After a disastrous series in Chicago, the Cincinnati Reds are back at home tonight to open up a series against the Washington Nationals. The Reds will hope that the home crowd and getting back to Cincinnati will help end their 3-game losing streak and get things moving in the right direction. First pitch tonight is set for 6:40pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Washington Nationals
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| CJ Abrams – SS | Elly De La Cruz – SS |
| Lane Thomas – RF | Nick Senzel – RF |
| Joey Meneses – DH | Matt McLain – 2B |
| Keibert Ruiz – C | Spencer Steer – LF |
| Dominic Smith – 1B | Kevin Newman – 3B |
| Blake Rutherford – LF | Joey Votto – DH |
| Ildemaro Vargas – 3B | Christian Encarnacion-Strand – 1B |
| Jake Alu – 2B | Tyler Stephenson – C |
| Alex Call – CF | Stuart Fairchild – CF |
| Patrick Corbin – LHP | Graham Ashcraft – RHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Graham Ashcraft | 105.0 | 5.31 | 1.51 | 43 | 76 |
| Patrick Corbin | 126.0 | 5.07 | 1.53 | 36 | 87 |
| Links: Graham Ashcraft’s Stats | Patrick Corbin’s Stats |
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Graham Ashcraft
It has been an up and down season for Ashcraft. He began the year with a 2.00 ERA in his first six starts. Then he posted an ERA of 12.82 in his next eight starts. Since then he’s made six starts with a 1.75 ERA, including his last start that saw him toss 6.0 shutout innings against the Dodgers.
We’ve noted it before – outside of that 8-game stretch earlier this year, left-handed hitters have not done much of anything against Graham Ashcraft in his career. Over his last six starts they’ve hit just .197/.274/.333 against him, which is in-line for the most part with where he’s been in his career outside of that 8-game stretch earlier this year. Right-handed hitters, though, they’ve hit well against him since day one in the big leagues. They walk more, make more contact, and do a lot more damage.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 248 | 64 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 25 | 37 | .299 | .385 | .467 |
| LHH | 216 | 51 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 18 | 39 | .262 | .330 | .436 |
Pitch Usage
| 2-Seam | Cutter | Slider | |
| Velo | 96.6 | 96.1 | 88.2 |
| Usage | 9% | 53% | 38% |
Patrick Corbin
One month ago the Reds faced Corbin and scored six runs on 10 hits and three walks in 5.0 innings in an 8-4 win for Cincinnati. He followed that up by allowing just one run to Texas in seven innings, but in the three starts since he’s given up 12 earned runs in 17.2 innings while giving up four homers.
Teams don’t send many left-handed hitters out to face Patrick Corbin. The ones that do get a chance hit for a solid average and make plenty of contact, but they don’t show much power at all against him. Right-handed hitters make tons of contact, hit for a good average, and show solid power. They don’t walk much, though.
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 464 | 134 | 21 | 0 | 19 | 29 | 73 | .313 | .354 | .495 |
| LHH | 97 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 14 | .261 | .330 | .352 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | 2-seam | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 92.0 | 92.3 | 80.2 | 81.4 |
| Usage | 15% | 44% | 34% | 7% |
When and Where
- Game time: 6:40pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 87°, sunny, 0% chance of rain
News and Notes
Andrew Abbott and weak fly balls
Michael Bauman took a look at Andrew Abbott earlier today at Fangraphs. Without a trade deadline move, he notes that the Reds are basically relying on Abbott to carry the team for the next few weeks to a month until Greene and Lodolo return. But he also looked at just how Abbott has been able to find success and it’s rather unique in how he’s relying on weak contact on fly balls to get the job done.
Jonathan India getting healthier
David Bell says Jonathan India is on track to come back Tuesday. #Reds @fox19
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) August 4, 2023
Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Brewers | 59 | 51 | 0.0 | 70.7% |
| Reds | 59 | 52 | 0.5 | 29.9% |
| Cubs | 56 | 53 | 2.5 | 37.2% |
| Pirates | 48 | 60 | 10.0 | 0.1% |
| Cardinals | 48 | 62 | 11.0 | 0.5% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
One would have to think they are relying on more than just Abbott to carry the load. I bet they are relying on Ashcraft and Williamson to also be stalwarts. Then they have to be hoping that whoever replaces Lively and, hopefully Weaver, can at least provide some competent innings. Abbott cannot handle the load of five pitchers and, to me, mentioning only him short changes both Ashcraft and Williamson.
The Braves have given the Reds an opening. They’ve beaten the Cubs. In my view, putting some distance between themselves and the Cubs is far more important than what’s going on with the Brewers. They needs to sweep the Nats and hope the Braves sweep the Cubs. Bell needs to focus their attention tonight – not stage cheap theatrics like last night. And a good 1 on 1 with Senzel telling him to get his head in the game. Three errors in a game is inexcusable.
Need to WIN the NL Central, NOT a Wild card spot! See my post below!
