The Cincinnati Reds have had back-to-back walk-off wins against Chicago. This afternoon the club will look to make it three wins in a row against the Cubs and pick up a series win. First pitch is set for 12:10pm ET.
Starting Lineups
Chicago Cubs
|
Cincinnati Reds
|
| Mike Tauchman – CF | Nick Martini – DH |
| Nico Hoerner – 2B | TJ Friedl – LF |
| Ian Happ – LF | Spencer Steer – 2B |
| Cody Bellinger – DH | Elly De La Cruz – SS |
| Dansby Swanson – SS | Christian Encarnacion-Strand – 1B |
| Seiya Suzuki – RF | Will Benson – RF |
| Jeimer Candelario – 1B | Tyler Stephenson – C |
| Nick Madrigal – 3B | Noelvi Marte – 3B |
| Miguel Amaya – C | Harrison Bader – CF |
| Jameson Taillon – RHP | Carson Spiers – RHP |
Starting Pitchers
| Pitcher | IP | ERA | WHIP | BB | K |
| Carson Spiers (AA) | 83.0 | 3.69 | 1.35 | 41 | 106 |
| Jameson Taillon | 121.2 | 5.62 | 1.36 | 33 | 106 |
| Links: Carson Spiers’ Stats | Jameson Taillon’s Stats |
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Carson Spiers
You never really know what you’re going to get from a guy pitching in his big league debut. But we do know that since moving to the rotation five weeks ago in Double-A for Chattanooga that Spiers has pitched well, posting a 3.27 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 33.0 innings and holding hitters to a .193/.284/.303 line during that stretch that began on July 28th.
In the Southern League this season he’s pitched much better against right-handed hitters. They hit for a lower average, walk much less, and they hit for almost no power. Lefties don’t hit for much average, but they walk a lot and they hit for a solid amount of power against him.
There’s no public pitch tracking data for the Double-A level. Spiers throws both a 2-seamer and a 4-seamer in the 92-95 MPH range. He will also show a cutter, slider, and a change up.
Splits (AA)
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 185 | 35 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 60 | .211 | .287 | .307 |
| LHH | 178 | 36 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 25 | 46 | .243 | .371 | .426 |
Jameson Taillon
Over the last three weeks it’s been tough for Taillon after having a good run of things in the middle of the season. Since August 9th he’s made four starts and given up 18 earned runs in 20.2 innings while giving up 27 hits – five of which have been home runs.
This season he’s pitched well against right-handed hitters. While they’ve hit for a solid average against him they almost never walk and they’ve hit for almost no power. Left-handed hitters, though, are hitting quite well against him. They walk at a good clip, hit .280 against him, and they are hitting for a lot of power.
Splits
| Split | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | K | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| RHH | 250 | 64 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 58 | .269 | .292 | .378 |
| LHH | 273 | 68 | 16 | 1 | 15 | 27 | 48 | .280 | .352 | .539 |
Pitch Usage
| 4-seam | 2-seam | Cutter | Curve | Slider | Change | |
| Velo | 93.8 | 94.0 | 89.0 | 80.6 | 80.9 | 86.7 |
| Usage | 34% | 11% | 22% | 16% | 14% | 3% |
When and Where
- Game time: 12:10pm ET
- Where: Great American Ball Park
- Watch: Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.tv (out of market)
- Listen: 700 WLW AM (Cincinnati area)
- Forecast: 84°, sunny, 0% chance of rain
News and Notes
Matt McLain, Jonathan India updates
There’s some good news and some bad news on the injury front to start the day.
David Bell said Matt McLain (oblique) is out two to three more weeks. Jonathan India (foot) could start a rehab assignment within the week. He’ll get a few games.
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) September 3, 2023
Standings
| Team | W | L | GB | Playoff Odds |
| Brewers | 76 | 59 | 0.0 | 99.0% |
| Cubs | 72 | 64 | 4.5 | 70.1% |
| Reds | 71 | 67 | 6.5 | 21.0% |
| Pirates | 63 | 73 | 13.5 | 0.0% |
| Cardinals | 58 | 78 | 18.5 | 0.0% |
| Playoff Odds via Fangraphs | ||||
To me, the only clear thing about this team is that their young players are really talented and athletic. It’s been a lot of fun to watch. Krall and the developmental staff in the minors deserve a lot of kudos for putting this group in a position to succeed. They play with energy and aggressiveness… They also make a lot of stupid mistakes. It doesn’t have to be one way or the other. The job of Bell and his staff is to teach the players how to play aggressively without making silly mistakes that hurt the team. It should get better with experience, but it only gets better if the lessons are being taught and players are being held accountable behind the scenes. Hopefully, they are. None of us on RLN know what’s going on behind the scene.
The injuries to the starting pitching staff this year, and the trends that I have witnessed around the league have solidified my opinion that I would not invest any big contracts on starting pitching. In the modern game starting pitchers just don’t seem to stay healthy. I think a better use of your money is to invest in your most talented position players and load up on as much cheap, first contract pitching that you can acquire and just keep rotating them through. It might even be worth the experiment to carry more relievers, fewer starters and just plan only a couple of pitchers on the staff pitching more than 4 innings in any one game. It’s the way it works out more times than not anyway. Just some thoughts. Maybe a 4 man rotation and too long relievers. I would be very tempted to make the very best arms in the organization relievers to see if they stay healthier when only pitching 2 innings max but are factors in more games. I am completely convinced that in the modern game, your bullpen is more important than your starting staff. If the Reds are able to hang in there with this make-shift staff, I will be a true believer. The only score that counts is the one at the end of the game. Go Reds. Beat the Stupid Cubbies.
I like the way you think. Creativity is probably going to be the watchword moving forward with pitching staffs in general. Not the game we all grew up with but it is interesting and very challenging for a manager. So far, I think David Bell has done a pretty good job with bullpen management. Let’s finish strong!
Amen, one good month and were in. The Reds bullpen really has been the savior of this team all year. I hope they have another good month in them.
I can totally see your rationale. It makes some sense, but after a day that saw Abbott give up a run in 6 innings, I might still take my chances on a good starter. The question as always is “how much money is that worth?” The answer is variable as always too depending on which teams can afford to take the risk. It may very well be that the Reds generally have much less wiggle room for position players and pitchers alike. If that is true, then the answer has to be…stay young…stay athletic…roll with the punches…and pray during the playoffs that several grasshoppers make national names for themselves.
Agreed, I would be more apt to give a true pitcher like Abbott a bigger contract than a pure power arm. Guys like Bronson A. tend to last a lot longer than your Syndergaard’s. I would just be very wary of big money long term contracts for pitchers. Please, no more Homer Bailey type contracts. I hope Greene’s contract wasn’t a mistake.
When starters were giving 250-300+ innings per season and routinely pitching into the 8th or 9th, they were possibly earning their big bucks. Now many of them are pitching half that number of innings and can no longer justify the huge salaries. The BP has become more important than it was, as has been stated, so there needs to be a seismic shift in distribution of funds from starters to relievers. Hierarchically I would say that a quality 4-5 inning starter should be roughly worth a quality 3-4 inning reliever. Right behind is a quality closer, then comes the inning or less relievers.
I also believe there is something wrong with a system in which a team, say the Reds, pay a player’s salary, say Justin Dunn, for several years, say Justin Dunn, and the player accumulates service time the whole while and can become a free agent without ever helping the team who was paying him, say Justin Dunn. Service time, when it comes to free agency, needs to be better tied to actually providing service to the payor.
The fact that young pitchers keep getting hurt for no apparent reason other than they’re pitching is an indication to me that (despite all the claims that Abbott “needs” to be shut down or they’ll “ruin” him) nobody really understands the cause-and-effect of pitching injuries. So, yeah, I tend to agree it’s probably a mistake to give pitchers any long-term contracts unless you’re prepared to just forfeit however much money you’re paying them. I think what I would do if I were a team like the Reds would be to try to sign a couple veteran starters who’ve been good but not great. Guys who’ll be willing to sign two or three year deals for normal major league salaries rather than superstar salaries. I certainly wouldn’t commit $100 million to one guy.
For about the millionth time, RLN software thinks I’m a robot. I’m not.
Reds 1975. SP Gullett and Nolan. BP Eastwick, McEnaney, Carroll, Borbon.
1976 same except Sarmiento instead of Carroll.
1990. SP Rijo and Browning. BP Myers, Dibble, Charlton. The Nasty Boys.
Three WS championships. Two strong starters and a dominant bullpen (formula).
That’s just what a robot would say…
Nah. I said this by heart, not by looking it up. I’m a Reds fan since 1958. Not a whiny 21st Century Reds “fan.”
Well I’d say Bell is showing some creativity if nothing else. I haven’t bashed Bell except for in game decisions. But imagine we have ONE starting pitcher left from opening day, lost India, Votto, Fraley, Friedl, Newman for extended periods of time and hade to turn to rookies CES, McClain, EDLC, Steer, Benson to carry the load. And his mixing and matching the starting from minor leaguers to major league castoffs has been impressive. I know this happens to most teams, but to realize we’re still in it in September is unreal. Now let’s go Reds!
That’s the benefit of playing in a really weak division.
The Diamondbacks and Giants both lost Saturday which moved the Reds into a virtual tie for the last wildcard spot with those two teams.
Both the Giants and the Snakes have 2 games in hand to the Reds. However, the Reds currently have 1 more win than either of those teams. If the Reds win the same number of games as each of these two from now to the end of the season, the Reds will be in unless someone overtakes all 3 teams from arrears. The Marlins have a legitimate shot at -1 game to the trio. The Padres are -6.5 games. And don’t look now but the Pirates are just a game behind the Padres.
Just wondering ? Are any other teams suffering from a Covid outbreak?
Don’t know but would have to think the team sitting in the close confines of a plane on the airport tarmac in Arizona was a major contributor.
Alert: Will Benson is hitting 6th today
hate to hear McLain is out a few more weeks. But, Spencer Steer is providing versatility and value to a team. Hes played a good first base, then some 3b, then went to LF and now 2b. Despite all the movement, hes been a solid consistent bat and not allowed rotations to impact his offense.
Agree. However if the team is on keel and holding position in the WC race, I also don’t want to see them taking the risk of forcing anyone, particularly Votto, back into the lineup just to have them versus whoever else was playing with the team holding its own.
As I said above, from today to the end of the season is about winning the same number or more games as the Giants and Snakes while keeping the Marlins et al behind them. If they do this the full season record will end in their favor.
Hot one today. How many ML Debuts have the Reds had this year? Has to be some sort of record.
Bader played that ball perfectly off the wall and made a perfect throw to 3B.
Any word on why Fraley’s not in the lineup today?
Probably safe to assume he’s heading to the IL or the Covid list, and the Reds will just play a man down today because that’s how they roll.
Probably day game after a night game and 2 consecutive games prior so scheduled rest/foot day. With a stress fracture, not wanting to push things.
7 days seems a little extreme for COVID. I have been telling my patients it’s ok to return to work 5 days after they first experience symptoms. And these aren’t professional athletes. Truth is we don’t exactly know how long people are contagious with coronavirus but 5 days seems to be the working definition now
Having had COVID 3 times now (2020,2022,2023), most recently in March, I can attest from experience that the current variants aren’t that tough compared to the 2020 variant. The 2023 experience was asymptomatic and found in conjunction with a routine medical procedure and verified with subsequent tests.
ASI said earlier had all the boosters, natural immunity from a previous bout with no adverse conditions and caught Covid in May and was hospitalized for 5 days receiving 3 Veklury transfusions. Then my girlfriend was down 2 weeks with severe conditions. So although it seems Covid isn’t usually severe, it can be.
Maybe part of the issue requiring the 7 day period is that their work requires them to be in close quarters with others from both their own and other teams?
I know a lot of people like Larkin, but at least once a game he says something that makes me question if we’re watching the same game
*fastball middle-middle
“Great location on that fastball.”
His “Let it eat” makes me cringe every time.
*replay shows clear cement mixer
“Fastball down the middle.”
Other favorites:
That pitch was out over the plate.
He let that pitch travel
The fielder dove and kept his hands away from his body.
You just gotta compete, VaRedsFan
I think most here love Larkin the player, but not the announcer.
In all fairness to Larkin, I can remember Joe Nuxall a few beers in making calls like, “High fly ball to deep left center… and Larkin makes the grab.”
Dink and dunking the kid.
Gonna need to see some of that June/July offense this month or we’re doomed… On the positive tip, this might be the best batting order Bell’s put together in two months (given the options…)
Friedl!!
Friedl. Love that guy.
Spencer!!
Steer! Best hitter on the team.
wake up to back to back jacks
Only following on game cast – Spiers looks to be throwing to contact, and giving up singles – pitch count too high, but if settles down this could work well.
That, and answering with HRs, is good.
Jameson Taillon has had trouble in his last outings espcially against lefties however Jake Fraley has a off-day today… Hopefully the offense could do some damage against the struggling Taillon… This game is crucial to keep fighting…
this reds starter is not long for this game
In the 2nd, he had 2 guys in position to put away and had them both end up reaching.
55 pitches in the 2nd inning…..get the bullpen up….we cannot just give this game away
Enough of Spiers. Game means to much. Bring in the bullpen.
Then what about tomorrow or Tuesday? Its a sticky situation to be in for sure. Kennedy is available out of bullpen today and if he pitches, then who pitches tomorrow?
Flip side, yes Spiers has struggled etc etc
Worry about tomorrow when it gets here. Never understood that philosophy
FWIW…Kennedy was warming last inning.
What Does FWIW mean?
Also thanks
Agree with JB. The “let’s sacrifice today’s game so we have a better chance to win tomorrow’s game” has never made sense to me. For all we know, tomorrow’s game will be postponed due to a covid outbreak, or the Reds will be no-hit and it won’t make any difference who pitches. Try to win today’s game today and worry about tomorrow’s game tomorrow.
No worries, MoY Bell has got it.
FWIW = For what it’s worth
@JB Certainly at this stage +10K on worry about tomorrow tomorrow. And remember tomorrow never comes! 😉
I texted someone “this lead isn’t going to last through the second inning” when the Cubs had a runner on first base. I wish I were wrong about things like that more often.
Expanded rosters so don’t know why they can’t have a bullpen day instead of throwing random kids to the wolves? I guess so many guys are missing they have to multiple innings from somewhere
Spiers gets an A+ in the wife department.
Beautiful woman.
Stephenson is back for all those who said to get rid of him.
Both teams 4+ looks pretty good
I bet reds to lose 1st inning. You guys are welcome for them scoring 2 in first. Lol
Final score of this game: 17-16. I just hope the Reds have 17.
Ty really has made (less) strides….with the toe tap.
Spiers pitches are taking off on him. Not sure if it’s because he is probably jacked up or not. Either way it would be nice for him to make it to the 5th.
Late to today’s party! Thought game time was at 1:10. Watched the latest episode of Quick Pitch on the MLB Network and they pointed out that the Reds have 43 come-from-behind wins this season to lead MLB. Not good for those with old, weak hearts like myself!
Will be in Northern Kentucky this week and trying to decide when to make my annual pilgrimage to GABP! Choices are the Mariners series or the weekend series against the Dirty Birds! Leaning towards the Seattle series since I’ve never seen them live!
Let’s finish off the Stupid Cubs series today with a win!
Larkin keeps making the comment that Spiers is “competing” with all his pitches. I wonder what it would look like for a pitch to not be competitive. Would it travel 40 or 50 feet and die in the infield grass? Would it sail 10 feet over everyone’s head? Would an offspeed pitch go faster than a fastball? I’m just trying to get a sense of what it means. (I know, I know… it doesn’t mean anything.)
Would it not “Eat” ?
That seems about right.
Nice job Spiers. Let him come out for the 5th , Bell. He had his blip and is now pitching.
But please have someone ready if anyone gets on base.
There is someone ready now. I’m thinking if a guy gets on , Bell will come get him.
Quick question for those more versed in the new rules than me. If Steer finishes 2nd in rookie of year voting, will reds get anything for that? Or do you only get something for first place?
2nd and 3rd place finishers earn an extra international pick
After reading further…the player had to be on a top 100 list.
Still vague on if our rookies are eligible.
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/mlb-prospect-promotion-incentive-rookie-year-cba/ja5ts8eaxcuv85xujnzriafb
He wasn’t on 2 of the 3 relevant top 100 lists which is a requirement for draft compensation. Now it’s best for Steer to be voted in the top 2, because the top 2 get a full year of service time. Since Steer came up last year it doesn’t matter, but if any of our other Rookies finish in the top 2 we lose a year of service time.
Thanks VA and Amarillo.
An 11-pitch 4th inning for Spiers means he may start the 5th inning?
Spiers gets the handshake.
He’s done for the day.
Finished on a high note, with the last 2 scoreless innings.
Horner may win a gold glove at 2nd just for his play against the Reds this year.
Bellinger & Happ have been feasting on Reds pitching this whole series! Hope that trend does not continue or factor in the outcome of today’s game!
Been looking at the last 20 to 22 game schedules for the 6 teams vying for the 3 NL Wild Card spots! Following the 3-game home series with the Mariners, looks like the Reds have one of the easier schedules down the stretch!
A win today to clinch the series plus winning 2 out of 3 against Seattle would go along way to keeping the Reds in the thick of the playoff picture!
Let’s get a couple more runs to give pitching some breathing room. C’mon.
Good job by Shreve to get Happ for the final out and leaving Bellinger in the on deck circle!
Chasen Shreve just got the Cubs out in order
Cubs fans must be blowing a gasket.
Cubs hitters to the the analytics guys
Hitters: Who is Shreve and whats he got?
Analytics guys :Never heard of him
Hitters: so what do I do?
Analytics: see da ball hit da ball
Wow Shreve didn’t walk a batter .
He obviously didn’t get or read the memo on what’s required of Reds relief pitchers!
Terrible throw and a great tag. Lucky
Actually 5-6 feet to 1st base side of 2nd is a perfect throw.
Base stealers need to start trying to slide to the outfield side of the bag to maybe combat that throw.
That looked alot farther than 5-6 feet. Bader wasn’t even close to the bag when he went down. Barrel rolled in to 2nd.
The middle IF play of the Cubbies has been noteworthy in this series. 2B and SS have both saved several runs in all probability.
You are right but it’s so hard to say the Cubbies did something good. Never will be able to cheer for them after the Baez,Rizzo and Contreras years.
Another Reds killer.
When you only throw 80 mph it’s not really an advantage against a lefty in my opinion and Bellinger concurs.
A really bad pitch served to Bellinger…
Bell usually hooks his relievers after one inning. Some reason he leaves the 80 mph fireballing journeyman in to go another inning and face Bellinger.
Left on left. I love to pile on to Bell. But that really wasn’t a bad call. Just a bad pitch. Sims could have served up the same thing.
+100
Could but we will never know. I would take my chances on Sims, and that is asking alot, over an 80 mph journeyman
Battle of the bullpen now. Hope we come out on top.
Look like Cubs starter still in. CES got a double. Let’s drive him in.
Elly has got to be moved down in the order. A message has to be sent on this many strikeouts.
Discipline is lacking for sure.
Very good at bat by CES and outstanding hustle.
Take the double but just wish CES had gotten a few more degrees of elevation on that drive.
As a proclaimed CES guy, I am excited for when he gets hot and starts launching some balls at GABP.
Praised Bell somewhat earlier, but his insistence to bat EDLC in the top half of the lineup is infuriating. If he moved him down to 7th or below it may be a wake-up call. And it’s better than letting him sit. Remember he’s only “21” so it may be a wake-up vcall.
Benson just needs to be sitting … strikeouts galore ….. same could be said if DE la Cruz but we know Bell won’t sit him for a few days , won’t even move him down in order
Every since he hit the Mammoth homerun in Arizona it looks like he is over swinging again.
I would love to see the entire season of Elly’s outcomes on full count pitches….my guess would be swinging strikes on a ton of pitches out of the strike zone, many swinging strikes on pitches in the strike zone, some strikeouts looking & hardly any hits or walks on 3-2 pitches. That is why I don’t like seeing him go to 3-2….seems like the outcome is rarely good. Hopefully next year will be better
Cubs think Stepehenson’s bat can’t catch up with this guy’s heater then fed him a diet of breaking balls and off speed to get down 3/0 then get burned on a 3/2 pitch. So Reds like.
Stephenson 3-3 with 3 ribbies
Stephenson. Enough said
Mclain has struck out 115 times.
Steer has struck out 116 times.
De La Cruz has struck out 121 times.
With De La Cruz not sure if that is before or durin this game.
I for one hope the three mentioned can cut down on their strike outs next season. CES as well.
Do you have total ABs for each by comparison?
Steer has 496 AB’s
Mclain has 365 AB’s
De La Cruz has 313 AB’s
Now again not sure if stats change real time or not.
Steer 23.4%
McClain 31.5%
Edlc 38.7%
Major league average last year was 22.4%
Elly does strike out too much, hopefully that is corrected come next season.
Not that I think he’s in the same category but the one thing that Aquino, Barrero, and De La Cruz have in common is that they basically swing as hard as they can on every pitch. That’s not “good hitting”.
None are even close to the strikeout king Suarez. 176?
Suarez has 502 at bats for a 35% k rate. Less than ellys 38.7%
Looking at strikeout totals. I guess I need to specify to some .
EDLC is even a switch hitter this should not be happening at such an alarming rate. This will need to be corrected this offseason. I knew it was bad. Even Sadak said 16th time with 3 or more strikeouts.
Steer has 220 more plate appearances than Elly
Its plate appearances not at bats
Steer is 20%
McLain 28
Elly 35-ish
Steer has elite plate discipline
Elly has none
Isn’t plate appearance and abs the same thing?
@kevin, no plate appearances count walks, HBP, and sacrifices. At bats doesn’t. Plate appearances per strike out is a more accurate stat.
@LarkinPhillips. Didn’t realize that in terms of what we are discussing. Thanks for the information.
Another cheap hit by Happ
Unbelievable hit from happ there. Wasn’t even a strike. Is he a free agent this year?
Cubs extended him for many years to kill Reds for a while
Smart by them lol
Boy the Cubs just don’t quit.
That RBI single by Happ was the 2nd time the Reds have been burned by a lazy pitch supposed to fade or break away from a LH bat when the Reds had control of the count.
In defense of that pitch gibaut had thrown 4-5 high fastballs that Happ had fouled off. Change up is his second best pitch and he threw it for a ball.
Lazy though. Lazy = floating instead of diving like a Mario Soto, Johnny Cueto, or Luis Castillo special. At 0/2 or even 1/2 that pitch has to be dirt bound.
I will agree there Jim.
Gibaut it again gives it up with 2 outs –
unbelievable : bulllpen can’t stand prosperity
Happ reclaimed his Cincinnati number one public’s enemy. Unreal. Offense, let’s reclaim the lead right now.
Fraley gets to PH vs a righty, but didn’t start the game vs a righty?
Resting his hurt foot I assume. Considering day game following night game.
Probably a sign his wheels weren’t up to snuff.
Can’t believe Bell is brining in Law here … he’s awful
Law is not the guy I wanted to see here. He hasn’t been very good recently. Suzuki at bats scares me.
Handing it to Cuds on silver platter … he stinks !!!!!
Law just throwing up meatballs
Awesome Law – too freaking late Bell and the wrong reliever on top of that
I really don’t get Derek law being the 8th inning guy in a tight ball game.
Did Tejay go back to back in minors?
Law.
Law just gave the game away. Thanks for nothing.
Cruz would have been of use this inning
Hurry back Fernando.
why did we just decide to give this game away…..it was a game there to be won….anyone but Law….anybody!
Krall impacting another game. Minor-league contract guys in the game in crucial innings when we could have and should have traded for quality relievers at the Deadline.
What trades would you have made? I’m always interested in these answers.
I think Senzel or Barrero for a sub-4 ERA middle reliever was doable
1st – Trevor May. He’s a free agent at the end of year. Ask would have been pallatible.
2nd – Reynaldo Lopez. He’s also a free agent and ended up serving as a waiver pickup for CLE. Low-level minor leaguer would have gotten it done.
Those two – with Sam Moll would have shored up the pen.
I also ready we tried to get Brady Singer. I would have pushed to get that one done. With Greene, Williamson, Lodolo, and Ashcraft all out – Singer would help a lot now.
Instead, we lost our Division lead and our Wild Card lead. There is no guarantee that we are a playoff team next year. When you have a chance, you go for it. You don’t settle on a LHPRP and say we tried.
Getting platoon hitters for Bell to play Earl Weaver was not what we needed. It doesn’t hurt – but it does not address the need – pitching.
Wow, bases loaded, zero outs….
Nice job, Law.
Stupid managing – not surprising
Diaz now with the bases juiced 0 outs….Color me confused.
Law has given up runs in 3 of last 4 games he pitched in. Now 4 of 5. Yet from the get go, he was Bells plan for the 8th inning. These are the things that drive me nuts with Bell. Either pitch law earlier or use Duarte and have gibaut and Sims for 7th/8th. Since bell insists on only 1 inning per reliever.
