Taylor Swift is no longer in Cincinnati, but maybe she left a few hits around for the Reds on Sunday. The first place Reds will be looking for a series win against the San Diego Padres this afternoon after the two teams split the first two games of their 3-game set. First pitch is set for 1:40pm ET.
Starting Lineups
San Diego Padres
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| Ha-Seong Kim – 2B | TJ Friedl – CF |
| Fernando Tatis Jr. – RF | Matt McLain – SS |
| Juan Soto – LF | Jonathan India – 2B |
| Manny Machado – 3B | Elly De La Cruz – 3B |
| Xander Bogaerts – SS | Jake Fraley – RF |
| Gary Sanchez – C | Joey Votto – DH |
| Jake Cronenworth – 1B | Spencer Steer – 1B |
| Nelson Cruz – DH | Will Benson – LF |
| Trent Grisham – CF | Luke Maile – C |
| Adrian Morejon – LHP | Andrew Abbott – LHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Andrew Abbott | 29.2 | 1.21 | 0.94 | 12 | 30 |
| Adrian Morejon | 4.0 | 6.75 | 2.00 | 2 | 5 |
| Links: Andrew Abbott’s Stats | Adrian Morejon’s Stats |
|||||
Andrew Abbott
In a rotation that’s seen many troubles over the last two months, Andrew Abbott has been like a supernova. He’s made five starts and allowed four runs while throw six innings in all but one start. He threw 5.2 innings in that outing. The last time out he picked up his 4th win on the season while allowing a run in 6.0 innings against Baltimore.
Left-handed hitters haven’t done much of anything against him so far this season in the big leagues, going 3-19 with three singles and eight strikeouts. Right-handed hitters have a lower average than that, but they are walking at a good rate and they’ve shown at least some extra-base power – though not much.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 96 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 22 | .157 | .260 | .277 |
| LHH | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .158 | .158 | .158 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 93.0 | 80.6 | 82.8 | 86.8 |
| Usage | 53% | 18% | 14% | 15% |
Adrian Morejon
The Padres didn’t announce their starting pitcher until about 75 minutes before the start of the game, giving us next to no time to prepare his write up. Morejon began the year on the injured list and then made five appearances in A-ball before making four appearances in Triple-A in June. He was called up in late June and has made four relief appearances with the Padres. None of his outings this season have lasted more than 2.1 innings, so expect to see a revolving door of relievers this afternoon.
Pitch Usage (AAA & MLB in 2023)
| 4-seam | Slider | Curve | Change | |
| Velo | 95.3 | 85.0 | 77.9 | 88.5 |
| Usage | 54% | 15% | 18% | 13% |
When and Where
- Game time: 1:40pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 82°, cloudy, 15% chance of rain
News and Notes
Derek Law activated, Fairchild called up
The Reds made four roster moves on Sunday prior to the game. They activated Derek Law from the injured list and called up outfielder Stuart Fairchild from Triple-A. Eduardo Salazar was optioned back to Triple-A, and Alec Mills was designated for assignment. You can read more about all of those moves in our piece from earlier if that’s what you’re looking for.
Tony Santillan is back in Cincinnati
Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting that Tony Santillan is in the clubhouse today. He’s been rehabbing with Louisville. He made seven appearances with the Bats between June 13th and June 30th. He’s eligible to come off of the injured list, so it’s possible he could be activated soon.
Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Reds | 44 | 39 | 0.0 | 21.8% |
| Brewers | 44 | 39 | 0.0 | 57.1% |
| Pirates | 39 | 43 | 4.5 | 5.1% |
| Cubs | 38 | 43 | 5.0 | 13.5% |
| Cardinals | 34 | 48 | 9.5 | 8.9% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
That Bell didn’t go with his LH pitching lineup is an unexpectedly good move by Bell. Probably gave him indigestion but he did it regardless. Would have preferred Stephenson at 1B ahead of Votto. He seemed like he was starting to hit. Votto doesn’t. Oh well, let’s hope the Abbot streak continues.
I wonder if Bell will change the lineup now that the Padres have announced a LHP.
It’s probably because Morejon isn’t expected to pitch more than a few innings.
So Bell is basically admitting is OK to burn his RH hitters for 1 or 2 PAs but not OK to burn his LH hitters the same way? The more I see of the platooning as the Reds implement it, the more I see it as something to be avoided.
Looked at the stats for last seven days and yes Stephenson is hitting, De La Cruz, Votto, and India and Senzel not so much lol
India hasn’t hit much in the #3 slot. Though I agree with those that say it shouldn’t matter, the numbers say it does to some.
Looking at the stats, it seems that since India has been hitting 3rd, he has been putting more of an emphasis on his power stroke. Which seems to have led to a decrease in batting, averages, on-base percentage, and the tools that made him a successful player. Only the management can tell he’s putting more pressure on himself.
Going to be refreshing the https://www.redsminorleagues.com/ site to see the latest Kravetz news – will he be on the bus schedule to MLB? That would be fun.
Gotta pick up a W today. Go Reds!
Big game today. Really need this one to keep it rolling. Winning series has to be the goal every week if they want to win the central. Let’s go Abbott!
Abbott Under 3.5 earnies
Same game parlays:
Reds Over .5 run 1st inning, Reds win race to 4, Benson 1+hit
Reds Over .5 run 1st inning, Reds win race to 4, India 1+ rbi
Both are +660
The situation with 14 position guys and 12 pitchers for the second time in several weeks exposes a strategic flaw in the Reds roster planning. Apparently they feel they need a RH hitting true OF who can back up Friedl in CF more competently than Senzel; yet, at the same time, they clearly need 13 pitchers. Push is coming to shove with the roster crunch which looked solved.
Was Fairchild down the required ten days for the optioning to count as one 5 cycles allowed with a season on his annual option? I bet his agent is burning the phone and email lines today to get that answer from MLB.
Why? If he wasn’t, the days he was just with Louisville would revert to counting as MLB service time. I suspect his direct deposit pay remittance will would also reflect the same which if back of the envelope calculation of the difference between the MiLB pay for a 40 man roster guy on option and MLB minimum pay is around $2K a day.
I admit I can’t follow all of this. But my sense is that the Reds aren’t scheming with any long-term goals here. My sense is they’re basically taking it one day at a time, and in the next few days they weren’t going to use Salazar in any situation other than possibly a blowout, so he served no purpose. Everyone in the pen except Farmer got a day off yesterday, and now they have Law as well, so they can easily get by for another day or two with what they’ve got. When it’s time to bring up another pitcher in a day or two, they’ll look at the situation and make the next move. Maybe someone gets hurt today, which solves the problem for them. Or maybe they use someone for a couple innings today and decide it’s time to send that guy down in exchange for a fresh arm.
Fairchild was not down for the requisite 20 days that would use his remaining option.
Where are seeing 20 days? Not really doubting, just want to verify because I’m sure it was 10 days years ago when Lorenzen was sent down then called back in about a week due to an injury. As I recall Boras (his agent at the time) pointed out the situation to MLB to get the days reinstated as MLB time.
I read the same thing on another site. If he is down mess than 20 days the option is retained.
Here’s the link:
https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/minor-league-options
@BK/ Bill>> Thanks. It sounds like the 20 days are accumulative for the season. A player still must spend at least 10 days down when optioned unless he replaces an injured player.
Recall that Fairchild was optioned toward the end of spring training but then “recalled” for opening day either 9 or 10 days later when Votto was officially put onto the IL.
It wasn’t clear if he was recalled a day early ahead of the 10 day minimum stay that would apply for an individual optional minimum time down as Votto’s replacement or was counted as down 10 days.
This time, in retrospect, clearly no injury was move was made along with his recall; so, he must have been charged with 10 full days down.
So he is at either 20 or 19 days on the season.
I would not expect option days prior to the MLB season to count, but honestly, I don’t know the answer to that question.
I certainly hope his option remains intact as it bolsters his trade value and/or provides additional flexibility to the Reds for next season.
Come on Reds.
You want to be the BRM?
Then you have play like the BRM and put the fear into the Padres.
Beat these guys and take the series.
Each chance like this is an indicator of whether the Reds deserve to be in the playoffs.
or not
Abbott gets a 93MPH fastball by Machado for a high leverage K and acts like it is just another pitch to be thrown. 😉
He gets the next hitter on the same pitch. It must be running to Abbott’s arm side.
All the hype around The Big 3, and it turns out #4 might be The Man. 🙂
Hey what is with Jeff Brantley going off if a pitch is called a “sweeper”?
I heard him yesterday saying there is no such thing as a sweeper and it is something NY came up with.
I see it all the time on game track pitches.
What pitch is it? Or what pitch is it close to?
Please en
…enlighten me. oops
It’s a slider. Don’t let them try to trick you into believing it’s something else. For 50 years guys have thrown sliders that have more of a hard, downward break and others have thrown sliders that sweep across the zone. For some reason “we” have decided to start calling the latter “sweepers”.
Okay, thanks Doug.
Interesting because when I was kid, more than 50 years ago 😉 The term I recall hearing was “sweeping curve ball”. It was a pitch like the SD pitcher was throwing from 11 o’clock high on his arm side of the plate to 4 o’clock low on the opposite side of the plate. Sometimes if the pitch started well off the plate and ended up in the vicinity of the back outside corner, it was said to break around the plate.
I that a vertical slider or a curve today?
I’m sorry if somebody else posted this, but Abbot looks like Richie Cunningham, aka Ron Howard
He could look like frankenstein’s monster as long as he can pitch good
Todd, Breaking Bad
Little Opie Cunningham. On a SNL skit Eddie Murphy use to call him. Lol
He does resemble Ritchie!
Do you know where Mingo Co. WV. is?
I do!
Right next to my home county of Logan.
Do you know where Holden 22, Switzer, Logan and McConnell are?
First two guys do their job. Second two guys do not.
Steer to third in the batting order, please.
Abbott still looking like the ace so far.
I kinda wish Abbott would give up a couple runs so the Reds could start scoring.
No such luck.
I like this Abbott Cunningham dude!
Pitcher not a thrower.
Votto gonna hit a hr first ab..
maybe not
maybe if you predicted a strikeout he would hit a HR?
It’s scary to think where this team would be without Abbott.
Agreed.
Settling into my chair now that my errands are done (took a little longer, glad I didn’t miss anything). Abbott looking good for what little I’ve seen. That last pitch for the whiff was FILTHY.
Time to score and Kick This Padre Pig out of town.
Stephenson actually getting the day off rather than at the DH which is good. Now if you just bring up CES, rotate him in with the other eight with each guy getting a regular day off from the starting lineup and you’ve got a stronger bench and a more rested team. That’s all it takes.
Yeah, but… but… but….
And move who down? Who out? Where’s he going to play? He’s got to move someone out of the starting lineup.
Bottom line, he would just be a part-time player here. He’s playing full-time in Louisville. He will up here when the rosters expand. He will be up here next year. Right now, there’s really nothing to do with him, not without potentially getting into the chemistry of this team.
CES’s fielding% at 3rd is only 0.895. He’s not playing 3rd up here.
He can play a pretty good 3B buddy. I’ve seen him.
Votto with another hard hit right at someone.
Benson just missed a HR.
Who says he can’t hit lefties?
Just missed it INTO the wind. Plenty strong, that kid.
Why did Bell go with his lefty hitters vs a lefty?
he had a hunch…a feeling…or a strong intuitive premonition
I am guessing they didn’t have the information that Morejon was starting till it was too late to change the lineup, however that is just a guess on my part.
Or maybe he is the opener and will be taken out after a few innings
I personally like it.
Fraley and especially Benson have taken huge steps forward in their development. It’s time to give them another shot and see if they can hit lefties now.
I like it as well to be honest, see what they can do, and or what happens.
Benson almost always has good at bats against left handers. He never looks over-matched or swings at a bunch of sliders in the dirt like a lot of left handers do. I’m glad that he’s starting today against the left hander and I hope it continues
Alright. Who is this manager and what has he done with David Bell?
Abbott is never going to be a winner with this team if he doesn’t start allowing some runs to score. How does he expect the offense to do any damage if they’re not behind?
maybe nobody told him when he came up that the Reds mostly come from behind?
Rally time?
NO
India is killing the Reds with those DP’s
Nah. They aren’t behind yet. Can’t score when you’re not behind. (Also when the manager insists on keeping India at #3 in the lineup and absolutely refuses to call a hit-and-run.)
I really should keep track of Sadak’s adjectives. Off the top of my head:
Longer run
Staggered strides
Tall throw
Pull shift
Pull power
Furious windmill
Delayed break/start/run/steal/throw
Generous strike
Tight strike
Tall strike
tall strike? really LOL
Longer throw
Don’t forget the legendary “Big Fly”.
Well India’s day hasn’t started off well.
India should be moved down in the order, steer moved up and benson too.
Maile has to realize he needs to give the bag to Friedl. Not smart.
True, but McLain also did not get down to 2B. Well played by the Padres but also a team TOOTBLAN for having a catcher running on contacting when a force out was not in order.
How much longer is India gonna bat 3rd? He has not been a consistent run producer in that spot and won’t be…slam yesterday notwithstanding in a blowout where it didn’t matter. He has already single handidly destroyed 2 great scoring opportunties in the 1st and 3rd. And again don’t understand with Votto ahead of Steer.
That kinda day feeling. But we have Abbot going.
India is s with men on base. Grannies down 10-1 don’t mean anything. Rolls over for double plays twice already. If they don’t drop him in the order it’s going to cost a chunk of games
More evidence that India should bat lead-off: he’s fodder for ground-balls, and the GIDPs are piling up to eliminate the Reds’ scoring threats.
How about 7th?
Agree. Move him down or up until he gets out of this funk.
There should not have been a GIDP in the 3rd inning. It was a terrible call to have a catcher running on contact from 3B with 1 out an no force out in order.
Very poor base running. As was the decision to not give himself up in the rundown. The Reds need to do a team review of proper protocol in rundowns. 2nd time in the last couple of weeks that they have made major mistakes at 3rd in run downs. Every run counts. Every game counts. You never know when one run might be the difference in making the playoffs or not.
Then compounded by not putting your speedy base runner in motion when India has repeatedly hitting balls into the ground in those situations. It seems like he’s about 10 times more likely to ground into a double play than hit a sac fly.
Yep. I’ve been calling for this for a week. Just put India back at leadoff where he’s more comfortable and more effective and drop Friedl and McClain down to two and three…
problem solved. McClain is consistently the best hitter and run producer on the team (with Steer a close #2) and he should be hitting 3rd.
Benson with a great 10 pitch walk AB vs a tough lefty coming from way over sidearm.
What a huge bomb by Steer to take the lead following India’s two inning crushing dp’s.
I dunno, I like the consistent lineup/batting order. India is just in a funk right now, same as De La Cruz and Votto and Senzel
Consistency can have its merits, but a big part of the issue is India’s tool-set. He’s had some memorable dingers (I gladly got to see him hit one at Minute-Maid Park), but by and large, he seems like a contact hitter who can hurt you with singles. The flip-side of that tool-set is the ground-ball, seen twice already today — I’m not too picky about move-up or move-down, but (in my opinion) he’s spent much too long looking absolutely nothing like a 3-hole slugger – yesterday’s wasted GS notwithstanding!
Reds not running and running some more.Waiting on the big fly.The game for them is be aggressive and lately it ain’t happening.We missed Snell and Musgrove and Wacha had been skipped a start and we could have easily lost both games time to kick it in gear.
I dunno, I like the consistent lineup/batting order. India is just in a funk right now,
Ride this Abbott train all the way to his innings limit and then hope the August reinforcements step back up to their expected form. Then rest Abbott enough so he can come back in time to be eligible for the playoffs. I know I said I’d be happy with just getting to the post-season, but this Hope has me getting a little greedy … 😛
Elly Fraley Votto vs a lefty. Zero
4 seamer, Chang up, and curve ball, that’s all Abbot has and he makes it work. Weaver has the same repertoire but he likes to throw the ineffective cutter and has been failing.
Fraley went with it. Just needed a little more lift. And the Bogey kid might just be a good SS defender. Just saying 😀
Votto HBP three times already.
That’s pretty much the only way he gets on base these days. Take the hits for the team
Another LH’er in – San Diego is really trying to force Bell’s roster mania. And he’s resisted so far. That’s something.
Our manager today is an imposter. 🙂
Padres come with a 2nd LH pitcher and presumably have Hader rested for the back end. I this works for them every team with 2 decent LH pitchers will probably throw this at the Reds.
SPenser bomber steer!!!!
There’s your #7 hitter doing what #7 hitters do…
Move Steer up!
OH MY!!!! That was a BIG BOY Blast!
I agree with Thrall – he demolished it.
Well that was no GIDP or TOOOTBLAN by Steer!
I wouldn’t mind Steer and India switching places in the lineup at least for awhile. Lol Big HR there.
I am beginning to think I would rather see EDLC bat left handed against both righties AND lefties.
Same. I know he’s supposed to be switch-hitting-power, but I’m really not sure that exists anymore. I’m of the era the name Ted Simmons comes to mind as a true example of that. I also recall pictures of him smoking in the dugout.
Daytonnati, I’m with you. The boy can hit!
How is it that Steer continues to bat in the bottom of third of the order? Move India down, EDLC to #3, and put Steer behind him.
Great AB by Benson.
Given that he’s been one of the best hitters in all of baseball for the last few weeks, might like to see him hitting higher than 8th once in a while…
Wow, Benson battled for that walk.
He looks like he can handle himself against lefties.
A sidewinder lefty to boot. Extra tough on a lefty hitter.
I like it when team has production from back half of the line up. I like Steer at 7. He’s protecting Votto 🙂
Benson worked for that walk didn’t he?
Yes he did as surely as Votto used to do the same.
When CES arrives, I like the idea of moving EDLC to the 2-hole. Friedl, EDLC, McClain, CES with Steer or Fraley hitting 5th. I agree that right now Steer should be hitting 3rd or 4th.
I think moving EDLC up will get him more pitches to hit. Teams are not going to be excited about allowing him to walk with McClain, CES, and Steer behind him.
CES, hitting cleanup, over Elly, Steer, Stephenson, Fraley, and so many others more suited for it, who have got us to this point? Please. I can still barely take Elly at cleanup for now.
Just now from Cowboy, “How many teams in MLB have their HR leader hitting 7th?”
😮 😮 😮 😮
Shots fired!
I love it and Bell earned it so let him have it.
Uhh. That’s a tuffy.:)
Come on, Cowboy!
Obviously everyone ever since the beginning of baseball had been doing it wrong.
8 K’s and some really nasty stuff. And we spotted him the lead. Snitker’s remarks about wanting to get out of town and away from playing the Reds come to mind.
Will Abbott be called on ace one day? Yea or nay?
Maybe. He’s got the tools with multiple pitches. The scouting reports on him have circulated by now and they aren’t making enough adjustments yet. So I’m thinking I lean toward “Yes” but it’s still very earl.
Yup. There’s no need to panic if he gets blown up soon, but it’s encouraging that it’s taken so long for that game to arrive. I’ll say one thing: the guy seems as mentally locked-in as possible. He’s got that going for him.
Can Abbot go through the line up 3rd time? Will Bell let him pitch deep in the game?
Someone on the previous RLN thread mentioned that he expected Abbott to be sent down later in the season on an innings limit move. He’s closing in on 35 ML innings to go with his 54IP in the minors. How innings limited is he this season?
Now why would we want to move him up in the order?Yeah I know he probably would get more at bats and probably come up with more men on base but you know that doesn’t really matter.Yes after Bell’s act yesterday of well I really am not going to try and win he is in my sights until we win despite him and today is a good day to do just that.GO REDS.
Steer needs to move into the 3 spot. India isn’t getting it done there. Also Votto needs to be hitting 7 or 8.
As much as I hate to say it, EDLC needs a day off to clear his head. And even if that means I don’t get to see him tomorrow (weather still looks dicey for Monday evening). Seems he’s pressing a bit. Or maybe he and Steer switch spots as some have suggested.
