Joey Votto takes matters into his own hands, Reds win 8-6.

by Slyde on Apr 9, 2009 3:49 PM EDT

Joey Votto's 3-run home run and go ahead single lead the Reds to their first victory of the season.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Joey Votto - 3 for 5, 2 R, 4 RBI, HR, 10 billion awesomes

Key Plays

The Mets loaded the bases in the first on a single, an error, and a walk, but Bronson Arroyo got out of the jam without giving up any runs.
Ryan Church's double in the 3rd inning plated 2 runs and put the Mets up 3-0.
Darnell McDonald singled in a run in the bottom of the third. That was followed up by Joey Votto's 3-run home run to give the Reds a 4-3 lead.
Carlos Delgado hit into a force out in the 5th scoring Daniel Murphy and tying the game at 4.
Votto broke the tie with a single in the bottom of the 5th to score Willy Taveras.
The Reds tacked on 3 more runs in the 5th on a sac fly from Brandon Phillips and a 2-run single by Paul Janish.
The Mets put two more runs on the board on sacrifice flies in the 6th and 7th innings.

Final - 4.9.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York Mets	0	0	3	0	1	1	1	0	0	6	10	0
Cincinnati Reds	0	0	4	0	4	0	0	0	X	8	9	1
WP: Bronson Arroyo (1 - 0) SV: Francisco Cordero (1) LP: Oliver Perez (0 - 1)

Complete Coverage >

Other Notes

The Reds defense continues to look poor. Though they only committed on error today, a couple plays in the field today led to multiple runs.
Edwin Encarnacion had the first stolen base of the season for the Reds. I never would have thought that it would take 3 games to reach that point. It should be noted that the Reds stole a base and they finally won. Coincidence?
Joey Votto is a beast. I know it's early, small sample, and all that, but that dude can flat out hit the cover off the ball.
Bronson Arroyo was solid. In many ways it was a typical Arroyo start - nothing all that impressive, a shaky inning or two, but in the end he didn't let the game get out of hand. It's not a start that I'd want to see from him all year, but I'll take it when it means a "W" for the good guys.
The old guys in the bullpen have been outstanding so far. Today, Arthur Rhodes, David Weathers, and Francisco Cordero pitched a combined 2.2 innings and got every batter they faced out, including 5 strike outs. Cordero was especially impressive, striking out the side in the ninth on 13 pitches.
Glad to see the Reds get a win under their belt. I was afraid that it might never happen this season.

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Comments

That poor defensive performance...

was led by Darnell McDonald.

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Apr 9, 2009 3:51 PM EDT reply actions

I wasn't able to go the game.

And I wasn’t able to listen to much of if. When I was able to listen the limpdick broadcasting team was too busy yukking it up about their personalities (seriously) and how they match their jobs? FTH? Somebody take their fucking email machine away from them? Fercrissakes, it’s the third fucking game of the season and there are a slew of young players on the 25-man roster that Reds fans might like to know about. STOP TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF, ASSHOLE!!!

So, can someone provide some details about the defensive lapses? Or a link to a thorough recap?

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 9, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

BP missed a catch

from EdE, because he was trying for a DP when he should have been concentrating on getting the first out.

Darnell McDonald missed what should have been a routine fly out. Not sure what was going on with that. He was playing really shallow, and when the ball was hit over his head, he didn’t really hustle after it. Maybe he thought it was uncatchable, and was going to play it off the wall. Or he thought it was going out? It hung up, though, and he realized it was catchable, and he sped up, then dived…and missed.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Apr 9, 2009 10:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm so over Darn L.

Did you know his brother once got a fourteenth-inning hit for the Yankees?

Chuck Knoblauch couldn’t get him in but he’d draw a walk in the fourteenth and a former Red took care of the rest.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 9, 2009 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

yikes

Donzell McDonald was drafted by the Yankees and spent nearly his entire career in their farm system.

I was a casual fan at best back then, so I had no idea.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Apr 9, 2009 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I remember him on the Clippers.

They had a lame outfield for a number of years. I remember going to games to check out Nick Johnson and Drew Henson and in the outifeld…. Henry Rodriguez? Hey! I know him!

They were bad.

IIRC this was during the time that Trey Hillman was their manager.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 9, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Did you see Kevin Thompson when he was a Clipper?

Don’t you think he’d be better than Darnell, even though he’s about as tall as Ash?

