Archive for July, 2010

I wonder if Tim is still sitting… Probably since the Reds made no deals to add maybe a bit of spice to their roster. I was reading on John Fay’s blog where Reds GM Walt Jocketty feels the Reds roster in its current configuration is good. Good enough to make a run. Jocketty also stated that any move would likely come from within the organization. To interpret, no mind-blowing trades are on the horizon or down the road. Jocketty said he had a couple of deals in the works, but nothing materialized. The players the Reds were pursuing are still with [...]

Everyone knows or has heard the old bathroom rhyme, Here I sit all broken-hearted. I paid to poop but only farted. Ha ha ha. Well, it is almost 4:00 pm and the MLB trading deadline is soon to expire. And, here I sit all broken hearted. I see many of the other teams in the pennant races making trades to improve their teams. The Reds need improving, there is no doubt about it. They need help in the form of a leadoff hitter and relief pitching. And, maybe even a veteran who can pinch hit or add that extra experience [...]

As of late Reds closer Francisco Cordero has pitched pretty well. Not a lot of issues. He’s even been using both sides of the plate. Wait. There has been one issue. Base runners. Walks and hits. Too many of them. I know they’re part of the game, but walks almost always bite you. Hits bring the instant result. Since it’s “inception”, the one stat I’ve always paid attention to with pitchers, (especially late inning pitchers) is WHIP (walks plus hits/innings pitched). You’d like to see that number under or around 1.000. But you don’t want your closer to have a [...]

For us old school Reds fans, you may remember an feature they had on the Jumbotron at Riverfront Stadium. When an opposing pitcher walked a Red, a video would come up on the screen with a ghost and the caption walks will haunt appeared as well. Over time, it became a fan favorite and it rings true in almost every game. They were right, walks will haunt. And, in Francisco Cordero’s case, this whole season has been filled with bases on balls. Even though he didn’t blow a save last night, he did take the loss. Thus, bringing his record [...]

Three starters were relegated to pine duty yesterday. Scott Rolen, Drew Stubbs and Ramon Hernandez didn’t see their names in the Reds lineup. Reds skipper Dusty Baker gave Rolen and Hernandez the day off due to soreness associated with the long game and evening on Tuesday. Stubbs has been in a slump seeing his batting average drop to .235. And the Reds didn’t need any of them yesterday. Two separate innings (6th and 8th) resulted in 5 spots on the scoreboard en route to a series clinching 10-2 rout of the Milwaukee Brewers. There were many factors leading to the victory. 1. [...]

On Monday night the 1-4 hitters for the Cincinnati Reds were a woeful 0-13. That wasn’t the case last evening. Manager Dusty Baker switched the duo of Orlando Cabrera (leadoff) and Brandon Phillips (2nd)…again. The results from the Cabrera, Phillips, Joey Votto and Scott Rolen group were a tad better. Like 15-22 (.682) better. The 1-4 spots also accounted for 7 RBI and 8 runs scored. The 19 hits also marked a season high for the Redlegs. Another “milestone”. With Phillips, Votto and Rolen each getting 4 hits, it was the first time since 1989 that three Reds had four [...]

Bronson Arroyo tossed a complete game, but did not receive the help he needed. Sure, he allowed the tie-breaking pinch-hit solo shot to Milwaukee’s Jim Edmonds in the bottom of the eighth to provide the winning margin. In fact, Arroyo only permitted three hits. Two of those hits left the yard (the other a two-run homer to Rickie Weeks in the bottom of the 3rd that knotted the game at 2-2). He threw only 88 pitches, 66 were strikes. But do not pin the loss on Arroyo. How about the fact that the Reds offense managed only six hits (three [...]

I first saw this post about Johnny Bench on http://straitpinkie.com. And, I am completely dumbfounded. I have been scouring youtube trying to find some video of it but have been unsuccessful. As soon as I find it, I will post it. Instead, you have to admire the lovely picture above. I honestly don’t have a clue why he is doing his impersonation and singing “Take me out to the Ballgame.” I know alot of people are going to bash Bench about this and I will be one of the first. Leave the comedy to Artie Lange and Howard Stern. I [...]

Scott Rolen is back in the Reds lineup tonight after missing the previous nine games. He had a strained right hamstring. He hasn’t played in a game since July 16th. Miguel Cairo has filled in for Rolen very admirably. He hit .272 with 4 rbis in the nine games. He also walked seven times in the nine games. That being said his on-base percentage was a stout .419. He also played a nice defensive third base. That being said, he is no Scott Rolen in the middle of the lineup. Rolen protects Joey Votto and makes them pitch to Jonny [...]

How can the best offense in the National League get shut out a dozen times this season???? I just don’t get it. The Reds lead the league in a bunch of offensive categories. They lead the National League in batting, hitting .270. They are also first in runs scored, hits, rbis, and slugging percentage. They are second in the league in at bats, homeruns, and total bases. These are all keys to having an amazing offense but where do we go wrong? Here is the list of starting pitchers that shut us out this season and their records: Wade Leblanc [...]

For a league-leading 12th time, the Cincinnati Reds saw a doughnut under the “R” column. 12 times? But the Reds lead the NL in batting average, hits, runs scored and RBI. That’s for the season. Four of those shutouts have come in July. In the ten games since the All-Star break, the Reds are far less fearsome on the offensive side. 9th in runs scored, 10th in hits, 8th in RBI and 9th in batting average. What’s not helping is the leadoff situation. Reds skipper Dusty Baker has tried three players on an extended basis. Drew Stubbs began the season there [...]

The Cincinnati Reds faced two things Saturday night. Overcoming each would make a statement to all of baseball. One was a pitcher that at one time had been a thorn in the side, Astros ace Roy Oswalt. The other was the chances of climbing back into first place in the NL Central since the St. Louis Cardinals had dropped a 6-5 decision to the Chicago Cubs earlier in the day. The Reds pounded Oswalt and jumped back into first place with a 7-0 drubbing of the Houston Astros. Johnny Cueto pitched 8 masterful innings, allowing only four hits and a walk [...]