I think it’s not so much clearing his head as it is getting out of his head. Certainly, he’s an immensely talented player, but he’s also only 21 and probably prone to overestimating himself, e.g., “fastest man in the world” comment. He needs to go Teddy Roosevelt and walk softly and carry a big stick.
I also think moving EDLC up to the 2-hole will help him be more selective and increase his OB%. He is such a weapon and disrupter on the base paths that it will help the Reds win more games. The Reds are on the verge of being the best offense in baseball.
That makes sense. I still think he needs a down day to clear his head a bit.
You might be right. He has pretty much played every day.
India needs to, either, be moved back to the leadoff spot, or, down in the batting order! He has been, shall we say, less than effective in the 3rd spot!
Is McClain the Reds 1st half MVP?
Good question.
I have Steer by a nose.
Abbott enters that conversation if they preserve win #5.
Abott!
McLain keeps that up he’s going to get himself a gold glove.
Or 12 😀
Maybe … good choice to challenge it. If it stands, then it’s beyond a spectacular play.
Abbott may have to do this on his own today.Offense other then Steer and Friedl not showing up against the Padres pen.This is a big big game for the Reds
MattyMc trying his best to back him with some major D!!
Been outside doing yard work! Looking at what’s happened so far!
How in the heck do you NOT SCORE a run in the bottom of the 3rd with runners at 2nd & 3rd and NO OUTS?
Here’s a new concept for Reds batters with a runner at 3rd and less than 2 outs – it’s called a Sacrifice Fly!
Don’t start, Dennis. It’s not healthy for you or the rest of us. 😀
That web gem up the middle just saved a run.
Unbelievable! In his first season in the Bigs, McClain is looking like a perennial All-Star. Dude is a ball player!
It didn’t take him to long to steal the crown from India for the best player on the team.
This Guy Abbott here…..
Stranded Friars … that’s a sweet phrase.
Nice, solid 6 from Abbott. Let’s give the bullpen some cushion.
Wow. Big catch by Fraley.
AA is unbelievable. Maybe he can run off a little on Williamson and Lodolo
Rub off
Yup. If the last three starts are any indication, each of these Reds pitchers is fighting to be the best man on the rotation. I’m all for that.
Careful, Indy 🙂
Abbott has taken his pitching to a new level today. He is seemingly in total command and able to throw any of his pictures pretty much exactly where he wants them. He’s had a pretty good hitting lineup completely off balance all day. He’s only at 80 pitches through six and I just heard Sims is up in the bullpen. David Bell had better not be considering pulling him now as that would be completely ridiculous
What a great defensive inning. The boys are playing some ball today. Now let’s get the bats going and bury these guys. I do not like the Padres. They were so cocky last year. Huge pay roll. What have they won?
Abbott at 81 pitches which means Bell will probably not send him back out for the 6th! Everybody, especially the bullpen, has got to play you know!
Maybe Bell will surprise us. After all, he didn’t start Newman against a LH’er nor PH him when the LH reliever came in. It’s the “new” Bell.
Send Abbott back out there to inning #7.
Steer is just something else.
I love his approach. Stays on balance. Rarely gets himself out by swinging at bad pitches. Goes with outside pitches to right. Turns on mistake pitches. Someone taught this kid well.
Can you believe they got Steer and CES in the same trade (for Mahle)? If CES is able to hit as well in the big leagues (eventually) as he has in the minors, that could be one of the greatest trades in team history.
Right behind the Joe Morgan trade possibly. 🙂
Love that kid
Do you think Votto will get a hit before the All Star Break??
Yes
Yes. He’s making more contact today. And we will play Washington next.
Getting hit by a pitch doesn’t count as contact.
I can’t imagine the pressure Votto is under right now. He did hit a ball hard right at someone today.
De La Cruz 4-31
India 4-23
Votto 1-22
Last 7 games, or days. This team picks each other up and with the starting pitching of late. Fun team to watch
Sims or Abbot for the 8th?
It will be Sims.
?I hope it’s Abbott. If he wants the ball, let him have it. He’s at 92 pitches. ?I’m in favor of a quick hook if SD threatens.
Abbott looks like a real, polished 3rd year vet pitcher after only 6 starts. What a run by a rookie pitcher.
You can say the same thing about so many of the team’s rookies. Off the top of my head, the last time a good Reds team got this sort of contribution from rookies was starting pitchers Pat Zachry and Santo Alcala in 1976.
Jack Armstrong?
I don’t remember seeing or even hearing of so many good rookies on one team….with possibly more to come.
Maybe Bell will continue to surprise us and let Abbott come back for the 8th. I think he should, play it batter to batter, someone gets on base, pull him.
ABBOTT!!!!!! What else can I say? Reds need to get him a win.
He deserved better.
I meant to post something before the game about Abbott decorating the scoreboard with zeroes, I swear. Oh well, it’s not exactly a bold prediction with this guy. Even better than I expected.
Batting Steer 7th is criminal. That is all.
Tom, great point on the trade that brought Steer and CES. Krall has earned our trust. I really don’t think he is going to give up too much for pitching before the trade deadline. This team has the potential to be really good for quite a while.
