How 'bout them Reds! (5 Viewers)

[Rustoleum]

Cape Canaveral, Florida:

NASA engineers have announced that Bronson Arroyo will throw the next Mars Rover to a Brewers hitter in the sixth inning of his next start. This will save roughly $1,000,000 in fuel costs, which will be slightly offset by the cost of redesigning the drag chute to avoid overshooting the Red Planet.

 

[CrossEyed]

It was a run, Bucs.

Yeah, that 3.5 game lead in early August is pretty much insurmountable.

 

[shuke]

It was a run, Bucs.

Yeah, that 3.5 game lead in early August is pretty much insurmountable.

 

[shuke]

Is the sky falling yet?

 

[Rustoleum]

Is the sky falling yet?

That's just the last Arroyo moonshot coming back to earth. The team is loaded with relievers. Why Dusty doesn't get someone up in the 5th inning as a precaution is beyond me.That run of wins without Votto and then Phillips couldn't last forever. I think they are a little emotionally drained right now, but they'll be okay. Ludwick/Frazier cooling off will be offset by Votto and Phillips getting back in the lineup. I think they will likely tread water for a couple weeks.

 

[shuke]

That's just the last Arroyo moonshot coming back to earth. The team is loaded with relievers. Why Dusty doesn't get someone up in the 5th inning as a precaution is beyond me.

I think a serious issue is going to be innings fatigue with the starters. Being the only team using the same 5 guys for the whole year probably has some downside.

 

[Timmay]

Only pitcher in the rotation that i am worried about wearing down is Leake, but he probably means the least to the starting 5.

 

[shuke]

Brutal.

 

[CrossEyed]

It was a run, Bucs.

Yeah, that 3.5 game lead in early August is pretty much insurmountable.

 

[madhatter]

It was a run, Bucs.

Yeah, that 3.5 game lead in early August is pretty much insurmountable.

Oh good, Pirate fans are talking ####.

 

[CrossEyed]

It was a run, Bucs.

Yeah, that 3.5 game lead in early August is pretty much insurmountable.

Oh good, Pirate fans are talking ####.

Hey, cut me some slack, I haven't been able to do this for 20 years.

 

[Epic Problem]

Did this clown (Dusty) really pinch hit Mike Leake when he had Bruce, Rolen, Heisley available on his bench?

 

[jwp]

I'm just wondering if the reds have been off for like the past 5 days? I have 3 annoying friends on Facebook who I think rush as fast as they can to post how awesome they are after a game. But lately they have been silent.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Eh, the average sports fan in general is always way more chirpy when his team is winning rather than when they are losing.

As for the Reds, while this has been a helluva season, I must remind them all, while it is great to enjoy it while it happens, don't get overconfident about the playoffs. I don't care how great you look in the regular season, it can all change as soon as it turns to October. As a Cardinals fan who saw the incredible '04 and '05 teams lose to (supposedly) inferior teams in the postseason, and then saw the '06 and '11 teams win it all by beating teams that were (supposedly) better than them, greatness in the summer never guarantees greatness in the fall. Just a word of warning.

 

[GreatLakesMike]

at jwp and Ghost Rider.

 

[shuke]

It was a run, Bucs.

Yeah, that 3.5 game lead in early August is pretty much insurmountable.

Progress update?

 

[Rustoleum]

Votto had a piece of cartilage removed Friday. Looks like 3-4 weeks is going to be closer to 6-7 after all.

My link

 

[fasteddie_21]

In case y'all have missed it, check out what Billy Hamilton has done this year. He's about to do 2 things never done before in minor league baseball:

Steal more than 145 bases in a season

&

Lead 2 separate leagues in steals in the same season.

Dude has special speed.

Oh and Chapman still has only allowed 1ER to the NL all season. It's mid-August.

 

[Timmay]

Billy Hamilton's speed amazes me, i would like to see him run with some of the other faster runners in the league to see how they compare. Players like Trout, Stubbs, and Bourn.

 

[fasteddie_21]

Billy Hamilton's speed amazes me, i would like to see him run with some of the other faster runners in the league to see how they compare. Players like Trout, Stubbs, and Bourn.

In spring training, Hamilton, a switch hitter, gapped a ball for an inside-the-park home run that a trainer clocked at 13.9 seconds. Last year, Peter Bourjos, who may be the fastest player in the major leagues, circled the bases in 14.02 seconds.

 

[fasteddie_21]

Billy Hamilton's speed amazes me, i would like to see him run with some of the other faster runners in the league to see how they compare. Players like Trout, Stubbs, and Bourn.

In spring training, Hamilton, a switch hitter, gapped a ball for an inside-the-park home run that a trainer clocked at 13.9 seconds. Last year, Peter Bourjos, who may be the fastest player in the major leagues, circled the bases in 14.02 seconds.

 

[heckmanm]

Bruuuuuuuuuce!!

 

[Kirby]

41 39

 

[bweiser]

what do reds' fans think is the upside for devin mesoraco now, almost a year into his career? he's shown very little offensively. is he any good defensively? will he ever be a hitter?

 

[Rustoleum]

what do reds' fans think is the upside for devin mesoraco now, almost a year into his career? he's shown very little offensively. is he any good defensively? will he ever be a hitter?

He doesn't seem to be glaringly bad defensively, or calling a game. I think he's just fine there. I'm not seeing any offensive explosion coming from him any time soon though. People will probably be looking at Grandal wistfully for years to come (like sending Dan Wilson to Seattle and hanging on to Steve Christmas I think)but the Reds seemed to have settled comfortably into platoon catching with Hanigan/Mes and Hanigan/Hernandez the past couple of years.Basically any catcher who hits over .250 post Johnny Bench is going to be popular after the Dan Bilardello, Dave Van Gorder, Bo Diaz, Eddie Taubensee, Joe Oliver, Brad Gulden(?), Jason LaRue ( still shudder when remembering him trying to catch a knuckleballer...) string.Oliver is probably the most popular of that bunch, and he's probably still legging out a double from two decades ago.

 

[Timmay]

what do reds' fans think is the upside for devin mesoraco now, almost a year into his career? he's shown very little offensively. is he any good defensively? will he ever be a hitter?

He doesn't seem to be glaringly bad defensively, or calling a game. I think he's just fine there. I'm not seeing any offensive explosion coming from him any time soon though. People will probably be looking at Grandal wistfully for years to come (like sending Dan Wilson to Seattle and hanging on to Steve Christmas I think)but the Reds seemed to have settled comfortably into platoon catching with Hanigan/Mes and Hanigan/Hernandez the past couple of years.Basically any catcher who hits over .250 post Johnny Bench is going to be popular after the Dan Bilardello, Dave Van Gorder, Bo Diaz, Eddie Taubensee, Joe Oliver, Brad Gulden(?), Jason LaRue ( still shudder when remembering him trying to catch a knuckleballer...) string.Oliver is probably the most popular of that bunch, and he's probably still legging out a double from two decades ago.

Mesoraco is good when it comes to defense, calling a game and throwing out runners at his age, he struggles a lot at the plate, but when it comes to a catcher, as long as they provide the defense and calling a game and have good chemistry with the pitchers, that is the most important, and the offense will come. I really like the platoon catching that we are deploying this year, it mostly has to do with Hannigan, because i think he is really underrated and is able to control every pitcher we have, especially Chapman, but i think Mesoraco does a fine job when he is in there, mostly for Bailey and Leake, i like the chemistry that the young guys are building and both Bailey and Leake seem to be benefitting from it this year.

 

[r0llin_game]

I think Meso's catching ERA is around 4 which is alright. I think he'll come around more offensively, but he has definitely done a good job handling Leake and Bailey for the most part of the year behind the plate. He's still only 24, and was the #1 prospect in the Reds organization, so it made sense for them to hold onto him. I'm still excited for his future.

 

[cheese]

what do reds' fans think is the upside for devin mesoraco now, almost a year into his career? he's shown very little offensively. is he any good defensively? will he ever be a hitter?

If I'm honest, I'll be a little dissapointed if this is how he ends up offensively. He's OK defensively, but he's worse than RH. For a guy that was considered our top prospect, a 2nd catcher would be a pretty dissapointing finished product. I still have hope for his offensive game, but I haven't seen any great signs that he's about to turn into Buster Posey either.

 

[Timmay]

Meso's definitely not going to be a Posey, Mauer or even Yadier Molina type of player and seeing as he is the #1 prosepect it is a little disappointing, but i never really saw him as a player with that type of potential. I see him as more of a Ramon Hernandez type of player who will stick on a roster for a lot of years and provide a couple solid offensive seasons here and there, while providing good defense day in and day out.

 

[Rustoleum]

Brantley: "He probably shouldnt have hit Jay Bruce......"

I chuckled, at least until they drove the line into the ground nearer the end of the game.

 

[Caesar]

I just hope Luddy doesn't get caught with PEDs before Votto gets back.... I just can't believe he is doing what he is right now....

 

[fasteddie_21]

I just hope Luddy doesn't get caught with PEDs before Votto gets back.... I just can't believe he is doing what he is right now....

