You asked for more offense...

[Redsfan1507]

...so the Reds and Pirates put on a slo pitch HR derby in the rain.

 

[JohnU]

Those balls were crushed too. Brantley said none of the pitchers wants to take the inside corner, afraid they will start another beanball war.

 

[podsox]

So if they call this the reds win right?

 

[JohnU]

Ah no, it's tied after 6.

 

[podsox]

Ah no, it's tied after 6.

I didn't think the 6th inning was complete. that's why I was confused

 

[JohnU]

Another case of umpire stupidity. They should not have played the 5th inning OR the 6th inning.
Did these idiot asshole umpires think it was going to suddenly clear up? It was pouring from the 4th on ... and the infield was like a lake.

 

[chico ruiz]

i'm relying heavily on highlights from last night's game. but, i have a few general observations. john, if you watched it entirely let me know if i'm correct. bailey's fastball had plenty of gas, but it was flat. very little, if any, tailing action. it looked like his location was off again too. he was leaving them out over the plate and he was either throwing 95 mph by them or they were timing, and blasting, him. whatever some of that breaking stuff was, it didn't have much bite (ditto hoover). i saw the ike davis tater up close and personal-like. hoover didn't give in, he tipped and grooved that hook to davis. right in his wheelhouse in fact. didn't break enough down and in. it didn't have any bite or velocity. if it was supposed to be a slider it lacked everything a good slider is. last night i saw him throw a breaking ball -letter high- that looked like something you see a lot of at the high school level. i know it was very wet out there. maybe that explains it, in terms of grip. so far this year it doesn't look like either of those pitchers are fooling anybody. i know bailey works off his fastball, which makes his location absolutely vital for success. i just hate to see bailey reverting to that stubbornness of the late 2000's. and it looks like hoover's fastball has diminished a little bit. in addition, hitters are seeing his breaking stuff early. i'm baseball musing here but, with the exception of cueto, why don't the reds develop any pitchers with effective change-ups? if pitchers like latos, bailey, and cingrani had just above average changes they could win 15 games every year.

 

[JohnU]

Bailey was leaving a lot of meat out over the plate. Hoover just appears that he isn't focused.
As for the reasons, I am not a pitcher. Brantley contends that none of the pitchers, Parrots included, wanted to go inside because of concerns over a reprise of the plunking wars from a year ago (28 HBP between the 2 teams.)

As for the rain, I think the 4th through 6th could be considered affected by it, more because of lack of footing on the mound.

I can't speak to pitcher mechanics. I would guess, though, that Bailey has a problem this year.

I've noticed other relievers -- Partch clearly can't pitch at the top level despite throwing 95-99.
Christiani doesn't have an out pitch.

If Cueto gets hurt again -- and history suggests as much -- Cincy's top pitcher is Mike Leake.

 

[Redsfan1507]

Bailey has a decent curve and a good splitter. It was raining hard, and all pitchers got shelled. The bsll wasnt moving much for sure. I think Brantley was correct- these guys were paranoid about pitching inside, and hitters knew it. Never seen the ball carry like that in cold and damp before though.

It may not rain, but going to be cold tonite. We'll see how it works out, but I hope for at least a split, and no more delays.

 

[JohnU]

As usual, the Reds are staring at losing another series.
At this rate, a .333 WL record does not get you any bonus money.

 

[Redsfan1507]

The slugfest continues...Frazier and Mike Leake stroking long ones. Mesoraco still doing his Bench impersonation, Votto 4 hits.

It's a game of streaks and slumps.

 

[JohnU]

Heisey and Ludwick are clueless against Liriano. How this team can go into total team slumps is a mystery. I used to blame Jacoby. I think maybe it's just the players.

 

[Redsfan1507]

If the pitching is normal I'll take 4 runs. Enough today to win a series from the Pitates.

 

[JohnU]

We are lucky to have Votto.

 

[redsfan03]

We are lucky to have Votto.

You can say that again. He's the only guy on this team who consistently has a clue of what he's doing at the plate.

 

[Redsfan1507]

But man, are fans ever impatient with Votto. He walks too much. He doesn't drive in enough runs. He makes too much money. He doesn't hit enough homers. He isn't a leader. He strikes out too much.

People expect him to hit 1.000 with RISP or something.

 

[JohnU]

I think Votto has established himself again this year as a hitter. What remains to be seen is if Bruce/Ludwick/Frazier/BP can step up so that the opponents don't just walk Votto.

The trick to all this is still the leadoff guy -- and we really still aren't sure about that.

 

[chico ruiz]

1507 is 100% correct. i also grow tired of the extremism toward votto and others. it's a team game. a max collaborative effort. if you don't believe us, maybe you would believe pete rose. in the rose interview on opening day, the arguably greatest hitter of all-time said votto shouldn't change a thing. seems like pete knows a little bit about the game.
you can slot votto anywhere 1 thru 9 and he will hit. his plate discipline has been compared to ted williams. what else needs to be said?

 

[JohnU]

Fans have been frustrated/impatient with their stars ever since Casey strode to the plate with 2 in scoring position and 2 out.

 

[WvuDieHard]

This club is starting to show signs of life. Really impressed with Alfredo Simon. Need to keep him in the rotation.