Agreed. I am in the “I trust Nick Krall” camp. There is a need now, but the price is probably too high. When the trade deadline arrives, there will be teams trying to unload salary who for one reason or another weren’t able to get what they were asking for pitchers, and will settle for less. That will be when is the time to strike.
Agree 100%
Also the other guy they got turned into Will Benson.
This Avila guy can help the Reds bullpens. If Padres lose today and decide to sell, who knows
Love Steer, Tom. Plays 3 positions, excellent hitter.
He doesn’t get the recognition and publicity because he’s not a “tools” guy like De La Cruz.
Compare Steer season stats to Soto. Steer is a gem.
I wonder if Abbott is major league ready? 7 innings of shut out ball. Wow! The kid is a phenom.
OK, which one of y’all is actually The Cowboy Jeff Brantly? He JUST said India is trying too hard/much when he’s in the 3-hole.
well he should know. Most of RLN has been clamoring for India to go back to lead off. Obviously, Bell does not agree.
6 outs … that’s all we need. 6 little outs.
I wonder if anyone is going to try to steal a base ever again? I think they’re actually more likely to get thrown out when they DON’T try to steal than when they do.
Always have faith in the Ginger. They will some day rule the baseball world!
Amen and +5,000
Is it just me, or does this home plate umpire not stink?
Yes. Seems right on the money.
His marginal calls have been few and he’s definitely not using the Bizzarro Zone (TM John Sadak) we saw yesterday.
I’m guessing Abbott made his case that he’s still fresh enough. Been a long time since we’ve seen this happen.
11K’s for AA.
Ok SD gets a run. 383 feet for Kim.
Great while it lasted. It was a cement mixer. I still like the decision to let him get that far. Can’t deny the results. He is the definition of Mr. Quality Start for our Queen City Redlegs.
Absolutely like the decision. Ended up at 101 pitches. Even if Kim singled, I would be in favor of Sims right here. No matter the result.
Coming to get Abbott is Bell being Bell; but, this time I agree.
But if Sims serves one up here, I will be 2nd guessing myself.
Nope can’t 2nd guess. It was the right call. Hitters gotta hit. Shouldn’t have been this close.
Well? lol Just kidding.
Bell gives his starters a chance to start the inning. They put a runner on and he pulls them. Alot of managers do that. People need to watch more than just the Reds.
Abbott 8 and 2/3rds of 1 run baseball. Phenomenal
It’s 7.2, but still quite excellent.
Opps lol, thanks
7-2/3 … we’re in the 8th.
Opps, got ahead of self
7 & 2/3 when you pitch into the 8th
This is one I would really hate to see get away.
It looks like it’s on the way away.
Hell’a start for Abbott. Looks like a fixture in the rotation going forward.
A real pitcher instead of a thrower!
4 hits, 1 BB, 12 SOs in 7.2 IP. Bell left him in to start the 8th. Now Sims needs to close it out, including the 9th, assuming he’s effective here.
And away it goes.
What a shame.
Dang
Thrall and Brantley are piling on the Tom Browning comparisons.
More Glavine-like for me
Maybe we can get Gibaut another win?
Very, very, very impressive. Tom Glavine-like.
Might have been the time to lead with Diaz
Solo homeruns don’t hurt … unless they are back-to-back.
Another cement mixer in the seats. And Abbott won’t get the win … AGAIN.
Got to win this game.
OK now let’s go win it. Padres also need 6 outs – at least 6.
Really need to score here and then just cruise through the “weaker” part of their lineup.
Isn’t it about time for somebody to say this is a funny game?
Funny game LOL
Sims! WTF? Oh well, at least the Reds have the full bench and most of the bullpen. Don’t go wobbly on us here Bell. Hint, don’t open the 9th with Diaz.
Look for Fairchild to pinch-hit for Fraley.
It would appear that the overuse has caught up to the bullpen. Matter of time.
Time for EDLC to show us that right-side power we’ve yet to see.
Or even a single. He’s <.125 hitting RH.
That should bring down the wrath on RLN.
Another leftie for the Padres. Hint for the Reds. You’ve got a guy at Louisville who is an equal opportunity basher of lefties and righties. Get him up to the Reds and into the lineup.
But… but… but….
He bashed another one today.
Am I allowed to say De La Cruz struggles when batting from right side?
And then some. The benefit of a SH player vanishes when one side has the production of the average starting pitcher from a few years back.
The good news for the Reds is they’ll have the bottom of the order due up in the 9th. That’s where Bell sneakily hides the hottest hitters.
Time for the 14-year-old to make a statement about NOT being shipped back down again.
And in the moment of truth, Fraley gets pulled in a platoon switch,
And after a shaky start, a good PA for Stu.
Good AB by Stewie. Refused to chase.
Yeah, they weren’t about to come back with one of those get head breaking pitches or fastball once he spoiled one at 2 strikes.
If Stu sticks through the crunch coming the next couple of days and goes on to have a solid career that BB may be the biggest of his life.
Where’s Newman?
I was actually thinking Newman for India. Jon looks gassed to me.