I agree but if the Cubs overtake them, they won’t win anything
Never in my wildest dreams did I think the Reds would lose 3 out of 4 games against the Stupid Cubs, but they did! Guess the Cubs used up all their runs against the Reds because they got blanked 8-0 by the Braves this afternoon!
It is now the time for the Reds (batters & pitchers) AND their manager, upon returning to the friendly confines of GABP, to get their heads out of their proverbial posteriors and play some smart, winning baseball!
Why? As reported by CBS Sports today, if the NL playoffs were to start today, the Reds would play a 3-game series against the Brewers with ALL 3 games AT Milwaukee!
I think we all know how that would turn out!
As with any sport, it’s all about taking advantage of opportunities! The Reds have that opportunity to stay close to the Brewers until August 15th when the Brewers begin a tough 9-game road trip!
Let’s turn the ship around and start a winning streak tonight! Go Reds!
Could have been worse. We could have lost all four to the Cubs. lol Playing Milwaukee does not sound good at all.
Reds were suffering from the long road trip and a late flight into Chicago, I think.
What goes around comes around.
Looking forward to how they do tonight, and the rest of this homestand.
Why is Fairchild starting? Is there a reason that Friedl isn’t starting?
Handedness
Are you new here?
Sorry… handedness is a big topic with Bell
Yep, Bell’s going to try out the same lineup that got beat by 11 and 10 runs versus the Cubs in consecutive games, so we’ll see how it goes.
Yes, but that lineup scored 9 and 6 runs in those two games respectively.
The lineup didn’t surrender 36 runs.
I really wonder why Hopkins isn’t up here instead? I don’t see Fairchild as a better player then TJ. If they brought up Hopkins, they could then shift up Dunn to AAA. Wild huh?
How would sending replacing an OF with an OF in Louisville open a spot for Dunn?
Hopkins had a .367 OPS in his first trial with the Reds. I don’t see how he is an upgrade over Fairchild offensively. I know he is a downgrade defensively.
Fairchild is right-handed, so he’s got that going for him. He’s also probably headed to AAA as soon as India returns, so Bell is tying to get some use from him before that. Friedl will probably start every game for the foreseeable future when Fairchild goes back down in a few days.
So, after he is sent down the only right handed bat to play OF is Senzel? That’s not very good. I see the value in a guy who can play IF/OF but is there anyone else in the minors who can do this? Be a super utility player?
Jose Barrero might fit that mold. .875 AAA OPS currently.
Steer is right handed and plays left
And that scored 9 and 6 runs, lol. That generally is enough to win, unless you give up 18 runs a game.
But it’s Bells fault if he uses the players who have performed better against LHP this year?
Meant this as a response to Ted Alfred, above.
Friedl’s OPS line vs LH pitching since July 1 is .269/.250/.519 (26PAs). Fairchild’s full line of .542 (8PAs) is only slightly better but his .375 OBP (3x on base in 8PA) is more promising to Bell I’d guess
And while we are talking Friedl, his BA/OBP/SLG/OPS line since July 1 is .215/.288/.318/.606.
Barrero or Fairchild either might be able to better that playing every day without a serious drop off in defense.
And Friedl happens to be a favorite of mine, but he just hasn’t done much on offense since the middle of June when his OPS was .871 Since then its been .658. It has just taken a while for the law of averages to become clear in his seasonal OPS
You mean Fairchild is a favorite of yours.
Actually I think Barrero is the better choice for the team right now if they were to make a move in CF since they have pretty clearly moved on from Senzel as a CF.
How many teams sit tight with a CF batting .215 over a 6 week period as essentially their everyday CF? Freidl’s actual current seasonal OPS is a 10% drop off from the middle of June.
His OPS since the middle of June is just under 25% less than his .871 OPS up to mid June.
His seasonal and career OPS are just a tick better than the league average OPS+ at 102/105.
Based on what Barrero has done since he was sent back, he has a shot to be clearly better than that and isn’t likely to be any worse than Friedl has been over the last 6-7 weeks.
His uppercut habit over that time.
@Rick>> Friedl won the job fair and square in ST and had an outstanding run for 2 and half months. Ironically he was peaking just as the team took off; and his regression was somewhat obscured by the team’s success.
Friedl` hasn’t been the same guy since his return from an IL stint at the start of June.
Barrero just hit a three run homer.
Better yet, why is Newman in the lineup?
I think Bell makes up line ups more to keep guys happy and engaged than he does necessarily to put his best lineup out there on any given day. Handedness is just a good reason to sit certain guys. Agree with it or not, Bell is all about the clubhouse culture and buy-in from the players. The young guys seem to like it. He is going to give everyone playing time. Hopefully, the clubhouse culture can help this team rally and hang in there. The high school coach in me likes the synergy that he builds. The long-time Reds fan in me has a hard time agreeing with many of his lineup, roster, bullpen usage, etc, decisions. I’m trying really hard to try to just enjoy the ride. This team is up and down but they have been entertaining. It’s a long season. Hopefully they can hang in there until the bitter end. They have to take this series and get the pendulum swinging back in a more positive direction. Go Reds.