Nowadays, that's a valid point. I'd like to think that it's due to him adjusting his swing back to what it was pre-Petco days, but who can say for sure. Provided he doesn't pop for anything, I hope the Reds can resign him for 3/$24M in the off-season.

 

[Caesar]

I just hope Luddy doesn't get caught with PEDs before Votto gets back.... I just can't believe he is doing what he is right now....

Nowadays, that's a valid point. I'd like to think that it's due to him adjusting his swing back to what it was pre-Petco days, but who can say for sure. Provided he doesn't pop for anything, I hope the Reds can resign him for 3/$24M in the off-season.

2 more HRs last night takes him to 25 on the year. This is a guy that started the season in a platoon role, and now he is pushing for team MVP. His BA is around .270 which is 35 points higher than Bruce and he has almost twice as many HRs as BP. I wonder if every time Rolen watches Frazier play, he comes more and more to grips with the fact that his career (at least in Cincinnati) is probably over after this year.

 

[r0llin_game]

I just hope Luddy doesn't get caught with PEDs before Votto gets back.... I just can't believe he is doing what he is right now....

Nowadays, that's a valid point. I'd like to think that it's due to him adjusting his swing back to what it was pre-Petco days, but who can say for sure. Provided he doesn't pop for anything, I hope the Reds can resign him for 3/$24M in the off-season.

2 more HRs last night takes him to 25 on the year. This is a guy that started the season in a platoon role, and now he is pushing for team MVP. His BA is around .270 which is 35 points higher than Bruce and he has almost twice as many HRs as BP. I wonder if every time Rolen watches Frazier play, he comes more and more to grips with the fact that his career (at least in Cincinnati) is probably over after this year.

First, Ludwick and the Reds have a mutual option for $5mm for next season that seems likely that Ludwick will sign. Second, pretty sure Rolen will be retiring after the season regardless, seeing that he wants to watch his kids grow up back home.

 

[yellowdog]

what do reds' fans think is the upside for devin mesoraco now, almost a year into his career? he's shown very little offensively. is he any good defensively? will he ever be a hitter?

He doesn't seem to be glaringly bad defensively, or calling a game. I think he's just fine there. I'm not seeing any offensive explosion coming from him any time soon though. People will probably be looking at Grandal wistfully for years to come (like sending Dan Wilson to Seattle and hanging on to Steve Christmas I think)but the Reds seemed to have settled comfortably into platoon catching with Hanigan/Mes and Hanigan/Hernandez the past couple of years.Basically any catcher who hits over .250 post Johnny Bench is going to be popular after the Dan Bilardello, Dave Van Gorder, Bo Diaz, Eddie Taubensee, Joe Oliver, Brad Gulden(?), Jason LaRue ( still shudder when remembering him trying to catch a knuckleballer...) string.Oliver is probably the most popular of that bunch, and he's probably still legging out a double from two decades ago.

You forgot Mike O'Berry and Alex Trevino.

 

[Rustoleum]

I'm starting to believe this umpire has never seen a curveball before. Marshall really getting squeezed.

So much for the lead the Reds scratched out of Lee.

Edit to add: Wow. Frazier and Cozart saving the pen's bacon tonight! Great game.

 

[Rustoleum]

what do reds' fans think is the upside for devin mesoraco now, almost a year into his career? he's shown very little offensively. is he any good defensively? will he ever be a hitter?

He doesn't seem to be glaringly bad defensively, or calling a game. I think he's just fine there. I'm not seeing any offensive explosion coming from him any time soon though. People will probably be looking at Grandal wistfully for years to come (like sending Dan Wilson to Seattle and hanging on to Steve Christmas I think)but the Reds seemed to have settled comfortably into platoon catching with Hanigan/Mes and Hanigan/Hernandez the past couple of years.

Basically any catcher who hits over .250 post Johnny Bench is going to be popular after the Dan Bilardello, Dave Van Gorder, Bo Diaz, Eddie Taubensee, Joe Oliver, Brad Gulden(?), Jason LaRue ( still shudder when remembering him trying to catch a knuckleballer...) string.

Oliver is probably the most popular of that bunch, and he's probably still legging out a double from two decades ago.

You forgot Mike O'Berry and Alex Trevino.

I should have remembered Trevino, who was really just Soto's personal valet, but I couldn't have named O'Berry for a million dollars.Just found this somewhat dated list: My link

There's some real gems in there.

I should have remembered Jeff Reed. He was probably my favorite of the whole bunch.

