Two of the hottest teams in baseball will square off for the first of three games tonight at Truist Park in Atlanta at 7:20 PM. The Cincinnati Reds (61-52) are 10-3 in their last 13 games, and they have played .619 baseball since May 30th with a 39-24 record. The Atlanta Braves (57-55) have won 5 of 6 to revive a season that was put on life support. They are just 2.0 games back now in the NL East, a division the Reds would be leading by a game and half if they were in it.
The Braves look completely different than when the Reds saw them earlier in the year. They lost Ronald Acuna Jr. for the season back on June 10th. The Braves went crazy at the deadline acquiring Eddie Rosario (OF), Richard Rodriguez (RP), Jorge Soler (OF), Adam Duvall (OF), Stephen Vogt (C) and Joc Peterson (OF). None of those moves will come close to replacing Acuna, but they are helping to keep the Braves 2021 hopes alive in a weak division. Soler and Duvall have already hit a combined 5 HR in 9 games for the Braves since they were acquired.
Starting Pitchers
Sonny Gray is coming off back to back good starts. He dominated the Mets in Queens (6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 7 K, 1 BB). He had some tough luck against the Pirates, but in 5 innings only allowed 2 hard hit balls with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks. Gray’s overall ERA is very misleading. You can see by the xERA and FIP that he has been a much better pitcher. Gray’s season ERA was at 3.19 in mid-June before two bad starts ballooned it to 4.50.
Gray has a 3.16 career ERA in 4 starts against the Braves. His last start against the Braves came in 2019.
Drew Smyly turned 5 good starts in 2020 into $11 million to pitch this season for the Braves. The Braves have got a below average pitcher in return. He has not allowed more than 3 ER in any start since May, but he rarely pitches deep into games. His last 3 starts were all just 4.0 innings. Unfortunately for the Reds, one of Smyly’s best starts of the year came against the Reds back on 6/25: 6.0 IP, 3 H 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K.
Starting Lineup
| Reds | Braves |
| 1. Jonathan India (2B) 2. Tyler Stephenson (C) 3. Nick Castellanos (RF) 4. Joey Votto (1B) 5. Aristides Aquino (LF) 6. Kyle Farmer (SS) 7. Eugenio Suárez (3B) 8. Shogo Akiyama (CF) 9. Sonny Gray (P) |
1. Ozzie Albies (2B) 2. Jorge Soler (RF) 3. Freddie Freeman (1B) 4. Austin Riley (3B) 5. Dansby Swanson (SS) 6. Adam Duvall (LF) 7. Joc Pederson (CF) 8. Stephen Vogt (C) 9. Drew Smyly (P) |
The Reds enter play just 25th in baseball with a .710 OPS against LHP. It is clearly the weakness of the Reds offense. That being said, they have several players that have hit really well against LHP: Jonathan India (.946 OPS), Kyle Farmer (.936 OPS), Tyler Stephenson (.902 OPS), Nick Castellanos (.887 OPS) and Aristides Aquino (.898 OPS).
Conclusion
This is a big week for the Reds after suffering a tough loss yesterday in a favorable pitching matchup. The schedule looks very good for the Reds the remainder of the season after this week. This is the week just to survive. Go Reds.
Thanks Nick
Third game in a row we haven’t seen Moose after getting off to a good start in his return. I hope he’s healthy. He’s valuable in many ways.
Not worried yet, but if he’s not in the lineup tomorrow against the righty, then something is up with Moose’s health.
Bell said he’s available today off of the bench and he’s going to start tomorrow.
great news
Moose is better than Suarez against anyone including lefties. So done with Geno this year
Why is I76 lineup sabotage Saurez in the lineup? Why does he keep starting? Don’t say it is because of LHP cause he can’t hit any handed pitcher..
Moose plays 2 games – 10+ runs each game. Suarez next 2 games – Reds score 3 and 3
Don’t need any more modern analytics than that
There’s a clause somewhere there about it’s mandatory to LU Geno
He hits them better than Moustakas does over the last two seasons.
I love Doug Gray’s column and wouldn’t want to disagree with him, but Suarez is terrible against everyone this year and that is all that matters he is in worst ever competition, strike outs and batting average. He needs to be benched or sent down on rehab to learn how to hit, cause he doesn’t know. He is like having Rob Deer or Pete Incaviglia in the lineup.
Having Moustakas in the lineup against a lefty is like having Rob Deer or Pete Incaviglia in the linuep, but a little bit worse, since Suarez has hit lefties a little bit better than Moustakas has over the last two seasons.
Last year, Moustakas hit .214 against LH’ers and Suarez .176. This year it’s Suarez .138 vs. Moustakas .118. However, Moustakas only has 17 ABs vs LH’ers this year but Suarez has over 5X the ABs. I’d take my chances with Moustakas since we know Suarez typically fails to deliver. Maybe today will be that weekly HR.
Does Suarez have options? Can he be sent to AAA? Bring up Berrios? It’s time to get serious.
I’m not sure if he has options, but it doesn’t matter if he does because he’s got enough service time to refuse an option.
Forgot about Senzel. Him or Berrios while Suarez deals with some mysterious injury.
“I’m not sure if he has options, but it doesn’t matter if he does because he’s got enough service time to refuse an option.”
Sort of like tenure then.
In the interest of limiting mindless kneejerk complaining (which i detest and abhor), let me welcome you all to Geno’s Advocate Corner. What i will attempt to do here is at least try to somehow alter/distract from some common (mis)perception(s) with some deceptively weak sauce and rhetorical/statistical sophistry … ahem
We’ll begin with the foundation of completely throwing out Geno’ s absolutely putrid April splits
APR 92 AB 14 R 4 2B 4 HR 9 RBI 1oBB .13o/.229/.3o4
This is the foundational black hole of a bad start that colors the constant gravitic image of .17o+ that so triggers both rage and despair both far and wide … we’re gonna just THROW THIS COMPLETLY OUT FAGGEDABOUDIT (this is the main point, perception is sometimes falsely perceived as reality and this is … the next month demonstrates improvement (surely not greatness or even goodness, but still)
MAY 1o2 AB 15R 19RBI 2 2B 8HR .186/.25o/.441
JUNE 9o AB 9R 18RBI 2 2B 4HR .2oo/.291/.356
Dude manages to drive and drive again BA barely off the interstate at least while trending up most of the slash and it’s not the .17o+ you fixate on like a red flag in front of thee bull you see
OK now we backslide a little but not much, so sue me … at least it’s not .171
JULY 91AB 1oR 16H 52B 4HR 13RBI 176/.257/.363
Which leaves us in the current fluctuating small sample so far of
AUGUST 21AB 3R 2HR 4RBI .19o/.292/.476
Hey the slash is up again across the board and the BA is a small sample that can like theoretically jump & flop like Billy Bass and reflecting a li’l bit of an echo of a slight-ish hitting streak , more off interstate crowning and 4 homers in his last 12 or so games and the promise of the seasonal .2oo/.286/.56o slugging high water mark of his last 7 games … the dam may be ready to … ummm … soon slosh up to and maybe even on over the top of the wall! (it sure beats repeating .171 like a demented mantra) … Mendoza here we come!
Beelicker, improving to .190 for the month is hardly an endorsement. By that measure, Moose is hitting .429
Moose JUST came off the injured list with a lingering foot injury. He hits righties much better than lefties. It makes perfect sense to sit him against lefties, especially when there’s no dropoff in the offense by starting Suarez.
Bell has been proving all year that it doesn’t matter how badly Suarez is struggling — he’s going to play. Either Bell has no choice in the matter, or he has some emotional/irrational reason for wanting him in the lineup even when there are clearly better options. I expected to see plenty of Suarez even after Moose’s return, regardless of his health status. It would be surprising to see him start less than 50% of the remaining games.
Just a thought. Perhaps Moose is sitting because his foot started barking at him. I’m dealing with plantar fasciatis (sp?) and a heel spur, and even after therapy and rest, my heel is still giving me problems.
I’d rather have Moustakas for 2 months vs 2 weeks.
At least Bell hasn’t benched India for Moose so that Suarez & Moose are both in the lineup. That would be a Bell move
That’s gonna be how India or Farmer gets their days off … one of Moose or Saurez is alternately the only extra infielder
Moustakas is a productive hitter. He moves runners, regardless of his average.
Suárez moves himself to the dugout, mostly via strikeout unless he happens to be hitting his weekly homerun
But yeah we obviously don’t have all the info yada yada
AW, that weekly home run, followed by he is turning the corner.
Kinda a must win tonight with the Brewers probably winning both their games today
Let’s not forget that Moustakas is coming back from a pretty significant foot injury. So, it makes sense to ease him in against RHP. And you know opponents know that and, if they can help it, are going to throw LHPs at us. If nothing else, they get Suarez instead of Moose. Not to mention, it neutralizes Winker, too.
I really hope that his foot will last— at least until Senzel gets back
Or maybe just be upfront with Eugenio and tell him he’s going to be on the bench, receiving spot starts while Moose and Senzel get the starts. Honesty can be effective once in a while.
I’m calling it: Suarez will reach base three times tonight, including two hits.
Surreal, today. two hits..by pitch maybe… and one fielder’s choice…
ES likes to use all or nothing approach .and usually takes nothing
If we complain hard enough then it will ensure his success today!
that’s right…I hope it works
This week is very huge for the postseason hopes. We are facing hot teams while Brewers the cool ones again (Cubs and Pirates). By the way , Brewers won the first game of the DH… we are six behind hopefully the Cubbies could pull one game off today
Unsure of some of the lineup choices, but that’s not my job to create … just to comment and vent here with the rest of y’all.
Hoping we can get crooked numbers early and often and that Good Sonny shows up and carries us through 6-7 innings. That’s not asking much, is it?
I think “Good Sonny” is the biggest factor
Moose is a perfect midgame double switch when Atlanta goes RHP
lets get em!
Seems to be a reasonable ask …
Hopefully, good sonny shows up tonight. Gotta take 2 of three both here and in Philly. Hope the hot bats stay hot.
Well that was a quick half inning.
Senzel playing SS at Louisville tonight.
Interesting. When/if he comes up I wonder who goes away …
Barreros hits an inside the park HR type this time.
I could have sworn Bell said a day or two ago that Senzel wouldn’t be playing anymore SS. I guess I misheard.
Is it Bally Sports, or my crappy cable, that’s causing the video to lock up for 30 seconds every few minutes? It was happening last night, too — only Bally Sports, not other channels.
Nothing locking up here. I’m on the MLB.tv feed. Both laptop and now TV via Roku.
same must be you Dennis…. sorry
Delete and re-install your Bally’s app Dennis. I had this same issue on my phone a few days ago, irritating! This totally solved it.
haha I guess they can’t make up their mind about Senzel. IF he is going to activated he needs to be ABLE to play SS and the rest of the infield for that matter. We don’t need another outfielder.
Frankly, his ability to play 3 IF positions and CF well would be a major boost. Maximum flexibility. Really depends on him being better than Geno as the backup SS.
I think we all know what the most likely answer is to that. 🙂
He is also 2-2 so far tonight
Lodolo gave up a dinger but has 5 K’s through 3. And we’re up 6-1 over Nashville. Senzel is 2-for-2 at the moment.
Nice smack, Joey. Thanks for that lousy route, Soler.
Meanwhile, Votto just continues to be Votto. I heard he couldn’t hit leftys
Employee #19 clocking in for another work day.
.2o8/.283/.344 before that 2B knock … that’s 1 for 5 territory, not ‘couldn’t hit’ hitting
THE PUNISHER STRIKES!
Votto starting to hit lefties now. That’s pretty much the last step to him being an MVP candidate at his current pace.
The Punisher
Smyly left another one in a bad spot. Love having a runner on base ahead of a dinger.
Thank you AA. I appreciate that. 🙂
AA goes boom
Sir Strandsalot doesn’t leave anyone on base … but does whiff at a really bad pitch for strike 3.
First pitch bounced in front of the plate that he swung at. All 3 pitches were off speed. They know he chases.
Akiyama tried to bail him out by looking even more lost. Now that’s a guy that shouldn’t play vs lefties, forget a Winker or Moose.
.333/.5oo/.389 now 6/19 after that
Man, I walk away when I knew JOE-EH was coming up, and all heck breaks out.
I’m happy to take one for the team and not follow this for a while.
Debbie says tough break for you
Yeah Deb, thems the breaks.
Suarez – lol. He couldn’t hit it in the ocean – pitiful .
More Suarez strikeouts tonight ridiculous
4 Ks so far on that sub 8os junk curveballs cutters … Nick, Geno and max contact judys Stephenson & Shogo … that garbage is tough to draw a bead on the first time around
sub 8os and 9os
There must be something with that slider coming from smiley, it is fooling a lot of people. I will say this, I like Shogo running to first on the Dropped third strike. First off, it is the rule. Second, there is an off chance, however slight, that there could be a mixup between the catcher and first baseman. I wish more players would do it.
If the Punisher has another August . . .
If Winker can have an August like last year….
That would be punishingly awesome
Good choice there by India.
DAVID BELL IS A GENIUS FOR STARTING AA OVER WINKER. (Seriously, tho.)
standard L/R decision plus a serious D upgrade
Personally, unless Winker just needs a day off, I would rather have Winker in left and AA in center. Honestly, with Winker and Casty entrenched in left and right, I’d put AA in CF and leave him there the rest of the year at least.
+200 for the AA start (Wink could probably use a day off). A corresponding -100 for anything equating Tinker with “genius” … 🙂
Net +100
this guy could seriously mess up Winker’s swing lol
.172/.287/.253
Lodolo out to start/before the fourth.
3.0 IP, 54 pitches, 1 ER.
Bats up 8-1
Not bad … Debbie could like seeing him in the pen yet this year to get some MLB experience.
Yes, him and Greene perhaps. But why is he out after 54 pitches? Hopefully not because of more blister issues.
Gray pitching well so far. We need it.
Doesn’t seem rushed. Relatively efficient through 2.
Well maybe they shouldn’t trade Sonny? They have some big decisions in the offseason. You can’t have 3 third baseman or 2 shortstops and you can’t have 8 starting pitchers either.
Indeed they do. 2 shortstops isn’t a terrible thing. 3 at third is a problem even with the coming DH.
Well if Farmer is too good to sit and Barrero is an emerging young talent then its a problem of sorts.
Indy – I’m still thinking Farmer is an anomaly this year. I’ll ride it happily like we all will, but he can also play other positions. I’d prefer to see Barrero be able to focus at SS in the Show.
I want a good Cf.
I would trade gray or mahle for a legit every day quarterback of the OF. Platooning in CF is like rotating middle linebackers in the NFL based on run/pass of the opposing offense.
Christian Pache Braves is similar to Jose Barrero. Rushed to the majors in 2020 but finding his footing in AAA in 2021.
20 games in 20 days.
Maybe Krall and Bell and support staff have a plan?
Aquino vs a lefty to give a Winker a day off isnt rocket science. It’s solid game planning. Moose getting 2 days after odd road trip and 2 lefties gets him ready for the next 10 days.
Solid game plan.
Win game 1
+500
Plus its a bigger park and Sonny is more of a flyball pitcher. AA & Shogo can outrun Jesse running backwards
Except they sat Moustakas Sunday against a RH’er, so he’s been benched for 3 games. And in those games, so far, Suarez has ZERO hits and one BB.
sunday day after a saturday night game
Saurez got on on an error and scored a run 8/9
Anyone else concerned that RoY India could use a day off and isn’t getting one of late?
Yes, but hard to take him out of the lineup when he’s got an OPS of 1.054 over the last 7 games.
He’s also another guy who tends to look at 2 called strikes before getting down to business. Seems to work for him though.
Yeah, I know. Just want to see him finish solid and win that RoY award. I’m thinking he’ll be fine. He’s just adjusting to the longest season he’s ever played and he’s in the spotlight.
He will get one
Moose will be at 2nd this week.
I would think, if there is a concern about his heel, that playing 2B would be more dangerous.
And Rookie 2 shows his hustle and it pays off on the terrible throw.
Time for a Blastellanos
Nope
I bet Sonny Over 5.5 Ks tonite since the Braves K a ton. Atl/Reds both top 10 in Ks
4 down 2 to go $$$
Seems like a pretty safe bet
You might get it this inning
There you go … Gray strikes out the side
Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
I’m absolutely killing them this year! Had Joey Over 0.5 rbis on Sunday and India to score Over 0.5 yesterday
I have sonny at 7 ks…. just need one more.
#7 NL that’s not bad considering they lead NL in OPS and tied #1 OBP … you gotta compare apples to apples because of all the pitchers striking out im the NL
I think the radar gun is a little low? 91 for Sonny, but it looks more electric then that?
Totally agree. Gray is higher than 91-92.
It’s probably calibrating to Smyly. Imagine if it were Smyly vs. The Hulk. The gun would go to sleep.
Wow…..best slider Sonny has had all year!!
Goodnight $$$$ thank you Sonny
I love when a RH’er throws that 2 seamer that tails back to the corner of the plate. Sonny’s is working tonight…so far
He’s the most fun to watch when he’s rolling imo. Castillo overpowers them at times, but Sonny just picks them apart. He hasn’t had his grade A stuff that often this year though imo. Vlad can do some of that too, but he’s pitching to contact so the Ks aren’t piling up.
Well.. the farm is looking good-
Enciarte, Barrero, Senzel, and Lodolo all performing
Lodolo out … 54 pitches through 3. I’m happy with them easing him along.
Senzel at SS
Just crossed my mind. If Senzel is playing SS where is Barrero playing tonight?
I don’t understand how Enciarte would fit in at the ML level.
Votto BB after being down. Vintage.
Do it again Punisher
Nope
Is Farmer coming back to planet Earth? I’d have Barrero on stand-by because we can’t afford long slumps! We’ve blown too many games already.
Milw today up 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th. First 2 reach and its 90 degrees in Wrigley. The ball will leave the park if you hit it at all, but they win again
Cubs were up earlier 1-0 with bases loaded and 1 out and couldnt score. Adames comes up then hits a homer and Garcia hit one out that hasnt come down yet.
On a sad note , Big Sally got DFA’d today by his 3rd team this year
Happens more than any of us realize. At least he’s had his shot in The Show.
and 7 Ks KaChing
Some dude named Tejay Antone pitching now for the Bats.
1.0 IP, 12 pitches, 2K
+250
I just got done saying to myself , be careful around Duvall
Crap. You couldn’t tell Sonny?
Shoulda known better….
Oh well, if that’s the only mistake he makes this game and the Reds score five more runs, I’ll take it.
NUTS!!
Adam Duvall is not giving us the “i was a red once” Treatment is he.
No, no he’s not
Throw the ball over the plate Sonny !
Adam always scares me. He’s a good defensive outfielder too.
Very good defensively
Yup. Always liked him. Doesn’t hit for average or high OBP, but his power can HURT you in big ways (hence his 25 HRs this year between two teams). And as noted, he’s a good fielder.
Cmon Sonny. Can’t hang a curve there? Jeez. We’re making some key mistakes
Nothing wrong with a solo home run but u cant walk Swanson.
Gray has had a tendency to all of a sudden just lose it lately.
Duvall: I am the Punisher in THIS ballpark.
Rats….Sonny had been on a roll until that point (and the preceding walk).
Bear down here, Sonny.
Thank you, Joey!
Duvall w/ 78 rbis on pace for 112. The computer dorks says rbis don’t matter, but who exactly were the great Marlin hitters that was always on base for him in that huge park? He’s had to have alot of clutch hits and situational hitting.
Always liked him from day 1. Homered for SF and the REds on his first at-bat. Ours was down the LF line in Wrigley
Lucas Sims for Duvall was a fair trade.
Reds need young bullpen arms.
Jury is out on that one. I’m not that high on Sims. I don’t know where Duvall would’ve fit though? He was really struggling with us at the end.
Isnt Aquino a younger cheaper Duvall though?
Decent defender elite arm..elite power. Bad plate discipline and lots of K’s?
And here we go again …
Well, not a K and he did give it a bit of an oppo ride.
yea, was one step away from a double and it was the opposite way. Not going to ride him for the opposition’s good defense.
Same pattern by most of the Reds pitchers this year! Walk a batter and THEN give up a HR!
You keep on harping and harping about that going on and on and you know what…..you’re right. 🙂
I know Dennis. You’re right again. Walked a run in. smh
Aquino hit the big home run but who exactly are the lefty killers in this lineup?
Geno used to be. India and Stephenson is about it and they’re maybe 25 hrs combined. Farmer hits them well too, but we need Barrero in there.
The Offense has gone stone cold.
Way to go Sonny,
C’mon guys, we need more runs! Smyly is ripe for the pickin’….
C’mon JOE-EH
Castellanos has done very little since coming back.
I’m far from a fan of the GA legislature and their petty games. But the unilateral action by MLB was puzzling at best. And Atlanta and the surrounding counties lean far more liberal, so that just makes it punitive in my book.
Nick rolling over on a borderline 2-0 pitch? We haven’t seen much of that all year. Hope he warms up again
Joey, you let me down, man.
Those worried about nick, remember, he did not take a rehab start to get his timing back. Don’t worry, with his contract situation and the playoff race he will find it soon.
Agreed. I remembered last night he didn’t do a rehab stint. We’re technically in the last games of what that would have been and he’s facing MLB pitching.
I’m out, early start tomorrow. Bring it home boys.
We have Luis Cessa, but lets roll out HH instead. Lets ignore his games scored on streak. Ughhhhhhhhhh
or Sims? HH SUCKS!!!
Is Sims really back? We’ve not seen him just yet.
Sims pitched last night in a meaningless inning.
We can see what’s going to happen from a mile away
It’s time to cut bait on Shogo Akiyama.
He has 0 home runs
He has 6 extra base hits all year and its mid August.
He is hitting .214. His OPS is .565. He turns 34 in April.