Madrigal has hit 3 balls today…all about shoulder high pitches.
Now this game will get out of reach ……Law is a waste of time
Had a chance for 3/4 from Cubs and
manager no sense of urgency until it was too late …. PAR FOR THE COURSE
ill advised location to Madrigal. He had been jumping on high stuff all day.
To be fair, Diaz doesn’t seem to have great control today. Maybe that’s not where Stephenson called the pitch.
+ 100 Stephenson set up low on outside. Diaz missed it.
Major meltdown in progress
Now we play little league defense LOL …. Just comical
Omg, self destructing inning.
Our fundamentals are just terrible at times.
Shame. We finally score a few runs and the BP blows it. Game was here for the taking. Now Diaz throws it away. Cubs are gonna score a load of runs now. No miracle comeback today?
The Bad News Reds.
This should be Diaz last batter. Have to have him for games the next couple days. Duarte should finish this game. Let Kennedy ve ready for long relief. BELL NEEDS TO THINK AHEAD
Diaz is no where near the pitcher he was
Cruz has been as inconsistent the last month. He’s really become just as unreliable as the rest of the bullpen. He’s serving up BP now.
Sorry meant Diaz
Wow, neither Law nor Diaz had it today.
Diaz or Law haven’t had it for over a month. These 2 guys have been our worst relievers since then, our all star closer who looks lost and confused.
Yet Bell planned all day for law to pitch the 8th.
Why pitch your long man now when we are starting rookies who were just called up the next couple days? You have Duarte who Bell clearly don’t trust to pitch over Law.
Diaz just wow…. Been bad for a while …. But this all started with Law coming in in a tie game to start the 8th …. One of the most unreliable relievers the Reds have …. That isn’t even common sense decision right there
If you are going to use Kennedy today (long man), why not right after Spiers leaves?
You know, so you’ll have bullpen left for later in the game?
Bringing Kennedy in here is crazy. It makes zero sense. Bell doesn’t know how to manage off script. When his planned 8th inning guy sucked today he made crazy moves.
At -4 runs, Bell was essentially throwing in the towel on this one.
Kennedy is in because Diaz is burned. To use him longer would only risk losing him or even for the rest of the season; and, Bell doesn’t want to burn other leverage guys with no off day till Thursday.
The head scratcher for me is why he led the 8th with Law. I guess that was the best he had available.
Yep
I’m a bit confused by Bell’s use of the bullpen in this game. I’ll add it to the long list of things I’m confused by.
Keep it at 9 and a GS will tie the game. Mercy Diaz.
4 runs, 33 pitches, and 15 minutes later, the Cubs make an out.
Things are looking up!
A guy can only give what he has to give; and, right now Alexis Diaz is not the same the same pitcher he was earlier in the season.
His pitches lack the crisp sharpness that made him virtually unhittable.
Hopefully for him and the Reds his arm is merely chronically tired and not injured.
The order of bullpen usage today has been a head stretcher indeed. *shrugs* lol
This is the reason we criticize Bell. I know that you normally defend him and often times some of the criticism is not warranted, but days like today are. Using Law as the planned 8th inning guy from the get go when he has struggled mightily lately, then wasting your long man which will hurt us in the next couple games is more than a shrug from me. That’s poor management in a post season race and unexcusable at those level.
I agree I do defend him yes.
Today is not one of those days and I have said I don’t understand at times his use of the bullpen. We we mentioned ,today is a head stratcher. Kennedy then Duarte should of been used first. After that who knows, but now who starts tomorrow and who is available in bullpen tomorrow after today’s melt down.
Bingo ! Spot on
For the record kevin, I didn’t mean that in a bad way towards you. I always like your comments and the general positivity you have. Just wanted to point out this situation that regularly occurs with Bell.
Thank you, however I didn’t take it that way.
My biggest complaint has been the usage of the bullpen, or the order used. Some don’t like Sims, but to me he is a 8th inning guy not 6th. So on and so forth
Where in the world do the Reds get some of these relievers from man ????!!! These guys are just putrid …. Then leave dudes like Spiers in AA all year…. He can outpitch half the dudes in that bullpen right now
In all fairness the bullpen has been a strength of the Reds.
Bullpen clown show in full effect now …..
Kennedy came from the long Island ducks this year.
LOL … exactly LarkinPhillips … exactly what I mean
Is this what you call “falling apart”?
A competitive game turned ugly on a dime. Settle for the split.
Well, I guess this will be a HUGE comeback if the Reds can pull this out in the 9th… way to make it exciting 🙂
I mean the 8th
Before everyone piles on Law
He had been on a roll with no runs in 13 of 14 games, before surrendering 1 run in his last 2.
There was nobody but Duarte.
I guess Antone can’t go 2 straight yet.
I would let go antone go back to back all this year. But I would have either let law go earlier in the game if we had to go with him or tried to get some outs in the 8th with gibaut then have Diaz go for a 4 out save. I wouldn’t have planned for Law to be our 8th inning guy no matter what though.
