After dropping three of four in Arizona, the Cincinnati Reds head back to California to start a 3-game series with the San Francisco Giants. Both teams are in third place in their division and are both 1.5 games back of the Diamondbacks for the final wild card spot. Tonight’s 1st pitch is scheduled for 9:45pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Cincinnati Reds
|
San Francisco Giants
|
| Noelvi Marte – 3B | Austin Slater – CF |
| Nick Senzel – LF | Thairo Estrada – 2B |
| Elly De La Cruz – SS | Wilmer Flores – DH |
| Spencer Steer – 2B | J.D. Davis – 1B |
| Christian Encarnacion-Strand – 1B | Patrick Bailey – C |
| TJ Friedl – CF | Paul DeJong – SS |
| Stuart Fairchild – RF | Heliot Ramos – LF |
| Luke Maile – C | Casey Schmitt – 3B |
| TJ Hopkins – DH | Luis Matos – RF |
| Andrew Abbott – LHP | Kyle Harrison – LHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Andrew Abbott | 85.1 | 3.16 | 1.17 | 31 | 93 |
| Kyle Harrison | 3.1 | 5.40 | 1.80 | 1 | 5 |
| Links: Andrew Abbott’s Stats | Kyle Harrison’s Stats |
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Andrew Abbott
The last time out, Abbott allowed three runs and issues a career high four walks in 4.0 innings against the Angels. Following that start his ERA climbed over 3.00 for the first time in his career following the end of a start.
Left-handed hitters don’t get much done against Abbott. They also don’t get many opportunities to face off against him, either. In 64 plate appearances they’ve only had three extra-base hits against him and are hitting just .180. Right-handed hitters aren’t exactly good against Abbott, but they do much better than lefties – hitting for a higher average, making more contact, walking more often, and hitting for more power.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 283 | 58 | 16 | 1 | 10 | 28 | 70 | .231 | .304 | .422 |
| LHH | 64 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 23 | .180 | .219 | .295 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-Seam | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 92.5 | 80.8 | 82.8 | 86.4 |
| Usage | 50% | 17% | 17% | 16% |
Kyle Harrison
One of the top prospects for the Giants, Harrison will be making just his second big league start tonight. In his debut last week he allowed two runs in 3.1 innings against Philadelphia. San Francisco has limited his usage this season as he’s only record an out in the 5th inning of a start twice this year in 22 games.
The 22-year-old lefty has been much better against lefties this year, holding them to a .646 OPS. Left-handed hitters don’t make much contact against him, but they’ve had a solid walk rate against him. Right-handed hitters haven’t hit for much average, but they walk a lot against him and they’ve hit for a lot of power – granted it’s been mostly in the Pacific Coast League, and that league plays quite a bit different than the big ballpark in San Francisco does.
Splits (AAA & MLB)
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 214 | 38 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 38 | 78 | .220 | .369 | .491 |
| LHH | 103 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 36 | .214 | .320 | .326 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | Slider | Curve | Change | |
| Velo | 94.4 | 84.8 | 82.8 | 87.1 |
| Usage | 63% | 26% | 26% | 4% |
When and Where
- Game time: 9:45pm ET
- Where: Oracle Park
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv (out of market)
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 69°, sunny, 0% chance of rain
News and Notes
Matt McLain to the injured list
Prior to the game today the Reds announced that Matt McLain was heading to the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain. They also activated Stuart Fairchild from the 7-day concussion list.
Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Brewers | 73 | 57 | 0.0 | 97.1% |
| Cubs | 69 | 61 | 4.0 | 65.8% |
| Reds | 68 | 64 | 6.0 | 20.4% |
| Pirates | 58 | 73 | 15.5 | 0.0% |
| Cardinals | 56 | 75 | 17.5 | 0.0% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
Not sure if I have the stamina to watch after the pivotal series against Milwaukee, the Cubs, and Snakes all failed. The Reds have (or had) some flourishes to stay relevant but losing this series kind of gets the playoff chance close to drawing the open straight after keeping four cards (about 15%). Hope there is some urgency since this team would benefit greatly from a playoff appearance even if it is 2020 style. Otherwise, I’ll be checking anywhere I can to see if I can stream some reruns of “Bowling For Dollars” with Glenn Ryle to get the hopes up for the next season spend…more or less.
I’m good maybe through the 2nd inning. Whatever happens, happens. As long as “we learn from it” … right?
I’ll start the night with a Stink. Fish. Pot!!! and see if we can go up from there … 😛
Reds probably score 10 runs tonight cause its baseball.Lot of things have to go right just to not nosedive in a big way.Offense has been asleep for weeks and now our best hitter is done probably for the rest of the year.No doubt guys are auditioning for a roster spot next year so lets see what they can do.
I don’t think I’ve paid attention to an entire game since the Bell extension. Depending on what happens this off season, it may time to boycott the Reds until an ownership change. They just aren’t a serious organization.
Big Bob is just a TERRIBLE owner if you like to win. No doubt about it.
I’m really not sure what to say: Hopkins is the designated hitter hitting 9th and Martini is sitting… I give up. Maybe somebody is hurt that I don’t know about and I do understand that Martini is a Lefty batter vs the SF left-handed P… but considering he’s clearly been the best hitter on the Reds over the last few games and his swing looks completely dialed in…while Hopkins sits there and watches strike three go by without swinging a lot of the time I don’t get it.
Man with McLain on the IL, I think that about puts a fork in them. And why not DH Stephenson? The guy finally gets warm and hitting the ball to right and Bell sits him.
Exactly, if you insist on sitting Martini tonight and there was ever a time to DH Stevenson it’s right now when he is finally looking decent hitting
Instead he throws Hopkins out there hitting DH in the 9th spot….a guy who looks completely over-matched at the plate all of the time. He’s just been literally terrible since he’s been called up. If I didn’t know better I’d think Bell put money on the game and bet the Giants.
Time to figure out what kind of players we have. Not a bad thing for them to go thru this in 2023 rather than what we all hope is a real pennant race in 2024. The coaches and players will learn a lot about themselves over the next 6 weeks.
I’ve learned a lot about the manager in the last five years, and I don’t like what I’ve seen.
That handedness thing makes sense if you have adequate personnel but if not,. play your best talent.
The Giants pitcher has a 1.8 whip in just under 4 innings and the chances of him going deep(normally) in a game wouldn’t be high, so play what’s left of the normal starters regardless of handedness. Work the count please.
Martini swing looks completely dialed in and he’s hitting the ball hard a lot. You don’t sit him tonight and DH Hopkins in the 9 hitting .184 who’s literally been terrible since he’s been called up…. it’s just ridiculous
Agreed. His swing and mechanics looked good, seeing the ball very well. You never sit a guy that’s been hitting red hot. When you’re seeing beachballs to everyone else seeing ping pong balls, you play him until he becomes normal again.
David Bell is barely tolerable when we’re winning but when we’re not he’s downright exhausting.
Well, that’s certainly a lineup.
Agreed. Where are runs going to come from with this atrocious lineup. None of the 9 are hitting. And yrs, why in the world is Hopkins playing. Good grief. We have a ton of rookies and a few AAAA minor leaguers in the lineup.
It really stinks that McLain is down as he’s probably tied with Benson as my favorite Red. I do think it’s will be interesting to see Steer get some time at 2B. I think that would be his best position in 24, with McLain (our best SS) at SS, and EDLC (our best 3B) at 3B.
I agree 100%
Let the strikeout parade begin…
unbelievable …. Might hit 20 tonight
I can’t be real supportive when the manager is laughing in the dugout while guys are striking out.
It seems that this season never has been important to the staff and FO… Hope the 2024 does matter…
Wow , starting the game with 3 Ks is really awful and maybe an indicator of more of the same at the offense in recent games…
3 up 3 strike outs this is going to be another long night. The playoffs are gone and so is .500, so sad. However Bell is back for 3 more years, yahoo.
In regards to the ad behind homeplate, I was just thinking about how if you brought someone to the present day from just 20 years ago, they would be absolutely befuddled trying to figure out what a “Mandalorian Funko Pop” is. Probably think it’s some kind of drink.
