The Cincinnati Reds (56-50) have won three consecutive series, and they will try to keep it going this week against an easier schedule than they’ve seen in some time. The Reds will host the Minnesota Twins (44-62) for two games, with the first at 7:10 PM tonight. The Reds are 34-22 in their last 56 games. They enter play 7.5 games back in the NL Central, but just 4.0 back of the Padres for the second wild card spot.
Starting Pitchers
Tyler Mahle is coming off six shutout innings at Wrigley Field last week. Mahle just continues to be an above average pitcher for the Reds. The one thing to watch with him is that he is only 18.0 innings away from his career high in innings pitched of 129.2 in 2019. Mahle was only able to last 4.0 innings when he faced the Twins on the road earlier this season (5 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 8 K). Mahle has a career 3.55 ERA in 3 starts against the Twins (19 K and 7 BB in 12.2 IP). Mahle has struggled this season at GABP, as he he has a 6.09 ERA in 9 starts. He has allowed 13 home runs at home compared to 3 on the road (and he has made 3 more road starts this year).
Mahle ranked 25th among all pitchers in fWAR (3.1) since the start of 2020. He would be an ACE on many teams around baseball.
Kenta Maeda has seen a drop in velocity this season, but he has really turned his season around in July. Maeda has a 2.15 ERA in 5 starts (36 K and 6 BB in 29.1 IP). The Reds have not faced him since 2019. Maeda has a 3.54 career ERA in 3 starts against the Reds.
Starting Lineups
Tucker Barnhart will start at catcher for the 4th time in the last 5 games. Barnhart is hitting .243/.306/.324 since June 1st. The good news is that Tyler Stephenson (hitting .306/.405/.446 since June 1st) will be fresh off the bench.
Max Schrock will get his first career start in RF after his 5-hit game on Sunday. He played 16.0 innings in RF at AAA this season. It is curious why Bell chose to play Schrock over Aristides Aquino in RF (116 wRC+ and team leading 15.6 BB%) instead of at his more natural position at third base.
Conclusion
The Reds play on 9 of their 56 remaining games against teams above .500. That is a whopping 16% of their remaining games. The Reds will be heavy favorites in 35 of their remaining 56 games (63%): Pirates, Marlins, Cubs, Twins, Tigers and Nationals. That does not mean much if you can not capitalize, but the Reds are going to be going on the field with a significantly better roster most nights for the rest of the season. Don’t give up on the 2021 Cincinnati Reds. I think we are going to be in for a very fun final two months. Go Reds!
“Curious” is a very nice way to describe the fact that Suarez keeps starting day after day no matter how many players would make more sense.
Aquino in RF and Schrock at 3B would have been preferable. Just glad Schrock didn’t get the Lopez treatment.
At least they dropped him in the lineup. Small mercy?
Maybe Suarez and David Bell are cousins and we just don’t know about it. 🙂 Just kidding. Let’s win anyway. We have to look at it like this is game 5 of the 2020 season and we’re 7 1/2 back already and 3 back (loss column) of the WC already which means there should be much more of a sense of urgency than even last year. Here’s hoping DB doesn’t mess around with his lineups as he did last year and has learned better. I was thinking some guys would be back tonight from AAA. Looking forward to the moves that are coming up.
Any update about Castellanos? There was a possibility that he could has been activated today….
Not being activated. He did take live BP off of one of the coaches, though.
it could mean he is closer to rejoin
RF, really??
If the Reds are serious, it’s time to take care of business and start beating the teams who are out of it with regularity. Winning 5/6 is imperative here.
Time to stop nibbling Mr. Mahle, time to stop walking those lead off runners. Time to start being a pitcher who pitches with confidence.
Reds team memo: Urgency, urgency, urgency. Your playoff run must begin tonight. The bases loaded with nobody out is a good thing, score many runs when this happens.
Yes!
Votto on intentional talk explained the Me, Me, Me celebration. Really a dig at David Bell from comments about Ted Lasso. Hilarious
Awesome interview.
Wow. 16%. The Reds got this? One good sign, Suarez should only bat 7th or lower. How many rehab ABs do Senzel and Moustakas need? Off day in Louisville yesterday.
When i envisioned a 6 and 1 record this week, this game was the only one that i could see us losing. I dont think we will though. Like the fact we get schrock in the lineup, not the position though
I’d take 5-2. The Twins can really swing it and Pitt always battles us. Milw crushes them every game, but they beat Philly 2 of 3 and Philly has a ton of payroll and a veteran lineup.
I mean maybe…but i dont expect the pirates to win another game this season
It’s run for the playoffs time. Don’t overlook the Pirates. They’re scrappy and can surprise you.
I’d take 4-2 over Twins and pirates, but preferably 5-1. Then 4-3 against indians/braves/Phil’s then 5-2 against cubs marlins. That would be 6 over the next 3 weeks and 69-57 going in to the Brewers series in 3 weeks.
Senzel is starting in cf again in AAA and Moose is starting again at 3b.
