Game Thoughts: Reds lose to the Padres 2-1

by JD Arney on Sep 4, 2006 4:31 AM EDT in News

In the end this might never have been a playoff team, but it's been galling to see Jerry Narron making confused decisions time after time, hurting the Reds chances to win.

Quick thoughts:

Really, how does Narron not play Ken Griffey Jr.? Why do players need days off at this point? In about a month they're all going to get a four month vacation anyway. Not to mention the fact that the Reds are in a stretch where they have two off days in eight days, and three off days in 12 days. It's really unbelievable. Junior's killed Wells in his career, the offense has been slumping anyway, and Narron decides it'd be a good time to give Junior a day off. You couldn't ask for better proof that Narron's not fit to manage a major league baseball team.
Nice job by Eric Milton. Shame he couldn't get any offense, and a shame the bullpen is so damn bad.
Good day for Chris Denorfia. It really sucks that he couldn't step up when the Reds traded Austin Kearns, but hopefully that rough stretch won't keep him from becoming a big contributor to the Reds for the next few years, be it in a bench capacity or as a starter. I think Denorfia is pretty talented; the Reds just need to figure out how to use him.
It certainly felt like the Padres were the better team this weekend. For whatever reason, all the spirit seems to have gone out of this team, and it really sucks to watch. I mean that. For a long time it felt like we were playing with house money, that whatever happened it was a good season just because they'd exceeded expectations. But at some point I bought into the idea that they were good enough (or that the rest of the NL was bad enough) to make the playoffs and in doing so I invited in the possibility of real pain if they failed. It's not over yet, but that pain is settling in.

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Wild Card

Trying to stay positive.... 83-85 wins could still take the wild card. The Reds can still get there, especially if they could put together a little winning streak to fix the damage done on the road trip. To state the obvious: this home stand if crucial. It would be great if they could go 6-3.

by mattg on Sep 4, 2006 8:44 AM EDT reply actions

I like it!

This team's been a Harbor Freight tool from the beginning. Any use you get out of them is purely circumstantial and a huge bonus. Like scratch-offs in your stocking.

I don't trust boobs.

by sukr on Sep 4, 2006 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Great Analogy

Air Compressor for $45? Is there a catch?!?!?

by bobestes on Sep 4, 2006 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

offense

This team was exciting for the first 3-4 months of the season. They were never out of a game. And they were in serious contention.

Then the trade. They don't have the firepower anymore. They're not an exciting team anymore, they know it, and they play like it.

They've become a boring team that's incapable of a burst, so I have no hope for a winning streak.

by greg456 on Sep 4, 2006 9:52 AM EDT reply actions

offense

this is a team that will have to scratch, claw and fight for every run the rest of the way. They will have to send runners, advance runners, utilize walks, bunts, sacs and stolen bases. They will have to work counts with runners on. Basically they will have to do the things they haven't been doing the last 2 months. Heres hoping it starts today because there are no more throw away games Jerry.

"Your shower shoes have fungus on them. You'll never make it to the bigs with fungus on your shower shoes." - Crash Davis

by Caleb on Sep 4, 2006 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Buying In

I always felt this team was, at best, a .500 team. I bought into the idea that the rest of the NL was bad enough we could make the playoffs, and so I'm a little disappointed. But not very disappointed.

House money is a good phrase.

by orangeandbrown on Sep 4, 2006 12:10 PM EDT reply actions

SOL

Its certainly feasible the Reds can still take the Wild Card, but it is no longer likely. Too many teams to overcome at this point.

The '07 Homer watch has begun. Here's hoping he makes an appearance at RedsFest in Dec. The Hot Stove has been delivered to this fan.

"I guess there's only one thing left to do. Win the whole (BLEEP) thing". Jake Taylor

by ohiobobcat on Sep 4, 2006 12:12 PM EDT reply actions

Psychic pain

I think it might have been a blessing to not have been home much in the last couple of weeks, but I have managed to watch almost off of the games that were on to my eternal sorrow.

I was absolutely mystified as to why Griff got the day off yesterday, unless he came to Narron and said he needed it, and that was not reported to the media.

I want to believe that this team has it in them to make a run, but I am not at all certain that they can.

Maybe they will come home and play like they used to play on the road, but I am doubting it. Maybe the fact that they will not face Schmidy and Cain might mean that they can squeeze out a couple of wins against the Giants and get the ball rolling. Maybe.

And that is a helluva thing to hang you hat on, but it is all we have. Damn.

Who went and let me get all emotionally committed to this team again? :)

"I'd walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball" - Pete Rose

by Officer Dibble on Sep 4, 2006 1:25 PM EDT reply actions

run differential

The Reds have been outscored by 30 runs. Every team in the wild card hunt has a positive run differential, including Houston and Atlanta(!). This suggests there's been a lot of underachieving in the NL this year. I thought the Reds had a chance to steal a playoff spot despite being outplayed, but this is why the season is 6 months instead of 5. It takes the long season for the cream to rise to the top. You can't fool pythagorus forever.

by Red Menace on Sep 4, 2006 2:28 PM EDT reply actions

Griffey off

Narron said exactly why Griffey was off while talking to Marty the day before: day game after a night game, he gets a rest. Not to mention they didn't get in until 2am EST this morning.

If Griffey was injured in that game due to fatigue or whatever, I imagine you all would be calling for Narron's head.

"Players have two things to do. Play and keep their mouths shut." -Sparky Anderson

by boohiss on Sep 4, 2006 6:23 PM EDT reply actions

No

Whatever man, you can act like I bash Narron for no cause all you want, but there's no reason Griffey couldn't have had today off and been able to face a pitcher he's killed.

The Reds lost by one run yesterday, obviously Griffey's history with Wells could have been the difference between winning and losing in such a close game.

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

by JD Arney on Sep 4, 2006 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions