From: David Short on
Well, it isn't quite 20 games, but tommorrow is an offday.

They're 3 games below 500 in 19 games. That's not good. The sweep by the
Pirates really stings. Good teams don't get swept by the Pirates....so after
19 games it is revealed that this isn't a good team.

The starting pitching was supposed to be the strength. How's that working
out for you?

The only red starter with an ERA below 5.5 is Leake. The good news
is....Matt Maloney was pitching well in Louisville before he went on the DL
with blister problems again. I don't know that I've ever seen a prospect get
buried as fast as Maloney got buried this spring. I would love to know what
happened.

While Logan Ondrusek couldn't get anybody out. The big story in the pen is
Nick Masset. Masset was going to be the 8th inning guy and when Cordero left
he was going to be the closer. Isn't this exactly what happened to Jarred
Burton? Boy thats an important role.

Orlando Cabrera is not getting it done with the leather. There's no nice way
to say it. Dusty really needs to start using Janish more.

A great deal of the preseason hope around the reds was that their young
talent could explode. Jay Bruse is at 180. Drew Stubbs is at 170. Jonny
Gomes is at 213. If your starting pitchers all have ERA's north of 5.5 and
non of your starting outfield is hitting above 220. You lose. That's pretty
simple isn't it?

You can't cash them all in. You have to keep running them out there and hope
they turn around. but if you were a member of the front office....don't you
think you would have to start asking yourself how many at bats can you sink
into Jay Bruce?


I know....the defense is good, but if Paul Janish can't get a starting job
because he's gonna hit 200 as a shortstop.....how long can you let Jay Bruce
hit 220? I know he was "best prospect in baseball" and all that, but....how
long can you let him hit 220?
Can you send him to Louisville?

I know the short answer is you keep running him out there till he turns it
around, but....well what if he doesn't?

What would you do?

dfs


From: john smith on
I have been the biggest Jay Bruce basher around here but jees David, the
guy is finally showing some baby steps and is hitting the ball quite
well over the last 10 games. I just don't see this guy as the biggest
Reds problem now.

Offensively, you take the salami away from Stubbs and he has been a big
fat 0 on this team. He is the biggest reason this offense has been so
inconsistent. I just don't see the swing on this guy. He is dreadful.

Cabrera has been pretty bad with the glove but didn't the Reds scouts
know this? Can you afford to play Janish if Stubbs continues to bat
lead-off? I like Janish and believe he should get more time. But if
management believed this, why sign Cabrera? I wish Hannigan would get
more PT.

As you pointed out the pitching has been horrendous sans Cordero and
Leake. Good teams just don't go 20 games without at least one nice
start. Remember them six shut outs in April last year? I don't Cueto is
ever going to last as a starter. They already gave him an extra days
rest this year.

The team has gotten the worse pitching you can get through 19 games,
being only 3 games under .500 is a blessing.

As far as Nick Massett versus Jared Burton. I feel Massett has
tremendous stuff compared to Burton. He is too talented to keep failing.
I wish Cueto would be in the bullpen mix.

Lets see how they do on this road trip but Chapman needs to be called up
soon.

From: Gregg on
On Apr 25, 10:36 pm, "David Short"
<David.No.Sh...(a)Spam.Wright.Please.Edu> wrote:
> Well, it isn't quite 20 games, but tommorrow is an offday.
>
> They're 3 games below 500 in 19 games. That's not good. The sweep by the
> Pirates really stings. Good teams don't get swept by the Pirates....so after
> 19 games it is revealed that this isn't a good team.
>
> The starting pitching was supposed to be the strength. How's that working
> out for you?
>
> The only red starter with an ERA below 5.5 is Leake. The good news
> is....Matt Maloney was pitching well in Louisville before he went on the DL
> with blister problems again. I don't know that I've ever seen a prospect get
> buried as fast as Maloney got buried this spring. I would love to know what
> happened.
>
> While Logan Ondrusek couldn't get anybody out. The big story in the pen is
> Nick Masset. Masset was going to be the 8th inning guy and when Cordero left
> he was going to be the closer. Isn't this exactly what happened to Jarred
> Burton? Boy thats an important role.
>
> Orlando Cabrera is not getting it done with the leather. There's no nice way
> to say it. Dusty really needs to start using Janish more.
>
> A great deal of the preseason hope around the reds was that their young
> talent could explode. Jay Bruse is at 180. Drew Stubbs is at 170. Jonny
> Gomes is at 213. If your starting pitchers all have ERA's north of 5.5 and
> non of your starting outfield is hitting above 220. You lose. That's pretty
> simple isn't it?
>
> You can't cash them all in. You have to keep running them out there and hope
> they turn around. but if you were a member of the front office....don't you
> think you would have to start asking yourself how many at bats can you sink
> into Jay Bruce?
>
> I know....the defense is good, but if Paul Janish can't get a starting job
> because he's gonna hit 200 as a shortstop.....how long can you let Jay Bruce
> hit 220? I know he was "best prospect in baseball" and all that, but....how
> long can you let him hit 220?
> Can you send him to Louisville?
>
> I know the short answer is you keep running him out there till he turns it
> around, but....well what if he doesn't?
>
> What would you do?
>
> dfs

That's what I said my concern was in the prediction thread at the
beginning of the season. Was the OF going to produce offensively and
my prediction was exactly a .500 record and now a different manager by
years end.

From: David Short on
On 4/25/2010 11:22 PM, john smith wrote:
> I have been the biggest Jay Bruce basher around here but jees David, the
> guy is finally showing some baby steps and is hitting the ball quite
> well over the last 10 games. I just don't see this guy as the biggest
> Reds problem now.

I hope you're right.

> Offensively, you take the salami away from Stubbs and he has been a big
> fat 0 on this team. He is the biggest reason this offense has been so
> inconsistent. I just don't see the swing on this guy. He is dreadful.

Have you seen the plays Stubbs is making in center? Even over the
television, this guys range comes through. I think he's a better
defender than Eric Davis was. Probably the best center fielder the reds
have had out there since Geronimo....He may be better than the chief.

It's not his fault Baker is batting him leadoff. I don't know if you can
keep playing him or not, but if you believe in pitching and defense you
have to keep him on the 25 and with a player that young, if he's on the
25, he should be on the field.

> Cabrera has been pretty bad with the glove but didn't the Reds scouts
> know this? Can you afford to play Janish if Stubbs continues to bat
> lead-off? I like Janish and believe he should get more time. But if
> management believed this, why sign Cabrera? I wish Hannigan would get
> more PT.

I think both Janish and Hannigan need to be playing a bit more than they
are. It's a quibble, not a "Fire Dusty" thing.

> As you pointed out the pitching has been horrendous sans Cordero and
> Leake. Good teams just don't go 20 games without at least one nice
> start. Remember them six shut outs in April last year? I don't Cueto is
> ever going to last as a starter. They already gave him an extra days
> rest this year.
>
> The team has gotten the worse pitching you can get through 19 games,
> being only 3 games under .500 is a blessing.

We are agreed.

> As far as Nick Massett versus Jared Burton. I feel Massett has
> tremendous stuff compared to Burton. He is too talented to keep failing.
> I wish Cueto would be in the bullpen mix.

When Burton was on, he was unhittable. That was a long time ago.

dfs
From: RJA on
On Apr 25, 10:36 pm, "David Short"
<David.No.Sh...(a)Spam.Wright.Please.Edu> wrote:
> Well, it isn't quite 20 games, but tommorrow is an offday.
>
> They're 3 games below 500 in 19 games. That's not good. The sweep by the
> Pirates really stings. Good teams don't get swept by the Pirates....so after
> 19 games it is revealed that this isn't a good team.
>
> The starting pitching was supposed to be the strength. How's that working
> out for you?
>
> The only red starter with an ERA below 5.5 is Leake. The good news
> is....Matt Maloney was pitching well in Louisville before he went on the DL
> with blister problems again. I don't know that I've ever seen a prospect get
> buried as fast as Maloney got buried this spring. I would love to know what
> happened.
>
> While Logan Ondrusek couldn't get anybody out. The big story in the pen is
> Nick Masset. Masset was going to be the 8th inning guy and when Cordero left
> he was going to be the closer. Isn't this exactly what happened to Jarred
> Burton? Boy thats an important role.
>
> Orlando Cabrera is not getting it done with the leather. There's no nice way
> to say it. Dusty really needs to start using Janish more.
>
> A great deal of the preseason hope around the reds was that their young
> talent could explode. Jay Bruse is at 180. Drew Stubbs is at 170. Jonny
> Gomes is at 213. If your starting pitchers all have ERA's north of 5.5 and
> non of your starting outfield is hitting above 220. You lose. That's pretty
> simple isn't it?
>
> You can't cash them all in. You have to keep running them out there and hope
> they turn around. but if you were a member of the front office....don't you
> think you would have to start asking yourself how many at bats can you sink
> into Jay Bruce?
>
> I know....the defense is good, but if Paul Janish can't get a starting job
> because he's gonna hit 200 as a shortstop.....how long can you let Jay Bruce
> hit 220? I know he was "best prospect in baseball" and all that, but....how
> long can you let him hit 220?
> Can you send him to Louisville?
>
> I know the short answer is you keep running him out there till he turns it
> around, but....well what if he doesn't?
>
> What would you do?
>
> dfs

Two things. First, if we win 2 of 3 against the Pirates, we're over .
500. That series was a bit strange because Rolen missed the whole
thing and then Votto had the flu or something one night and couldn't
play. There was at least one close game in that series that could
have tipped as a result.

Second, I don't think Jay Bruce is doing as badly as many think.
Early in the year, he was smoking the ball and hitting it right at
guys. They've been falling in for him of late and his numbers have
been on the rise. I can't see writing this guy off yet at age 23.
His patience seems to be improving and that should help.

I read that we're 5th in the NL in runs scored. The ineffectiveness
of the starting pitching and the toll that it's taking on the bullpen
is the main problem. Several of the hitters and pitchers will come
back to their career averages and that should only help. Not too
worried yet.

I do think that Hanigan needs to replace Hernandez. Janish looks
better at the plate but it's a small sample. He seems to hit the ball
hard though. If Cabrera continues with his current percentages, you
can't keep running Harang, Cabrera and Hernandez out there unless
payroll is making the decisions.