"This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

[PhantomPain]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

I really understand what you're saying but kind of agree with Phantom on this one and think it's okay for us fans to make observations like that. By us buying tickets, we are pretty much paying for his salary. That doesn't give us the right to be jerks or something about it but I think Phantom's original comment wasn't out of line, although I do understand why it could rub a person the wrong way. Has Scott Rolen earned the right to play until he says otherwise? Well, maybe, but I don't know. His skills have dwindled and he hasn't been able to stay healthy the last couple of years. The former may be due in part to the latter. He probably does need to call it a playing career and start on the next phase of his baseball life which is coaching. I think he'll be a fantastic coach and manager some day. I really like Rolen a lot but I can't say I want to see him in the lineup every single game. Todd Frazier needs to be playing more. Rolen needs to be a part of this team though because of the veteran leadership. I personally think this might be his last season as a player, especially if his back just becomes too much, but we'll see.

The thing is, I'm not just being a jerk and putting him down. I stated that I like him a lot, and I do, which is one of the reasons why I think he should retire. Also, he has 2 young children that he wants to be a part of their life. Here is a good article which pretty much lays it out that he will retire soon, probably at the end of the season barring another injury IMO. I also admire him for his comment in there about respecting the game. Except I do feel like, even if it were a 51/49 split, is still the minority. The majority being having a hard time letting it go. Regardless, I hope if he plays he can perform at the level his potential shows which is a great defender with a good bat. Not .300 bat, but a good bat with some pop and clutch hits.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article****p?ymd=20120619&content_id=33582078&vkey=perspectives&fext=****p&c_id=mlb

On a side note, he had a great game tonight. Games like tonight give me hope he will be able to contribute more games than not.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

The thing is, I'm not just being a jerk and putting him down. I stated that I like him a lot, and I do, which is one of the reasons why I think he should retire. Also, he has 2 young children that he wants to be a part of their life. Here is a good article which pretty much lays it out that he will retire soon, probably at the end of the season barring another injury IMO. I also admire him for his comment in there about respecting the game. Except I do feel like, even if it were a 51/49 split, is still the minority. The majority being having a hard time letting it go. Regardless, I hope if he plays he can perform at the level his potential shows which is a great defender with a good bat. Not .300 bat, but a good bat with some pop and clutch hits.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article****p?ymd=20120619&content_id=33582078&vkey=perspectives&fext=****p&c_id=mlb

On a side note, he had a great game tonight. Games like tonight give me hope he will be able to contribute more games than not.

Please don't think I was calling you that. I didn't think that about your comment at all. If anything you said what many Reds fans are probably thinking and just haven't said. I know it's crossed my mind. I don't know the best way to explain what I meant by jerks other than using some apparent fans posting to athletes on Twitter or places like that as example. And that's not necessarily about Rolen specifically but just in general. Some of the stuff said to famous people on there simply amazes me.

[PhantomPain]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

Please don't think I was calling you that. I didn't think that about your comment at all. If anything you said what many Reds fans are probably thinking and just haven't said. I know it's crossed my mind. I don't know the best way to explain what I meant by jerks other than using some apparent fans posting to athletes on Twitter or places like that as example. And that's not necessarily about Rolen specifically but just in general. Some of the stuff said to famous people on there simply amazes me.

Greatest part about my reply above is I can only assume I used the word "jerk" because you did but I did so sub-consciously. Meaning, I read what you wrote and then wrote that reply but didn't remember you said that. Of course I didn't think you were calling me out, you clearly defended me. I was just expanding on my original point.

It's all good on my end. That's the issue with communicating through written word instead of verbally. It's easy to be misunderstood. Always has been and always will be (until they develop an app that allows for sarcasm and tone to be clearly articulated).

[slickdtc]

That's the way to snap a 4-game slide. Good shutout from Cueto.

[Buckeyes_Doc]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

Well, that loss is a tough one to swallow.

We all knew Chapman would come back to earth eventually but this 180 in his pitching performance is shocking to me. I guess that's what happens when Reds coaching made him abandon his slider and now he can only throw a fastball, which everyone watching the game especially the hitter knows is coming.

[SlimKibbles]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

Well, that loss is a tough one to swallow.

We all knew Chapman would come back to earth eventually but this 180 in his pitching performance is shocking to me. I guess that's what happens when Reds coaching made him abandon his slider and now he can only throw a fastball, which everyone watching the game especially the hitter knows is coming.

Willingham was just waiting for it. And why shouldn't he since that is all Chapman is throwing. Something needs to change quick. They've got the Brewers for 3 and then go on that long, west-coast road trip. That trip in the past has been known to completely derail the Reds' season. In the last couple of years they've done okay out there though. I'm rather disappointed they dropped two of 3 to the freaking Twins though. That's pathetic.

