Cali is where they put they mack down: Reds lose, let's say.... 9-3.
by Brendanukkah on Jul 21, 2009 1:30 AM EDT
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I'm going to bed, so I'm giving my best guess for the final score.
Joe Nuxhall Honorary Memorial Star of the Game
Andre Ethier. Ethier went at least 2-3 with a double and a home run, two runs scored and two RBI.
Key Plays
- Things started off promisingly for the Reds. Jason Schmidt hadn't pitched in the majors since 2007, and it showed when he gave a long fly ball to Willy Taveras. It hit the top of the wall, and the review determined that it was a triple, robbing Willy of his second home run of the year. It became a moot point when Jerry Hairston hit a double. Joey Votto singled him to third, then got him home with some HAVOC. Votto stole second, and Russell Martin's errant throw allowed Cherry to score and Votto to advance to third. Votto scored on Brandon Phillips's fluky fly, and the Reds had a 3-0 lead after one.
- That proved to be extremely short-lived, when Rafael Furcal led off with a bunt double. That's right. A bunt double. Russell Martin singled, and then after striking out Manny Ramirez on three pitches, Micah Owings gave up back to back doubles to Andre Ethier and Casey Blake to tie the game, and a single James Loney put them ahead to stay.
- With two outs in the second, Russell Martin singled and Manny homered. On a night when Willy hits the top of the wall, you knew the balls would be flying.
- Ethier homered to lead off the top of the fifth. A triple would have been preferable.
- Then the Dodgers scored some more and the Reds didn't. Probably.
Other Notes
- Ryan Hanigan threw out three baserunners, in three attempts. Russell Martin (twice) and Casey Blake, you are fools! Sweet Clyde, laugh derisively at them.
- Willy Taveras has a seven game hitting streak.
- Whoops, Joey Votto just scored. 7-4 final score?
- Mike Lincoln thinks Jason Schmidt's two years off is nothing.
- Encarnacion drove in another run to make things interesting! Yay! But he did it by grounding into a double play. Never mind.
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Let's guess the Reds' record at year end if they continue to play with such vim and vigor
I say 72-90.
You ever been to the South side of Milwaukee?
well
You were right about the total number of runs scored in this game.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Just enough life?
It’s like the Brewer series, we took 2 out of 4, just enough to not have a “fire sale” but yet not enough to go out and get a Halladay or someone that can come in here and make a C C Sabathia type of difference. Let’s face it, the Reds will never do something like that to shake up the league. It’s not like we don’t have the prospects and good god, you can’t tell me 3-4 years of Halladay here wouldn’t IMPROVE our team significantly? Whatever, until we face the facts that we are a franchise unwilling to make the call, we won’t ever get over .500 and out of the central cellar.
.500 is no longer just enough
They have to play .600 ball the rest of the year to maybe have enough wins to make the playoffs.
.500 is selling.
we should have offered ManRam a contract in the offseason.
even with his 50 game suspension we probably could have hung around .500 and had him come in and dominate for 81 games.
Just Brandon being Brandon
teh Fay has words from BP and Dusty on that play:
"I was happy to get the RBI in,’ Phillips said. "I was happy I finally did something with runners in scoring position. I hit the ball to the outfield. I was like ‘damn, I missed it.’ I put my head down. I didn’t know he missed it until I looked back up. I could’ve did worse and not get the run in at all."
At this point, Phillips seemed to realize what he was saying didn’t sound good. So he added:
"I (messed) up. That’s my second time this year not hustling. It won’t happen again. I (messed) up."
Baker was still livid after the game.
"You’ve got to play hard all the time," Baker said. "That was big, real big. We had him on the ropes. We killed the rally."
Phillips has a history of this.
"Hey, man, we’ve all talked to him until we’re blue in the face," Baker said. "This was going on long before I got here."