Man do I feel spoiled now for just getting to watch the tail end of the Big Red machine era (born in 71).

 

[shuke]

What a game.

33

 

[fasteddie_21]

Billy Hamilton. 4 more steals to break the record. Oh and leads the California League (left at the ASB) and Southern League in SB's. That's just stupid. Lol

 

[cheese]

What a game.

33

One of the best games of the regular season last night.

 

[Kirby]

What a game.

33

31

 

[r0llin_game]

Whoa, Meso optioned instead of Navarro. I'm a little shocked by that. Not shocked at Hoover being recalled. He's been really impressive in Louisville, especially as of late.

 

[GreatLakesMike]

Great throw by Stubbs, even better block of the plate by Hanigan who doesn't get near enough credit IMO. The guy is just solid.

 

[GreatLakesMike]

Whoa, Meso optioned instead of Navarro. I'm a little shocked by that. Not shocked at Hoover being recalled. He's been really impressive in Louisville, especially as of late.

He's batting .210.

 

[Rustoleum]

Whoa, Meso optioned instead of Navarro. I'm a little shocked by that. Not shocked at Hoover being recalled. He's been really impressive in Louisville, especially as of late.

Not sure if Navarro has options. Radio here couldn't decide if this would mean no Mesoraco for postseason, since there is some 10 day rule before he can come back up, and that would be after the August 31 deadline.Then a local TV guy called in and said no, as long as Mesoraco was active on the 25 man roster anytime before then, he thought he would be eligible.Hopefully, the second guy is right. With the concussion, the suspension, and not hitting, he could use a solid week of starts to hopefully get going a little, then come back up in September. The Reds can then carry three catchers the rest of the way, then outright or do whatever to Navarro at the end of the regular season.If they tried to send him down now, they might lose him.

 

[shuke]

Holy Jesus, Miguel. Are you kidding me?

 

[r0llin_game]

Whoa, Meso optioned instead of Navarro. I'm a little shocked by that. Not shocked at Hoover being recalled. He's been really impressive in Louisville, especially as of late.

He's batting .210.

He's been up the entire year, and has caught Bailey/Leake almost the entire year. They've been solid for the most part with a few meh outings, but definitely think changing the chemistry of putting Navarro behind the plate probably changes the dynamics a bit.

Whoa, Meso optioned instead of Navarro. I'm a little shocked by that. Not shocked at Hoover being recalled. He's been really impressive in Louisville, especially as of late.

Not sure if Navarro has options. Radio here couldn't decide if this would mean no Mesoraco for postseason, since there is some 10 day rule before he can come back up, and that would be after the August 31 deadline.Then a local TV guy called in and said no, as long as Mesoraco was active on the 25 man roster anytime before then, he thought he would be eligible.

Hopefully, the second guy is right. With the concussion, the suspension, and not hitting, he could use a solid week of starts to hopefully get going a little, then come back up in September. The Reds can then carry three catchers the rest of the way, then outright or do whatever to Navarro at the end of the regular season.

If they tried to send him down now, they might lose him.

They were saying if he is activated if someone else goes on the DL, then he's eligible, but think he's eligible regardless.

 

[Timmay]

Cueto being Cueto, as dominant as he has been this year and as dominant as he will be the rest of the year, i still think he will get hosed for the cy young. Bigger market team (R.A. Dickey) compared to the small market team with little publicity. Plus Dickey gets a lot of media attention being a knuckleballer and possibly being the first to win the cy young as one.

Cueto...first screwed out of a all-star appearance, hopefully he won't get screwed over the cy young too.

 

[cheese]

Cueto being Cueto, as dominant as he has been this year and as dominant as he will be the rest of the year, i still think he will get hosed for the cy young. Bigger market team (R.A. Dickey) compared to the small market team with little publicity. Plus Dickey gets a lot of media attention being a knuckleballer and possibly being the first to win the cy young as one. Cueto...first screwed out of a all-star appearance, hopefully he won't get screwed over the cy young too.

He leads the league in ERA and Wins on top of having the lowest HR/9 in baseball while pitching in GABP. The guy should be in the MVP race with those stats.Who is even on his planet right now? Gio and Dickey?

 

[Rustoleum]

This is like the second game in a week where Heisey dove for a ball he had no shot at in CF.

Normally he handles himself pretty well out there. Could he be pressing to pull off highlight reel plays because he feels that's the only way Dusty is going to find PT for him?

Golden sombrero for Stubbs today, two dingers for Heisey, guess who'll be on the pine after the off day?

With the pitching they got this series, I suppose it doesn't really matter, but I feel for the guy.