Red Reposter - Exploring the Unlikely Universe Where Mike Leake is the Reds MVP
by Charlie Scrabbles on Apr 20, 2010 12:01 PM EDT
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PrintRed Reposter Númer Eldfjall, supporting all who have been affected by the Iceland volcano: 2nd. The Reds are tied for 2nd in the majors in unearned runs surrendered, only coughing up one unearnie so far.
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The Fay blames the starting pitching for the woeful road trip
The starters gave up 33 runs in 38.1 innings, with Mike Leake throwing the only two quality starts in that span. Of course, it's tough to overlook the 15 runs the offense scored in the last 5 losses. Make no mistake, there is plenty of blame to spread around. -
Mike Leake has been a big league player for just a few weeks now
and he has already claimed his first unofficial Reds player of the week award. He was about the only good thing going on the tail-end of that road trip, as he was the only starter who threw 7 innings in his start. He's also the leading hitter on the team with a .600 average. -
If the Reds 5-game skid has you feeling down in the dumps
RLN has the Top Ten Reasons to Stay Optimistic. My favorite is #5, "We're only a half-game behind the Brewers and Cubs!" Woo-hoo! 3rd place here we come! -
Dave Cameron points out that our boy Joey Votto is stealing bases at a suprising rate
He stole 4 bases all of last season, and then stole 4 all of last week. Mr. RoVotto has always had the wheels to swipe a few (he stole 24 in AA) but hasn't really shown it yet in the bigs. What Dave fails to mention though is the hundreds of thousands of Reds' fans' hearts he's stolen in the past few years. -
Doug Gray is starting his draft preview series
leading up to the Reds #12 selection in June. He lists a number of guys who could potentially be targeted by the Reds, including the hometown kid, tOSU righty Alex Wimmers. The Reds should always draft the best player available, but if he's still on the board when the Reds pick it would be tough to pass him up, wouldn't it? -
Joe Posnanski offers his two cents regarding Tony LaRussa and the Cardinals 20-inning game against the Mets
Many folks were ready to pop LaRussa's head like a pimple after that game. "When you manage baseball games that way, like a heavyweight boxer throwing haymakers, you win some and you lose some, and you make a lot of people angry. But one thing is for sure: You never go to sleep wishing you had tried harder." -
Alyson Footer says our old pal Jeff Keppinger is swiftly taking the starting 2B job from Kazuo Matsui
Keppy has been hitting like an impatient blackjack player on a coke bender these first few weeks, posting a .410 wOBA so far. I always did like Keppy and figured he would make a decent-to-good starting 2B. He was just woefully miscast as a SS in his time here. WE SHOULDA MOVED BP TO SS WHEN WE HAD THE CHANCE!!!11 -
Viva El Birdos declares it "Adam Wainwright Day"
and I'm gonna puke. Not only is Wainer a terrific pitcher, but he has a career SLG% of .376. That's better than about 5 of our regular starters this season, including our clean-up hitter. I'm gonna puke again. -
Bleed Cubbie Blue is looking to solve the team's bullpen woes
They want a new closer, as Carlos Marmol and John Grabow are off to rough starts. The three options discussed are Kerry Wood, Heath Bell, and Carlos Zambrano. I have to say, moving Zambrano to closer would be a bold and unorthodox move. I also have to say it would also be kinda dumb. Big Z is about as predictable as starters get, throwing 200 innings of roughly 3.5 WAR baseball every year. He's not an ace, but he's an enviable #2. Moving such a productive pitcher to the bullpen is foolish. That Chicken. -
Craig Glaser at THT believes in the virture of patience
We saber-types are inclined to agree, but Craig is talking specifically about full counts. Here's a snippet:
"If batters were to swing a little less on 3-2, there would most likely not be much of a change in batting average or slugging percentage. There would, however, be a reliable increase in walks. There is more work to be done on the specifics, but I believe that these numbers begin to tell a very interesting story. Whether it is due to fear of striking out looking or undervaluing a walk, batters are too aggressive on full counts. Becoming more patient at the plate might cost the batter a few hits, but it will increase his overall productivity."
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not by me
Er, not that I hate him or anything. I just prefer Jay Bruce. Like that guy in the other thread said – Bruce seems like a genuinely nice guy. And more mature than Votto, even though he’s chronologically younger.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
The thing that conflicts me is that I really like a lot of these Reds players but they don't win
I want to see them do well. I really want Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Scott Rolen, and Drew Stubbs to somehow find a way to win a World Series.