Wouldn’t let antone*
I looked up Diaz for last month. His Era is under 3.
Still they didn’t come through today
Fun fact: if the Cubs had hit one more sacrifice fly in the 8th inning, they’d have equaled the number of sacrifice flies the Reds have hit since the all-star break.
Also, I noticed they used a sacrifice bunt, which I guess is a thing some managers will ask their weaker hitters to do sometimes.
In honor of the Reds’ bullpen today:
+1,000,000
Go Benny!
EDLC should be leading the golden sombrero stat
No consequences for De La Cruz striking out like this ….. guy could strikeout 8 times a game I guess and not be moved down in order or sit a few games …. That’s managerial
malpractice
I understand it’s not possible to move Elly down in the lineup because the players (except for Steer) are too delicate for that sort of thing, but I’ve noticed that he rarely, if ever, seems to have back-to-back good games at the plate. That might not be the ideal sort of guy to have hitting third or fourth every single day for the next three years.
Bring in Maile.
Going into next year, I think Bell has to change his entire thinking on how he uses the bull pen…..example: if you have 2 guys & 2 innings to cover and the guy you brought in is doing the job, let him go 2 innings….let the other guy rest….instead he continually used numerous pitchers to cover innings, thus nobody getting rest and this is what we have….guys that are worn down. It has to change or it will just be the same next season
Starters need to go deeper, but the 8-10 pitch innings by middle relievers should not be a thing. They should plan for guys to pitch 2 innings who pitch 5th through 7th innings regularly. I like a lock down 8th and lock down 9th inning guy.
10000
The idea that Bell will completely change his thinking about anything is like saying he needs to to increase his IQ by 20 points. I just don’t think his personality allows for such change. He’s shown time and time and time again that he’s less worried about how things actually work out on the field, and more concerned about sticking with whatever ideas he’s gotten into his head.
Bell: “But … but … the analytics say ….”
I just checked the box score. EDLC has 4 Ks and is hitting cleanup? What a joke!
You need to be more specific on which box score. Friday’s game or today’s game?
Today’s. Did he wear the golden sombrero on Friday too?
Yes. 0-4 4ks on Friday as well.
Nothing from Elly and ECs today. Bases loaded. GS to make the game interesting anyone?
Ecs? If you mean CES he has a double and run today. It tied the game at 5 at the time.
CES had his hardest hit ball this year….a double, and scored the go ahead run at the time
Good at bat Fairchild
That’s too bad. If he could drive 2 more runs in, 9th inning would have been interesting.
He’s been in the senzel school where you swing at the first pitch every at bat.
I didn’t expect anything from Fairchild. Some people love him on here though.
Is Elly a broken clock, works every 12hrs, oops, 12 games?
Not my call but when you script things out in advance and they go hay wire you must have a back up plan.Bullets are scarce but Diaz and then Kennedy is not a plan thats just a panic move first to try and save Law then to save Diaz.Bell at times and I wasn’t happy at the time let a pitcher take one for the team and more then once the Reds mounted a comeback but fell short.Keeping it at 4 runs down went to 7 and burned Diaz and Kennedy and well this game was pretty much over.Never much on waving the white flag but if there ever was a day and Bell has done it in the past today was the day
Clete time. I’ll check back later on the wrapup to see how much crazier the game and folks here get.
I guess reds figured it’s a sunday afternoon and football is on……13-7…..at least we blocked the extra point
Another near collision there. Fundamentals.
@kevin. I agree with you on Sims in the 8th. Not that he really should be that, but in our bullpen there isn’t any other guy who can fill that role. I like Farmer and gibaut and cruz to go multiple innings in 6th/7th to keep pen fresh.
is there anyone in the organization that can have a “come to Jesus” meeting with Bell about his use of the bull pen?
I honestly don’t think anyone in the organization cares enough about winning to have such an uncomfortable discussion. They seem to prefer to just live and let live, everyone is friends, and we just hope for the best. Bell has the same attitude with his players. It seems to be an organizational thing, from top to bottom.
@J. not only do they not care enough about winning to confront Bell, but I seriously doubt anyone who matters, even identifies it as a problem.
@ LarkinPhillips Agree 100%
I predicted a 17-16 final score. May still be right.
I was just thinking that. LOL
Counting on my 2nd hometown San Diego and my favorite crab cake Baltimore to beat SF and AZ.
Well Kennedy kudos on making it back to MLB baseball, however not sure if you will be back. I would assume a fresh bullpen pitcher will be called tomorrow.
Well at least Reds have tie breaker over the cubs. They scored 7 runs today. So hopefully the offense is showing signs of getting hot
It should be interesting what roster moves are made before tomorrow game. We have no planned starter and now no long man. I predict Kennedy is DFA after today’s game. Law will hit IL.
Elly gonna get a shot at the rare “platinum” sombrero. I think Aquino had one once.
Out of the young starters for the reds. Who would you move to bullpen next season?
Abbott
Williamson
Richardson
Phillips
Lodolo
Ashcraft
Greene
Not young, but Lively to me deserves a shot with reds next year.