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Apr 10, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Bubba,

that was a pretty difficult play for Darnell. Arroyo missed his spot by 7-8 inches, throwing the ball outside and resulting in a slicing fly ball down the left field line. McDonald was thus out of position. He initially took a poor angle and there was certainly no need to Edmonds the ball (dives are rarely necessary, especially with no OF back up). Ironically, it’s known as Edmonds because Edmonds is actually famous for catching the ball; it should be know as a Freel, ’cause nothing could turn an RBI single into a three RBI double better than a Freel dive.

Nonetheless, I haven’t seen Dickerson play left enough to know whether he would have caught that ball. I know Hairston wouldn’t have and I know Dunner wouldn’t have (of course, he would have also walked twice, hit a HR, and K’s against Perez).

In other words, I’m not sure who makes that catch, but I wouldn’t completely fault the career minor league guy

by timb116 on Apr 10, 2009 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I gotsta side with BF on this one

Angles aside, he wasn’t running hard, then he was. Had he been running hard initially, he wouldn’t have had to dive. If you do not have the acumen to ascertain that a ball slicing away from you might land further away than you initially anticipate, you oughtn’t be playing OF in the MLB.

As for your Dunn predictions, first off, Perez is tough on lefties and I doubt Dunn would have sniffed him. Second, if Dunn was the type of player you contend he is, he would finish every season with 162 HRs and 324 BBs. It is totally fallacious to assume a player would hit a home run in a game he did not play in. Did he hit a home run in the game he did play in on Thursday?

"I usually shoot it pretty straight."- a boating enthusiast

by Colin Auscapee on Apr 10, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

obviously predicting what a player would do in a single game is silly

but Dunn’s career line against Perez is .240/.417/.680, so I don’t think it’s ridiculous to think that Dunn would have had a good game against him.

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 10, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, sure.

But his lack of clubhouse leadership would have prevented Votto from making solid contact in his ABs.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 10, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Ah the age old conflict between

Statistics and Probability…

Its probably going to happen - bend over

by Madville on Apr 10, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

I nominate Joey Votto to play Vindicator in the Alpha Flight movie!

by Brendanukkah on Apr 9, 2009 3:52 PM EDT reply actions

I don't get it.

FTH are you talking about?

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Apr 9, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Canadian superheroes, I believe.

But I also think Diversity is an old, old wooden ship

I don't need a hot breakfast to have a good time.

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on Apr 9, 2009 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh you're right

Shit, Vindicator was a woman. I meant Guardian.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 9, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions

NERRRRD!!!

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 9, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Aside from the defense... this game was pretty good...

Cordero was lights out and man- Votto is shaping up to be a beast…

I think he had more like 2 billion awesomes.

People Don't Kill People. Burning Couches Kill People.

by crolfer on Apr 9, 2009 4:08 PM EDT reply actions

2 trillion rather

People Don't Kill People. Burning Couches Kill People.

by crolfer on Apr 11, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

a win is a win is a win

I immediately reverse my statement from the offseason re: Votto not being better than Derrick Lee right now.

Glad I was wrong.

"I've actually never had a drink before, tonight I might try it out. We'll see."
—Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, on turning 21

by obc2 on Apr 9, 2009 4:11 PM EDT reply actions

I saw that written somewhere in a fantasy baseball preview.

As much as I love JV I kinda winced when I read it.

Who’s wincing now!?!

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 9, 2009 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions

"Glad to see the Reds get a win under their belt. I was afraid that it might never happen this season."

Come on Slyde, we played one of the best lineups in the NL to open the season, and kept every game close.

Apart from the fact that Masset should not be on this team, and Mcdonald should never see the field, the series didnt go too bad for the first of the year.

Why Dusty is doing things like having Edwin and Bruce steal bases is however something I don`t understand. Moron.

http://www.newsburrito.blogspot.com/

by Reynard on Apr 9, 2009 4:30 PM EDT reply actions

AND...

We need some more patience from Bruce…his eye is sub-par right now

by Reynard on Apr 9, 2009 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions

pronto'd

Made from 100% recycled awesome,

by chandrathan on Apr 9, 2009 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Wait, what's wrong with Masset?

We want to build long period of time. I didn’t come here for the shot run.

by Gray on Apr 9, 2009 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions

somebody doesn't get sarcasm

"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty

by Slyde on Apr 9, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

EdE

He’s 81% lifetime in stolen base percentage (78% in the minors). I think he should run more. However, his speed works better 1st to 3rd and 2nd to Home than as a basestealer. I agree Bruce doesn’t take them at a good enough clip to be warrant sending him.

by Matt McWax on Apr 9, 2009 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Chad Moeller

Started for the Orioles today.

So far, he’s 2 for 3 with a double.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Apr 9, 2009 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

In other news

That girl I dated for a week during sophomore year of high school received a promotion at her job.

by Red Menace on Apr 9, 2009 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions 5 recs

wow

That is news! I had no idea you’d actually dated a real live girl! Congrats!