It’s time to recognize his skills in Japan dont translate to MLB at 33. He cant hit, cant get on base and has no power.
When Senzel is healthy…and hes 3-4 tonight….bring him up and DFA Akiyama.. move on. Akiyama isnt a major leaguer.
I like Aki but I concur. Senzel still needs to play infield though. Four outfielders with him as an option just in case is enough.
From Hembree to Garrett — what could possibly go wrong here ….
lol You guys crack me up sometimes.
Yea, someone is pitching their way to either a DFA or a shoulder impingement real fast
Hembree + Suarez = no chance
Not feeling good with Hembree on the mound, two on, and Duvall up.
Really need a GIDP to wrap this inning.
Garrett – raise your hand if you didn’t see a walk coming ….pathetic.
OK, disposed of Duvall. Two more outs to go. Probably taking Hembree out now, which is good…..
Replacing with AG which is a crap shoot
Stupid bullpen management by Bell in a tie game in middle innings … look who he brought in game first ….
stupidity
And Tinker is going with AG. With inherited runners and only 1 out. Somebody get Dennis some antacids, his bottle of heart meds, and keep the AED warmed up.
It is lefty lefty Pitcher spot. Really have no other choice then wilson.
I actually trust Doolittle more. Cant believe I just said that.
Sure … that works … especially with the 3-batter minimum. Hoping Vogt gives us a gift.
Bell continues to go to his old people when he was given 4 new pitchers, sad.
This could be the game right here. Are these the pitchers you want with the game on the line? Hope so.
Can Sonny not throw more than 89 pitches? Why bring in HH when Sonny’s rolling pretty good with 89 pitches ? Base hit, walk. Refuses to come near the zone after his first pitch. At least Bell pulled him after three batters and he did get a K on the pitch 3 feet out of the zone.
If you see the ball bend on AG at all then don’t swing because its never over the plate
Just sit on the heater. And he’s not a rookie. He should be better then this.
Cut him loose
I have more confidence in Doolittle since he is hitting 96-97 now.
Agree – he’s the one needs to be let loose
Always count on Amir … to give up runs and walk people
The Reds win when they score enough to neutralize Bell’s management. If Bell decides to actively manage, the Reds tend to lose in close games. And it looks like once again, we can count on AG
+500
I’d like to know how many walks our relievers give up compared to other teams. Does not induce peace or calm…
I really don’t want to know. It’s a large number as is the inherited runners who scored.
here’s the whole staff #s … Cards have played 2 fewer games
https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/team/_/view/pitching/teams/8/table/pitching/sort/walks/dir/desc
Second to the Cardinals in all of MLB, too, entire staff-wise. Not good. But I wonder what the bullpen situation is — I bet the Reds are way up there in that case, too.
Walks — especially those given up by relievers (usually late, crucial situations) — stink. Like giving the other team free runs.
https://www.covers.com/sport/baseball/mlb/statistics/team-bullpenera/2021
Yep. Third in BB by the bullpen in all of MLB — behind only the Cubs and Cardinals. About what I expected. Thanks for looking that up.
Not.Even.Close.
Vogt was 5 for 41 and down 0-2 … SMH!!
Oh for Pete’s sake. That is inexcusable. It just is.
I know we cannot rely on the same 4 pitchers every game, but this is a must-win game. Putting HH and AG and having them fail to do what they are paid to do needs to be addressed.
So Bell starts the worst hitter in the majors Suarez, brings in Hembree in a scoreless game and then brings in AG with two on and one out. MADNESS!
Amir Garrett – the Geno Suarez of the bullpen.
Can someone explain how this guy is on the roster of a team that claims to be competing for a pennant??
Awesome AG is the Suarez of the bullpen, but he is turning a corner too
Amir Garrett, why is this man still on a major league roster? I don’t care which arm you pitch with. If your numbers and results suck you should professionally reside where those numbers indicate your best use of said arm.
All he needs to complete this disaster is to bring in Doolittle to finish it off
I just turned the game off this disappointing to see Garrett in games anymore. One out bases loaded he walks Yogt now the score 3-2 with one out still with bases loaded
Amir Garrett is 0-3 with a 6.4 ERA and walks 2 lefty hitters.
Derek Johnson just stormed away from Bell to the dugout phone.
It’s time to hold players accountable.
Suarez, Akiyama, and Garrett are losing games and have failed to perform all year long. Reds need to stop running those 3 out there if they are serious about winning.
When do the Reds hold those 3 accountable?
Get Senzel and Antone up tomorrow
Bob is enslaved to the sunk cost fallacy, ergo anyone earning a lot of money plays.
Which is stupid because they cause you to lose and therefore lose more money
Play winners, make money by winning and getting to the playoffs. That’s how you pay for the underperforming big contracts.
What’s wrong with my logic there? Maybe i’m missing something?
Garrett-Garbage
If he walks another run in I’m going to vomit
Simply put Hembree and Garrett have no business in the big leagues
Just pathetic bullpen moves by Bell in
middle innings of a tie game – AWFUL
I agree – but accountability is a word this organization doesn’t know
Doesn’t apply to anybody !!!!!!
Alejo López and Max Schrock had to pay the piper (we’re held accountable lol) for having multi hit games and showing up the leadership
None of that—to the bench young fellas!
I wonder if there will ever come a moment in Bell’s career, perhaps after the 17,000th time this lefty/righty strategy fails, when it will finally dawn on him that good pitchers can get guys out even if they throw with the “wrong” hand, and it’s actually much riskier bringing in bad pitchers who throw with the “correct” hand.