I see it more as a failure to lead/manage. Placating everyone’s desire to play isn’t working as Senzel’s comments demonstrate. If he wants buy-in from the team, he has to hold players accountable, reward performance, bench poor performers, etc. Votto is a good example. No reason he should be starting every game, especially against LHers.
Bell won’t. He should’ve flogged Weaver instead of the ump to get tossed. That’s hard to write about the umpire part. Hold Weaver accountable for disintegrating!
That a boy little Nicky!!
Senzel. Bell is a genius.
That a boy Little Mac!!!
Keep it up! 🙂
At the game tonight. Getting the fireworks in early. So nice to see an early rebound from the road trip.
Did Ashcraft hit Smith intentionally to set up the double play?
Fairchild great catch in Cf
My boy Stuey. Senzel would’ve got hurt on a triple. Benson would’ve crossed himself and fell down for a triple
Indy – agreed
Ashcraft has really turned it around from whatever was going on in the middle of the season. Really encouraging since it looked like he had completely lost it for awhile there.
Curious, is Ashcraft innings-limited this season?
Another one! De La CRUZ!!!
Hope we don’t get HR happy. Keep playing “our game”.
Does every homer Elly hits have to be a laser shot?
Top of the order gettin it done.
The rest needs to catch up!
For sure ..Id like to see CES, Stephenson or Fairchild take the baton at the bottom of lineup. This is a good matchup for this lineup.
Reds are going to score 8 runs without anyone ever being on base.
So much for that theory. Steer blew it by walking.
Joey’s on the 3 & 3 plan. 3 hrs in 3 days and then 3 weeks of absolutely nothing
His hot streak seemed to last much sooner this time. Back to cold spell again.
Votto still struggles against most lefties, miss India.
It would be nice to see him make some attempt to hit the other way sometimes. He really seems committed to pulling every ball he puts in play.
But why does Bell always limit them to 1 inning
I was wrong. I thought Reds were just Hader and Soto away from competing for WS. I think they are more like Hader and Soto and Ohtahi away. They really need two reliable hitters to fill 3 and 4 or 4 and 5 spots, depending where Bell has MM hitting.
Fairchild great play again.
Hoping Fairchild can hit some to secure a spot on the 26. Except the blunder the other night , he plays good defense.
We need him just for a pinch runner if nothing else.
Sure is a lot of line outs to outfielders by the Nationals, according to Gameday.
I hope it is because Reds’ outfielders are positioned perfectly and Ashcraft is hitting his spots precisely so the line drive is right at ’em.
Ashcraft 5 innings on 57 pitches and no runs.
That was one inning for Weaver
Except for the no runs part.
I’d like to see him try his hand at a complete game. Ok just as I write that, it’s a long ball from Lane Thomas. Need more run support for a complete game attempt.
Back to the top of the line-up. Maybe they can hit another HR
5 innings complete in an hour and 7 minutes
All home runs tonight, looks good but that is not how this team needs to play to be at it’s best.
The question is why did they go back to swinging for the fences? They are clearly better when putting the ball in play and running. This is the kind of thing that I question about management.
HRs have all been pretty much line drives that went out.
Senzel’s a bit higher launch angle.
McLain follows with another 2b.
This is what I question about LDS.
I’ve pretty much watched every game, and haven’t seen anybody from management have an AB yet.
If a MLB hitter isn’t producing, 100% of the time for 100% of the players, it is because of what the player is doing and nothing else.
@Harry/@OBE, look again. Average hits are down, SOS are up.
@LDS, you’re really trying too hard with the bitter, cynical bit.
You’ve sat out a week and here’s hoping you’re upping your game.
Worked for Benson, maybe Duarte.
It can for you.
None of the HRs tonight were from guys altering their game.
Come on.
Not cynical at all @Harry, just watching patterns.
Agree. Put it in play and run wild. That wears out opponent pitching a lot more than solo HR, which are usually easy to shake off.
Jim Day’s interview with Robert “Arliss” Wuhl in the stands was cool.
Larkin struggling with hiccups and unable to talk. I don’t really notice much difference, honestly.
Reds MLB.com site always touting the Ks.
Ashcraft wisely not looking for them.
He’s had 2.
69 pitches, one walk through 6.
Greene and his alternative approach will be back soon.
Looks like another 35-40K crowd
Reds fans showing up. Interesting to see attendance figures after this home stand.
Mclain just rakes…smh
Ho hum just another outstanding game for McLain.
Among Bell’s many managerial shortcomings is a lack of creativity! Why not have Votto drop down a surprise bunt in the bottom of the 4th! Worse case scenario is Votto is thrown out and we have runners at 2nd & 3rd with 2 outs and CES at bat!
I’m not a big fan of bunts but sometimes you can catch the opposition by surprise!
That might work, if it weren’t for timing Votto to first requires a calendar.
If he’s getting thrown out anyway, speed doesn’t matter. However, do we know whether Votto knows how to bunt?
If he was to bunt everyone would be saying what a wasted at bat. Read it on here too many times. Go back and check message board last few years many complaints about bunts and their waste of an out. I do not support that idea but it has been prevalent.
