Reds continue to lose in uninteresting ways, DC United claims sole possession of first place in the Eastern Conference

by Brendanukkah on Jun 13, 2009 11:16 PM EDT in Game Threads Comment 27 comments

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

"How 'bout those Wizards? 3-1 over the Revolution. Davy Arnaud is a goddamn stud!" (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

I didn't watch the game tonight, and haven't checked any of the scores. But I'm going to go out on a limb and say that our offense was unimpressive. We've now lost three straight games to teams that had the fewest wins in their respective leagues before playing us.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Josh Wicks. Commanded his box well, and came up huge in the second half, stopping a penalty kick from Brian McBride.

Other Notes

Jaime Moreno scored his MLS all-time career best 127th goal.
Christian Gomez enjoyed one of his best games of the season, notching his second goal of the year on a brilliant free kick. He also hit the woodwork on a long range shot that would have put the game beyond dispute.
DC United remains unbeaten at RFK this year. Its back line is gelling and holding on to leads that earlier in the season would have ended in draws.
A chippy game for Chicago, resulting in four yellow cards.
The previously unbeaten Chicago Fire have now lost their last three games.

Final - 6.13.2009	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cincinnati Reds	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	6	1
Kansas City Royals	0	3	2	0	0	2	0	0	X	7	14	1
WP: Kyle Davies (3 - 6) LP: Bronson Arroyo (7 - 5)

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Comments

Were there orange slices at half time?

I always knew that this was a closet soccer blog.

Tanzen!

by Verka Serduchka on Jun 13, 2009 11:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We had a mosh pit at half-time, as is our custom

by Brendanukkah on Jun 13, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think my comment came out all wrong.

What I meant to say was: “fuck yeah, RR went footie.”

(and I am actually a very big fan of orange slices at half-time. Do you think it could catch on during the 7th inning stretch?)

Tanzen!

by Verka Serduchka on Jun 13, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nobody listens to Andrew

by nlt-andrew68 on Jun 14, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Most insightful recap ever.

by jacob brumfield on Jun 13, 2009 11:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So

Brandon Phillips was supposed to be taking on the 3-0 count when he flew out:

Brandon Phillips came to the plate with runners at first and second – both had reached on walks – and two outs in the fifth inning Saturday night with the Reds down two runs.

The count went to 3-0. Third base coach Mark Berry relayed manager Dusty Baker’s take sign.

"To tell the truth, I didn’t even look down there," Phillips said. "I was trying to make something happen."

Phillips flied meekly to right to end the inning.

Also, there is the quote by Dusty about Willy Taveras:

"It ain’t easy to watch," Baker said. "We got go back to the drawing board."

Didn’t he say the exact same thing about Corey Patterson last year?

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

by Slyde on Jun 13, 2009 11:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"I didn't even look down there."

Part of me is thinking dude, it’s your third base coach, you look down there, that’s how baseball goes. The other part is thinking Brandon’s smart to not pay any attention to Mark Berry at any time.

"Sir, can you please put your pants back on?"

by Ash on Jun 14, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs

re: phillips ---fine his ass !

Nobody listens to Andrew

by nlt-andrew68 on Jun 14, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There are teams where a coach's sign isn't an option

Dusty doesn’t control this team if he isn’t going to chew out one of his players for publicly saying he wasn’t even looking for the sign. If he’s not a tactician he may as well try to be a leader.

by ken on Jun 14, 2009 7:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And she said....

Sweat plus sacrifice equals another useless out. Mads

by Madville on Jun 14, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Helling fuck hell

This team is a fuck and I don’t give a hell.

Arroyo you sucked and you don’t even care do you? Just get the fuck out all of you, get the fuck out.

“No timetable for his return”… “Back to the drawing board.” — You’re not running an upstart not-for-profit.. this is a mult-million dollar baseball franchise that represents a mid-sized metropolitan area. Man the motherfuck up and learn how to do your shit or else get bent you fucks.

I got to go down to the stadium and whip batteries at the players on both teams. - Philly Boy Roy

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jun 14, 2009 2:08 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Seriously

I don’t want to have to come out of retirement from 6th grade CYO to show Willy Taveras how to hit the ball in the gap or Jay Bruce how to lay the hell off some pitches and cream the high heat.

If this team had faced Greinke, we’d have scored -2 runs because Rosales would have hit a backwards home run and run the wrong way around the bases with wide-eyed gusto. Taveras would have gone 0-11 in 3 at bats and comically struck out on one pitch by swinging three times, drilling himself into the dirt and wrapping his bat and limbs around himself.

You band of entitled millionaire slacker-jocks had better hope I don’t make enough money to buy a controlling share of the Reds anytime soon, because I would DFA the lot of you, bring Eddie Taubensee out of retirement, fill the team with pissed off guys that look like Kevin Youklis – and Joey Votto – and mash the fuck out of the NL Central, setting fire to a different item from the Ryan Braun t-shirt line after every victory.

I got to go down to the stadium and whip batteries at the players on both teams. - Philly Boy Roy

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jun 14, 2009 2:38 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

Wow.

That’s about as well as it can be put.

Close thread; exeunt Reporters.

He sits alone...Reds are not home.

by Gapper on Jun 14, 2009 3:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just want to say

that a couple of weeks ago, all people (not necessarily you) were talking about was that this team was different than past teams, that it didn’t have the big, stuck-up superstars. Now you are calling them “entitled millionaires.” It’s amazing how the performance of the team colors one’s perception of the personalities.

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

by Slyde on Jun 14, 2009 9:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

All people, eh?

It’s amazing what a couple of weeks of losing can do to team “chemistry.” Or maybe it just affects BP. It seems like he starts sniping every time the team starts losing.

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Jun 14, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was trying to be facetious and make a point at the same time. :)

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

by Slyde on Jun 14, 2009 10:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Over my head - kinda like

Opera and Cheese Puffs
Painting with Raccoon feces
Abject exultation
Understanding Dusty

So cuff my ear and call me Maddy

Sweat plus sacrifice equals another useless out. Mads

by Madville on Jun 14, 2009 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

For opera, dip your toe

with this movie. It’s one of the rare examples where the dubbed version is better. At least I think so.

by ol Pete on Jun 14, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agree'd

This offensive slump isn’t that dissimilar from the one that started the year, except no Votto, and the team was winning 1 run games instead of losing them.

The biggest problem I see with Dusty’s managing is the stubbornness in sticking with slumping players. That strategy works when you have Barry Bonds or Derrek Lee, who would surely come out of the slump. This team can’t afford to sit around and wait for Taveras and Gonzo and Rosales to start hitting. With a bunch of mediocre or subpar offensive talent, you have to ride the hot hand. Screw their damn egos, it’s not like any of them are all stars anyway.

Isn't there a slanket somewhere you should be filling with your farts?

by nycredsfan on Jun 14, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Amen

’The biggest problem I see with Dusty’s managing is the stubbornness in sticking with slumping players."

Agreed on this.

This was supposed to be a chance to bounce back and get some momentum back. Instead, these two series have exposed the Reds. Lets hope things change fast, starting today.

by Deker on Jun 14, 2009 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what my entitled millionaires comment kind of was getting at

Is Taveras going to sulk around or throw a tantrum if you bench him? Why does Dusty treat them with kid gloves? Look at performance and adjust your strategy accordingly.

I got to go down to the stadium and whip batteries at the players on both teams. - Philly Boy Roy

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jun 14, 2009 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Classic "Players Manager"

He identifies too much with being a player. The best managers know that they have walked across a line and can’t think like a player anymore. Having played at the MLB level is helpful (although not necessary, like the old commercial where Lasorda is asked if got to the majors, reply “oh, I managed”).

I did not react well when he was announced as manager and my doubts have never subsided.

by Deker on Jun 14, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My comments were hyperbolic and in hot blood -

and the entitled millionaires line is mostly just how I feel about Arroyo sometimes. It doesn’t seem like he has much discipline and sometimes just phones it in. I do like this the personalities on this team for the most part but sometimes it’s hard to avoid reaching the conclusion that they kind of don’t care or something after stretches like this.

I don’t think I was ever in the camp that thought this team was dramatically different from last year. They’re on the rise, but I won’t be fooled again. This is a market correction. A season to get excited about 2010-11, but to guard your enthusiasm closely because a team that’s been so poorly managed in the 2000s doesn’t not right itself overnight.

I saw my remarks in the cold light of morning and felt a tinge of regret – but they capture exactly how I’ve felt in response to the team’s performance. They’re good guys, I know they’re probably trying but I feel dragged down by the weight of 9 years of bad decisions.

I got to go down to the stadium and whip batteries at the players on both teams. - Philly Boy Roy

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jun 14, 2009 11:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was over the top

But it’s good to put them in the proper light.

Regarding your second paragraph, I have felt the same way. My goal for this team is simply to break the streak of losing seasons – even if it is only .500. I’ll take that and, like you say, expect more in 2011.

Still, that has been an aggravation for me over the recent history of the Reds. They have had consistent problem taking care of business against teams with losing records. This is not unique to this year. Where has the killer instinct been? You have to take out the weak teams. If they’d been doing that over the past ten years, it would not have gotten them into the playoffs, but we wouldn’t be dealing with a decade long streak of losing seasons.

by Deker on Jun 14, 2009 11:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wasn't dogging on you

I just thought that phrase was an interesting juxtaposition to the attitude people had just a couple of weeks ago. Whether you meant it or not is moot. The fact that nobody called you on it kind of made my point.

I think Gray picked up on what I was really getting at though – chemistry is used far too frequently to justify winning and losing. They say momentum is the next day’s starter. I say chemistry is your team’s last 10 games.

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

by Slyde on Jun 14, 2009 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chemistry

Well the smart fans knew all that chemistry talk meant jack. Hustle, different kind of team, etc.. Those things are nice in tandem with talent. But if the talent isn’t there, your streaks won’t last. As it stands, we have pitching talent and a couple good bats, too many injuries/issues to withstand. We should be thrilled with a 31-30 record and can only continue if the starters are at their best.

Dusty is clueless and stubborn. He’s correct that you don’t always play “the guy that’s doing well”. You play the guy that’s going to do the best based on sound statistical analysis and scouting. This is where he fails. He uses wishful thinking and gut feelings that are way out of tune. I would bat Hanigan second, not because he’s hitting well right now but because he’s shown, over the long term, the ability to make contact, hit for a solid average, and not strikeout. He’s not the hot hand. He’s the smart choice. He may regress to .270 or .280 but won’t ever have Taveras or AGon type-slumps.

With all the injuries, moving the hot hand up in the lineup isn’t such a bad idea either, but Gomes won’t hit .330 the next month, no matter where you put him. So expect the .250/.330/.490 type of Gomes wherever you put him and feel lucky if he outperforms his history.

by Matt McWax on Jun 14, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs