Red Reposter - 8/21/2009

by Slyde on Aug 21, 2009 10:43 AM EDT in News Comment 51 comments

Filling in for Charlie Scrabbles today, who is on assignment in Guam.

Hal McCoy gets philosophical and wonders what's it all about, man? Hal understands that there is a "plan." He just can't understand why they don't stick to it.
And [the Marlins] keep doing it. Low payroll, high return. They compete every year with one of baseball’s lowest payrolls, doing it mostly with homegrown talent. They are in the hunt against this year, in second place in the NL East, chasing the Phillies.

Why can’t the Reds do it? They could. Easily. If they’d only stick with the plan instead of constantly veering off course to sign players like Corey Patterson, Willy Taveras and trading for a player like Rolen, who will hinder the advancement of Francisco, unless they move him to left field. Then what are they going to do with shortstop-third baseman-left fielder- second baseman Todd Frazier?
Brandon Phillips sore wrist forced him out of the game yesterday, but he still thinks he might give it a go tonight.
Stubbs' homer yesterday caused him joy (pump pump pump it up) and elation.
How huge was Stubbs homer yesterday? It even helped the Dayton Dragons win!
Redleg Nation wonders where you are on Poz's scale being a fan of a bad team?
Tyler Hissey decides now would be a good time for some salt in the wounds of Reds fans, so he revists CoCo's contract.
Dave Cameron is going to escape to Canada. That's what he means by abolish the draft, right? It's an interesting read about how to distribute amateur players without the draft.
Yahoo Power Rankings are out. The Reds are hanging out at 25th. Well, it's not last place.

Drop anything that I missed in the comments.

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Comments

So Rolen is back today, yes yes?

by Jake Liscow on Aug 21, 2009 11:24 AM EDT reply actions

I think he's got one more rehab game,

He travels to Pitt tomorrow and will play Sunday

Baseball must be a great game to survive the fools who run it.— Bill Terry

by nycredsfan on Aug 21, 2009 11:39 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Fuck.

I was excited for a somewhat legitimate lineup something like:

Stubbs
Dickerson
Votto
Phillips
Rolen
Gomes/Balentien
Hanigan
Owings
Janish

by Jake Liscow on Aug 21, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions

He's actually not eligible to come off until Sunday

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

by Slyde on Aug 21, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice use of the DL.

Maybe if we would have DL’d him when he actually got hurt, I wouldn’t be upset because he’d be eligible to come back by the time he was better.

Funny how that DL thing works, someone should explain it to Walt.

by Jake Liscow on Aug 21, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I think everyone was a bit surprised that he had a concussion from that beaning

I don’t blame them for missing on this one.

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

by Slyde on Aug 21, 2009 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

It was surprising that the dude getting nailed in the head with a fastball was concussed?

That’s news to me. I wouldn’t really expect Rolen to diagnose it or point it out himself given that he’s a tough-guy baseball player, but it’s kind of sad and pathetic that nobody on the medical staff could diagnose something as simple as a concussion, especially when it was pretty clear from the get-go that you should at least keep a sharp eye out for one.

by Geki on Aug 21, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I've seen people get beaned in the head and play the next day

Maybe it was a shitty diagnosis, but the dude played 2 more games before going on the DL. I get the impression that it wasn’t a cut-and-dry case.

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

by Slyde on Aug 21, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Unless the concussion wasn't a result of the beaning, it seems pretty damn cut and dry.

If you’ve ever had a concussion or been around somebody who was recently concussed, it’s pretty easy to tell. Rolen had to know that something was up, and I get the feeling that the Reds medical staff knew as well. The more I think about it, the more I believe that Rolen was probably diagnosed with a concussion right off the bat, but the Reds, as many athletic teams have been known to do over the year, believed it wasn’t that big of a deal and that he could play through it, and I’m sure Rolen did nothing to disparage a diagnosis like that. Concussions are serious business, as the NFL has been finding out over the past few years, and baseball should take them seriously as well.

by Geki on Aug 21, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

there's no medical test for a concussion. It's diagnosed by subjective reports from the patient.

If a concussion showed up on a MRI, then it would pretty obvious since the swelling would cause enormous neuropsyche trauma

by timb116 on Aug 21, 2009 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

there's the IMPACT test

Every player takes it before spring training. That provides a baseline for comparison. The player can take the test again if concussion is suspected, and the scores are compared. The test is designed to catch players who might lie about symptoms because they want playing time, and measures things like memory and reaction time.

Ryan Freel had another concussion earlier this year. He flunked his IMPACT test, and pitched a fit. But they wouldn’t let him play until he could pass it.

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

by BubbaFan on Aug 21, 2009 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Concussions are (or, I thought were) easy to diagnose.

There are tell-tale signs that should not have been missed upon the initial evaluation.

by Jake Liscow on Aug 21, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Still

we’re basically talking 2 days lost to this misdiagnosis. There’s plenty of reason to criticize the Reds and Jocketty, but I don’t think this is one of them.

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

by Slyde on Aug 21, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

He missed a couple games before those 2 games though.

So… 4 days or something? Not that it matters at this point, but it would make the games more fun to watch, that is with a semblance of a real MLB lineup.

by Jake Liscow on Aug 21, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions

but he would have missed those games anyway

and apparently he wasn’t healthy enough to start rehabbing until 2 days ago, so nothing would have changed. At least the way it happened, he played 2 more games before going on the DL, right?

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

by Slyde on Aug 21, 2009 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess so.

I’m just sick of Rosales.

by Jake Liscow on Aug 21, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions

And there is NOTHING wrong with that

Baseball must be a great game to survive the fools who run it.— Bill Terry

by nycredsfan on Aug 21, 2009 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

amen, brother

by timb116 on Aug 21, 2009 7:34 PM EDT up reply actions

yeah, I think they screwed up

It’s not the few days extra on the DL that bug me. This season is lost anyway. It’s that concussions can kill people, if you send them out to play again before they’re fully recovered.

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

by BubbaFan on Aug 21, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions

He did the same thing when he flunked his field sobriety test

by Red Menace on Aug 22, 2009 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Off topic but -‘Esteban’ Ochocinco ....This guy just kills me...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recap?gid=20090820017&prov=ap

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin

by Madville on Aug 21, 2009 12:00 PM EDT reply actions

Boy that Hissey article is just a basket of sunshine...

Reading that and Hal pretty much makes one realize that it ain’t ever happening.

You ever been to the South side of Milwaukee?

by chesirecat on Aug 21, 2009 12:18 PM EDT reply actions

If Cordero's contract is tying up too much payroll,

there’s always money in the banana stand.

by coocooforcocoapuffs on Aug 21, 2009 12:29 PM EDT reply actions

No mas

That sucker went up in flames, sorta like this decade for the Reds

You ever been to the South side of Milwaukee?

by chesirecat on Aug 21, 2009 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Are you crazy?! There was money in that banana stand!

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

by Slyde on Aug 21, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Hal

Nearly every day WLW, the Cincinnati Reds flagship station, plays a sound bite from CEO Bob Castellini in which he says, "We’re just not going to lose any more."

Ye gods, do they really do that?

Interesting article. Yes, the Marlins seem to have figured out how to compete with a small payroll.

They also have the lowest attendance in the league. Their AAA team attracts more fans than they do. And they’re the least valuable team in baseball, at least according to Forbes. Maybe that’s what’s dissuading Bob.

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

by BubbaFan on Aug 21, 2009 12:45 PM EDT reply actions

That's because they're in Florida, not because of their strategy.

Are there any professional sports teams in Florida that haven’t had attendance issues at some point? The Marlins, Rays, Panthers, Lightning, and Jags all have had serious issues. I’m not sure about the Bucs or Magic, but Florida is where sports teams and old people go to die.

by Geki on Aug 21, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

2005 Roster

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/2005.shtml

Just happened by this……there are people on there that I have no memory of at all, and that was only 4 years ago.

First time I shot her, shot her in the side.
Hard to watch her suffer, but with the second shot she died...

by btcoop71 on Aug 21, 2009 1:05 PM EDT reply actions

and only one person that is still with us

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

by Slyde on Aug 21, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Dane, FeLo, D'Angelo, Denorfia

the -up-the-middle of the future that wasn’t.

My internet breaks for three days and all of the sudden Stubbs is hitting game winners in the majors? Interesting, interesting…

"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander

by Cy Schourek on Aug 21, 2009 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Somebody send Cy a virus...

maybe a T-Virus?

Baseball must be a great game to survive the fools who run it.— Bill Terry

by nycredsfan on Aug 21, 2009 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions

nah, just changed the server in my house

by Cy Schourek on Aug 21, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

What's his name...

Does he do BarMitzvahs ?

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.
George Carlin

by Madville on Aug 21, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

Wow look at that offense...

Of the 14 players who had over 100 AB, only 4 posted an OPS+ under 100: Freel 96, Encarnacion 93, Cruz 91, and Jimenez 63.
This year…14 players with over 100 AB so far, and we have 2 players with an OPS+ over 100: Joey Votto 140 and Jonny Gomes 135. That’s pretty ugly. Too bad the pitching sucked in 2005.

by Who's on First? on Aug 21, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Brandon Classen

is/was our savior. Because, you know, the pitching has improved so much come ’09

by Cy Schourek on Aug 21, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Lineup tonight

No BP. I think Owings should bat 5th. but no, Dusty can’t hurt feelings

Dickerson 7
Stubbs 8
Votto 3
Nix 9
Rosales 5
Sutton 4
Hanigan 2
Janish 6
Owings 1

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

by MixFMKyle on Aug 21, 2009 4:00 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks Kyle

You’ve made me feel a lot better about the fact that I won’t be around for the game tonight.

by Brendanukkah on Aug 21, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions

And while I'd like to see Gomes or Balentien in there for some semblance of offense

That’s a pretty rad outfield defense, I gotta say.

by Brendanukkah on Aug 21, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

and Jon Fay says its cheap too. It's like the dollar store!

This is lineup makes a total of $3,857,500. Only Nix ($600,000), Votto ($437,500) and Owings ($420,000) make over the $400,000 minimum. I really think Wladimir Balentien should be playing left everyday. If he was in there, we’d have a $3,662,500 lineup.

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

by MixFMKyle on Aug 21, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

LOL

I like how he argues we should play Balentin over Nix because he is cheaper.

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

by MixFMKyle on Aug 21, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Allow me to play Madville for a moment

Since Aug. 1, Nix is hitting .317/.356/.561, for a .917 OPS. He actually is a pretty good option at the moment.

Now, in the long view, I see Balentien and Gomes as more likely to be members of the 2010 Reds, so I’d like to see them play more, but there’s been a fair amount dayncing lately that shouldn’t be ignored.

by Brendanukkah on Aug 21, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Laynce does seem prone to going on some outrageous hot streaks.

The problem, of course, is that they end and Dusty still thinks they’re going on, so he plays a bunch when he’s putting up a .700 OPS too.

by Geki on Aug 21, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I think mostly its due to the fact

that Dusty has kept him away from LHP. Dude shouldn’t face a lefty.

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

by MixFMKyle on Aug 21, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions

you needed a slightly relavant picture though.

Bloop

by justin007000 on Aug 21, 2009 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Balentien really should be playing more regularly

In a perfect world, Stubbs would be up for good and Taveras and NIx would be gone by next year. Wlad is the one that needs testing out. This was Fay’s contention in a recent post, which I happen to agree with. The Reds should be in full laboratory mode with their outfield right now.

Is it too early to add Juan Francisco to the list of candidates?

Interestingly, Juan Francisco played left while Rolen was in the the game. He had four chances and made each play. He went to third after Rolen left — and promptly made an error. I’d leave Francisco in left. He runs well for a big guy and his arm is strong.

I’d hesitate to say the Reds have a well-stocked outfield for next year, but they certainly have a preponderance of players with upside. I’m curious how they sort it out. I’m wondering if one of these guys gets packaged in a trade. They have to hope Bailey and Owings get it right so that all their offseason efforts – and meager payroll space – gets devoted to SS.

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Aug 21, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions