After splitting the first two games of the series the winner of Sunday’s match up will take the 3-game series. Cincinnati will send Graham Ashcraft to the mound as goes for his 6th win for the Reds this season. Corbin Burnes will be taking the ball for the Milwaukee Brewers to try and pick up his 9th win of the year. First pitch is set for 2:10pm.
Starting Lineups
Here are the lineups for this afternoon’s contest:
Cincinnati Reds
|
Milwaukee Brewers
|
| Jake Fraley – LF | Christian Yelich – LF |
| Donovan Solano – 2B | Willy Adames – SS |
| Mike Moustakas – 1B | Rowdy Tellez – 1B |
| Joey Votto – DH | Hunter Renfroe – RF |
| Kyle Farmer – 3B | Kolten Wong – 2B |
| Nick Senzel – CF | Keston Hiura – DH |
| Albert Almora Jr. – RF | Luis Urias – 3B |
| Jose Barrero – SS | Victor Caratini – C |
| Michael Papierski – C | Tyrone Taylor – CF |
| Graham Ashcraft – SP | Corbin Burnes – SP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Graham Ashcraft | 74.1 | 4.12 | 1.33 | 17 | 49 |
| Corbin Burnes | 130.0 | 2.49 | 0.95 | 36 | 166 |
| Links: Graham Ashcraft’s Stats | Corbin Burnes’s Stats |
|||||
Graham Ashcraft
Opposing managers should have the readily available splits data on Graham Ashcraft, but they certainly don’t seem to be paying any attention to it as they’ve tried sending as many lefties to the plate as they can against Ashcraft despite the fact that they haven’t been able to hit him at all this season. Right-handed hitters, though, are hitting like MVP caliber players against him this season so far.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 165 | 52 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 25 | .336 | .370 | .523 |
| LHH | 159 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 24 | .206 | .264 | .247 |
Pitch Usage
| 2-Seam | Cutter | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 96.9 | 97.4 | 85.7 | 90.0 |
| Usage | 19.2% | 50.7% | 29.3% | 0.8% |
Corbin Burnes
One of the best pitchers in baseball, the reigning Cy Young Award winner has a 2.40 ERA over the last three seasons and is showing no signs of slowing down. As you would imagine with a pitcher who has the kinds of numbers that Corbin Burnes does, the splits tell a story where he dominates everyone. Right-handed hitters have shown some more power against him this season, but they are still slugging just .358 on the year when he’s on the mound.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 265 | 47 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 16 | 85 | .193 | .257 | .358 |
| LHH | 249 | 40 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 20 | 81 | .178 | .257 | .298 |
Pitch Usage
| 2-Seam | Cutter | Slider | Change | Curve | |
| Velo | 96.2 | 94.9 | 87.8 | 90.2 | 81.9 |
| Usage | 7.6% | 55.5% | 9.7% | 8.7% | 18.5% |
When and Where
- Game time: 2:10pm ET
- Where: American Family Field
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: They play in a dome.
News and Notes
Justin Dunn to start on Monday
Update: Justin Dunn will start Monday in New York. Mike Minor will pitch Tuesday.
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) August 7, 2022
Jose Barrero makes a trade
Jose Barrero traded a signed bat to this young Brewers fan, Charlie, in exchange for Jose's first career HR ball. ? pic.twitter.com/64h7MXjA7P
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 7, 2022
Moose playing 1B and batting third again. smh I’d be very happy for him to prove me wrong.
Probably beyond anyone taking a flyer on him at waivers. Maybe the Reds are hoping he does enough between now and the end of the season somebody might go 50cents/ dollar on the $22M (2023 salary plus 2024 option buyout) that will still be sunken on him in the off season???
I think Moose has looked credible as a 1B recently. The question is can he still hit half a lick and stay on the field? It would be great if he showed up at Reds Fest (assuming he is still with them) looking as chiseled as Senzel.
Jim with alot of players that have to be on the 40 man roster at the end of the season, I wonder if they release Moose after the season . His spot could be used to protect somebody.
Interesting proposition
@JB> I think the Reds will try to get somebody to take some portion of Moose’s contract before just eating the whole thing. Does that include taking him past the Rule 5 roster date and on into spring training if necessary? We will have to wait and see.
We must have a new Manager. Fraley followed by Solano is very un Bell-like.
Not to mention Barrero didn’t get benched for hitting two HR’s yesterday.
Usually Bell is pretty good at ‘rewarding’ guys for big games by making them sit on the bench in the following game.
LIngering Dustyism.
Pretty clear that there has been instruction to play Barrero everyday at SS.
Agreed. I don’t think playing Barrero every day at SS is Bell’s choice, considering how highly he holds Farmer. But there are few managers these days who don’t have to take strategic input from the front office.
Yeah. but Aquino had something akin to a baseball Gordie Howe hat trick Saturday; and, he is sitting. 😉
@Tom, Also quite possibly not Bell’s choice that the “budding” outfield career of Reynolds appears to have been nipped in favor of some combo of AA and Fraley.
@Jim – Yep about Aquino
I like Kyle Farmer and he has been a pleasant surprise on the upside for me however I doubt that he is going to part of the future at ss or 3b in 2024 or 2025. Might as well find out what Jose looks like with the stick and glove.
Yep, 3M with glove and batting 3rd ahead of Joey. That’s the way to protect an aging vet. Also fodder for a triple play 😀
With Moose as a table-setter, Joey has to homer or triple to bring him home.
I’ve never seen a ground rule triple; so, I’d say it would take a HR to push Moose all the way around from 1B 😉
OK, RLN friends, I’ve decided today is one of those days where I will refrain from making snide comments about our starting first baseman. I will compliment him if he does something worthy, but no shots if he fails to perform as we’d all wish.
It’s about time to Kick some Bernie Piggies! Tall order given Burnes is on the mound. But as Sam LeCure said in the pregame, he’s come back down to earth a bit lately.
You kick brats today, Mark.
Good point … and beer-infused brats at that.
I don’t think anyone should mistake Votto for his prime but he has some of the highest OBP, slugging and OPS numbers on the team. Which means that he is both not the main issue and that he has absolutely no protection in the lineup. He’s had a journeyman SS hitting behind him most of the year.
The journeyman is one of the better hitters in the game against LHP. He also, I believe, has an excellent average with RISP. My recollection is that there’s no proof that a hitter protecting the guy in front of him is really a thing. Makes sense, certainly, but I’d guess that pitchers generally are trying to get guys out regardless of who’s up next.
I went to multiple games last year but 2 Sunday games were Alcantara v Vlad and the other Burnes v Gray.
Alcantara was under the radar then but I left that game going who is this guy? Burnes was just shutdown nasty, move on the next game.
Reds get both again in the same week. Ouch.
That’s a pretty tall order. And likely we see Burnes again in an upcoming series given there are 7 remaining games against them after today.
On paper, the line up is a mismatch. But game is not won on paper. Go Reds. Let’s go get the series.
Seven more Bernie games this year? 😮
What’s the over/under on Angel blowing a call today? He’s at 3B so the strike zone is safe-ish.
I’m guessing 3 check swings.
Farmer great defensive play at 3b in the hole. Shift going away next year, but it never made sense playing Suarez or Moose at 3b if so much of the time they are playing SS as part of the shift with the true SS moving to rover in short RF.
Barrero looked like Zach Cozart on that routine grounder. Just a routine flip to first.
Left side of the infield defense much better.
Man, Jose Berrero is ripped. And what an athlete. Needs confidence and refinement and he could be a monster. I hope he proves all the haters & those that wanted to give up on him wrong. What an asset he could be next year.
100%. Lots have written him off. Wrist injuries take time.
Exactly. If he gets back to hitting he will be fine.
2 nice plays by the Farm Dawg already today. Good to see that.
I thought Barrero’s 1st HR ended up in the bullpen. Wondering how the kid got it.
Glad the kid gave it up for some gear.
Brewers bullpen crew threw the kid the ball before they could retrieve it?
If that’s the case, that’s beyond bush league. The kid’s parents at least took the opportunity to teach him a valuable lesson.
Farmer with two great plays in the bottom of the first
Farmer running catch down LF line. No way Moose or Solano or Suarez makes that play. With the rebuild coming, its time to prioritize defense. Loved Winker and Suarez and Love Joey but the hit tool is/was their calling card…not the glove. Let get back to good defense.
+500,000
I’m completely with you. I’m highly skeptical of the “his bat plays or doesn’t play” stuff. Yes, we need to hit and score. But solid defense, especially when the shift-o-rama ride comes to a screeching halt will be very important. Loved how ELDC had it covered both ways last night.
That’s some tough luck right there for JV. If Urias makes a little contact with the ball, Joey is on 1st. Nice throw by Wong. Figure that jump throw is a 50/50 most of the time.
Has the injury bug got Senzel again?
So an inside pitch that clips him is “the bug”? Just like his vertigo was a “bug” or his contracting COVID was a “bug”?
I get it when people talk about him injuring himself on a diving defensive play. But that’s not the majority of his injuries by a long shot.
I didn’t mean it like it was his fault. Maybe “bug” wasn’t the correct word. Injuries just seem to find him. Will be surprised if he plays the full game and/or off the next game.
Gotcha, Melvin. And that was his throwing arm as well. If it did hit the “funny bone” like the WLW booth said, that can have some ugly impacts.
No, that belongs to Stephenson this year. Dude can’t stay healthy.
Man, that had to hurt.
I felt it sitting in my chair 😮
OK, Jose. Time to put on the big-boy pants and face a really tough SP.
Yeah … anybody else see that coming? Tough act to follow yesterday’s performance against one of the best.
Oh I knew…. fooled on the slider and early on the change up. At least we are running burns pitch count up
Clearly overmatched.
