Reds Tidbits (2007 Season)

[CookyPuss]

I PM'd O1B a rundown of the downtown Cincy bars. If anyone else wants that info, let me know.

Man, that hit on Lopez was vicious. I suppose this gives Keppinger regular PT at short. Phillips made a nice play there in the 9th. Welsh made the comment that there was "internal" debate over whether to move him to SS last season. I wonder if it was Narron who wanted to move him and WK who wanted him to stay put? Phillips looks like a better SS than Keppinger, so if they don't slide him over now, we know it will never happen. I like Kepp. If for some insane reason they trade EE, he looks like he could make a nice #2 hitter. Reminds me of a Todd Walker type. At least he should be a cheap replacement for Castro. Assuming Freel sticks around, they would have 2 bench guys who can cover every position except catcher. That's nice flexibility to have.

 

[jlb1705]

I like Keppinger so far too, but I think the people that are (already) calling for him to get a shot at being the everyday 3B are crazy. I want no part of Keppinger at 3rd. If Encarnacion isn't going to to be the guy there, I think the Reds can find a better power bat at that position (even thought there isn't one to be found anywhere in the Reds' farm system).

I get the feeling Keppinger might be a super sub like Freel, and may not fare well playing everyday. However, since this season is a lost cause and he pretty much has nothing else to prove below the major league level, I say give him the next two months to prove whether or not he can handle being an everyday starter. Like I said, I don't like him at 3B, but I am intrigued by the idea of sliding Phillips over to SS and playing Keppinger at 2B.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Scary incident wrecks Reds' mood
Lopez hit in face by pitch in eighth
Thursday, July 26, 2007 12:01 AM
By Jim Massie


The Columbus Dispatch

CINCINNATI -- The frightening part of baseball, the thing that lives at the edges of the game appeared in the bottom of the eighth inning last night in Great American Ball Park.

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Matt Wise silenced the crowd of 30,876 when he hit Pedro Lopez in the face with the first pitch of the inning. The Cincinnati Reds batter fell to the ground at home plate kicking his feet in pain.

By the time the trainers reached him, Lopez was bleeding profusely from the mouth with a distressed and hatless Wise standing nearby.​

Continued.....​

 

[jlb1705]

Saarloos...

I know I made a post that seemed like I was defending the guy before, but that really wasn't the case. He serves a purpose for the rest of this season (and not beyond that) in the proper role, and that role is as the mop-up guy in long relief. He should not be charged with protecting any sort of lead no matter how great, and should also not be charged with maintaining any sort of manageable deficit. His job should be to pitch when there is a 6+ run deficit and at least 5+ innings remaining when he enters the game. That's it. His job for the next two months should be to absorb a pounding whenever necessary so those worthless innings don't go on the arms of guys like Coutlangus, Burton or Coffey.

MacKanin put him in for Livingston in the 7th inning today with a one-run lead, after he had failed to retire the last seven batters he'd faced. Facing the bottom of the Milwaukee batting order, he give up a game-tying HR and then a four pitch walk. When MacKanin was walking out to the mound, I was kinda hoping somebody would follow him out there. After he took the ball from Saarloos, the guy who followed MacKanin out to the mound would then take his cap, and then call for a relief manager from the bullpen.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Saarloos...

I know I made a post that seemed like I was defending the guy before, but that really wasn't the case. He serves a purpose for the rest of this season (and not beyond that) in the proper role, and that role is as the mop-up guy in long relief. He should not be charged with protecting any sort of lead no matter how great, and should also not be charged with maintaining any sort of manageable deficit. His job should be to pitch when there is a 6+ run deficit and at least 5+ innings remaining when he enters the game. That's it. His job for the next two months should be to absorb a pounding whenever necessary so those worthless innings don't go on the arms of guys like Coutlangus, Burton or Coffey.

MacKanin put him in for Livingston in the 7th inning today with a one-run lead, after he had failed to retire the last seven batters he'd faced. Facing the bottom of the Milwaukee batting order, he give up a game-tying HR and then a four pitch walk. When MacKanin was walking out to the mound, I was kinda hoping somebody would follow him out there. After he took the ball from Saarloos, the guy who followed MacKanin out to the mound would then take his cap, and then call for a relief manager from the bullpen.

So that's 10 batters in a row who have reached base against him? Unbelievable. How can this sucky-ass bastage be option 1 in a 1-run game in the 7th? Un-fucking-real.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

Hattie!!!!

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

And this one belongs to the Reds!!!

 

[OSUBucks22]

Thank you Cincinnati!!

Signed,
Lou Piniella

P.S. Don't forget to let us sweep you this weekend... :)

 

[Bestbuck36]

Saarloos...

I know I made a post that seemed like I was defending the guy before, but that really wasn't the case. He serves a purpose for the rest of this season (and not beyond that) in the proper role, and that role is as the mop-up guy in long relief. He should not be charged with protecting any sort of lead no matter how great, and should also not be charged with maintaining any sort of manageable deficit. His job should be to pitch when there is a 6+ run deficit and at least 5+ innings remaining when he enters the game. That's it. His job for the next two months should be to absorb a pounding whenever necessary so those worthless innings don't go on the arms of guys like Coutlangus, Burton or Coffey.

MacKanin put him in for Livingston in the 7th inning today with a one-run lead, after he had failed to retire the last seven batters he'd faced. Facing the bottom of the Milwaukee batting order, he give up a game-tying HR and then a four pitch walk. When MacKanin was walking out to the mound, I was kinda hoping somebody would follow him out there. After he took the ball from Saarloos, the guy who followed MacKanin out to the mound would then take his cap, and then call for a relief manager from the bullpen.

Gotcha. Much better understanding this way. Still in my opinion a fresh faced kid with no experience would be better suited. Bring him up when the game has already been decided and see what he's got.


Unbelievable. The Reds won a game after trailing after 8 innings. What is the world coming to?

 

[Bestbuck36]

Thank you Cincinnati!!

Signed,
Lou Piniella

P.S. Don't forget to let us sweep you this weekend... :)

No chance. See thats the Cincinnati professional sports M.O. Wait until the season is lost and then play like champions. Bengals, Reds. It doesn't matter which. Thats the way they play. The other plan of attack is to be right there all year and then look like you've never played before, missing the playoffs barely.

Sorry Cubs fans. Not this weekend.

 

[NFBuck]

Anybody have any interest in Cliff Lee?

 

[Bestbuck36]

Anybody have any interest in Cliff Lee?

No thanks. We've got enough pieces of shit on this team already to fertilize the Serengheti plains!

"Sell crazy someplace else. We're all stocked up here."

 

[NFBuck]

No thanks. We've got enough pieces of shit on this team already to fertilize the Serengheti plains!

"Sell crazy someplace else. We're all stocked up here."

 

[OSUBucks22]

No chance. See thats the Cincinnati professional sports M.O. Wait until the season is lost and then play like champions. Bengals, Reds. It doesn't matter which. Thats the way they play. The other plan of attack is to be right there all year and then look like you've never played before, missing the playoffs barely.

Sorry Cubs fans. Not this weekend.

I guess we'll see... I expect the Cubs to win tonight, lose tomorrow to Harang (who pitches well against us), and win on Sunday with Zambrano going... Our goal is just to win series now... 2 out of every 3 and we'll be in great shape in September...

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

I guess we'll see... I expect the Cubs to win tonight, lose tomorrow to Harang (who pitches well against us), and win on Sunday with Zambrano going... Our goal is just to win series now... 2 out of every 3 and we'll be in great shape in September...

Reds are lucky to miss Lilly this series, but haven't had much success against Hill, either. I'm figuring the Cubs will win 5-1 tonight.