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

[SlimKibbles]

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

Uhh...3 in a row? I guess it was bound to happen again at some point. Better now than in September or the post-season.

[PhantomPain]

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

Uhh...3 in a row? I guess it was bound to happen again at some point. Better now than in September or the post-season.

As happy as I am about the season, these past 3 losses show why any chance at a deep playoff run will likely not happen. We cannot hit good pitching. We haven't all year with the exception of a few games. Phillips is going to take a few games to get his swing back. Votto should take a few games but he may come out of the gate hitting. But overall, this team is just not good at hitting good pitchers. And I don't expect them to always beat good pitchers, but you have to be able to do it fairly often to get past the first or second round of the playoffs.

However, if the team starts showing signs of life against good to great pitchers, then I like it overall chances.

[Buckeyes_Doc]

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

The good news is the Reds still lead the division by 3.5 games.

[redsrule]

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

As happy as I am about the season, these past 3 losses show why any chance at a deep playoff run will likely not happen. We cannot hit good pitching. We haven't all year with the exception of a few games. Phillips is going to take a few games to get his swing back. Votto should take a few games but he may come out of the gate hitting. But overall, this team is just not good at hitting good pitchers. And I don't expect them to always beat good pitchers, but you have to be able to do it fairly often to get past the first or second round of the playoffs.

However, if the team starts showing signs of life against good to great pitchers, then I like it overall chances.

While I agree with this, they hit James Mcdonald pretty good. If Votto gets back and this still happens, there will be cause for concern.

[Son of Sam99]

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

As we draw closer to October and games that start at 8:30 local time I think it is best to compare directly with teams we'll be seeing in the playoffs.
Right now we would play the Giants. Other possible opponents would be Nationals, Pirates, Braves, Dodgers... Long shots: Cardinals, Diamondbacks

For me the only team I would think our chances were less than at least 50/50 would be the Nationals and they may shut down Strassburg. I like our chances to compete for a pennant...

Of course there's a ton of baseball to be played so this could all change 100%

[lonewolf371]

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

The performance these past few games is more what I expected without Votto.

[redsrule]

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

I can't believe I am saying this, but when is Mesoraco coming back?

[SlimKibbles]

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

While I agree with this, they hit James Mcdonald pretty good. If Votto gets back and this still happens, there will be cause for concern.

McDonald hasn't been the same pitcher since the all-star break. The Reds weren't the only ones to beat up on him a bit. Phantom is right though. They haven't done a great job of hitting the kind of pitchers they would see in the playoffs. Feels similar to 2010. They should have lit Randy Wolf up today. He's been terrible all season and they can't even score runs off of him. The Brewers may be down this year but, including Sunday's game, you can't score 8 runs over four games against two quality teams like that and expect to win each one of them. Now, could they do that this weekend against the Cubs? Maybe. They are either going to show up in Chicago ticked off, pound out a bunch of runs on the likes of Travis Wood and Justin Germano on their way to a sweep. Or they will kind of struggle to get a split.

[PhantomPain]

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

While I agree with this, they hit James Mcdonald pretty good. If Votto gets back and this still happens, there will be cause for concern.

But that's thing, they already were like this when Votto was in the lineup. They have beat up on teams they should beat up on. And I will give them credit for that most of the summer. They playing like a high quality team should play against the weaker foes. That hasn't happened in a while. It's the higher quality teams with better pitchers that they struggle against.

On top of that, starting pitching may be something to keep an eye on. Bailey has struggled pretty bad the last two games. No where near giving up hope, because it is only 2 games and he has been outstanding this year. But I am definitely keeping an eye on it (HA! Like me watching out for it means squat to the team, you guys or even myself in the end LOL). Leake, Arroyo and Latos have been up and down lately. It just seems the one thing that usually happens every year that hadn't happen yet this season, may be trying to do it again. Which is the starting pitchers seemingly start to tire out or generally fall off (not all but some). More than likely, I am just jaded from seeing it happen for so many years and I'm wrong, but I feel like it may be heading in that direction.

Hopefully I'm wrong because I want to see this team make the NL Championship or World Series. I may not act like it, but I like our team. We are missing a couple of key parts, but overall it seems like a good, young team. But I feel like this team has played so well against the weaker teams (better than average), they should be able to play with the better teams.

To me, the biggest key is the leadoff spot. I think with a good leadoff hitter (not avg, but good), it changes the whole complexity of the lineup and how pitchers pitch to them. Which in turn may be the catapult to get these guys hitting against better pitching.

I don't know...I'm rambling. Hopefully they turn it around soon. It's a game of streaks so you pretty much have to roll with the punches (I should take my own advice).

[Jackdog]

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

Heading to Chicago for the Cubs series. I hope to see the Reds offense get back on track.

[slickdtc]

I don't know...I'm rambling. Hopefully they turn it around soon. It's a game of streaks so you pretty much have to roll with the punches (I should take my own advice).

That's what I chalk it up to. Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down. Sometimes you're the Chicago Cubs.

[Son of Sam99]

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

That's what I chalk it up to. Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down. Sometimes you're the Chicago Cubs.

... Or Houston Astros

Any idea on why Broxton over Marshall yesterday?

[SlimKibbles]

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

Heading to Chicago for the Cubs series. I hope to see the Reds offense get back on track.

I'll be there for Saturday's game in row 1 of sec 213. Driving up from Cincy with some friends tomorrow night.

... Or Houston Astros

Any idea on why Broxton over Marshall yesterday?

I'm guessing because he was set to face 5 out of 6 possible right-handed hitters. Segura and Lucroy both bat right and he got them out. Aoki doesn't and got on base thanks to that infield single. Gomez and Braun both bat right. Navarro kind of helped kill that inning and they had a couple of fluky/by inches hits. I don't blame Broxton too much. He's looked good so far. I still like Marshall but I think Dusty picked Broxton yesterday because of all the righties due up.

[redsrule]

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

I'll be there for Saturday's game in row 1 of sec 213. Driving up from Cincy with some friends tomorrow night.

Jumping in your trunk.

[redsrule]

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

Good to see Chapman is still electric.