This one hurts

I am almost done with this club in thinking it has a chancec.

Dont get me wrong, I am still gonna watch, listen and cheer for the reds but instead of having hope and optimism that this team is a contender I am giving up in that hope and just reverting back to the days of pre-last year.

Expect nothing, and just watch and enjoy the great game of baseball. Losses hurt more when you think you are a contending team. When you dont believe you can go anywhere the losses do not sting as much.

So........it will be fun to watch this young team grow for the rest of the year. Hope they can finish above the .500 mark and improve so maybe NEXT YEAR they can contend.

thavoice;821356 wrote:I am almost done with this club in thinking it has a chancec.

Dont get me wrong, I am still gonna watch, listen and cheer for the reds but instead of having hope and optimism that this team is a contender I am giving up in that hope and just reverting back to the days of pre-last year.

Expect nothing, and just watch and enjoy the great game of baseball. Losses hurt more when you think you are a contending team. When you dont believe you can go anywhere the losses do not sting as much.

So........it will be fun to watch this young team grow for the rest of the year. Hope they can finish above the .500 mark and improve so maybe NEXT YEAR they can contend.

I'm usually not the Chicken Little type, but it's aggravating that this team cannot play consistent baseball, whatsoever. They've not yet shown me anything to make me think they can win the division, then again they're only 3 games out. Worse case scenario, they stay 3-8 games out the rest of the year, and we don't even get to see the young guys get significant playing time. I would hope we see some call-ups after the break, but I really doubt it.

se-alum;821385 wrote:I would hope we see some call-ups after the break, but I really doubt it.

this

se-alum;821385 wrote:I'm usually not the Chicken Little type, but it's aggravating that this team cannot play consistent baseball, whatsoever. They've not yet shown me anything to make me think they can win the division, then again they're only 3 games out. Worse case scenario, they stay 3-8 games out the rest of the year, and we don't even get to see the young guys get significant playing time. I would hope we see some call-ups after the break, but I really doubt it.

Went camping over the weekend and the in-laws had a newspaper we were using to start the campfire and it was from July 20 of last year. The reds were 52-42 and just a little bit out of first, maybe a half game?

Yes, they are 3 games out which is nothing but they are 43-43. I guess they could get hot and almost match last years record at this time. At the same token they are in 4th place.

I didnt get to see any games last year after July 17th so I didnt get to see their great late season push and divisiion title so I cannot comment on them getting hot last year.

This team is dependant on two STREAKY GUYS getting very hot....Gomes and Bruce, to put them over the edge. The SP has been good. Votto will be Votto. Times he will get hot but for the most part is very consistant which is great. This team just has too many pieces missing to really give us reds fans hope in contending for the NL. Many are OK with flirting with the lead in the division but .500 isnt going to cut it not matter if it only makes us three games out.

The losses will be much easier to take from here on out. It is kinda like gambling on games and such...watching games you do not bet on are much more relaxing and less stressful than ones you do bet on.

Reds fans..this is a .500 or slighlty above team. I can see them maybe winning 83-85 ames and flirting with the title which some will be ok with

I also blame some of the inconsistency on the constant tinkering of the lineup by Dusty. Run the same lineup out there 3 or 4 games in a row, and lets see what happens. It's obvious that Heisey is better than Stubbs at this point, so let him get a run of starts in CF. Lewis is probably the best leadoff guy we have, so let him get a run of starts. If they aren't going to do that, I wouldn't mind Phillips going to the leadoff spot, and Heisey batting 2nd. SS is a lost cause. It sad when, in the back of your mind, you hope for an injury, but I wouldn't mind Janish or Renteria making a trip to the DL.

se-alum;821451 wrote:I also blame some of the inconsistency on the constant tinkering of the lineup by Dusty. Run the same lineup out there 3 or 4 games in a row, and lets see what happens. It's obvious that Heisey is better than Stubbs at this point, so let him get a run of starts in CF. Lewis is probably the best leadoff guy we have, so let him get a run of starts. If they aren't going to do that, I wouldn't mind Phillips going to the leadoff spot, and Heisey batting 2nd. SS is a lost cause. It sad when, in the back of your mind, you hope for an injury, but I wouldn't mind Janish or Renteria making a trip to the DL.

I would hate to see an injury to Edgar. Just HATE it.



/sarcasm

se-alum;821451 wrote:I also blame some of the inconsistency on the constant tinkering of the lineup by Dusty. Run the same lineup out there 3 or 4 games in a row, and lets see what happens. It's obvious that Heisey is better than Stubbs at this point, so let him get a run of starts in CF. Lewis is probably the best leadoff guy we have, so let him get a run of starts. If they aren't going to do that, I wouldn't mind Phillips going to the leadoff spot, and Heisey batting 2nd. SS is a lost cause. It sad when, in the back of your mind, you hope for an injury, but I wouldn't mind Janish or Renteria making a trip to the DL.

SInce he started trying to tinker he has changed it a decent amount, but for a very long time the same general lineup was the same. It was only recently when it has been juggled almost daily.

I remember when reds fans hated dusty for throwing out the same lineup every game...now he tries to tinker it to get the right lineup and he's criticized lol

Plate approaches.

SportsAndLady;821531 wrote:I remember when reds fans hated dusty for throwing out the same lineup every game...now he tries to tinker it to get the right lineup and he's criticized lol

Agreed. early one people complained why not switch things up when the offense slumped, and now gets it from those who want it one set lineup.

I think he is just trying to catch lightening in a bottle. Thought he had it with Heisey when he went yard thrice in a game but so far nothing is really working

It ultimately comes down to the players finding the holes. Having good at bats, working the pitchers and getting on base. Doesnt matter where ya bat the end result should be the same, get on base. If they come up with that approach instead of thinking since they are in a certain spot they need to change their whole hitting idea. Some guys can change their approach but for the most part many cant. They try to do things they maybe arent ready to do.

Go to the plate, work the pitcher, get a good pitch to hit and drive it. Easier said then done of course.

I really agree with words #11-21 in your 3rd paragraph......and your last sentence. Gotta have the mindset to do it........a push away the gotta hit HR mindset, especially when behind.

SportsAndLady;821531 wrote:I remember when reds fans hated dusty for throwing out the same lineup every game...now he tries to tinker it to get the right lineup and he's criticized lol

Yes, because he didn't put the best options to win in that set lineup. I would rather him juggle the lineup like chainsaws if it means we don't have to repeatedly watch Gomes and Stubbs strike out in key situations. Set a lineup with your best options, and stick with it.

For example.....tonight he has Gomes in LF.....that's the best choice becasue he is 4/8 with 3 walks and 2 doubles versus the starting pitcher....best on the team

When a player is in need of a rest but goes 3/5 and is 6/14 off the next day's pitcher....you play him that game too...day or night game. Look ahead and see who he is 2/13 off of with 5 K.....that's the day to sit him.

se-alum;821710 wrote:Set a lineup with your best options, and stick with it.

Best options vary from day to day, and a set line-up cannot play everyday. There has to be variety, and Dusty has the right idea to play everyone to keep them from getting stale as much as possible. The players have to do better. They are very cocnsistent in winning and losing an equal number of games. Consistency is overrated, the key is to take advange more of good things. All phases of the game need to mesh for a good streak. The bullpen can't shut the other team down for days in a row that the starters are good and bad and you always score less runs than the other team, and then when you have the lead that is the night the bullpen allows runs. It is not the best to mizimize wins when all your 2 out hits with RISP for two weeks all come in the same game and you win by 12 runs.

How does their win differential compare to their run differential to date this year vs. last year? I'm guessing the win differential is worse with the run differential being better. Which means last year they'd win a lot in spite of some things going badly, and this year every thing bad costs them the game!