Bottom six in the line-up have got to get with the program.
Ofer is not acceptable.
This is just not a line up that is going to have a big rally, to many most likely outs.
Stopper: Ashcraft, Graham.
What a game and what a run
7 innings, <90 pitches.
A clinic for other Reds pitchers.
Does Bell send him out, or trust in Sims?
I would send him out 1 hitter at a time with bullpen ready. Ashcraft showing some maturity.
4-9 hitters are 0-14.
This game has a so so feeling, need more runs.
Votto’s backside really bails vs lefty breaking balls.
Who on this site believes Bell will send GA out to start the 8th?
I do
Why pinch run for CES? He has pretty good speed and may need him later in a close game. Yes he does play decent defense too to say the least.
I thought to maybe steal a bag, but he became a statue over there.
It just makes no sense. You’re taking out one of your best hitters for speed, then doing absolutely nothing with that speed. With two outs, you’re counting on multiple hits? That seems less risky than attempting a steal?
I don’t think we improved our defense with that move either.
Ty shook his head on all 3 called strikes.
All 3 were clearly in the zone.
The first wasn’t.
Pardon…he swung at strike 1 in the dirt
No, strike one was about 2 inches outside. The other two were clearly strikes.
It does show you that he isn’t right. Needs some time in front of the mirror to identify who is responsible for his not hitting.
The automated strike zone can’t come soon enough.
Somebody tell Stephenson that you gotta swing the bat to get a hit.
If you don’t swing pitchers won’t ever walk you either
Why wasn’t Benson stealing? Ruiz with one of the worst pop times and Benson is snoozing. Fairchild would have had a RBI there. This team doesn’t know how to put teams away.
This. What’s the point of pinch running, if you aren’t going to attempt to steal?
Yes. I just wrote that post, as I did not see your post. You are right on the money. No explanation for that dumb move. Might as well have left CES stay in the game and save Benson if pinch running him was all for naught.
Larkin players don’t deserve a chance to play they earn it and you should know that.
Ashcraft pitching in the eighth. Wow.
Glad to see the Pirates doing their part so far. 🙂
Pinch run Benson for CES,..obviously to have him steal a base. Why not? We are successful 2 out of every 3 times we try. No,….Benson plays it safe and hug s first base. Fairchild singles, which would have scored a run had Benson stolen the base. Then Elly bounces out to end the inning. What was the purpose of pinch running Benson if he was just going to hug the base? That’s not the same Reds that were agressive mid season and had the long win streak. That’s on Bell. Send them. Be offensive, instead of defensive. We are a better team when we are aggressive. When we play it safe, we are not the same team. I don’t undewrstand why.
can’t assume a basehit after benson steals.
everything changes.
He should have stole though
Bell’s management style: “I’m putting you in the game to pinch run. It makes sense for you to try to steal here, but I certainly don’t want to pressure you to do something you’d rather not do. Just do whatever feels best to you.”
Yep. Bell.
Yeah, no blame on Benson there.
Only Bell.
Ash needs to throw that into the runner’s back.
Automatic out
Why isn’t that appealable?
The runner was clearly inside the Baseline so he should have automatically been called out so even if the Umpire misses it why is that not a play that can be appealed?
Another home plate umpire screwing the Reds…that never happens.
Too bad CES is out of the game. His bat might have come in handy.
Yep.
You could feel it coming.
Frack
Thats a shame.
CRAP! Should have had the third out and been out of the inning. Now we’re tied.
Bell should have known Ashcraft was running out of gas… but of course not
If it was because he was trying to rest his bullpen, then maybe it makes sense to get another inning out of Ashcraft. BUT again, the bullpen was overused mostly because of 3 games in a row of poor starting pitching. I wonder if the Reds could have traded for a starter or two?
How was he out of gas?
Breezed through the whole game.
But he wasn’t. Gave up a swinging bunt and then missed a pitch.
Everyone would have blamed Bell for pulling him any earlier and a reliever giving up the HR.
Moral of the story, always blame Bell. Got it.
I am not trying to instigate anything. Just my opinion.
If you think he should be pulled, then you can never say anything about a quick hook again.
The real problem is the catcher. Lousy pitch calling. You have a guy at the close to a hundred pitches you push him to use the last of his adrenaline and throw sinkers and fastballs. As pitchers get tired they tend to hang their breaking pitches more often.
Would have loved to have used Stephenson in a trade for a starting pitcher. Very overrated player. With the guys we have in Louisville would have been nice trade bait with solid players to choose from to come up.
Tied game. Bell.
That’s too bad for Ashcraft. Maybe the offense can do something. Sims warming up. Will it be good Sims or bad Sims?
Probably bad for 2 batters before waking up.
That seems to be the M.O.
Diaz had not pitched since Monday as soon as a man got on Bell should have has him ready. Bell caught asleep at the wheel again.
Because a ball was hit 5 mph?
No.
I don’t mind letting pitch the 8th but I don’t understand how you don’t have someone ready to go as soon as the ball left the yard. He was at 100 pitches for Pete’s sake.