If you’re a MLB pitching coach you tell your pitchers “if you throw ANYTHING to Barrero or Aquino other than slider/cutter low and away I will come to the mound, take the ball, and have you DFA’d on the spot”
+5,000
😀
Hilarious comment…
Three straight down and away to Barrero
Shocking.
Not every pitcher he faces will have the skill to hit that location, and mistakes will be made
Very true. Barrero still has to adjust to the big league pitching. We saw last night he can hit well when he gets something straight from a lefty. He has to learn to lay off close outside pitches.
Agreed but let’s give him more than 12 at bats.
Unfortunately though there are a lot of MLB pitchers that are good enough to live out there
That pitch is a huge hole in his swing right now. Suarez is/was the same way. That long, looping swing; when he gets the bat head out in front, he can hit it a very long way. It’s almost impossible to do so when it’s 93 on the black down and away however
@JB absolutely. As a reds fan absolutely hope he figures it out.
Some ppl do, some ppl don’t
I think everyone here hopes he and every other Reds player figures out a way to be all that he can be. 🙂 I certainly do, because his defense certainly plays from what I have seen.
Some good banter with Sheldon about how they will need to construct the 40-man with all the trades they made. As somebody else noted, they will need to get creative.
Jose Acuna, the 19 yo obtained in the Naquin trade has now thrown 9 shutdown innings with 10K’S in 2 appearances as low A Daytona.
That kind of action tends to play in both pitcher and hitter friendly parks/leagues
You know Aquino defense and arm is phenomenal. I think I could be okay with 200 ba, and over 100 strikeouts. LOL
Congrats to Barrero on a 2 homer game. Hopefully a sign of things to come.
Also why not promote Cruz to triple A.
Maybe you give him through August to continue adjusting to AA ball and then let him go to L’ville to play a full month there in September? He may be a candidate to fast-track.
I was thinking same thing. Dude is energetic and flashy. Sounds like defense needs work though.
In the ~3 weeks between when Aquino was recalled in May and injured in June his AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS slash was .283/.298/.500/.798 which was a 115 OPS+ in ~50PAs. His K rate was under 40%.
If he can do that over time, he is a keeper for some team, adding in his defense and base running.
Someone has suggested here or elsewhere given where the Reds are in their rebuild, that team might not be the Reds. This may be accurate but hopefully, they at least get some return for him.
I have come to realize that with players like AA the talent is there. Putting everything together seems to be a struggle at times. Like with Barrero he needs time to play and not sit. Same with Senzel and his health. I would even throw in Stepheson and his health. I am just saying, and or realizing lets see what happens in next few months into next season with some of these players. I still think 2023 could be interesting.
Siri wasn’t much different and he just got traded because he showed some value for the Astros.
If nothing else, Reds have driven up Burnes pitch count to over 60 in 3 innings. Not having hader looming as an option has to give teams a boost in games like this.
+1,000
Cookie
Adames won’t miss that.
Don’t make the first or third out at third base.
Again, Senzel not showing wisdom. That could have been a big run.
3rd out at 3rd, but it took a perfect throw by Adames to nail him.
Exactly. I like the hustle and it’s not like anybody else is doing anything to knock him in. The Reds are 100 games under 500. Take a chance.
Exactly my point. Haven’t chased Burns yet. And there are how many ways to score from 3rd that would have been in play?
Literally busted out laughing @100 games under 500. Good stuff
Nice hit Nick, but no need to try that with 2 outs.
What’s the old saying? Don’t make the first or third out at 3B.
Senzel must have seen the De La Cruz video.
Senzel> Hustle or TOOTBLAN? The “book” says never make the 1s or 3rd out of an inning at 3B. Fellow Tennessean Davey Crocket might have advised NS, always be sure you are safe, then go ahead.
Is that the same book that Bell coaches by? Because nobody goes by that book anymore.
I think not making the 3rd out at 3B (unless it is a force out) is a good axiom. LaSorda liked to talk about the 12 or 13 ways to score from 3B w/o a hit being made; but, if you get thrown out trying to get there for the 3rd out, the inning is over before any of them have a chance to happen.
Jim you would have a hard time watching the Padres. Those guys throw the book out the window and play aggressively. People on here don’t want station to station or boring baseball and when a guy takes a chance, and gets thrown out on a perfect throw, they question it. If he makes it the guy is congratulated on a aggressive play. By him getting thrown out it might cost the Reds 4th place.
Hustle is good and commendable. However if he’s on second he SHOULD take off on contact with two outs and most likely score easily.
Jose Barrero with a cannon to complete that botched stolen base.
This game is dragging … I try to avoid afternoon naps, but one may overtake me anyway.
Tell me about it and it’s only the 5th. Thinking about going to get a pizza. What’s on the grill tonight?
We did burgers on the flat top last night, so nothing fresh tonight. I do have a couple of nice T-bones in the fridge that will probably see some charcoal action tomorrow, though.
