Regular Season

[eburg5000]

Why are all the Reds starters up around 100 pitches by the 5th inning. especially sense the bullpen is so bad

 

[eburg5000]

Why is Hayes on this team? He's as bad or worse than Hoover? And Price leaves in long enough to maybe lose the game. damn

 

[JohnU]

This bullpen is managed by an idiot.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

A guy that has been pitching well in Louisville is Dayan Diaz. He was a dark horse non-roster invitee to ST that has been throwing strikes and cutting down on his BB's. If he remains consistent I'd expect to see him added to the 40 man soon.

Another guy that has been lights out is Jumbo Diaz. The problem is Jumbo is great at AAA, but it hasn't translated to the Majors. He's been the quintessential AAA+ performer in the opportunities he's been given so far. At age 32 that may be all he ever is.

Drew Hayes wouldn't normally be on a team's active roster and not on most teams 40 man. After allowing runs in all but one appearance I'd say his days are numbered.

 

[JohnU]

The pitching seems to be managed by pulling cue cards out of a large hat.

Adleman threw 67 pitches in 5 innings and was lifted. It's not like he was going to be replaced by anybody who could improve on that. They were hitting the ball, but ... that's why you have a defense. Adleman has earned a shot with this rotation.

Straily throws FIVE innings of shutout ball and is lifted. He's up 7-0 at the time. I can see giving him 7 innings.
The bullpen predictably almost gave it all back.

What I see, relating to numbers and the eye test, is that the dugout staff is apparently looking at some data that nobody else can digest.

But we look good in Pensacola.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

The Adleman shortened appearance I didn't understand.

Straily had 109 pitches and we all know the rest of that story.

Most of the current rotation throws strikes, they just don't get enough outs early in the count. Not a lot of K's or BB's, just too many pitches per PA. Twenty pitches per inning way too often for these guys. Twenty pitches is fine for a reliever, but that number needs to be around 15 for SP.

 

[JohnU]

I see the data on BA against a pitcher the 3rd time through and these guys are really not top of the rotation pitchers. Still they need to get through with 130 pitches. The Verducci effect is not the problem with Adleman. He can always go back to the Lincoln Saltdogs.

 

[eburg5000]

I saw Diaz (not Jumbo) in spring training. He didn't give up much of anything. I also thought that he should have been, and deserved to be on the opening day roster. Still wondering why he isn't there yet

 

[Hit-n-Run]

The pros and cons can be argued both ways when it comes to pitch limits.

My personal take on it.......
How many pitches a guy can throw before he hits the wall is based on genetics and training. Genetics are hard to get around, but how a athlete trains determines a lot of it. Once they started limiting it to around 100 pitches, that set the bar for pitchers to plateau at that point.

Every pitcher is different and should be indidually trained and worked with that in mind.... not a one size fits all theory.

 

[JohnU]

Reds pitchers are just not prepared to win games. Lamb looked like he had just gotten off the back of a freight train.

 

[JohnU]

Somsen would be wise to learn that giving a hitter a hittable pitch on 0-2 is really not going to help his career.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Wow, what a butt whooping that was.

That kind of game leaves you speechless.

 

[JohnU]

I was listening to Kelch and Flynn on the wrapup and Flynn pointed out on the play that Davis scored from first that the outfield relay was slow and sloppy and that there are more noticeable trends about that this year. Well, ya can't teach enthusiasm, I suppose. Lamb looked like he had just had his wallet stolen and Somsen clearly hasn't gotten much coaching. The rest of that is just another Monday.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

You can definitely see why people compare Somsen to Tim Lincecum. He's as over the top as a guy can get.

I've never cared for guys that throw over the top. Their curve balls are generally 12-6 breakers and the hangers are over the plate. JJ Hoover would fall into that category. I like guys with more of a 2-8 tilt on their curveballs. If it hangs at 2 on the clock face it's high and tight. I'd rather see the batter dusting himself off than hitting the hanger for a 3-run bomb.

 

[JohnU]

Somsen evidently doesn't have much pitch repertoire either. I'd assume he will need to enhance that soon or find himself as a career minor leaguer. My rant about him earlier wasn't that he was any good, it was that he wasn't even being used. Price perhaps knew this.

Which again begs the question: Who's making the call on bringing Drew Hayes and Somsen to the bigs? How is that being decided? If the manager has no say in it, what's the manager's role?

 

[Hit-n-Run]

I read somewhere that Layne Somsen has already done some coaching at the Collegiate level, so a MLB stint will look good on the resume.

I think he fits the mold of what we're seeing this season. Mid twenty relievers trying to figure it out and living the dream for as long as they can.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

Well... it's another early dinner in Cleveland and we've got Big Pasta on the menu.

I'm hopeful the Indians are too tired from running around the bases last night to pound out another 15 runs.

Adam Duvall has really been hitting the ball well lately. He's been a nice surprise with the exception of the strike out fest a couple weeks ago. He's playing good defense, runs well, and obviously has above average power. We'll have a much better idea on him as he progresses through the second half of the season.

Duvall, Suarez, Peraza, Winker... if they can individually build on what we've seen it's a nice start towards better days.

 

[JohnU]

I think Cincy will need to go into the market to find a quality starter. The prospects list is just not showing, though maybe the experience and coaching will eventually produce more. I can't tell by looking if Finnegan can master the strike zone. Welch says he's trying too hard.

 

[JohnU]

Price and the Reds brass have finally hit the wall. They don't even have a pitcher who can pitch better than Simon.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

I was foolish to think the Indians might be tired.....
Shit... they're just getting warmed up.