[PhantomPain]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

Well, that loss is a tough one to swallow.

We all knew Chapman would come back to earth eventually but this 180 in his pitching performance is shocking to me. I guess that's what happens when Reds coaching made him abandon his slider and now he can only throw a fastball, which everyone watching the game especially the hitter knows is coming.

I wonder how much of him not throwing the slider is the pitching staff compared to him. I have to say that I am not overly impressed with Price as a pitching coach. He has done some good things it seems but not enough for me to say he should keep his job for a while. If it is him/Baker telling Chapman to continually throw fastballs then that's inexcusable. If its him, then they need to work on it more with him if he isn't comfortable. You cannot have long term success throwing one pitch. Plus he certainly cannot be a started throwing 90% fastballs.

But interesting nonetheless.

[Son of Sam99]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

I wonder how much of him not throwing the slider is the pitching staff compared to him. I have to say that I am not overly impressed with Price as a pitching coach. He has done some good things it seems but not enough for me to say he should keep his job for a while. If it is him/Baker telling Chapman to continually throw fastballs then that's inexcusable. If its him, then they need to work on it more with him if he isn't comfortable. You cannot have long term success throwing one pitch. Plus he certainly cannot be a started throwing 90% fastballs.

But interesting nonetheless.

I think it probably is the coaching staff because I doubt Chapman has the confidence to shake off the catcher at this point in his career. I agree 100% that he needs to have the slider... when he has it working that's his out pitch; the fastball is a game changer but if he can locate that slider at 85 MPH he'd be untouchable.

The thing is I wonder how much a coaching staff can work with their number 1 closer in the middle of a season. They may just figure that they cant tire him out any more so it will be a project for the off season.

[Motown]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

Marty mentioned yesterday, that Morgan once quoted " You cannot throw HARD enough in this league"...& that was back in the 70s...when he said THAT. truer words were never spoken...thats fo sho.

[Spider Tre]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

if he is having back problems, put him on the DL. Chapman is like a whole different pitcher when he's hurt

[jasontoddwhitt]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

I said from day one it was a bad idea to put Chapman in the closer's role. I was hoping he would prove me wrong.

And I'm sick of Dusty Baker costing us wins with his managerial decisions. In the bottom of the ninth, our old friend Jared Burton walked Todd Frazier to lead off the inning. Dusty Baker then gave Minnesota a free out (when the Reds only had three remaining to give) on a sac bunt, before pinch-hitter Scott Rolen walked. Yep, Burton couldn’t find the strike zone, yet the Reds just gave him a free out. Very magnanimous, don’t you think?

And then after Burton walks two hitters, Heisey promptly hacks at the first pitch for a lazy pop fly for the second out.

I'm still not convinced this team can win the division.

[lonewolf371]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

Nice to finally see Latos dominate like I thought he was going to for most of the year.

As for Chapman, you can get away with throwing a ton of fastballs as a closer, but he takes it to the next extreme. Needs to get the slider working more, and needs to locate his fastball.

[jake44np]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

if he is having back problems, put him on the DL. Chapman is like a whole different pitcher when he's hurt

His back is not why he has struggled lately.
He is struggling because everyone knows all he is going to throw is fastballs.
His last game in which he gave up the game winning hr to Willingham he was still throwing 97 and 98 mph. You dont throw that hard if you are injured. He has just become too predictable. He is going to half to devolp a couple more pitches to turn this aroind.

[Son of Sam99]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

His back is not why he has struggled lately.
He is struggling because everyone knows all he is going to throw is fastballs.
His last game in which he gave up the game winning hr to Willingham he was still throwing 97 and 98 mph. You dont throw that hard if you are injured. He has just become too predictable. He is going to half to devolp a couple more pitches to turn this aroind.

I'm in agreement with the above. I think they should just move to closer by committee; using your best available reliever to get out of the most difficult spot.

Also i was at the game last night and it was amazing, I was so glad to see Latos come out for the 9th!

[jasontoddwhitt]

Re: "This one belongs to Reds fans" Official 2012 Cincinnati Reds

I was scared to death the Toothpick was going to bring in Chapman to blow another one.

It doesn't matter if you throw 85 or 105. If a Major League hitter knows you are going to throw a fastball...they will time it. Chapman was mixing in his slider enough earlier in the year to keep hitters honest. Not anymore.

I hope that's the start that gets Latos going for good. I think he's been putting pressure on himself to try and prove that we made a good trade. If he keeps pitching like that....it's an unbelievable trade for us.