Right wrong or indifferent Alejo Lopez was never going to put Suarez on the bench. The performances of India and Farmer and their elevation to the lead off and 3 holes are very telling. Assuming Farmer health, Moose has a big enough profile to displace Suarez at 3b. Suarez may not have a place to play. They are paying Moose more than Suarez and India isn’t going anywhere and if healthy, neither is Farmer.
Senzel in the outfield and not in the infield does not please me.
Schrock should definitely be at third base tonight instead of Suarez. (That said, watch Suarez have a huge night. This is the way it usually works).
I hope so, but living in Cleveland where all the moves are being sold as “we are figuring out things for next year” it is bothersome to me they aren’t taking as much opportunity to figure out what they have in Aquino as possible.
I feel the same way when Bell plays Shogo and his .500 ops over AA. The thing is its obvious that the Reds don’t value AA that much and nobody traded for him so maybe he’s not that good? Idk? He’s the only OFer they have that rated better then average (slightly). Even Shogo is -2 or something on defensive runs saved vs replacement. AA is +2 I think so not a huge difference, but AA saved Mahle’s last start by himself in Wrigley. Crazy power, he can run, and throw. There is some things to like about him
I think Schrock should be starting at 3B tonight. I think Suarez should be on the bench for at least 2 or 3 days like the Reds did Votto last year. It probably wouldn’t help but at least it would look better on Bell. I think Suarez is continuing to play Third because Moose will take over and Bell won’t have to embarrass Suarez by using a utility player to replace him. Winning should be more important to any manager than the feelings of his players.
“ Winning should be more important to any manager than the feelings of his players”
Couldn’t agree more
The Reds should go 6-0 this week. Both of these teams are terrible. Anything less than 5-1 would be a disappointment. Want to be in the playoffs?
Win them all.
Time to get serious guys! And that means you Mahle! Pitch to contact, put batters away when ahead in the count and, most importantly, NO WALKS please!
His success rate on contact at GABP is not something to write home about!
Mahle may only be 18 innings away from his career high, but how many pitches is he away from his career high? He has thrown enough pitches to have already achieved a new career high in innings. Wake me when he is nearing Nolan Ryan’s average innings per year.
Just in case, I have an ample supply of antacids for Mahle’s start tonight!
+100
Note to Suarez! It’s OK to hit the ball behind the runners to right field!
Brewers claimed Sal Ramono
Nc central race is over
With their covid situation they have effectively a 6man bullpen tonight with half of those having thrown over 19 pitches last night
And with Boxberger having 32 over the last 2
If the brewers are relying on Sal ramano then there is a chance for us,
I’ve decided to start writing a children’s book about baseball tonight. The title will be “Mr. Mahle Throws Strikes”. I’ll let you know later if I get any material for it from this outing.
Strikes with 2 strike counts are the rarities
He better not make me change it to “Mr. Mahle WON’T Throw Strikes”.
Full counts again, Nibbler?
Mahle first 3 batters had o-2, o-2 and 1-2 counts to ultimately throw 18 pitches
2nd inning they helped him out making 2 outs on 3 strikes, which must have then obviously disoriented him lol
Brewers have San Francisco this weekend. A good week and weekend to make a move and close the gap a little bit.
I’d like to see Schrock give India a day off fairly soon or Moose/Senzel. India was cooling off a little bit then he had that 2 hr game in NY, but since then he’s 1-9 with 5 Ks. Rookies can burn out quicker without rest
I would not be surprised he gets the day off when Senzel/Moose come back. I’m not even sure when was the last day he had off. Seems like it’s been awhile.
I am begining to think the under may have been in order today….. Prove me wrong reds.
Is it just me or does it seem like every twin hitter has had success against the reds?
I don’t think Arraez has ever made an out.
New streak starting right here.
Reds will get to their starter.May take the second time around but they will get him.Just can’t help him out.Make him throw strikes.He also kind of pitches backwards and I am sure they know this.
Yeah … just have to be patient.
Guy is throwing 90 by us?May be sneaky fast tonight.
So the Twinkie’s have a team of All-Stars, right? Asking for a friend …
They can hit
So I see
Mahle’s velocity is down and again way to many pitches.
Just because of pitch count, if nothing else, Mahle may be the weakest starter right now.
+100
5 days off and he’s throwing 92 in the 3rd inning? He throws 70% fbs so 92-93 isn’t going to work? Why does this happen so often with him? 95-97 some nights and 92-93 the next? Get Cessa ready. We can’t blow these games.
That’ll get the runs back and then some.
Just never know in baseball. Bottom coming through. 🙂
i step away for ONE Minute….
Geno hits one out to RF….
I say this every time, but I know he will try to pull every pitch the next 20 ABs
Bombs away!! Geno and Tucker!!
C’mon guys – let’s make this an Amir Garret or Sean Doolittle game – one where we are ahead by about 7 heading into the 9th.
It will have to be at least 7 for those 2 bums.