I stink at grilling steaks, do you put a rub or anything on them?
I did not see Papierski’s homer coming. 🙂
Who did? Just a bleeder over the corner of the wall.
Baseball is a funny game.
Wow I did not think Pap had the power.
papierski is unstoppable.
Raise your hand if you had that one.
Unless I fell into a nap and am dreaming?
Wow lol
+1,000
Pap homers, its official, somewhere very hot is freezing over
Not on this side of town. But I’m told we may have a cold front coming through later this week. Highs only in the mid-80’s 😮
yea, actually its relitivly cool here too….. no longer sweating by just being outside
Definitely being reminded of seasonal changes here. Noticed this week looking out northside windows, it seemed shady at 9AM EDT when sky was blue and full of sunshine. On the other end of the day 9PM seemed full twilight.
I don’t have a issue with Senzel hustling and going for a triple in last inning. It was a perfect throw and relay. Reds don’t bunt or hit and run anymore or steal much. Baseball isn’t traditional in alot of ways anymore so to me not a big deal making last out at 3rd.
+1,000
Without context, sort of an in between situation with Senzel out at 3B perhaps.
However, the fuller context is that was I believe Senzel’s 8th running out of the season. He has been picked off multiple times and caught trying to stretch hits multiple times.
He doesn’t seem to understand the speed of game play and opposition skill levels versus his own speed and base running skills.
Raise a toast to all of us who had pap homering. I dont know sounds good lol
I believe that makes us a “dry town” since NOBODY saw that coming. Especially not Burnes.
I honestly though Pap was in Akiyama territory. I didn’t think he could get it to the wall.
+250
Hopefully someone had a bet on that at a casino. The odds would have been off the charts.
+250 and a Lucky Buckeye
Come on Mark.
Say something good about Moose on that play.
I did, though I still used the 3M moniker 😀
Nice focus by 3M there. And Ashcraft did exactly what he should have done to close it out.
I’m seeing some good old-fashioned “grit” by our guys today. Ashcraft has a chance to go 6 if he can get a quick out here.
Like that 😀
One thing that is happening very gradually is the defensive improvement. Barrero looks like the real thing on defense, and you have two borderline elite defensive outfielders in Almora and Aquino. Farmer is also deceptively good on defense, just lacking range IMO to be a full-time shortstop on a good team.
You right Tom and we often over look defense and look at offense only.Speed range and arm strength matter and you can’t teach that or at least thats my opinion. I do believe a player can improve as a hitter if he hasn’t reached a ceiling in age or at bats.Again just my opinion.
Raise your hand if you had Graham Ashcraft as the Reds best starting pitcher( and a good one) on the roster August 7th?
Nope, nope, nopity-nope-nope 😮
Negative. 🙂
Thrall giving Jose Acuna’s stats for the day … WOW 😮
Don’t know if Ashcraft has the ability to be a #1 like Greene or Lodolo, but he’s already proven to be a solid mid-rotation starter. I’ve been thinking about who I would try to buy out of their arbitration years and he might be the one I would lean toward just because the other two have dealt with injuries more often. Although the Cueto/Bailey debate might say otherwise.
I think that’s a core strategy they need to use moving forward, as soon as they identify someone who will be a keeper. I would think you’d need at least a year or two in the bigs to make an educated decision on that.
Oh yeah. Agree. That’s why this year and next are so important for the younger players and why the Reds should be doing what they are now for Barrero and the starters for some other position players.
I tend to agree. We need a solid #3 who can perform. Ashcraft might just be that guy.
I would with Ashcraft. Nice hook and great velocity and movement on fastball. Guy is a horse.
Starting pitching has kept us close for the most part all year but its going to be very hard now down 3 starters.Offense hasn’t done much all year so its time they step up.The guy in Miami and Burnes are tough and real tough but we don’t face guys like these every night so lets go offense.Old guys and young guys answer the call like Pap just did
Burnes hit 99 pitches on the strikeout of Votto. With the Brewers’ bullpen in a bit of disarray at the moment without Hader, I’m going to guess that Burnes will be back for at least one more inning.
If he does, I think it’s to our benefit.
Is that it for Burnes today? Counsel has to be thinking about the rest of August and September. He needs Burnes healthy and rested. We did wear him down a bit today. That’s at least a small victory.
Before everyone hyper focuses on Barrero, take a dose of reality. Burnes is really elite. Barrero has had the first consecutive 15 MLB at bats in his career. 1/3 of those at bats are against Cy Young- Alcantara and Burnes .
Fraley, Solano,Moose, Votto, Farmer are overmatched
Those 5 are 0-14 with 7 K’s.
Reds had 3 hits against Alcantara and 1 run.
+10,000 for the perspective.
Cardinals up on Yanks and the chance to sweep Yanks. I think Yanks will regret not giving up their top prospects for Castillo.
That’s the kind of thing that makes me laugh
Or trading their proven starter who beat them Friday for Harrison Bader.
