Cincinnati and San Francisco couldn’t complete their game that start last night thanks to heavy rains that came through the area in the 8th inning and continued throughout the night. With the game tied up at 2-2, the two clubs will return to the field today at 5:40pm ET to complete the game. It will be followed by the regularly scheduled game. Game two will begin at 7:20pm ET.
To catch up on the game that began on Monday, check out Tom Mitsoff’s write up from last night.
Below you’ll find all of the information for the regularly scheduled game.
Starting Lineups
San Francisco Giants
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| LaMonte Wade Jr. – 1B | Elly De La Cruz – SS |
| Joc Pederson – LF | TJ Friedl – CF |
| Wilmer Flores – DH | Matt McLain – 2B |
| Michael Conforto – RF | Jake Fraley – RF |
| Mike Yastrzemski – CF | Jonathan India – DH |
| J.D. Davis – 3B | Joey Votto – 1B |
| Blake Sabol – C | Spencer Steer – 3B |
| Brett Wisely – 2B | Will Benson – LF |
| Casey Schmitt – SS | Curt Casali – C |
| Anthony DeSclafani – RHP | Luke Weaver – RHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Luke Weaver | 73.1 | 7.00 | 1.62 | 23 | 58 |
| Anthony DeSclafani | 93.1 | 4.44 | 1.19 | 18 | 72 |
| Links: Luke Weaver’s Stats | Anthony DeSclafani’s Stats |
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Luke Weaver
Entering the game tonight, Weaver is sporting an ERA of 7.00 and he’s had one solid start since the start of June – he allowed two runs in 5.0 innings on July 3rd. Despite all of that, the Reds have won each of his last eight starts (his ERA is 8.66 in those eight starts).
While both lefties and righties have hit well against Weaver this season, righties have really crushed him. Right-handed hitters don’t walk much at all against him, but they hit for an average high enough that it would lead the league most years and have a slugging percentage over .600. Lefties walk a lot more often, but they aren’t walking much overall. They also make a lot more contact while hitting for a good average and showing plenty of power.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 180 | 57 | 14 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 37 | .339 | .378 | .631 |
| LHH | 155 | 39 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 21 | .279 | .342 | .507 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | Cutter | Curve | Change | |
| Velo | 93.9 | 86.6 | 81.7 | 85.9 |
| Usage | 44% | 18% | 14% | 23% |
Anthony DeSclafani
It’s been 17 days since Anthony DeSclafani last pitched in a big league game, but he did pitch on the 13th out in Arizona on a rehab assignment after he was placed on the injured list with shoulder fatigue.
Left-handed hitters find far more success against DeSclafani than right-handed hitters do. They don’t walk much at all, but they hit for a good average and a good amount of power, while also making plenty of contact. Right-handed hitters also don’t walk much at all, but they also don’t hit for much average and only have mediocre power output against him.
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 185 | 39 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 41 | .228 | .283 | .386 |
| LHH | 201 | 54 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 31 | .289 | .318 | .471 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | 2-seam | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 93.2 | 93.1 | 82.3 | 87.4 | 86.4 |
| Usage | 13% | 27% | 5% | 44% | 10% |
When and Where
- Game time: 5:40pm ET / TBA
- 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
Tony Santillan called up for the doubleheader
With teams allowed to expand the roster by one player on days in which they play a doubleheader, the Reds have called up reliever Tony Santillan to give them an additional pitcher if needed.
ZiPS likes what it’s seen from Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz
Dan Szymborski ran some updated ZiPS projections for next year and the system spit out the numbers indicating that Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz have done more this season than anyone in baseball to improve their projections for next year when compared to what those projections for 2024 looked like before the season began.
Luke Weaver……
Since ER became official stat in 1913, highest ERA when a team has won 8+ straight starts by a pitcher
2023 – Luke Weaver (Reds) 8.66
1929 – Doug McWeeny (Robins) 6.90
1987 – Dan Petry (Tigers) 6.69
1985 – Ed Whitson (Yankees) 6.44 (9-game)— Joel Luckhaupt (@jluckhaupt) July 18, 2023
Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Brewers | 52 | 42 | 0.0 | 72.2% |
| Reds | 50 | 44 | 2.0 | 22.8% |
| Cubs | 43 | 50 | 8.5 | 5.7% |
| Pirates | 41 | 53 | 11.0 | 0.6% |
| Cardinals | 41 | 53 | 11.0 | 8.2% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
I always knew that Dream Weaver kid was gonna be one for the record books.
Dream Weaver.
I believe he can make it through the night.
You have more faith than me, Gary Wright. 😉
Can we just switch starting pitchers tonight please?
Let’s go Redlegs this is our house!
Only today matters each time you play!
I’m for starting Diaz to go all out to win the first one then go from there.
Yeah, it’s high leverage when play starts.
I’m liking your line of thought. Gotta get a strikeout of that first batter at least, considering how weak the Reds’ hitting has been recently. If that works and the game remains tied, they still have Sims, Gibaut, Law, Duarte, Santillan and Farmer (probably in that order) to pitch the ninth and any subsequent innings.
+1000
Raining sideways in Mason right now. Hope it is not heading South 🙂
Williamson has already pitched so we may be good:)
Channel 5 radar says no.
Yeah, it looked gray behind Larkin & Sadak:(
I’m not sure Bally is going to show the remainder of the first game unfortunately. Looks like radio and Gameday.
Bailey Sports SE has it just now
I stand corrected. Looks like they are going to show it. 🙂
?
Good!
It’s on.
It is on Bally Ohio or Cincinnati, whichever we officially get in the Dayton. OH area
Let’s win two this evening, shall we?
That would be acceptable. 🙂
Heck yes!
As a wise sage used to say, you can’t win two if you don’t win the first one.
Utt most importance on this suspended game for sure.
Looks like it will be Sims.
Yeah
Diaz ?
Ok, Diaz please. To no avail
Are we i another rain delay? any idea when the game will start?
nevermind
Yes!!
That’s the way you draw it up!
Woah
That was close.
Well, Sims sets up a play at any base.
Sims MONEY!
Well. We got a force at every base now.
Yes!!!
Forget that I called for Diaz!
(yelling and whooping in my empty living room) 🙂
I fist pumped. At my desk.
I didn’t call for Diaz. Did you call for Diaz? 😉
I owned mine. I won’t make that mistake again. Lol
GREAT JOB BY SIMS!!
Big Ks by Sims.
Fire extinguished.
OK, everybody breath. I’ve been holding mine for about 21 hours.
Let’s push 2 across, atleast.
With the way things have been going for this team recently, I really didn’t expect to escape that situation. Let’s get a run or six.
Me too
Be special Ty
Same for Will
Now Benson is pulling is head. That’s all we need. Still have a feeling McLain gets a walk off of some sort
I was just checking Benson’s recent K rate because it seemed to me the league might be catching up to him a bit.
Since July 1, 10K in 38 PA (26.3%). At least his OBP is hanging in over that period at around 40% because his BB rate is still 16-17% and his BA ~.290 for the same period.
1-2-3, set’um down Diaz
Well nuts!!!
What has happened to our hitters man 🙁
Pressure maybe, or fatigue from the 12 game win streak.
Energy is not there in the body language.
Other teams have learned how to pitch and defend them. They made adjustments. And, we haven’t made any adjustments back.
This isn’t AAA. This is the majors.
Really? I had no idea. Thank you for clarifying that the Reds are a MLB team.
I think Sims and Diaz won’t be available for the regular scheduled game
Interesting point. I was just thinking about when I was younger and they played numerous doubleheaders. If memory serves, relievers would frequently pitch in both games. Not sure how that will work tonight.
Need to end it here. And that doesn’t mean EDLC should swing for the stands. Get on, get over, get in. That’s what was working and how we need to play. Everything else will fall in line.
Avoiding a strikeout will be a good start.
You called it Tom
Okay. Well make sure your direct line to the dugout is working. 🙂
Alright Diaz! Time to score. 🙂
Let’s walk it off guys
Man, I am so tired of the obvious pitches being missed by the home plate umps.
Bad call on that strike.
Challenge system please.
Here we go!
I hit and run with Friedl instead of bunt.
Never bunt there….
Steal the bag.
WooHoo! Walk to De La Cruz! Great AB.
Oh he’s in. Better get overturned.
As cliché as it is, rookie mistake
The veterans set up the rookie for that out. They knew he was going so he lost the element of surprise which is critical for a SB.
Agree
Replay shows EDLC is safe at second.
No way. Looked safe to me.
It’s amazing how often umps get it wrong.
Poop!
Bailey has a true gun.
Looks safe though.
NOW you can bunt Friedl.
Crap
Well, that was disappointing.
For sure
(expletive deleted)
+10K
And it’s erased on a TOOTBLAN (sort of, good pick-off move)
Again, characteristic of a young team.
We kill our own rally
Then 4 straight balls to Freidl and cheated out of that. Daily event now
2 outs instead of 1 with a man on 3rd. Not the way to win the “opener”.
We’ve beat ourselves in a few of these close games. Friedl throwing home against the Brewers in particular.
Elly could’ve been on third with one out, if he’d just played it smart and trusted in his teammates. Definitely still has a lot to learn.
Most definitely
That inning gets a big Stink. Fish. Pot!!! from me
It really feels like they can’t get out of their own way during this recent stretch. Clearly they’re seeing very good pitching, but if you’re good, you have to be able to deal with that.
Okay. Gotta hold em again.
OK, Houdini
Sometimes I think EDLC thinks he’s still in the minors where he is heads above his competition. He’s in the bigs now. That may cost us the game. Hope not.
Inexcusable by Elly and will likely cost us the game. I know he’s young, but I would be ticked at my 10 year old for making that mistake. Just brutal.
Characteristic of a young team.
So Sims can only face three batters? Stupid, stupid, stupid. Then burn Diaz for an inning, So your best bullets are gone now Gibaut.
With another game to play 🙁
That could seal Game 1 given the way we’re playing. Missed opportunities abound.
Gi-Blow
Another one bites the dust. Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you can make dumb mistakes. Bell needs to address that s, but I’ve been saying that for 3-4 years.
This one is gonna hurt.
India had no chance there.
Fundamental baseball by Flores to get the second run to third base.We are not in this game mentally and haven’t been even before the break.
Yup. Votto, a lefty, failed to do so earlier.
Got to get the out at 1st once you are on the ground India.
No chance.
100%. And Larkin says “great job by India. He was never going to get him, but he had to try.” Are you kidding me? A HOF player says this. No way to get him but he’s gotta try? No. No. No. you take the out. India had to know when he dove there was no way. Not even close.
I loved Larkin as a player but I just can’t stand his kissing of everyone’s backside as a player analyst. He is just horrible.
Another great play by EDLC at 3B.
History says we can score the runs we need. Recent history says we came out of a week-long rest looking listless and gassed.
Who shows up for the bottom of the 10th?
