The 2nd third of the season

[JohnU]

The difference between contenders and non-contenders is winning close games on the road.

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

Scooter Gennett is already the greatest ever. I might have to buy his jersey. And I don't wear jerseys. That boy good.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

OUCH!!!

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

I had no expectations of even winning a game, so I can't get too upset. Even the Padres are about to lay the hammer down. It's just how it always is with the Reds and the west coast time zone.

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

 

[JohnU]

Homer will give some zealous fans the notion of stability but I don't see that he's a major factor.
Maybe next year.

maybe

 

[eburg5000]

The Reds haven't thrown many games away this season, But I'd have to say they meaning the bullpen did yesterday. That three game series was like a highlite reel for the Dodgers. Everything pretty much went their way.

I hope the Reds can do better against the Padres. I guess they can't do any worse

 

[Hit-n-Run]

The last two losses in LA were prime examples of how assigning roles to relievers can hurt a team.

Saturday Price holds back Iglesias hoping to use him with the lead in extra innings. The game is lost in the 9th inning.

Sunday he brings him in as the last stand. No plan b or reinforcements if things go awry with 5 outs remaining in the game. Iglesias struggles and is left for dead.

 

[JohnU]

I watched enough of that series to believe the LA hitters knew what was coming. No way Chase Utley should be beating anybody at this point in his career.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

The Dodgers scored a lot of runs for team that didn't get more than 10 hits in any one game.

Guys like Chase Utley only hit when pitchers fail to execute the game plan. There was a lot of that throughout the series.

The problem for Iglesias wasn't the Dodgers knowing what was coming, it was Iglesias not knowing where the ball was going out of his hand. The HR to Seager was the only hit he allowed.

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

 

[eburg5000]

This is a Road trip to hell.

 

[JohnU]

I think this validates my point from March when the Reds decided to somehow convince the fans that Bronson Arroyo would "eat innings" while the young players learned to pitch. It was stupid at the time and is proving to be even more stupid. If Stephenson and Romano and a few others are actually "learning" anything, it's that misplaced and stupid loyalty to players is not only embarrassing, but it's counterproductive.
The young pitchers could easily be learning to pitch in the big leagues and get shelled, just like Arroyo has. What was the point of this other than to prove beyond a doubt that it was a stupid idea.
I am happy Bronson is so loyal to Price, who is showing that he's won games because his hitters learned to hit, not that his pitchers got any special training.

 

[Hit-n-Run]

This is a Road trip to hell.

If hell is last place, then yeah they're heading in the right direction.

Half a game ahead of last place, but only 3.5 out of 1st place.

Nobody looks like they want to win this division.

 

[JohnU]

If hell is last place, then yeah they're heading in the right direction.

Half a game ahead of last place, but only 3.5 out of 1st place.

Nobody looks like they want to win this division.

Honestly I can see the Cardinals hanging in there and possibly winning it.
They have 3 pretty good starters and 4 better than average. If Wacha can pitch, they have a stable rotation. All they need to do is play better. I am seeing some flaws in the Cubs but their offense will overcome most problems. Either way, whoever wins it won't get 95 wins this year, not that it matters in a best of 13 at season's end.

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

This is definitely the season the Cardinals just win the division out of nowhere all the way to the World Series. Such bullshit.

 

[Ickey Shuffle]

@eburg5000 already pointed this out, but it needs to be said again.

Billy Hamilton has been hilariously abysmal. Everything was looking fine at first with him. He needs to get it together.

 

[JohnU]

Hamilton needs to be on base. Really, that's all.