Giants @ Reds - July 1 - 4

[HammerDown]

Arroyo (6-6) Kickham (0-2)
Bailey (4-6) Lincecum (4-8)
Cingrani (3-0) Zito (4-6)
Leake (7-3) Cain (5-4)

On paper looks like the Reds should be able to sweep them.

 

[JohnU]

Arroyo (6-6) Kickham (0-2)
Bailey (4-6) Lincecum (4-8)
Cingrani (3-0) Zito (4-6)
Leake (7-3) Cain (5-4)

On paper looks like the Reds should be able to sweep them.

I appreciate your golden enthusiasm.
I would say the Bailey-Lincecum game is a likely winner but Lincy is pitching badly this year, which means he's in line for a 2-hitter against our Jacoby Juggernauts.
If we face a lefty, it's an almost automatic loss.
I see this as a sweep, all right.

 

[HammerDown]

I appreciate your golden enthusiasm.
I would say the Bailey-Lincecum game is a likely winner but Lincy is pitching badly this year, which means he's in line for a 2-hitter against our Jacoby Juggernauts.
If we face a lefty, it's an almost automatic loss.
I see this as a sweep, all right.

Do you realize how poorly the Giants are playing right now? With those starters, they're ripe for a sweep.

 

[chico ruiz]

god bless you mr. hammerdown. you are most decidedly a friars fan. i love your enthusiasm as well. however, the better question to ask is: do you realize how poorly the reds are playing right now? it's not just an offensive slump. they haven't looked particularly sure handed on defense either. sort of a general malaise hanging around this ballclub right now, from what i've seen. but, we'll see if we can't help your 'promised land' boys out. looks like the west is wide open.

 

[Ryanballa]

Have been waiting for this series for awhile. The team that knocked us out last year,The team that Mat Latos hates. I see this as a team that we can get well against,Because like others said this team is also struggling, and I think that there is no greater motivation to beat a team, then the one that broke your hearts the year before. Lets go REDS!! Time to play REDS baseball and catch the Pirates.

 

[bengaldoug]

Yes, we should sweep them. Will we? Doubtful. We'll probably be fortunate to split with them.

 

[calsnowskier]

I think most Giants fans would agree to a split right now and move on to the next series. Historically (one series that will not be mentioned being the exception), the Giants do not play well in Cincy. You also miss our best pitcher (yes, we have one).

I am hoping to avoid the sweep, but would be THRILLED with a split. I do not think there is much hope that the Giants can do better than that.

Good luck this week. Hopefully both teams "turn it on" and we see some good baseball. However, recent history does not bode well for the Giants doing their part.

 

[JohnU]

In a somewhat odd way, I see this as a case of a terminally ill patient being happy he's gotten over a head cold. A series victory by the Reds will not solve the problems that got them into this mess. Even if they play well enough to catch the Cardinals, they are in third place now for a reason. That isn't being fixed or addressed, that I've heard or seen.
For the Giants, a split in a road series is the safe-case scenario. You can hope for more but it's not realistic at any given time.

 

[HammerDown]

The Reds do seem very comfortable in 3rd place.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Sounds like the Giants think they've underperformed. I'd say their record shows they're right...and that may be an advantage over our Reds, who local media keeps referring to the Reds record being good, better than this point in 2012, citing they are 3rd in runs, etc...all true, but it hides the fact this team can't seem to play .500 against other teams that do, and absolutely refuse to advance runners in normally accepted methods, other than 2 out hits,homers, or gifts from the opposition like bases loaded walks and errors. Dusty Baker is already using injury excuses like Ludwick, Cueto, Marshall, Broxton, Phillips to warm up his perennial every other season slide into mediocrity.

The players appears to be uninterested. So does the manager, not Necessarily in that order. Even the normally outstanding defense has started to erode. It's getting tough to watch...leadoff doubles stranded and 2 on 1 out DPs. Runners dying at 3b for lack of a fly ball. None on 2 out singles. LOOGY against righty hitters. Manny Parra in tie games. Cozart hitting 2 and Robinson hitting 8 or 9. Mesoraco catching 8 consecutive. Dusty pitching to 8 hitters with 2 on and 1b open. Heisey is a .177 hitting DH ? Phillips is dwindling toward .250 pulling off every pitch, and Choo facing lefties with a lifetime sub-Mendoza line average. Frazier lunging at 55 foot breaking balls in the dirt.

I'm not sure what kind if fire needs to be lit under the Reds, or if it's possible, but they currently look like they're willing to sink in the quicksand without so much as an effort to crawl out. It needs to change.

 

[HammerDown]

Does anyone have Lou Piniella's number?

 

[Redsfan1507]

At least a Pinella type meltdown made it look like he cared. The Reds need something.

 

[JohnU]

Some guys would take Sparky. Sparky had talent to work with.
I will take this guy and kick some ass.

 

[HammerDown]

 

[HammerDown]

Anyone getting excited yet? I am! And I just laid my vCash where my mouth is too. Reds to win.

 

[calsnowskier]

If you care...

Blanco CF
Scutaro 2B
Posey C
Sandoval 3B
Pence RF
Belt 1B
Torres RF
Crawford SS
Kickham P

 

[HammerDown]

cal, what do you know about this Kickham guy?

 

[redlegs@hokies]

time to pick up some wins heading into the break.

 

[HammerDown]

time to pick up some wins heading into the break.

And hardly a better out-of-division team to get those wins against.

 

[redlegs@hokies]

And hardly a better out-of-division team to get those wins against.

no doubt about it. Last fall was a rough one.