This guy has got nothin’
They have figured something out with Madea. Turned into a bombing run
Good offspeed pitcher and Geno sucks on offspeed, but we’ll take it! Tucker too!! I’d keep Mahle on a short leash if he can’t amp it up to 94-95
Geno goes deep to RF and Winker doubles to LF.
If those boys continue to use all fields,. watch out.
Mahle’s pitching is nothing short of maddening! 0-2 and 1-2 counts turn into nail-biting full counts far too often!
Yep. We’re due for a lot of bullpen today.
He almost never throws a strike on 0-2 or 1-2. If he does throw one in the zone, it’s by accident.
This is a good offense and Castellanos isnt here
They just need pitching to hold twins to 4 runs and its easy 2 wins
Again, had leadoff batter at 1-2, went to a full count and then threw up a meatball for a leadoff double!
The three reds on rehab first at bat all produce outs. Some minor league shortstop hits a HR.
Dude is just going to force his way up here isn’t he.I liked him as the starter way back in the beginning and didn’t’ even care if he hit a lick cause I just love the young guys getting to play.
What can Barrero do that he hasn’t already done at Louisville that will get him called up??
Seriously – what more can the young man do??
Barrero is a fun guy to watch. He’s on a complete tear.
Reds Front office is lost !!!! Out to lunch …
No more to prove at that level
Lopez just cranked one out as well.
But but but he is to small to hit one out..
hey hey now. Only one guy gets the triple But treatment
Today I was checking out his stats on milb.com and I immediately thought that the Reds need to bring this kid up. I’m excited to see him come back to the bigs.
Why is Shrock starting in RF over Aquino?
Hot hand
Lefty/righty/Tinker/5-hits/whotheheckknowswhy?
And lefty batterer against RHP … that’s an easy answer
Mahle slightly under his normal 20 pitches per inning with 70 pitches thru 4 innings! May get 5 innings out of him tonight! Shocker!
Maeda’s got that split-finger pitch working. The boys gotta lay off now or he’ll keep using it.
Maeda righted the ship in a hurry and struck out the side.
By comparison. Kent Maeda at 54 pitches thru 4 after striking out the side! Yes, Suarez was one of those strikeouts! Gotta give Suarez props on the home run in his previous at bat!
Yea, in general, a Suarez HR is going to get me off his back for the rest of that particular game
+100
Full Count Mahle making me nervous…
Mr. Mahle Won’t Throw Strikes
Or …
Mr. Mahle Avoids Contact
Or …
Mr. Mahle Blows His Pitch Count
Take your pick
How about D all of the above Mark.
Aw come on man!
It’s kind of remarkable how Mahle goes to a 3-2 count on virtually every hitter. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen anything like it.
Hit by the pitcher and a one out walk.Need a DP bad right now.r
Didn’t need that 3-run shot
ok so the Over bet is looking better and better now a reds comeback will secure it
Just awful and you could see it coming all game long.A hit by the pitcher and a walk then a bomb.First two just can’t happen.Now we must use the pen for 4 innings and mount a comeback so why not.Just never comes easy for this team yet we love them so.Go Reds.
As always a walk precedes the HR! Need a comeback win here! Can’t count on the Pie Rats to win a game until they face the Reds! Mahle’s pitching approach is bewildering to say the least!
Mahle every time now. Why is he all the way to the left of the rubber? How are you going to jam righties from there or get your slider to start on the plate and end up darting away? Jeez??? He drives me nuts. He’s got talent, but HRs with guys on base almost every start now
His sliders from the far left of the rubber are completely useless! They’re never on the plate so its just a waste pitch? Vlad might be better then him? Frustrating because I bet on them tonite
Nuts? I feel like an extra in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest!
Mahle threw that high fastball exactly where tucker barnhart had his glove
Maybe tucker isnt a good game caller
Luis castillo liked curt castiilo
Yeah 93 at the top of the zone goes a long way
It was in the strikezone when it should have been up another 6 inches out of the zone … not Mahle’s MO … Barnhart can’t hold his glove that far up lol
Memo to Reds dugout.If it start low it is a splitter so don’t swing please.Four in a row and eight in the game.
Inda Yes Sir…. Clear that OVER the wall
yes that is a double entente… also that is a two-run HR because Shogo got on base so good for him
Bounced off the façade on the 2nd deck, didn’t it?
yes at least the sign…. but it also means the over of 9 has been hit as well
Did somebody say India needed to sit a game? Lol
He had yesterday off … 🙂
That’s the way, Rook!!
Rookie..Of..The..Year 2021!
+10,000
Dish switched over to some mma fights for some reason? Ok? I see we got the lead back!! Get Mahle out of there. He drives me nuts.
He got pinch hit for.
Took ’em long enough to switch back!
Yeah we’re back! Cessa time or maybe Lorenzen for 2 innings I hope? No Hoffman, Doolittle, or something stupid please.
Street Fight has begun
Trading punches
Mahle out! Where’s Sal Romano when we need him?
On the Brewers!
What in the world was that third strike call? Several inches off the plate.
