After Monday’s game against the Cubs (50-51) saw the Reds (51-49) both blow a lead on the mound and fail to score any runs with the bases loaded (twice!), the team from Cincinnati will try to rebound during another night game at Wrigley Field.
Details:
- First pitch: 8:05 pm ET
- Location: Wrigley Field
- TV: Bally Sports Ohio and MLB.TV for out-of-market fans
- Radio: 700 WLW
- Weather: 85 degrees, clear to partly cloudy and humid
Starting Pitchers
| Name | IP | ERA | xERA | FIP | xFIP | WHIP | K% | BB% |
| Vladimir Gutierrez | 54.1 | 4.97 | 4.88 | 5.92 | 5.75 | 1.45 | 15.5% | 10.5% |
| Adbert Alzolay | 88.1 | 4.58 | 4.69 | 5.09 | 3.84 | 1.11 | 25.3% | 7.5% |
REDS
The 25-year-old right-hander had his first bad start in July his last time through the rotation, giving up six runs on nine hits in only four innings against the New York Mets on July 19th. Gutierrez has had some extra rest with the day off and the six man rotation last week, so hopefully he will look more like the pitcher who allowed only three runs in twelve innings in his previous two starts.
Gutierrez actually has pitched better on the road this season. In 33.0 innings on the road, he’s allowed only 13 runs, including three home runs, compared to 17 runs and eight home runs in 21.1 innings at Great American Ball Park.
Gutierrez has five pitches in his arsenal, but really only throws four pitches at a consistent rate (he’s throw the sinker a total of three times this season). With a whiff rate of 39.8%, the slider has been his best pitch thus far this season. He throws it mostly to right-handed hittters and they’re hitting just .212 against it. It is averaging about 82.7 mph, while his fastball averages about 92.9 mph.
CUBS
In his most recent start, 26-year-old right-hander Adbert Alzolay took the loss against the Cardinals, giving up three runs on four hits and walking three while striking out eight in six innings. He has faced the Reds twice already in 2021. On May 28, he recorded his best game of the season, pitching a shut-out with six strikeouts in 5.2 innings at Wrigley. He pitched at Great American Ball Park on July 3, giving up three runs on five hits with six strikeouts in seven innings. He’s an average pitcher, but the Reds have not been able to figure him out yet this year.
Alzolay can be classified as a ground ball pitcher, as 45% of the balls in play against him are grounders. However, his fly ball percentage is up to 28.2% this year as compared to a year ago when it was just 15.9%. As a result, he’s given up 20 home runs to opposing hitters. This could also be just the result of pitching a lot more innings in 2021. He’s already started 17 games (and that’s with a two week stint on the injured list for a blister), way up from his six appearances in 2020 and four appearances in 2019.
Alzolay has an array of pitches to be able to choose from, but relies heavily on just three of them: a slider, a sinker, and a four-seam fastball. His slider is his best pitch and it is above average in the league, according to his Baseball Savant page. He has thrown it 42.4% of the time this season. With a whiff rate of 36.6%, why not? It averages about 86.0 mph and hitters are only hitting .181 against it.
Lineups
Cincinnati Reds | Chicago Cubs |
| 2B Jonathan India | CF Rafael Ortega |
| LF Jesse Winker | 3B Kris Bryant |
| C Tyler Stephenson | 1B Anthony Rizzo |
| 1B Joey Votto | C Willson Contreras |
| 3B Eugenio Suárez | 2B David Bote |
| RF Tyler Naquin | RF Jason Heyward |
| SS Kyle Farmer | SS Nico Hoerner |
| CF Shogo Akiyama | LF Ian Happ |
| P Vladimir Gutierrez | P Adbert Alzolay |
Joey Votto has a golden opportunity to continue his hot streak, as he has a home run off Alzolay in four at-bats. Tyler Naquin also has hit a home run off Alzolay, but also jut hits .167 against him.
News and Notes
Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer also reports that Alex Blandino and Nick Senzel should start rehab assignments this week as well.
Lucas Sims begins his rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville today. Alex Blandino is expected to begin his rehab assignment at Louisville tomorrow. Nick Senzel later this week. #Reds
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) July 27, 2021
Javier Báez was in the Cubs original lineup tonight. Here is David Ross’ explanation, for what it’s worth.
Ross says Báez woke up sore and it’s not something worth pushing so he wants to give him another day. #Cubs https://t.co/PWZof2VP4u
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) July 27, 2021
And speaking of Báez, David Bell said he’s heard from MLB about a possible suspension for Báez after last night’s antics. Take that for what it’s worth as well, because we all know Rob Manfred and MLB’s approach to suspensions.
David Ross said he's heard from MLB and a suspension is possible for Javier Báez. If Báez isn't suspended, all it does is tell the Reds that they have to clear the benches for the other team to be punished. It's a signal from MLB that you HAVE TO react like they tell you not to
— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) July 27, 2021
Great hopes at the All star break and hoping to close in on the Brewers and eliminate the Cards and Cubs by now. Except Reds falling back to .500
Bullpen and Suarez just terrible but Garrett not helping.
Watched MLB network. Long focus on reds/Cubs with Carlos Pena and Cliff Floyd commenting. Both said Baez lost it and over the top…but lets look at context. They then showed 5 segments since 2018 of Amir Garrett acting like an idiot. Floyd said Garrett is ok to use emotion if its about winning as team and making money as a brand. But, he said the entire league hates Garrett and it isnt working.
The Garrett segment was not good optics for the Reds.
Must win tonight
We have Garrett for the rest of the year but he’ll surely be non tendered so this’ll be it.
I agree. AG has been his own worst enemy. He hasn’t been smart about the way he tries to get the team fired up.
Agree, I dont like the Garrett antics either. That said, Nick C got suspended for a flex pose that lasted about 3 seconds, and he walked away. Baez unsportsmanlike conduct was 25-30 seconds long, yelling at Garrett, taunting. It was surprising to me that no one has said anything about the on deck hitter. He ran down the first base line behind Baez, trying to de-escalate or calm him down. He put his hand on Baez shoulder, with good intention, before Baez got to first base. I was wondering last night if that should have been a dead ball out, like a coach making contact with a player during a play. Reds bullpen earned another lose, and wouldn’t have changed the outcome. Just wondering…..
The thing is Garrett has calmed it down since the suspension. Baez escalated that for no reason whatsoever. I see he has a heel bruses now. boo hoo…. there should be a suspension in the pipeline, and if he PH tonight, then i have no problem with him ending up on first by a HBP
Two comments and one suggestion! Unbelievable that A) Suarez is in the starting lineup and B) Suarez is still in the No. 5 spot in the batting order. As for Baez, the first pitch in his first at bat tonight should be aimed at the middle of his back!
I really wander, sincerely, if David Bell sometimes does things just so people will talk about him. To put it in the words of Chad Dotson, it’s like he has to be in the limelight.
Shogo>AA? Naquin isn’t hitting that well either. Wind blowing out 10mph and AA sits.
Farmer is hitting .350 in July or whatever. Why not protect Joey with him? Who wants to bet that Geno will get 2 at-bats with 2 on and 2 out.
I’ll go throw the football with the neighbor kids. Milw has 8 more with Pitt. Thats 6-2 minimum. The Reds only battle is with .500
Agree! AA not in the lineup tonight is inexcusable!
Does that mean your are walking back the month of Bell support?
I think with Shogo and AA they are playing a little what have you done for me lately. Nick is not far off and then it will be back to the bench for them both anyway.
Geno stat of the day. 1 multi hit game in his last 27.
It’s pretty much a given now that David Bell is NOT going to give AA much of a chance to prove himself consistently. For him to really prove what he can/can’t do he’s going to need a new manager one way or another. It’s too bad. I think we could use him.
Too bad! Just read that Bad Boy Baez is not in tonight’s starting lineup for the Cubbies!
