2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

[Son of Sam99]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

More love for Ryan Hannigan:

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/63855/qa-ryan-hanigan-on-the-art-of-pitch-framing

[redsrule]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Mike Leake has been excellent this year. I can't believe I just typed that...

[lonewolf371]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Mike Leake has been excellent this year. I can't believe I just typed that...

He's pumped up his strikeout per nine to 6.55, a career high. It also looks sustainable since his swinging strike rate is also at a career high, so he might be throwing better pitches. His average fastball velocity is up to 90.1, also a career high, so that's got to be helping him. His xFIP is 3.75, also a career best. He's getting more grounders, 53.6%, also a career best and critical for pitching in GABP.

His ERA will bump up in the second half, but even still this is Mike Leake's best start and I think he'll finish the year with it being his best season.

[slickdtc]

It's only his 3rd year, too right? I know he came up and pitched well as a rookie and dropped off a bit last year. But if the Reds let him develop and take his lumps like they did with Homer Bailey, I think we could see similar results.

[redsrule]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Our bullpen has some serious issues... Latos, once again, has a potential win blown by Broxton. That's the third time this year he has blown a potential Latos win as well.]
Even worse, there were already 2 outs and a lefty was up. Is it too much for Chapman to work to an extra batter? Dusty costing us again...

[jasontoddwhitt]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Dusty's love for Jonathan Broxton combined with his refusal to pitch Chapman more than one inning is baffling. Which is strange considering that before Chapman became the "closer", he pitched two innings all the time?!?!?!?!?!

The Reds have enough talent to mask Dusty's inability to manage a baseball game over 162 games.

But in the playoffs, Dusty mind numbing decisions get exposed.

[jasontoddwhitt]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Cueto back to the DL with another lat injury. I think it's safe to say he needs to retire his tornado windup....though since he went to that windup, he's become a Cy Young caliber pitcher.

Does no good though if you can't stay on the hill.

[WWF80sKid]

Does no good though if you can't stay on the hill.

Bingo.

10 characters...

[jasontoddwhitt]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

It's pretty bad when my girlfriend (who doesn't care much for baseball) says...

"Why don't they pitch Chapman more than one inning?"

Yeah Dusty, why don't you?

“We don’t have a one- or two-man bullpen,” said the Reds’ manager when asked after the loss about a second inning for Chapman. Baker is trying to develop the rest of his bullpen. “We’ve got to get those guys together. We’ve got other guys to do that job.”

Baker managed the end-game cautiously. “We really couldn’t chance that. You really can’t hurt your two horses at the end by going away from the other guys.”

I've had it with this guy. Nationally televised game against the best team in baseball, a team you're trying to catch up to, and you manage it like it's just another game???

[Son of Sam99]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Well it appears this team is another iteration of 2010 in which we smoke bad teams and can't bead good ones. I personally cannot believe our bullpen is so poor. Key 2012 contributors Arredondo, Marshall, Ondrusek are not with the team currently and Simon & Broxton can't throw strikes. This leaves Chapman & LeCure (last three appearances has allowed 6 hits and 4 runs).

I hate the one game wild card, but for the 2013 Reds I have to love it because its the only way we'll see the playoffs.

Dusty should have double switched to be able to use Chapman in the 10th inning but when the pen implodes like that you can't put much of the blame on the manager.

[jasontoddwhitt]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Why can't we play the Cubs for 162 games?

And Mike Leake is putting together a hell of a season so far.

And newsflash Dusty...Joey needs a day off. He is looking exhausted and missing plays he normally makes in the field. 7 errors in the field already this year. For the record, his total errors for the last three seasons....5, 6, and 6.

[redsrule]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Dusty is supposedly a "players" manager too. SMH, everyone can tell he needs a day off, Marty has been saying it on the radio for a couple weeks.

[Son of Sam99]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Dusty is supposedly a "players" manager too. SMH, everyone can tell he needs a day off, Marty has been saying it on the radio for a couple weeks.

I agree with you guys wholeheartedly but have to ask who would you play at 1B? Hannahan?

[redsrule]

re: 2014 Cincinnati Reds Thread

Move Frazier to first put Hannahan at third.

[WWF80sKid]

Move Frazier to first put Hannahan at third.

Exactly. For only a game or two.