Make up call for the previous pitch would be my guess … catcher skillfully barked … pitch #1 was real close the same place also a ball
Umpshow stinks
Again … it’s the variance as the game progresses that really irks me. Bad and consistent is a little easier pill to swallow. Bad and wildly variable is not.
I still don’t know what Tucker was calling on that 3 run hr though? 0-1 count and the ump is giving extra room on the corners so why are you calling for a high fastball with a righty power hitter? Stupid. Mahle also can’t get anything else over the plate vs righties except the heater so they just sit on 1 pitch.
You gotta think they wanted it higher at almost 94 … but at o-1 Mahle puts it in the zone as is his habit… just a bad pitch, sort of against type
alright, Medea is out as well now. Let’s get to the bullpen
Huge save by Tucker on the ball in the dirt. If that bounces away 8 feet its tied
Yep. He boxed it in well and saved a run. Then held on to the tip for the K.
Way to leave ’em stranded Cessa! Crooked number time for the good guys!
Mahle needs to go to the bullpen to “work things out”!
If/when the Reds make it to the playoffs Mahle could be a key bullpen piece…maybe.
Naquin is really hurting right now, needs to sit some.
No excuse for Naquin leaving his bat on his shoulder on that one. No excuse whatsoever.
He had a big game on Sunday, but July was brutal. He’s never played this much in his life. He’ll be getting time off soon
True enough.
Agreed … he swung at the 2nd pitch was a ball there even more inside and let that strike 3 alone
Naquin is all or none and mostly none.
His stats are inflated in blowouts.
He’s been good in 10 games and awful in 80.
Went 2 homers and 7 rbi in a 14-2 win over pirates
3 run bomb against cards up 7-2
4 hits another game in a blow out.
I’m done with the Naquin Shogo nonsense. Naquin is a fringe player. Shogo is a joke. Aquino might not be the answer but how he sits behind those 2 is beyond me.
I don’t get it either. He’s never played this much and yet Bell plays him everyday since Nick got hurt. He’s a solid player, but not a full-time starter
Not beyond David Bell evidently. lol SMH
Sir StrandsALot strikes again!
How many does he lead the league by again?
So, Cessa throws 11 pitches and can’t throw another inning?
Tinker’s rules, Dennis. You know that by now.
I know! Bur had to poll the audience!
Well I think they’re playing 20 games in a row so I’m sure Bell doesn’t want to burn a guy out for the next 2 games, but we’re always squeaking out a close lead and we need wins now….not tomorrow.
We have NINE relief pitchers.
Nice 1-2-3 Mikey. Now go hit the showers because you just KNOW Tinker won’t let him go 2. Even if he needed him to hit, he still wouldn’t.
The Eleventh Commandment.
Thou shalt not permit thy relievers to get more than three outs. Though shalt not permit thy reliever to pitch, sit in the dugout, and then return to the mound under any circumstances, lest his pitching arm be smitten from his body.
Hahahhahahaha
Does Bell let Lorenzen hit for himself? I’m not sure I’d risk it.
What’s the risk?
He wouldn’t be pitching with a gimpy hammy.
He’s 100%
Risk of re-injury. But I guess I’m more superstitious than the average baseball fan.
Great hard it by AA.
Straight platoon … he’s not gonna start vs RHP when there’s 2 other LH OFs to choose from
Thats stupid though. Shogo has zero HRs and will never hit one in mlb. Naquin was horrible in July and isn’t good defensively either. Aquino saved Mahle 3-5 runs last time or the Cubs would’ve bombed him too
Honestly though- naquin is 5x better than the girls softball slap hitter
Shogo isnt an mlb player
don’t want Mikey on the bases running risking another Hammy injury
Reds OF defensive runs saved vs average
Nick -6
Wink -6
Naquin -7
Shogo -1
AA +1
Of those 5, which 3 have played the lion’s share of innings??
Let me help you out on that – they combine for a total of -19 runs saved.
When you consider everything, there is only one better all around outfielder on the roster than Aquino – Lorenzen.
I hope that’s a joke. Because -6 runs defensively per the average for Winker and Castellanos is more than made up for with runs produced compared to the average. Aquino is nowhere near that level of all around player. Quit fooling yourself.
We’re talking defense here big guy.
I guess we’re in the, “Let’s keep trying a new pitcher until we find one having an off night” again mode.
Oh man, I have said that for 2 years!!!!
If a guy throws effectively, we have to get him out right away. It’s like we have to burn our way they the bullpen until we find a guy who isn’t throwing well – and we leave THAT guy in long enough to blow the game.
Well, it looks like Bell may have found him. Don’t worry though. AG is warming up in case we get in too much trouble. SMH
Bell spending 4 innings trying to find the new guy who isn’t ready to pitch that day instead of winning
This is the way …
I think he wants to make sure that all of his pitchers will be able to pitch tomorrow’s game. Like that’s more important than winning TONIGHT’S game. If one guy pitched 2-3 innings, for sure he couldn’t pitch for 2-3 days. But the remainder of the pen would be very well rested.
Now – who pitches the 9th?? Please don’t tell me it’s “Homer” Hembree.
LIke I said above, we have 9 relief pitchers. We need all of them for tomorrow? Hmm
Givens throw was blocked by the fat lump of goo called an umpire. Too fat to get out of the adjective way? Just get on the ground and let the man throw the ball!
DUmb bovine dropping of an ump could’ve backed up or moved forward and we probably turn 2 there or atleast get the lead runner for sure.
Then Givens hits the zone on a 2-1 pitch….no call
Start the Recap headline
Bullpen blows it yet again after Bell throws 5 guys desperately trying to find the guy who isnt on that night because no one is allowed to pitch more than 3 outs
Yeah but you get to the 9th anyway and most would take Givens over HH
Double adjective Play!!!!! Yeahhhhh baby
HUGE DP there!!
Well looks like Bell has found his man. If you keep going to the pen enough, who knows what will happen?
We play the Metros as tough as nails and then come home and do this?
C’mon, Man!!!
That was nice, lucky?
Bailed out by a DP. Very thankful. 🙂
Believed in you the whole time Micheal. Now get a few more insurance runs
Heart pills for Dennis.
+500
Sure he wouldn’t enjoy the 2 walks!
Double play to save the day (or at least the inning).
We need some crooked numbers here. Then I wonder who gets the 9th.
HH for two and then Doolittle. haha….Let’s hope not. 🙂
If that wasn’t a butt-clencher of an inning, I don’t know what is.
Whats the expectations of an ump on that comebacker to Givens? He was definitely in the way so much that Farmer told Givens to just take the out at 1B. Its a dp otherwise. If the man moves forward or just gets on the ground then the Reds turn two, but he just stands there and forces us to go to 1B.
The ump will NEVER drop to the ground. He’s supposed to get out of the way, but since he is “dirt” by rule if he got drilled with a throw it wouldn’t matter.
Are they supposed to stand on the grass there to begin with? If he’s behind 2B then he doesn’t affect the play at all. Instead he almost cost us the game there. The hitter wasn’t running at all or slipped in the box or something. Easy dp
Very lucky double play
Cant live like that against Josh donaldson
Will pay that back to baseball luck very soon
True, but the ball was almost 100% in the strike zone on the 2-1 to Sano, but the ump missed it. Calls India out on a ball 4 inches outside, but can’t see the ball when its right in front of him. Sano’s not walking much on 2-2. He’s a hacker
Just.Three.More.Outs.Please.
Need a big inning from Hembree, hopefully 1-2-3.
Still waiting for the 1 …..
There it is. Need 2 more with Polanco up.
Don’t put a runner on HH, or DoDo comes in
Hahaha! You guys kill me sometimes..
Heath hembree is our closer down 7 games in august ?
Thats a rolaids reliever for sure
Hemree scares me. He doesn’t look to have a lot of stuff. 2 teams cut him and he winds up the Red’s closer. We will need a closer next season. Are there any top FA closers available in the off season?
Do we have to walk the lead-off man out of professional courtesy when the game is close? Asking for a friend …
A leadoff walk. We all love that. The more drama the better. smh
Here we go? HH is the closer til September or whenever Antone comes back. It doesn’t matter that 3-4 guys are better then him.
Throw the ball over the plate !!!!!!
I’m sorry but I just don’t see closer stuff from HH
David Bell and his stupid bullpen antics – nobody pitches more than an inning – sick of it !!!!!
All of our effective relievers are now out of the game.
But everyone is able to pitch tomorrow!! And that seems to be all that matters.
He was just the best we had for a time. He ain’t the best we got anymore.
Me either Jim.
Kind of thinking we may need to set up a GoFundMe for Dennis’ heart pills.
I feel bad for Nick Kirby
Hes got like 3 endings to prepare for.
Gut wrenching loss
Lucky ulcer win
And drawn out who knows extra innings
+500
This is not reassuring
Well here comes another blown loss – imagine that
Unbelievable!!!
Time to fake an injury Heath.
Please Lord just kill me now. It’s easier than watching this bullpen .
Hembree should not be the closer anymore 2 or 3 others are better choices.
Like Lorenzen…though he’s out for tonight.
Agree he should be next up.
Brach is up now. That’s comforting.
Well Lorenzen and all the new guys have put up nothing but zeroes and Bell is still going to blow games with our pen. Its too bad.
If Cessa goes 2 then Givens could’ve closed. Givens is better then HH at this point in HHs career and everyone should know that. Your eyes tell you that as well as the numbers
Heath hembree aint the answer
Just david bell never committing to a win and always handing off to someone else
This is david Bell typical game
Cant commit to anything
We’re at home and yet the same pitch is a K to India, but not with their guys. Cmon???
That’s one …
Milwaukee’s Houser is no hitting the Pirates through 6
I’d pull him now
Just checked in on the game. Bell still doing the one and reliever strategy and Mr. Homer as closer. And Bell, like Suarez, will be back tomorrow to screw up another game. The Reds would be in first place if Suarez was having even an average year and Bell was somewhere else.