Just gotta go get a run or two in the bottom of the eighth
This team finds new, creative ways to blow a lead and lose winnable games!
Now, let’s push one across and get GA a W.
This “no urgency” style continues driving me nuts:
a) Remove one of your hottest hitters for a pinch runner, who doesn’t attempt to steal in an obvious steal situation. I guess the plan was to assume Fairchild would double? No urgency.
b) Need to get four outs, your closer hasn’t pitched in a few days, but he’s not ready to enter the game when the tying run comes to the plate. No urgency.
c) Two lefties on the bench, but Senzel leads off. No urgency.
” Two lefties on the bench, but Senzel leads off. No urgency.”
Don’t understand that either.
Bell.
3 more years @J, just 3 more years u til the next extension.
I feel an extra inning loss coming because Bell will”burn” Diaz in the 9th and we are left with the Arson Squad!
Why no Fraley for Senzel, Bell is awful.
Or Friedl. Either would have made more sense than what Bell just did. He really is bad at this.
Because Senzel whined about his playing time.
Absolutely clueless with little baseball acumen!
>>>Why no Fraley for Senzel, Bell is awful.
His bonehead moves cost us lots if wins each and every year,..and we are stuck with him now. No rhyme nor reason to his reasoning.
No Fraley for Senzel?
Friedl?
Is Bell awake?
And, the Pie-Rats 3-0 lead over the Brewers didn’t last long!
Now 6-2 Pirates
What’s there not to love about McLain playing baseball? Awesome.
Agree Melvin! Awesome kid
Steal or snooze?
Hit and run.
Ha ha ha ha ha. Wrong team.
They don’t know what that is.
You guys are both correct. I was thinking if the team was well coached.
snooze
Are we going to steal or freeze here Mr. Bell? We shall see.
I’ve completely given up on this team ever attempting a stolen base that actually matters.
I’m with you on this. What the heck happened? To their overall approach that seemed to be working!
Votto’s influence?
What happened? Bell.
Um. Bell was the manager when they were playing aggressive small ball.
Or look lost at the plate.
The Reds may win this game but Team has not been the same since early July. They had a lot of success when they were stealing bases, going first to third, etc. just not been the same team over the past month.
The way this team has been playing lately,just don’t see them making the postseason.
Bell.
Now Newman bats.
3 more years.
Sad.
Still standing on first
Here comes Newman against a righty in a tie game eighth inning.
“The players love playing for him” just doesn’t cut it in games like this. A good manager gets his players to play hard and also makes intelligent decisions during a game. It really doesn’t need to be one or the other.
Weems is Thor throwing 98 and struck out steer
Why was Newman still hitting?
Why didnt the Reds trade for this monster?
Ball four Newman and now McClain goes. Rediculous
I can’t believe Bell let Benson run for CES and let Newman bat.
This is poor management tonight. I mean you can argue that there was a lefty throwing in the pen as to why Senzel and Newman hit but that doesn’t take away the fact that Friedl does hit lefties. Oh well. Yes. Why no attempted steal attempts? That’s why I get afraid when all of our runs come from the HR. We forget who we are.
No steal attempt by MM with one (1) out is maddening! Then with Newman batting, again no steal attempt?
Handedness only matters with starters according and young players according to Bell. Tie game in the 8th and you let senzel and Newman make two outs against a right hander with Fraley on the bench.
That’s Bell. Get used to it.
Like I said last night, now we’ll have to win in spite of Bell’s managing. That’s hard to do. Brilliant General Management to lock Bell in (as if any other team would be dumb enough to try to hire him away). Simply brilliant.
Saving Fraley for the 10th inning.
The team is playing tight just like the manager, just imagine 3+ years of this crap.
Bell has never been one to show much situational awareness. He’ll PR for CES but will let Newman bat against a RHer withFraley available. Sticking with Ashcraft at 100+ pitches with tying run at the plate, maybe not his best move. But, he’s Krall’s guy. That’s confirmed
I think Krall buckled to Big Bob again which lessens my respect for him…again. At least he doesn’t have to pretend like he’s in such agreement.
Called it! Diaz in the 9th! We are going to extra innings and will likely lose to the Washington Gnats!
You can have Newman or Senzel but you cant have both.
you can make an argument Senzel isnt good and fair enough. You cant make an argument Newman stays on this team when India comes back tuesday. Newman is a red 3 more days.
But it was Newman’s birthday guys.
Win or lose, I’m sure there will be cake and ice cream, and maybe even a pony ride after the game.
Don’t forget about the balloons!
Question for you experts: has Diaz lost some zip on his fastball lately? I thought it used to hit in the mid 90’s, maybe 97 range? Seems like he is getting about 93-94 range.
He definitely has.
Weather on purpose or not, don’t know.
I don’t listen to many others anymore but is John Sadak and Barry Larkin the absolutely worst announcing team in baseball?
haha. no. check out the yankees, padres… etc.
Pretty bad?
You should look up some mlb highlights with those teams. If it isn’t atrocious homerun calls, it’s just over emphasizing every syllable in a word.
ALSO, am I the only person who HATES when announcers use nicknames for players?? Shouldn’t only friends do this??
Yeah Sadak calls Larkin “Lark” and Brantley “”Cowboy”. How much time do you think Sadak spends with Larkin and Brantley in the off season.
I also hate the fake “banter” that goes on in the booth, although baseball announcers are, not quite as bad, as the NFL pre game analysts.
Not even close. A lot of young fans like Sadak.
Bell looking lost out there.
Not on top of the game.
A half step behind.
Win or lose, someone ought to try to come up with some sort of rationale for all of Bell’s moves (or lack thereof) in the last two innings. That would be some comedy gold.
Maybe it’s because he has a guaranteed contract now? Why try? Just kidding, I hope.
Or, manage like you’re in a pennant race. Everything is important.
@J, it no longer matters. We are stuck with him well past his expiration date
This has been one of Bell’s worse games and that is saying a lot.
Needless to say, the TV guys haven’t so much as wondered aloud about the wisdom of anything Bell has done tonight.
Good AB for Votto. Be agressive now.
Hey finally a batter who could actually hit and run!!! (Benson)
You keep trying but Bell doesn’t know what that is
Haha.. Yes. I am a broken record. And you are correct, Bell is deficient.
Or not. For the love of all that is holy….
Be nice to have CES here right now. 🙂
Like to see Benson bunt it past Vargas.
Friedl still standing there
It’s a miracle!!!
Bout time. Good steal by Friedl.
Just wish he’d done it during Benson’s AB and then Benson’s fly ball gets him to third.
xan’t assume benson does that after a steal
Everything changes.
Been watching since the 3-0 lead but not where I could comment.
Man! Benson just missed that by a couple degrees launch angle. But the Stupid Cubs lost and the Bernies are currently down against the Pie-Rats, so there may be a sliver lining if we can convert here.
Loved Ashcraft going 8 full innings.
Would have been nice to have CES up there against the southpaw.
Duh. Bell let him steal a base.
Thrilled about that steal, but if you do it with nobody out, you’re absolutely in the driver’s seat. Now you probably need a hit to win.
Isn’t Jose Ferrer George Clooney’s uncle?
Dumb move by the Nationals not pitching to Fairchild instead of Fraley now. Hope we take advantage.
No FRALEY? Is he hurt? Sick?
Mandatory day off.
Bell.
Day said Fraley hasn’t been dugout all night.
Wouldn’t Fraley still be in the dugout even if it was a ‘day off’? Is he injured, or does Bell really do that/allow his players to not be there?
maybe ill?
Wow look what happens Bell when you steal bases
OK, Stewie. Your job is now much simpler. Just do ONE THING!
But of course we couldn’t have that. And we know Fraley probably would have been a better option, even in the middle of that AB.
RLN Fairchild Faithful scrambling now.
He makes that bubble gum look good, though, doesn’t he? 🙂
Good job by Friedl. Safety squeeze?
Nope
Looks like Friedl remembers how to steal a base
Rediculous. With Ruiz ‘s crappy pop time they should have 5 or 6 steals.
Again, you steal, which is great, but why wait for two strikes? You were in a perfect situation to squeeze (which I know Bell won’t do, but it IS an actual baseball play) if you steal with less than two strikes.
Announcers just said Fraley isn’t available. That makes a bit more sense.
The 14 year old just needed a sac fly.
Got to take advantage of your opportunities when given them or you are headed back to Louisville.
What is a sac fly?
OK, I didn’t catch that. Now I wonder why he’s not available.
Loading the bases for Senzel against a righty. Hope he comes through.
Why not Fraley instead of Senzel?
Apparently Fraley wasn’t available
It was Fraley’s night off. Further more, why not Fraley for Fairchild even in the middle of the AB when Friedl was on 3rd base? All we needed was a decent fly ball and Fraley definitely can do that.
Because that would hurt Fairchild’s feelings…plus it would make way too much sense and most likely win the game. Bell is way more interested in making sure everybody’s happy…. winning is secondary
Fraley was not in the dugout all night. No info on where he was.
1-2 without throwing a strike. Plate discipline matters.
Really, Really, REALLY need to hold them in the 10th. I mean REALLLLLY!!!!
really?
REALLLLLY!!!!
Let’s see how many runs Sims will give up.
Well, it’s Diaz right now, so … 😀
1…
What a waste of good pitching by Ashcraft. And hasn’t Bell learned that Diaz does not do very good on the second inning of pitching yet?
Bit of a cement mixer there … and now we’re behind with the same situation of no outs and a runner on 2nd.
If we blow this game … 😮
Blown.
Just a shame.
Diaz had a play at 3rd.
Yes. Catcher should’ve directed him there
Oh it’s been more than 4
He’s cost us more than that. But you are right in saying he’s the worst manager in the game. He’s made a minimum of ten bad moves in this game alone.
What a joke.
