*******THIS IS NOT A BACK AND FORTH WITH AZU********

Homer in his last start was pretty good but then in the 6th he kept getting clay in his cleats and looking down at his landing spot leading to him not being in control and eventually leaving after only getting 1 more out.........fast forward to today he was looking down after his pitch at the landing area almost every other pitch. Pitch after pitch in the dirt....4 BB and 2 HBP in just 5 inn.

If we make the divisional series Homer better figure out how to quit worrying about his landing....it is an issue.

Ludwick is horrible.

Since he began looking at his landing area nearly every other pitch....

6 1/3 inn 7 BB and 2 HBP

Calling Bryan Price

Latos and Bailey have dipped a tiny bit lately. However, I honestly believe some of this is because neither has gotten jack for support lately. How about giving one a 3 or 4 run lead in a game instead of forcing them to keep a game tied or knowing they can't allow more than 1 or 2 runs. This has happened the last few starts for both. They get behind like 2-0 very early and then have to hold it until the 6th or 7th, hoping the team can tie it. It hasn't happened yet. Every game each of them has left with only a chance to be the losing pitcher.

Azubuike24;1508590 wrote:Latos and Bailey have dipped a tiny bit lately. However, I honestly believe some of this is because neither has gotten jack for support lately. How about giving one a 3 or 4 run lead in a game instead of forcing them to keep a game tied or knowing they can't allow more than 1 or 2 runs. This has happened the last few starts for both. They get behind like 2-0 very early and then have to hold it until the 6th or 7th, hoping the team can tie it. It hasn't happened yet. Every game each of them has left with only a chance to be the losing pitcher.

Last time.out vs pirates,Latos was given a 1-0 lead only to give up back to back homers to start the first. Latos' problem is he sucks in the first inning..

Not true.

3 starts ago vs MIL, Latos gets down 2-0, Reds cut it to 2-1, Latos leaves at 3-1, Reds lose.
2 starts ago vs PIT, Latos gets down 2-0, Reds cut it to 2-1, Latos leaves at 5-1, Reds win on late rally.
Last start vs NYM, Latos gets down 1-0, Reds can't score, Latos nearly goes all the way, Reds lose.

Last 2 starts for Bailey have been the same.

Just saying, it would be nice if they got a 3-0, 4-0 lead instead of being forced into perfection right away.

Yes, it is true. I was there in Pittsburgh for his last start vs. the Pirates(2 starts ago). Reds scored top of first to go up 1-0, then in the bottom of the first, Pirates hit back to back HRs on consecutive pitches. I think this past Tuesday, when the Mets scored the first 4 runs of the game, against Leake in the 2nd, was the first time the Reds hadn't scored first in 6-7 games.

That said, to get the record straight, I agree that the Reds badly need to get a good working margin(3-4 run lead) early. Seems like they fritter away so many promising scoring chances early. They can't hold a candle to the Cards in converting good scoring chances. Dusty and Jacoby need to be fired for either promoting or allowing the approaches many Reds hitters have when they are in promising scoring situations.

Azubuike24;1508602 wrote:Not true.

3 starts ago vs MIL, Latos gets down 2-0, Reds cut it to 2-1, Latos leaves at 3-1, Reds lose.
2 starts ago vs PIT, Latos gets down 2-0, Reds cut it to 2-1, Latos leaves at 5-1, Reds win on late rally.
Last start vs NYM, Latos gets down 1-0, Reds can't score, Latos nearly goes all the way, Reds lose.

Last 2 starts for Bailey have been the same.

Just saying, it would be nice if they got a 3-0, 4-0 lead instead of being forced into perfection right away.

So Bailey's problem lately isn't his pitching dropping, it's because he's not given leads?

Azubuike24;1508590 wrote:Latos and Bailey have dipped a tiny bit lately. However, I honestly believe some of this is because neither has gotten jack for support lately. How about giving one a 3 or 4 run lead in a game instead of forcing them to keep a game tied or knowing they can't allow more than 1 or 2 runs. This has happened the last few starts for both. They get behind like 2-0 very early and then have to hold it until the 6th or 7th, hoping the team can tie it. It hasn't happened yet. Every game each of them has left with only a chance to be the losing pitcher.

Yeah....this is our typical offense against playoff teams. The Pirates seem to really have a grasp on Homer and the strike zone. They rarely chased and quite honestly seeing him 4 times in a season with 2 nearly back to back.....that gives advantage to hitter IMO. They really work him and as good as his peripherals are, he averages just 5 2/3 inn in about 15 starts against the playoff teams.....and Latos is right there of late also.

Of course the Reds see the Pirates guys but fuck nugget Jacoby and elite dustyball doesn't give them a chance as most of them still don't know what they are swinging at.

This is the least I've trusted the big 4 (the main 4 this year Latos, Homer, Leake, Bronson) all year. One game for all the marbles against Pittsburgh? Give me Cueto Tues.

SportsAndLady;1508686 wrote:So Bailey's problem lately isn't his pitching dropping, it's because he's not given leads?

Their pitching has been good enough to win. Look at Bailey's WHIP, BAA and gasp, even ERA over his last 6 starts. All fine enough to win and better than his overall numbers on the season.

I will say this. In 3 of those starts, his K/9 was over 10. The last 3 starts, his K's have been way down. Only 9 K's in his last 18 innings. That's concerning for a power pitcher.