The 28 scoreless innings streak ends in the 2nd inning on a Votto double. Fraley goes yard an inning later for a 3-1 Reds lead.
Reds
- Thread starter mrschwump
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Looks like Lively is hurt again and the Reds will be going to the BP in the top of the 5th. smh
Reds OF defense continues to struggle. That's been a common thread for several years.
Swept. Left much to be desired in this series losing coming out of the break after dropping the series in Milwaukee. Makes the 24-26th series the last time they face each other in 2023 so much bigger. Have to be able to defeat your division foes and Milwaukee continues to be a thorn in the side. A chance to gain ground in the division and dropped the ball. Hopefully with Lively the injury is nothing serious. Lively is the best take away from the game is he put up back to back good starts only giving up 1 run to Milwaukee in each start. Seemingly has their number. Lifting Benson for Senzel lol Senzel to get thrown out by a country mile and another blunder in the outfield. Could not be dumber than if he ran the bases backwards.
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Senzel has worked very hard to improve. Time spent in the tattoo parlor is more important than anything. Gotta stay committed to the craft. Would like to see Elly and Steer get some sleeves of their own.
Thankfully done with the Brewers on July 26th but also a very tough schedule thru the end of the month. I don't see this team slumping long but I've seen too many Reds teams fold after the break as well.
Needed to do something to shake things up when moving players up and down the batting order hasn't worked with the anemic offense since the Sunday before the break. Reds inquired about Cease, Giolito & Lance Lynn lol of the White Sox and the asking price as expected unreasonable. May be able to get Scott Barlow as the closer of Kansas City for some bullpen help. Seeing what Chapman went for, have to think the Reds could get him without moving too much.
What's the criteria for the Reds HOF? when will Brandon Phillips be eligible? I doubt he'd ever make it to Cooperstown, but he should at least get a few votes at some point down the line. but definitely should be a shoe-in for the Reds HOF. I keep trying to think of who else over the past 20 years or so who would be deserving, but struggling to come up with some names past Votto and Phillips. I know there was/is a "Jay Bruce Sucks" thread on this forum somewhere, but for his time with the Reds, I have to think he'll get some consideration. Would Homer Bailey's two No hitters get him in there?
The EDC hype needs to take a break, especially from Sadak (worst TV guy ever) until we start seeing consistency. 1 for this last 16 (3 for his last 21) with a ton of K's, swinging at bad pitches, etc. The one great game a week is fine for highlights, but this team has way too many holes in the lineup to keep him hitting 4th on an every day basis. This is his second really bad stretch in the last month. Of course, with Bell managing this team into futility, changes are probably not gonna happen.
They leave it up to a fan vote and select media members on who gets into the Reds HOF but as far as how they get on the ballot here is the criteria https://www.mlb.com/reds/hall-of-fame/alumni/selection-process I could definitely see Jay Bruce getting in. Also would think Aaron Harang has a shot as the lone bright spot on some really bad teams in the mid-2000s. Could even see the Boone Brothers eventually. If Scott Rolen can make the ballot for his Reds tenure, have to think Frazier & Bailey could. Beyond those names, there could be a drought. Will have to reach back to the pre-BRM years-90 to add some names.
You don't hit over .300 and have an OPS north of 1.0, having one good game a week. Every hitter in Baseball cools off for stretches. 21 at bats is what? About 4 games? So what? The entire Reds team just went into the Freezer their last four games. As I've stated before on here, Lot's of great players were prone to striking out. Obviously his numbers over the course of the season tell a different story. One that says he deserves a shot as much as any of the others who were brought up as well. Was it you saying the same about EDLC too? Yeah, he too strikes out more than he should, but based on what you've seen would you send him back to AAA? How many records or highlight reel plays has be made in his short time up so far despite his propensity to strike out?
Edit: When I first read this I thought you were referring to CES and his callup. I hadn't looked at his most recent stats. Now I reread and see you were talking about EDLC all along. But my point about him still stands.