Commenters seem resigned to the fact benches will empty tonight… but benches cleared in 2010 summer and it was the start of a drive to the division championship. Maybe this can be something similar
Watching tonight at great personal risk … not sure my cardiac system can handle another night like last night. The line-up is puzzling in several ways, but everybody had their say on the other thread. Plus I’m sure there will be plenty of commentary about the likes of Sir Strandsalot …
Let’s kick the Stupid Cubs hard tonight! And I don’t like the idea of throwing at people, but for a thug like Baez I might just make an exception.
Dusty/Houston picked up Kendall Graveman. 99 mph sinker thats unhittable. 33 innings 15 hits with 0.82 era. KG was never a good starter, but his stuff is insane as a reliever. If the Reds could’ve done something for him when Antone went down then they wouldn’t be in this mess.
Maybe Uncle Walt is still involved with his his flip phone in Florida and Reds shut down to focus on draft and signing picks and just now waking up. Cant multi-task.
Winker no doubter
And the marginal strike zone starts all over again … I do hope the players take a hard line in the CBA negotiations.
No doubt about that one.
BUT BUT BUT 4 days in a row
Would you have bet on that happening?
I actually changed my beat the streak people to Winker and Votto today so.
Who is this Votto?
Someone’s gonna ask Mr Votto to pee in a small cup ….
oh I am sure that that point has already passed. Since he is still out there we can assume he has passed
4 straight games!!
The Hulk-a-Tape must be something else. Everybody needs it.
Goof call. I’m sending Miley a case….tell him to get to work on Geno’s
Well, forget about leaving men on base. The Reds should just hammer about 12 home runs. That might work.
When Votto is cranking them out to LCF he’s pretty close to being his old self.
Also, while The Votto Suarez dance is pretty much standard, notice that Winker and Votto showed their support for AG with a Rock the baby
So what’s the over/under inning on the brawl?
With the original starting lineup it would have already happend. Now Baez is a bench option, whenever he is subbed in
Milwaukee 8-0
Season could be over
Guiterrez throwing meatballs
Gonna have to score 15 to win this game
Boy Guiterrez just ain’t that good period
Yep. Rizzo. Hard to really hate him (seems to be a more common trait of the first base guys like him, Goldy, Freeman, and our Lord JV). But really don’t like him bashing that one to kingdom come.
Rizzo Reds killer extraordinaire.
Need to maybe not throw meatballs to Rizzo. He is almost as hot as Mr Votto.
For all of Votto’s greatness, he doesn’t hit that inside pitch that Rizzo just hit.
Trea Turner trade out. Tested positive for Covid.
Alright Farmer
And Kyle Grit Farmer does it again … thanks to some incredible hustle by Naquin.
Farmer being Farmer.
Farmer comes through again. If he’s taken down from SS it won’t be because he hasn’t given everything he’s got. Have to tip your hat to him whether you think he should be playing there or not. He’s living out his dream right now.
Agreed and +500
Is the ideal answer? No, he’s not. And you know he’s feeling pretty banged up. But he’s giving us everything he possibly can give night after night. That counts for something in my book.
Shogo continues to struggle, not an Aquino fan but he could do much better.
Can we just state right now – Kyle Farmer is NOT the problem for the Reds right now, either defensively or at the plate.
If they bring in a SS, that’s fine, as long as they slide Farmer over to 3B. If they are thinking about getting a SS and then returning Farmer to the bench while leaving RKM at 3B, that would be just plain nuts.
+500
To whomever scouted and decide that Kyle Farmer wasn’t a shortstop but instead a catcher, that person needs to be fired, rehired, and fired again. (I don’t really want them fired – maybe a write up).
I love to see how he’s doing with regular playing time and SS should be his job to lose as long as he keeps performing like this.
Obviously not gonna get any help from the Pie Rats tonight! Hope they play like that against the Reds in September!
It might be to late when the Reds play them. Brewers are doing everything to distance themselves from the Reds.