+5,000
Spot on comment “J”
+17000
As long as it’s not with our Reds beginning next season I really don’t care lol
Abyssmal
+1,000
Hembree, Brach, Garrett, and Doolittle, these are the kind of guys that Bell likes. Think Hernandez and later Hughes. Bell got his personal record to .500 and the pressure was too much.
I agree any time Bell has to manage the Reds tend to lose. He has no feel for the game what so ever. Sad Sad Sad.
Yeah lets pitch Cessa AFTER the game is untied and w/bases loaded so he has ZERO room for error instead of just starting the inning with the SUPERIOR PITCHER who is also FRESH
I had a lot of hopes for AG but it’s time to cut ties and move on. A potential good lefty with no consistency.
Next year he’ll be one of the top arms in the pen, bullpen arms are so unpredictable.
AG should stand for Already Gone!
Alright. Bell has seen what he needs to see from these two. The one down note I have noted about Cessa is that he is not great when inheriting runners. Small sample size since I am only judging his Cinci appearances. AG and HH are real DFA canadates in my book
looks like I had nothing to worry about. 1 pitch and done. Lets get the run back now smiley is out.
“ he is not great when inheriting runners”
All the more reason to give him a clean start in the 7th is it not?
OK, Sanmartin seems to be doing everything needed in AAA. Maybe he deserves a shot. Need to find a reliable LHP for the pen. Also now that Lodolo seems to be winding down his pitch count, maybe he’d be a bullpen candidate.
Hembree, and Doolittle, need to go.
Cessa. With the bases loaded. Our THIRD relief pitcher THIS inning. We need an out!
Garrett has become an excuse for losing.
Or a reason
Both. Bell puts him in because of his brief, prior success and his arm talent, like Suarez In the sense that he’ll “come around”. If you can’t locate consistently at this level forget it. There’s little confidence any more that he’s going to have a clean inning when he comes in.
You add a few guys to the bullpen and Bell goes to the bottom of the barrel in a tie game.
Exactly right ! Makes no sense at all .
Antone and Santillan need to be here tomorrow.
WHEW. Caught a break there, only giving up one run. Even that is too much, considering how it came to be …..
Time to get those bats humming!
Did y’all hear that comment? 3-batter minimum makes the manager evaluate the pitcher rather than the situation. Exactly the opposite of what we just saw Bell demonstrate.
Hate that 3 minimum batter rule! Any chance it goes away next season?
Now it’s time to take out Cessa after 1 pitch….. he’s surely spent and can’t pitch the bottom of 7th
Right
4-5-6 this inning was the meat of their lineup. You have 9 relievers. You don’t go with your 6th-7th guy in that situation. Of course HH got only 1 of 3 guys out. He’s not as good as Cessa.
And then AG? He blows like the south Pacific and has all year
Luke Jackson likes to give up the long ball.
Not quite long enough
Bell has Cessna, Givens, Sims, Lorenzen. He doesn’t use any of them at the start of an inning when the game is tied. But then brings in Cessa once other relievers have given up the lead. Are we missing something
When Garrett comes in I think “oh no” not him. When he leaves I boo the T.V. What a waist of a roster spot. Putting him in during a close game will cost David Bell his job. If he keeps using Hembree he will be gone. Please use some common sense and get these two stiffs of the roster. Just a matter of TIME!!!!
Bell’s job is secure. My guess is he gets an extension quicker than any of the players
If Reds are over .500; Management will give Bell an extension. They will claim he did a wonderful job getting the Reds as many wins as they did given all the injuries we had this year
This makes me weep because it’s true
Sadly, it won’t cost Bell his job. Tinker is wired into the FO, so he’ll stay even if we don’t advance.
Walked Suarez – thank you
If this game was at GABP Shogo would have just had his first homerun. That was smoked.
Can of corn. There are no ifs.
Omg….that would’ve been #1 at gabp. I thought he atleast tied the game there
This trip? We may get buried. SD won’t lose more then 1 and Milw is already gone….just some of you don’t know it yet.
Peralta, Burnes, Woodruff 1-2-3 in lowest ops allowed
All at max IP for careers already. At least Peralta and Woodruff. The wheels could very much fall off their rotation.
Poor Aki. That might be as far as he’s hit a ball this year. He tries hard. Can’t fault that.
I actually thought Shogo got that one. Maybe at GABP
I’ve gone ahead and deleted some comments in this thread. But I’m going to respond to you here so you can see it: Keep the political talk off the site. Only warning.
Yup…even though it had a tie to baseball…I overstepped….apologies.
I was on this site in May repeatedly saying the Reds needed a lefty bullpen arm and trade for it now. Many saw the false oasis in the desert with delusional eyes that the bullpen was ok. Garrett wanted to fight everyone when he failed, and taunt the few times he succeeded, Doolittle wasn’t a good pitcher, Cionel Perez and Josh Osich weren’t credible MLB pitchers.
What lefty pitcher is David Bell supposed to bring in?
Every MLB team needs at least 2 solid lefty bullpen arms. The reds have had zero all year long. Ive been a Bell critic but he deserves 2 legitimate lefty bullpen arms and Castellini and Krall didnt do anything. Givens does well against lefties as a righty but Garrett is embarrassing and his antics make it hard to support him or view him as anything other than his past failed contemporaries of Robert Stephenson, Cody Reed, and Sal Ramano
Sam LeCure was a righty thats good against lefties. IDK the splits on our guys, but you have to go with the best pitcher. Bell fails to do that time after time. RRR batting 4-5-6 and Bell goes with HH over Cessa?
At least Cessa gets to throw more than one pitch
Pretty sad when Akiyama best hit is a warning track fly ball in Atlanta?