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CES called up due to Newman to IL with "gastritis"....that's a new one.
That ranks right up there when Sammy Sosa sneezed and threw out his back and a feather in a pillow scratched Terry Mulholland's eye costing them a trip to the IL.
Does this mean Steer to LF on a more permanent basis while Votto and CES platoon at 1B and DH?
Hoping we'll even see him used some at 3B while EDLC and McLain get shifted over 1 to SS & 2B if India's slump lingers on.
Surely we'll see Benson/Steer in LF and rid the world of Senzel and his Bad News Bears show. Have to think Senzel's on thin ice. He's kitting like .180 vs RHP, .230 overall and despite the apologist Sadak, Sensel's BA vs LHP has fallen like 100 points in the last month.
CES DHing tonight, Votto at 1B and Steer sitting. I think long term CES/Votto's role will reverse.
If the Reds website is accurate, looks like ELDC is leading off tonight, with Friedl and McClain sliding to 2nd and 3rd. CES hitting 7th. Steer needs a breather, he's been pressing and showing frustration.
Not sure if I like EDLC leading off or not. Guess we will find out.
It's not easy to get in any kind of rhythm at the plate as a pinch-hitter. Obviously Senzel is the odd man out in any realistic scenario. What I don't want to see is Steer having any lengthy bench time as arguably the team MVP in the first half.
Both Steer & Benson as hot as Benson has been since he was re-called. It would seem Benson would be the likely one to lose playing time to fit Steer in at LF on a routine basis. Can't see either Fraley losing playing time. Might see more of Benson at CF too depending on the production of Friedl going forward. Likely more than one will see less PT and that is a good thing to a degree to have multiple options and no one getting complacent if they want to play everyday.
Senzel at this point with all of the chances he has been given just needs to accept his super utility role off the bench for the remainder of his Reds tenure. Benson in there tonight but going forward I can't see him getting more run in LF if that is indeed Steer's main position on this team in the future.
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That's fair until we know how CES adjusts to MLB pitching but I like how Benson works pitchers also. India could use some temporary bench time as well but the whole team is in a funk.
Definitely need to get India some rest. 6th most plate appearances in MLB this year. Maybe this is why he is struggling with the daily grind. Hopefully his 2 hits tonight is a sign things are changing as he needs to step up the production with so many worthy options on this team now.
No real easy answer but to give everyone a day off more often to accommodate the infielders and anyone who wants to play LF. Senzel is an after thought which really leaves the only ones I want to see in CF Friedl or Benson when Steer is in LF. Players who have been hot like Benson stand to lose playing time for no wrongdoing when in all reality at the plate Friedl has cooled off more than any outfielder. Players who are slumping which happens to be multiple of them lately won't snap out of a cold spell riding the pine either. It will be this way until Votto is no longer here and someone else moved by the time Marte debuts in 2024.
Reds need a 3 or 4 game win streak to get back some mojo or I’m afraid that doubt starts to creep in and guys start pressing.
It's a long season, ups and downs are unavoidable. Old baseball saying is a bloop and a blast turns things around.
Especially in a rebuilding season and these guys are far from a finished product plus the makeshift starting starting rotation battling injuries throughout the season. Whether the Reds make the postseason or not, this season has played out better than any of us would have ever thought seeing the potential this team has at their best. Feel great about them making postseason run well into October if everyone is healthy in 2024. Could even still do it this year if this team ever gets fully healthy.
I'm as optimistic as I could have ever imagined being this season but something tells me 2025 is still the timeframe to challenge for a pennant. The Reds still have pitching and defense issues and the last time I checked were run by the same family. Plenty of time for mistakes to be made and overcome.
I would start to be concerned if it is taking some of these guys well into 2025 to get things going. If Greene, Lodolo, Ashcraft, India, Steer etc are showing the growing pains next season then there is cause for concern. I don't think they will be. Also, the money coming off the books after 2024, if the Reds stay the course promoting from within without relying on big time free agents then this is less of an issue with the team control on these young players.
They may not win it all this year, next year or ever but should be right in the mix going forward. As long as the Reds stick to the plan they have in place, don't get impatient they are in a winnable division and have one of the best farm systems to continuously reach down and fill holes like Tampa Bay does. The moment they get impatient, trading off for a bunch of then it is all for nothing. The path is clearly there and the analysts at MLB Network always point out the waves of talent that this is no one time fluke. Going with college players in the draft will only expedite the process.
They may not win it all this year, next year or ever but should be right in the mix going forward. As long as the Reds stick to the plan they have in place, don't get impatient they are in a winnable division and have one of the best farm systems to continuously reach down and fill holes like Tampa Bay does. The moment they get impatient, trading off for a bunch of then it is all for nothing. The path is clearly there and the analysts at MLB Network always point out the waves of talent that this is no one time fluke. Going with college players in the draft will only expedite the process.
Defense is a real problem. If I'm an opponent I'm telling my guys to run on Freidl at every turn. Freidl has nice speed, reads well, anticipates well and gets excellent jump on ball but has a wimpy arm. His arm is better suited for LF. Made throws vs Brewers in last game of series that were really costly. Reds may need to upgrade there.
I feel like this 2023 Reds team is further along than the 2009 Reds team who finished with a strong 2nd half after debuting top prospects and won the NL Central in 2010. Would rather get Benson some time in CF to see if he is an upgrade there before deciding whether or not to spend big at the deadline or over the winter for a rental. Fraley & Friedl are both better off in LF and the Reds should be looking to add a RF with an impact bat. Not sure that Steer is the answer in LF as he is learning a new position on the fly but to play him everyday to keep the best offense on the field the rest will be sacrificing somewhere and that appears to be defensively in the outfield. There is depth in the pipeline with SP and I don't expect to be fooling around with the likes of Weaver in 2024 and Lively can be shifted into the bullpen.
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If Friedl isn't hitting, I sit him. Plain and simple. .246 over the last month and .120 in the last week with his weak arm. If the Reds want to switch him & Benson around to see how that works, worth a shot.
The Castellini problem is never going away. Just need for them to let Krall continue to do his thing and the trajectory of this team under his watch with the transactions made since last season has this team sitting well. I realize there is still work to be done but this is the most optimistic I have been about a Reds team with so much young talent. Even more than the Dusty years when that was pieced together by solid veterans but none that were able to get the Reds over the top. We'll see what happens in 2024-25, hopefully they can do something in 2023 still. Winning a postseason series would be a start for the drought this franchise has had.
The money coming off the books is best spent signing contract extensions. If and when the Reds have to move certain players they can no longer afford, obviously they will be get a shit load of prospects in return to add to that 'wave'. Reds can't ride both sides of the fence throwing away all of their prospects who are the ones responsible for getting the Reds to this point, wiping the deck clean of everyone for an overpriced rental then are left with nothing in the minors once the rental they were traded for walks away. We've seen this too many times. It's why a different approach, promoting from within needs to happen and people be patient.
If they weather the storm through July, the 2nd half schedule in August-September eases up and don't have to play Milwaukee anymore. Will make the series a little over a week from now so huge to gain back any ground head to head.
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One would have to wonder if the Reds don't revisit this at some other point in the future when games that don't matter aren't on the line like ST and can give him some real run to learn the position with the crowded infield logjam. Still see him as the 1B of the future but some outfield versatility like the Marlins Garrett Cooper would be huge. Anyone who wants to claim the RF spot playing great defense and can hit would be a welcomed sight. Rece Hinds has made huge strides this year playing RF and brings some power. If he can make it to AAA this year, maybe at some point he join the Reds next season. I don't know the rules on participation in the AZFL but he was there last year. If he could play there some more like McLain last year too or winter ball anywhere, might fast track him to Cincinnati.
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