I don’t care for O Cab or Hernandez, but the only guy on this team I really don’t like is Cabrera. I want to see Harang get back to form and Bailey learn how to throw strikes… but these Reds just aren’t good!
Well they haven't won...yet
There’s still time for winning
Bart: "Dad, what's a Muppet?"
Homer: "Well, it's not quite a mop, not quite a puppet, but man... (laughs, then pauses) So, to answer you question, I don't know."
I guess
hailing from Yankeeland as I do, I see enough players that win. And a lot of them are immature jerks.
I want to see young players develop, nice guys finish first, and long shots make it big.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
That's what I'm saying.
I really like these guys and I want to see them win and I hope they stay together and have the talent to win, but I’m not as hopeful as I like this team.
The crowd chanting Larkin drowned out your Bruce love, bubba
I can’t hear anything over his greatness
by timb116 on Apr 20, 2010 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I was thinking Larkin
But I don’t really know much about those Reds teams. I remember Larkin, but only vaguely.
there is also Joe Nuxhall.
When you get back home to Syracuse you can rest your weary head, take some pills, sniff some cocaine, and put the baby to bed.
by justin007000 on Apr 20, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
No love for the Canuck!?
More seriously, it’s obvious that I have a Votto bias, but I actually think Bruce is the guy who should be the poster guy for the team. I think Jay Bruce has the perfect temperment to be a leader and team captain type guy. He is genuine, nice and handsome. In addition to that, he is good with the media which is a tough skill to learn. Votto is not as good with the media and I’m not sure he is interested in woking on that (at some point manufactured repartee with reporters is off-putting anyway). He is polite and to the point, but I don’t think he enjoys it much. I’m not sure Bruce does either, but you would never be able to tell.
As for the game playing side of Bruce,I know he has the talent that hasn’t fully developed (except for his defense), but he has all the other tools to be a perfect team leader.
I don't know about his temperament
But boy is he handsome!!!
When you get back home to Syracuse you can rest your weary head, take some pills, sniff some cocaine, and put the baby to bed.
by justin007000 on Apr 20, 2010 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
I think his temperment is fine
In particular, his response to being caught was perfect. It pretty much ended any controversy. He could give lessons to a lot of much older and more experienced players when it comes to dealing with the media.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
I was simply being glib.
When you get back home to Syracuse you can rest your weary head, take some pills, sniff some cocaine, and put the baby to bed.
by justin007000 on Apr 20, 2010 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions
yes
Bruce seems very comfortable dealing with the media. His Big League Stew interview was a hoot, while Votto’s was excruciating.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
yeah that was a bit tough to read
but it achieved a sort of meta-hilarity to me given how obvious it was that Votto didn’t want to talk to him and the fact that Votto later said to Hal that a weirdo was interviewing him.
Aaron Harang is still my favorite
When you get back home to Syracuse you can rest your weary head, take some pills, sniff some cocaine, and put the baby to bed.
by justin007000 on Apr 20, 2010 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Bailey is my current favorite
though Dickerson and Stubbs are 1-2 for my position players. And Harang is pretty damned lovable, too
"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
Zambrano as a closer...
I read that last night- I have to admit, it is an interesting idea. I think if they had a little more starting pitching depth, it might be worth it, but I really don’t think Zambrano is a guy I’d set in the pen at this point. They should give him a few more starts.
"People don't kill people. Burning oreo packages kill people."
zambrano
No matter how the Cubs use this guy, his value extends beyond pitching. He’s an incredible hitter. Making use of that really extends their reach.
lefties tend to have looping swings for some reason, no idea why -- jch
I wouldn't say he's an incredible hitter, just good for a pitcher
His career wOBA is .270. His career OBP is .240(!) Any good average he has is negated by the fact that he never walks. (almost literally…he has 6 walks in 609 career PAs)
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle
Just what I want
a potential train wreck with no control in high leverage one inning situations.
When you get back home to Syracuse you can rest your weary head, take some pills, sniff some cocaine, and put the baby to bed.
by justin007000 on Apr 20, 2010 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions
He usually starts off the game pretty well...
Although he seems like someone that I wouldn’t want to pitch again after he just blew a save.
"People don't kill people. Burning oreo packages kill people."
Leake
may be leading the team in AVG, but it’s Sluggin’ Paul Janish who’s leading in SLG and OPS.
