Game thoughts: Reds beat the Cubs 9-2

by JD Arney on Apr 11, 2006 6:23 PM EDT in News

I'm not sure I've ever seen Adam Dunn hitting this well. Sure, it's only been a week, but maybe this'll be a breakout season for him. You never really predict a breakout from a guy who's already hit 40+ home runs a couple of times, but we might be seeing it happen right now.
Bronson Arroyo is looking like a damn fine acquisition. He still hasn't walked a batter and he's struck out 11 batters in 13.2 innings.
Glendon Rusch might rebound, but he's looked terrible in his two starts against the Reds this year. Remember, because of injuries to Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, this is the Cubs third starter right now. Things aren't looking too good for the Cubbies at the moment, even with that weekend sweep of St. Louis.
Edwin Enarnacion! He's looking great so far. There will be down stretches with him this year, but I have a lot of faith in the guy to put in a solid season. I hope the Reds stick with him for years to come, because third basemen can be tough to find. This is the first time since Chris Sabo that Reds fans can really feel good about third.
Bronson Arroyo hitting his second home run in a week against the Cubs = high comedy.
Our bullpen might suck (Chris Hammond has to be about done - right?), but the Cubs bullpen looks worse. And they paid a lot of money for it to boot. At least our suckiness is relatively cheap.
Ryan Freel plays and good things happen. I'm still crossing my fingers that a second baseman not named Ryan Freel will get shown the door in the next week or so. But I'm starting to think that Freel has to be looking pretty attractive to other teams in need of a leadoff hitter.

Tweet Comment 21 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Edwin and Freel

I feel you on Edwin, he is going to put up solid numbers if they keep playing him regularly.

As far as a secondbaseman going, I can feel it coming and sadly enough I think its going to be Freel that is leaving. I pray that I am wrong and somehow we can trick someone into taking Womack off of our hands and actually getting something in return, but I am not sure anyone out there is that desperate.

www.redsminorleagues.com

by dougdirt on Apr 11, 2006 6:32 PM EDT reply actions

The Cubs bullpen...

... may have sucked today, but it was damn good over the weekend against the Cardinals.

You didn't see any of our high-priced guys (Eyre, Howry or Dempster) today.

The Reds can hit, no question about it. The wind was blowing out. It was Glendon Rusch. He's been major suckage so far this year.

by Al Yellon on Apr 11, 2006 6:49 PM EDT reply actions

3B

Ha! I agree with the comment on feeling good about third base. But I'm certain the Disciples of Hal McCoy will now wave their Aaron Boone flags again.

by Brian B on Apr 11, 2006 7:23 PM EDT reply actions

re:

You're watching a different dunn than I. He has 4 "solo" homeruns. Meanwhile, he is 1 for 7 with RISP (nothing new there). The homeruns will no doubt pump up those OPS/RC numbers but I'd have settled for a few less homers and a 3 for 7 with RISP - probably would have produced the same number of runs. He is after all batting in the prime RISP slot in the order..... the homerun to left center is a flyout if not in wrigley with wind blowing out. And he is in mid season strikeout form (8).

I thought Bronson Arroyo looked pretty damm great today. I like how he works quickly. He has good movement on his fastball and locates it well. His slider is slippery. He looked good today....

Have to disagree about EE too....He got a fat one today and yanked it. That's nothing new. Good job by him to take advantage of a horrible pitch but no reason to get too happy I don't think. He's still accident waiting to happen with throws to first base and wait until Reds face Houston and St. Louis - their pitchers I expect will eat up EE. For that matter, IF IF EE plays against Maddux tomorrow I expect Maddux will undress him.

Agree wholeheartedly about the Freel. Freel brings urgency, fire....He's being patient and taking the walks when they're giving them to him and making them pay by following up with stolen bases. He's also hitting not badly either.

Enough with the Homeruns and Strikeouts

by MichaelRed on Apr 11, 2006 9:25 PM EDT reply actions

agree and disagree

I disagree with you about Dunn. I think he is showing that he is going to be a better all around hitter this year, and probably put up similar (or even better) home run numbers as last year with a higher batting average and maybe a higher OBP.

I don't really think Edwin has looked good so far, but it is still early. The walks are an encouraging sign.

And yes, Arroyo looks studly.

by Blue on Apr 11, 2006 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions

and BTW

you should really check out Dunn's hit chart. You might be more encouraged, then.

by Blue on Apr 11, 2006 9:57 PM EDT up reply actions

You're right

About Eddie: the better pitchers in this league will probably tear him up, especially early in the season. But you've got to expect that with a young kid playing his first full season. If he's a real keeper as we hope, anything that Maddux throws to make him look silly tomorrow won't work as well come July/August.

How can anyone in Redleg nation not be excited about this starting pitching? Let's live it up while we've got it. And did I mention that I'm going to name my first born Bronson?

by ben nevis on Apr 11, 2006 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions

don't you mean...

..."brandon"

"if you love the reds so much, why don't you marry them?"

by BobbyO on Apr 11, 2006 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I suppose...

You should blame Bronson Arroyo for not hitting his home runs with people on base too, right?

Don't mind me...just pitching to contact, that's all...

by Paul Householder on Apr 12, 2006 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions

re:

too bad the Reds aren't 0 and 7, you might be happy then.

by Pete on Apr 11, 2006 9:33 PM EDT reply actions

The best thing

About this first week is that the starters aren't doing it with smoke and mirrors. They are striking out opposing batters, they are not issuing many walks (we'll see if Claussen can cut back on the HBP tomorrow), and they are lasting into the 6th inning. All this offense needs is a staff with an ERA of around 4.30, and shockingly enough, I think they just might be able to deliver.

Unsurprisingly, our offense is kicking ass. When each spot in your lineup is dangerous, a couple guys can afford to have an off day. I think eventually Narron will swap Kearns and Aurilia in the order.

No one's talking about Kearns...I think he's quietly going to put together a comeback year. I think we made the right choice to trade Wily Mo.

by teb7 on Apr 11, 2006 9:47 PM EDT reply actions

Reds

Reds = 1st place

by gnarley on Apr 11, 2006 10:11 PM EDT reply actions

I don't get it

Why is there even a debate about Freel v. Wombat. Is Freel a complete asshole or something? To me there is no way that he does not play. It's ludicrous to value the always tepid skills of Tony Wombat. Amazing....

Goodbye Uncle Carl, I never loved you.

by Pinetarfly on Apr 11, 2006 10:58 PM EDT reply actions

Womack

If only he had gotten into art school perhaps all this horror might have been averted.

by Red Menace on Apr 11, 2006 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

This comment

Makes me think of the first Family Guy when Der Fuhrer is at Das Gym and sees all the hot chicks swarming around the muscular Jewish guy...not that Freel is Jewish...

by teb7 on Apr 12, 2006 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions

Womack as Hitler

Okay, look. Maybe I'm being hypersensitive because I was just at Dachau last spring (not permanently, just a visit) while Dave Miley was busy getting punk'd, but these comparisons of a baseball player- even Tony Womack- to Adolf Hitler are in serious poor taste. If you spent a day getting bitten by chiggers, smelling the cow-crap smell of the village, and walking around the intensely detailed (it's Germans) museum and reconstructed camp, you'd think three times before you used Third Reich-related rhetoric in relation to anyone. Even George W. Bush on his biggest IQ-50 day.

Womack doesn't kill people. Just rallies.

by Doc Scott on Apr 12, 2006 12:51 AM EDT reply actions

Hitler references

I know what you're saying, but I think the references are pretty tongue in cheek. Whether that makes it ok or not I don't know, but I generally find it amusing.

But be that as it may, I'm going to open a thread about it in the diaries to see what people think, and I'll let you guys decide.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. --Oscar Wilde

by JD Arney on Apr 12, 2006 12:59 AM EDT up reply actions

...fine.

I cop to the art-school comment being slightly humorous.

It's just that there are a zillion and a half ways to mock T-Woe than to compare him to You Know Who. And I'm about as Jewish as Eric Cartman.

by Doc Scott on Apr 12, 2006 1:10 AM EDT reply actions

Womack = Napoleon

Napoleon initiated the entire short man complex, plus no one has an emotional tie to him in the 21st century....I wonder if T-Woe would put some buttons on his jersey sleeve to keep him from wiping his nose also.

Freel sure seems to be on the auction block. Womack/Phillips/Aurilia/Bergolla/Olmedo/etc can probably provide moderate platoon production at the second sack. It might boil down to what can Freel + LaRue bring in a package deal.

I'd be down for Brad Penny if he is available. I love P. Wilson's work ethic and dedication, but I wonder if he is going to be a five inning pitcher, at best, from here on. The current Reds bullpen cannot support that type of pitcher.

by ohiobobcat on Apr 12, 2006 10:51 AM EDT reply actions

Excellent

I knew my fellow Bobcats were sharp. Napoleon is a much better comparison- T-Woe seems to have a similar chip on his shoulder, and could probably totally eat the huge bowl of ice cream, dudes.

by Doc Scott on Apr 12, 2006 11:14 AM EDT reply actions

Penny

I saw Penny pitch last Sunday in Philadelphia. He made the Phils - a pretty strong offensive team playing in a GABP-esque park - look silly. He's not incredibly durable but has put together a few solid seasons. I have no idea if he's available; too bad the Dodgers are set at 2B 'cause we got some to spare.

by ken on Apr 12, 2006 11:18 AM EDT reply actions