I honestly have no idea what it is. I’m 36 for the record.
We need a new batting coach,..a new pitching coach,..and a new manager. We should change our name to the Cincinnati Ks. Embarrassing, to say the least.
The Cincinnati Whiffs.
I like that even better.
handedness didnt do so well in that first inning.
It’s time to start asking……Can elly hit lefties…I dont think he can
And the first 2 batters reach 1 via the wall with 3 ks in our at bat. I see things may have not been learned like the manager said they were.
Followed by a flyback that should have been caught, to allow the first run to score.
Glad Fairchild back for the big outfield defense.
That should have been a fairly routine play for a good right fielder, if so there’s two on base with two outs, no runs scored and a good chance to get out of the inning. Instead 1-0 with Runners on second and third with one out… completely different situation.
I thought you liked Fairchild?
Freidl was the CF and that ball was to the CF side of the gap. As CF, he has to take charge and catch it or make clear he isn’t going to by giving the other guy room to run through the catch point.
Poor communication by both but the CF is the guy in charge.
Watch the replay. They both took a deeper route behind the point where the ball was going to fall almost certainly because both thought the other guy was going to catch it.
Stewart Fairchild’s outfield defense just sucks. He’s never going to be a good Major League outfielder with his crummy defense and below average hitting.
Flores with the double,yeah he is there best player.Game over we are done already
Horrible start to the game. Is Abbott pitching with a dead arm? His era has at least tripled in his last several starts.
These are more mental errors than physical errors in my opinion. This team is clearly not geared up for a playoff race and that falls at the feet of management. Field and office. Pathetic.
They learned a lot in their losses to the D-Backs. Can’t you tell by the way they are playing tonight? Next year is our year.
Nope, they look like they’re just playing out the string waiting for the season to end so they can go enjoy the off-season. Taking their cue from the fearless wonder.
Abbott is done. Hes thrown 30 more innings than ever. Just trade for Blake Snell for Nick Senzel. This was easy answer at the deadline.
Yeah because Padres would take that trade.
RLN has the easy solutions.
5 consecutive K’s
Reds are at best bringing a knife to a gun fight and when you face that you just have to play your best players at their best defensive positions.Can’t be any other way right now.
Insult to injury, they got to their hotel just before 6 this morning local time.
Abbott looks completely gassed.
Only 1 run would be a complete gift.
1 run is likely enough for SF to win the game. Anymore runs are nails on coffin.
Abbott has a tired arm. Bullpen – ” You have no idea”.
The SFG fans should be complaining about just scoring 1 run against an struggling Abbott. He threw 32 pitches …
All things considered, it’s a miracle that inning ended with only 1 run scored.
Fairchild is awful in all parts of the game. The one run will be enough, Bell is having fun in the dug out. I would let him coach my granddaughters softball team, she is 4.
This kif may strike out 15
Why so few?
Just waiting around until we put a ball in play before I go to bed.Giants defense may go to sleep before I do
You may end up watching the whole game.
I know some people say I’m too hard on the players. Especially because they’re so young. Who cares, this is unwatchable. Embarrassing.
Looks like Cy Young’s pitching for the Giants tonight!
Hey Freidl hit the ball. This team is done and I don’t think Bell cares. He got his extension.
By laughing and joking around in the dugout he is keeping these guys loose. They wouldn’t be able to swing wildly at pitches and watch strike 3s so comfortably if he wasn’t.
I am gone cause Friedl juts put a ball in play.Wait does he hit lefty?
It’s very disgusting see how the hitters struck out in just 3 pitches consistently…They can´t make contact on meat balls in the middle of the zone…
CES watched strike two right down Broadway and then swung at Ball one.
Now McLain is injured. 3 things certain in life. Death, Taxes, and Reds injuries.
I am out.
Abbott needs to be shut down.
SP is way more than Michael Lorenzen away form clinching the NL Central
BP is gassed
Offense is terrible
I rarely actually see a game, as I don’t have cable, but follow on the mlb website so I see the main highlights and then follow on here many nights. I feel a bit for you guys watching this team especially hitting many nights, can’t be too fun to watch!