What is it with the Dayton Dragons…. Feliz 4 runs on three hits a strikeout and a walk. SMH don’t understand how he is scoreless against AAA pitching but so horrible against supposed weaker bats. I know that results are not the primary reason of Rehab starts but…
Oh.My.Word.
Did we really just see that?
Again! You’re kidding!
BUT BUT BUT…. He should never retire
Imagine him rested regularly at DH … in GABP. He could hit 40.
It’s getting real fun with Votto. 🙂
Bases empty is probably the only way he’s going to see any decent pitches with you know who hitting behind him. If I was managing against him there’s no way I’d pitch to him.
And we get a Geno special. At least nobody was on.
Geno is just absolutely pitiful – can’t hit a freaking lick
Keep playing him and putting him in that 5 hole Bell …AUTO OUT
Joey is making sure Suarez doesn’t leave anybody on tonight.Of course why would they pitch to Votto the rest of the game?
If Mr Votto just hits a HR every AB, then the Rally Killing Machine will never leave any runners on base, right??
Some problems just have simple solutions.
Guiterrez can’t stand prosperity – he won’t last 5
Bout to give up lead
Hope I am totally wrong
I think he will go 5 innings. Plus he got a base hit. haahaa. love it.
You were totally wrong, just as you hoped.
Warning Will Robinson! Warning! The alien invasion has started and they have taken over the body of the Reds first baseman!
Suarez & Votto are complete opposites….Votto has adjusted & made changes & has worked at it to be successful….Geno just keeps doing the same thing with no adjustments…Votto has results & Suarez just keeps going in the dumpster
Exactly correct.
What is amazing is that Suarez apparently has never looked at Votto, and thought “I wonder what he is doing that I might also be able to do?? Perhaps I might find success if I do some of the same things he is doing”.
Don’t think he meant to do that … but it’s going to raise some temps in the Stupid Cubs’ dugout.
Theres no way Geno Suarez plays 3b when senzel comes back
This is ridiculous
Hes having the worst season in Reds history
The reds lost 90 games 6 years in a row.
Kudos to vlad
You have to think that will be the case, but can Bell pull that trigger (either by his own decision or what is “dictated”)? I have my doubts.
VOTTO IN THE FIELD
Who is that guy on first?
JV HAS COME TO PLAY
5 HRs in his last four games and stellar defense to boot.
Now among the team leaders in HRs with 17. Winker has 21. Nick C. and Geno with 18 each.
6 behind in RBIs.
Mr. Heads Up is killing it tonight!!
My wife says he must be eating his Wheaties lately.
Joey Votto is writing the next chapter
Woh! What a play by Votto!
Nice play Joey – nice baserunning to boot Cubs
Double play from pop-out: first baseman to catcher.
I haven’t seen that play lately.
HRs are great, but …. That catch and throw DP was the bees knees!!! ( I have a few other more colorful expressions for that play, but they might be considered vulgar.).
How about the cat’s meow? My Mom used to say that.
Votto playing like he is 27 not 37, he is telling the team to get on his back as he is going to carry them.
Sadak would be a lot better off if he would quit his constant yapping about anything and everything
Especially in British and Australian accents.
Yep. I was just thinking it had gotten better, and then his rampant case of the oral diarrhea comes on.
Poor Aki. He’s a good guy but does he have any muscle at all?
And with limited playing time, he really can’t get his timing down well at all.
I think he would really have to crank one to get it out. The only reason he’s playing tonight is because of hitting LH. BA @ .190 and OPS @ .487
I agree with Cowboy maybe Shogo should just bunt.
That’s a toolban for anyone but the pitcher… gotta fit some Baserunning practice in there
Pitchers hit and run bases in the NL. Thats unacceptable. Winker with bases loaded down the drain.
Rules of the game Vlad…you have to touch the base to be safe. Farmer might have scored.
Fun game to fast forward)) Joey is on a mission all of a sudden! Farmer too….they can’t get him out.