3 games in a row where Suarez hits .333, and had a 2 run homer tonight and you still come in every article to bash him. Are you secretly in love with him or something?
No but apparently you are. A home run every few days is insufficient. He’s statistically the worst player in MLB and thinking he’ll hit himself out of it is just stupid. Results matter and he’s not delivering
Cessa can only go 11 pitches with a 2 something era, but HH can throw 30 with a 4.50 era
Alrighty then
I have a bad feeling about this
Its just silly to watch this stuff.Bell just doesn’t have a clue.He pulled HH the other which was a real confidence builder and then goes right back to him again as if to say what?He either is the guy or not.I am just so tired of lets find out who doesn’t have it tonight play time.
Pads bombing Oakland 4-0. We need this one!!
We need EVERY game. That’s what we’re trying to get across to Mr. Bell.
David hernandez part 2
Flip a coin
Hopefully its april hernadez and not august hernadez
This deep in the count, is HH going to face another batter no matter what the outcome (aside from a DP)?
Some things never change with this bullpen
This is stupidity at its finest …. no words
CAN’T HIDE DAVID BELL
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!
That’s it. Good night. Not even worth watching whatever happens next.
There it is.
Why? Just why?
I’m going to bed….
This inning demonstrates that all of Bell’s ideas about L/R matchups and pitch counts are really meaningless when he wants to throw a game. Which he just did. Someone here want to defend Bell tonight?
Fire. David. Bell.
Still want to tell me Bell doesn’t mishandle his bullpen anyone? it wouldn’t matter if he had FOURTEEN relievers I think.
I hope they fire Bell. I can’t defend him anymore. Everyone saw it coming. Bell never comes out personally and talks to the pitcher in these situations. I’d say the guy has seen everything you have twice so just throw a changeup away and if he walks then its on me. Brach can try to get a dp or a K or something. Or atleast keep the game tied
Absolutely no reason for this guy to be closing games with the bullpen additions we made . I truly wish one of the TV crew would ask Bell what his logic is
Worst half inning of the year. Hembree doesn’t have it. 4 seven plus pitch batters to a 3 banger in a must win game.
“Homer” Hembree has now allowed 19 HR in his last 57 innings pitched over the last two seasons.
Absolutely no one should be surprised by this.
Or by the fact that the Reds looked at a man who has failed so consistently for so long a time and said “Here’s our new closer!”
Bell defenders will forget all about the last 3 losses….smh
Gut punch after gut punch….no excuse for walking guys with a 1 run lead ….INEXCUSABLE!!!
I am not completely mad. WIth that HR I am going to win a good 60 dollars on a Hit every inning bet. Not surprised. Hembree’s days as a closer are probably over. SHould start seeing Mikey or Givins in Closer situations soon
Hembree should never have been put in the position of closer. He is a HR waiting to fly out of the park.
Fire David Bell
Season ended today
Bell cant manage a bullpen and has lost game after game rotating his guys as if all are equal
Reds season is over!!!!
Mr Kirby:
It’s unnaceptable to write a headline saying the BP blowed another game.
It should say the management of BP found another way to blow up a game.
+1
16 games now they’ve led after 5 or later and lost. No team can make the playoffs after that bs? We’re not even 2/3 thru the season til after tomorrows game
12 scoreless innings from Lorenzen and the new guys and Bell still can’t figure it out.
Then he’ll mumble his way thru his explanation. Sounds like a 5th grader with the low volume while trying to explain something stupid they did on the playground.
Its on Mahle and Tucker too. That 3 run hr was completely stupid. They had a lefty on deck and an 0-1 count.
What a dumb manager?Almost like the had to prove he was right by pulling him the other night in New York.Just an idiot.I won’t be back watching,listening or checking in until Bell is gone.So maybe in 2023.No excuses for this guy.Players have to battle against the other team and there own manager night after night after night.
Justin Wilson is another name that needs to be seen pitching more. Yeah, his ERA is high, but it dropped nearly a point thanks to back-to-back scoreless outings. That’s likely a single bad outing with not a lot of opportunities, which, Judging by the Yankees Bullpen sounds about right
come home to GABP and start choking again
Nice work with the bullpen once again Bell .. complete lunacy
Any fool could see that Hembree didn’t have it but not Bell. His managing of the bull pen is beyond bad. Hembree had no control of his fastball and that was obvious to all. Oh well another loss 81/2 And 5 out I am afraid it is getting to late.
Lorenzon has thrown nothing but strikes and throws hard. Quite sure he could handle jack cave and the rest. Try something different!
From Lance McAlister twitter:
Hembree 9th:
Last Monday: BB, BB, HBP
Last Thursday: HR
Saturday: BB, WP
Tonight: BB, BB, HR
Yea. Keeping pitching him in 9th.
I wanna be mad at HH, but he did a job we needed when times were tough, and I do like his stuff, just looked like he was off tonight. It’s a different game too if our starter goes a bit longer, and gives up a bit less runs. David Bell gave the offense a chance to pad the lead with quality relievers keeping the score tied. We can all be mad that HH blew it, but it’s not like it was an ideal save situation for him to work in. That, though, can be on Bell.
As usual, walks preceded the HR! Sickening!
I can hear Bell now: “he’ll be back out there and get many more opportunities to save games for us…this is just a blip on an otherwise great season he’s had” blah blah blah ….seen it & heard it before, in the meantime the season goes down the toilet
Bell pulled him Saturday needing 1 out and he goes back to him needing 3.Nobody would do that to a guy you want to close?Then leave him in to throw 34 pitches including let him pitch to a guy after he gives up a 3 run homer.Nobody does stuff like that to a pitcher or to his team.
I hear Kenny Rogers singing, “But (he) believes in me…I’ll never know just what (he) sees in me…”
The warm feels must be permeating the clubhouse. “I mean sure Hembree isn’t a closer, and all our hearts sank when the first two got on in the 9th—but look how much Skipper believes in him! What a guy! Totally makes up for it!”
On the radio The cowboy was not masking his disappointment at the stupid pitch selection that was going on between Hembree and Barnhart. Obvious that HH can’t control the FB, Cowboy says overthrowing Basically was saying that Hembree has no confidence in his stuff, is afraid to pitch in the zone with two strikes. He all but said that as he is right now, that HH has no business pitching in the ninth-inning.
And that was BEFORE Polanco’s bomb
If it’s obvious to a guy in the booth, why does Bell not see this?
These players deserve a manger that can make much better decisions.
Even if they come back and win, this has been a miserable miserable showing by the decision maker
Cowboy knows his stuff !
Ha! A wild Hauser took a 1oo pitch nono into the 7th but now 2 relievers in now Pittsburgh just took a 5-4 lead still in the 7th
We’re not catching them. Be hard enough to catch SD
MORE BS???? 2-0 pitch to Geno outside and they get the call that HH couldn’t get?
Hahah Votto is over there with his eyes closed praying
Well, maybe the Minnesota bullpen is just as bad. You don’t achieve a .415 W% by being a good baseball team.
Anybody besides sorry posterior Freeman left?
Well, better than a DP by Barnhart.
I hate to pile on David Bell but it is obvious he doesn’t know what he is doing. I am so tired of his quirky line ups, his “scheduled off days”, his endless double switches as if the goal is to make sure everyone gets into the game. Why in the world would use you use Tyler Stephenson (your best bat on bench) as a pinch hitter in 8th inning with two outs and no one on base?? I am tired of him putting arguably the worst hitter in the major leagues in the line up night after night and I am tired of how his mishandles the bullpen.
The Front office has a lot of work to do this coming off season. I really think their first step should be replacing David Bell.
“ Why in the world would use you use Tyler Stephenson (your best bat on bench) as a pinch hitter in 8th inning with two outs and no one on base??”
This is actually my vote for stupidest move of the game—and that’s saying a lot
Replacing Bell should be priority # 1 period . He stinks at managing .
Agreed. This team has a core now. Time to go for the big fish like when Cubs got Madden, for example.
First and BIGGEST step….He’s just NOT a winner.
Too typical for the Reds.
The tying runs on. No outs.
Then nothing. End of game.
Sad. Very sad.
This loss is NOT on the Reds 9th inning offense
It’s time to quit thinking Bell can’t manage a bullpen and to start asking what his agenda is. It’s also time to quit pretending that the Reds are an analytics team. No numbers support Bell’s decisions, e.g. pitching substitutions, lineups, etc. Bottom line, the Reds have more talent than their record and no management from the field to the penthouse.
+googolplex
Spot on !!!
Every time this team gets rolling, Bell and the pen bury us just as quickly. Almost every loss is the same bs. We rarely get beatdown. They have a solid team, but Bell just can’t figure it out.
The buck stops with you so come out and talk to the pitcher in spots like that. The game is on the line. I don’t get him at all?
Thanks doug indy roger rojo mark
David bell is the wrong manager and bob castellini is the wrong owner
Im taking a week off . This team
Had a chance
I took about 10 days off after they got swept out of the AS break. Thought it was safe to come back and then NYM game two and this one
I’m with you I was happier on my “break”.
And before the trolls start pounding like “it’s only a game chill!” Let me say I realize it’s only a game and that is what I am going to chill
My Colts are already finished and training camp just started. You can’t let it bug you too much or your life is just not full enough
@IRM Yep when it gets in the way of real life I know I gotta reign it in lol
Come on how long is bell gonna keep pitchers in when struggling. Hem blown another save for us was so out of gas lately he seems pitching as if he is afraid of hitters lately. Bell had brad throwing but no changed. We had two on base no outs yet could not capitalized on that. Our chances to catch up to padres and brewers getting smaller when we keep losing to ball team that on a losing end of their season. I’m getting annoyed seeing these management calls this year. I hope we can turn things around ugh
But Bell believes in his players he listens to them he’s got their back yada yada
Cessa has went 2-3 innings 8 times this year with 17.1 inning total and 2 er (1.04 era)
If Bell pushes him 2 then Givens gets the save and we win. All those guys have era’s half of HHs era
Whoever crowned HH as the reds closer….please tell me that ? seriously would accept not winning another game this season if that would get rid of Bell
Well believe it or not, he was 8 out of 9 in save opportunities and he was all they had before, but he’s been scored on in 4 straight games now
When Nick writes up tonight’s game, please don’t characterize it as the bullpen blew another game. Bell blew the game. HemBree threw 34 pitches, more than Cessa, Lorenzen, and Wilson combined. DFA Hembree and fire Bell. Otherwise forget the rest of the season.
Devastating loss against a weak team! Another BP meltdown with a huge assist by Bell’s idiotic “RP-an-inning” approach! Major league relief pitchers are fully capable of pitching more than one (1) inning! Bell has obviously not figured that out or is so obstinate he won’t adjust! Don’t know how much more I can take of this insanity from Bell.
David Bell is like the guy who has to clean his dinner plate regardless of what is on it, what it looks like, and how long it has been sitting there. Amidst considerable doubt, Nick Krall put forth 3 new relievers of decent quality considering the money being spent. The long last Lorenzen has returned and all four of them have pitched flawless relief thus far. But, David Bell still insists on using Doolittle, Hembree and Brach as if the help asked for only allows more pitchers to share an inning each of merriment instead of any serious change of strategy. By my count the Reds have now won 5 of the last 8 games while Bell’s bullpen fiasco’s have lost the other three.
We have the players, we don’t have a manager. Is the Bell “legacy” so invaluable that we are risking a potential championship run in the next 2-3 years by continuing on this path.
Bell is the type of guy that his wife tells him stuff over and over, but he’s just in his own world. Then she cheats on him or divorces him and he’s totally blindsided because he was never paying attention.
When relievers are throwing 23-24-25 pitches in an inning then you need to go get them. Its not ending well. Or atleast a guy of HHs caliber
“ By my count the Reds have now won 5 of the last 8 games while Bell’s bullpen fiasco’s have lost the other three.
We have the players, we don’t have a manager. Is the Bell “legacy” so invaluable that we are risking a potential championship run in the next 2-3 years by continuing on this path.”
Truth.
Tough Loss need to move on Quickly.
Still believe in this club.
Onto tomm.
Go reds.
I believe in the club, but Bell can overcome their slight talent advantage. If you make Dusty look good then you’ll never win a playoff series. Bell can’t beat Arizona or Minnesota so thats all we need to know
All bullpen thoughts aside, if they Dodgers can bench Bellinger, the Reds can bench Suarez. Surely.
I didn’t know that. Interesting!
Don’t forget to pile on Mahle tonite as well! He SUCKED!!! He gave up a ton of ropes in Chicago and it was a miracle he didn’t give up 4-5 runs in that one. He was 1 guy away from atleast 5 innings and a 2 run lead, but made a stupid pitch. The ump is giving you room on the corner so take it? And don’t throw high fastballs to righties unless its to jam them
Wrong game to bash Suarez. Try again tomorrow.
Never a wrong game to bash a guy hitting .175 with the most AB’s on the team. Solo home run or not.
I am now convinced the Reds are done.
The mismanagement of the bullpen isn’t going to end, and they’re plagued by closers who cannot get three outs.
Walks to good teams are suicidal, but walks to cruddy teams are just plain stupid.
I’m too old to subject myself to the un-ending failures by the bullpen.
The Reds need clutch, but they just don’t have it.
The Reds have really only been beaten like 4 times in the past month. Its blown leads every stinking time. Its too much to take
That’s four wins they’d like to have i’m sure
Has anyone ever heard any sort of explanation from Bell as to why his relievers are all incapable of pitching more than one inning? Do reporters ever ask him to explain, or would this be considered rude?
You nailed it. It’s been discussed a lot in other threads. Cincinnati media are scared to lose their relationship with the teams. If they make them mad then they’ll get shut out and nit be able to do their reporting well and get fired.
So only softball questions. The other day Jim Day wet himself asking Bell about Doolittle in game two in NY. And only one other guy asked again.
The answer Bell gave was so otherworldly vapid that no one will dare ask again. It was too painful lol
Whoever has the wrap up is
A) in major rewrites, and
B) waiting for us all to vent here so the wrap up thread isn’t so polluted! 😛
This is the way of Reds to lose heartbreaking games after the trade deadline: Fight the game and reach a 1 or 2-run lead in the 5th or 6th inning , bring Cessa, Lorenzen and Givens until 8th to hold the win but blow it away in 9th or after that…All of this because they have not a f* king closer! …Wait for Sims and Antone? Huh! could be late…
Eugenio leads MLB with most hr. in last 2 plus seasons. Another blast last night to share team lead. Plays really good defense at third! Go Reds!