Part of the problem is that the Reds are recently always tied or slightly behind heading to the final inning, meaning they always get the other team’s closer. Today will be no exception.
I think we all know how the bottom of the 10th is going to go.
Nothing is going for us. Very frustrating.
Bell just doesn’t help this team. His use of the bull pen is awful and the fact that his players are making mental mistakes is on him.
What would you have done differently as manager? In this game, I mean? I presume that’s what prompted your comment, but my apologies if I am incorrect.
The fact that mental mistakes are repeated is so much a reflection of the manager.
No consequences. No wonder the players like him (allegedly).
It’s like parents that don’t discipline their kids.
That’s ridiculous.
People will blame Elly’s mistake on youth and inexperience, but veterans on this team make plenty of stupid mistakes. There’s no emphasis on playing smart baseball. It’s just “do whatever you feel like doing; the situation doesn’t matter.” There are no take signs, virtually no hit-and-runs, no squeeze plays, etc., because Bell won’t demand anything of anyone. They need players to be “leaders” because otherwise there’s no leadership.
Absolutely. Bell is the “cool dad” that lets them do whatever they want with zero repercussions. Of course they like playing for him. Who wouldn’t love a job where their manager that lets them skate by regardless of their performance? They’re the least disciplined team in baseball, and that’s on Bell.
Veterans? What veterans? India? This is only his 3rd season. Stephenson? 4th season, if you count 8 games in his 1st season. Votto? What mistakes has he made like getting picked off?
Fact is, this team has no veterans besides Votto. And, Votto has avoided the leadership position for years. I’m talking this. . .for example, who’s the player who’s going to call a closed-door players-only meeting? I don’t see Votto doing that. He’s been helping some others, but he’s no leader.
That’s what his team has been missing.. That’s another reason I didn’t think CES would help. These players need to make their adjustments. Many times, they need veterans, leaders, to show them how to do this. How to work at this level. How to apply yourself at this level. Someone that can hold other players accountable. Like this scene from Major League:
A player in his third season has had plenty of opportunities to receive proper coaching. If that guy still doesn’t know what he’s doing, he’s not going to know five years from now. And rookies should be MORE afraid of making mistakes, not less. They should be MORE careful not to get picked off when they’re the potential winning run. Rookies playing for Bell know they have nothing to worry about.
What mistakes has Votto made? How about taking strike three down the middle in a situation where taking strike three is absolutely the worst thing you can do? That happened yesterday. If he simply puts s ball in play the Reds might have won. Terrible mistake. As if he completely forgot the situation.
India has been burned by Bell trying to make him a 3 hole (now a 5 hole hitter). For the last 2 months, his slash line has been horrible. India has said he prefers to leadoff. India has excelled at leading off, has the mentality to leadoff. Quite apparent he doesn’t have the mentality to hit in the 3 hole.
But, Bell keeps rolling out the same old batting order.
Quite obvious all of these young guns are making mistakes right now, afraid or not. So, where’s the player accountability?
You’ve never seen Votto take a call strike 3 down the middle? They’ve all done it. But, which of these players have over 12 years experience in the major leagues, with the same team. Which of these players has an MVP? Again, Votto has earned his right not to be sit.
Wait … what??? Now that missed out by India looms big.
Or did I lose count in the middle of that mess?
Now I will not blame this on a lack of leadership in the dugout or on the field but somebody has to step up and help right the ship.Reds are just giving games away.
It does feel like they might be on the cusp of a slump becoming a swoon.
That’s exactly what it is. Characteristic of a young team with no leadership.
I think the team is playing bad baseball right now in addition to face very good teams all gonna be translated into losses… I was afraid of this strech before the trade deadline could put the Reds far from contention , hopefully it won’t be that way
They just aren’t hitting and can’t hit at the moment. No baseball team can look good when that is the case.
Your right Tom because hitting covers up a lot of things.Reds did a lot of the same stuff when they won 12 in a row as they are doing now its just winning covers it up or there is little or no talk about it.If we win this game all of the not so good stuff is forgotten replace by what a comeback.
It’s time to accept this team is going nowhere this year. They gave us an exhilarating month, and a glimpse at a very bright future; the rebuild is ahead of schedule, but it’s still very much a rebuild, and trading away prospects for a rental would’ve been a big mistake. First round playoff elimination or missing the playoffs entirely, let’s ride with what we’ve got and look to next year and beyond.
Did you expect anything more?
Bell has no idea of the sense of urgency idea. They really needed this game. Diaz should have pitched the 10th period.
Not only are the Reds playing the worst baseball at this time…physically & mentally…I am forced to listen to the options of Sadek (terrible) Larkin (bad) & Welch, play by play on the radio (no!!!)
That terrible zone is just adding gas to the fire.
Yep
Yes. It’s very hard to be a good hitter when you don’t know what the strike zone is going to be every game.
Why are Reds fans only allowed one month of enjoyable baseball? Is it a karma thing? Do I need to donate more to charity or something? Please advise. I’ll do whatever it takes.
S product with these umps. If this was happening over and over to LA or the Yankees then they’d do something, but not the flyover Reds.
(sigh)
Yeah, that was not fun. Root canal territory.
I’m genuinely on the fence as to whether or not I want to watch the “main show” tonight. I’m just sick of mediocrity and what I perceive as a lack of discipline. Sure, mistakes happen, but we’re seeing so many strung together so often.
To be continued … maybe.
You’ll be here. 🙂
Well that’s not the way we wanted it to go is it? We had em….and lost em.
Unfortunately, true.
We had who?
I thought we had them beat with De La Cruz on second.
Getting sick and tired of stupid mistakes on the field by this team. This is two games in a row that you could argue were lost due to just bad baseball. Friedl lost the game by allowing a runner to go to 2nd on a stupid throw from CF, and now Elly getting picked off 2nd with no outs in the 9th. Bell has got to address this nonsense.
When you only have four hits as a team and three of those are by the same player it is very hard to make the case that mistakes on the field cost you the game. The team is not hitting, therefore not scoring.
The extra inning situation is a manufactured crap shoot and not reflective of real baseball.
Did you watch this game tonight? Elly on 2nd with no outs. They didn’t need another hit to win the game. Did you watch the game on Sunday? Friedl’s throw to home on a tag from 3rd enabled the runner to go to 2nd base, and he eventually scored, when he wouldn’t have. That was the game. With the pitching we have had, this was two games that we gave away, whether we hit or not.
Many times, that’s what wins games. Not getting picked off. Hitting the cut off man. And so on. Fundamentally sound baseball.
But, everyone wants to see the highlight reel. Then, they think, “That’s the kind of baseball they are playing? Alright!” They never consider what goes on in between.
As for Bell, he is what he is, a bottom of the barrel manager.
Bell will always deliver the company line to the media.The one about how he believes in these guys and all the good stuff and he should do exactly that.I have no clue if the media asks him any tough questions like did you have any thing to say to such and such about this play or that play.I hope there are some conversations going on about them but again I don’t know
These days, the local media is just an extension of the Red’s Public Relations department.
Agreed. I would be shock if Bell addresses it. Friedle shouldn’t have started this game because of his bone head play on Sunday. I guarantee he you Elly and Friedle will be starting the night cap.
For those who wanted this season to be about “sorting” (BTW, dumbest thing I have ever heard of) you now have your wish.
I wouldn’t bench either of them. You don’t have to bench two of your best players to address an issue. You address the team about stupid baseball, and then if it continues you address individuals.
You have to have player accountability somehow. The only person on this team who has earned any right not to be benched is Votto. Everyone else can be riding the pine at some point still for a day or two.
Or, even having a closed-door players-only meeting, for a leader to step up and hold players accountable. Something.
I referred earlier to this scene from Major League. Sure, it’s just a movie, but you have to hold players accountable:
It happens to India every day. A phantom strike that leads to a K. I’d get suspended if I was him, but I’d & +#”n good and well get my money’s worth
Him and Spencer get burned every time lately.
Hope we score a few in game 2 but this is looking rather bad right now.Never even scored the ghost runner that time.
What time is next game?
Looks like instead of winning two I need to change my hope to the Reds at least being competitive and playing better in the second game.
Is it my imagination or have the Brewers and Giants been throwing mostly breaking pitches? Seems like there were few fastballs.
No fastballs in the bottom of the tenth.
As Burnes said, “soft and down”. The scouting report is out and the honeymoon is over for these rookies. It’s their turn to make the adjustment, but whether they do is entirely up to them because David Bell sure isn’t gonna pressure them to do so.
Word Up!
How exactly does the Reds’ staff and batting coaches work with these rookies on recognizing and hitting those pitches?
If it is just batting practice stuff that is useless.
They need their own pitchers to throw that stuff at game speed while it is being recorded. After they watch then go back at it again.
If the only effort to make adjustments is to make trite statements like, “lay off that low and outside stuff, rookie” or “stop swinging at that breaking stuff” that won’t work.
Does anybody know how they try to teach the rookies in season?
Mike, for example, when you know they’re throwing you soft stuff down, lay off anything at the bottom of the zone, especially with less than 2 strikes. Work them into a 3-0 or 3-1 count, force them to throw you a fastball, throw offspeed for a strike, or take your base.
Maybe Elly tried to steal 3rd bc he knows we can’t score with runner in 2nd and no out?
My biggest issue with this loss is the fact that Benson was playing so shallow on Joc Pederson. If he bloops it in no big deal, but you should be playing deep and making sure of no doubles to start that inning. That is on the coaching staff in my opinion, as he is not used to left field.
Maybe, but Benson has the worst instincts for an outfielder I have ever seen and I saw Adam Dunn at his worst.
As a former infielder converted to outfield in college, it is much easier to come in on a ball. His poor instincts make it even more important to play deep.
This is going to be one of the fastest collapses I have ever seen. Four hits in the game. The entire team looks lost at the plate. Combine that with some poor mental play and Bell as manager and this team may be done. 50 and 45 and sinking about as fast as any team has in mid July. I am thinking, at this rate, this bunch will not play .500. The question is now starting to become how bad do they have to be to get rid of Bell. Oh well they now need Weaver to be a stopper.
Steer, De La Cruz, Friedl, Stephenson, India have all hit really bad in July…although Stephenson has got on base at a decent clip. McClain has cooled off too, although his numbers are decent.
I always think Managers are kind of overrated in their effect on a team, and until about a week ago it seemed everything Bell did worked this year. I just keep remembering the collapse in 2021 though and I just still have a feeling he’s not one of the better managers in the game. I don’t know though, it’s so hard to figure with managers their effect, but the start to the 2nd half at home to me is a little concerning towards the manager standpoint. I don’t think Bell should lose his job if they don’t make the playoffs, but if they really struggle and finish below or right about .500 I think it definitely needs to be considered as there may be better managerial options willing to coach this team with the talent they have going into the future.
The good news is their 12 game winning streak gave them a bit of a cushion to struggle and still be in the race. It’s going to be interesting to see where they are in about a month. This may make it a little easier on GM Krall not to be overly aggressive though now (not sure they would be anyway).
