Welcome to a Thursday matinee Reds fans. Today the Reds seek to gain a split in the final game of their 4 game series with the Giants at GABP. And yes, this weekday matinee is a bit out of the ordinary as it is not a getaway day for the Reds. Instead of hitting the road after today’s game, the Reds will remain in town for a weekend series with Diamondbacks.
Starting Lineups
| GIANTS
SP: Alex Cobb |
REDS
SP: Andrew Abbott |
| 1. Austin Slater (LF) 2. Wilmer Flores (1B) 3. Mike Yastrzemski (RF) 4. Patrick Bailey (C) 5. Luis Matos (CF) 6. Joc Pederson (DH) 7. David Villar (3B) 8. Casey Schmitt (SS) 9. Brett Wisely (2B) |
1. Elly De La Cruz (SS) 2. T.J. Friedl (CF) 3. Spencer Steer (3B) 4. Jake Fraley (RF) 5. Jonathan India (2B) 6. Joey Votto (1B) 7. Christian Encarnacion-Strand (DH) 8. Will Benson (LF) 9. Luke Maile (C) |
Matt McLain sits as the rotation plan to accommodate the arrival of Encarnacion-Strand continues. Speaking of CES, when does he get moved into a juicer RBI spot???
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB% | K% |
| Alex Cobb (R) | 95.2 | 2.82 | 1.317 | 5.7% | 22.4% |
| Andrew Abbott (L) | 47.2 | 2.45 | 1.007 | 8.6% | 27.3% |
| Links: Alex Cobb’s Stats | Andrew Abbott’s Stats |
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Andrew Abbott
Where would the Reds be if Andrew Abbott had not made his meteoric rise from Class AA to the Reds this year? Let’s not even contemplate that at this point since he did make that rise and has become the mainstay of a Reds rotation rocked by injuries Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo.
Today Abbott makes his 9th MLB start. Not only has Abbott been effective saving for one start back on July 7, he has also pitched deep into games averaging just a wisp less than 6 inning per start. While the Reds have won 6 of Abbott’s 8 starts, both losses have come in his last two outings. However his most recent start was a quality start despite the Reds losing the game.
If there is a concern with Abbott, it would be that he has allowed 5 home runs in his last 3 starts. Nonetheless, except for the July 7th game, Abbott has avoided serious damage due to not allowing very many runners to reach base ahead of the long balls.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 151 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 38 | .194 | .278 | .396 |
| LHH | 36 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 13 | .167 | .167 | .250 |
Nobody has done serious damage to Abbott; but, he has been kryptonite versus LH hitters. He has yet to allow a walk to a LH hitter; and, 36% of plate appearances by LH hitters against him have ended in strike outs.
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | Change | Curve | Slider | |
| Velo | 92.9 | 86.7 | 80.7 | 83.0 |
| Usage | 49.9% | 15.6% | 18.0% | 16.5% |
Abbott throws his 4 seamer about half the time. The other half of his pitches are almost equally spread among change ups, curves and sliders. He mixes pitches and locations to keep hitters off balance.
Alex Cobb
If you’ve heard very little of Alex Cobb, it may be because prior to 2022, he spent the first 10 seasons of his MLB career in the American League with Tampa (6 years), Baltimore (3 years), and a single season with the LA Angels.
The journeyman righthander has a career ERA 8% better than league average. However in his year and half in the NL his ERA is 21% better than league average including a whopping 51% better than league average this season.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 202 | 49 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 62 | .253 | .279 | .407 |
| LHH | 205 | 54 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 29 | .292 | .356 | .362 |
Cobb’s handedness splits are a mixed bag. He is markedly more prone to walking LH hitters; and, they also have a higher batting average against him. Hence, their much higher OBP. However RH hitters do more slugging damage against Cobb.
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | Sinker | Splitter | Slider | Curve | |
| Velo | 95.2 | 94.5 | 89.8 | 86.2 | 83.5 |
| Usage | 0.6% | 41.7% | 35.5% | 6.3% | 15.9% |
Cobb features an unusual repertoire. While he throws some variety of a fastball on nearly 78% if his pitches, he very rarely throws a true 4 seamer. Instead in relatively equal portions, he serves up sinkers and splitters. In addition to its diving action, look for the splitter to provide a change of pace dimension off his sinker. He prefers his curve as his primary breaking ball over his slider. He appears to use the slider off the splitter for pace and movement variation.
Bullpens
REDS
The back end of the Reds pen could be problematical today. Alexis Diaz, Lucas Sims, and Ian Gibaut all worked an inning Wednesday night. In addition to the short turnaround for today, all three worked on Tuesday. Diaz however has thrown only ~25 pitches in those last 2 appearances. He could be a go for today. Gibaut had higher pitch counts both Tuesday and Wednesday and is almost certainly out for today,
GIANTS
The Giants appear to be in better shape for today than the Reds. They used only one reliever, Ryan Walker (no known relation to yours truly), for 2 innings on Wednesday. Count him out for today.
When and Where
- Game time: 12:35pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 88°, cloudy, 39% chance of rain
Worth Noting
Any and everyone feeling down hearted about the turn of events with the Reds since the All Star break, please take note of this
50 years ago today, the #Reds were 7.5 games back.
They would go on to win the west by 3.5 games. pic.twitter.com/k4oKd6M1Mc— Cam Miller ? (@cammillerfilms) July 20, 2023
Keep up with the Reds draft pick signings on our companion site, Reds Minor Leagues
NL Central Standings
| TEAM | W/L | W% | GB | WCGB | Last 10 |
| Brewers | 53-43 | .552 | – | – | 7-3 |
| Reds | 51-46 | .526 | 2.5 | 2 | 3-7 |
| Cubs | 45-50 | .474 | 7.5 | 7 | 5-5 |
| Cardinals | 43-53 | .462 | 10 | 9.5 | 8-2 |
| Pirates | 42-54 | .428 | 11 | 10.5 | 2-8 |
CES should see some good pitches with Benson hitting behind him.
True but I like to see the power plant spotted after the 2-3 highest OBP guys. That should increase his chances of hitting with men on base no matter how the lineup rotation works out within the game in regard to which spots bat leading off an inning.
I would probably drop India to 7th and put CES 4th or 5th in that lineup today. For me it is tough to put Fraley in cleanup because they’ll swap him out for Senzel if a LH pitcher comes in then later in the game, there sits Senzel in the catbird seat but probably facing a RH pitcher if the game is on the line in the 8th, 9th or extra innings.
I want Fraley near the top of the lineup where his 146 OPS+ is getting at least 3 PAs and maybe 4 against Cobb. I’m not constructing the lineup for hypotheticals in the last 2-3 innings. You react to the game at that point, and hopefully Fraley’s 3-4 PAs will have served the team well by then.
I agree Jim.
4th or 5th would fit his makeup & resume production of whom he is.
They tried EDLC there and it never felt right based on his speed and intangibles. CES is built for that power surge role.
Don’t understand India in the 5th spot.
One thing I will say about this lineup. . .it can be hard to determine where each batter could/should go. For, each are so deserving to be up in the order. I mean, on a given day, you could have 7 or 8 guys in the lineup who deserve to be higher in the order. But, that means someone needs to be 7th or 8th in the order.
Reds starting pitching has been very good lately. If that continues, we will be in great shape as our offense is too good and just experiencing a little lull. Could happen any day for the offense to bounce back, thinking today is the day, despite Cobb pitching.
Just need a win, baby!
Doesn’t matter how you get it
Yeah, we need to stack some wins and rebuild momentum & regain their confidence.
Expected pitching duels sometimes turn into 9-8 HR fests. Still, don’t expect that today – thinking this will be a blowout for one side.
Books aren’t expecting a pitching duel. Total for the game is 9.5
Once again, the Reds will have to overcome Bell’s unwillingness to create a lineup based on the players’ actual performances in actual baseball games. And the best “justification” for this ridiculousness (along with his numerous other bad decisions) is something along the lines of “it probably won’t make much of a difference.” The same rationale can be used to defend the three-catcher roster, keeping guys in the minors longer than they need to be there, sending Weaver out to pitch every five days, waiting until the very last possible second to make a trade (or not making one at all), bringing up relief pitches who have almost no chance of getting guys out (but are well rested!), etc. All of these “probably won’t make much of a difference” choices probably don’t make much of a difference individually, but could certainly add up to a pretty significant difference by the end of the season, and could be enough of a difference to mean missing the playoffs. If a player is clearly not even trying to give 100% effort day after day after day, people get very upset at that player, but when the people at the top of the organization don’t seem to be giving 100% effort, a lot of fans (and media) seem to just shrug and say “it probably doesn’t make much of a difference.” Just drives me nuts. It’s probably not the way to establish a winning culture.
I believe the players are trying. I can even understand “experimenting” with them.
But, the India experiment has gone on WAY TOO LONG. He needs to be moved back to leadoff, to the bottom of the order, or DFA/traded to a team that’s going to utilitize him to his fullest potential. It’s obvious he simply isn’t a 3 hole (now 5 hole) hitter.
Just like the “experiment” of Benson being at the bottom of the order. He only leads the Reds in every important offensive category for over the last 30 days. I could realistically see putting him up in the order “for a week or two”. If it doesn’t work out, then he simply didn’t have the mentality for it (just like India) and move him back down. But, there is no justification for putting him at the bottom of the order.
Settled in for the afternoon. Just a couple of meetings, so I’ll be able to watch and comment a bit. Sam said it well in the pre-game. A split in this series will feel like a win.
Let’s get ’em early and often and then the boys can take a breather tonight ahead of the Snake infestation coming.
Welsh is decent in the booth, but I personally miss the Cowboy.
I like Brantley the best too. Adds more technical insight.
Welsh is just a little bland by comparison.
with spice on top
“Guess EDLC may not be the fastest man in the world.” Usain Bolt
+500 😀
At least not on a soft track. Home team advantage wasn’t taken advantage of by the grounds crew 😉
The giant catchers frame and then hold pitches. I think some umpires are influenced by this lingering of the mitt in the strike zone. I guess it works given the info about giant catcher framing stats posted on the board yesterday. I don’t think any of our catchers are better than average in terms of catching skills.
The ump was last night
So the better catchers exploit the lazy Chumpires. I agree we should do that. But the bigger problem is the lazy Chumpires and their Flex-o-Zone/Bizzarro Zone. Double down on that for outside/inside bad calls.
Just like that call on Votto. Ump knows he blew it or he would have thrown him out for popping off. He likely told Joey he missed it.
We have not gotten anything from EDLC in a long time, definitely not since he moved to lead off spot. Lead off hitters are contact hitters and smart base runners. EDLC is neither. Being fast does not equate to good base runner.
+1000
Efficient inning from Abbott. And Cobb didn’t look entirely focused in the first inning. Time to do some damage.
Agree. Get some run on the board early. That strategy worked last night didn’t it? 🙂
Another stupid strike. Votto upset.
Booth seemed to think it was Cobb quick-pitching him. The ridiculous strike call didn’t help any.
Maybe but the pitch was CLEARLY high.
Votto saying Cobb quick-pitched him?
Fix for that is for the guys to mash him. Well, maybe in the 3rd inning.
Come on Joe you might be mad but no excuse for not hustling. It was strike two. Heck I used to tell my high school players that they could expect one bad call per at bat just don’t let it effect the rest of the at bat or let them make it strike three (in other words if it’s close hit it)..
That call was awful. One of the worst I’ve seen in awhile. It also got me wondering about AAA. I know the narrative has been that the pitching at that level is really bad, but the auto strike zone may also just favor hitters a lot because they have a really good idea of what is a strike or not. Clearly that call rattled Votto and affected the outcome of the at bat in a way that wouldn’t happen with the auto zone.
Get in the zone, Auto Zone.
Regardless of the complaining about the umpire a veteran can’t let a bad call on strike two to ruin the whole at bat or your hustle after you did.
Abbott just got a make up call
MLB can’t go to robot umpires soon enough. These dudes are a joke.
I think Manfred is determined to push the ABS through. If he doesn’t succeed immediately, I think once the guys playing under it this year at AAA have been around MLB in force for a couple of years, all but the hard core pitching aficionados among them will band together and with him and help force it through.
That floated a LOOOONG way. Nice job by Fraley to track it.
Come on Sadak. Whether it was a make up call or not it doesn’t help Abbott. Ump misses the call third strike and therefore Abbott had to throw 4 or 5 extra pitches. Who cares about the make up call. Get the call right and the inning is over.
He’s beyond clueless much of the time. Thrall and Welsh are commenting about the poor performance.
Again … missing that when you are right in line with the pitch. Inexcusable from any Chumpire. Just adds to the clown-fest performance.
Nice job by Benson to waiting it out anyway.
Getting really tired of the umpires and their bad calling behind the plate. It’s probably the only time players wish they were in the AAA. 🙂
And in that one at-bat, Maile has already been more productive than Casali’s entire season.
If they’re holding on to Casali just because Greene and Lodolo are coming back it’s kind of ridiculous.
More evidence Casali isn’t needed. Benson on base via patience makes it extra sweet.
Casali needs to be gone. There is no reason to have 3 catchers now with CES up. If an injury occurs, you have Chuckie Robinson crushing it in AAA. Bring up Fairchild or another person to be a late game sub.
Maile seperated himself from Casali a while ago. I really don’t understand the reasoning behind keeping Casali at this point. If Krall is afraid of depth problems we do have 2 C in AAA with .915 OPS, and a .926 OPS. Sure those will dip up here, but they should be still more serviceable than what we’ve been getting from Casali.
+1000. Agree on all fronts. I liked the Casali signing this off season. Just hated that we had an extra year on there at the time.
It’s not as much depth, I believe. I read somewhere where Greene’s and Lodolo’s ERA was something like 2 runs lower with Casali.
The thing with me is. . .there’s no guarantee that Greene and Lodolo will be good when they come back. If their return comes to September, I would just shut them down, honestly.
The team didn’t shut down Greene and Ashcraft late last season in a tank year so I don’t think they would do it this season.
Mahle with the big bomb.
Maile a HR? We’ll take it. 🙂
Mailed that one express delivery, hardy har
I was going to say that Cobb doesn’t walk very many guys and since the Reds just got their second of the day it would behoove them to take advantage.
And as I was typing, Maile took the best kind of advantage!
Mahle going from nowhere to homeruns like that
Hard hit, hard luck, Flores.
But the 2-run blast helps a bunch.
If Maile has 17 at bats in a month how bad do you need three catchers? I’m sure if two get injured in a game there is someone on that bench who has caught at some point in their lives that can get them through the game in an emergency.
It’s such a rare possibility. Casali isn’t adding value at this point (I don’t buy into the mentor the young pitchers and he rarely plays anyway). You have to figure Steer would gear up in a hot minute in an emergency. Friedl would as well. And then Chuckie would be up in a flash.
But we’ve all commented on that script before, yes? 😛
The only things I can figure about Casali:
1) He’s the C who is suppose to call the best game of the 3 catchers. But, as little as he’s being used, why? Or. . .
2) I read somewhere that Greene’s and Lodolo’s ERA is something like 2 runs lower, I believe, with Casali catching.
Myself, I would say to drop him. I’m just trying to understand why to keep him or Maile. For me, this is a lot more understandable than not moving up Benson or still having India in the 3 or 5 hole, several other things going on.
We get good production out of the bottom of line up. Please keep it up. Since we don’t have a traditional strong 3,4, 5 hitting line up, it’s absolutely critical to get production out of the bottom.
It’s a very long line-up. I like that very much, personally. Bottom line is that guys getting on base means more AB’s all around.
You sort of answered your question. If we are getting production out of the bottom of the lineup and not much production from the 3,4,5 guys, flip them. Give the guys who are producing more AB’s for the team. The only logical thing to do.
With this lineup we SHOULD be getting production at the bottom no matter who’s down there.
That is one thing to consider, Melvin. For, I never said it would be easy to make a batting order. And, it definitely wouldn’t be with how this team is constructed.
Just so many factors. For instance, if they are team players, it wouldn’t make a difference where they are positioned. Or, are they deserving of a spot higher (batting well) or lower (batting poorly) in the lineup? Afternoon game right after an evening game? And, so many other factors, I’m sure.
I just don’t see any reasoning not to bat Benson higher. He is only leading the Reds in every important offensive category for the last 30+ days.
Strike 3 … now a full count.
This might be the worst called 4 innings of baseball I have seen all year. And that is saying something considering how bad a few have been. The challenge system needs to be added. Immediately.
How are these dudes employed by the richest baseball league in the world? Seriously?
Got to like Fraley in RF. Especially on that kind of play. He’s a hard-nosed ballplayer.
HP umpire needs to be checked out by an ophthamologist.
May need a proctologist to find his eyes at this point 😛
Anyone else getting really poor quality with lots of freezing and glitching on the Bally Sports Ohio TV broadcast?
I opened a new browser window and that helped.
Yes. I thought it was my internet. lol
I have Spectrum in Columbus and it’s almost unwatchable for the first few Innings…got better later
Me too for folks checking back later. Spectrum cable streamed via Spectrum internet in the Dayton, OH area. No actual freezes here today. It was pixelation and slow switching of camera shots fading over each other. Then it started punctuating with black screens that would last for a couple of seconds like a reset was happening somewhere along the line.
They sent out notices of a wired cable “upgrade/ update” for 2 nights ago here. Whenever this is going on the streaming also suffers too until they get everything figured out.
Hope everyone else got through OK too in the end
Two extra pitches and a throw to first after the missed call third strike. So we are up to 7.
Very poor choice by Flores. Nice throw from Benson to get it in quickly.
TOOTBLAN for the Giants. 😀
And did Benson start in on that before he began tracking it?
Benson strikes me as average defensively at the very best.
Doesn’t take the best paths to the ball. Hopefully he gets better at that. Not sure how his arm is but Freidl and Fraley don’t have the best arms.
He needs to play deeper. He has missed several tough plays because of poor routes. Playing deeper makes all of your decisions easier and he has the speed to catch up to bloops.
If he doesn’t EDLC can grab ‘em. Bloopers don’t fall near around him.
Yeah. He has a pretty good arm but doesn’t track the ball well. He’s kind of scary at times.
He just doesn’t see the ball great coming off the bat, so his initial jumps aren’t very good. Some of these balls he doesn’t get to are just because his first step or two aren’t very quick or correct.
Agree with all about Benson’s initial reaction, jumps, and routes. Hopefully, they will hook him up with an OF guru over the off season because with the tools and hustling attitude he has, he could approach otherworldly on both sides of the ball if he could improve his ball in the air skills.
Flores was dying going into third, why would you send him with EDLC throwing.
I guess they are pressing a bit to get run on the board
That looked more like the RoY version of India where he went and got a pitch for a good result.
And Votto moves him up.
CES = RBI!!!
India gets a double after his day off!
Keep that hit parade moving along.
CES is a #4 hitter.
…and he’s also faster than people think. 🙂
Yeah he is. Big man on the loose
His running style looks a lot like a younger Votto.
It will take Bell until the all-star break next season to realize this sadly
It’s early, but he does look like the protypical 4 hitter
Jobu has been found, sobered up, and is in the house today.
Too bad Benson had to hold up a bit in case that circus catch attempt worked.
EDLC time.
I thought he caught until he got up and I seen the ball behind him.
I used to dread the 2nd inning when 6-7-8-9 were coming to bat.
Not anymore
I’ve been watching CES on MiLBTV all year. He is starting to show everyone just what he did at AAA.
He is a hitting machine. On that RBI single, he recognized the pitch, dragged his bat through the zone, then made solid contact to serve it into the OF for a hit.
He didn’t see the hit but your description is quite good 🙂
*I didn’t see the hit*
If I hear Sadak say one more time the mph a ball is thrown bowl or the percentile of a runner’s speed I’ll puke. The guy needs to be in a cubicle at a research firm.
Thinking the same thing. EDLC is good but right now to much attention is going at him from Sadak. Let’s talk up McLain having a better year so far. ROY votes aren’t based on how hard you throw.
Amen. My vote goes to McLain for team MVP so far although Steer in the running as well.
I think he’d be better served giving commentary at a Cosplay Convention. Sadak is the senior who played JV that nobody likes.
Oh so very close with the opposite hand. Bailey made a really good tag.
Of course, I remember the days when Bailey would be flat on his @$$ counting stars and little birdies.
Another blocked plate/base. May have to start going in cleets first.
Block isn’t a factor on an infield throw. We learned that a little over a week ago.
Yep. We’re being too nice going in to bases.
You know if it’s hot in the infield and catcher can block the plate, then runners need to bulldoze that catcher
Hit
That particular TOOTBLAN brought to you courtesy of EDLC’s inexperience. Too bad and it put Maile in a terrible spot.
Yeah. Maile doesn’t quite have the same speed. lol
I don’t know quite what to say about De La Cruz’s baserunning there.
How about terrible.
Yep
That was a weird play.
Oof. Another undisciplined mental mistake from DLC. Add it to the list.
Needs to slide there
No, Larkin. This isn’t taught… And believe it or not Sadak, I *have* seen Elly make a baserunning blunder before.
I know many on here won’t agree with this who are blinded by the EDLC cult but his blunders on the base paths will cost this team if not sooner then later so Bell needs to take him out of this game and send a message.
Pulling him for that particular play might be a bit extreme, since he likely would’ve been out if he lost momentum to slide, but otherwise I agree. He still plays like this is little league, or even AAA, where he could coast by on the massive natural talent advantage he possessed over his competitors. You’d think his 2-for-28 over the last 7 games might’ve taught him a lesson, but it seems not.
Clearly De La Cruz did not think the fielder had a chance to catch the ball. He was running like he was going first to third.
EDLC just doesn’t have a very high baseball IQ. Getting picked off on Monday and overrunning second today is inexcusable. It’s like he plays as if he’s the best player on a Little League team.
+500
He seems to be giving a runner away a day. Don’t want to curb his hustle and exuberance but they do need to do some work on his base running. Rookies make mistakes.
That’s what I’ve been talking about with all the youngsters. They need to make adjustments to their play. This isn’t little league. This isn’t AAA. This is the majors.
I don’t think it was all his fault if he slides he has to slow down and he is out, just a weird play.
My thoughts as well.
He had a better shot at sliding than doing what he did.
Abbot is mowing down the Giants so far.
Ì he can go 7 giving up 2 or less, will take it.
I don’t like his pitch count
Question. Is Benson still considered a rookie? He played in 28 games last year.
According to baseball reference:
Rookie Status: Exceeded rookie limits during 2022 season
No. unfortunately.
Thanks guys
Only watching on Gamecast, but sounds like TOOTBLANs galore. Still, seems Abbott gets thru 6 at least – need a pen that can hold a 4 run lead w/o getting to Diaz. We shall see.
Day off seemed to do India good.
Have I mentioned I like Fraley in the line-up?
Good read by Fraley off of 2nd to score uncontested on the India single.
Slater picks that ball up in short left and fraley is two steps past third and he throws to second. Note to Reds runners- Slater can’t throw.
Votto walks after 0-2 count. Good AB.
Did we try a double steak with Votto?
*steal*
NOT With Votto, he is a Turtle in the bases!!
Pitch got well away from Bailey. My take is that Votto’s slide into 2nd wasn’t optimal. He appeared to get tagged on his lead foot which was elevated a bit. If that foot is down, he probably makes it.
The ole Jay Bruce slide.
He used to get tagged out 5 times a year doing that.
He had no lead, either. Barely off first.
Abbott now set up well to pitch the 7th. Bullpen owes him a steak dinner (or maybe ribs at Montgomery Inn) if he does that.
More TOOTBLAN and I see it’s 90° – perhaps Abbott goes a while longer and just pours in strikes/pitch to contact – unlikely to tighten up.
I would take Montgomery ribs if I were invited
Bring AA out for the 7th on a short leash.
Medium leash – 2 solo HRs or 2 baserunners. Go for a >10 pitch inning.
Tough series this weekend with Arizona. We miss Gallen but they miss Abbott & Ashcraft. Close this out and 2-1 this weekend would be a nice rebound from 0-5 on the home stand
Now that’s being aggressive like we’re used to.
I still send AA out for the 8th. Short leash. No scared of the score. Just watching over the pitcher.
Thrall and Welsh agree with that plan.
Medium leash – 2 solo HRs or 2 baserunners. Go for a >10 pitch inning.
Gameday stuck on bottom of 6th for a while with Maile at bat. Something happen?
I’m experiencing the same.
B7 with 1 out and Fraley just singled.
LeCure was right in his pre-game comments. Winning today for a split feels more like winning the series. Today should be a confidence boost with the Viper Invasion coming.
The Phantom Zone continues 😮
Take the one game against the Brewers away where Abbott gave up 6 runs , and Abbott has a .140 ERA. Dude is the real deal.
Stud. I’m curious what Lodolo might pick up from Abbott’s mental game because his stuff is as good or better.
Speaking of Lodolo, have you thought about how his return will give the team THREE LH starters? There was a day when I wasn’t sure the Reds FO knew what a LH starter was.
Who’s pitching 8th?
Abbott started with 95 pitches.