I struggle with Yanks v Cards.
Counting on back half of line up and pitching to win this game. Go Reds
Why not lets go.
Great point about who the Reds have faced.
Ash battled and leaves with a tie game, though he’s on the hook for the current baserunner. Given all the factors in play, I’d call it a good game from him.
Nice job, Buck.
Farmer hasnt pitched bad of late. Bullpen Era is misleading. One bad game or two and it balloons.
I’m going to give DJ credit. Hes pushed Ashcraft, Greene ,and Lodolo. Yes, Greene has shoulder fatigue, but thats part of august for young pitcher with no innings mileage and these guys are being pushed to develop and they are taking some steps forward and taking the ball every 5th day and getting to 100 pitches.
+500
Got Burnes out of the game with score tiedZ. Could not have asked for more
Kuhnel instead of running Farmer out there again. See, that’s why we all get puzzled at DTBell’s choices with his limited resources.
Equal opportunity, everyone gets to pitch 🙂
Crappy trophies and a juice box for everybody!! 😀
Look like Bell knows what he’s doing right? Emptying bullpen for Sunday game
Now, if Sanmartin doesn’t start the next inning, then something is HORRIBLY wrong.
amiright?
I think Bell might go with Diaz for 8th
So now we get the formerly ineffective Friars’ closer …
Don’t forget ice cream at Jerry’s before we get on the plane.Bell just loves this match up stuff and why not.We ain’t playing for anything so lets just watch and see if we can find the one guy that ain’t got it today
Robbed just a little bit there. Bit of a reversal from his earlier zone.
That never caught plate at anytime.
Terrible strike 3 call. Even Welsh said how do umps fall for Caratini framing?
Cowboy just plain called it a ball.
Hit a HR here AA and I’ll treat you to spotty cow and cheese curs
😀
I guess AA saves me some money
Aquino with a mammoth upper deck foul ball. Man if he could just figure it out.
This just in.
Solano can hit.
I really hope they bring him back next year. He’s ideal in a DH and pinch-hitter vs. lefties role.
I agree Tom. I havent seen enough defensively to know his role, but with the DH for a guy who gives you a professional at bat and Reds have money to give 1 year deals….there’s a role for sure.
I agree for sure.Reds gave him 4.5 mil which I assume was the best offer he got and wonder if he would sign again.
Renfroe totally misplayed that. It carried for-EVER. That’s a big run.
Somehow we knew 3M would Strand Solano.
On a positive note … he didn’t whiff.
Let’s leave it to professional hitter Solano
I’m stunned no one traded for him. Much to the Reds’ benefit for sure.
Oh yeah
Diaz to pitch 8th?
So why not Sanmartin for the 8th and then Diaz in the 9th?
You need to go sit down. There is no room for common sense here.
That’s not who Bell is. He set his bullpen and he sticks to it. Bell does not manage based on feel, rather based on habit
I like it JB.Common sense is something well as you said.
Sorry @JB … my bad. I knew the answer before I posted. I’ll flog myself appropriately later.
Because the heart of the Brewer’s order is due up in the 8th. Diaz has the best chance of shutting them down.
He’s already pitched 3 days in a row might as well blow his arm out in a meaningless season smh
It makes me sad that my excitement for Solano’s go ahead double is immediately met with dread when I realize it means Hunter Strickland is likely going to pitch now 🙁
It actually is time for Hunter to pitch well cause the odds are with him if you believe in odds.Diaz I guess draws 2,3,4 so lets hope he gets em and then we add on a bunch in the 9th.
Diaz going against 2, 3, and 4 is the rationale, I guess. But we know Strickland against 5, 6, and 7, or anybody for that matter, is the same thing.
We got a runner
Delay of game … idiot on the field. Thrall and Cowboy are saying the fine for going on the field here may be as high at $10K.
Okay…..if Bell puts in H Strickland in the 9th to try to save this game, chances are great, that he will blow the save!
If they give up the runs in the 8th, they’re still likely to lose. The Brewers wanted to use Hader in the highest leverage situations instead of traditional closer, but he didn’t want to. Saves are money at contract time. Why wouldn’t you want your best pitcher facing their best hitters?
It always bothered me when you lose while you best watches.No problem with Diaz in the 8th but going forward with Hoffman coming back and maybe some others I still would like to see Diaz in the closer’s role for the rest of the season.I heard that about Hader but they had Williams for the 8th so they made it work.Iggy wanted nothing to do with anything other then the 9th
Blown! Now can we fired David Bell and get someone better! Why are other managers fired with better records than DBell while we have to suffer??
That is some NASTY stuff coming out of Diaz’s hand.
With some of the talk with the trades now, some are talking about who the Reds should lock up, if any, I will state this. . .
First, you need to determine where everyone will play. What do I mean? So many SS; not everyone can play SS. So, you need to determine where will you put the players defensively. I would start with that.
Then, maybe at the same time, who do you have that you would like to lock up, and would they possibly play different position, also?
For example, only as an example, not saying to do this specific action at all, Brandon Drury being a FA, we could easily bring him and lock him up, if we wished. What positions do the prospects fill out when we move them? Does Brandon fill out one of the empty positions? If he doesn’t, can he move to a different position? If he can, I would lock him up long term. If not, I would only lock him up to the point in time that the prospect should be up here.
Especially, I don’t see, and don’t believe we ever will, lock anyone with a contract like Votto’s or Junior’s ever again. Nor, do I believe we should do that right now. We need to make sure where all of these prospects are going to land first with the big club.
He’s had 1 good year. The Reds will not win next year with or without him. He’ll soon be over 30 if not already. He probably doesn’t want to come back here. How many more reasons for him to not come here?
Like I specified, only as an example. I specified that I wouldn’t necessarily do it.
Why did Bell take one of our relievers out again after 3 pitches? If you want to talk matchups, 2 of the first 4 batters in the next innings were left handers. So, having a lefty or righty out there shouldn’t make that much of a difference.
He did it basically twice … but I was told not to question DTBell and his wisdom 😀
Bell just scripts most all he does or it appears he does Steve.He believes in what he does so much that I feel he just loses touch with what he is seeing on the field.My opinion which means nothing.
Bell has access to detailed information about the hitters and which pitches they hit best. All managers do. Might have something to do with it.
Having the information is meaningless if you don’t use it well.
I mean, twice this year, I’ve noticed where he’s used up 3 players twice on the same play that he definitely didn’t need to do. Both times, he put our team in a position later in the game where he had a matchup he wanted to entirely 100% avoid.
With the relievers, with the detailed information he has on the other team, who in their right mind would choose to, after you just had a reliever have a clean inning, take them out of the game after 1 inning, to take another reliever from the worst bullpen in the league?! I mean, the odds would be much greater than the reliever you had out there would have another clean inning rather than taking another reliever from the worst pen in the league. I would think any moron would see with as bad as our pen is, you don’t have the luxury of using things like detailed information on the other teams. That’s like having a closer but you can never get the team to the point in the game where the closer is suppose to do his job, close the game/get the save.
In this respect, he’s only lucky this year that our longest game, 12 innings, was one where Mahle threw 9 innings. If Mahle gets pulled after 5-6 innings, Bell could very well use up every guy in the pen when the game isn’t even over yet, either making a reliever having to throw more innings than they should, and/or making relievers not available for the next game.
An elementary schooler can have a Calculus book. If they don’t understand what it’s trying to show the reader to do, what’s the point in the elementary schooler having the Calculus book?
Diaz pitching the 8th against 2/3/4/5. Very effective .
He is an elite 8th/9th inning guy depending on the situation. Reds need to sign another dominant righty arm and a dominant lefty for ‘23-25. Cant Count on Antone or Sims. They are bonus adds.
I still like Gregory Soto Tigers.
I don’t argue with much David Bell strategy, but the Strickland as closer is one that I will never, ever understand. I hope we don’t go that route in a few minutes.
Agree 10000%
@tom unless somebody hits a 3 run HR or salami in the top of the 9th
Agreed. That and the insistence on hitting Tommy Pham third.
I have to agree, also. I mean, someone else on here talked about “all the detailed information on everyone in the league that all teams have”, what information is there that Strickland is a closer? There is little to none. And this team doesn’t need to be worrying about that anyhow. That’s one reason why Iglesius I was traded, i believe, a closer was simply a luxury this team didn’t need to be paying for at that time.
I just don’t get it. I mean, IF, again IF, we had a good bullpen, I could understand playing the percentages with matchups, etc., and, thus, pulling a reliever after an inning.
But, we don’t have a good bullpen; we don’t have that luxury. So, when we get one of them who is seeming to be working well for a specific game, we need to consider working him another inning, instead of sending out another reliever from the worst pen in the league. THAT matchup would be much better for us than anything else.
I don’t believe I would work any of them over 2 innings, except for the “long man” in a typical “long man” situation. But, more than an inning? I would have no problem with that, especially when our pen is as bad as it is.
Good points.
Come on Nick hit one in the gap.
He did…..that gap between the pitcher and 3B 🙂
Bunt hit. Applause Applause!
I couldn’t believe that. It was a good bunt, also. Someone on the Reds knows how to bunt.
Yeah. We often talk about his mental mistakes but that was very smart.
I thought that was illegal in the collective bargaining agreement negotiated to start the year … 😮
I can confirm what Chris Welsh just said. I live in Wisconsin, and there is NOBODY here who understands or likes the Hader trade.
(except me)
Big, big chance for Barrero here!
Boxberger doesn’t look comfortable in his new home …
Unreal. Ball 4 called a strike
Caught looking when we needed him
Nuts! So close, but a Golden Sombrero nonetheless.
Unreal…you want Barrero to be patient…and then he’s been rung up twice today on balls out of the zone.
no that one did clip the bottom of the zone
Exactly. How is he supposed to learn the zone when umps ring him erroneously?
Then the first pitch to Romine is way out of the zone for a strike and the next pitch is in the zone for a ball. The whole umpire crew stinks.
Stink Fish Pot!!
Watch your language, sir 😉
And here we go…
Now it’s time for the Sunday edition of “Adventures in Closing” starring our own Hunter Strickland.
Hahaha
I realize the Reds don’t have great options, but at some point you have to try anyone other than Strickland in this situation.
Diaz faced heart of the Oder and Strickland gets the bottom 3rd I understand Bell’s thinking but Strickland had to get it done.
yippee
Diaz faced heart of the Oder and Strickland gets the bottom 3rd I understand Bell’s thinking but Strickland had to get it done. That’s terrible.
Yeah Bell just keep throwing Strickland out there over and over and over and over. David Hernandez anyone? Strickland same career path….Reds to couch
Where are the Bell apologists? Don’t slink away now
Who would you use? Diaz but others say use your best pitcher in any situation.
Who else in the bullpen would you use besides Diaz. That is bigger question
Literally try anyone else but Strickland at this point. Or don’t burn Sanmartin for one batter earlier.
ABS – Anyone bu Strickland. It literally is that easy of an answer
I never slink away , Indy. I don’t know why Bell uses Strickland, though I do know that he doesn’t really have the option to not use him at all. Strickland has good stuff and maybe the Reds want to see if he cam straighten himself out in a season where wins are of lesser importance than evaluation. The Reds win again, though, and have been beating better teams. Pretty impressive.
Don’t say anyone but Strickland. Tell us whom you’d use.
@ Indy
Bell lost me when he pulled a Dominant Antone after 8 dominant innings by SP and Antone for 8 pitches winning by 3 and brought in Garrett who blew the game. Hes lived with Garrett and Hembree and Doolittle and even Osich and now Strickland. Bell pitched Hernandez in high leverage spots in 2019 when Hernandez admitted he didnt have it. He also started awful handedness hitters in Scott Heineman and Asdrubal Cabrera and Matt Davidson.
Id fire Bell now and hand over the reigns to Benavides as interim manager but it wont happen.
With the worst bullpen in the league, you should never be pulling a reliever after an inning when they have a clean inning. I don’t care what information the managers have on the opposing players.
That’s like having a Calculus book when you’re trying to learn elementary school math. It doesn’t make a difference if you have the Calculus book; you need to make sure you can do the elementary stuff correct.
If we had the best pen in the league, I would possibly defend every one of Bell’s relieving moves. But, we don’t even have an average pen. We have one of if not the worst in the league. When you get one for a specific game have a clean inning, you put them back out there. Sanmartin should have started the 8th at minimum.
HMMM Surprising.
thanks bell and thanks Krall for not trading or dumping him
Good night, friends. I can’t watch another botched 9th due to the incompetent decisions of our infamous DTBell. I just can’t.
So why announce it ? Just go
Free country?
I think we all saw that coming. Well, everybody except the manager I guess…
As day follows night …
Who in the world did not see this coming. Bell is a joke.
The biggest thing is Bell thought Strickland could retire the bottom of the order. SMH
I still say Diaz should be closing. He is the best pitcher. I know some disagree, however it’s just frustrating watching the bullpen do what they do. On flip side of coin Bell uses who he has.
Unless the starter goes 8 innings it doesn’t matter who the closer is
This is not just about useless Hunter Strickland. This is about stupid David Bell. Definition of insanity.
Told You! Stupid is as Stupid does, and Bell is stupid!
Why does Bell still think Strickland can pitch? Fire them both.
0-2 to Bobby Lee and can’t get him out
+500. I thought the same thing.
Barrero must have taken batting practice with Votto before the game, picking up that striking out looking thing 🙂
Goodness thought it would last longer then one batter.Got to go and just think we hung out for 3 + hours and then Hunter shows up to well you know.
It’s hard to believe this is a professionally managed team.
Started with removing Sanmartin after one batter and three pitch K, downhill from there.
please don’t say: “who should Bell use” cause the answer is: “anybody else” all day long
I think it is a legit question. I have said Diaz should close and others disagree. Strickland isn’t good however the bullpen as a whole hasn’t been good. Other than Diaz..
It’s been answered more than once. You aren’t acknowledging it.
Anyone but Strickland. We don’t care if they succeed or fail.
That’s not answering the question. Names, please.
For greentree, you want a list of names? Just look at the bullpen roster. There’s your list.
I mean names for that situation on that day, since that’s the question at hand. The guys who already pitched aren’t available, so take it from there.
Didn’t surprise me. I seem to remember a few past Hiura bombs against the Reds.
Strickland had a 7.59 era in July and 9.00 in August coming into today, but “Hey we gotta get Strick going”
It never changes?
The team played really hard, but the Manager decided to give the game away with an old Strickland in the 9th as opposed to a young Diaz in the 9th. Some managers never learn. What a clown!!!
This one clearly on Bell. No way he can justify continuing to run Strickland out in the ninth inning, especially in a tight game. Reds take the lead in the eighth and it takes Strickland one batter to lose the lead. What a waste he is as a ninth inning guy.
The win is on Bell? You guys let your frustrations lead you into premature predictions.
We won despite Bell.
No no, it doesn’t work that way.
Yep. Well managed Bell. Got the win.
and Bell will say: “it happens to the best of em……we just gotta get hom back out there” blah, blah, blah……bell kills me
Before I leave I went and looked at the sequence of pitches to Huira and Hunter threw nothing but fastballs on all 7 pitches the last 5 were all on the inside of the plate.Do you reckon he was looking inside?Now I am gone
I am gonna protest the Reds until Diaz becomes closer rest of season. How they get to him who knows. Bullpen has been terrible now for 2 straight years.
Sanmartin has been great in June, July and August. His numbers looks terrible from the early part of the year. He could have easily pitched the 8th and Diaz the 9th.
Agree, good point!!!!
That’s my point exactly, just one example. And, that’s where Bell falters.
I mean, if we had the best bullpen in the league, I could understand playing matchups more and using all the information that all managers have on all the players in the league. But, that would be like having a Calculus book when you are trying to make sure you get the elementary math correct. It really doesn’t make a difference to have the Calculus book if you don’t get the elementary math correct.
We don’t even have an average pen. We have possibly the worst pen in the league. We don’t have the luxury of worrying about matchups. When we get a reliever have a clean inning in a specific game, we need to be putting them back out for another inning. Sanmartin should definitely have at minimum started the 8th.
I wouldn’t look to pitch them more than 2 innings. Unless it’s the long man in a “long man situation”. But, there should be no reason why a reliever can’t pitch 2 innings.
With as much as I didn’t like Baker, that is one thing I liked about him. He may have been 1-2 batters too early or late in taking a pitcher out, but when he took one out, many times, it was a double switch, so that the new pitcher would be able to pitch at least 2 innings, most likely.
Give me any reliever in the Reds minor league system as our new closer starting tomorrow. Literally anyone else. It is so beyond ridiculous at this point to keep running Strickland back out there unless you are actually trying to lose.
The Diaz in the 8th logic is all good and dandy but you got to have somebody in the 9th to pitch that is capable of closing it out. Strickland isn’t.
+5,000
Yep. I’m fine with the Diaz logic.
Not the Strickland illogic.
Yeeeeeessss sorry got carried away. So annoying watching Strickland blow it as well as some others
Good hustle AA
Aquino here hitting near infield triples…. stealing gloves and getting us up
Color me shocked … AA was probably going to beat the throw anyway. Love the results, especially if we get that 2nd run in.
Base hit and a two base error.
Watch Bell bring Strickland out for a 2nd inning.
And now Stickland might vulture a win.
I hate this so much.
Strickland was lit up in Spring
Should have been let go then….
Was awful in April.
Through sorcery, had a good May.
Awful June
Awful July
Awful August.
David Bell: “He’s my guy”
David Bell: “He’s my guy” lol
There we go Solano
As bad as the 9th felt to us, the Bernie’s are really feeling it now.
They been watching the reds too long . Hahaha
Nice and simple, 2 runs in. Let’s get a couple more 🙂
Moose .151 in July and Nada for August, but “Hey we gotta get Moose going. He’s real close”. Yeah real close alright….to 250
Get him going to Burger King.
3rd and 4th hitters are 0-10. It’s a miracle that we are in this game with a chance to win. Let’s just look on bright side
Detweiler it is…was hoping for Gibault. But, we’ll see what happens.
Moose and Votto 0-10 with 5 K’s
I really hope Barrero at 24 isnt the story of an inept offense against a Cy young guy when the 3/4 hole hitters are being paid $50 million dollars to hit and cant.
2 out of 3 lefties, thus Detwiler.
You could put literally any pitcher on this roster to pitch the 8th inning to get to Diaz in the 9th. Strickland is not part of the future or the present, he stinks that’s why he was available. Bell is a joke and it’s sad.
We have a new closer 😉
Bell says not so fast.
wow look at that… didnt even allow the ghost runner to score….. how about trying him at closer
Good job pitching there for the win.
Ross slams the door
Anyone but Suckland
Strickland gets the W.
Of course he does.
Ball game. Spotted cow for those who did whine about Bell. Winning July and Winning August so far. Let’s celebrate.
The only thing about this win that sucks is that Hunter Strickland gets the win. Can we give it to someone else, can we have a vote????
It makes little sense how a guy can blow a save and still get credit for a win, especially when the reliever gives up multiple runs. The official scorer should be allowed to choose a winner anytime there is a blown save.
not a bad weekend for the boys in red
Game wrapup article posted: https://www.redlegnation.com/2022/08/07/never-say-die-reds-beat-brewers-4-2-in-10-innings/