Fairchild is the better hitter vs RH pitching in case SD brought one on.
RISP today has killed us…
I know it’s too much to expect a steal here. I’ll be satisfied with not getting picked off.
Those who wanted the Reds to give up some runs got their wish. Congratulations. I hope they get the other half of the wish.
We did.
Congratulations, I say again!
HUGE!!
Stephenson!!!!! We have the lead again!!!
Manager of the Year!
Two nice pinch-hitting moves by the manager. 😉
Definitely pushed the right buttons today. The 2nd HR from the Friars was on Sims, not HDTBell. It was a cement mixer right in his wheelhouse. Stewie was extremely patient and TySteve just got exactly what he was looking for right out of the gate.
Now to the task of getting 3 stinking outs!!
OMG. Clutch TS. Bell pushed the right button
Or SD pushed the wrong button pulling Cosgrove….
One pitch – One swing – 2-run lead!!!
Just what we’ve expected from TySteve. Extra sweet for everybody on the side of the Good Guys.
Relief to Steer that he doesn’t have to do it all by himself.
And just like that Stephenson squashes the negativity.
Great move, Stevenson pinch hitting for Votto. It should win the game for us,
This is why it’s useful to have an additional hitter on the bench who isn’t a third catcher, by the way…
Yep
Not being negative here, but I think India, Votto and De La Cruz need a day off. All 3 struggling right now.
If only the team had a really good hitter who could start in place of any of those guys…
EDLC not hitting LH much better than Fraley.
Clutch hit…
I worry about Diaz’s work load!
Don’t give in to Manny here … not an inch!
Attendance up big time. I wander if Big Bob & Son are taking notice what happens when you put a good team on the field.
Maybe a bit of a make-up call there 😉
My thought as well.
He has been calling those couple inches outside a strike all day though.
Decent pitch … Sanchez hacked at it and won that battle.
We need to end this game right here…
Yep. Diaz’ workload is grinding on him.
Focus on the batter.
We never have an easy game do we? 🙂
A team in first place that has a negative run differential rarely has an easy win…
I have never understood why in a 2 run game you allow a catcher to take second base without a throw.
Yeah
Needs to get Odor … over 20 pitches already. Thanks for that help on strike 2.
Diaz has not had a 1-2-3 inning of late. Tired arm?
Pretty good chance that is the case.
We need Chap…Oh wait. 🙂
AD definitely needs some days off.
Diaz, man. He’s… something.
Diaz needs some rest.
hahaha!!!! Right at him. We WIN!!!
Series win … everybody exhale.
I need to think about packing.
Need to petition for a rule change. Sims cannot be the winning pitcher
Brewers beating Pirates in the 9th by 3.
Diaz continuing to channel FullPack Stanhouse from the 1970s. I haven’t touched a cigarette in 30 years but if there is finger food around when Diaz is pitching, there is much less when he is finished pitching.
He’s clearly wearing down. It would be nice to win a stretch of games in which they didn’t need to use him, but that is a very, very big ask.
I agree and it can be done.Just give him some time off.We are in a perfect storm season.It will work out just fine.Give the closers job to somebody else the next 3 or 4 games.Pretend he isn’t here and lets play.This team overcomes everything.Bad calls bad luck or bad decisions by Bell doesn’t even slow these kids down.
Abbott is a number two starter when everyone returns. He is pitching like the best of bunch, injured or not. However, I have Greene as the number one starter. Very debatable.
Fun fact – Abbott is 2 months (66 days) older than Greene, and has 3 fewer career wins.
Abbott pitched 3 years in college. He is more polished in regards to pitching. Greene missed 2 seasons from injury and covid.
I agree Abbott is doing well though. Still Greene is just as good. In my opinion
Abbott is my number one until someone surpasses him.
#1 all the way. As I said a couple of weeks ago, if everyone is healthy, Greene is probably #3 behind Abbott and Lodolo. I expect that to change over time once Greene develops/trusts another pitch.
I agree Tom.
Agreed.
Absolutely agree. None of the big 3 has shown the consistency to deserve #1. They all have the tools to be #1 though. 4 of them will be an equivalence of Maddox, Schmotz, Glavine, and Neagle (?)
I would have preferred Bell had not used Diaz today but it mostly worked out. And he used Fairchild and Stephenson instead of Senzel and Newman. Some lineup order changes I’d like to see. But, from my Bell critical perspective, I like the game he called today.
I agree today.
Time to start platooning EDLC….Senzel or Newman at 3B against LHs? 😉
Nah, just move him up in the lineup and put Sterr behind him
I love this team and the winning. Been a fan since 1965 & I love what we’re seeing and with a future to look forward to!
Abbott is taking it to another level, his confidence is soaring and you can see it in the way he’s pitching. He’s no longer tentative at times like he sometimes was previuosly. Bell needs to drop India from 3 in the order, it’s ridiculous and he’s not a three-hitter. He keeps crushing great scoring opportunities instead of creating them like he did hitting leadoff. Move him back to leadoff.
I hope Bell is watching his Bullpen that is now imploding on a regular basis. Sims, Diaz and Farmer are much more vulnerable, so he needs to realize these guys are not what they were.