I thought a successful trip would be 5-5 though so if they win 1 of 3 I’d take it. 2 of three somehow and it’d be a pretty good trip.
That’s a tough lineup to put out there tonight. I’m still not a fan of Senzel being on the team but oh well. They are becoming pretty depleted with injuries now.
They were fun when they were not trying to hit homers….putting balls in play…stealing bags…running the bases smartly.
Yeah I think that’s why they are so hard to watch now because we got a taste of what a good team could be, and then it’s kind of gone south especially offensively. But maybe Fraley comes back, maybe Mcclain comes back in September and they kind of hang around we’ll see.
After watching all year it is so sad to see this happening, bur what are you going to do?
How many guys strike out this inning? I will guess 2
Milw really hasn’t got much from Santana or Canha. All their no-names have actually started hitting while our guys have all faded.
Krall better get busy in the off-season. Soler has over 1.100 ops vs lefties. Almost a lock for 40+ with us if he stayed healthy.
That’s who I’d pay
Now the ump calling all balls as strikes …incredible
These #$&&’n umps. Stuey atleast has a very good eye
How many teams bat their dh 9th?
One.
I’ve never seen it before. He was hitting .184 coming into the game and if you’ve watched his at bats this year he actually looks worse than that… consistently terrible AB’s. In his two times up today he’s added two strikeouts, the first one kneeling on one knee after a swinging strike 3, then completely overmatched with 2 runners on top 5th. I mean, why would you have want to have Martini in the lineup today?? He’s only looked really good swinging the bat the last 4 or 5 games he’s started… but you certainly don’t want to risk the Lefty/Lefty thing because it’s much better to just have terrible hitters flailing away as your DH hitting 9th then to let a good LH try to hit a left-handed P. Juat because McClain is iut is no reason to put a better hitting lineup out there. This was like a couple of weeks ago when he batted a Triple-A line up against Toronto to avoid the Lefty/ Lefty thing at all costs….and I think we got 2 hits and one runner to 2nd base the entire game in a shutout….he knows things.
” I mean, why would you have want to have Martini in the lineup today?? He’s only looked really good swinging the bat the last 4 or 5 games he’s started”
One of David Bell’s favorite things to do has always been to pour cold water on a hot hitter by taking him out of the lineup.
Hopkins is just embarrassing himself, please send him and Fairchild down along with Siani
Along with everyone else, I’m pondering the fact that Stephenson was often used as the DH when he wasn’t hitting at all, and now that he’s finally started hitting, Hopkins is the DH.
But the guys love playing for Bell, so I guess it’s fine.
That was my 1st lineup question.
Ty finally starts hitting….bench time.
Votto didn’t hit for the last 2 weeks.
Plays every day.
Yep, the two hottest hitters on the Reds team the last few games both need to cool down… and nothing will cool them down quicker than having David Bell as their manager. This guy probably initiates more hitting slumps the way he screws up the lineup than any manager that has ever lived
Quit making sense
David Bell is a fool and the worst manager ever.
What is Fairchild doing? Do you want to play in the majors?
No fundamentals. That was the outfielders ball. Period.
Exactly. He needs to call Steer off on that. Thank God Steer caught it.
SF is contact shy now. He showed it on that bad route earlier and then that Steer play..
His best position is LF anyway.
Agree with OS, they need to shut down Abbott. Try some different guys. Let them audition. This season is done
I’m not sure how Abbott and the bullpen can get through another month. They are beat. Wouldn’t be surprised if some have arm problems at end of the year.
I hope that Bell doesn’t use Duarte up on game one out of the pen and then sent back to Louisville.
I think I am going to join those that have left earlier if the at bats don’t get any better this inning.
The Reds seems to be collapsed… Key players Injured, others in slump or struggling , Offense absolutely down, bullpen burned out, starting pitching relying on just two pitchers throwing well, manager isn’t doing well his job and so on…I’m starting to think to chenge my nickname…
I worried a bit about guys health on this 10 day trip as it seemed certain guys weren’t going to get a day off like De La Cruz or Mcclain. They did have the off days before the trip…the injuries on this club seem abnormally high. The core veterans all out for significant time. I’d give Steer some kind of award if he makes it to the end of the season playing 145 games or so!
