Halfway home

[JohnU]

This is probably somewhere between what we expected and what we have.

Points so far:

Is Riggleman better than Price?
Riggleman has a better roster.
The pitching is better out of the bullpen.
The hitting has become tolerable to very good.
Baserunning and situational play are marginally better now.
Scouting reports appear to be helping.
Reds need to win more at home. So far lately, better.
Castillo is trying to be a pitcher he isn't.
Is Homer done? It appears so.
Do they trade Scooter? I hope not, seriously.
Is Hamilton getting better?

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Riggleman is better than Price. Doesn't necessarily mean anything more than Price was a poor manager.

Homer is never going to be the no-hitter Homer again. If he can't reinvent himself he's done.

Billy can show brief periods of what could have been. But I don't think he's ever going to put it together on a consistent basis. He's had months in his career where he posted good numbers, but the dismal months far out weigh the good ones.

Castillo's biggest problem is letting his front shoulder fly open. Cueto has battled the same flaw and has learned to self correct. So hopefully Castillo can learn to make the in game adjustments as well.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

There's nothing worse than letting the same below average hitter hit home runs to beat you. Thames is always looking fastball with one intent. Why keep throwing it?

 

[JohnU]

There's nothing worse than letting the same below average hitter hit home runs to beat you. Thames is always looking fastball with one intent. Why keep throwing it?

Garrett could have bounced them and Thames would have swung.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Falling behind 2-0 in the count and calling for a fastball is all too predictable. With a 2 run lead walking Thames wasn't necessarily going to beat you. Throwing him a big fat piece of cheese did. Sometimes you have to pick your battles to win the war.

The last 2 losses have been of the stinging variety. The loss in Atlanta and coughing the game up last night were both games a good team wins. The Reds aren't there yet.

 

[JohnU]

Falling behind 2-0 in the count and calling for a fastball is all too predictable. With a 2 run lead walking Thames wasn't necessarily going to beat you. Throwing him a big fat piece of cheese did. Sometimes you have to pick your battles to win the war.

The last 2 losses have been of the stinging variety. The loss in Atlanta and coughing the game up last night were both games a good team wins. The Reds aren't there yet.

Votto had 3 chances to wreck it for Guerra and he seems content now to hit fly balls to left field. Not sure what that's about but that and trying to beg for walks is pretty much Votto playing inside his own game.
Suarez is on a roll.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Votto has his own philosophy and thrives within it. But there's no trading an out for a run if he can help it.

Suarez is becoming the best all around player on this team. His play at 3rd the first year was hard to watch, but he has matured into a fine defensive player that keeps getting better at the plate. He's putting together an MVP type season through the 1st half.

 

[eburg5000]

I believe Riggleman is better than Price, but the one thing I don't like is how he seems to waste bench players. He is also in love with the double switch, and when he does it, he will do it with just about anyone. Which means with the game on the line in the ninth , instead of having Suarez up at the plate , you have Philip Ervin. I think he is fine. outside of that.

I'm thinking if the team keeps up with what they have done sense Riggleman took over. They will make him the outright manager

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Looks like we may have to add Keon Broxton to the Reds Slayer All Star team. That's the team of players that look like a stud against the Reds and a dud the rest of the time.

 

[JohnU]

Brewers hit Reds pitching like they know what's coming.

 

[eburg5000]

Brewers are a hard team to come back on, They have a really good bullpen.

I sure would like to get one of these last two games

 

[Hit-n-Run]

I sure would like to get one of these last two games

Didn't have to wait long to get the first win.....
Let's go for two.

This team's offense had made it a regular occurrence to look dead in the water and jump up and score a boat load in one inning. I don't have a count, but it seems like they have done it 3-4 times lately.

 

[JohnU]

Exposed a couple of holes in the Brewers bullpen.
Cou:nsell has better arms than those guys.
But I like Cincy's offense. Duvall is the key to the bottom third, of course.
Terrible bunting.

 

[eburg5000]

Up until that 7th inning it looked like the Reds had to get bases loaded with no outs to score 1 run. that is until Lorenzen came up.. Maybe Lorenzen is the Reds version of Thames. except Lorenzen could probably play the outfield better.

 

[JohnU]

Up until that 7th inning it looked like the Reds had to get bases loaded with no outs to score 1 run. that is until Lorenzen came up.. Maybe Lorenzen is the Reds version of Thames. except Lorenzen could probably play the outfield better.

Thames in the outfield is a laughing matter.

 

[eburg5000]

It was good to win those last 2 games. I am starting to fantasize. and think maybe the Reds could maybe reach 500 this season. But then I wake up.

 

[JohnU]

It was good to win those last 2 games. I am starting to fantasize. and think maybe the Reds could maybe reach 500 this season. But then I wake up.

Next 14 games will tell a lot.
Very tough schedule. Except maybe the W. Sux.

 

[eburg5000]

I hope they don't take their foot off the petal against the White Sox

 

[eburg5000]

That's going to be one heck of a road trip. Starting off with 3 against the Cubs who will be wanting to get some pay back, Then the Indians who is a natural rival. Then the Cards who we just can't seem to beat this year. Then I think we have the All Star break. I might get a little excited if they could win 5 or 6 out of these games

 

[Hit-n-Run]

The Cubs and Indians have been tough at home this season and the Reds always seem to lose in St. Louis. So on paper it doesn't look promising.

But the Reds have been holding their own lately. The upcoming schedule is a continuation of what was a stretch of games against quality opponents to end June.

A 4-5 road trip wouldn't be bad and I wouldn't be surprised if they had a winning road trip.