Randall Delgado, 4-3, 3.52 ERA (career 0-2, 3.71 ERA vs Cincinnati) vs Bronson Arroyo, 11-9, 3.35 ERA (career 5-5, 4.52 ERA vs Arizona).

RP Sean Marshall starts another throwing program today.

The debate is going to start, you heard it hear first. Billy Hamilton up before August 31st? Right now, Louisville is on an ELEVEN GAME LOSING STREAK. At this point, the only way Hamilton contributes in the playoffs is being on the 40-man after Sept. 1st and using an injury exception to add him for a series or coming up before August 31st. IMO, we're going to see a lot of Hamilton in September, and hopefully the Reds aren't naive enough to keep their options closed about keeping him if he really sparks the team.

I know we've talked about it before, but it really bugs me that Dusty Baker has already stated he wants a bunter/base stealer on the postseason roster (ie...Robinson), when clearly Hamilton has proven he is superior in both aspects. Look at Robinson's 6-year minor league career over a huge sample size to see this. He is by no means a great base stealer or bunter, actually below average.

I want basically nothing to do with Robinson anymore. He doesn't contribute to the teams chances of winning.

Billy Hamilton id much rather have. At least see what he can do.

We don't always see eye to eye, but I think we're in agreement here that Hamilton's potential "spark" could help this team, if well-timed.

Tony Cingrani with a 2.78 ERA (leads staff), 1.07 WHIP (leads staff), .191 BAA (leads staff) and 63 hits in 94 innings (ratio leads the world.

The Reds have basically said they won't use him in any role but a situational lefty in the playoffs.

Just another example of closed-minded thinking from the top of an organization down.

Azubuike24;1488807 wrote:We don't always see eye to eye, but I think we're in agreement here that Hamilton's potential "spark" could help this team, if well-timed.

Agreed. Hamiltons been someone reds fans have been wanting to see for years. Just his promotion will cause an excitement stir that this team desperately needs.

Unfortunately, our "stars" aren't excitement guys. Bruce and votto are the quietest leaders you could possibly imagine.

It's going to be exciting to see Hamilton, when he's ready. What about his year this year makes you think he can come up and make an impact? Is it his .257 average or his robost .309 OBP? His defense is below average. We won't see a lot of Billy Hamilton in September, let alone before then.

Cingrani is different, he was dominating at the AAA level, and the organizations distrust in him to be a viable starting option in the playoffs ticks me off.

1. Look at his numbers since April? OBP has been respectable.

2. What about Derrick Robinson says he can make an impact in the playoffs? Dusty has already said, there is a playoff spot for D-Rob because of what he brings (which Hamilton brings those skills to a much higher potential).

I'm advocating the Reds come fully loaded with their 25 best weapons. Not hold guys back in roles because it will hinder their development or because they don't have the experience. This isn't T-ball. The playoffs are littered with guys over the years who were forced into action before they were ready or unexpectedly. Many of them rose to the moment and ended up with good careers? Guys much younger and much less seasoned than Cingrani or Hamilton.

Look at Manny Machado last year? Forced to be called up at 19, played 2 months and then was the O's best player to end the year.

I am in 100% agreeance with Azu here. Would love to see Hamilton come up before Sept. 1 but it won't happen, and Tony Cingrani should be a playoff game starter no doubt if they make it that far. It's ridiculous to not consider him for a playoff start. Latos should be the #1 but after that would you trust Cingrani, Leake, Arroyo, or Bailey in a must win game? I can understand people saying Leake because he's been good this year and that's fine, but Cingrani is more likely to go 6 and give up 0-2 runs than Bailey and Arroyo IMO.

Also, Reds lose 6-4 tonight

Hard to argue against Cingrani when he's the best on the staff in all those categories and his next start will put him over 100 innings. That's a big enough sample size for me.

Votto fields by moving his body so he can keep his glove at arms length!

LOVE that from Brandon!!!!

Reminds me of 2010 when Dusty wouldn't start Travis Wood in the playoffs after he was IMO the best starter during the season, and had a few clutch outings, one against the Phillies who they were playing. But no, fucking Edinson Volquez has to start game 1, gets rocked, and they get blown out that series. That was a fucking joke starting Volquez game 1. Still fucking pissed about that.

Terry_Tate;1488883 wrote:Reminds me of 2010 when Dusty wouldn't start Travis Wood in the playoffs after he was IMO the best starter during the season, and had a few clutch outings, one against the Phillies who they were playing. But no, fucking Edinson Volquez has to start game 1, gets rocked, and they get blown out that series. That was a fucking joke starting Volquez game 1. Still fucking pissed about that.

While I get your point there...it didn't matter who started that game for the Reds.

sherm03;1488884 wrote:While I get your point there...it didn't matter who started that game for the Reds.

Oh I don't think the Reds were winning that series regardless of who pitched, and I wasn't talking about pitching Wood game 1, but that series should have started with Cueto Game 1 and Wood Game 2, then whoever game 3. Obviously whoever pitched game 1 wouldn't have mattered, unless it was Mike Leake. He may have actually gotten a hit.

Choo is not completely skilled in all baseball talents. If he could have adjusted and slid to the inside of the 2nd base bag when he saw the throw going to the RF side, he would have gotten a stolen base.

A negative sacrifice by Arroyo - started with runners on 1st and 3rd, and ended with runners on 1st and 2nd. But at least it wasn't a double play, and with two outs its not that big a deal for the runner to be on 2nd instead of 3rd. Good job by Cozart getting the "easy RBI" for the 4th run. And now the wild pitch gets it to where they would have been had Arroyo got the sacrifice! Of course the WP would have been a run if the bunt worked. And Choo takes strike 3 to end the inning at 4-1. A good inning.

Great job by Parra, except for the cross-up for a passed ball, getting the last 3 batters he faced including the 2nd out when the ump missed calling a key strike.

A nice preview there with really hoping parra isn't our only lefty going into October. Please, Sean Marshall...we need a miracle!

Can Aroldis be as good as Hoover and Parra?

I would've had Hamilton on the playoff roster last year.

More than 10 pitchers is unnecessary.

We laughed at Hoover early in the year, but damn, he's been money.

Flashy DP turn by BP, but the most key part was by Cozart!

Chappy a bit too hittable. Gets the save though. Good win.

It's nice to get a little cushion in the wild card. But I want the division. On to being a Brewers and Padres fan for the rest of the night.