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
typical...
why am i not surprised that the big story out of last night’s game on both reds.com and the enquirer was BP not hustling out of the box. he should have been out anyway because it was a routine fly. the result would have been the same—one out, up 3-0. you’re right, teh Fay… it wasn’t the poor plate discipline against a guy who needed a telescope to find the strike zone that lost the game, or owings given a 3-0 cushion and pitching batting practice—it was phillips not running out a fucking sac fly.
maybe it was a rally killer, but at least they put up 3 in the first which is what we should ask for every god damn game. did BP’s lack of hustle contribute to owings pitching like shit and not getting guys out? you can preach hustle and being a team player and playing the game the right way all you want, but when you’re up 3-0 in the first and promptly blow the lead, these guys should choose something else to write about (like the fact that we even put up runs in the first inning).
This gets at a debate we've had here before
about assigning blame and calling out players. Micah turned in a bad performance but we can assume he made a good faith effort to get outs. Those runs could have come in a different sequence and it would have simply reinforced the fact that Micah facing the best team in baseball is bad news. Not an especially compelling story. As it stands, Micah going after hitters with a 3 run lead probably just means the same thing -he serves one up to Manny.
But BP has been doing stupid shit all year that’s so easily avoided. He ignores a take signs, leisurely trots to first on groundball and flyball outs, makes absentminded baserunning mistakes and throws his bat down demonstratively after a weakly hit ball rather than legging it out. He deserves to be swekered here, even if he’s not the one to blame solely for the lose (no one ever is). He helped to squander a rare offensive outburst in the first inning agains a team they’re going to struggle mightily not to be swept by.
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jul 21, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
A brief benching is in order at this point
This team is certainly not good enough to squander opportunities because of a lack of effort. Plus, if we’re playing for next year there needs to be an example set for the younger players.
Phillips is not above disciplining. For Baker to excuse himself from taking action because “it was going on before I got here” is weak leadership. Charlie Manuel, a player’s manager by reputation, benched Rollins last year for similar conduct. Show some mettle, Dusty.
I would agree
The fire is definitely lacking. Baker needs to get ejected from a game, throw some bats into the showers and, at the very least, not maintain the status fucking quo.
It’s painfully clear that the team has hung it up in terms of trying to compete, talent-wise. So I would agree that every effort needs to be made to wring out effort and production from your players on hand.
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jul 21, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah
Dusty’s “It ain’t me” response is horseshit. It was his job to make it stop happening, wasn’t it?
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
For good or bad
lack of “fundamentals” falls at the feet of the manager. It happened to Jerry Narron. It happened to Dave Miley. And it’s not just in Cincinnati. It’s like that everywhere.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
I'll tell the ghost of Ted Williams
Seriosuly, I rarely see you in this sort of mood. This happens all over baseball and is best dealt with by the players. Justin Upton did it last year and the Rays ARE fundamentally sound and went to the World Series. Time to stop making this bigger than it is and laying the blame for a 29 year old man’s mistake at the feet of his manager.
Why do you think the Indians traded him? His attitude. He’s better now, but he’s not perfect and expecting him to be or expecting his manager to make him so is like expecting Jerry Hairston to start hitting bombs and be a valuable player.
Have any of you considered Dusty calling him out like this is Dusty’s version of “punishment.” How would like to get crushed, go tot he locker room, and then have to explain to a bunch of pudgy sportswriters why you didn’t make a play you should have. All the while, they’re shaking their heads and implying you’re lazy.
Hopefully, he learns a lesson. As for me, I’m more concerned about Owings suckiness and what the Reds plan to do about it.
It's not the only story of the game, for sure
but it’s definitely an important story for the season, if you think this team has enough talent to be competitive. Making mistakes like that should be inexcusable in a game versus the best team in the league. It’s rare that you get opportunities to keep beating on good teams like that and the Reds blew it, in part because of that play.
Of course, blowing the lead in the bottom of the inning is also terrible. As is the heart of the order seeing just 5 pitches in the 3rd inning against a guy who was struggling. As is batting 3 of your top 4 OBP guys 6-7-8 in the order. As is not getting a relief pitcher up when your starter has given up 6 runs in 2 innings.
There are a lot of problems with the game. Phillips mistake is just one of them, but it’s one that didn’t need to happen, therefore it’s a story.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
That is a good analysis
I think BP’s mistake was also a rally killer. However, I’m more upset about the 5 pitch thing. If you know Schmidt is not as good as he was (as the first inning showed) then you shouldn’t swing at the first thing you see. Even if you never swing, it takes 3 pitches! It would have taken at least nine lto get out of the inning rather than five.
I almost forgot how dumb that lineup was
Batting your lowest OBPs in front of Joey is so stupid and easily avoidable – not unlike the BP lapse. Baker definitely needs to look at the man in the mirror. If I’m the Reds and I’m not bringing anyone up or making any trades for offense – which seems like the likely scenario – this should be your lineup for the rest of the season:
Dickerson RF
Hanigan C
Votto 1B
Phillips 2B
Gomes LF
Encarnacion 3B
Hairston SS
PITCHER
Taveras CF
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jul 21, 2009 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Are you kidding me Groove?
A black guy not hustling? That IS huge news with the Cincy fan base. It gives them a reason. *
*Not accusing anyone here, just noting the Reds fan base is still one of the more racist in the league
I don't think it has anything to do with his race
it has a lot more to do with the fact that it’s the 2nd or 3rd obvious time BP has been lazy out of the box this year and he’s supposed to be the team leader.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
agreed
I know I ’m late to the conversation, but Phillips is one of my favorite/least favorite players in large part due to his attitude. I love the way he plays the game (stealing 2 bases in Washington, some of the defensive wizardry he has), but I also hate the lapses in concentration.
He says it was only the 2nd time he hasn’t hustled all year – there were many other times where the ball was caught that he wasn’t hustling out of the box. He doesn’t need to be Adam Rosales, but he does need to run.
"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey
fair enough.
i see i’m in the minority here. i know it’s been happening all year but why wait until this situation to get up in arms about it? my point is that he should have gotten out anyway and in doing so the run would have scored. if that ball is caught, there’s no backlash, and the result is the same. i can see this being an issue in the 9th inning, down 1 with 1 out.
i agree about the owings stuff.
My point is that the out wasn't made
at which point it became BP’s mistake that led to the out. Sure, if the ball had been caught, nothing would have blown up. The ball wasn’t caught though, was it?
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
no it was not...
…but if not for articles like these i wouldn’t have even thought about it. it didn’t matter to me at the time because satisfied that we even put up 3 runs in the first inning. besides i don’t know anyone not named Adam Rosales who balls-out hustles on a routine sac fly. i think brandon deserves praise as well as reprimanding but all we see is the negative. dusty should be upset and brandon should definitely get a talking-to (not a benching), but i think it was a bigger issue that we didn’t work the count more against a guy who was falling apart at the seams.
agreed on the last point
but you’re asking for subtlety and insight, which is something that your not going to get in a local newspaper.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
FWIW, I agree with you
But, unlike the roster stuff this is one of those times everyone thinks they understand what happened and gets to judge. The second I saw get thrown out, I knew Fay and the like had their story of the night. Not Micah’s inability to throw a slider for strikes or get lefties out or giving up the longest HR in baseball history (Manny’s HR ball landed in my backyard). No, they were gonna focus on the thing that all fans love: judging.
“I never jogged when I played Legion ball!”
“Pete never jogged, especially when he was ‘the team leader’!”
It’s an easy story to write by folks who aren’t that good at writing.
Mark my words, if EdE is traded, BP is new scapegoat among the fan base.
Interestingly enough
the guy who is most upset by this is the manager that you keep defending.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
btw, this was an intentional cheap shot
and I don’t want my real point to be missed that it’s not the scrappy racists in Cincinnati that are making this a story. It’s the manager.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
The more I thought about the more I think your point has more validity
than I originally gave it.
Quit accusing me of defending Dusty when I’m just parroting a preseason line from something you wrote (the difference in tactics is maybe two games a year or some such rot). You’re the one who convinced me!
As far as cheap shots goes, that was pretty good!
Dusty definitely lit this one up
Has he ever c\alled out EE? On Thursday night, I saw two plays where EE really dogged it and probably cost us one or two runs. Why no call out there? I can imagine that BP has a fiery personality and has proven to be directly disobedient to Dusty before, but he is not the only one who fails to give it 100% on every play.
In short, as Slyde suggests, I think Dusty really made BP the scapegoat here. Perosnally, I was ready to blame Micah Owings for another awful start. However, I prefer to blame the opposing team. So, Manny is a disgusting enhanced jerk and Joe Torre is an accomplice.
Not a box
But I think it’s 216. Pretty good seats / in the front row. Anyway, anything I should know about the park?
Ben's Chili Bowl is out in left field. That's the most important thing.
The President’s Race is more fun than you’d imagine. The Bullpen (open lot bar across the street) is a fun place to hang out and play some cornhole. If you enter through the centerfield gates, the statues of Frank Howard and Josh Gibson, etc. will freak you out. Try and walk up to your seats on ramp facing the Anacostia. I may be off base, but the view reminds me of Cincinnati.
by Brendanukkah on Jul 21, 2009 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions
No more Laynce Nix starting please
I think his return to career averages is another reason to call up Heisey or Stubbs. I’d be fine with seeing Gomes and Dickerson play pretty much full-time now and see how that goes, but you could just as easily bring up one of the youngsters and prime them for next year or audition them for an off-season trade. Whatever way this team goes between now and Opening Day 2010 to find a LF bat, they need to see some MLB performance from their prospects before September of this year.
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jul 21, 2009 10:34 AM EDT reply actions
Oh, and I don't mean I'd actually be fine seeing Dickerson and Gomes play fulltime
which would mean Taveras would remain the starting CF.
The Reds OF is probably the weakest in the majors at this point. If I’m not a penny-pinching team who is holding out hope for Stubbs/Heisey/Frazier being the future, then I trade or DFA Nix and Taveras, call up Stubbs and Heisey and get things moving.
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Jul 21, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Talent and intelligent use of the talent are the only things missing in this year's Red's team.
One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin
by Madville on Jul 21, 2009 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 4 recs
ha!
now youre getting the hang of it! :)
by Charlie Scrabbles on Jul 21, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
can he hustle and get some hitters some coffee or something
or does he drop the coffee like he drops ground balls?
I kid because you asked me to
Manos, Hands of Fate meets the Joe-ggernaut, the irresistable force. Guess who won?
Brendan, that made my day. Thank you.
Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans
by Farneyismycopilot on Jul 21, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions
Glad to hear it
Though honestly, I had Poodle in mind when I referred to Jo-eh as “irresistable.”
by Brendanukkah on Jul 21, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I like "The Irresistable Force" as a nickname for Votto
There are a lot of crushes on him on this site.
"It seems like we're not hitting because we're not getting hits." - Dusty being Dusty
/pitches tent in pants
Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans
by Farneyismycopilot on Jul 21, 2009 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
/meekly puts hand in pants
He sits alone...Reds are not home.
by Gapper on Jul 21, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I totally missed that caption!
You’re right about me, I like it, I like it much lol. I also loveMystery Science Theatre too, so I’m pretty happy right now. “Joe-ggernaut” needs to make it on to a sign at the ball park I think.
Eyewitness report 07/20/09 Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles
The crowd flipped out when Brandon Phillips was thrown out for not hustling. They don’t know tons about baseball in Chavez Ravine, but this same crowd knew enough to cheer mockingly each time the Dodgers recorded another out in the first. BP really killed that rally. Fuck him. If I’m gonna root for a .500 team, the least they can do is try their best and pay attention. I actually was yelling at him right out of the box to get running, and yelled that about 4 times while the ball was in the air. Holy flyin’ fudgesicles, already!
The crowd oo’ed and ah’ed and groaned each time Ryan Hanigan threw out another runner. People were yelling for the Dodgers to quit running. That was sweet. I hope Dusty heard it!
And the guy next to me called Manny’s HR down to the pitch. I got a good view. It flew, brother. It flew.
I sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in German, which is my standard joke. Always good for a laugh when with new people.
Beyond that, Dodger Dogs are yum, the weather was warm and perfect, Dusty is still too thick-skulled and stubborn to make out a lineup card worth a crap, and we left after seven full to visit Jumbo’s Clown Room. No photos from Jumbo’s. :P
I can see you're not going to agree with me, so let's move on. - Bill Maher
timb - google Jumbo's Clown Room. Just don't do it at work. :P
I can see you're not going to agree with me, so let's move on. - Bill Maher
by PeteyHendrix on Jul 21, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
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