Could not agree more. When I was a kid every team played on Memorial day.
Reds
- Thread starter mrschwump
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WTF. Lively pulled at 5.2 innings and 87 pitches. Cause one guy gets on. He struck out like 5 of 7 before that. How does it help a pitcher’s confidence knowing you’re likely to get pulled in the 5th no matter what. Lively was dealing tonight. Let him finish the inning.
ELDC with a walkoff homer. What’s it going to take?
Edit. Just said Senzel out with knee soreness. Would Senzel to the IL possibly? Maaaaybe?
Edit. Just said Senzel out with knee soreness. Would Senzel to the IL possibly? Maaaaybe?
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That Salami looming large now as Cruz is getting hammered.
Reds survive. Diaz gets the save.
The Steer SF fly to bring in Stephenson was huge as it turns out.
The Steer SF fly to bring in Stephenson was huge as it turns out.
It's about time Barrero had his signature moment as a Red with the way EDLC/CES are busting down doors to get up here. He needed this game and came out of nowhere with Friedl's injury. Will Benson had his best game yet with a triple, 2 singles. If the Reds could get those 2 up to .264 where Senzel is at now it would be a blessing with their athleticism and Will's speed. It's time to move on from Wil Myers when he gets over the kidney stones. Ben Lively has been nothing short of impressive and much needed with the state of the Reds starting pitching at times this year.
This is why not to give up on Barrero plus the guy is only 25, Benson too for that matter...young guy who hits lefty.
Senzel...LOL.
Something has to give to make room for ELDC at 3B. McClain is pretty much locking down SS for now, Have to think he's up here to stay barring a monumental slump or major injury. I think Senzel just needs to be moved at the trade deadline assuming his knee soreness isn't something more serious. He's put together a decent season that maybe they could get a little something for him. Do they just DFA Meyers and Newman to make way for EDLC and CES?
I think he's likely done. I hope they don't pander to Votto and cost CES ABs.
People who supposedly know this type of thing swear McLain's destined for 2B and that EDLC has generational SS talent. What will be interesting is to see if the Reds FO somehow avoids screwing this up. That would mean most certainly trading India for a mid-rotation SP. Couple of weeks ago I half-jokingly said Reds needed trade Senzel before he got hurt again. Looks like they may have waited too long.
This mini-run the Reds have been on is fun but you have to wonder how long it lasts. Nothing in Lively or Weaver's career shows they can have continued success over a 162 game schedule. Greene may be coming around which would be a huge plus but Ashcraft's been ineffective and who knows when Lodolo returns? That puts it on the shoulders of Williamson and maybe Abbott. The there's the whole thing with the BP. June should be a fun time watching this unfold!
Benson has always been the one that intrigues me and up until last night been kind of egg in my face for the preseason predictions where I was high on him. So last night was good to see. Feel like it will be a battle going forward for Benson, Barrero & Senzel to show who will be the most productive hitter and going to have to play the outfield, RF in particular and Friedl has CF for now while healthy. Just can't keep holding the likes of EDLC, CES and Hopkins for a couple of players doing too little, too late.
Re CF, I think for now anyway Freidl/Barrero platoon. Freidl really doesn't have a CF arm, we saw last night what Barrero brings.....his throw to McLain on relay was money and allowed McLain to throw out runner at the plate. Freidl doesn't have that arm ability. Freidl is the better hitter average-wise, Barrero has more power.
You look at Benson and think: "Wow!" Guy's a great athlete. If he can harness everything he can be an excellent player.
Think Senzel has no future on this team after this year. A .250s injury-prone singles hitter just doesn't cut it. He can play several positions but none at a high level.
As far as a Barrero/Friedl platoon I'm not sure that is the answer either. It doesn't do Barrero or Friedl any favors when Friedl's bat demands he be in the lineup everyday and Barrero starting against lefties playing as sparingly as he has over the past couple of weeks. I'll give you Friedl doesn't have the greatest arm but you're also talking about one of the Reds best hitters this year. Friedl and Fraley are both better off long term in LF but platooning both of them is not the answer either.
In the short term, I suppose you can live with Fraley in RF, Friedl LF to keep Jose in CF. The arm strength Barrero showed last night you could easily play all 3 of Fraley, Friedl & Barrero everyday if Barrero moved to RF like Kris Bryant & Tatis have. Senzel & Barrero are both better off on another team if they have aspirations of being an everyday player at the MLB level. With Benson just coming to the Reds organization and trading a 2nd Round pick for him, one would believe the FO is going to give him a longer leash. Stuart Fairchild has been getting more playing time in RF and all 3 of the left handed hitting outfielders Fraley, Friedl & Benson on the bench tonight vs LHP. If Fairchild can play RF, can't see why Jose would not be worth a shot.
No question Barrero can play RF but his range and instincts dictate CF. Hard to find both in a player. Fairchild is a filler, a 4th/5th OF. I like his peskiness.
Senzel managed to dodge a 98 MPH RHP last night with a "sore knee." And that's a problem for him...he can't catch up with a RHP who throws 95+. BTW, he's in tonight's lineup....vs a LHP.
Yeah, I just don't think they can trade India just yet. not even this season, until they can get someone with an equal level of offensive production. McClain is certainly meeting that criteria so far, but part of the reason they're on the run is because of what they are BOTH doing. India is too much of a team leader in the clubhouse to move him right now, he's part of the reason the team has the attitude and edge that they do.
As far as the starting pitching goes, I think they've been relying on too many young arms without some real quality veteran presence in the rotation. They've asked too much of the young guys and I think it's messed with their confidence and growth as players. Plus they all seem to fall off the cliff in the 5th inning because on top of their pitching, they have to keep looking over their shoulder to see if Bell will be coming out of the dugout to pull them.
This is the result of the Reds being caught in a situation with nothing but left fielders, desperately needing to transition infielders to the outfield with the lack of depth in the minor leagues and none of the current outfielders who are the same level talent as the ones Cincinnati had to replace with the All-Star starters Winker/Castellanos. It's a makeshift outfield at best riding the hot hand and platooning against RHP/LHP.
If it comes to trading India which I am strongly against without even attempting to move some of these infield prospects to the outfield, he needs to be the Reds representative at the All-Star Game to boost his trade value along with the ROTY much like the Reds did with Castillo going to AS Game last year before moving him at the deadline. If I am Krall, India is the next player signed to a contract extension. Like LeCure said last night, with McLain the defense has looked much better recently which has been one of the knocks against India. To me, he is the face of the Cincinnati Reds what Votto has been over the last decade plus. Who knows, if he is a career Red and they actually win something in the years to come, might even go as far as making him a team captain.
Reds missed a great chance last fall for giving some of these younger infielders OF time. Blew it big time IMO.
I think LF of the future is Steer which opens 1B for CES. Good athlete, good speed, nice arm.
Would be all for the Reds giving Steer a chance in LF. It was impressive to see Steer in the Marlins series go up the RF line and made a wonderful catch since he's been at 1B. Showed his range and has a good arm too playing each of the infield spots coming up through MILB.
Going to be hard to keep Encarnación down too much longer. Was 3-4 tonight in a Bats win including his 14 th homerun. Hitting .350. But Spencer steer is playing great at first for the Reds now. So many good young players they can't even find a spot for all of them.
Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand Could Haunt the Twins For a Long Time
While the Minnesota Twins paid a steep price when they traded for Tyler Mahle (three top-20 prospects), most considered the deal to be a good one as the Twins avoided trading away any of their top-five prospects in the deal. After all, there’s nothing more haunting for a fan base (or a front offi...
twinsdaily.com
Reds seem to have turned the corner but the schedule ahead is very tough with 10 games with the Brewers in the next 6 weeks or so, in addition to the Dodgers, Astros, Braves, and Orioles. Probably should temper my expectations huh? 🤣
Senzel now hitting .270, 2-4 and an RBI. Hitting .313 for the past month. Can plug him all over the diamond except catcher/1B which isn't a position of need with 3 of those & Steer at 1B with CES & Votto to come at some point. Have to give the man some credit. No he isn't the transcendent talent we were all told about but this Reds team wouldn't be in contention with him batting around the mendoza line of years past.
Games by Position in '23: 2B (5) 3B (31) LF (3) CF (15) RF (1) He gives the lineup much needed versatility and committed 1 error among all of those positions this year.
3 games behind in the NL Central. 2.5 GB in the Wildcard with some top prospects to come and productive players on the IL. I could see Arizona & Miami falling out of contention. The teams on the outside looking in that have the resources to spend, San Diego, St. Louis, San Francisco, Chicago & Philadelphia. I think the Reds are better than St. Louis and just swept the Cubs. San Diego is vastly underachieving. Wasn't that long ago San Francisco had one of the worst records in the NL. The Padres & Phillies aren't afraid to be aggressive at the deadline.
Games by Position in '23: 2B (5) 3B (31) LF (3) CF (15) RF (1) He gives the lineup much needed versatility and committed 1 error among all of those positions this year.
3 games behind in the NL Central. 2.5 GB in the Wildcard with some top prospects to come and productive players on the IL. I could see Arizona & Miami falling out of contention. The teams on the outside looking in that have the resources to spend, San Diego, St. Louis, San Francisco, Chicago & Philadelphia. I think the Reds are better than St. Louis and just swept the Cubs. San Diego is vastly underachieving. Wasn't that long ago San Francisco had one of the worst records in the NL. The Padres & Phillies aren't afraid to be aggressive at the deadline.
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Winning's nice but they've only completed a third of the schedule so a lot of ball left to play. Besides, Pirates have come back to Earth with a thud, could happen to Reds too. But the ability to hit HRs helps and that will only gets better once the FO gets off their dead ass and bring up EDLC/CES. How long will pitching hold up?
They haven't turned any corner. They will not remain consistent w/ this bunch of rec league players, daily batting order changes, and a platoon system that only Bell believes in. Throw in the "possibility" that your 2 best players are wasting away in the minors, and it is the usual recipe that is followed every single year.
75-87 is still their ceiling, and that is with excellent pitching.
The only problem is that right now, just about everybody is in contention for a wildcard to some degree. After getting swept by the Yankees, the Reds had just about the worst record in the NL. That's how thin the ice is. A 5 game losing streak and they're right back in the cellar. Win or lose today, this weekends series against the Brew Crew is pretty big and an opportunity to make a statement that they are going to contend this year with what they have. This Boston Series has been fun to watch.
Dang! At least let us have some array of hope.
Just bustin' yer chops. But you have to admit this season has been a far cry from what they went through last year and everybody went in expecting another 100 loss season. They've obviously performed above expectations this year.
Not really...getting excited over 1/3 of a season is like blowing out the candles of a cake before it has even baked. This team has a ton of problems.
I disagree with your post you got to give it time they brought up young players Steer and McLain are starting for the Reds. The other two are very close to being called up. are they a great team yet? No but they are making the right moves. If you call up CES and EDC where you gonna play them?
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