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Apr 9, 2009 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Um, have you?

/waits in rapt attention

by Brendanukkah on Apr 9, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

or

by Brendanukkah on Apr 9, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Now all I see is blonde, brunette, redhead...

by Brendanukkah on Apr 9, 2009 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions

don't horde in on Slyde's woman!

"Oedipus ruined a great sex life by asking too many questions!"- Dr. Stephen T. Colbert DFA.

by justin007000 on Apr 9, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

solid work menace

solid work indeed

Made from 100% recycled awesome,

by chandrathan on Apr 9, 2009 5:51 PM EDT up reply actions

How soon the masses forget poor Keppinger

Joey Votto is a beast. I know it’s early, small sample, and all that, but that dude can flat out hit

EdE for the most part is playing pretty well in the field, his OBP is great and his confidence seems high. This could/should be the year that he ‘arrives’.
Bruce will be fine, he’s younger than Votto and doesn’t have Votto’s full year under his belt. I wish dustcrotch would bat him 6th
T-Virus
C-Dick
Joey
EdE
BP
Jay
Gonzo
Hannigan
P

I hope Dusty reads my comment and takes some instruction.

Its probably going to happen - bend over

by Madville on Apr 9, 2009 5:07 PM EDT reply actions

Not to take anything away from EdE

But I think his high number of walks so far this season has more to do with his slot in the order than anything else. Would you rather give Eddie or Ryan Hanigan something to hit?

by Obi Juan Kenobez on Apr 9, 2009 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

At least he's taking advantage of it instead of pressing and not getting on base at all.

by Geki on Apr 9, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Also..

Hanigan has batted behind EdE a total of four times so far. Today.

And I didn’t catch the game but I did read the play-by-play recap and it appears that on only one occasion (in the fourth) could one argue that he was being pitched around.

And another thing… Ryan Hanigan can hit.

"What wrath, Daddy?"

by Fat Vegas Alan on Apr 9, 2009 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Hanigan or Ramon, take your pick

I still say if I’m the opposing pitcher, I feel much more comfortable pitching to either of the Reds catchers than EdE. Not to say he was intentionally walked, but probably didn’t get the same pitches he would’ve gotten if Joey Votto was on deck.

by Obi Juan Kenobez on Apr 10, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I can haz percocet?

A mean, mean man slammed my finger in the car door today. It is broked.

I got youse guys a present anyway: a comment from the reds.com story on today’s win.

I never doubted the reds one bit. I always say they are going to win. I called the Bronson win earlier. I knew that we would not get swept. Like I said before trading Jeff Kep was stupid. He could hit, better than most on the team, and his defense was phanominal. Just believe fans. hopefully queto can bring us a win. THE REDS WON!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Votto. Paul Janish is not the guy we need. We need Kep Back!

"I usually shoot it pretty straight."- a boating enthusiast

by Colin Auscapee on Apr 9, 2009 5:55 PM EDT reply actions

phanominal...

And who is Kep Back?

People Don't Kill People. Burning Couches Kill People.

by crolfer on Apr 9, 2009 7:05 PM EDT up reply actions

I had to run out

but I watched Coco close out the 9th. He seemed to be throwing primarily fastballs, but I’m not sure I can remember him spotting his pitches that well. He was sharp.

by ol Pete on Apr 9, 2009 7:05 PM EDT reply actions

I think his control was spotty due to his bone spurs in his foot, they were a problem from spring training on last year.

"Oedipus ruined a great sex life by asking too many questions!"- Dr. Stephen T. Colbert DFA.

by justin007000 on Apr 9, 2009 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions

As an outsider (Met fan, btw), I must ask.

Would it be appropriate to place Votto in the clean-up spot in the future? If his performance in that series is an indication, I think he could do swell there and become a big-time star. JMO.

I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!

by R_Adragna on Apr 9, 2009 9:18 PM EDT reply actions

The 3rd spot seems to suit him

And I like getting him a guaranteed at-bat in the first inning of every game. Hopefully Taveras will be on base in front of him, and hopefully Darnell McDonald will be boring the neighbor kids with stories of that time that he used to play in the majors.

by Brendanukkah on Apr 9, 2009 9:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I still feel that he can do wonders as a clean-up hitter and that he’ll end up there sometime in his career. But the idea of giving him a guaranteed 1st inning at-bat doesn’t sound too shabby, so you got a point there.

Good series, and see ya in July :)

I don't need no instructions to know how to rock!

by R_Adragna on Apr 9, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions