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Cincinnati Reds 2019 season (Black Hole)

worst offense north of Miami and yet the new hitting coach still has a job


Reds hitters are still struggling to generate hard contact. Their MLB ranks:

Avg. exit velocity (86.7 mph): Last
xBA (.222): Last
xSLG (.375): 29th
xwOBA (.293): 28th

Seven hitters with at least 40 batted balls are a full mph or more below league average:

Joey Votto - 87.3
Scott Schebler - 86.5
Kyle Farmer - 86.5
Tucker Barnhart - 86.2
Curt Casali - 86.1
Jose Iglesias - 84.7
Jose Peraza - 83.2
 
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Tanner Roark expresses frustration about early hook in Reds loss to Dodgers

JOHN FAY | CINCINNATI ENQUIRER | 20 hours ago
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BOBBY NIGHTENGALE, CINCINNATI ENQUIRER
Sunday’s game was the difference between a 3-3 and a 4-2 homestand, the difference between two straight series wins over first-place teams.



With that chance, the Reds played arguably their worst game of the season, losing to Los Angeles Dodgers 8-3 before a crowd of 31,016 at Great American Ball Park. The Reds' runs came on back-to-back home runs from Jose Peraza and Derek Dietrich with two outs in the ninth.

The loss wasn’t heartbreaking or even particularly disappointing. The Reds simply got beat by an outstanding pitcher. But it was another missed opportunity to build some momentum, maybe turn the corner on the season.


"It’s one of those games that you would’ve loved to have won the game," Reds manager David Bell said. "It’s just so important to keep it in perspective too. We put ourselves in a position where this was an important game today. That’s the good part. Of course, it’s disappointing.

"Overall, trying to keep the big picture in mind, we’ve put ourselves in a spot where we’re looking forward to going on this road trip and playing against two good teams and seeing how we match up."


Tanner Roark (3-3) started for the Reds and went five innings, allowing two runs on two hits. Walks ruined his line. Two of the three hitters he walked scored. He struck out seven. He was clearly upset about the early hook.

"No, I didn't want to come out," Roark said. "They had a different plan. Sometimes, everybody's not happy all the time. On to the next one. "


Roark prides himself on going six or seven innings.

"Absolutely, and I'm capable. I've done it against whoever I threw 113 pitches against. Their thought process was to try to score runs," he said.

Bell's philosophy favors getting a pitcher out before he sees hitters a fourth time.

"I'm a pitcher who throws as many pitches as they allow me to throw," Roark said. "Their thinking is their thinking, and my thinking is to stay in there as long as you can. I don't have the answer to that question."

Is it frustrating?

"What do you think?" Roark said.

Bell is OK that Roark wasn't happy to be pulled. They had a discussion in the dugout.

"I want that," Bell said. "I like that about him. It's good that we were able to talk, talk in the dugout, and explain it. I never want him to like it or accept it. But I do want to give him my thought process there and it felt like the right move.

"He could have gone back out, he is very durable, he could have gone back out and given us an inning, but right there it was all about trying to get back in it and score."


Roark was pitching on a day when he had to be good.

The Reds were facing Los Angeles left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu, who came in 5-1 with a 1.72 ERA. Over his last three starts, Ryu was 2-0 with a 0.36 ERA. He allowed nine hits, struck out 21 and walked one over 25 innings in those outings.

Ryu (6-1) ended up going seven shutout innings, extending his scoreless streak to 31. He allowed five hits, walked one and struck out five. He was working with a lead most of the game.


Roark walked Corey Seager with one out in the second. Alex Verdugo doubled to get Seager in.

A walk started more trouble for Roark in the third. He walked Joc Peterson with one out. Max Muncy followed with a single, sending Pederson to third.

Roark got a double-play ball off the bat of Justin Turner, but it went off second baseman Peraza’s glove for an error. Pederson scored to make it 2-0. Roark pitched out of it from there.


The Reds had a couple of mini threats against Ryu. The best came in the first. Nick Senzel led off with a single and stole second. Joey Votto was called out on a foul tip. He argued the ball did not hit the bat. Eugenio Suarez followed with a walk. Yasiel Puig hit a smash, but it was right at second baseman Kiké Hernandez, who started a 4-3 double play.

The Reds had a hit in each of the first five innings and advanced a runner to three times, but could not come up the big hit.

When Cody Bellinger hit the first pitch from Wandy Peralta out to center for a two-run homer in the seventh, the deal was pretty much sealed.

"The Bellinger home run was the difference in today's game, that kind of changed everything," Bell said. "We know he can hit. Wandy's been doing a good job. That really was the difference in the game even though the score was much different."

Peralta gave up another home run in the eight, and Robert Stephenson walked the first three batters he faced on the way to a three-run ninth.

https://amp.cincinnati.com/amp/3734...uWWHab9fl17xtlQSkWd3dg5B7ygEBYa2k_IYks-WOjj8o
 
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Reds hitters are still struggling to generate hard contact. Their MLB ranks:

Avg. exit velocity (86.7 mph): Last
xBA (.222): Last
xSLG (.375): 29th
xwOBA (.293): 28th

Seven hitters with at least 40 batted balls are a full mph or more below league average:

Joey Votto - 87.3
Scott Schebler - 86.5
Kyle Farmer - 86.5
Tucker Barnhart - 86.2
Curt Casali - 86.1
Jose Iglesias - 84.7
Jose Peraza - 83.2

Just from the eyeball test, I think it's approach based.

They all seem to be sitting on off speed and looking to adjust or are surprised by fastball.

That is, of course, the ass opposite of how anyone on earth has ever taught the approach of hitting so part of me still doubts this guy is teaching it but they seem to take more first pitch fastballs, and then be late on fastballs in general, than I can ever recall seeing.

Big picture though you only had 3 legit MLB hitters coming into the season. Puig, Votto and Suarez. Puig is a useless fuck of a damn fool donkey, Votto is being turked by father time and Suarez is still pretty good. The overall team powder puff exit velo doesn't surprise me at all seeing as they are all a bunch of utility infielder/4th OFer/backup catchers.

Anyone who bought into Peraza, Iglesias and cockSchlobber being good is dumber than the Reds brass. Which is saying something.
 
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Cincinnati Reds: Five takeaways from the six-game home stand


1. Suárez is finding his stroke

While many of the Cincinnati Reds’ hitters are struggling just to stay above the Mendoza line, Eugenio Suárez is hitting his stride. The Reds’ third baseman appears to be taking his rightful place as the most feared hitter in the lineup.

Suárez’s six games at home were not without their struggles, but overall, he was the star for the Reds during their return to the Queen City. Suárez went 0-for-7 to bookend the home stand, but was 6-for-16 (.375) in the other 4 games.

Eugenio Suárez was the Reds’ best offensive player during the series against Chicago. Geno had 5 hits, including a double and the game-tying homer in the second game of the series against the Cubbies.

On the season, Suárez is slashing .259/.339/.547 with 13 home runs and 31 RBIs. Suárez trails only Derek Dietrich in both slugging percentage and OPS. Suárez has 6 home runs and 15 RBIs in his last 15 games while hitting .328.

Suárez is heating up and giving the Reds a much needed reliable bat in the lineup. Geno’s defensive talents have also been on display of late. Eugenio Suárez is currently the best player on the Cincinnati Reds’ roster.

2. Zach Duke’s time in Cincy has run it’s course
It’s time. The Cincinnati Reds need to part ways with their embattled reliever Zach Duke. I was hopeful that Duke would straighten things out, but when key outs are needed, he’s not delivered. The Reds signed Duke to a one-year deal during the offseason and it’s time to cut that one year short.

Duke only appeared in two of the six games during the Cincinnati home stand, both against the Dodgers. Duke pitched two innings during Friday’s contest that was already out of hand. David Bell then brought Duke into yesterday’s game while there was still chance for a Reds comeback.

During Duke’s relief appearance on Friday, he didn’t strikeout a single batter and allowed one hit over two innings. That one hit was a solo shot by right fielder Cody Bellinger. To be fair, Bellinger might be the most difficult out in the National League right now.

Then came yesterday’s 0.1 inning performance. Duke was brought in to face the left-handed heavy Dodgers lineup, after all, that’s why he’s on the team. Duke walked Bellinger and then Alex Verdugo with a line out from Corey Seager sandwiched in between.

With Cody Reed toiling down at Triple-A Louisville, it’s time to make the switch. Reed was just sent back down following solid 2 innings against the Dodgers on Friday. Reed has a 2.08 ERA on the season, and with the struggles of Duke and Wandy Peralta, Cincinnati could use another solid lefty to join Amir Garrett in the bullpen.

3. DeSclafani has labored lately
The Cincinnati Reds’ rotation has been the strength of this team during the early going. However, Anthony DeSclafani’s poor performance on Friday afternoon is not a blip on the radar, but rather a second consecutive bad outing.Disco’s ERA is now sitting at 4.60, which is not awful, but it’s still below his career-ERA of 4.26. DeSclafani appeared to be hitting his stride as the month of May began, but back-to-back atrocious outings that saw Disco allow 4 home runs has got to be concerning for David Bell.

DeSclafani labored through 4 innings out in the Bay Area during the Reds’ 5-4 win over the Giants. DeSclafani allowed 4 runs on 8 hits and only struck out 2. Friday’s game at Great American Ball Park wasn’t much better.

Anthony DeSclafani went only 4 innings against the Los Angeles, and worse yet, he allowed 3 balls to leave the yard. Corey Seager, Max Muncy, and Joc Pederson all took Disco deep, and the game was out of reach by the fourth inning.

Over the last 2 games, DeSclafani is sporting a 9.00 ERA while allowing hitters to tee off on him at a clip of .378. His 2 previous starts saw Disco silence the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants with 11.2 innings of stellar pitching that saw him strike out 16 batters and post a 2.31 ERA. Disco has to get back on track.

4. Senzel is showing promise in the leadoff spot
Nick Senzel has shown on more than one occasion that he’s more than capable of holding down duties in center field. For all those questioning how quickly he could make the transition, I’m pretty sure he’s answered those questions. Now, we need to see if Senzel can handle the leadoff spot. So far, so good for the Reds’ rookie.

For the season, Senzel is hitting .250 with a .320 on-base percentage, 3 homers, and 7 RBIs. Those numbers don’t scream leadoff hitter, but David Bell has very options on his team right now. Collectively, the Cincinnati Reds are hitting are one point behind the Miami Marlins (.219) and sitting dead last in the National League with a .218 batting average.

Nick Senzel showed up in the home stand and racked up 7 total hits. Nick hit .280 for the series and reached base his first two times up to the plate in yesterday’s series finale against the Dodgers. Unfortunately, Senzel was unable to score yesterday, something he did in 3 of the other 5 games during the home stand.

Nick Senzel is getting on base. He’s reached base safely in the last 9 games that the Reds have played. He’s displayed power with his 3 homers on the season and he’s been able to hit to all areas of the field, negating the shift.

With José Peraza mired in a slump, Jesse Winker showing off his power, and Joey Votto striking out at an alarming rate, David Bell has virtually no other options other than Nick Senzel in the leadoff spot. So far, the rookie has held his own since becoming the table-setter for the Reds.

5. Bad bullpen is cause for concern

I think the most concerning thing to take away from this week’s six-game home stand was the performance of the Cincinnati Reds’ bullpen. There was more than one occasion when Reds relievers did not deliver and that has to be weighing on David Bell’s mind.

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Wandy Peralta gave up two home runs in yesterday’s tilt with the Dodgers. That was the first time in Peralta’s career that he’d given up to long balls. For the Reds’ sake, let’s hope it’s the last. Cincinnati cannot afford to have two lefties off their game.

Speaking of which, we already addressed the concerns regarding Zach Duke. Duke walked two out of three lefties he faced yesterday. His ERA on the season is 6.32, but it’s even higher against lefties (6.52). All three home runs given up have come against left-handers and Duke has more walks (11) than strikeouts (9).

For the first time all season, I think it’s fair to say that I’m concerned about Robert Stephenson. Bob Steve entered yesterday’s game and gave up 3 walks and 3 earned runs. He did have 3 strikeouts as well, but this is the second consecutive game where Stephenson has not been on his game. The four walks in the last two games has to have David Bell scratching his head.

Even the normally reliable David Hernandez gave up a solo shot in Wednesday’s game against the Cubbies. To his credit, Hernandez handled himself well in the next two outings during the Reds home stand as he struck out 2 batters and didn’t allow a hit.

https://blogredmachine.com/2019/05/20/cincinnati-reds-five-takeaways-six-game-home-stand/2/
 
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Here is the easiest way to look at what went so horribly, horribly wrong:

Scooter hasn't played yet

Votto, Puig and Winker all have negative WAR's.

Schebler and Kemp had negative WAR's and are gone. They were part of the FO's plan.

The only two MLB caliber players you have are Dietrich and Suarez. Senzel sure looks the part so far but let's see what happens when the league makes adjustments.

Other than that you've got a bunch of guys who would be utility IF and 4th OFers on any good team if they made it at all.

So a typical Reds AAAA roster but now the $25MM walk monster is toast and has 4 years left on his albatross of a contract.
 
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