Bell should consider himself the most fortunate manager on the face of the earth if for no other reason than he actually has De La Cruz to manage. Add in the fact all of these other young very good players that makes it even more so. With a little more pitching, if David Bell can’t win with this group, a lot, he can’t win with any team.
Allow me to elucidate; Bell is a terrible manager, running a sloppy ship full of mental mistakes because there are never any consequences for those mistakes; not to mention his egregious mismanagement of the bullpen. You’d be hard-pressed to find a replacement manager that would be a downgrade. And yes, he *should* lose his job, no matter how this season turns out. If miracles were real and they somehow won the world series, he should still lose his job. He’s a known quantity, and any success they have is almost always in spite of him.
+1,000! Bell was hired with NO major league managerial experience and because his last name is Bell. His relief pitcher roulette is a joke because if you run 4 to 6 RPs out there every game, one of them is bound to have a bad outing! In Game No. 1 that was Gibaut! Funny that most of the other teams the Reds play seldom use as many RPs per game! SF used 3 RPs, the Reds used 5 and likely don’t have Sims nor Diaz available for game 2!
Right now he would be elected NL Manager of the Year. Usually don’t get fired if you win that or are even in Top 5. and, usually a 2 or 3 year contract extension. So better hope the Reds don’t make the Playoffs.
I’ve told the timeline. . .
Before Bell, the Reds finished last in the division 4 straight years, preceded by a 3rd and 4th place. No competent manager wanted to have anything to do with the Reds. So, the Reds were scraping the bottom of the barrel. Bell came up.
Over that time, the Reds concentrated on getting better players, and they did. So, we have what we have now, a team in 2nd place in the division.
But, we have all seen Bell’s antics. I am confident that we can now get a more competent manager in there wanting to coach these kids.
That’s what I believe these kids need. Leadership, coaching, development, etc. They got up here on talent. But, up here, the idea isn’t talent. It’s making adjustments. If you can’t make them, you are the next Aquino. If you can, you can at minimum be a serviceable major leaguer.
This is the reason why the Astros, when they did their rebuild, held onto Altuve.
This is why the Cubs, when they did their rebuild, went out and got Lester and Zobrist.
Leadership has to come from a player or a manager, or even both. We have neither.
SS, see my reply to Friedl Green Tomatoes about how do they teach the rookies to adjust. Have any insight?
I’ve coached for over 30 years, just not baseball. It can be mental training. It can be visualizing. There can be a multitude of ideas.
One time I taught someone to do a skill simply be listening to a song. With another athlete, I taught them a skill a visualization method called anchoring.
One thing I remember hearing from Bonds was something like, “I just pretend there’s a glove on the end of the bat. I’m just trying to catch the ball with that glove, like the C does. I’m just trying to do it with some force going the other way.” I mean, from one of the best hitters ever, it makes sense to me. If a C can catch a curveball, why shouldn’t a batter be able to?
Easy to say, but then they have to train it.
Probably some hand-eye work, also. The best simple example I could think of is Simon (attachment below). But, for pros, they have it set for speed and accuracy of single spots, not to see how good your memory is;
https://www.amazon.com/Electronic-Memory-Handheld-Classic-Gameplay/dp/B07YNKKGRJ
Elly getting picked off basically ended any chance if the Refs winning this game….he killed all the momentum & started the “here we go again” bad karma …and of course Larkin said it was a great play by the Giants
Larkin also thought Elly was out on his stolen base. He said Elly was out by over sliding the bay when it was clear by the replay the tag was off of him by then. I used to respect Barry Larkin’s baseball opinions, but the more I listen to him it becomes clear he doesn’t know what he is talking about.
The cowboy runs circles around Larkin in comparison as a color commentator
He didn’t say that. As a SS he said the guy should’ve kept his glove on Elly and he was right
Agreed but,Brantley wasn’t so great his second year either.
When the Reds were winning, I was complaining about a lot of dumb stuff I was seeing over and over and over, and I connected a lot of it to Bell’s lack of leadership. I was repeatedly told to relax and lay off Bell because the team was winning, which supposedly was all I was supposed to care about. Now perhaps some of those people can understand why I have these concerns. The team simply isn’t good enough to overcome mistake after mistake after mistake. It’s one thing to lose because you’re bad, but it’s quite another to lose because you’re the fastest guy in the game with the best bunter at the plate, and you can’t manage to not get picked off in a situation where the main thing you should be thinking about should be not getting picked off. That’s why I complain about dumb stuff even when the team happens to be winning. You can’t expect to keep overcoming those things forever.
J, see my reply to Friedl Green Tomatoes above.
Do you have any insight?
I have no idea if it’s really possible to get better at recognizing pitches. What I do know is possible is committing to taking more pitches and forcing the opposing pitchers to throw more fastballs and more strikes. If I were managing these guys, I’d tell them things like “in your first (or second) at-bat tonight, you’ve GOT to make him throw two strikes before you swing.” I want them to show opposing pitchers that they’re very happy to walk if they aren’t being thrown strikes, and that’s going to result in more fastballs and more strikes being thrown to them. (It will also result in more walks, I think, but that’s just a bonus.) I think a lot of players who appear to “see” pitches really well are actually just more willing to take a lot of pitches, and a lot of those pitches turn out to be balls.
I’m right with you there.
So de la Cruz a guy who played in High A last year doesn’t necessarily have the game knowledge a more experienced player would, getting picked off is Bell’s fault? Bell makes mistakes at times but putting that one on him is absurd.
Reds have 18 hits over the the last 46 innings. That is about 3.5 hits per game. Hits, not runs. Folks, that is not good.
Need to bunt more. We have the players with the speed to do that. Shake things up.
Plus, averaging double-digit strikeouts per game during this 5 game losing streak!
Bryan Price’s Reds could score more than 5 runs in 5 games.
I would be surprised if EDLC has a green light to run at his choice. Maybe he does and he screwed up. Regardless, I expected to lose this one. It seems to be a pattern
Yeah, you can’t blame Bell for EDLC’s stupid running gaff. You can blame Bell for not addressing the team on stupid baseball though. That needs to be addressed, it’s happening too often.
Five straight. Friedl threw away one the other day and now Elly gets in the act. Lou Pinella, 30 years ago, would not have put up with this stuff.
I don’t think he was even trying to steal. I think he was just trying to get a walking lead. It was a totally unforced and unnecessary mistake.
So , putting this painful game behind that was lost after EDLC got picked off at 2b with no outs killing the best chance of winning, my question is What can we expect from Weaver tonight? More suffering? Or maybe Could he throw 5-6 frames giving 2-3 runs up as worst and hope the offense wake up?
I think another interesting thing is as soon as they got into 1st place, with a little pressure the wheels have come off a bit. The Brewers and Giants are like super professional and exposing the Reds a bit, but the Reds were beating the Dodgers, Orioles, almost beat the Braves…they were beating good teams. They were coming back, never out of a game.
I think it’s legitimate to think maybe pitchers have figured out some of the young guys, but to me I think this is more psychological, something on the team is off from a managerial/clubhouse standpoint. I could totally be wrong, but I’m concerned they were riding on emotion, and the emotion has worn off. Friedl and Steer struggling I think has been huge. Those guys were awesome up until July it seemed.
They’re so talented I can’t imagine they’ll just completely tank, but boy they really need to win I think several games here on the rest of homestand to kind of re right the ship. I think Bell could be gone if they go under .500 in the next month or so. Who knows though, baseball is so interesting with it being such a long season. Pirates 30 games in looked like a Cinderella and are now irrelevant for the time being again.
Word up.
I learned and was taught a long time ago both as a industry Mgr & and as a coach, that you can be popular, or be effective. I chose to be effective. Take from that what you will.
The non-India Reds were 1-31 in that game.
Gotta hit.
That said, the Orioles are taking off and they started by drafting elite young position players and getting a bullpen. id like to see Krall trade for elite controllable bullpen arms. They help this year. They help next year. Offense is what it is .They’ve had a terrible week.
I honestly expect him to give up 2 or 3 runs in the first inning and that will pretty much do it.Reds aren’t hitting at all and appear to not be thinking much either.Hard to imagine everybody stopped hitting at the same time but its happened.
I got to write something positive after being pretty negative! Man De La Cruz has made some great plays at Third Base. As bad as he’s been hitting lately, and getting picked off, he’s playing some good defense. He is a weapon for sure.
Oh, he’s a stellar glove and arm. I really wish they’d leave him there and MattyMc at SS and leave it at that. But my wishes rarely see the light of day right now.
A Casali sighting … and great cracks begin to form in the Earth’s surface.
No Stephenson which is fine. I guess it’s already the turn of CES to sit out.
Bell was out managed so bad in that game. Why use Diaz against the bottom of the order. So many options, Simms in the 9th, Gibault in the 9th or even Diaz in the 9th and 10th. Bell chose the worst possible outcome in a game this team really needed. On another point 4 hits is sad, Bell has no clue how to right this sinking ship.
HDTBell ranks #30 on the list of MLB managers. Full Stop. He got the job (and kept it) for one reason only.
Bell is like Captain Smith on the Titanic asking What Ice?
haha 🙂
Not that I’m committed to watching the building burn further (Melvin 😀 ) …
But what time is the proposed 1st pitch?
Still up in the air with the pop up shower thing.
I hope you’re right about Bell if they tank, because if we can get a legitamately good manager to start the 2024 season then I’m totally on board with that trade off. Bell is never going to take you to the promised land, his teams are going to play tight because that’s just who he is as a manager.
I hope I’m wrong when I say. . .
The Reds will not win any kind of pennant with Bell as manager. Bell is what he is, a bottom of the barrel manager.
I agree, Steve. He is what he is. A guy with a baseball name that they got because he was cheap. Nothing more.
Bell had veteran teams up until this year and they as a team weren’t high baseball IQ guys either.He may have but can’t recall any of them setting out a game or two but if there is ever a time to install a new way of playing its now with this young team.I believe they are learning how to win but learning how not to lose is just as important.Reds have come back and won several games as was mentioned earlier but still played awful baseball but they won because of individual efforts on the mound or at the plate.For me somebody has to carry the message that we will not beat ourselves and soon.Nothing wrong for example if Elly sets this game or if Friedl has set yesterday IMO.I know others will say this isn’t little league and these are grown men and should not be treated that way but well maybe we need to stop the little league play first.Just my opinion.
EDLC getting picked off inexcusable. He’s not playing at AAA anymore, in the majors it will haunt you and it cost them the game….
It haunts you wherever you play
Tarp on the infield behind our two favorite talking heads?
Weather delay? Rain? Where in the heck did that come from? TWC radar showing bupkis out there.
Must of thought Williamson was pitching tonight
I don’t get it. They look like a bunch of rookies out there!
https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/1961-schedule-scores.shtml 1961 Reds started 5-2 in 1st place. Lost 8 straight to fall into last place. Then won 9 straight to jump back up to 3rd place. Strange things happen in MLB.
It is a funny game. Not for me of late, but for somebody.
In a lucid moment, I have to reflect that we had ZERO expectations from these guys, especially where a game like this was concerned. None. That Hope thing again, eh? 😀
I’m with you Mark. I drank the Kool aid and am now bitter during the recent downward spiral. I should have known better. lol!
It did inspire me to take the trip to DC for those two games. Can’t take that away from me.
Is there a thread for the game that’s being delayed? I have not gotten the email from Dough that I normally get 1 hr or so before game starts?
It’s all on this thread.
Got it thanks
That looks like a balk to me
https://twitter.com/nati_sports/status/1681428240295165978?s=46&t=XuSLBucZ3l1l1dpQ6ykNjQ
The only Chumpire with the right angle would have been the one on 3B. He would have had to see the pitcher clearly cross his left leg behind his right. I agree, it’s very close to a balk.
This young bunch is as tight as can be and Bell always manages tight. What a horrible combination. I believe that the minute they go under .500 Bell should go and that could be very very soon. My statement about the Cardinals catching them is now becoming a better and better possibility. It could 71/2 after tonight. God that makes me sick.
I wouldn’t say Bell manages tight. I would say Bell simply rolls out the same old thing every game, expecting things to change.
I would think the players know they aren’t performing and are getting tight. And, Bell is no manager to get the players out of that funk. He’s not going to apply any player accountability like sitting anyone. He’s not going to call any closed door meeting to mark anyone out for poor play. I doubt he would call anyone into his office for any kind of lecture on hitting the cutoff man.
But that’s what this team needs. Even if a player gets sat, explaining to the player something like, “This is simply an opportunity for you to reset yourself, to get your mind back on right.”
Right now, the players need to make their adjustments, and they’re not making them, pure and simple. And, the manager and coaches don’t seem to be doing anything about it.
When the Reds struck out 18 times they took the first pitch strike nine times and another 3 times they took until they got a called strike. When you are down a strike, or two,you have greatly decreased your chances to get a good pitch to hit.(unless you are facing the Reds in which case our staff often puts it on a tee for you). Combine this with flexible,inconsistent strike zones and you are forced to swing at marginal strikes to protect. Votto, in his prime was the only Red I ever saw who consistently hit well behind in the count. Taking strikes and looking for fastballs after you are down in the count is not going to work. Long at bats with defensive swings on good pitches, and taking pitches that are balls they are hoping you chase is the only way to see more pitches in the zone. In the reds defense, they have seen quality pitching from guys with good control who change speeds well and have good running charge ups too. We need to break out of the mold with where we are hitting pitched balls. When we do hit it hard it’s right at somebody. It is easier to hit outside strikes and off speed stuff the other way. As far as base running gaffes, does anybody get in their grill when they screw up? Is their a Kangeroo court with “fines” for tootblans? What a pile of cash that would be this year.
I may expand. . .
I have no problem “waiting” on a good ball to hit. But, if the ball is right down the middle on the first pitch, that’s not a bad ball to try to hit.
And, this is something that Votto did do a lot during his prime, which got him down in the count. How many batters are going to have the talent of Votto?
But, I don’t want them up there just swinging at anything, also. For, they should be waiting for that good pitch.
Part of it might be simply lack of hand-eye coordination. As in seeing something then react. There are things out there to help with that right now, electronic boards that work on hand-eye coordination. That could help.
I’m thinking the days of the Kangaroo Court are long gone. Too bad as I think it injected an accountability that helped the team build.
I see the status has changed to warm-up from delayed. Anybody have an announced first pitch time?
No update that I’ve seen.
Lost in the shuffle is Freidl took 4 straight balls and would’ve still given the Reds a fast runner on with 1 out, but the ump had to make his mark. Again
Casali is starting, CES isn’t even in the lineup. Because why would we want to give CES a shot when our regular starting lineup has been doing so well, right? Bell should be fired on the spot for that alone. Just admit the team is checking out on this season and be done with it.
And, what has CES done? No one is hitting.
But, I do agree, Bell should be gone. The status of the organization now is much better, where we can get a competent manager in here.
Your asking what CES has dine after 3 at bats????
You really are determined to push your narrative regardless of how dumb some of your points are. Exactly what do you have against the kid?
CES has had 3 major league at-bats? The others have been doing nothing, collectively, for well over a week. Casali has a sub-.150 average on the season. CES should be in the lineup every day until he proves he’s going to be as ineffectual as the rest of them.
I guess all is OK because Bell says it is. Friedl is OK and he will learn from it. DLC is OK because he was just trying to make a play when aggressive play wasn’t ideal. India just had a lapse. Maybe this all comes with a young team? I don’t personally think so. I think it is undisciplined lack of fundamentals. Will it continue? Why wouldn’t it? Would a different manager change it? Is it hurting us and costing us a playoff shot? Bell doesn’t seem bothered and he knows more than I do. According to him, it is all these outstanding pitchers we have seen lately. Hopefully in a game or two, we will go on a streak of 9-10 run games.
That is a head scratcher considering virtually no one is hitting and CES has been hot recently. I didn’t think it would be his “turn” to sit out so soon. lol
Bell made his line up out at the AS break thru august 15.
😀
Yep, Bell is continuing to show everyone over and over why he is not the guy to lead this young talented team forward. Sitting CES tonight is bizarre. His pitching decisions in game 1 earlier today seemed shortsighted considering the circumstances. I hate to say it, but honestly, the best thing that could happen for the long term health of the Reds moving forward is probably to have the team implode in the 2nd half with Bell leading the charge down the drain as he did in 2021, which should force the Reds to mercifully move on from him and hire a good manager for 2024 and beyond. I would imagine the pool of talented managers who might be interested in this job in the off season would likely be a pretty good number.
Have to give Krall a little credit. At least he’s not in extension talks yet. 🙂 Maybe Krall is coming around.
Game video feed is on. I guess I’ll stick around for a bit, Melvin … 😛
Not sure what they are showing. A lot of interviews and clips. Not the game.
Well Mark! Fancy meeting you here. So unexpected. lol 😉
Or, I will say it this way. . .
One thing Bell may be doing is getting the players to “play through their slump”. Which I can understand that. The only thing is, none of them have earned that right, none except for Votto, and even he’s getting, what’s the word, “long in the tooth” for that. You simply can’t roll out the same old lineup and expect something different.
OK, Weaver on the mound. Maybe a little Pig Kicking tonight after all.
This team is causing my gastritis to act up! Newman, I feel your pain!
I think we’re all feeling a lot of different pains lately. lol
Baseball seasons are very long and full of highs and lows. Hot streaks and slumps happen to every team and every player. Stating the obvious, but I think it needs to be reminded. If given the option at the beginning of the season, I think we all would have taken a 50-45 record at this point in the season. Hopefully, another hot streak is next.
Very good points. If anyone said this team would be 50-45 after 95 games in March or April, we would have had a party.
Sure. But when you’ve seen that the record could be substantially better if not for all the self-inflicted wounds that are the result of young, undisciplined players with a complete lack of leadership and accountability, a (quickly fading) .500 record is a hollow consolation.
Uncanny.
There isn’t a more deserving pitcher in the league that screams ” Opener”. Yet Bell doesn’t see it.
How are we EVER going to score a lot of runs again with an “opener” for Weaver? 😉
Even though it’s only one run these boys didn’t need a deficit in the first inning.
Here’s our opportunity to pull our collective heads out of our collective crevices and own this game. It’s officially a come from behind, so that’s out of the way.
When Disco used to pitch for the Reds, especially in GABP, I seem to recall him giving up his fair share of HRs!
Well, he gave up one, didn’t he?
My Bad! Did I jinx him?
So much for shaking things up by bunting in the first inning to get things going. The first two batters anyway. McLain is getting hot again.
Friedl kind of faked a bunt with 2 strikes on 😛
Welcome back, Disco!!
Fraley! That’ll do it. Two run homer! 🙂
Jake the snake, or sneak. He sneaks in. hR here and there
And right on cue, the Reds offense shows up for Weaver.
This is the Disco I remember at GABP. Getting Whiplash watching balls fly out of the park. Yet, people wish the Reds never let him go.
I guess CES still has some things to work on. Oh well, send him back to Louisville if you aren’t going to play him. One game means nothing and like Fairchild, Barrero, and the others, you do t get in a groove sitting on the bench. But that’s Bell ball.
Right. Seems like he could have DH’d or something.
If he sits two games in a row without injury Bell SHOULD be fired. As I recall he sat McLain and De La Cruz one game early too. We’ll see. Still though we haven’t been scoring runs so why sit him now?
@Melvin, if he were going to be fired, t would have happened years ago. He’s connected. I suspect we’re stuck. Hope I get surprised but I’m not expecting it.
Trade Jake Fraley. Handedness loser. So what he hits righties like Joey Votto 2017.
Here we go with the strikeouts again! 2 already in the 1st inning! Geez!
In all fairness, that’s probably over MattyMc’s head where EDLC barely had to reach for it.
I didn’t notice De La Cruz was at SS until that play.
India at DH for this one.
Weaver sporting a 96,8 MPH Fastball tonight…
ALL 3 outs by the Reds in the 1st inning were strikeouts by Disco! Just sayin’!
Poop. Thought that was out for a second for Votto.
Same
But Benson caught one and wrapped it around the pole.
There you go, Spencer
Benson burner!
Home Run by Benson! Another two run homer! 🙂
This team needs hits and runs tonight , to get that swagger back.
Okay. It’s official now. There is NO DOUBT about it. The next time we get in an offensive funk we just move Weaver up in the rotation. That’s all there is to it. 😀
It is insane how is the run support to Weaver this season…
I knew you spoke too soon. Just hope the offense keeps adding to the Weaver record
De La Cruz is absolutely lost at the plate right now.
Absolutely. He’s still worth it for his extreme glove work, but his plate discipline is completely lost.
So was benson at 1-21 with 14 K’s
So was India the last 6 weeks
So was Kyle Farmer at 0-33 last May.
So is 3/4 of the Reds offense right now.
That and lack of use by DB, for Newman, got Barrero demoted.
Man, EDLC looks as lost as ever. The proverbial rookie wall comes early for him, it seems like
EDLC needs to take a couple days off. This can’t continue, swinging at to many balls on off speed pitches, needs help
Yep. There are several other guys that could use a day off besides CES.
He’s fouling off a lot of the hittable stuff, so in tandem with the offspeed problems, a pretty garden-variety slump. I wonder if anybody follows Pete Rose’s advice of doing 1 of 4 things. Move up in the box, back in the box, closer to the plate or farther away. He was generally against swing tinkering.
Rose probably could have been a very good hitting instructor if nothing else. Too bad.
You can’t have your leadoff hitter swinging wildly at everything he sees,
Quick aside about Benson – I think I figured out why he gets thrown a lot of pitches just out of the zone when he is so good at judging them and not offering. They’re trying to get generous calls from the umps, not swings from Benson. Maybe this was obvious, but I hadn’t thought of it.
Good point. I’d have to think the scouting report on him says he has excellent strike zone recognition. It also knows the Flex-o-Zone and Bizzarro Zone are employed by a wide variety of Chumpires.
That underarm guy in Game 1 had the umps guessing.
0-2 to a BB … that’s for Dennis, I’m thinking 😀
Yes, I’m here and walks still drive me nuts!
Who’s this guy pitching for the Reds (Weaver) that’s sitting 95-97 and what did he do with the previous guy with the same name that sat 92-94 in his last outing.
95-97 is a difference maker for this new guy.
It would be a nice lift for Weaver and the team if he could get out of this inning with no runs scoring. Normally this is the type of inning when the floodgates open on him.
Well, that didn’t work out.
Floodgates are officially open… and he’s right on track to watch his ERA amazingly go up from 7.00 in another stellar outing
Keep locating that high fastball Weaver. That’s the ticket.
Shm
On the top of the zone but not in or out on the hr.
How do we let the same guy beat us every time?
He got killed by the high fastball 🙁
Add Wilmer Flores to the other 10,000 Reds killers.
Yep. We’ve got our “secret weapon” pitcher for us tonight. Going to be a lot of runs.
Wilmer Adames Flores… Unbelievable …
Weaver hurt his LEFT arm? Oh. He got hit.
Hope it’s not too serious but there goes our secret weapon.
Having to go to the pen for any reason is the ultimate tough-luck night. Did NOT need a bullpen game here. Plus it messes up the rest of the week.
Yeah, this is bad. We need multiple innings froma few guys and then Krall will have to get creative for the next two days. Pray for rain out tomorrow?!
And, of course, the batter Weaver walked is one of the 3 runs scored on Flores 2ND home run!
Yes sir, the team got to feel good for all of half of an inning… for the first time in six games they actually held a decent lead on somebody…oh well
Weaver Typical game … Very good run support to keep the game in the line while he is being crushed…
Darn, that hurts. I used another word with more conviction/sympathy but the comment is awaiting moderation, lol.
How quickly a game can turn.
Young to clean up this inning. Will he pitch the next inning as well?
Not quite sure why we’re using our only lefty this early in the game. Maybe it’s necessary?
Why would you waste your only leftie in the third inning?
Its truly mind-boggling. To be honest I’m not even sure it has even registered yet with David Bell that he just used his only left-hander and I’m dead serious.
Well. Roa is pitching for AAA Louisville tonight. He only has a 10.80 ERA. Maybe he can help. 🙂
I’m wondering how long it will take someone in the Reds organization to figure out that Weaver is the worst pitcher to ever step on a mound? Every time he goes to the mound, his ERA goes up. I I’m wondering if his ERA gets up to 15 or 20 will someone figure it out? He’s had PLENTY chances,..more than any pitcher I’ve seen. How ridiculous to keep pitching him. Just a matter of time until he gets some of the payers injured when they are teeing off on him. There it is, as I was typing. He got himself hurt. Sad. We need a new manager and whomever esle is making the decision to keep pitching him. It’s sad he’s hurt,..but it was inevitable. Hope he’s not hurt too bad. But someone needs to protect him and the rest of the team. Please don’t picth him again.
Brewers lost so the Reds can pick a game up if they win.
1/2 game since the Reds lost earlier this evening!
Gotta return the favor and mash some more stuff.
Alright, the Phillies did their part. It’s up to the Reds – gain a half game or lose it
Another night to overload the BP… It’s possibly Weaver will be out of the rotation after this very short outing…IDK…just thinking
You could see his elbow swelling.
Yeah that thing was already the size of a big lemmon on his left elbow…. probably going to hurt like hell.
It was time a long time ago. Luckily no other Reds player got hurt while he was on the mound. They couldn’t hit it any harder if it was on a tee. And that’s been the case every single time he’s pitched),..and they are still starting him. The very difinition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over and over and expect a different result. Pure insanity. He’s hurt, it’s sad to say. I’m so sorry. But maybe another infielder is spared because of that.
Disco out already?
Yeah I stepped away and came back very confused
Anyone let us know what we missed?
One can only hope that the even earlier hook tonight is a sign that enough is too much.
I don’t see the game and earlier comments hadn’t posted. Sounds as though Weaver got hurt and for that I am sorry. However, they can’t win forever with a starter giving up nearly a run per inning. Time for Weaver to be retired.
I don’t know. Maybe we can patch him up enough so he can throw one pitch so that we can score a lot of runs. 🙂
Friedl needs to do more of that.
Yeaaaaay! A bunt base hit!!! Good job Friedl!
Now take off!
Milw has 11 more with Philly/Atlanta. I doubt they win more then 4 of those.
Lorenzen is out there. Other guys are out there. We could atleast battle into September with a little help
One possible redeeming thing for us if we can break out of our funk.
If we had acquired Chapman we probably win the earlier game!
Don’t make me think about it.
Fraley doubles his OPS against lefties with the HBP
Double steal flummoxes the Giants.
Hahaha That’s what pressure does.
So the bunt hit scores. 🙂
A balk would have been preferable for SF on that one.
Friedl present day Bret Butler
You know the Brewers don’t have a great lineup, but man, the Giants have nobody. How are they winning?
They have a smart manager!
Weaver should be released after this game. Wish him the best in the future. The GM will have five games to find a replacement.
Almost gotta be bone chips or something the way it swelled up, so maybe DL.
Hematoma would be my guess
Quite likely. Possibly other broken stuff in there. Likely a 60-day stint which would mean he’s cooked for 2023 at this point.
Can’t fault Fraley for a go on contact move. He did what he was told to do.
That’s where the mistake was made,..and has been made time and time again this year. No other team goes automatically on contact from third every single time. Only the Reds do that. That’s managerial stupidity. Not just Bell either. Third base coach is also terrible. Like you say,…Fraley just did what he was told to do. How many are going to have to be thrown out at home before they change that move? Finally tonight (after time and time again), Friedl threw a run scoring base hit back to second to keep the guy from tagging up and going to 2nd. It took them 5 or 6 times to learn that,..and that one dumb move cost them more than one game this year too. Again,..dumb management. Slow learners. I have no doubt most of the folks on this board could manage MUCH BETTER than Bell and the other decision makers in this organization. We need new management from top to bottom.
That actually was close but maybe not to overturn.
Closer than I thought on that replay.
Terrible base running with nobody out, just not smart. Once again this is a poorly coached team.
there was 1 out
And it was a called contact play. Actually closer than it appeared.
my mistake
India s again. First pitch way outside but called strike and made him reach to hit the ball weakly
Same thought. Chumpire hosing the game again.
Squeeze bunt must be extinct.
Joey votto still cant hit lefties…5 years running. Glad CES is sitting
I heard that1
+1000
Wow! That was ugly JDV!
SMH harder and harder and using all of my French
Do you think Votto will, at some point, announce this as his last season ?
No need….he can collect 7 million to just walk away next year
I doubt it. Some guys want the Reds to pay him $20 million next year.
As recent as right before or during the ASG, he said that his swing is “very close”. Not sure what the target is 🙂
That running from third on contact 100% of the time is a nutty move. We’ve been thrown out time and time again on that dumb move. Other teams do NOT do that! If it’s hit in the hole, then send the runner from third. But if it’s hit hard and straight to an infielder please don’t let them get thrown out at home.
Yep. Take a delayed approach and it has a much higher chance of working.
C’mon guys! The Phillies just did us a favor by beating the Bernies!
Young has pitched really well.
Love to see a big bullpen lefty acquisition for this year and next…as I have for 4 years…smh
AG’s available. You can count on him, right? 😮
Read the MLB trade rumors on him….walk rate and control awful…. Sad…he was a great prospect. Probably could still fight the Pirates by himself tho’
Big no.
Sarcasm Font Off!!!
You can count on him to start a fight maybe. 🙂
Young the current pitcher of record for our guys in Red. Nice inning from him.
Nice inning by Young! Now time for a crooked number please!
One thing we can all agree the home plate umpires are awful and is really hurting our young hitters.
It’s worse than that IMO. It’s hurting the game. They don’t appear to learn from the mandatory review. And they vary so mulch within the same game it’s almost comical.
Hard to argue with that. They actually have a correct strike zone in AAA.
Braves gave up 12 thru 6 tonight….
….but scored 13…so far
Check out the Mets. Money can’t buy you a championship
saw it. Another crazy night in MLB
Casali, how in the world do you swing at that first pitch?
Because he was fooled by the pitch? Easiest job in MLB is the armchair player/coach.
Um, that’s not armchair coaching. Simply wondering how you swing at at ball that hits you in the leg deep in the batters box.
Casali is a wasted roster spot
Had to turn off the game watching Weaver giving up the lead.
I did some scoreboard watching, and Blake Dunn is just killing it again tonight. 3 hits 1 a triple, and 1 a HR. He seems like a legitimate option in 24 to join the OF mix. Maybe he’ll get bumped up to AAA soon.
I really can’t fathom how Bell will get the AB’s to all of the guys on the 24 team, unless we trade some guys away. I’m counting 11 non C’s that need to play everyday. Caveat that is picking up Votto’s option, but even if they don’t do that 10 everyday guys, how does that work?
Really don’t like our resources vs lefties now. They miss Newman believe it or not.
Votto, Jake, Benson, and Elly are negated pretty much. They really need CES to be a lefty punisher moving forward
I think he’s currently punishing the left side of the bench
Haha many many points to you.
ALERT ALERT ALERT — Flores is up.
Wilmer Flores-Thames
I’ll be turning into a pumpkin before too long. I figure through our half of the 5th before I need to start shutting down for the night. The late + delayed start just killed me.
Well … STINK. FISH. POT!!!
Friedl made the correct throw to 2B that time. He learned something. 🙂
Thank you very much! See. They can learn.
This is like 7 u baseball. 30 min innings. My gosh. Can we just throw throw strikes and get outs? This pitching stinks. Thankfully Weaver is done starting but his days were over a long time ago any
Way.
I’m ready to go listen to Yanni and send me to bed.
I did not realize Weaver was injured earlier. Sorry to hear about that. I came in from working in the yard and saw his stats on the game and made my comment. I would.not have said release him, if I knew there was an injury.
took a liner off his non-throwing elbow. Swelled immediately. Got to believe there is some damage done.
I guess today was a scheduled off day for CES from 30 days ago.
Maybe we can’t take a chance on disrupting the chemistry of this fine tuned hitting machine we’ve had lately. 😉
Hahaha ?
I got it. Lol
Another POOPY. We’d better score some runs.
I give up on this. The wheels are falling off. Now watch the media bash the team. Can’t wait.
Wheels falling off…what’s new
Giants taking The Law into their own hands.
The Law was not in order tonight.
And just like that, our balloons deflated again.
Last comment for tonight. I may stick for the rest of the inning because I’m just that much of a diehard, hopeful, idiot who loves these Redlegs. But the nightly shutdown begins now.
Starting to look like the Reds will give up another half game to Milwaukee,
Santillan looked great in his 1st outing. I guess the last guy only pitches in emergencies.
We have gone from must see TV, to must turn off TV. That’s what happens with a young team.
You really have to wonder who is going to be available to pitch the rest of the game, other than Santillan.
Whatever happened to the “long reliever”?
Guy who comes in pitches 3-4 innings in relief?
Bell’s use of 6-7 relievers a game is like Russian Roulette.
Someone is bound to have an off night.
This team. I’m going downstairs and making myself a drink. Are they really this bad? Weaver got KOd this time literally instead of just figuratively. Even without Buster these guys come in here and go ape s on our pitching every time
The mistake was the decision to pitch Weaver. Plenty enough evidence for anyone with common sense to understand he had no business on the mound again. He did the best he could. It’s not Weaver’s fault. The blame goes to Bell and (let me put it this way) the decison making challenged ones in the organization who kept sending him back out there game after game,..endangering the Reds players each and every time they did. Like I say,..we were lucky some of the infielders were not injured by some of the screaming 100mph liners that came off the opposing team’s bats when he was on the mound. Sad part is,..depending on how badly hurt he is, Weaver might very well take the mound again as soon as it is possible. The decision makers have proved they think he’s worthy of starting game after game, no matter how bad he is. They have not shown any inclination to understand that he can’t pitch. Put him in the outfield if you have to play him. Just for the players sake and health and welfare, don’t pitch him again. Please and thank you.
So, Law walks Flores with 2 outs and the gives up a single to Conforto on an 0-2 count! Maddening!
Man on and two outs then a walk and then an 0-2 hit.This is over so we look to tomorrow.Night all.
4 pitch walk. You come in and can’t find the plate.
Major pitching roster adjustments needed. Hate to see Weaver end his Reds career with an injury but he should never have been starting anyway. Same for Newman and Casali. Same for Buck Farmer and Derek law. Duarte isnt a playoff run pitcher either. None of those guys have any future on the next reds playoff team.
Krall needs some bullpen arms and Bell needs to stop playing Votto at 1b every day.
He’s the only veteran left….therefore….
you know the rest.
Why? Why? Why/ Why does Duarte walk the first batter he faces?
It’s a Cincinnati tradition. Like chili.
The real question should be why Bell and Johnson put up with it night after night.
Guys so often come into the game unprepared to pitch.
When they have pitching don’t have offense so now they have scored some runs but the pitching failed… that’s a very tough and awful stretch…
The Giants’ hitters are much smarter than the Reds pitchers tonight! They just scored 3 runs with 2 outs and a runner at first! How did they do that? They don’t strike out!
So does TJ getting picked off 2nd only get a pass because they botched the next throw?
Yeeeh! A hit by De La Cruz. Now score buddy.
Apparently getting picked off is stopping them from stealing now.
pitcher held him…varied delivery
Catcher has has a canon.
That was Elly’s 1st hit since the all star break…OMG!
They need to take advantage of first and second with one out. CES will pinch-hit for Fraley.
Probably Steer will move to OF to replace Fraley and CES will come in at third base.
DAM@#$ Elly and McLain and CES…now I have to stay watching.
CES pinch hitting and they bring in a righty. This is why it’s good to not have platoon players on your bench. CES can hit ether side. Hope he does. 🙂
Upper deck!!!
Beautiful isn’t it?
HOW ABOUT THAT
Good boy.
Well, Weaver?
See?
Minor leaguer taking ABs away from someone.
Yep. You got that right. Should have left him in AAA.
Wish they’d have left CES down where he belongs, right?
Yep.
Wow
There you go, Steve!!! That’s what I’m talking about!!! See now? CES!!!!!
To the people that like to sleep.
You just missed a CES BOMB
Slider away. Wow
A MINOR LEAGUER!!!!! Pinch hit three run homer!!!! Yahoo!!!! Alright CES!!!!
He knocked in the two he was used to playing with in AAA. McLain and EDLC. 🙂
Man-sized homer. Tank-sized man.
Hey Tinker Bell – CES work those things out well enough?
Bell is a clown.
Go easy….Today’s not Bell’s day.
I knew they shouldn’t have called CES up! He can only hit AAA pitching! That’s sarcasm for you night owls!
should have been here sooner
+1,000!
Yes,..much sooner!!! Same with all the rookies.
Would have liked to have CES in all of those scoreless one run losses. Oh well. He’s here now. 🙂
I can’t believe we called up CES. How could we ever justify batting him over one of the Reds “deserving” players.
🙂
Steve, Steve, Steve… just admit you’ve been hugely wrong on this whole CES thing from the beginning. Just stop now before you keep digging yourself a bigger hole than you’re already in for a very long time
Admit he was wrong?
Expect more gaslighting….he’s working on it now.
Stevie lolllllll
Yeah we near the bottom in HRs for half the season. Why should we want some of that
That was the biggest hit the Reds have had in about seven games, going back to Votto’s 3 run dinger in Milwaukee
Really good on breaking balls if you’ve watched CES’s minor league highlight reel.
That would be awesome and the exact opposite of Elly, so that would be a nice change
The guy wrote novels full of stupid nonsensical s on here. The kid put up #s and deserved to play with his peers.
End of story
Good AB by Votto.
And that is the reason this is Votto’s last year. Love the guy but CES’s time is now.
Start that boy every day!!
Anyone not want to watch these young guys? They may not win with this pitching staff but this game was over….until a 21 yo and a 23 year old and a 23 year old said no.
Wow for this old fan!
Marte “potentially” for good in 24 on the leftside.
Hinds “potentially ” in 25 if he keeps progressing in RF, power & a great arm.
Some may get swapped away, but until then.
Still have 4 innings to go! Work day for me tomorrow so I’ll have to catch up in the morning!
Laptop shut down, but I did get to see that MONSTER shot. Couldn’t have scripted it any better.
What are you doing up? I thought you were in bed. 😀
Shouldn’t the worst manager in baseball history get a little credit for pinch hitting CES for Fraley?
And not Newman?
Okay.
Vern Rapp managed the Reds for awhile.
So did Ray Knight.
So did Bryan Price and Jerry Narron. Your point?
Think about it.
Bell is a bad manager, maybe not the worst in the world, or in Reds’ history.
I never said he’s a great manager, but he’ll be at the helm at least 2 more seasons. Knowing that, the constant bashing gets old. It’s not going to change the fact his family is deeply entwined in Reds baseball and he’ll be the manager for a while longer.
Steer is having a nice game and starting to come out of his funk. That last ball he hit was crushed, thought for sure it was off the wall when it left the bat for an RBI double
Foul homer the AB before
Some of us are going to be up late. 😉
Is it really only the 6th inning?
CES will never play 3B in the majors. Oh wait! There he is! hahaha 😀
Just playin with ya Steve but you have to admit you set yourself up buddy. 🙂
I’ll declare a truce on my part. CES is up and that’s that. I just don’t understand the delay, but this isn’t their year anyway
To say he set himself up is the understatement of the century. He wrote page after page defending his position with all kinds of nonsensical drivel. CES might knock the cover off the ball…. or he might go into a horrific slump and make a bunch of errors, but that’s not the point. He crushed it in AAA all year and I’m just glad he finally got the call he deserved. If he gives the Reds offense a boost all the better. Either way, he is very likely our first baseman of the future so he might as well start learning now.
It makes you wonder if the reason that CES wasn’t up earlier was because Bell didn’t want him up. I couldn’t believe it when I saw that he wasn’t in the lineup. My first thought was “he must be hurt or sick”. No other reason made any sense. At least he had the sense to put him in when the game was on the line. The kid needs to be in the lineup almost every day. His pinch hit homer does support the argument, that many have been making, that resting a player instead of DHing them improves our late game pinch hitting.
“ It makes you wonder if the reason that CES wasn’t up earlier was because Bell didn’t want him up” – No, it doesn’t slightly make me wonder that.
He very well might have wanted him up. Most managers want the best players. It’s just that simple. But why do you think he wouldn’t start the kid in his second game? I think most would agree that it was a very strange decision.
How many of those 1 run losses could have been wins with one swing of the bat by a hitter? Then the same Bell (and whomever esle) is still starting Weaver. Amazing! We need new management,..maybe someone who has an ounce of common sense,… like most of the fans have.
Just my opinion, but Bell likely has zero to do with Weaver being one of the 5 starters
It was mentioned on the TV broadcast yesterday that CES was down as long as he was because he was challenged by the front office to cut down on his chase rate — chasing pitches out of the strike zone. His was one of the worst in the minors. He improved on that and also his defense while he was down.
Just watching his approach at the plate his first five or so at bats he looks to me like he’s going to be a much better hitter overall than Elly is long term.
No doubt about it. CES is a hitter. Elly strikes out way too much!!! Hopefully with time, he’ll cut down on his Ks.
Are we looking at the Reds best possible infield right now?
Offensively, probably. Defensively, maybe not?
CES isn’t a fast runner but he does have some agility, decent footwork from the little I’ve seen. Not sure how much his injury has affected it.
Well, maybe not. From what I have seen so far this year. McClain is a better SS than EDLC.
I’m starting to like EDLC at 3B A LOT.
Me too!
And the bonehead play in the field continues
I’ve been saying McLain is a smoother SS. If they get rid of India next year then that’s another story, but Elly 3B McLain SS is solid
That’s what can happen when you take the chance of moving players mid-season to new positions. Can each play the position? Sure. But, it’s the interaction with them, on plays that they are going to have. That can be just as key. And, it could cost a game.
Just hope it doesn’t.
what?
They’ve been playing SS and 2B all year together.
You’re making stuff up again
Your confusion continues from one topic to the next.
You’re unstoppable!
🙂
I have no clue why bringing in Farmer there. DD was doing the job. Elly and McL (take your pick) messed that play up.
Clue = 25 pitches
Ought oh. Flores with the bases loaded.
A sacrifice double play? Oooo.
Woah. Good relay throw by Benson to Votto and then good throw by Votto to nail him at 3B. Cool 🙂
That’s how it’s done correctly. Good job.
Well, at least we know CES can stand at 3rd base.
Sorry, misread the play.
Keep digging.
Huh?
Here’s a new topic for you: Maile should never play shortstop.
Ever.
Run with it.
That should keep you busy for a dozen or so posts.
🙂
Another play where Elly in RF might’ve helped. I think he catches that game winning 2 out hit in front of Fraley the other day
Interesting time to bring Farmer into the game considering how he’s basically been like a torch to a gas can lately…and of course the first thing he does is walk the 2 hitter to load them with 1 out and bring up the guy who’s already hit to home runs and driven in four. That is some good work there Mr Farmer. But he caught a huge break on a ball hit really hard to right field, so we get lucky and now going to the bottom of the inning tied up.
Benson hit the cutoff
Jimmy Duggan would be proud.
I thought we weren’t supposed to have long games anymore. 🙂
Zero reason casali is hitting here! We have two catchers on thr bench. Hit senzel or Stephenson.
Of course he gets a hit lol. Bell is a savant.
It’s only 6th inning. And no one on base. This is not the time to pinch hit for him.
Casali says my work for July is now done
No pinch runner for Casali? Seriously? 19 catchers on the bench and Bell doesn’t pinch run.
It’s 6th inning
So?
It’s in Elly’s head because he was walking a lot when he came up
De La Cruz is pressing too hard. Needs a day off probably.
If we didn’t have a third catcher then maybe Fairchild could pinch run here. Turned out it didn’t matter.
I think Fairchild is a good piece for this team and I would also probably rather have him than Casali, who I’ve always liked but it’s hard to see how he generates more of an advantage in value.
Freidl is lost in funky town. He needs a few days off
He’s not the only one.
Both teams have struck out 11 times through six innings.
I have as many “favorite Reds” as I did in 1990, definitely out of balance to the offensive side by comparison to then. Oh, to have the lefty Norm Charlton to plug into this staff, was very good at keeping the ball in the yard. And Dibble, well Alexis has been amazing, but Dibble struck out almost as much per 9 and did it over 98 innings. Little crazy but put it all on the field and the energy fed back from the fans to the team.
Lost in the shuffle before McLain single Jake Hr earlier, Freidl was 3-2 and fouled 3 ball 4s in a row before a K
The unsung hero of tonight is Weaver. Our “ace in the hole” when it comes to scoring runs. Wish him well in healing/recovery.
Farmer is clearly not the same picture he was a month ago and Bell needs to stop using him in high leverage situations like this one. He got lucky last inning and he looks bad this inning. He’s looked really bad most of the last three or so weeks every time he’s pitched.
He’s out of arms though. They have so many close games and Weaver usually gets bombed by the 4th inning
nope, fernando cruz could help
Your starter’s out in the 3rd due to injury, this is the second game of the day, and every inning has been high leverage. What were Bell’s choices?
Better get him out asap… he’s getting ready to take a blow torch to this game
I was really hoping the Reds would have hung onto Sabol when the picked him up in the Rule 5 Draft. Seems like a nice player.
We need a reliever or 2 from Krall in the worst way. Milwaukee and Miami lost. We miss Gallen this weekend. If we can score and win some games then it’s worth adding a few guys without draining the farm system
3or 4 in my opinion. These guys are gassed.
Yet again, reliever comes in and walk the first batter they face. Completely unacceptable.
SMH
That’s some fantastic relief pitching right there.
Why does it seem that Johnson is always a batter late?
Why the slider?
Dumb by Bell, Casali & Santillan. Dumb.
Bell?
Yes,..Bell. And Casali and Santillan.
Im lost.
Santillan zero command. Cant throw strikes and throw a 3-2 slider with the bases loaded in the dirt ? What?
How in the hell does he throw sliders on the last two batters 3-2 and both of them are low and in the dirt to load the bases and then walk the run in. What are they doing?????
Walked in a run. 8 and 9 hole hitters. A slider on 3-2 to 9 hole who is hitting .225. 8 hole .200. This is ridiculous.
Oooooh my. Good thing Dennis isn’t still up after walking in a run. smh
Unbelievable! I really hope the Reds don’t retain Derek Johnson.
DJ was proud of all of the swings and misses that inning.
Can’t hit and ruin solid pitching. Now we hit a bunch of big HRs with guys on and blow every single lead. Error really hurt too
Seriously, what did Bell think Tony was going to be able to do that Farmer couldn’t do?
Just a mistake of a manager.
I finally agree with you on something. He should have left Farmer in. But that’s Bell for you. He’s good for many of those in a season. Dumb moves that cost us the game.
The amount of boneheaded things that this team does on a regular basis is mine numbing. I also can’t believe that Bell was not the one calling that pitch there to walk the run in.
I’m done. Enough of this s.
This is like Robert Stephenson 4 years ago….He threw all sliders to a pitcher with the bases loaded and walked in a run against a pitcher because he couldn’t throw a fastball for a strike. Santillan is done.
reds bullpen is done.
I guess that’s why we keep Casali on the Roster. So he can call for a 3-2 slider with bases loaded in a tie game. It was his veteran presence.
Bell managed this one perfectly. Pitiful. Dumb. Another loss, thanks to management.
According to many on this forum, Casali is going to be the next John McGraw some day.
Haha typical. Give up the lead on crappy pitching and then he gets the out. Have a seat jumbo
Well. Got to score some more runs. Plenty of time.
Yep, Rally Reds time. But I have a flight at 5:30 in the morning. They need to do it this inning. I’m fading fast.
Man. Short night.
Lets put on the Rally Hats Melvin
I don’t generally like a “cold” reliever brought in for those situations. By the time he finds himself, the damage is done.
Exactly unless it’s a proven star veteran and there are not many of them.
Sadly, I think I’m watching the real Reds lately
Barrero with another HR down on the farm. Crazy.
Amazing what consistent playing time can do for a talented young player.
I still hope Barrero gets traded and gets to play for a manager who actually appreciates him and his talent. David Bell is quite obviously not that guy.
I think Santillan’s time with the Reds is likely coming to an end this year if I had to guess.
I sure hope Antone is anywhere close to the P he was before when he finally comes back from his latest surgery, cuz that was the last guy we had in the bullpen who was a total stud who was not a closer.
Alright. My man McLain gets the inning started off right.
That Minor Leaguer with another hit. :)…to RF.
India with another DP…Uuuuuh!
I can take losses. I can understand I don’t always know what’s going on in the background, etc.
But, why pull Farmer there? I just don’t see what was Tony going to be able to do that Farmer couldn’t do?
And, not that Farmer wouldn’t have done just as good or bad. Just trying to understand that substitution by Bell. It simply doesn’t make sense to me.
Now you know how we feel when we read your posts.
You just can’t read, Harry.
Probably be better, Harry, to keep your not-even-sophomoric contents to yourself. You’re just showing how much of a man, professional, etc., you aren’t.
India…so tired of him. I can’t remember a guy hitting into so many inning crushing double plays over such a short span of time
He needs to learn how to bunt to be productive when he’s in a slump.
He needs to be moved back to leadoff, where he did have success before Bell’s experiment, to the bottom of the order, or off the team, to another team who will utilize him wisely.
That’s what I love about CES. He usually all parts of the field. Impressive.
I’m starting to worry that the Reds are going to completely cancel out their 12 game winning streak…
uses
India ends another rally
India like Brandon Phillips end of career…6-4-3 double play machine,.
Nice to see CES do the same with that kind of pitch that he did in AAA. Castellanos did that well when he was hot.
CES is a good hitter not just a power hitter.
India is killing us! Every since they started “flattening his swing” he has struggled and rolled into a ton of double plays. He needs to bunt and move down to 8-9 immediately.
He needs to be moved back to leadoff, where he was having success before Bell’s experiment, to the bottom of the order, or off the team, to another team, where he would be utilized wisely.
That three hit game probably bought him another 20 straight starts hitting in the 5 hole.
Ubangi Stomp
Needed that Votto. Would have been better if India didn’t hit into a killing DP
VOTTO!!!! Two run homer!!!! 😀 Opposite field!
Nice! No quit in this team. They may not win but they keep plugging away!
Man Steer is on verge of breaking out.
This has been a typical Weaver pitched game.
Lol. Bell why do you keep Weaver in the starting rotation? Bell- Because he keeps us in the game.
hahaha
Like I have been saying, Votto should be moved up to hitting 3rd and India needs to drop way down in the lineup. Steer is definitely swinhing it good again. Not much to show for it except some loud outs and a ball to the wall in right… but it’s coming around for him.
I kind of like Votto where he is. He’s too inconsistent that I think moving him up would kill some rallies.
He should be batting at least 5th. Agree with another poster and ive also said before here that india should be batting 7th or so. Move steer up the order.
Definitely agree with India moving down. I’d move Benson and Steer up myself.
Votto is great 6 hole hitter against righties. CES plays b agasint lefties. Votto cant hit lefties and hasn’t since 2018 and shouldn’t play.
Yes.
India should be hitting 8 or 9. I just don’t understand Bell’s insistence on putting him in spots in the order which are going to require higher RBI producers…. and he is the exact opposite of that….an RBI black hole, rally crusher
Yep I hit Steer 5th.
Alex Blandino might be good for an inning? Where is he?
Well we fought back. Which reliever is going to come in and add some gasoline now?
Oh great 2 innings out of Santillan. Buckle up everyone.
This young infield is so good that India might join Senzel on the bench soon. 1B – Votto, 2B – McClain, SS – De La Cruz. 3B – CES. CES gives them the extra power this team needs. India is a good leader. They will find playing time for all of them. Three to four days on, one day off…
India on the bench a lot more would absolutely be an upgrade with the current infield we have. He’s by far the worst defensive player in the infield and other than yesterday’s little blip offensively he’s been basically dreadful hitting for most of 2 months…a huge negative
I guess we’ll agree to disagree. I believe he has the highest slugging percentage on the team, highest OPS and he has the highest percentage of hard hit balls. He’s also hit 3 for most of a likely Hall of Fame career, the one guy on this team who is comfortable in that spot.
Agreed Bell’s batting India 3rd and now 5th has really hurt this team. Win or lose at least they scored some runs. They need big games from Ashcraft and Abbott the next couple days to get back on track.
Woah! That minor leaguer made a good play at 3B. 😀
Others deserved to make that play….it wasn’t fair.
What kind of message does this send to all the utility players around the league? Don’t sign with the Reds. They might play some MiLer instead of you.
Stop it! hahaha 😀
Sheeesh. Another walk.
Now let’s go back in time, DFA Casali, and bring up CES for the Milwaukee games. Then go out and trade for a halfway decent starter who can actually pitch 6 or 7 halfway decent innings every fifth day. Imagine where this team could be if they’d been just a bit more serious about trying to win every game…
I agree with the move, but what pitcher are you getting?
Virtually every starting pitcher in the major leagues would be an upgrade over the guy who started this game for the Reds. Is ANY team in major league baseball willing to make a reasonable trade for ANY starting pitcher? If so, that’s the guy I’m getting.
Yep… you look at how little offense it would have taken to win three more of those Milwaukee games and CES definitely could have been the difference between Wins and losses…but we’ll never know because our management was out to lunch
Bingo!!! Right on the money. Our management was out to lunch early on this season when they kept Elly and Matt and Abbott in AAA, and was dtermined to play Myers when he was striking out time after time and killing rally after rally. Someone in management who is/was making those decisions shouldbe relieved of that job.
The pitchers are there for the taking. Rebuilding teams want good prospects. GM: Keep your top ten prospects. You can keep Hinds as well. The future will still be good. Do not trade the good pitchers we just drafted, either.
I suggested the same during the break (calling up CES and letting Casali go), although I’m not sure if I would’ve thrown him right in on Friday against Burnes, but in hindsight it couldn’t have hurt.
Santillan had been good in his other 2 appearances….I was OK with him coming in for Buck wild. He was awful though, but that is hindsight.
Whoever called the 3-2 slider should be fined.
You I could feel the slider coming to . I was yelling at the TV please don’t throw the slider.
Wow. Great catch by Friedl against the wall. Poor Senzel would be out on the IL on that play.
We are still 2 years from being a team that can make a deep run in the playoffs. Not enough depth with pitching to survive in the pitch clock era. We could use some more LH bats. It has been a good run but it looks like the second half swoon is here
They’ll have money to spend in the offseason. No reason they can’t be one of the top teams in baseball next year.
2 years? Nah, they can address all the shortcomings in the offseason, then next year it’s all systems go.
The window was always set to open next season. With all the young players getting MLB experience this year, I see no reason why they won’t be ready to really make a run at it next season.
I think we are one managerial change away from a deep run. Only Bell could have managed to lose this game. One bonehead move after another,..just as many as it took to lose the game. Jmo.
I hope I’m wrong when I say. . .
The Reds will not win any kind of pennant with Bell as manager.
Again we agree. Amazing!
Anyone else read that the Phillies may show some interest for Senzel as utility depth?
Ugh if only higher but well hit. Mighty Mac at the plate.
When I look at Elly and his approach at the plate I’m wondering why any team would ever throw him anything other than Breaking balls. He seems to be so far off from reading the breaking balls correctly or coming even close to hitting them hard with zero improvement…actually getting worse. I’m starting to wonder if he’ll ever be able to hit breaking balls or lay off of them.
Elly’s biggest issue is he chases pitches that are low and inside. Everyone seems to know this. If he can learn to lay off those pitches, he’ll be much harder to get out.
I agree, but the thing I’m starting to get kind of worried about is Elly knows this too…. yet he still can’t stop swinging at balls that are 2 ft off the strike zone in the dirt…over and over and over. When you have this big of a weakness in your hitting I think its really tough to totally fix it because I think its his vision that is1 the problem. I don’t remember seeing a guy that had these kind of issues when he came up that eventually turned into a really good hitter and conquered that problem, because the Pitching up here is too good and they will just pound that weakness relentlessly. So if his eyes can’t eventually pick up the spin sooner he is virtually helpless against it. Sure hope that’s not the case with Elly.
He’s not hitting fast balls either. He’s got a hole in his bat. He’s taking too many strikes right down the heart of the plate. If anyone needs three swings, it’s Elly. He’s killing us. He’s an automatic out,..usually a K. He needs to sit until he can learn to put a bat on the ball.
Daivd Bell. Genius again! Another pinch hit decision that comes through. 🙂
He needs to stop doing the right thing at the right time.
Well I wouldn’t have done it there with no outs and nobody on with Friedl up but I’m glad it worked. 🙂 Stephenson seems to do well as a pinch hitter.
Poop. Good hit right at the LF.
At least he hit it. eDLC whiffed at all the pitches right now
When it’s going bad it’s really going bad. McClain just absolutely scorches a ball on a line curving away but right at the left fielder, so instead of the game tied up with CES coming up and the winning run in scoring position you go to the 9th down one. Well at least we appear to be out of our offensive slump.
Yeah, balls are not bouncing our way right now
See, something like that is why I talk about I can take losses. I can’t take mistakes. If everything dependent upon McLain’s AB there, I’m satisfied. We lose? No problem. For, I don’t consider that a mistake. It was just an unfortunate result.
Why was Santillan used instead of Cruz? Bell’s managing is just not very smart and he never shows any sense of urgency.
I’m still wondering why even pull Farmer? I mean, what was Bell thinking that Tony could do that Farmer couldn’t do?
Yep. No reason to take Farmer out at that point in the game, just to bring in a wild card. And I mean a “wild” card,..no pun intended.
You are correct in your assessment, Mark. Bell was wrong again.
Only David Bell could manage to lose this game. Any other manager would have won the game. He had to make one bonehead move after another after another in order to lose this one.
Reds will need at least 6 or 7 innings from Ashcraft tomorrow, the BP is depleted at all…Maybe to call some guys up from Louisville…
Try not to say “call some guys up from Louisville” again. I’m just tired of hearing that. Though I understand what you mean in this case.
Hit eem! Fall down India!
We’ll take an infield hit. 🙂
Come on Joey.
My boy Steer up.
Good at bat after falling behind 0-2. Got the winning run on and the tying run in scoring position.
Good AB by Votto. Wish he would have cranked it but we’ll take a walk.
That’s a real pooper.
Just like the Brewers, the Giants are simply a very good, well coached team.
SF caught some breaks and right now the Reds can’t buy one. Is what it is, onto tomorrow
The key there being well coached. In games like these last 6 coaching matters and the Reds have the worst manager in baseball and it’ not even close.
Yep. Lots of 1-run losses the Braves, Brewers and now Giants. Where the manager really makes a difference.
Yes, Mark. He’s the worst. We finally have the talent, but we can’t continue to win games in spite of dumb managerial moves. Bell is the best player the opposing team puts on the field.
I mean, I don’t believe there was an All-Star amongst their starting 8. But, with all their players, again, just like the Brewers, they play sound fundamental baseball. They aren’t going to make mistakes that costs them. Not just the players, but the managers, the coaches, the scouting, everyone. You are going to have to beat them.
The Giants not very good, but they are sound and well managed. Deadline deals going to be very interesting.
Still at least 2 pitchers short, perhaps 3, but there’s enough talent on offense to avoid another losing streak like this. Very difficult to fix fundamentals at this point.
Wow… Steer hit that one pretty hard too and I thought it was into center field to tie it. But instead it was a really easy double play right at the 2nd baseman to end the game. Cya tomorrow
6 in a row. Really tough stretch here to try to get back on a winning streak. At least the bats came alive.
Are you ready for even more baseball?
Because you’re about to get even more baseball.
Guess not.
I’M READY!!!! 😀
Reds forgot how to win after ASG. Find every possible way to lose.
Krall should abandon trades until the off season. This team, while more fun than recent teams, doesn’t have the experience, pitching, and coaching to be competitive. Instead of being a half game out after tonight, it’s 2 1/2. They need a greater sense of urgency every day and that’s not going to happen with Bell.
I wouldn’t even say a “sense of urgency”. I just don’t see sound fundamental baseball. So many people look at the highlight reels and try to use that to prove this team is sound. That’s the highlight reels. What’s going on the rest of the time? That’s what those people don’t ever listen for or watch.
Like Elly, for example, he steals 3 bases on 2 pitches. . .Whoopee!!! I was cheering myself. But, then, last night, he gets picked off 2nd, which could very well, if not did, cost us the game.
Or Bell bringing in a reliever just to make 3-5 pitches, just to get the last out of an inning, just to bring in a new reliever from a bullpen he knows is already taxed as it is.
This simply isn’t a fundamentally sound, well coached team.
>>>Or Bell bringing in a reliever just to make 3-5 pitches, just to get the last out of an inning, just to bring in a new reliever from a bullpen he knows is already taxed as it is.
We agree there too. Right on the money. If you bring in enough relievers, eventually one (or more) is going to be wild and/or get shelled. If a guy pitches 4 pitches and gets you out of the inning, send him back out. It’s unbelievably dumb not to. But that’s Bell for you. Unbelievably dumb.
Agree. We are more than one player away. Also not enough experience.
Yes, LDS!!! Thanks you. Bingo.
I think it’s best to just stop watching these guys until something positive happens. Too much stress after seeing how good they could be and now this. Not worth it. Have fun guys.
They now stand at 50 and 46 and 2 and 1/2 back. Only 7 and 1/2 ahead of the dreaded Cardinals who are playing well. However baseball is a game of streaks so let’s all hope this is the end of the Reds losing streak.
Looks like the “Reds are in 1st place!” narrative really got to some of the players and they cracked under the pressure.
That, and the Reds are playing some really good teams. So far, the young Reds have not risen to the challenge.
Still, if you had asked most fans before the season if they’d be happy with the Reds being 4 games over .500 and 2 1/2 out of 1st place on July 19th, I’m guessing a lot of them would give a definitive “yes”.
Now let’s go back in time and replace Weaver with any halfway decent major league starter, and replace Casali with virtually any position player in Louisville. Having two guys on the active roster who don’t actually contribute anything is just beyond silly. This was yet another game where a couple relatively simple roster changes could very well have made the difference between winning and losing, but this team refuses to make them for some weird reason.
>>> This was yet another game where a couple relatively simple roster changes could very well have made the difference between winning and losing, but this team refuses to make them for some weird reason.
It’s very poor management. That’s the weird reason. They only make a smart move when every single Reds fan begs, pleads, and lobbies them to do it for weeks and even months. That’s how McLain, Elly, Abbott and CES finally got up here to the Bigs. The fans were demanding it for so long, they finally relented and brought them up. The Reds management is the last to know or understand the most simple common snese move. They have to be browbeat to make it. And by the time they do, we’ve lost several winnable games. The Reds would be way ahead in first place if they had just done what most of the fans pleaded with them to do from the first day of the season,..and that is, bring up this young talent, and lose these hitless wonders and broke arm pitchers. They have cost us the divsion title with their boneheadedness.
I wish people would drop the “youth” stuff. “Young teams” don’t win games. “Old teams” don’t win games. “The best offense” doesn’t win games. “The best defense” doesn’t win games. “The best team” wins games.
I have no problem with young players, just like I have no problem with losses. I have problems with mistakes. Like the Elly/McLain handoff? Sound fundamental players don’t make that mistake. As a result, a bit later, a run scored. People talked about Friedl missing the cutoff man the other day, allowing the tying or winning run to get into scoring position.
How many runs did we lose by?
Heck of a game. Glad to see that the hitting may be finally waking back up. We’ve lost 6 straight, 7-of-8, and I believe 6-of-the-7 have been 1-run games. That’s wild! There’s so much negativity in the comments yours think every loss was a blowout and we were looking like the Pirates from the early 00s. We have called up 12 players that made their MLB debut this season. We had 3 rookies in the infield at one point, and 4 (+ Steer, who’s practically one) on the field, late in the game when it mattered. Everyone, please take two deep breaths and calm down. Yeah, the Reds may have accelerated the timeline, but only a little. And we’re still 2 starters and at least one more reliever away. So breathe out, enjoy the experience of watching these kids learn how to be major leaguers as we also say (potentially) goodbye to one of the best Reds hitters EVER, in Mister Joseph Daniel Votto, who still bangs! Woohoo #350, 2nd all time for Reds homers!