The season is 162 games.
1 game off per month is all that should be necessary.
Unless we need to baby the players any further, I’d expect core guys to play 155 per year.
Aside from an obvious lack of leadership, I’m starting to wonder if the word “pride” means anything to some of these guys.
Isn’t this the definition of insanity? I see no changes in how our hitters are executing at bats. I would like to know what is going on behind the scenes to change and reduce the number of strike outs each game.they aren’t even fouling the balls off in their way to K’s. No anger,no frustration. Nothing. Just shoulder shrugs. At this point, we don’t need to hope we miss top SP’s. The results are the same,
KRALL Killed this team at the Deadline…..
Young pitchers coming up on innings limits, worn out bull pen, and all he gets is a lefty reliever. Still say he was held back to not make the Castellini son look like a fool. You know the one who presented the powerpoint at the start of the year who said they had no chance at the playoff’s. Impossible he said. They want sustainability a.k.a. just enough of a team to keep fleecing customers for tickets
4 innings down, 1 hit, no walks, and 9 SOs while the SF pitcher is averaging 14 pitches per inning. The Reds batters sure aren’t taking many pitches. Abbott on the other hand isn’t doing particularly well.
I already can hear Bell in the postgame: “Their pitcher was moving the ball all around, throwing strikes, getting ahead, keeping our guys off balance….he was just unhittable” .It’s amazing these pitchers only seem to do this against the Reds
Reds relief pitchers don’t need a pitching coach. They need a psychologist.
Like MM, look like everyone is injured and the entire teams should be in IL. There is no other explanation for this collective struggling.
I know a lot more old school than 99 percent of the rest of the world now. However, it is okay to hold these kids accountable on their approach at the plate. After all these kids all want the really big contracts in the future. They need to learn not to make the same mistake over and over. By the way Brantley is accurate on a lot of points tonight.
It almost seems like the Reds are tanking. It is hard to take they have been playing so bad. This looks like last years Reds. It is so disappointing to see them in what has become an all out collapse.
This series will be a sweep. Cubs will win 3 of 4, Mariners will sweep. They will lose 9 of 10 to fall 4 games under, what a joke. No pride.
At least they should skip Abbot’s next turn, or il him for 10 days. I would like to see EDLC in the outfield with his arm and speed. He could be a plus defender out there. Also like to see what Marte and CES can do on the left side of the infield. Let benson face leftiesTime to figure out the keepers vs trade bait.
Our best chance so far and we had Hopkins at the plate missing a FB right down the middle.
Like everytime the Reds needed a hit to win the game and Billy Hamilton would be up and two outs. The game always finds the weakest hitter and fielder at the worst time.
10Ks in five innings. smh Poor hitting fundamentals.
Votto made a point about mental and physical prep for long road trips earlier this year. Probably something to that. I would imagine this is the longest season a lot of these guys have ever experienced too.
Once again please send Hopkins down now, don’t even wait for the end of the game. How could Bell let him play ahead of Stephenson, what a fool.
or Martini…
I can’t understand why TJ Hopkins is still in the Reds, he must be optioned asap. He is pathetic thus far…
Hopkins is weak. Not much of a prospect. Next prospect up for a trial.
Hopkins has no reason to be on this team. He looks lost. He is not helping this team in any way. I mean Barrero can do what he is doing and he got tar and feathered by Redleg Nation. Might as well bring him back up and see what he can do. Lopez. Reynolds anybody. Siani is doing nothing as well. Like they are playing two short on the bench.
Hopkins …. No words but whiffmaster – this dude is completely and utterly lost …
Pathetic !
Can you say DH…only on the Reds. He is now hitting a sizzling .175 with a .233 obp since his callup a few weeks back.
….but but but he bats RH facing a lefty. What more could you want?
Hey, at least the Reds threatened. No reason I know of to have Hopkins in the line up and there he was with men on first and third, SMH.
10 SO’s in 5 innings, where the ^*^*(^ is our hitting coach. Everyone is trying to swing for the fences. McClain and Stephenson were the only ones that regularly went the opposite way. Running game has quit. Remember Tampa Bay got Civale, pitching crazy good for them, for the 37th overall MLB prospect. We had the #20 (Marte) and #28 (Arroyo) both infielders. Only 4 spots in the infield, Arroyo for Civale (team control 2 more years) was a no-brainer which is exactly why the Reds did not do it…
Bell just wasted a legitimate scoring opportunity by refusing to pinch hit for his designated hitter, which I’m pretty sure every single one of us would have done if we’d accidentally chosen Hopkins to be the DH.
How can Brantley have such a divergent opinion than the Rest of the Reds organization re : Abbott and possible inning limitations in September. Krall has said numerous times that Abbott will not be limited including before the trade deadline when it was a meaningful point of discussion. Many of us can see Abbott looks tired but the boss has said we will need him down the stretch and he will not be limited. Brantly, how about paying a little closer attention to facts and less so on speculation. As Krall has said, we will very much so need him.
I wish Brantley was the manager of the REDS quite frankly …. Has more of a clue than anybody else in this organization and has played the game at a high level …. Dude knows the game and knows what he is
talking about ….. unlike the guy in the dugout
who is the worst strategic manager in MLB. 3 year extension is an absolute joke !!!!
Not to mention Brantley calls it like he sees it and he would not be afraid to sit anybody’s ass down for making some of the dumb mistakes we make on a regular basis. Bell’s only concern is being everybody’s buddy. But ownership would never do that because they would be way too concerned that they couldn’t control Brantley. They know they have Bell under their thumb and that he’ll do whatever they want and say whatever they want him to say…it’s pathetic and sickening. They’re going to blow this beautiful 3-year window with all this talent watching this clown run this team into the ground
OK, NOW Farmer is in. Why wasn’t he inserted yesterday instead of Gibaut, who pitched the night before, is what I want to know? And why didn’t Law pitch instead of Sims for the same reason? One of you guys out there has to know why. Seemed like an obvious managerial call to me, and yet…
Bell was saving Farmer for this game. He’s probably had Farmer penciled in to pitch this game since sometime around mid-July. He probably even knew which inning it would be, which is why he removed Abbott so abruptly.
Right. Makes no sense to me, either.
WAAAYYYYYYYY too many strikeouts again by the Reds hitters. They are making each pitcher they face on each game look like a CY Young candidate.
Nice hustle Elly. Thank the Lord football is coming.
Take him out for not running Bell, you won’t you are afraid.
At this point I’m just rooting for Reds to put the ball in play and make outs that way. Let’s get this thing over with as quickly as possible, and without setting any strikeout records.
This kid won the lottery tonight facing these fading Reds.
Remember Bell’s mentor as a manager is Dusty Baker, who wins when he has a ton of super stars but never with lesser talent. Pitching Coach also needs to go, whole league is on to the 2 strike “up the ladder” fastball. Now just a wasted pitch no one swings at. How many 0-2 counts have our pitchers nibbled to make 3-2 or walks. Drives up the pitch count for no reason. Reds have knack for treating Baby Ruth hitters like Babe Ruth….
Wait….it makes sense. Giants pitcher Harrison is a left handed pitcher and the Reds do terrible against left handed pitchers.
Giants up 3-0 and they sacrifice bunt. Is that against the rules? I’ve never seen that.
David Bell will probably protest.
11 strikeouts in 6 innings … hitting coach should be fired before the end of this game … plus he and Hopkins should be on the first plane out to Cincinnati tomorrow
Yes. Pathetic. Just got another hit!! Woohoo! Sadak commented how Harrison hasn’t pitched past the 7th inning all year, but tonight he’s dominating the Reds. Don’t we see this movie all the time? As Dandy Don Meredith used to sing on MNF; “Turn out the lights…the party’s over…
“Bell may not be the greatest strategist, but the guys love playing for him, they always play hard, and they never give up.”
Well, they probably do love playing for him. That part is probably true.
Why is ELD not running out swinging bunts? Anther opportunity to let him know that is not accceptable.
To be fair, he probably really didn’t feel like running, and Bell needs to respect his players’ feelings.
Remember, he’s only 21. What do you expect from the guy, professionalism?
Zero accountability flows from the top down in this organization ….. never gonna change with the current regime … from
Ownership all the way to the coaches and players
Disastrous! Bell, Johnson, and McKeithan should be fired. The season is over, forget the wild card option. I don’t think the team will finish above .500. The overwhelming collapse is on Bell. Totally unfit to manage a major league team. Inept in all facets of the game, you name it lineups, game strategy, bullpen mismanagement abuse, and severely failing starters for consistently not demonstrating confidence in their abilities to grow through game longevity and adversity. Physical and mental toughness was nullified at the altar of overhyped game analytics. It didn’t have to finish in this fashion. Signing him to a three year extension prior to the end of the season was a fatal mistake. The next three years we have nothing to look forward to unless he is replaced, it is well worth the price to do so. After all, the team just ate Moustakas, Akiyama and Myers salaries, etc.
I can’t believe you didn’t mention the fact that Bell also personally injured McLain, Fraley, India, Votto, Lodolo etc.
Maybe he did injure them by not working them hard in the off season and spring training. We seem to have a lot more injuries than the contenders. Who knows for sure.
You’re preaching to the choir. And if they don’t buy out his contract they’re going to lose so much money at the gate and all the goodwill they built up with the fan base this summer is going to get flushed right down the toilet. They better be prepared to buy him out by May-June of 2024.
Fans should refuse to go to the park until Bell is replaced.
A “players’ coach” is not a real coach. A real coach puts respect, discipline, and accountability first. Is that what I hear you guys saying?
Just like children a lot of the time do not need a “buddy” for a parent so do players a lot of the time not need a “buddy” for a manager. Both need discipline to bring out their best.
That’s a fact.
Worst fundamental team in the league by far …. Reflection of manager and his staff
Bad coaching there. No way did CES have a chance there without a terrible throw.
Was stupid.
He was just touching third when the right fielder got the ball.
He had to freeze and was actually going back toward second to make sure the ball went through the infield. No chance.
I missed that. Probably from the complete boredom.
Even Sadak is getting bored. He’s talking about seagulls communicating with other seagulls that the game is almost over. lol
House had to see that and that’s his job. Terrible desperation send there.
The Reds are clowns. Comedians.
The amount of whiffs on fastballs in the zone tonight is really worrisome. As much as I despise throwing in the towel, I think with Abbott trending down in a hurry, there isn’t much left to lean on. This team of rookies looks like they’re gonna stumble to the finish line. I think the development will come, just not in time to get to October this year.
Problem is, even if they make the playoffs, the bullpen and Abbott will have nothing left. Maybe Williamson as well.
They’ll learn from it.
Even the 3rd base coach doesn’t have a clue. This is the worst coaching staff in the history of the game period.
House has always been a bad 3rd base coach.
Down 3 runs late in game and you send him ….. plain and simply stupid decision
+1000 on House’s being bad
Sadak really grates on nerves ….dude has something to say about EVERYTHING
Yep. And he thinks that he’s always right. Times he’ll fuss with the color guys over his narrative. Cherry picks data numbers and spews them to us. Information overload. Let the sounds of the game breath ocassionally.
lol Remember the game not too long ago he was doing play by play of the tarp being rolled out? hahaha
I remember that!!
It’s getting so bad , Sadak brings up seagulls to talk about. Has he finally got to the point where he is out of stats?
At this point, I’d rather hear about seagulls.
He’s like those espn guys that I think he’s trying to impress, or catch their northeastern attention.
We’ll nickname him the birdman of Alcatraz!
Simple fixes for ELD. Move forward in the box not up but towards the pitcher. he has the bat speed to hit any fastball, but needs to get the breaking ball before it’s max drop. The biggest problem is lack of situational hitting. Example was Marte when team was down 2 runs in AZ and he had a 2-0 count. AUTOMATIC TAKE. Nope swings away. That is poor coaching and no discipline
You’re right on those fb’s with his quick wrists. Would work on those bottom out changeups too. Mess the geometry up for the pitcher too on specific depth changeups.
Right now I think most fans have had it with everybody = front office, coaches, players announcers and medical staff.
The Reds are a team physically and mentally exhausted. Most have developed in a system where a push for s championship in the minors wasn’t valued. It was more about individual development where winning could not get in the way of that.so they never learned the ability to push for it. Most of the rookies have been ready to go home for the year during the last week of August, let alone a 10 game cross country and time zone road trip and still have a month to go.
Organization and discipline are what bring you through the tough times. When you play on all emotions you fall apart exhausted eventually. It IS possible to have discipline and fun at the same time…..just thought I’d mention that.
Siani must suck so bad that he doesn’t even pinch hit for Hopkins.
Thought the same thing.
They’ve got a guy on the active roster whose only possible contribution would be pinch running. They really just don’t even pretend to care anymore. Even the third catcher made more sense than this.
Thought the same thing.
And the ump decides there will be no comeback on his watch. Lord they suck crap.
Quick stats update on tonight’s DH Hopkins. He has had 3 AB’s with 3 very bad K’s. Since being called up from AAA he is 7 for 41…. .171 avg, .227 obp, .171 SLG…. 0 HR’s…1 RBI.
This is the guy Daved Bell CHOSE to DH tonight in the middle of a playoff race vs one of the teams you are competing with. All while a hot Martini and getting warm Stephenson sit on the bench.
It’s mind-numbing. You would think he isn’t actually tryng to win.
Martini did come in and get a hit tonight too. He pinch hit for Farichild. Hopkins stayed in the game. A hot hitting Stephenson did come in to catch AFTER Benson pinch hit for Maile when he (TS) could have pinch hit for Hopkins with the bases loaded earlier (Hopkins Kd). Stephenson never got an AB tonight.
Pitiful misuse of resources limited as they are.
Ted, Bell is an imbecile!
Remember 8/28/23 as the day we can all officially give up on 23 and think about 24.
An argument can be made that Big Bob gave up when he extended David Bell three more years.
Melvin, Agree with you 100%
Yes. Very depressing as a very long suffering fanbase.
I’ve followed bad Reds teams alot my whole life age 67. This year seems extra depressing since the youth brought energy & hope and rejuvenated me. Once Joey, India(hammy I believe) & Senzel were activated attitudes and energy changed. I’m not blaming those 3 guys but the season and energy changed and so did the results shortly afterwards. It’s been injuries, slumps, pen worn down, etc. Just crashed & burned since 3rd week of June. Jake has had several IL stints since we acquired him and we’ve sorely missed him, but that must get factored in this winter.as the team has to be re-engineered as to improve.
It really can’t be stressed enough that the third base coach on a major league team thought it would be a good idea to risk having a runner thrown out (easily) at the plate with one out, down by four, with guys available on the bench to pinch hit, rather that play it safe and have the bases loaded with one out. Aside from using Hopkins as a DH, nothing screams “WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING” more than that decision right there. You have basically one job as a third base coach, and that job is to make sure things like that don’t happen. If things like that are going to be allowed to happen, you might as well just let the players decide for themselves, because they’re going to make the same stupid decisions without your help.
It really just illustrates what so many of us keep saying: this team isn’t fundamentally sound. They really just don’t know how to play the game. The manager doesn’t, the hitting coach (whoever that is) doesn’t, the third base coach doesn’t, and whoever is in charge of teaching these guys how to handle a pop-ups doesn’t.
Hopkins, Siani, and Fairchild should be in Louisville. Mancini, Reynolds, Barrero or Lopez should be called up. Fire Bell, way overdue…
Bob drifted into the shutdown owner, his son couldn’t take the place. The Bull stepped up and executed and the strategy proved coherent. Yes, they had the horses and several performed well. For a month or two it was magical.
Yet, the excess walks, KOs, and fundamental blunders of old came to roost as the adrenaline wore off. Some sorting took place and others developed while others regressed. Good season overall but does the future look that much brighter with the status quo in charge? How long before “other” sorting needs to take place? Maybe somebody needs to replace Buddy and get some fresh on field management for the promising youngsters? I would assume they will get many inquiries in spite of their hometown hero move.