Reds are flying high.

Bruce and Votto need to step up

Ironman92: 0-1
Wildcats20: 1-1
Azubuike24: 0-1
Rotinaj: 0-1
Se-alum: 1-1

Shits gonna change when I get to start a game thread.

Terry_Tate;1602448 wrote:Shits gonna change when I get to start a game thread.

I agree. We'll lose 10-9 instead of 2-1.

I want to start one too lol. I was 6-2 with the bengals, maybe that will carry over.

I'm already sick of this team. Why must they always either win or lose by 1-2 runs? They are either going to lose 1-0, or lose 99-98. Whenever they actually produce, their pitching sucks.

I am very patient, to a fault.

I am trying to stay positive with the tough early schedule and some injuries but damn, it is getting tough. I wasnt all up in arms like some when they tried to steal 0-2 with 2 outs yesterday with Hamilton up. Pretty good chance he gets a pitch in the dirt with the way he is wailing at everything, and if he gets thrown out on a ball then the LO is up next inning.

I have never been a fan of sending the running from third with the INF in. Managers in the bigs do it often with 1 out.

They've played 7 games.

SEVEN GAMES.

wildcats20;1602499 wrote:They've played 7 games.

SEVEN GAMES.

And have lost 5.

LOST FIVE.

wildcats20;1602499 wrote:They've played 7 games.

SEVEN GAMES.

I'm not worried yet. If we're 10 games under .500 this time next month ill probably start to get pretty pissed.

Rotinaj;1602501 wrote:I'm not worried yet. If we're 10 games under .500 this time next month ill probably start to get pretty pissed.

Exactly.

True. Its only been 7 games and taht is what I am not too worried yet.

We all hoped for a good start, that just natural. We hoped Hamilton would all of a sudden become a good hitter who gets on base often. Kid is fast but has never been great with the bat. You cannot steal first base.

wildcats20;1602499 wrote:They've played 7 games.

SEVEN GAMES.

In which 4 of those were against a top 2 NL team and a road series in ny

SportsAndLady;1602510 wrote:In which 4 of those were against a top 2 NL team and a road series in ny

Again, exactly.

SportsAndLady;1602510 wrote:In which 4 of those were against a top 2 NL team and a road series in ny

And without a number of key players. I mean, you can put a decent part of the blame for two of those losses on some Trevor Bell dude who is most definitely not a major league pitcher, but is stuck there until someone gets healthy.

Guys. It's the trends. NOTHING has changed since last year's final week malaise in-which there was zero effort, zero intangibles and some terrible, terrible execution. Much of the stuff we thought would improve with a new manager isn't evident through 7 games. Will it change when the team is 100%? Maybe. However, at some point, players become what they are. Barring a massive breakout by either Billy Hamilton or Devin Mesoraco, who else on the hitting side can we say is going to be anything more than what they are?

The good news is on the pitching side, it's equally consistent for the better. It's the only reason the team still has a fighting chance and this will only be more-sustained when Latos and the relievers return.

Heretic;1602537 wrote:And without a number of key players. I mean, you can put a decent part of the blame for two of those losses on some Trevor Bell dude who is most definitely not a major league pitcher, but is stuck there until someone gets healthy.

Disagree.

Broxton and Marshall entered the off-season with injuries. Latos injured his knee the day after spring training started. There's no excuse to continue sending some of these scrubs out there. A team who is truly interested in contending would've brought in reinforcements to make sure they aren't giving away games in April and May. This only became more evident when Chapman went down (2.5 weeks before the season) and Mesoraco (a week before the season).

Heretic;1602537 wrote:And without a number of key players. I mean, you can put a decent part of the blame for two of those losses on some Trevor Bell dude who is most definitely not a major league pitcher, but is stuck there until someone gets healthy.

Eh.

I put more of the blame on the lack of hitting.

Azubuike24;1602542 wrote:Disagree.

Broxton and Marshall entered the off-season with injuries. Latos injured his knee the day after spring training started. There's no excuse to continue sending some of these scrubs out there. A team who is truly interested in contending would've brought in reinforcements to make sure they aren't giving away games in April and May. This only became more evident when Chapman went down (2.5 weeks before the season) and Mesoraco (a week before the season).

With Brox and Marshall you have to wonder when they come back...how will they do. As for Latos' injury.......Simon filled in pretty admirably in his absence. They auditioned guys so to speak in ST and felt that Simon would do well enough in 1 start and he was.

Not sure what you mean by bring in reinforcements. You mean like guys from the minors? That is what they apparently tried to do. Sign FA's? You want to sign a veteran guy, put him on the 40 and spend that money for short term?

The pitching hasnt been too bad for the redlegs. Bailey gave it up in his start, and Cingrani yesterday. The BP blew it but that was a veteran guy they were counting on.

The issue has been the lack offfense. PLain and simple, and the same story as last year.

I am ready to cut ties wtih marshall. WHen Chapman is back they have him and Parra, who has been stellar. Marshall has just been too much of a headache with his injuries.

thavoice;1602549 wrote:With Brox and Marshall you have to wonder when they come back...how will they do. As for Latos' injury.......Simon filled in pretty admirably in his absence. They auditioned guys so to speak in ST and felt that Simon would do well enough in 1 start and he was.

Not sure what you mean by bring in reinforcements. You mean like guys from the minors? That is what they apparently tried to do. Sign FA's? You want to sign a veteran guy, put him on the 40 and spend that money for short term?

The pitching hasnt been too bad for the redlegs. Bailey gave it up in his start, and Cingrani yesterday. The BP blew it but that was a veteran guy they were counting on.

The issue has been the lack offfense. PLain and simple, and the same story as last year.

I am ready to cut ties wtih marshall. WHen Chapman is back they have him and Parra, who has been stellar. Marshall has just been too much of a headache with his injuries.

Simon to the rotation hurt the pen. The pen has blown at least 2 games.
Reinforcements means taking a flier on someone. Many guys were available throughout the spring. The Reds chose to go with 2 guys who have little talent or potential.

Again, I'm not defending the offense, but I DO believe a team can go a long way winning 3-2 and 2-1. This isn't the 90's. Our pitching is good enough to match anyone in the league. However, when you fail to develop any prospects to use as a bench or fill a rotation spot, and are forced to sacrifice a bullpen in the short-term, you best be making up for it elsewhere.

Azubuike24;1602562 wrote:Simon to the rotation hurt the pen. The pen has blown at least 2 games.
Reinforcements means taking a flier on someone. Many guys were available throughout the spring. The Reds chose to go with 2 guys who have little talent or potential.

Again, I'm not defending the offense, but I DO believe a team can go a long way winning 3-2 and 2-1. This isn't the 90's. Our pitching is good enough to match anyone in the league. However, when you fail to develop any prospects to use as a bench or fill a rotation spot, and are forced to sacrifice a bullpen in the short-term, you best be making up for it elsewhere.

I gotcha. I know they were thinking maybe one of the ML guys, but then they would have to use up an option on them and such, and they werent on the 40 man to my knowledge.
If he would have allowed LeClure to finish that one game I dont think this would have been much of a problem. There was no reason NOT to as he is a guy who has a history of going more than one inning.

Bell hurt them the other day but they were down one and I would say Cingrani's 3 given up in the first had as much to do with the loss as anything.

The reds have one of the highest % of guys on the team taht they have developed. At some point this team needs to put runs on the board, and people will say it is early...and it is, but when you go from a season where hitting was an issue at times and dont do any additions then people start to wonder and worry.

I have touted that the reds "additions" they are counting on is better output from 3rd, SS, Catcher, lf and yes, 1B. We pretty much know that BH wont be able to match what Choo did last season, and I dont think BP can match what he did. Bruce is a guy we would be pretty OK with matching what he did last season.

The pitching is good enough to win one run games, but damn that margin of error is so slim

Holmberg seems like a decent prospect who may be a legit spot/4th/5th starter. He's just not really ready. Outside of that, who else could give them a consistent effort instead of using a bullpen.

Azubuike24;1602578 wrote:Holmberg seems like a decent prospect who may be a legit spot/4th/5th starter. He's just not really ready. Outside of that, who else could give them a consistent effort instead of using a bullpen.

I know they are high on Stephenson and think there was another starter as well, but I know they are not on the 40 man and I think many teams are apprehensive at spot starting a guy like that.

They just need to get through this month without falling too far behind and disenfranchising everyone.

Rotinaj;1602467 wrote:I agree. We'll lose 10-9 instead of 2-1.

3 game winning streak once I get started on game threads. Book it.

Hamilton CF
Phillips 2B
Votto 1B
Bruce RF
Ludwick LF
Frazier 3B
Cozart SS
Mesoraco C
Bailey RHP


First time out with the regular lineup. Although I would like to see Heisey in LF, but it's not gonna happen.