I do have to question some of the explanations the WLW booth makes regarding pitch location. “Caught the outside corner” when it was at least a full ball in the zone over the plate. No biggie, but it’s the kind of stuff I notice when listening to that audio overlay and the live TV feed.
Abbott for the 8th?
So he is.
Joc looked a little foolish on that one. Makes you smile.
I know Maile started at C today.
Before the season Bell said that Tyler would catch 64 games thus their logic for 3 catchers.
I have Tyler at 44 as a starter there with 64 games left.
That’s a 3rd of the remaining games. Surely he will exceed that number right?
My 44 number was as accurate as I could compile throwing out partial games.
Nice at bat Joe. Three nice pitches to hit. Next time save some energy and leave the bat in the rack.
Or just PH Senzel anyway since he went into that spot in the 8th.
Everybody trashed India but what has Votto brought lately. He’s barely over the Mendoza line. Showed some life a while back but is back to his old struggling self. CES is as good defensively and doesn’t need to be platooned depending on the pitcher.
I see MK and Beaufort jumping on the Votto hate. Predictable
That is awesome AA!
8 shutout 1-hit innings! Longest outing by a Reds starter in 2023. Mark the date on your calendar, friends. And he did it in just over 100 pitches. But for a late break and a few inches, this would be a no-no.
All from a guy not even on our radar early in the year who came up out of necessity.
He was on my radar. He was good in AA last season minus 1 bad start. Not sure why they sent him back to Chattanooga to start this year but it may have actually done him some good to go there and dominate.
Honestly, simple. . .I would talk with AA to see how he feels. If his arm is good, again, send him back out on a short leash.
HDTBell already gave him the handshake. I’m OK with that, though it does look like he’s cruising.
Bell needs to go out with a flurry based on yet another terrible call. Iassogna has been incompetent today.
Time to lay down the Law and finish Kicking This Pig!!
I forgot it was a day game. It looks like I missed a good one. Abbott looks more and more like #1 on the depth chart.
Three hit game for Maile! Why isn’t he batting 5th?!?!
(Don’t get bent. I’m just having fun.)
+500
?
Don’t let Bell hear you:)
Of course the Brewers are also winning. Other than cheese curds, spotty cow, and sausage, I don’t like anything about Milwaukee.
Ending this with Flores would be extra sweet … but not this time. A harmless solo shot.
Country hardball as the Ol’ Lefthander used to call it. Law wasn’t going to walk that lead off guy and said, here’s my best, if you hit it, you hit it.
And he got away with the 2 one but not to the the 3rd guy. That’s life.
I’ll take that over nibbling.
Won’t always win, but will win more than nibblers do.
Nutty always had something good to say. I miss listening to him.
Where did abbott come from
Started the year in Nooga. Before that, I’m thinking the dark side of the Moon.
I think University of Virginia. Honestly, only up here because of the decimation of our staff. He’s personifies why you don’t want to slow-trac prospects.
Don’t get me wrong. I believe you can make mistakes moving them up too slow as well as too fast. It just seems like to me we move them up too slow normally.
Yes
UVA
Somebody noted yesterday that the bottom of the lineup was productive, and somebody today stated they need the same today.
And the bottom came through again today in a big way!
They oughtta give the top and middle of the lineup a hard time–tease them good.
I took credit for this one. Willing to give it to others if others step up to take it.
Gets Young Yaz who is not his grandfather by any stretch.
Win feels REALLY good. Just in time for my 3PM meeting.
Later, all!
Two in a row. Abbott MVP.
And Diaz gets a rest day & a half before the Snakes invade!
2 game winning streak but looks like Milwaukee will win and the Reds won’t gain anything. I’m thinking EDLC gets the next rest day and then bring him back in the #3 slot with Steer behind him followed by Fraley, dropping Votto to 7th and moving CES up. I had really hoped that JV had come to grips with the fact that this is his farewell tour not next year.
My UK boy Maile did good today.
So did my UVA boy
Yes he did & I gave him a shout out.
Glad he’s ours. Good pairing.
Votto’s ops is 884, second only to Benson. Why anyone would want him not in the lineup or lower is beyond me. As long as he stays healthy he will have a productive year with a decent OB%, good power and probably an OPS around 900. That is the definition of a productive middle of the order guy. I also predict that CES will end the year with the Reds highest ops.