2013 Cincinnati Reds Thread

[Warner2BruceTD]

Yeah, yeah "SSS", I know...

After hitting .350/.405/.579 in the 2nd spot in the order this year, Cozart is now 0 for 8 in the leadoff spot. After hitting .182/.250/.182 from the 7th spot in the order, Drew Stubbs is now 4 for 9 with a HR batting 2nd.

...Votto protection, eh?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

You know, keep in mind that in the midst of a terrible offensive slump, the Reds have played the Cardinals six times, the 10-4 first place Nats four times, and a pretty solid Marlins team three times. Seven of those games on the road. That's a tough schedule, so 5-8 considering the AWFUL hitting isn't the worst case scenario, here.

Coming up for the Reds:
@ CHI
vs SF
vs HOU
vs CHI
@ PIT

The offense is going to hit at some point during this stretch, and this isnt exactly Cards/Marlins/Nats. Reds can play .600 ball during this stretch.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Up until a month ago, the national media had done everything in their power to shoehorn the Reds franchise into predictability, and in the process I believe they warped some of us fans as well. We were told this franchise couldn't sign Joey Votto. We were told we'd given up "the future" to trade for Mat Latos. We were told that this team was "all-in," and that we had a mere two years to see the fruits of two decades of frustration.

I know we all read that, and I know we all soaked it up. The evidence is rampant all over Red Reporter. You can use the search function at the top right of the page to find out, if you'd like.

But then, somehow, things changed...internally, at least. Maybe Walt read the press; Bob Castellini certainly did. Somewhere, lost in all of the fervor and screaming about the Reds pushing all their chips into the middle, the Reds brass pulled a fast one on all of us.

Joey Votto was given an extension. Brandon Phillips was given an extension. Nick Masset was given an extension. Sean Marshall was given an extension. The "Votto Window" as we'd known it was shattered, and the "Votto Era" began.



It's almost 10pm MST, and I'm sitting on my couch, drinking a tasty beer, and wondering about the state of my fanhood. I don't mean to state that I'm giving up on being a Reds fan forever, and I certainly don't mean to state that I'm giving up on being a Reds fan this season.

I simply started thinking...what's the fucking rush?

Tonight's loss turned the page for me. As I sat and pondered how to accurately describe the play on the field, reflected upon the minor epiphanies I'd had watching the first 12 games, and tried to muster up a way to describe it all, it hit me: Relax, damnit! This is just the beginning! Why do we have our big, red, obnoxious panties in such a bunch?

Whether or not Dusty Baker is the answer at manager is not the premise of this argument, so I'll leave that aside. What I will say, however, is that the Reds are in the unique position to experiment a bit while not risking a wasted opportunity.

It's time.

Rolen and Cairo are redundant, so one of them needs to go. Wilson Valdez and Willie Harris are redundant, and likely both of them need to go. Todd Frazier is 26 years old and needs to be in the majors...so make that happen. We don't need Ryan Ludwick, so let him go as well.

And for God's sake, we just signed Brandon Phillips for 5 more seasons...can we please give the damn guy a rest?

The perceived urgency put in place by this team's leaders is what gets me the most. Latos, Cueto, Leake, Bailey, Arroyo, Chapman, Votto, Phillips, Cozart, Frazier, Heisey, Stubbs, Bruce, Masset, Marshall, Bray, Ondrusek, and LeCure will all be here for multiple years if we want them...so what's the damn urgency to burn through them now? We finally assembled a roster suitable for the long-haul, yet we began to crucify them after Game 2.

Let them breathe, cut the fat, let the team begin to grow up a bit, and relax.

We've got years to watch this group grow. It's enough to make me forget the last two weeks.

clap gif

13 games into a very long ride with a very good group. M'fers need to relax.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Mat Latos career ERA splits
March/April 6.28
May 2.41
June 3.55
July 2.54
August 3.35
Sept/Oct 3.86

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Watching people like Willie Harris attempt to play 2B really makes you appreciate how awesome Brandon Phillips really is.

What purpose does Willie Harris serve? He has one hit and is batting .077. He can't play defense. He's 0-the season as a PH. He brings nothing to the table. Designate this guy for assigment and call up a left handed kid from AAA if you must have a left handed bench player. Better yet, just call up Paul Janish, at least he plays defense and isnt any worse with the bat.

 

[Rudi]

Agreed 100%. Harris is fucking useless.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

You know, keep in mind that in the midst of a terrible offensive slump, the Reds have played the Cardinals six times, the 10-4 first place Nats four times, and a pretty solid Marlins team three times. Seven of those games on the road. That's a tough schedule, so 5-8 considering the AWFUL hitting isn't the worst case scenario, here.

Coming up for the Reds:
@ CHI
vs SF
vs HOU
vs CHI
@ PIT

The offense is going to hit at some point during this stretch, and this isnt exactly Cards/Marlins/Nats. Reds can play .600 ball during this stretch.

@ CHI 2-1 .667
Total 2-1, .667

 

[Rudi]

JJ Hoover has been called up to the big league squad per John Fay....the move is not known yet, but he suspects someone to the DL. Hopefully Chicken Alfredo Simon or Willie Harris is gone though. Might be Bray too. Ill update once it is known

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Bray to 15-day DL.

Poor guy should have been there to begin with. He clearly isnt right. At least he gutted it out.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

JJ Hoover as RP in the minors: 36.9% K-rate, 8.4% BB-rate.

Aroldis Chapman as RP in the minors: 36.2% K-rate, 11% BB-rate.

 

[Rudi]

Back to .500, this team is playing some good baseball finally

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I think we need a gif of Votto gently tossing that ball back to the pitcher yesterday after getting HBP, with a "i aint even mad" caption.

 

[Woy]

I think we need a gif of Votto gently tossing that ball back to the pitcher yesterday after getting HBP, with a "i aint even mad" caption.

YES

That was so awesome, I'm not gonna lie.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

THE TODDFATHER gets a start today.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

You know, keep in mind that in the midst of a terrible offensive slump, the Reds have played the Cardinals six times, the 10-4 first place Nats four times, and a pretty solid Marlins team three times. Seven of those games on the road. That's a tough schedule, so 5-8 considering the AWFUL hitting isn't the worst case scenario, here.

Coming up for the Reds:
@ CHI
vs SF
vs HOU
vs CHI
@ PIT

The offense is going to hit at some point during this stretch, and this isnt exactly Cards/Marlins/Nats. Reds can play .600 ball during this stretch.

Shitty way to lose the third game, but whatever.

@ CHI 2-1, .667
vs SF 2-1, .667
Total, 4-2 .667

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

So yeah, Pagan should have been called out and thus never hit the HR, but we already knew that.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I think we need a gif of Votto gently tossing that ball back to the pitcher yesterday after getting HBP, with a "i aint even mad" caption.

I put this in the other thread by accident...

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

You know, keep in mind that in the midst of a terrible offensive slump, the Reds have played the Cardinals six times, the 10-4 first place Nats four times, and a pretty solid Marlins team three times. Seven of those games on the road. That's a tough schedule, so 5-8 considering the AWFUL hitting isn't the worst case scenario, here.

Coming up for the Reds:
@ CHI
vs SF
vs HOU
vs CHI
@ PIT

The offense is going to hit at some point during this stretch, and this isnt exactly Cards/Marlins/Nats. Reds can play .600 ball during this stretch.

@ CHI 2-1, .667
vs SF 2-1, .667
vs HOU 2-1, .667

TOTAL: 6-3, .667

After that AWFUL start, the Reds are starting to hit, and are taking advantage of this soft part of the schedule, and managed to finish April @ .500.

 

[Rudi]

Paul Yanish broke his wrist.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

He was hitting very well, too. I was hoping they would tire of Willie Harris being useless and go back to Janish.