He needs to let the starters start going further into the game when they’re throwing it pretty well, Abbott was still throwing it great and definitely could have stayed in for at least the next batter to close out the 8th…he was only at 101 pitches. Some of these MLB managers act like 100 pitches is the absolute limit of these guys… it’s ridiculous. Kim put a really good swing on one pitch, but he was still throwing the ball great….struck out the previous two guys on seven total pitches.
Bring up CES. He can play DH, 1B, and 3B. Votto should only play part-time. He is not one of best nine Reds at this stage of his career. Part- time for Votto is being nice. He should have retired last year.
I agree he probably needs to be a part-time bench player going forward in the very near future unless he turns it around. I would probably give him until the All-Star break but not much longer, but I think he would be okay with that if he doesn’t turn it around because I believe he’s just enjoying being a part of this and he doesn’t want to drag the team down either. He will definitely have some moments where he’ll come through in the second half and his veteran leadership I think will still matter in the clubhouse.
Just heard Abbott on the post game show and he was just talking about his confidence soaring and he’s finally realizing that his stuff really is good enough to get 12ks against Major League hitters and he doesn’t need to nibble… and that’s exactly what it looks like watching him pitch.
And move who down? Who out? Where’s he going to play? He’s got to move someone out of the starting lineup.
Bottom line, he would just be a part-time player here. He’s playing full-time in Louisville. He will up here when the rosters expand. He will be up here next year. Right now, there’s really nothing to do with him, not without potentially getting into the chemistry of this team.
CES’s fielding% at 3rd is only 0.895. He’s not playing 3rd up here.
So you don’t like the idea of rotating and giving guys a day off from starting every 8/9 games. Correct?
Couple more things, Benson needs to keep playing consistently regardless of righty or Lefty pitching and I’m super happy for Fairchild getting back up with the big club. He deserved it and I hope it’s permanent unless he just tanks. I think it’s time to let Casali go, Stephenson is definitely rounding into form hitting and even his defense has gotten a little better versus what it was earlier in the year.
Well, as a huge critic of Bell, I don’t believe I can get too much on Bell there. I wanted Abbott out for the 8th. He was going strong and should be, giving our relievers all that much more of a rest. He got 2 out, then the HR. I could see pulling Abbott on that or allowing him to finish, either way. So, I have nothing wrong with that.
If anything, and not that much, where are the other relievers? DD, Cruz, etc. The ones he’s going to be having in his pen the rest of the season. He has more than 4 relievers in there. He has got to learn to use them. I can understand calling one like Sims out first. But, going into the 9th, why not start Cruz or DD, see what they have in those scenarios? I mean, wouldn’t it be nice to see if we have another pitcher we can look to when Diaz was to struggle? Oh, I’m talking short leash.
But, when to replace the pitchers, I’m fine with what Bell did.
This is the starting infield that I like: 3B – De La Cruz; SS – McClain; 2B – India; 1B – Steer; C – Stephenson.
What is there to say about Abbott? Seven & two-thirds innings, 1 run on 4 hits, 1bb & 12so. Let’s face it, if the Reds really want to win the NLC this year, CES will be on a flight from Louisville to D.C.
And move who down? Who out? Where’s he going to play? He’s got to move someone out of the starting lineup.
Bottom line, he would just be a part-time player here. He’s playing full-time in Louisville. He will up here when the rosters expand. He will be up here next year. Right now, there’s really nothing to do with him, not without potentially getting into the chemistry of this team.
“Without ‘potentially’ getting into the chemistry of this team.”
What does that mean, and how is it an issue?
The team chemistry absorbed McLain, EDLC, Benson. It has dealt with injuries to the SP, to Friedl and Fraley and others.
It’s dealt with Newman leading off and playing 1b.
It’s not such a sensitive nutrient culture that hangs in the balance lest anything disturb it.
A power hitting DH / 1b rotating through as in the Bell shuffle?
What’s to disturb?
So you stick w EDLC’s .120 BA against RHs or stick with JV every day because of the ‘potential’ to disturb what appears to be a very flexible and resilient lineup?
Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me as an argument.
Absolutely the right move to pinch hit for Joey. You play to win the game. I commend Bell for doing what was required in that situation. It’s not about a player, but a team.
Exactly. Again, I, as a huge critic of Bell, did the right move there, especially if you have a bat like Tyler’s on the bench.
Now, if you have a bat like mine, then. . .
Votto is the only player that I would play part-time when I know he does not have it anymore. Why? Because he is Votto. I like him. He is going to the Hall of Fame. He has truly been my favorite Red for many years. However, I like to win and play the very best. Wish I could say that was Votto.
Agreed.
Go figure, as soon as we get our starting pitching going, or bats and relievers leave us. Those have got to be 3 of the best starting pitching performances I’ve seen all year in one series from this team.
The Padres have some excellent pitchers, one of the best staffs in the NL. Hopefully we can pick our offense back up in DC. The Nats, bad hitting, bad pitching team. But, we face their top 3 starters on Tues, Wed, and Thurs.
Name of the game – get to their relievers. They have the worst BP in the NL.
CES will get enough playing time. Bring him up.