Adjective umps. India gets Kd on a ball 4 inches outside. 2 strike pitch at the knees….nothing
Cubs crew TV crew said…Last night if they got the ball that Baez hit and threw it to first, he would have been out for being interfered with by the on deck batter… No runs score, runners return to bases.
That would have been awesome!
I think that’s probably true. Amazing.
Wonder why one of our coaches didn’t think of that and at least press the issue.
Not sure. Welsh was talking about this on the radio broadcast, and he said there would have had to have been a play at first in order for interference to be called (on Contreras, who was on-deck, and was trying to calm Baez down). Since there was no play at first, there was no interference. The ball was still being kicked around in the outfield, anyway, as I recall.
In any event. Reds deserved to lose that game. As for Baez, well I was taught if you have nothing good to say about someone …
Right. If you don’t pick it up and throw it to 1st…You get what we got.
Basically Ross > Bell there. Baez destroys lefties. I don’t remember who he pinch-hit for why not come out and talk to HH and see if he can wiggle out of it. Bell needs to come out more and talk to the pitcher in key spots.
Granted, this pen is like hopscotch thru a minefield like someone quoted earlier, but Bell is really bad
Hopscotch through a minefield with your butt on fire and back pockets full of firecrackers …
Pitch count at 72… opposing pitcher out. Looking good so far .
Vlad popping 94-95 tonite. A little more juice and the breaking stuff is always decent if he’s getting ahead in the count. He just needs to work inside more. Maybe 4 era 4th-5th starter type that almost always gives you 6.
We have alot of possibilities next year! I think Tony is a reliever unless he develops a good changeup or something.
Only 31 more to go for Geno 🙂
Suarez comment ceasefire engaged. Ill give him the rest of the game.
geno is back!
Just want to say Farmer is starting to do a nice job. They said he has the 3rd best fielding percentage at SS and the guy is hitting over .400 this month. I’m not saying he should be there each year from here out but wow he is changing my mind some.
Roboto Votto – What a week he is having and overall his season seems to be getting better and better. I feel like his overall defense has been a lot better this year too compared to the past few.
If only we could find a way to fix this bullpen. This team is not far from being a contender but without help to the bullpen we mise well be a pretender. Open your wallet Mr. C and get us some help.
Slow down running around those bases Suarez. You wont reach base again for another week.
Geno safe for another week with that blast.
I’m glad Suarez hit the HR but when he hits one it’s almost detrimental to his success similar to Billy Hamilton. It messes with his thinking and he just wants to do it again and again instead of just hitting.
Thats just his swing now. He’s a shorter guy, but just takes a big long hack. He’s got like 32 singles on the year)))
Geno’s back, Geno’s back! Come back player of the year. Thought I’d get it in first.
We’ve all seen him hit to right and right center with success (even a few times this year). I can’t believe he is not being coached to use that approach.
Not coached, or won’t listen and adjust? I’d lay a bet as to which it is.
Loved to see that bomb by Geno. No doubt, especially on the first pitch.
But Sadak saying “was on a 6 for 51 slide” as if it’s now over is really dumb. He’s now on a 7 for 52 slide and remains way below the Mendoza line to the point where climbing out of that deep hole in 2021 probably won’t happen. Still needs to sit for an extended time and bat way lower.
And that looked like a complete cement mixer. It’s exactly what a guy like Geno should do with the pitch.
Cub reporter on Votto: He said he was at rock bottom when he was benched for 3 games last year. He thought it might be over. He said he had to change his approach. Geno should get the same 3-4 games off to take a look at himself and make a change. It’s crazy Bell hasn’t tried it with Geno, since it resulted in a change to Votto for the better.
He sat him those 2 games w/Lopez and Geno got a few hits afterwards, but it didn’t last a week.
I think maybe Bell gets more “prime time” for himself leaving him in there.
+1000
Are they really going to carry Shogo next year? 8 mil is too much for them to eat, but when you’re wrong then you’re wrong. How much extra would it cost for Friedl or whoever at minimum? Someone that actually do something once in a while.
I think if they traded him and ate most of his salary they’d still come out ahead. He’d be better off playing somewhere else too. Wish they would do it now. Bell has too many toys to play with. Honestly Aki should not be playing over AA no matter what the match up.
Wade Miley slugging .235
Shogo slugging .226
I’ve been saying Miley is a better hitter
Throw strikes young man ! That’s a nice job !
Send Vlad out for one more? 91 pitches, but he seems strong?
Really solid from Gutierrez. I’ve never been quite sure what his ceiling is, but if he can be a consistent 4th/5th starter, I think that would be a success.
Mahle-itis….can’t pitch at gabp. The thing is there’s a million HRs tonite. If you can pitch in Wrigley w/wind blowing out and 85 degrees then you can pitch in gabp
Cubs are +540 right now….who’s game??
Decent value. HH is gassed and we have nobody else. AG probably to close
NA, but I do have a standing Blown save bet I make before every game now.
Vlad is on the bases and sweating. I’d say Cubs +350 is about right. If they get 1-2 runs in the 7th then we’re in trouble.
Vlad is a 4/5 SP now
Santillan is a hold reliever now
Reds pitching development worked
On to Greene, Lodolo, graham
Vlad is a 5, but what is Sonny and what is Mahle? Sonny seems to be aging or something? I don’t think Miley is a 2.85 2nd starter in reality. Especially 35 next year I think.
So you have Castillo #2 (#1 stuff if he could do it all year)
Miley #3
Mahle #3-4
Sonny #4
Vlad #4-5
I guess thats good enough if the pen was a B-. Then the 3 studs we have on the brink fit in somewhere.
Mahle is a 3
Miley is in the mix
Castillo is good
I would trade Sonny tomorrow for a haul.
Love his competitiveness but he is replaceable with Greene Lodolo and graham coming
I like Guti. I think he will get better and better too.
SIms clean inning in Louisville. 2 walks and a K
I don’t know if I would call that a clean inning. I think I would say he made it through an inning without giving up a run.
DooHomer time 🙁
Cubs aren’t +540 anymore I’m guessing. Doolittle with the wind blowing out. About 40% chance they tie it up or get the lead
+253
now to +570 Reds at -1000
Great effort by Vlad today… not perfect, but if he can consistently do that he will have a future here
He competes and he has a good baseball IQ for a rookie. Better velocity tonite too!
Hold your breath – Doo Doo coming in
He’s lucky – he JUST missed that pitch
Done commenting for the night as I shut it down. I’ll stick with the game to see if we can catch a little break here with Doolittle. Would hate to wake up and start my day in a sad way.
smart move
IF Doolittle doesn’t get dp here has to face Bryant
I would’ve gone with Hoffman. He always seems to put up 1-2 zeroes before he falls apart
Why do I feel a tie game coming here? Hope I’m wrong.
I hope the Cubs trade Rizzo and Bryant in the morning
Why would you put Doolittle in the game when Bryant is batting 2nd with 2 men on? Walk or tie very likely so now go-ahead at the plate.
Rizzo kills lefties too. But dodged that bullet somehow.
WHEW
That was too close for comfort.
Got out of that one.
Doolittle looked shocked that he got trough that
I know I was
Whew! Bullet dodged!
Just goes to show the difference between 95-96 and Doolittle’s normal 92-93
The reds need a few more runs with what might be coming in from the Bullpen.
No double switches tonight so at least the main players are still in the game. Could be a plus!
Cubbies ran out a junk pen guy who skated through 3-5 with no issues. Hopefully not a missed opportunity. Also our 5 is like our 8/9. That’s what we call a ‘caveat’ in the legal world.
Farmer’s leather shows up night in and night out
Hoffman 96 mph and big break on his offspeed, but he’s always behind in the count. Its a shame because he’s got arm talent
The Hoffman from the pen that we’ve been waiting on since his injury.
He was a quality long guy in those imagined scenarios and now he’s a set up guy with a potential long save considering the ‘closer’s amount of use.
