2013 Cincinnati Reds Thread

[Warner2BruceTD]

The offense is coming around now. The home runs are starting to fly, Phillips looks healthy now, is taking a ton of walks, and is up to .273, Votto is on pace to break the doubles record, and Heisey is burying Ludwick on the bench where he belongs. Cardinals are a mess, nobody else is a factor, this is the time to go on a nice run.

[Warner2BruceTD]

And how about the way Dusty has handled the pitching staff so far this year? Picture perfect, in my opinion.

-He's gone against his personal theory on the 9th inning three times already this season, by removing an ineffective closer mid inning. By my unofficial count, he only did that once in four years of Cordero closing games.

-He pulled Leake tonight before things could get ugly, after only three runs. He let a well rested and excellent bullpen close the door in the fourth, with the lead. How many times have we seen Dusty let the starter lose the lead before he pulls him?

-The overall bullpen usage has been spot on. Lots of mixing & matching and a lack of rock solid defined roles. Sometimes Marshall is a LOOGY, sometimes he closes, sometimes he sets up. Dusty playing the matchups instead of his ROBOT MANAGER defined roles is refreshing.

-Arroyo hasn't been treated like Walter Johnson, and has pretty much come out of games when he's hit the wall, instead of the usual pattern of one inning too late.

[Rudi]

Gotta admit it was nice seeing the offense finally break out for a big game. We're getting contributions from everyone right now which is a great sign.

[Rudi]

Fuck Dusty Baker for not playing HiZ everyday. What a fucking travesty.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Expanding on that, it really is amazing that as the Reds sit atop the division before play begins on May 25, in the midst of a 6-game win streak, the offense has struggled mightily, and Jay Bruce has endured one of his classic slumps during the whole deal.

Look at this...



Reds led the NL in everything in 2010, and were second to the Cards in runs scored last season, so there is virtually no chance that they finish the year at .238 or under .200 with RISP. And that 42 point difference is just not going to happen.

The Reds offense has been nothing short of pathetic, thanks to virtually every player on the team not named Votto or Hanigan (or Bruce for like 3 weeks) struggling out of the gate. The leadoff spot is not going to bat .171, and the team is not going to hit .196 with RISP. And i'd be willling to bet they finish the year close to .260 overall.

The point? Somehow, this team finds itself in first place despite not even coming close to hitting to their potential.

This obviously wasn't going to last.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Dusty ignores "the book" once again, goes right to Chapman with two on, one out on the 8th in a two run game. The toothpick for Manager of the Year.

Latos hasn't lost in his last 7 starts.

[KnightNoles]

Exactly was I was thinking and THEN to top it off he ran him back out there in th 9th... Who is posing as Dusty Baker?

[NAHSTE]

Latos hasn't lost in his last 7 starts.

Nor has he pitched all that well in any of them.

[Rudi]

How about the Toddfather's HR from throwing the bat at the ball. Awesome.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Nor has he pitched all that well in any of them.

I would strongly disagree.

APR 24: 7.0 ip, 4 h, 0 er, 3 k, 2 bb (W) - strong start by any measure
MAY 6: 6.0 ip, 2 h, 0 er, 11 k , 3 bb (W) - dominant start
MAY 12: 5.0 ip, 3 h, 1 er, 4 k, 5 bb (ND) - Reds lost 2-1, you would like to see a few less walks but nothing wrong with allowing 1 run over 5 with 3 hits
MAY 22: 7.0 ip, 5 h, 2 er, 8 k, 1 bb (W) - dominant effort

I would call these four starts 'well pitched', although I suppose we can quibble about May 12. Two runs or less in each start, 26/11 K/BB, 14 hits in 25 innings.



MAY 17: 5.0 ip, 7 h, 3 er, 7 k, 3 bb (ND) - I would call this one mediocre, although certainly good enough to win most of the time



The other two starts of the seven, Latos allowed 5 runs, but the Reds won both games. And in those two games he combined for 7 K's and 0 walks.

[Rudi]

So what does Dancin' Todd have to do to earn the every day starting job? Dusty continues to give Cairo way too many starts.

[Warner2BruceTD]

I have a bigger problem with Valdez batting second than Cairo getting a start.

BAT. HANIGAN. SECOND.

[Rudi]

I too have a problem with that, and would be fine with Hanigan or even Heisey batting 2nd. Just not a fan of this lineup today at all.

[Rudi]

I will not be happy if Frazier and Heisey aren't in the lineup tomorrow

[Warner2BruceTD]

I will not be happy if Frazier and Heisey aren't in the lineup tomorrow

Cairo is not going to play two days in a row.

LF, who knows.