Showing posts with label Reds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reds. Show all posts
Juan Francisco's Monster 502 ft. Home Run 9/12/2011
Why Dusty Baker Keeps Picking Wrong Reds Lineups
So here are a few reason as to how Dusty Baker pick his lineup.
“Some guys don’t hit fastballs as well as they do breaking balls. Some guys are high-ball hitters. You’re not going to throw a high-ball hitter against a sinkerball-slider pitcher. Or a low-ball hitter, you’re going to play him more against a slider guy, a guy who keeps the ball down.”
“Some guys, you try to play them in smaller ballparks instead of bigger ballparks where you need more speed. You go to Atlanta or even here (Cincinnati), our ballpark plays small but it has big gaps in it. You go to Chicago, it has smaller gaps but you’ve got to deal with the wind and the sun on certain days. There are other ballparks where you really need outfield defense. You go to New York, San Diego, L.A., San Francisco, you’d better play your rabbits out there or else you’re going to give up a whole bunch of runs that you shouldn’t.”
"when Bronson (Arroyo) is pitching, I need my best outfield defense because he throws some fly balls. When (Mike) Leake is pitching, I try to match up best defensive infield because there are going to be more ground balls."
Honestly after reading all his reasons, I'm starting to think Dusty is making his job harder than it needs to be. It's baseball, one of the easiest sport in the world. You bat guys that are good at hitting the balls and you stick guy in the outfield that can play some defense. I know I'm not an expert, but what the hell Dusty? This is ain't calculus. You are jut making this whole thing more complicated than it needs to be.
These are professional athletes we are talking about. I don't care if a player like to hit low vs high balls. If he is a good player he will adjust and if he can't hit, send him to the minor to learn how to hit.
More than anything, I think Dusty is keeping his own team off balance with all this shenanigans. Simply put it like this, like any other sport, you play your best players day in day out.
Yonder Alonso Hot Sister *UPDATED*
Ever since this past Tuesday, twitter has been blowing up about Yoner Alonso's hot sister. And for the past two days I haven't been able to locate her picture. She seems to be like the elusive Big Foot. Anyway I was watching the highlight of the Reds, Marlins game from Tuesday and this girl seems to be my best guess.
So did I get it right?
Looks like @L15M came to the rescue. He thinks this is Yonder Alonso's hot sister. Did he get it right?
Follow @cilii_blog
So did I get it right?
Looks like @L15M came to the rescue. He thinks this is Yonder Alonso's hot sister. Did he get it right?
The Yonder Alonso Situation
Left field is one of the easiest positions to play in baseball. If the ball is hit to you, you run towards it and catch it. It ain't rocket science. The way I look at it right now is, the Reds are 13.5 games behind division leading Brewers. Dust and everyone else in Cincinnati wants to play Alonso or a regular bases. So what is there to lose? Stick him out there in left and let him learn his trade. If Wily Mo Pena and Deion Sanders can play outfield I think it's safe to assume Alonso could do the same.
Share your thoughts.
Yadier Molina Goes Crazy And Gets A 5 Game Suspension
Yadier Molina got a 5 game suspension for acting like a clown. Hey Molina it was freaking strike three.
If there is one team that everyone in the NL hates, it has to be the St. Louis Cards. So much whining and complaining.
Why is it that Tony La Russa is always in the middle of things? Kind of like that attention seeking whore from high school.
I'm telling you, Brandon Phillips was right when he said Cardinals are "little bitches"
I think MLB needs to gather some pacifier and pass 'em out to the Cardinals clubhouse.
Don't Act Like This If You Don't Get An Autograph
Here is my problem with this. If you are a grown ass man, you should be ashamed of yourself for chasing down someone for an autograph. Also, don't act like a little bitch if you don't get your autograph its just more of a reason you don't deserve it.
Anyway you think Pete Rose gives a shit about you? He's gotta get home to his Asian stripper girlfriend and his ridiculous outfits.
Cincinnati Reds: A Look Back At The All Star Break
The All Star break is upon us. And it couldn't have come at a better time for the Red.
As of the All Star break the Reds are 4 games out of first place, they are 1 game back of the third place Pirates. The reds are below .500 with a record of 45-47.
Lets go back to the beginning of the season. When on opening day, Ramon Hernandez hits a walk-off, 3-run home run against the Brewers. Then the Reds went on to sweep the Brewers in the opening series. I felt great about this team and this season. I figured the Reds would pick up where they left of last year. But only to be disappointed series after series.
After every lose it was easy to blame a specific player either it was Stubbs or Bruce or Francisco Cordero. I'm sure each player has their fault, but the truth is overall this team is lacking in a lot of areas. From a true leader in the club house to being consistent on the field.
So is there a solution to all the Reds problem? I don't fucking know, I don't get paid to do that.
But the rumors are the Reds and the Rockies are in talk of a trade for Ubaldo Jimenez.
The crazy thing is if the Reds make a bold trade it can easily take them to the top of the standing. Because the NL Central is such a weak division. But, they do need to make that move before it's too late.
The Leadoff Dilemma
Finally the Reds get a series win since they swept the Dodgers. Will this series win against the Rays start a run for the Reds, who takes on the Cleveland Indians starting tonight.
But the bigger question might be who will Dusty Baker pick as the leadoff hitter?
Twitter is on fire every time Drew Stubbs steps up to the plate. But Dusty knows he can't take Stubbs out of the game because he is one of the best CF in the game. So that leaves Fred Lewis, Chris Heisey or Jonny Gomes as the lead off hitter. All three have produced very well given the chance.
To be fair, I think Dusty needs to go against his conventional wisdom. And he needs to put Heisey in CF and put Lewis in LF. I don't want to say send Stubbs to AAA until he figures out how to make contact with the ball. But sometimes it just needs to be done. He is a career .257 batter, and that is not leadoff quality.
Brandon Phillips Makes A Great Play Vs. Blue Jays
I swear, Brandon is the king of high light reel plays. Night after night, just doing it like a Boss. He's on ESPN top 10 so much, he needs to start charging them.
Just look at him, the birds can't fool him, the angle of the throw can't get him and the distance is his bitch.
Something tells me Brandon has another Gold Glove waiting for him.
Assessment Of The Reds Season So Far In 2011
The Reds have played 57 games, so basically one third of the season and they are sitting in third place with 3.5 games out of first place. So should the Reds nation be satisfied? No.
Even though the Reds are only 3.5 games out of first place, they could have played better.
Am I worried that the Reds won't make the playoffs? Yes, I am a little worried. Because the pitching is not where it needs to be and Edinson Volquez has been a disappointment. Also, the bats are not making contact consistently. Sure Jay Bruce is first in the NL in HR's and Joey Votto is in the top 15 in hitting. But overall the team is under performing.
The good thing is, in the NL Central there is no one club that is dominant.
The Reds need to win the next six game, three against the Dodgers and three against the Cubs. Both of those teams and struggling and if the Reds want to get back in to contention for NL Central this is a good place to start.
Brandon Phillips Gets Picked Off and Reds Lose In The 19th Inning
I like Brand Phillips as a player and as a person. So appreciate him coming out and apologizing for last nights blunder. If he didn't get picked off, the Reds might of have won the game but at the same time if the Reds scored with runners on first and third with one out in the second, and again in the fourth they might not had to go into extra innings and not lose the ball game.
But I can't figure out where the Reds offense has gone. Seems like the only person that's making any kind of contact is Jay Bruce.
But what it all comes down to is the Reds lost the game to a position player in Wilson Valdez. That was just pathetic. I'm not sure what our batters where thinking. I mean if we can't score a run off the second baseman we don't deserve to win the ball game.
As I'm typing this the Reds just lost another game to the Phillies. So the Reds has lost 8 out of the past 9 games.
That's just fantastic.
The Reds Are Falling Hard And Fast
While the Reds face the Indians and the Phillies, the Cardinals are facing Royals and Padres that's why the Reds needs to step it up even more.
I'm not sure what sending Volquez and Jordan Smith to the minor and bringing up lefty Matt Maloney and Todd Frazier will do for this team.
The only thing I can say is the bats of Votto, Phillips, Stubbs, Rolen and Bruce needs to come alive. We all know the Reds don't have the greatest rotation, that's why they need to rely on the bats more than other teams.
Well at least we have the Joey Votto ESPN commercial to keep our mind of things.
Marty Brennaman Calling It Like It Is
Marty B.: The grounds crew did an incredible job despite what that whiner and excuse-maker Chris Carpenter complained about the mound and the smoke after the fireworks. Travis Wood didn’t.
Jim Kelch: You know, it’s always something when (the Cardinals) come in here.
Marty: Yeah, that’s the line that (Cardinals bench coach) Joe Pettini laid on the media that every time they come in here it’s always something with that team. Oh really? You might be the most disliked team in baseball and it’s always the other team?
I love it when Marty tells the truth.
Chris Carpenter is a bitch and everyone hates the St. Louis Cardinals.
Homer Bailey Proving Doubters Wrong
Well I'll be the first to admit, I did not expect Homer Bailey to be 3-0 and have an ERA under 2.0. I didn't even think he would be staying up in the majors, I figured he will be back in Louisville.
But can you blame me? I didn't think so, not only I but Reds nation have been waiting for Bailey to show up for some time. I was just getting tired of the potential the he was living on.
But I'm still not betting on Homer to continue this nice streak he has going for him. Because the Reds are averaging 8 runs when Homer pitches and I don't see that continuing.
So far Volquez, Arroyo, Bailey, Cueto,Wood are starting to settle in nicely.
I'm smelling another division title.
Reds Brandon Phillips With A Behind The Back Throw
Aroldis Chapman Now Does Pepto-Bismol Commercial
My name is Aroldis Chapman and I can destroy a piñata with a 105 MPH fastball. But what I'm trying to figure out is what it says under the flaming ball on this left wrist. Anyone got any clue?
Mike Leake Need To Steal More Often
I gotta give Mike Leake credit for coming out and getting a win in the middle of all the crap that is going on with him off the field.
Anyway the Reds finishing the homestand with a 2-5 record is not good.
Give it up for Mike Leake y'all
Cincinnati Reds Pitcher Mike Leake Arrested For Shoplifting
Leake, of Ludlow, was arrested after Macy's department store loss prevention employees stopped the Reds pitcher today after they say he took $59.88 in property from the store.Leake is accused of stealing six American Rag T-shirts from the store, removing the security tags and leaving the store without paying for them. Cincinnati.com
Oh Mike Leake, how much of a dumbass are you? You make close to half a million this year, I'm sure you can afford six American Rag T-shirts. I mean who the fuck buys that crap anyway?
This reminds of my own story, when I was 15, I stole a small sticker of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony from F.Y.E.
The messed up part was I stole the shit from counter while I was paying for other stuff, and I had 80 bucks in my pocket.
I guess Mike Leake was just like me, even though we both have money to buy the stuff, we just said fuck it. I'd rather steal this shit.
Nick Masset sucking and Dusty Baker not helping
I'm sure everyone is wondering why in the world, does Dusty Baker keep sending Masset out there.
Well it turns out, Dusty had no choice but to send him out there after Chapman didn't look so good. And we find out today that Chapman has shoulder inflammation.
So here is my question, why does managers yank pitchers who are doing well. Why burn a perfectly effective Jordan Smith on one single batter when you know you don't want to go to Massett. Why is it so bad to keep Jordan Smith out there for a bit longer?
That's one thing about baseball I don't understand, these managers have these unwritten rules that makes no sense. If a guy can pitch and if he is being effective, keep him out there. Do put your self in a hole where you have to bring in a guy that you don't have confidence in.
Reds Lose For The First Time In 2011
So how do I feel about the first loos of the season? For a minute, I thought the Reds would go 162-0. Now it looks like the Reds will go 161-1. I guess you can't win them all.
If the Reds can keep this pace up, it's going to be an extremely massive season.
Now it's time to take that trip out west and get some wins. I know that has been a challenge for the Reds for a long time. But this is the year we need to win consistently out on the west.
