Blah blah blah

Reds win 3-1

Rematch of last year's play-in game. The good news is, Marlon Byrd is no longer on Pittsburgh.

Hamilton CF
Votto 1B
Phillips 2B
Frazier 3B
Heisey RF
Ludwick LF
Pena C
Cozart SS
Cueto RHP

Votto been tearing it up since he was put into the two hole. Heard last night that in ST he went to Price and told him that no matter how much, or where he is needed he will do whatever is asked of him.

WIth that, I still think the move to the 2 hole kinda made him a bit mad inside and it put a greater focus on his at bats. One can ALWAYS be more focused, and I think the move hurt his ego enough that he got a bit fired up.

His approach is suited for teh two spot, especiall if a BH can get on ahead of him.

But the $$ he gets they were hoping for 30+/100+ on a consistant basis...of which he could still do.

Joey isn't the problem. Never has been. Those criticizing him are going to eat major crow this year when he is top 10 in MLB in OPS and is near the top in OBP, walks, AVG and doubles. He could hit 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th and unless the turds around him get on and/or produce, he'll always get criticized for not doing enough.

News flash. Brandon Phillips SUCKS. Ryan Ludwick SUCKS. We all know how streaky Jay Bruce is. This team's offense is going to hinge on how well Hamilton, Frazier and Mesoraco produce because the right-handers we're actually paying big money are absolute garbage.

For instance, who would you rather have? Neil Walker for 5.75M or Brandon Phillips for 11M + 39M over the next 3 years?

Azubuike24;1605696 wrote:Joey isn't the problem. Never has been. Those criticizing him are going to eat major crow this year when he is top 10 in MLB in OPS and is near the top in OBP, walks, AVG and doubles. He could hit 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th and unless the turds around him get on and/or produce, he'll always get criticized for not doing enough.

News flash. Brandon Phillips SUCKS. Ryan Ludwick SUCKS. We all know how streaky Jay Bruce is. This team's offense is going to hinge on how well Hamilton, Frazier and Mesoraco produce because the right-handers we're actually paying big money are absolute garbage.

For instance, who would you rather have? Neil Walker for 5.75M or Brandon Phillips for 11M + 39M over the next 3 years?

No No no...I wasnt placing any blame on VOtto. I have been defending him and will continue to do so.

Even last season I was stating that if this team had 8 JV's on the team, and still good pitching, they would be outstanding.

I think it's a good call giving Bruce a rest. Anything to minimize a Jay Bruce slump is good in my book. So hopefully a day off gives him a chance to regroup and come out crushing in Chicago.

I know you weren't, but he gets a TON of shit from people. I understand, he's making a ton of money, but the value he brings to the team is somewhat unique. He's not going to hit 40 HR's, drive in 140 runs and absolutely dominate by crushing the ball. He wasn't that player in the minors and although he's capable, at-times, hasn't been that way in the majors.

He's paid what he is because he impacts the lineup just by being there. People don't realize how much more difficult it is to face a 1 through 8 when you have a guy who is literally getting on base 45-50% of the time. People also don't realize how much was lost when a guy doing so 40-45% of the time (Choo) from the lineup last year. Now, Choo was not worth what he got paid and given his age, but he's also very difficult to replace.

As I said, the guys not earning their money start and end with Phillips and Ludwick.

Gotcha.
What Choo did last year is going to be hard to replace, but there was no way the reds could justify matching that contract he got. They have Cueto/Latos/Leake coming up in the near future to take care of.

Some are saying that Votto is producing because he is in the 2 hole, but as he said last night, a couple of times, his approach does not change wherever he is in the lineup and that people are making too big of a deal of it..and I agree. I still think though the move triggered something in him just like it would for anyone of us who gets moved from our normal duties.

All in all...as bad as the start has been this team is not out of it yet. Long way to go and this will be a fun team to watch this summer.

Brandon Phillips SUCKS?

Are you retarded, buike?

Look at his numbers. Declined 5 straight years. Plays in one of the best hitter's parks ever and career OPS is .749. Look at some of the 2B with higher career numbers...you would be shocked (Neil Walker included). Combine that with BP no longer being the best defensive 2B in the league (it's at least easily a debate now) and all of the other comments/jabs/arguments (many that we may not even be privy to) and he's NOT worth 39M over the next 3 years. Believe me, given what you could do with 50M over 4 years (the extension he got last year) and people will be regretting Phillips (if they aren't already).

I like Phillips, and he got paid based on what he did. However, right now, he's more of a hinderence to the organization than he is an asset.

So he's not good because he's declined in numbers over the years, and is now just arguably the best defensive 2nd baseman this year? He may not be worth that money, but who gives a shit? There's no salary cap. It's not my money. It's not yours. If Castellini wants to pay him that, let him?

And I'm looking at his numbers this year, and I'm seeing a hit in every 3 at-bats. RBI and HR numbers are down, but you really think those won't average out?

Come on, this is just stupid.

I'm strictly judging value on what else you could get for the money. Yes, it's not my money and I could give a shit what a player gets paid. However, even at his best, unless BP is a true middle of the order hitter (he's not), his speed and OBP numbers aren't nearly where they should be for a 2-hole hitter. So yes, I'll maintain that he's overrated.

Overrated is fine to say if you want


He doesn't suck.

In one of those moods. Maybe a bit harsh. I'm a BP fan too...

Azubuike24;1605729 wrote:I'm strictly judging value on what else you could get for the money. Yes, it's not my money and I could give a shit what a player gets paid. However, even at his best, unless BP is a true middle of the order hitter (he's not), his speed and OBP numbers aren't nearly where they should be for a 2-hole hitter. So yes, I'll maintain that he's overrated.

Good thing he's not batting in the 2-hole then, huh?

Azubuike24;1605729 wrote:I'm strictly judging value on what else you could get for the money. Yes, it's not my money and I could give a shit what a player gets paid. However, even at his best, unless BP is a true middle of the order hitter (he's not), his speed and OBP numbers aren't nearly where they should be for a 2-hole hitter. So yes, I'll maintain that he's overrated.

If you don't give a shit what a player gets paid, why do you judge him on that number? lol

Oh and I'm not saying he isn't overrated, but you said he sucks...are you still maintaining that he sucks?

sherm03;1605741 wrote:Good thing he's not batting in the 2-hole then, huh?

He's batting out of place everywhere else (unless it's 6th or lower).

And S&L, read my last post. Sucks might be a little harsh.

Finally, why does Price not sit Mesoraco against a righty and then sit him against a lefty (which he hammers, better than anyone in the lineup)? Should he have not sat Mesoraco last night?

BTW, decent news (especially after Parra got hit last night). Sean Marshall made a rehab appearance last night. Hopefully he can return in 7-10 days after one more outing.

Azubuike24;1605748 wrote:He's batting out of place everywhere else (unless it's 6th or lower).

And S&L, read my last post. Sucks might be a little harsh.

Finally, why does Price not sit Mesoraco against a righty and then sit him against a lefty (which he hammers, better than anyone in the lineup)? Should he have not sat Mesoraco last night?

Who knows. Maybe he played him last night because he was in for the completion of game 1 and decided to just keep him going,and then since he woulda caught 11-12 inning last night to sit him today for an early day game.

Dusty agrees. Especially with that day off tomorrow and your 2nd best hitter not in the lineup.

Good start for Johnny

Really need this game

Hamilton wreaking havoc on Liriano/Sanchez

Please don't run yourself out of this inning.

Nice.