just have to keep battling, keep positive and sooner or later things will turn around”. Seriously, I know Larkin has to say something, but this is no “slump” that you get in and then it clicks & then you are back on track…..this has gone on for 2 years…..he is batting .170!! He rarely has a good at-bat….strikes out in every way possible….looking, swinging, down & away, up in the strike zone….it’s like he has no clue at the plate. Now, every once in awhile he will run into one, but overall it’s a disaster. Basically, since that shoulder surgery, he has not been the same hitter & probably will never be. A nice guy, but the goal is to win & if you watch him every game at the plate, you have to know it’s like having a pitcher up there trying to hit.
Makes no adjustments.
Suarez is the worst hitter I’ve ever seen that is a regular in a line up. No excuse or explanation for him still being a regular. Not a slump,..unless you call 2 or 3 years worth of utter futility a slump. Even when he would hit lots of home runs, he still would strike out 200 times per year. That’s no hitter. That’s embarrassing. And more embarrassing that he still is in the line up every day. 3 more strike outs today. Fans should boo him from this day forward, as bad as I hate to say that. If they would, then eventually someone would make a decision to lose him. And I don’t know of a nicer guy who loves his Reds more than Geno. It’s simply because he is the worst hitter in the game,..year after year. My wife loves the Reds, but that should not be a qualification for her to be in the line up for years on end when she can’t put a bat on the ball. Geno has killed us for many years now. We’ll never compete with him being a regular. And I think most fans realize that. Oh well. It’s beating a dead horse to even bring it up.
Well, I guess today’s highlight is that Garcia & Alainz went three innings combined without giving up a hit or a run though both did walk a batter. And Suarez remained his consistent self.
The thing that disgusts me is I saw Suarez sitting on the bench a couple times joking around with the players.
Do they enjoy losing do they enjoy goofing off when they are 7 runs down. Just disgusting the attitude this team has since the all star break.
Why should he care? His performance is irrelevant. He plays and gets paid regardless.
There is no accountability for his lack of performance.
Good for them! They each did issue the mandatory walk! Must be in the Reds bylaws somewhere!
1 stinking hit … that’s it.. Team is totally deflated and honestly we could have lost yesterday’s game too. I don’t see the drive on the faces and determination I saw all of early July with this team. It’s back to the Ho Hum attitude we say back in May.
Only 1 hit and 1 walk, IMO, the reds quit after the grandslam. About the only time this year I could say that. No fight in them today! Hope it ends today also.
Thank goodness that’s over! Much needed off day tomorrow for the walking wounded! Bring on the Dirty Birds!
The bull pen is horrible, Bell is the worst manager in the league, but to be shut out 10 times already is ridiculous that is over 10% of the time. I recall a few years ago when an under .500 team year was not shut out the entire year. It is time to blow this team up, I’ll be nice and just say they are awful. The fans and the people of Cincinnati deserve better than this JOKE.
I think it’s finally time for Wilbur the goat with braces to show himself…
Also, sadly, time to start dealing some of these players for prospects especially if they have a contract that expires this year or next since there won’t be any baseball in 2022. (hopefully, we can control the strat-o-matic team again)
i can just hear Bell’s postgame: “Their starter was dealin…there was nothing we could do with him today, tip your hat…….Hoffmann did some good things out there, just a couple of bad pitches, but overall a good start….Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah” Bell lives in an alternate world.
In the post presser, David Bell said something like “we have 2 big series to look forward to, lots of things happening….” Maybe in this rare instance I agree with them. If they don’t play any better than the last several days, they will find themselves in 4th place.
There was some hope at the break but now I am just hoping that events of good or bad make for an improving outlook for next year…i.e. no more David Bell, a viable BP arm, write off of sunk costs and playing the future players with real discipline and enthusiasm instead of cheerleading. Need a few more guys like India and a few less like Geno, Moose, and all the “waiver” pitchers.
Clearly, this was one of the “you lose one-third games” good news is an extra rested top of the rotation to face the cardinals in a must-win series. Clearly Hoffman is not the right answer in the number 5 slot. SO glad that se cannot have Vlad back for his next turn in the rotation. Reds wouldn’t be too off pulling a trade for a starter as well. Yea I said Buy, the Reds are only 7 out with 2 months to play and are the first team out of the Wild card. this is clearly not a selling position right now. Hopefully Castellanos is healthy for Friday
I was thinking about why not play Nick C. and I realized we had that extra day off so this gives him a week off to heal up. Honestly they should have put him on the IL though. This organization loves to handcuff itself with less players in hopes to not have to make moves.
Hoffman is a bullpen middle reliever, Santillian should be only a starter. Vlad needs to be a starter. If it’s not here, he needs to be back in AAA starting.