So much for Diaz pitching 2 innings. I have said it several times but it appears the dog days of summer have finally started to show on this young team. I hope I am wrong. One issue that is starting to show itself this team has way too many RH bats. Seeing way too much of Newman and Senzel lately for my liking against RH pitchers.
No closer for tomorrow either
Flipping pathetic
Should have never gone to extras, if not for Bell. Get used to it. 3 more years.
Don’t worry Hunter Greene may be back in three weeks. If so, he should help us stay out of fourth place.
You’ll have to take my word for it, but I predicted that home run on the exact pitch. Some managers might have chosen to walk that guy, but we’re stuck with the manager who’s beloved by the players and gets them to play really hard.
This team may be done, they just don’t have the talent to make up for Bells managing.
And then THAT happens … wasted the entire Ashcraft start and our chances of winning are now slim to none … and slim is out of town.
Looks as if the Nats played us like a cheap fiddle in the later innings, especially Lane Thomas.
This is why Hope is a very dangerous thing. Now we can hope the Bernies lose and the standings remain the same within the NLC.
I’m done commenting for the night, friends. I won’t be commenting tomorrow since we’ll be wrapping my part of DD#1’s move and I’ll be headed back home.
Baseball is so much fun when this crap happens.
Oh, and STINK. FISH. POT!!!!!!!
Yep, so this is 3 out of the last 4 games with 3 starters sitting for Bell’s left handedness starting lineup, with Senzel, Fairchild and Newman doing what they do…not working out too well….0-3. Them’s the facts.
Yeah totally awful lineup.
This is why they pitch 1 inning
You are 100% correct, this season may be done. The extension and lack of trades killed the team. They are no longer fun to watch, home run or nothing.
Like I posted earlier, if this game went to extra innings, the Reds would lose! Bell has enough trouble managing a 9 inning game! Huge wasted opportunity and now the losing streak is 4 games!
That 3 year extension is already paying big dividends!
Im not big on blaming Bell but this one is on him. Joey starting was a miss. Failing to PH Senzel in the 9th for Fraley and running Diaz out for two were key problems here.
Here at GABP and you could feel it slip away in the bottom of 9th.
This one’s all Bell and a slumping team.
I agree, Grand Salami!
haha. That hasn’t even kicked in yet. He’s still in his last contract. 🙂
Ha ha! That is true
FIRE KRALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like I posted earlier, if this game went to extra innings, the Reds would lose! Bell has enough trouble managing a 9 inning game! Huge wasted opportunity and now the losing streak is 4 games!
This is another example of why lineup construction actually matters. It’s nice that Senzel hit a home run, but then he continued to bat second for the rest of the game and got four more at-bats. Newman will also wind up with five at-bats. CES had three at-bats.
Bell pretty much caterwauled through the game.
He’ll vacillate between over thinking and under thinking.
Reacts rather than anticipates.
Doesn’t demonstrate a feel for what is actually happening on the field.
The three year extension is already a nightmare.
Krall shows his colors.
Yep, no dount. But Krall made the call to give him 3 more years. Fire Krall first,..then Bell!!! Eat the loss.
Get used to these types of losses FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS!
Wonder what the Reds record is since Bell The Brilliant was given a 3-year contract extension?
Reminds me of the last disappointing extension. That’s for sure.
All those fond memories of blown leads and bullpen meltdowns of the past.
The August collapse is upon us.
Bell the Ringmaster.
Is it 0-4 since the “extension”
Thank you VaRedsFan!
And 0-4 since Krall decided not to add talent. We better get over that emotional letdown fairly soon.
Bell just threw away a winnable game. Three more years of this disaster. Krall no help when he could have done something. Ownership not interested in winning.
Fire Bell and Krall!
Yep, for outperforming on season. Overreact much Milwaukee’s miracle manager with better preseason prediction is barely outperforming, LOL.
Huh? I would not have predicted a good season for the team we put on the field to start the season either. It was only after we got down many games below .500 that we brought up this team from the Minors,..the team we should have put on the field from DAY ONE (if not for extremely dumb managerial moves).
3 more years, 3 more years
This loss is hard to take.
Only fitting that Newman makes the final out! Something tells me this team has run out of gas! BUT, the players love Bell! That’s what matters, RIGHT?
Another group hug after the game? 😀
The Newmanater strikes again. The body language was not great at the end of the game. I suspect we are done now. They needed to make some trades for some veterans that have played more than 10 games in the playoffs.
It’s fitting that Bell’s stupid batting order results in Newman and Senzel tied for the lead in at-bats, with CES getting the fewest of all the starters. Is it too late to sign him to an even longer extension?
Just all those little things. Benson pinch running, removing CES from the game, and not stealing. Friedl steals, but waits until there’s an out when it’s not nearly as helpful. Benson could have moved him to third with one out. He then steals third, but waits until there’s two strikes on Fairchild, and the strikeout at that point was pretty predictable. Steal a pitch sooner and the squeeze would have been an option.
I’ve heard the guys “play hard for him,” but they don’t play very smart for him. And he’s certainly not going to teach them how to do it. He’s just not good at this.
+1,000
“I’ve heard the guys “play hard for him,” but they don’t play very smart for him.”
Playing hard is not synonymous with playing smart. Agreed. Managing “hard” is not synonymous with managing smart either.
We can no longer score without the HR. I thought we were past that.
Reds are now tied with Miami for the 3rd and FINAL Wild Card spot!
I don’t even know what to say other than to much Newman, Senzel, Fairchild and most of all David Bell. That extension what the worse move in Reds history save for the Robinson trade. The Brewers are losing but I honestly don’t care, the way I see it the Reds are cooked with David Bell.
Don’t forget about Bob Howsam trading away Tony Perez after the Reds won the 1976 World Series!
You are 100% correct with everything you say here. Fire Krall!!!
STEAL A BASE WHEN IT MATTERS!!!!!
I heard that!!! Of course that would mean Bell made a good call,..which he is incapable of doing.
We are done it feels like no positive vibes at all from the team.
0-9 RISP.
Votto.
Steer(2)
Newman (2).
EDLC.
Fairchild.
Senzel.
McClain.
Plenty of blame to go around tonight.
And more than one of those should have never been up to bat to strand a runner in the first place. Jmo.
That’s a key stat that I check the box score after every Reds game Can’t be successful at least 1/3rd of the time with RISP hard to win! Case in point, all runs tonight were the result of solo HRs!
Yeah very uninspiring performance. It’s almost like they got the 3 solo homers and took the rest of the evening off. Friedl slumping overall, Fraley not playing, Stephenson just not hitting well overall at all all those things adding up too.
I’m usually a Bell halfway supporter but tonight, this loss has to be considered his fault.
The only ones who performed worse was the announcers trying to be positive about everything again the entire night. I can take a loss and get over it, but tonight’s game didn’t have many positives to brag about.
I think my ” five games” is both honest and fair. I try not to overreact, but when I can predict what is going to happen with his moves and non moves, there’s something wrong.
“This isn’t going to change us!”
I thought that was a little funny Bell saying that the other night after getting clobbered two nights in a row. “This isn’t going to change us” and “Where you gonna go” two of the all time classic quotes coming from the Reds front office over the years!
You are being kind! Bell has had a hand in more than 5 losses! Any other game, Bell would have removed Ashcraft after 7 innings with the Reds holding a 3-1 lead! But, for some reason, he lets Ashcraft go one batter too far!
I agreed with Ashcraft going in the 8th. He just didn’t deliver. The Reds are in a slump, sometimes all the moves don’t quite work. But it may lead to a bigger team collapse, hopefully not.
Way more than 5.
I agree with letting Ashcraft try to go 8. It’s too bad he gave up that 2 run homer gotta give the Nats credit on that. They are pros too. But it seems all the plays the Reds were making when they were winning like 12 in a row and becoming really exciting they don’t make quite as much now, the clutch plays, the fighting down to the last at bat.
Maybe the Reds are just really streaky though? Newman has stunk since coming back, but I like him overall as a bench player.
I think the biggest concern is not really the talent on the team, but the mindset. I feel there’s been kind of a shift mentally in the last month. Maybe once you become the big dog, the pressure is a little different than being the fun young team no one expects to win. They could go on another 5 game winning streak and everyone will feel good again but not sure where they are gonna go.
If the Reds collapse and win like 81-84 games or something I think it would be a little disheartening going into next year. They have a super hard stretch coming up, is going to be interesting to see how they handle that playing at the Angels, Giants, DBacks, Seattle back at home, etc.
It would be amazing if someone on this team could learn how to hit a sacrifice fly. I’m not checking the stats, but I have a feeling the team leader probably has two. That might be a tad optimistic.
Would also be amazing if Bell ever actually tried a hit-and-run or squeeze play, or did one thing that at least vaguely resembles something creative, bold, or clever. Other than occasionally having interesting arguments with umpires at seemingly random times, I’m not seeing anything like that.
“But the players love him and play hard for him,” I’m told. It’s just not good enough. A manager ought to be able to get his players to play hard and also find a way to get his best hitters the most at-bats, AND consistently make smart strategic decisions. It really doesn’t need to be one or the other. We really shouldn’t have to settle for anything less than a manager who can handle ALL the challenges of being a manager.
? on your very last sentence! We SHOULDN’T have to settle for quite possibly the worst manager in MLB.
I really don’t know the clubhouse, and Bell personally obviously, but I get the feeling he’s maybe a little too nice of a Manager whereas sometimes teams need a guy who is a little tougher at times on the players. Obviously there is a balance, like with children they need love and discipline. But he deserves credit too with a lot of the success this year. And they don’t have top notch pitching so he deserves some leeway with that. But if they collapse like 21 and are like not in the race by mid Septemebe I’d be very concerned with him as Manager going forward.
A little pet peave of mine too on Bell, when he gets thrown out of games it almost seems an act to me, like he’s trying to manufacture some energy to inspire his team. It’s a little funny, but I think mostly foolish and embarrassing when he’s getting thrown out.
It’s such a long season though, it’s interesting the ups and down. I think you just hope your team is up at the end of the season!