Red Reposter - 5/20/09

by Charlie Scrabbles on May 20, 2009 11:35 AM EDT in News

Mark Sheldon talked to Dusty Baker about the recently frozen Willy Taveras, who is 0-18 since his 14-game hitting streak ended: "He was so hot. There's no explanation."
Hall o' Famer Hal is on the "Bring up Jonny Gomes" bandwagon. I sincerely believe that Darnell McDonald is not long for this team, but frankly he's been here too long as it is. They'll cut him soon, but it wont be soon enough. Chalk another one up to lethargic roster management.
Speaking of D-Mac, Sheldon also talked to Baker about Ramon Ramirez, who was recently promoted to take the spot of the injured Nick Masset. Sheldon asks why Ramirez and not Pedro Viola, who has been throwing well down in AAA, was the one called up. Baker's reply: "We threw around Viola. He's doing pretty good. He's a little inconsistent. He's coming fast but we would have had to take a chance on losing someone by taking them off [the 40-man roster] in order to get Viola on. There were no names we could come up with."
Still no word on Joey Votto. He'll undergo more tests today. Color me concerned. Big League Stew is too.
Jay Bruce posted a video on his blog about all the nicknames he's collected. Hattip to Red Hot Mama for this one, and I apologize for not linking. My work server says your site is "malicious" and wont let me access it. Maybe "snippy", "spiteful", and "opinionated", but I wouldnt say "malicious"...
Ken Rosenthal has a blurb on Laynce Nix: "Nix, 28, has since become the Reds' regular left fielder, producing 14 extra-base hits in his first 68 at-bats. Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who drafted Nix in Texas and traded for him with Milwaukee, still believes that he can be a late bloomer in the Ryan Ludwick-Carlos Pena mold."
In Brewers news, They are not looking to pick up a second baseman in the wake of Rickie Weeks' season-ending wrist injury. They seem to think Craig Counsell and others can handle the job. Thom Brennaman agrees.
Congratulations to Todd Helton, who recorded his 2000th career hit last night. Every single one of them have been with the Rockies. You know, he kinda reminds me of an older Joey Votto.

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Comments

I found a couple things that I thought about linking, but they were earth-shatteringly stupid

The first was an item on FoxSports that listed the 10 hottest baseball players. Our own Bronson Arroyo was #10. Current opponent Jimmy Rollins was #1. Ladies, care to weigh in with an opinion?

Also, on espn.com, Rick Reilly posted an incredibly inane “I Hate Baseball So I Should Be Commissioner And Here’s What I’d Change” column. Rick Reilly makes me think the terrorists won.

But I guess I’ll just post this for Menace.

by Brendanukkah on May 20, 2009 11:59 AM EDT reply actions

Rick Reilly column

Most of it is babble, however, he has a point about putting the Umps in charge of calling games due to weather. I have had multiple instances at GABP where I’ve waited a ridiculous amount of time to have the game start. Because the Reds won’t offer refunds or rain-checks, you’re pretty much screwed if you go to one of these games because either 1) you stay until God-knows-when to watch the game or 2) you’re at the ballgame with lesser fans/girlfriends/wives/families who don’t want to camp out in the rain and stay out until a ridiculous time to watch a game.

Also, I agree with his last point about the tool sitting in the front-row at ball games talking on his cell phone and waving the whole game…

by Nasty N8 on May 20, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Something tells me he might not be waving

But Rick Reilly is sure as shit on his cell phone at sporting events.

by Brendanukkah on May 20, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions

talkin' to his dirties, crushin' beers by the thirties

at least, according to the unimpeachable Orson Swindle

Ali Boombaye

by Cy Schourek on May 20, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

She's just to talented

by Red Menace on May 20, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Good Stuff CS

unrelated…. how about trading for Mark DeRosa? Heyman says he is available for a pitcher. Career at GABP : .346/.462/.481 .942 OPS

He would be nice to have. Imagine when we got everyone back our 13 position players:
OF Nix, Bruce, Dickerson, Taveras, Gomes
INF: Votto, Phillips, Gonzalez, Encarnacion, DeRosa, Hairston
C: Hernandez & Hanigan

No matter what Dusty ran out there, we would have a much better lineup, and a bench that wouldn’t include Darnell McDonald.

Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle

by MixFMKyle on May 20, 2009 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

hmmm

i like DeRosa, but with Hairston he would be redundant. well, Hairston would be redundant, but Dusty would likely prefer Hairston. i dont want to give up any more than a Matt Maloney for him, and im even hesitant to do that.

go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls

by Charlie Scrabbles on May 20, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

The thing I like is that he could play second base and shift Phillips over to SS

Of course, as you say, Hairston could also play second, and we’ve seen how often that’s shifted Phillips over.

by Brendanukkah on May 20, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah

i try to not to talk about it, because it really burns me up and there is no way it’s going to change, but not moving Phillips to SS is the frustrating thing about this team. but there aint a whole lot about this team that frustrates me right now so i guess that is some consolation.

go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls

by Charlie Scrabbles on May 20, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah talk about a great Infield

L to R Encarnacion, Phillips, DeRosa, Votto.

OF- Nix, Taveras, Bruce

I’d love to be able to run that out there each day…

Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle

by MixFMKyle on May 20, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

i think a Nix/Gomes platoon would play real fuckin' loud

make it happen Walt.

go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls

by Charlie Scrabbles on May 20, 2009 2:07 PM EDT up reply actions

keep maloney

don’t give up more than lecure.

Bloop

by justin007000 on May 20, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Lecure NEEDS to be traded off of the Reds

but preferably to a division rival. I demand a Lecure-Phillips matchup sometime soon.

Ali Boombaye

by Cy Schourek on May 20, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions

"There's no explanation."

There is an explanation. Taveras has apparently been studying hitting from tapes of Sammy Sosa from the mid-90’s:

“Swing wildly at every pitch, no matter how far out of the strike zone. Lose your balance, and let go of the bat with your lead hand.”

Where have you gone, Johnny Vander Meer?

by Joe Public on May 20, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

LoL

I hate to even laugh at this, but when we are playing as bad as we have the past week, what else is there to do?

by Blank x2 on May 20, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

i dont think the Reds are playing that badly

or at least, they arent playing significantly worse than they were when they were winning. they’ve lost these 4 games by a total of 6 runs. the offense is only averaging 3 runs a game, but they have faced Cole Hamels and Jake Peavy. they are still pitching as well as ever, and that is the most important thing, i think. the offense is gonna sputter, but as long as the pitching remains strong then i think they will be fine.

go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls

by Charlie Scrabbles on May 20, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

...for 2010

by Brendanukkah on May 20, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions

'NUKKAH SAVE!

Bloop

by justin007000 on May 20, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

we do a rec system here...

ain’t no thang, but the general system if you like something is you click on “actions” and then “rec”. 3 recs = it goes green. I’m sure it’ll be on the wiki shortly…

Ali Boombaye

by Cy Schourek on May 20, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude, I'm not even on the wiki and I've been annoying people here for over two years

I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....

by jch24 on May 20, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude, it's a Wiki - do it yourself..

Oh wait, that’s a faux pas isn’t it..

Education is what you get from reading the directions. Experience is what you get from not reading them.

by snohio on May 20, 2009 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Last Night + Taveras

Does anybody think that Taveras cost us the game with the 2 long balls he didn’t really run after? Isn’t he the fastest guy on the club? So why did he not turn the juice on for those 2 fly balls? I was at the game and it seemed like he wasn’t hustling much on some of the plays and yeah, his batting is pretty awful right now. It really gets to me when the fastest guy can’t run down what appears to be a catchable ball, especially when we have Norris Hopper stewing down in the minors.

by ryaneversole on May 20, 2009 1:46 PM EDT reply actions

I didn't see the game, so I don't know if the balls were catchable or if Taveras loafed

But the important thing is that we’ll just pretend you said “Drew Stubbs” instead of “Norris Hopper.”

by Brendanukkah on May 20, 2009 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

Dude

Norris Hopper much worse than Taveras at Defense. He is like the Adam Dunn of small, “fast” players. And Norris isn’t stewing..he is hurt, on the DL…Again.

Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle

by MixFMKyle on May 20, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions

"He is like the Adam Dunn of small, "fast" players."

huh?

Ali Boombaye

by Cy Schourek on May 20, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

He misplays so many balls

he takes bad angles, tries to dive and lets balls get past him, can’t make plays near the wall….etc.

Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle

by MixFMKyle on May 20, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions

If you go by UZR

Norris Hopper in 2008 In the OF was -2.3 in 100 innings (small sample size).

2007 he was good with a 11.5 UZR, but 2006 was a measly 1.8.

Average it all together, he is around 11.0 UZR, compared to Taveras 24.6 career UZR. They are basically the same player offensively, but Willy has more speed, better at swiping bags, and will hit for slightly more power.

I’ve never figured out why Reds fans thought he was so great. He seems like a nice guy, and can maybe bunt for a .300 AVG, but that’s about it. If he was fantastic at D, then he’d be fine for a 5th OF. But obviously the Reds felt Darnell McDonald was better as the backup CF over Hopper…so does that tell you anything?

Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle

by MixFMKyle on May 20, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

no argument from me

He put the ball into an unconscious Freel’s glove. That was cool. Otherwise, he too is an irrelevant joke.

Ali Boombaye

by Cy Schourek on May 20, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

that was classic…

Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle

by MixFMKyle on May 20, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

Haha ok. I don’t recall Hopper’s defense, but I know he’s got some quick feet.

by ryaneversole on May 20, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions

So does Gregory Hines.

But, like Norris Hopper, I don’t want him on the Reds

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

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on May 20, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Isn't Gregory Hines dead?

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

by Slyde on May 20, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

No idea.

He’s the first tap dancer that popped into my head.

But if he’s dead, I really don’t want him on the Reds.

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

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on May 20, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions

After some research, I've concluded that he is, in fact, dead.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Hines

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

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on May 20, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Where "some research" = going to wikipedia?

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on May 20, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup.

I was just hoping to avoid the “here, let me google that for you” humiliation, so I put that up quickly.

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

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on May 20, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

My research would have been to yell aloud, "hey, does anyone here know if Gregory Hines is dead?"

Then my neighbor would tell me to pipe down, as she’s watchin’ her stories.

I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....

by jch24 on May 20, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

she still watching out for that truck for ya?

"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 May 20, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Nah, she's too busy trying to catch a glimpse of me shirtless in the yard

Me. SRSLY.

Of course, she is about 55……

I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....

by jch24 on May 20, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Hopper's defense isnt awful

but he isnt great either. he’s pretty good in the corners, but he cant hit a lick so no way do i want him playing in LF.

like Brendan said, Drew Stubbs is the real deal.

go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls

by Charlie Scrabbles on May 20, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Left Field

Time for some stability in left field, at least for this season, with the Nix/Gomes duo. Use Dickerson as needed.

by Redsfanx on May 20, 2009 3:02 PM EDT reply actions

Not Happening tonight

God this is another gross lineup

Taveras, CF
Hairston, 3B
Phillips, 2B
Bruce, RF
Hernandez, 1B
Gonzalez, SS
McDonald, LF
Hanigan, C
Harang, P

I much rather have Nix facing a lefty than Darnell McDonald and his .474 OPS this year (actually an improvement over his MLB career .417 OPS) .

What the hell is Dusty/Walt/Bob thinking. Bob says we are going to win. Then how in the hell is McDonald still on this team, let alone starting? It’s terrible.

Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle

by MixFMKyle on May 20, 2009 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions

did Janish catch whatever Votto has?

since he can grab everything else…

Ali Boombaye

by Cy Schourek on May 20, 2009 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know

maybe Dusty is saving him to be the mop up guy. At this point would Janish be better off playing each day at AAA?

Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle

by MixFMKyle on May 20, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm glad Gonzalez is getting his due and getting bumped up in the order.

That guy’s knocking the shit out of the ball.

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

by 3 Fast 3 Furious on May 20, 2009 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd keep a wide berth of Aaron Harang tonight

This lineup doesn’t do much to make me think he’ll get more run support, and I believe he’s liable to kill a man. And no jury in the world would convict him.

by Brendanukkah on May 20, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

you just need one former pitcher on that jury

and he’s a free man

go look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls

by Charlie Scrabbles on May 20, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions

So Rosales gets the night off on his birthday

but Hernandez has to play on his birthday. Me and Ramon were born on the exact same day. And look how far we’ve both come.

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

by Slyde on May 20, 2009 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Ramon

Anyone else feel bad for thinking the guy hasn’t been too bad. Runner in scoring position other than Votto or Nix, I feel best when Ramon is up…

Find me on MySpace- http://www.myspace.com/mixfmkyle

by MixFMKyle on May 20, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm with you

Not sure why but I don’t feel sick to my stomach when he comes to the plate with RISP.

I miss the old days of the internet when men were men, hot girls were middle aged men, and hot underage girls were FBI agents.....

by jch24 on May 20, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions

Rosales wasnt born he was hatched

Happy Hatchedday, hombre!

"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 May 20, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Dusty's retarded

I’d much rather see Rosales in the lineup over McDonald. Jonny Gomes, too.

"We, as for me all seasons you are affected peculiarly in the edge of my seat and are happy concerning the fact that the Adam Dunn fan has been mixed up exactly." - Reynard-san

by BK on May 20, 2009 4:12 PM EDT up reply actions