Playing with fire
Happ .178 so he’s 2-0 on him. Uggghhh. We really need him to close it out
Grab some bench. No Garcia? If Hoffman sucks in the 9th then go to AG before they load the bases
Reds’ bullpen walking the tightrope successfully tonight. Can we get just one 1-2-3 inning to end it?
Hard to believe they haven’t scored since the 1st when the ball is launching like it is
Hoffman 23 pitches, third batter up, guess we’ll know if he pitches the ninth
Ya just sorta knew Hoffman was getting the last guy.
Hoffman is a really twitchy dude. Perfect for relief, IMO. Adrenalin is his friend.
And, thus, ours.
Got out of another one.
Sweated as soon as Hoffman entered.
Glad luckily got out of his Mess.
Yeah, but he was in control, right? Just like a starter should be in any conundrum as they’re thinking 5-6 innings.
Kevinz , man you know how to sum it up in a few words …. enjoy reading your posts !
Thanks alot RedAlert.
Appreciate the kind words.
Shogo should’ve just bunted him over. He’s sad. Maybe Miley can work with him
Agree he needs to just bunt .. bails on everything
Shogo should not be on the team, eat the money, he hits the ball remotely hard. However, nobody should complain about Farmer. Mean while, Big hit by Aquino.
That’s how you, Mr Bell should use your bench more often. Game management is critical
AAA option. TH Friedl should get a look. I like Shogo quite a bit. But he’s very replaceable. And could be a pretty good trade asset. .
Farmer is really impressing me lately.
+50… Not +100 yet from me but I’m starting to see the band wagon coming around the corner.
Way to go AA. We’ll see if he plays tomorrow. lol
Everyone is rooting for AA. He comes through with a nice double to help his cause.
What more can you say about Farmer?
Keep piling on the runs!
Hmmm? AA or Shogo? One set a record for HRs and the other is going to tie a record for never homering in the big leagues.
Who should I start? Really not a big mystery, but it is for Bell.
Bell probably wonders who will win the brawl at the end of the movie….the Rock or the bad guys?
Aquino has really done well to get his walk rate up. If he could cut down on the strikeouts even a little bit, he’d be in line to be a really solid starter. As is, he’s a great bench piece with occasional starts.
Almost every slugger Ks a ton though. Ohtani has 117 Ks in 338 at-bats. Thats Geno level
Big runs. Good job India. Get about 5 more and we might be safe with our pen. 🙂
Nice to see somebody else’s bullpen implode for a change ….
Still gotta get 3 more outs though …..
Ok, even I now admit it,
Aquino is looking more snd more professionally each pay period. But, man, he is starting to look fearless.
And that should scare opposing pitching.
He looks he is growing by the second.
I have recently described Aquino as Mr. Slider Away. And he still sort of is.
But he looks more ‘in control’ as I’ve ever, ever see him (though only by TV).
All can say Is Good for farmer.
Proving me wrong.
Good Guy for sure.
Performing like crazy lately.
Who among us is not filled with a sense of dread right now?
This kid Garcia does not have it. Get AG there and quit screwing around
I’d rather have the lefty Perez over Garcia
AG would probably have to face Baez not sure Bell would want that drama but at this rate I’m fine with it
Garcia does not inspire confidence.
Crowd back into it.
OK, that’s enough of him. Get him out of there!
AG time — don’t let us down!
Garcia belongs back in AAA
Red Alert is correct!
I have not been impressed by Garcia at all… Not sure if he is not ready for majors yet but so far the games he pitched in he has not done a very good job.
16.62 ERA and the hits he gives up are rockets! What in the world is he doing in the majors and what in the world is Bell doing putting him in WITH A LEAD ON THE ROAD IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 9TH giving the Cubbie fans and team every chance to get riled up, fired up and thinking they can pull this one out off a beleaguered Reds pen! Again, HORRIBLE managerial decision making! EXTREMELY risky move! And that’s on the heals of putting Osich in the game in the 8th last night, a move that probably cost us the game. How many times do we have to say it–Osich, Garcia and Hendrix CANNOT be brought into games when we have the lead. They just can’t! But Bell does it time and time again!
Maloney you just made half of the bullpen unavailable to be used in most games but also blamed the manager instead of the options he has. The problem is simply that Bell has a bunch of bad options to pick from not that he actually picks them. The “good” relievers can not pitch every day. They will wind up injured and underperform because they are exhausted and tired and then you wind up with an even bigger problem on your hands. Garcia came into a game with a 5 run lead. That is exactly when you bring in your worst pitchers because the game is mostly out of hand at that point and the lead is large enough that you can still turn to someone else if things go south.
Some of you are never going to be happy.
Just dropping in to give Joey some love. He’s downright been awesome and I hope even the cranky Votto hater crowd is able to enjoy this little ride. He’s a champ.
Yeah I usually pound Joey, but he’s quit the stupid baserunning and defensive lapses for the most part and changing stances every other month. He’s been a beast!!
That slider was not where you ever want a slider to go.
Wait… scratch that. Reverse it.
If you also mean into to the CF bleachers, then, YES!
Well yeah, that’s true too. What I meant was in the middle of the zone like it did.
Never a dull moment with this pen. smh
Get this dude out now !!!!!!!!
Serving up gopher balls !!!!
Send him
Back to louisville on the bus tomorrow
AG up. Here come the fireworks.
Is the moment too big for AG? Or will he rise to the occasion?
Send up Baez!!! C’mon Ross! Everybody likes drama and nobody likes the new school “millionaires hold each other” baseball “fights”.
Garrett that’s pathetic !!! Throw the freaking ball over the plate !!!!
Garbage Pen on display again.
Edgar?
Yes.
This is your Uber ticket.
What?
Yes. To Louisville. It has to be used before 4:00 p.m. tomorrow. What? No, but if you call Nick Krall’s office in the morning, they should be awaiting your call.
Come on, AG, you can do it. We need you buddy!
Garcia deserved a look, we had a look, and now we need to move on. Kind of poetic anyway to have AG finish this anyway
Whew! Reds win (with Baez left standing in the on-deck circle).
This BP is a thrill a minute ….
W Thanks AG.
Not pretty at the end.
But a W is a W.
Stinks Pen so bad though.
Go Reds onto the next one.
Good job by AG keeping his mouth shut after the win.
I think that is the most calm I have ever seen AG end a game in his career.
The less said, the better. Winning is what counts.
Wrigley has to be the weirdest park in mlb. You can’t hardly get the ball out of there in April/May, but then it can fly out easier then gabp. September and its back to pitchers duels
Good win though! Fun game. Nice job by Vlad
That sounds harsher than necessary.
I suggest you describe what you liked about Garrett, not what you hold him in judgment for.
What he do that earned your support?
Sorry. Omit please. Wrong poster.
Is AG going old school? OG? No emotion. No nonsense with Javy. Perfect last night and tonite. Good on Amir.
It appears AG has grown up since his suspension. He could have gone off on Baez last night, and rightfully so. He kept his cool.
Tonight he slams the door, and no post game antics.
Celebrate with you teammates.
So AG comes through this time. I think it’s safe to say the Garcia/Alainz experiment has failed. As an advocate of JV’s retirement, I’m glad to see he’s proving me wrong. Now in the rule changes expected over the winter, can we get one that says the opposing team must always use a right hander when pitching to Votto?
Wow, no fight…. still 2 more games in this series though. Obviously without him coming up to bat, AG cant directly taunt Baez without drawing a suspension. But this isn’t done. Great work by Joey Votto tonight.
Baez should have been tossed from the game before ever reaching first for throwing his bat intentionally into the field of play and in the general direction of another player. I got thrown out of a little league game because right took a swing and my bat came out of my hands and hit the fencing around home plate even though I got a hit. So, Baez should at least be as accountable as I was in little league.
I missed it last night but found it infuriating today due to the inequality.
Javy was not disciplined for *going over a fence* onto the field, one, and then yesterday? Is he above the law? Apparently.