Right up front I admit to not being the sharpest knife in the drawer but I don't get these "opener" or "bullpen" games with an already overtaxed BP. So you have an overused BP, multiple guys with tired arms so you're assure yourself of a game where your bound to use 4-5 guys? All righty then.
Reds
- Thread starter Mr Schwump
- Start date
Yes he had a big mistake in the 5th, but as it turns out Lively did his job keeping it fairly close and saving the pen for tonight at least.
Reds defense bites them in the *** yet again. Diaz blown save and hasn't been effective despite the rest.
Reds won 8-7 though. Lively came in the game in relief for his 1st game back eating the most innings in relief by a Reds pitcher in nearly a decade, 5 2/3 innings, 3 runs vs a contending team in the Wildcard hunt opposed to what Luke Weaver would give us. I'll take it and be happy. Kept them in a position to win the game for the offense to score 6 unanswered runs to get back in the game and that's what they did. Clinched a tiebreaker if they somehow were to manage in a tie with the D'Backs at the end of the year which is huge with them 0.5 games ahead.
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Sims closes it out as the Reds essentially win on a balk called with 2 outs and 2 strikes on Hopkins in the 11th. Steer beating out the infield hit was huge!
41st comeback win was a huge one if the Reds can somehow stay in the Wild Card race in case they need a tiebreaker. One on the line in the Cubs series too. Still work to be done but it was great to see the resiliency in this team that was there in June to not just lay down and die. Lively all things considered did enough to help the Reds win and much better than his last game vs Chicago at Wrigley Field. He deserves to start again and hope he rejoins the rotation.
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Glad Friedl is okay and Martini has been a pleasant surprise for the Reds since he got called up. Tyler Stephenson also has had a good week and hopefully for these 2 they can sustain it. Reds need it. Stephenson does not have to be the .319 guy in his abbreviated season but somewhere around the production of Sean Murphy of the Braves & Will Smith of the Dodgers would be a huge boost to the Reds. Those are fair expectations for someone many thought would be an offensive catcher.
We should have won the first 2 games in Arizona. The Friday Night game leaving Kennedy in the game giving up 5 runs was a huge mistake after the Reds scored 3 in the 6th and 4 in the 9th. I thought after Kennedy pitched 2 innings in the 5th and 6th giving up 1 run that Bell would have brought another reliever in the 7th inning. The Reds could have easily won this game 8-6 if Bell brings in relievers in the 7th and 8th that is when Kennedy gave up 4 more runs in those 2 innings. Then on Thursday night leading 2-1 in the 8th inning and Young gives up a 2-run homer in the bottom of the 8th. The Reds could have easily won 6 straight on this road trip and there record would be 70-61 2nd place Wildcard 2 games behind Phillies and 3 1/2 games ahead of Arizona, 4 1/2 over the Marlins, and 3 over Giants, and 1 over the Cubs. This was a huge win tonight after trailing 4-1 heading to the 8th inning and the Reds score 7 runs in last 4 innings to win 8-7. The Reds need Ashcraft to pitch another outstanding game tomorrow vs. Cecconi that was called up first of August. Then onto the Giants and they have Starters injured and the Reds need 2 of 3 to end the Road Trip at 7-3 before the big 4-game home series with the Cubs next Friday night. They have 3 with Mariners and 3 with the struggling Cards on the Reds 10-game homestand. The Reds do have a good September Schedule compared to Brewers, Cubs, Giants, Arizona, and Marlins.
Bullpen shitting the damn bed, offense not much help either. Tyler Stephenson is no defensive catcher and not a threat behind the plate to throw runners out. He had a better week offensively but needs to sustain it otherwise the Reds may seriously need to look to upgrade at the position. A strong veteran catcher with experience in the league is huge for the development of a young pitching staff. You see it with the success Maile has had especially working with Andrew Abbott. Not suggesting giving up on Stephenson yet but he has to improve, all there is too it. Can blame the bum shoulder all you want but at some point you either learn to play with it or it continues to limit the potential of what we all hoped he would be some day.
Pretty sure Stephenson threw out a runner in Anaheim but of course the pitcher has a huge say in baserunning as well. Minus the bullpen game yesterday, Reds relievers were rocky in every game in the desert with 10 hits, 11 runs and 10 walks allowed in 7.2 innings pitched. Outside of Greene and maybe Abbott's last start, Reds starters overall have deserved a better fate on this road trip.
I feel like the bats have done their job on this trip and the road all year long. A 4-3 record so far with a struggling pen is an okay start but a bad finish in SF could eliminate them from the division title if not done so already. Brewers have now won 8 straight headed to Chicago who seem to win every series themselves.
I feel like the bats have done their job on this trip and the road all year long. A 4-3 record so far with a struggling pen is an okay start but a bad finish in SF could eliminate them from the division title if not done so already. Brewers have now won 8 straight headed to Chicago who seem to win every series themselves.
I'm pretty sure he has thrown out runners before and when he needed to the most today, did not... One of the worst in the league in defensive runs saved -4 behind both Maile & Casali. Reds only mustered up 4 hits today with a guy on the mound with a 6.38 ERA in 20 minor league starts this year. Impressive.
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fieldingbible.com
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You can overlook a lot when Tyler is hitting. I think he may be starting to round the corner. Whether he stays at catcher or not long term, we'll see. The DH/1B picture is crowded. He may not be a league leader in any defensive stats sharing catching duties but his fielding percentage is higher than some of the better catchers in the league over the last few years.
Stephenson could be better and perhaps will never be the same after surgery but I think that's nitpicking tbh. I'm much more concerned about their defense overall. McLain nearly cost them the game yesterday and EDLC hasn't been good for a while now.
The Reds have scored 40 runs on this trip though and I think their road record speaks for itself.
I like to base my opinions on facts with stats to back them up. He's middle of the pack at best if you actually look at the stats in the link I provided. One of the worst at framing pitchers and whether you like it or not, important for the catcher to be able to do helping his pitcher out. Lets see him do something like that vs Cleveland on a routine basis now and I will be convinced he is a decent catcher. Until then his best asset to this team is his bat.
Not nitpicking, stats back up what I said. Stephenson has a lot of work to do. Like I said, keep blaming the shoulder injury for his defensive struggles but he has work to do. Can't just keep a guy back there as the primary catcher with limitations if this lingers on for years. Crowing about the road record is about like Phil wanting to hang a banner for a series split on the road vs the Braves last year when we are still on the outside looking in and not exactly trending upwards at this point in the season.
Yeah this wasn't good at all lol
I think that clip right there shows both Elly De La Cruz and Tyler Stephenson playing some good defense here. Sure they both have work to do and I get that but they both still are relatively inexperienced. EDLC more so but it is the first full year of Stephenson being back there behind the plate without an injury. ELDC will be fine defensively, McLain has struggled recently moving over to 2B. Those who want to knock India's defense there, I think you could potentially keep India there now and with the crowded infield situation, move McLain someday maybe to CF like he did at UCLA in 2019, Benson RF, Friedl LF and I think Fraley is better off at DH JMO. Marte however turned some damn good plays at 3B making **** happen this series. Overall, not too concerned about their defense long term. Rookies after all except Tyler.
Yes, I will give it to them both making a good play together to nail the speedster Corbin Carroll and even Friedl getting the ball in for EDLC on the relay to put it right in Stephenson's glove to make the swiping tag for the out at the plate. The stolen bases allowed by both Corbin Carroll and Tommy Pham really hurt the Reds in this game allowing Arizona to win the game with of course the walks too. However, it is not like Tyler Stephenson is some brand-new catcher having never played the position in high school and coming up through the minors. All I'm saying is he has a lot of work to improve defensively. Not giving up on his bat with the potential of the previous seasons that he has shown.
He has mostly been the weak link in the lineup this year of the main starters (I know he's not alone in that regard) with a hot week in June, this past week was good but I would like to see some consistency. It's absolutely fair to hope he will be a consistent hitter and grow as a catcher defensively. I said it above and not sure if you all conveniently overlooked it, not ready to give up on him yet but if you can't acknowledge the work that needs to be done then don't know what to tell you. Can't blame the shoulder forever and not expect the Reds to do what's best for the team looking to upgrade at some point down the line if necessary.
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Destined to be a DH or 1B if he ever becomes a consistent hitter again with his size. Problem is not much room for that unless he stays in his usual role of splitting DH and catching for most of the year. Still worry about injuries causing an early retirement like it did for Joe Mauer & Buster Posey. Can't lie, not crazy about the idea of 3 catchers in the future going forward.
Yep, right now they are running on fumes. Does no good to say how well they did at times earlier in the season as that does not win games going forward. When you have 4 guys in the Top 10 of most games pitched this year. Already seeing injuries to important relievers like Alex Young going to the IL after all of this wear and tear.
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Going to have to start winning again for all of those games to matter in September. Reds continue to let easy wins slide right by in a time where the Cubs & Brewers are playing their best baseball of the season. Sweeping Anaheim was great but lets be real, they had lost 17 games this month. Had a grand opportunity to put some distance on a team in Arizona they are fighting with and have to settle for one game to clinch a tiebreaker which if the Reds don't turn it around soon will be irrelevant.
This is what happens when the FO did nothing to stabilize in an effort to win besides just Sam Moll. They are as surprised as anyone to be above .500 this late in the year. Reds have to play better like they did in June in order for Cincinnati to get back in a Wildcard Spot instead of just hoping an 'easier schedule' is going to do it all for them. Remember, Reds just got swept at home by Washington.
I did not conveniently overlook anything and in fact acknowledged there is room for improvement. However, some really good names like Salvador Perez rank low on that list, Contreras & Realmuto too. Stephenson is going to be the catcher for the foreseeable future and as long as Maile is back there, fine with that combo.
Read above, he'll be catching here for the foreseeable future so everyone should just get used to it. Not like that's a bad thing either when we all would have loved having him healthy last year than the revolving door of joke minor league journeymen last year. No one within the organization at catcher is busting down doors to get to the MLB level. Chuckie Robinson has had a fine year but hitting AAA pitching is one thing though. Do agree that the Reds don't necessarily need to carry 3 catchers long term as long as there is a catcher like Robinson in Louisville in the event someone gets injured. Basically been just 2 for quite awhile now with Casali injured.
Yeah well you make one fair criticism of a player and then people misconstrue it completely as if you want the player gone. That's not what was said at all. He still has time to develop into a solid catcher and hopefully regains his form at the plate prior to the injury but there is a lot of work to be done. Reds need him to be healthy and productive for several years. Had bad luck in the past 10 years with Mesoraco getting hurt frequently, never regained his form and Cincinnati can't afford that happening again to Stephenson.
Stephenson has work to do on offense and defense but is starting to get hot again at the plate. Love Elly's upside but he also has 8 errors in 163 chances at SS but also with one of the greatest arms in the game. McLain by comparison has 1 error in 177 chances at SS. The Reds team defense (18th in errors per game) needs to improve to do the things we all want them to do in a future playoff run.
He is currently one of the favorites along with McClain and Carroll. Steer is even in consideration. Doesn't matter if EDLC wins it or not, his stats so far are on par with Otani who is now already being considered one of the all time greats. Those stats go against your constant dismissal of him as under achieving. Trolls gonna troll I guess.
I think Corbin Carroll or Bryce Elder win the NL Rookie of the Year but Matt McLain is who I would give the Reds Rookie of the Year to. Had he started the year with the Reds then he could easily be #1. LeCure seemed to suggest it's Carroll's to lose but we'll see. Can't think of another time with so many top rookies like Andrew Abbott, EDLC, Steer, McLain, Williamson and later with CES & Marte. They are getting valuable experience for 2024 while contending here in late August.
Reds rookies will split the vote most likely but Carroll will be hard to beat.
My Reds ROY hasn't really changed at all. I've liked Steer all along. He plays multiple positions, I love his approach at the plate and he's played at the MLB level all year long. McLain is a close 2nd.
Can't go wrong with that pick either and Steer likely will be the team MVP at the end of the year. Steer, Abbott & McLain would be my Top 3 today. How did I forget to mention Will Benson among all of the impressive rookies up there in my previous post? The one guy I've been high on since February even when it was looking bad up until June.
Bell lineup madness. Friedl batting 6th and Senzel 2nd vs the lefty.
McLain to the IL.
McLain to the IL.
Yup rookie riches for sure. Steer leads the Reds in AB, Hits, HR, 2B, BB and RBI. Also OBP, SLG and OPS for those that qualify.
Senzel, Fairchild, Hopkins......Reds never had a chance.