Slo-Cab? He’s leading the team in at-bats.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
If Janish was starting
Opposing pitchers would be gone by the 4th inning with a pitch count of over 110.
"People don't kill people. Burning oreo packages kill people."
dunno about that
But maybe our pitchers would last more than 5 innings.
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
Don't forget GIDP
Oh, and lack of range. Damn, Cabrera is leading the team in a lot of categories.
by RedsMasochist on Apr 20, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
and RBI's
Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul.
by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Apr 20, 2010 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions
The 2010 Cincinnati Reds Offense: It's all Yawnish!
If you walk out of here tonight and see a man c***-flapping, you run with that man.
by Man Mountain on Apr 20, 2010 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Maybe he meant the people that Eyjafjallajokull was trying to imitate.
Smokers? Bulemics?
This team wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for all the losing.
Or you could just be a dick like me
and edit the story to correct typos.
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
Reading Poz's recap of LaRussa's overmanaging gave me such mixed emotions
On the one hand, I smiled that he singlehandedly lost them that game and killed his staff in the process, but I also feel so bitter that that douchenozzle has won so many baseball games in his career.
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle
christ, 2 mudcats picked off in the bottom 7th
by Eastwindquinn on Apr 20, 2010 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
He hit a single
but the runner was thrown out at the plate.
by Eastwindquinn on Apr 20, 2010 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, Daryl
I was confused and worried for a second.
by Brendanukkah on Apr 20, 2010 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions
hmm
what, did you think Dusty sent Aaron to Carolina to throw a few relief innings?
That’s a ridicu…ohh, nevermind.
Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul.
by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Apr 20, 2010 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
just enought to be true, really.
"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
Correction:
Keppy has been flat-out hitting like a flat-out impatient blackjack player on a flat-out coke bender these first few weeks
"I never should have given up the animation rights."
by BobbyO on Apr 20, 2010 12:51 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
That was quite the simile, by the way, Chuck
by Brendanukkah on Apr 20, 2010 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions
adding "these first few weeks" pretty much sapped it. But it was almost there!
If you walk out of here tonight and see a man c***-flapping, you run with that man.
by Man Mountain on Apr 20, 2010 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions
That CNati article is a trainwreck
"The Asian language is very different than ares." -- Justin007000
You weren't kidding.
When did CNATI steal John Fay from the Enquirer (or is he just moonlighting). Missing words, misspelled words, and the third paragraph is one long run-on sentence. It’s probably one of those “written while drunk or recovering from a bout of drinking the night before” stories.
by RedsMasochist on Apr 20, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
hey... that's the future of journalism. they're just that much ahead of the game.
Running out to frontyard laughing! -Fat Vegas Alan
you are saying i have a future in journalism?
When you get back home to Syracuse you can rest your weary head, take some pills, sniff some cocaine, and put the baby to bed.
by justin007000 on Apr 20, 2010 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
"Make no mistake, there is plenty of blame to spread around."
No, there’s not. there’s Dusty and Brook Jacoby. Consider blame spread
hey, there's that old strawman again! I've missed him!
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. -Aristotle
I just read the Dodger post that was linked
While I understand that we are down on our luck, that post does seem rather arrogant and jerky. I think I have been spoiled by the RR community.
Not to mention, they are apparently planning on murdering Mike Leake, that can’t be legal!
I'm pretty sure it's a bit tongue-in-cheek
There is quite a bit of exaggeration. I imagine that if we looked, we’d fine posts like that about every team.
Red Reporter or follow on Twitter: @redreporter
Wait a minute
Who made you the law?
"The Asian language is very different than ares." -- Justin007000
I feel like every time has the right to feel arrogant when facing us
like i tried to be enraged by it, but all I could think is, yeah they are pretty much right.
When you get back home to Syracuse you can rest your weary head, take some pills, sniff some cocaine, and put the baby to bed.
by justin007000 on Apr 20, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
The one linked to in Justin's Fanshot in the sidebar
Hell, I’ll just link them: Fanshot
by RedsMasochist on Apr 20, 2010 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Ha acutally I thought that was from the Reposter
I must have gotten mixed up.
by wishfuldrifter on Apr 20, 2010 3:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Who else thinks...
it’s Arroyo getting suspended for PEDs today?
My vote is for
Pooh-Holes. McGwire is their hitting coach now.
I don't have a girlfriend. But I do know a woman who'd be mad at me for saying that.
by Joe Nolan's Glasses on Apr 20, 2010 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
somebody is getting suspended for PEDs today?
When you get back home to Syracuse you can rest your weary head, take some pills, sniff some cocaine, and put the baby to bed.
by justin007000 on Apr 20, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
That's the word.
I don't have a girlfriend. But I do know a woman who'd be mad at me for saying that.
by Joe Nolan's Glasses on Apr 20, 2010 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
oh god that describes Arroyo perfectly
When you get back home to Syracuse you can rest your weary head, take some pills, sniff some cocaine, and put the baby to bed.
by justin007000 on Apr 20, 2010 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions
That would suck
major balls.
I don't have a girlfriend. But I do know a woman who'd be mad at me for saying that.
by Joe Nolan's Glasses on Apr 20, 2010 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
it would suck
jay bruce’s batted balls.
Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul.
by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Apr 20, 2010 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions
whaabuut
he’d be suspended without salary, correct?
that’d sure save us a diaper-full of salary though.
Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul.
by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Apr 20, 2010 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
You sure can take lemons
and make lemonade.
I don't have a girlfriend. But I do know a woman who'd be mad at me for saying that.
by Joe Nolan's Glasses on Apr 20, 2010 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions
we couldn't the Reds slip some PEDs into Milton's lemonade?
When you get back home to Syracuse you can rest your weary head, take some pills, sniff some cocaine, and put the baby to bed.
by justin007000 on Apr 20, 2010 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
I was so giddy, I lost my train of thought.
I was looking at our schedule and trying to figure out when Arroyo was supposed to pitch next, and whether they’d call up Aroldis in his place.
Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul.
by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Apr 20, 2010 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions
it would be Wood or Maloney
Chapman is struggling with pitch economy, he has yet throw 5 innings in a start.
When you get back home to Syracuse you can rest your weary head, take some pills, sniff some cocaine, and put the baby to bed.
by justin007000 on Apr 20, 2010 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions
well
that seems to make him a perfect fit for our ML group!
Set the gearshift to the high gear of your soul.
by Kevin Mitchell is Batman on Apr 20, 2010 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
or Lincoln has been pitching well
stretch him out!!!!
When you get back home to Syracuse you can rest your weary head, take some pills, sniff some cocaine, and put the baby to bed.
by justin007000 on Apr 20, 2010 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
And Nats fans think it'll be Marquis
or…someone in the NL East
Bart: "Dad, what's a Muppet?"
Homer: "Well, it's not quite a mop, not quite a puppet, but man... (laughs, then pauses) So, to answer you question, I don't know."
It's an NL pitcher apparently
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/04/a-major-league-ped-suspension-is-imminent.html.php
With all those nutritional supplements Arroyo takes wit little regard for the testing policy it could easily be him.
Remember the last time something like this happened
Where an “unnamed NL team” was looking to sign a pitcher? Yeah that ended up being us. Thanks for everything, Bronson.
"aaron harnann is so aweseom" - justin
by BK on Apr 20, 2010 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
not Arroyo!
that is all we need. I know he has been badroyoing a bit, but that kind of press is not what we need and Arroyo is still valuable. He can go 7+ inning son a regular basis
I was right
"aaron harnann is so aweseom" - justin
by BK on Apr 20, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Way to go Volquez!
We should’ve kept Josh Hamilton
by 'tHan on Apr 20, 2010 3:00 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
uh, boy
And Bronson did tell USA Today that he took all kinds of supplements without worrying about whether they were permitted or not.
So, is Matt Maloney on a schedule where he can step in?
All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?
I looked up Wimmers' stats
Last year he had a BB/9 of 4.7. Is that scary? I know nothing about the meaning of college stats….
When you get back home to Syracuse you can rest your weary head, take some pills, sniff some cocaine, and put the baby to bed.
Rolen's back in the lineup
Stubbs
Cabrera
Votto
Phillips
Rolen
Bruce
Gomes
Hernandez
Bailey
vs. Chad Billingsley (RHP)
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Apr 20, 2010 2:58 PM EDT reply actions
From twitter
It’s Volquez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Apr 20, 2010 2:58 PM EDT reply actions
http://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Apr 20, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes
That’s coming from Jon Heyman. It’s about to blow up on Twitter.
Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show
by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Apr 20, 2010 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions
From Heyman
reds pitcher edinson volquez suspended 50 games for PEDs. story up on si.com soon.
"aaron harnann is so aweseom" - justin
Just started a thread with that one...
feel free to go there.
Let me write out a formal proof for you.
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