That’s assuming heading the year more than 5 are healthy. Which I don’t see happening. I would go with experience of Abbott, Williamson, Greene, lodolo, and Ashcraft. Phillips Richardson, spiers, would be in AAA with petty, acuna,aguliar at AA. I am missing someone but can’t remember who.
The rotation next season needs to be
Greene
Lodolo
Ashcraft
Abbott
I would package one of the young pitchers with some prospects to see if they can get an upgrade for the rotation.
Richardson and Phillps start the year in AAA. Williamson could go in the rotation if they don’t make a trade or be a solid lefty from the bullpen, but he’s more valuable as a starter. Maybe keep him at AAA too, for when the inevitable injuries happen.
As we have seen this season they need starting pitching depth. I like the thinking of Phillips, Richardson start in triple A, maybe Williamson too
Maybe a younger bullpen too.
With the exception of Abbott, that was the plan for this season and look how well that turned out.
I hope the God the Reds enter into the 2024 season depending again on Greene and Lodolo.
Neither of them have pitch much more than 100 innings in a season. They both have missed two straight seasons of development because of injuries. The team would be foolish to plan on them as major contributors in 2024.
The Reds went from leading 5-4 entering the 7th to losing 15-7.
Why is it when it’s a low-scoring game, the Reds offense doesn’t show up, but when the pitching is getting clobbered, suddenly the Reds remember how to hit?
Opposing team tends to pitch their worst relied pitchers when they are up big.
To be fair, the Reds actually scored 5 runs before the pitching completely fell apart. Those runs seemed to matter at the time.
Baseball is a funny game that way.
IMO Bell just followed the plan of Law in the 8th,Diaz in the 9th then Kennedy for the extra innings but when it went south he stayed with the plan.Just as soon as Law gave it up then Diaz and Kennedy weren’t options IMO.On a team short of pitchers well that was and is a big mistake.Either Law takes one for the team or the the reliever maybe Duarte comes in and takes one for the team.
Agree completely roger. Bell is a terrible in game manager and has zero feel for what is happening in the game.
Surely though they wound not have gave him a 3 year contract if they thought that?
I can’t wrap my head around that logic if they did knowing what you described, suggest, think.. mind boggling
It’s true…if Bell got a 3 year contract he must be a great manager.
He’ll be fine.
If Minor was paid $10M he must be a great pitcher.
If Myers was paid $7M he must be a great hitter.
Same with Shogo and Moose.
I can’t wrap my head around those who think to the contrary.
“Bell will be fine” because he has a contract.
@Harry Stone, you know if you can’t contribute anything good to the conversation why bother?
I see what your doing and truly it has grown tiresome.
I call him the Bell Bot. He just robotically goes through the motions, and when things go off the rails, in his mind he sees “ERROR! ERROR! DOES NOT COMPUTE!” then just shuts down.
What a Jekyl and Hyde BP!
The Refs ride has more ups and downs than a Six Flags park!
Reds, although the Refs might be just as up and down, or in and out.
Just one more thought and I will stop beating a dead horse.At one time this season Diaz could come in and just overwhelm hitters with his nasty stuff.I am sure besides sticking to the script Bell was hoping he could do it again.Diaz at times was unhittable but in his first fill year of closing and with some many appearances he is well not the same guy.
I wonder if there’s a single fan who’d be willing to say “I feel a great sense of confidence every time Bell makes a strategic move. Whenever I look at the lineup, or see he’s about to make a pitching change, or there’s a point in a game when the manager has to decide whether the hitter should bunt or swing away, I have a great sense of confidence because I know we’ve got a very smart guy making the decisions, and he has a knack for getting these things right.”
I mean, even the people who insist on defending him probably have a hard time saying anything like that, if they’re being honest. Mostly they say things like “managers don’t make too much of a difference” or “the team has outperformed expectations” or “the guys play hard,” and that’s about as far as anyone is willing to take it.
Things work out or they don’t. I mean who knows if a bunt is called or a take sign is called. A manager can only do so much.
Myself I am fine with most of what Bell does, and that’s the truth. If players want to be everyday players hit left and right handers. The splits with some players is unreal.
As mentioned in previous comments, my biggest issue is the use of the bullpen.
I still believe players make the plays, or they don’t.
It seems as if you believe the outcomes of games are basically random, and it makes no difference who plays, where they play, what order they hit in, what situations they pitch in, what they’re told to do (or not told to do) at the plate or on the basepaths — because every decision could potentially work or not work, and thus the decisions don’t really matter. Is that true, or am I misstating your position?
To me, this is like saying it doesn’t matter if a football coach calls nothing but long passes for an entire game, or nothing but quarterback sneaks, or uses a variety of plays, because every play could potentially work or not work and it’s just up to the players to determine the outcomes.
No J, I didn’t say that at all.
Well, Kevin, I guess I don’t know what you’re trying to say other than you’re fine with most of Bell’s decisions. I can’t argue with your explanation because I apparently don’t know what it is.
Technically, I’m also fine with most of his decisions, because, for example, he rarely asks guys to bunt and usually I think he’s right not to ask them to bunt, and he almost never intentionally walks anybody and usually I agree that the hitter should not be intentionally walked, and so on.