Bullpen bout to out game on ice – doing what they do …
Do we still get Moose to lead off?
Now its leading off I would go with Winker
You called it
Nice job Cessa ! Way to get out of it ! let’s go – get some runs here !
Luke Cessa cleans up his own mistakes. Depending on how long TJ needs to rehab we will be seeing the last of HH or AG. Or another Sholder impingement
Nice recovery by Cessa! He’s not great, but he’s a professional!
Bell ends up using him for 4 outs, but can’t let him put up a zero last inning?
Then we’d have Lorenzen and Givens in a tie game. I’d like our chances, but instead Bell inserts HH and AG in the game to give it away.
2 hits, this team seams to not hit in Atlanta.
They need to imagine they are playing the Braves teams from the 70’s and 80’s!
Bell uses Wilson and Sims last night in a meaningless spot and brings in Hembree and Garrett in a tight game. The clueless wonder.
I forgot about Wilson. He’s infinitely more reliable then AG
Wilson came to us with a 7.50 ERA, we have to figure out what we have with him. Sims just got off the injured list and we had too see what we have. Not blaming his use last night
I didn’t see Sims because I took a Clete.
Hit-n-run here! Lets go!! Lets get this one!!
I’ve gone ahead and deleted some comments in this thread. But I’ll tell you what I told VaRedsFan….. keep the political stuff off the site. Only warning.
Your site, your call, Doug. I’ll respect that.
I was just talking about honoring Hank Aaron in Atlanta….thats all.
I mean you literally started it off with “I try to stay away from politics” because you knew exactly what the discussion would bring.
But I get it. No problem
That had to hurt.
Over managing. Naquin running for Winker is likely a prelude to double switch with Akiyama. However, unless Winker is injured leaving him in on a switch is a better alternative. Naquin went Dietrich weeks ago.
Naquin running for Winker is because Winker was hobbling badly after the HBP.
And if the Reds catch up, it’s Moose and Miley
Zone seems to be much varied from earlier in the game … again.
Yeah Naquin got back there.
Not sure what play the 1B ump saw. Glad Bell challenged.
and jumping back into a conversation that was taking place a few weeks ago about the use of the review, it is calls like that that make me glad we have the review.
Need a Big Knock from Cerano, er, Castellanos!
I say forget you Jobu! I’ll do it myself.
C’mon Joey! Do it!
A little tomahawk action there …
Joey, Joey, Joey!!!
We need you now JDV! Like a baby needs a mother!
Like Dennis needs his AED unit in games like this … 🙂
I’m usually preserving older rules but umpires are just wrong too much so many times and so confident despite their wrongness
Naquin was easily safe yet umpire definitive out.
I’m for robo umps. Pains me to say it but these umps are just wrong too often and unapologetically so.
The utter lack of accountability is what gets me, especially with the Flex-O-Zone garbage.
Terrible call. I could see it from New York he was safe.
I can’t believe that the offense explodes with Moose’ return and then stalls out with Suarez’s appearances as being a coincidence.
Geno can be the new Farmer.
Pirates really bad. Other teams .500 or better not so bad
Doesn’t that necessitate the playing of Moose/Winker against a good team (regardless of pitcher) over Suarez?!
Dang. That was a great pitch that Joey couldnt do anything with. It’s amazing what happens when you throw strikes.
Stink.Fish.Pot!!!
All done in Louisville. 3-5 for Senzel and some RBIs. He cant be long now.
Don’t know how many fielding chances he had, but no errors were recorded.
yea reading the game log now.
only mentioned twice…. both times “player singles to Nick Senzel”. Dont know what that means besides the obvious
Doolittle??? Really???
Darn it. As bad as the bullpen has been/is, you also usually can’t win when you only get three hits! These guys need to get on the stick.
+100
Agreed. Regardless of the bullpen, 3 hits won’t win many games.
More faith in Doolittle than AG at this point, especially with a clean inning to start.
Doolittle throwing strikes! I like it. If they’d just give fall off the dock Finnegan a new teammate at Lville named Amir Garrett then everything would start to make sense.
Send HH packing too. Walks and HRs do not a good reliever make
Neither one of them ends up in L’ville. No options so they get DFA’d. We pay the freight whether somebody picks them up or not.
They are not facing the Pirates pitching and boy does it show, oh well, looks like 61-53. They can not let the whole season slip away this week. The offense has picked an awful time to go south.
They could easily be 7.5 behind SD after Sunday. They better amp it up and try to keep Bell out of it
Great job Farmer
Are we really going to see Geno here? I know the lefty-righty magic … but I could look at a called strike. And Moose is on deck now anyway.
He finally lays off one and it’s a blown call
Geno takes another walk??? Color me surprised and happy. Better not celebrate too much or he’ll get suspended.
Now we’re cooking. Double by Farmer. Walk by Geno. Only one out. Moose in as PH. NOW IS THE TIME
He’s walked twice…. somewhere is freezing over as we speak
I cant’ believe they walked Suarez tonight TWICE – Thank YOU
Those pitchers ought to be fined. lol
Fudgesicles. Not an impressive performance tonight. At all. And all around. Very disappointed.
K would have been a better result. Frustrating. Goes to show how much our hopes have risen to have a gut wrenching game like this one.
Tomorrow is another day, Scarlett!
Has Lorenzen forgotten how to hit this season?
Hittable 0-2 pitch too((( 4.5 back after SD rolls. We’re going to be 7.5 8.5 out by Sunday night if they don’t amp it up
Another Bell screw up imo. Uses Cessa 1.1 after the game was untied while letting the inferior pitcher blow the game. So he loses twice
I couldn’t agree with you more, Indy Red Man, ANOTHER Bell blunder…
But we also did not hit the ball and score runs when we had chances, either. Three hits a game will not win many. Can’t fault Bell for that.
Excuse me. Four hits. Same point.
Well it seems the Rumors about Moose v LHP have been confirmed…. oh so close. Well as we reach the next chapter in the DFA healthathon, I can safely say that Doolittle will dodge the bullet again. Wonder how many more games senzel will be in the minors for.
Not sure I get the Moose pinch hit there. Saw that DP a mile away.
Moose, Barnhart, Lorenzen or Miley … those are your choices with Lorenzen the only righty … their there closer is just flat nasty
I mean I stay Akiyama and let Lorenzon take the next at bat.
Backwards bullpen management as it’s finest contributed mightily
No Hit No Win
Not going to dump on Bell or any individual but benching one of your two all stars and your other major FA acquisitions bc of the hand of the pitcher seems pedantic. Especially when you are subbing one of those guys with literally the worst everyday player in MLB.
Your best players play everyday. Stop playing matchup games!!!!
+1
Pregame
Shogo vs LHP .333/.5oo/.389
Votto vs LHP .2o8/.283/.344
Winker .172/.287/.253
Aquino .256./.37o./.581
Moustakas .111/.292/.167
Barnhart .256/.286/.385
Stephenson .313/.37o/.518
Look at these stats and tell me WHY Moose pinch hits for Shogo vs the lefty? .111 vs .333. Is Bell nuts? And then who pinch hits for the pitcher? Has to be either Barnhart or Lorenzen. And who goes into the outfield if we tie it up? Lorenzen will be needed to pitch.
that kind of high leverage elite junkerballer you’re just hoping … that might be one time Bell actually thought about the kind of crap he’d have to listen to if he didn’t give Moose a shot there lol … Shogo probably profusely honored Bell’s ancestors for relieving him of the pressure right there lol
They are in desperate need of a right handed bench bat when Aquino starts. Senzel needs to come back. Not sure why Lorenzon wasn’t thought about. Putting Hunter Greene on the big league team also gives you another right handed bat if desperate.
Lorenzen hasn’t taken an AB this season .. with the hamstring thing i don’t think they want him even to bat for himself as a reliever yet
He hit the first game he came back.
And blew up the hamstring .. the site i was looking for stats didn’t flip to any hitting stats for him … he played in the field and subbed in for the ghost runner i remember
I actually agree with that considering his last injury. As bad as our bullpen has been this year that’s where his greatest value lies. We can’t afford to lose him. In my mind Suarez should be the right handed power bat off the bench. His value lies in the fact, although he’s a pretty bad hitter, he is able to get in to one every now and then. He has that potential. I don’t agree with him as a starter any longer for at least this year. We do need Senzel as a supersub. He would help.
found it struck out in 1 AB with 1 run scored 7/17 then IL
I mean you can still hit him, then take him out for a runner if he were to get on. The game was on the line. It was the put up or shut up moment. Personally I would have hit Akiyama who’s hitting leftys better than rightys so far this year. Then pinched hit Lorenzon for the pitchers spot.
I like Lorenzen hitting. i’m just kind of paranoid because of our pen situation. I understand what you mean.
Exploding out of the box and digging to beat a close play at first is where you pop those hamstrings and mine is aching just typing that
Winker and Moose didnt start and the reds offense was SHUT DOWN
Who actually hits lefties and help the Reds win against lefties?
Reds need accountability and stop pitching guys who cant pitch and stop hitting guys who cant hit
It starts with Suarez, Hembree, Garrett, and Aquino.
Yes, as concerning as the bullpen is, I worry about the futility of the Reds’ bats in general against LHP. It has been a theme all year, and not one talked about as much as some of the other issues this team has. Other teams know the situation and play off that. We just don’t have enough good RH batters who can scare pitchers.
Aquino got the HR and drove in both runs, Saurez on base 2 BB
the bench was L Naquin, L Barnhart, L Moose and L Winker … and the pitchers
Yes, but all together … four hits, two runs. That won’t work most days. When we face LHP, that seems about all we can muster, if that. And I’m glad Geno got the two BBs, but he’s not scaring anybody these days.
Not Aquino…Akiyama
Sometimes it’s fun to imagine how guys like Bell would manage the 1975 Reds. Morgan sits against lefties, Rose gets a day off every couple weeks, Borbon and McEnaney never pitch on consecutive days…
Hilarious 🙂 I remember Morgan talking one time about how there was a really tough lefty he had a very hard time hitting. He said you would think if I needed a day off it would be against him and he told Sparky that. He said Sparky told him, “That’s when I need ya most”. He played.
Aquino hits his homer, the. gives you three wasteful ABS. Guys on this team just throw away AB after AB. It makes me sick to watch a team down one run in the ninth chasing wild pitches and swinging at them. These hitters have no plate discipline and zero baseball IQ’s. Farmer another clutch hit, goes for naught. This team just will never understand the word urgency.
Some of their swings against Smyly were so downright embarrassing and ugly I had to quit watching. The Reds constantly took strikes and swung weakly at balls! Sheesh!
that’s offspeed garbage workin’ for ya … on the Bill Cosby ‘Sports’ album he’s getting eelated & giddy in anticipation all watching the junkballer warming up ‘do you see e that gar-bage’ and the old grizzled vet asks him if he ever wanted to eat garbage and Bill say what, no and vet says well then you ain’t gonna hit it
https://www.mlb.com/news/why-left-handed-pitching-matters-in-baseball