George Herron
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Reds Rant.
Posted by George Herron on June 24, 2009
Well the Reds lose again to the Blue Jays last night 7-5. And don’t be fooled, those 5 runs were an accident, this team just can’t hit! So in honor of yet another pitiful performance here are some quick rants about the ‘ol Redlegs.
- The Reds are now 34-35, one game below .500. This is the first time they have been below .500 since the first week in the season.
- Willy Taveras went 0-4 again last night making his June totals 4-50. Going back to May 15th he is an outstanding 12-102. Are you serious?
He is pointing to Dusty as if to say, "Hey look I can actually get on base!"
What does this guy have to do to get benched? FYI Chris Dickerson, only playing because in an American league park Dusty can use a DH, was 2-3 with an RBI. I can almost justify putting Willy out there if there are no other options, but Dickerson is playing great right now….PLAY HIM. Willy Taveras is about as cold as Ted Williams Head.
- This breaks my heart, but Adam Rosales is batting .198, time for a better option. I love the guys hustle and his heart, but that is not translating into good play right now. Harriston? Jerry has been mediocre at the plate and his defense is terrible at third, so that is not much of an upgrade. Todd Frazier is hurt and probably wasn’t ready anyway. So, are we just waiting for the currently rehabbing Edwin? Is that what it has come to? I just got that same feeling I got when I found
Yep that is about the way I felt.
out there was no Santa Claus, or when I was ten and came home from a weekend trip to my uncle’s house to find that my mom had given all my GI Joe, He-Man, and Star Wars toys to Goodwill, a part of me died.
- Micah Owings got beat up pretty bad last night. How bad you ask? About as bad as Levi Jones got beat up by Joey Porter and all his friends outside a night club, Levi has never been right since then. Micah gave up 6 runs and three more home runs last night. I know Dusty is in love with this guys bat, but if he can’t pitch, how is he helping us? If you want to go all Rick Ankiel on him and convert him fine, but either way he has to be shipped down. On the flip side, Homer Bailey (I say this knowing the miscues I have had in the past regarding this guy) might have finally put it together. He apparently has learned how to throw a split finger fastball from an outfielder of all people and has given up on his change up that wasn’t working and he was never comfortable throwing. Since developing this new pitch he has been lights out in Louisville dating back to May 18th. During that stretch, he’s allowed just 6 runs over 50.1 innings (1.07era, 12 walks, 45 strikeouts, .246 avg. against). Bailey ranks among league leaders in innings pitched (1st, 89.2), wins (2nd, 8), strikeouts (2nd, 82) and ERA (10th, 2.71). I think he deserves another chance in a Reds uniform and just in time since we need a starter for Saturday against the Indians. This will mark the third time Homer has been called up to face the Indians, that has to be some sort of record?
- Ryan Hannigan, although he is batting .325, he is still not able to win playing time over Ramon Hernandez who is batting .239. For anyone counting at home that is almost 100 points higher.
- Dusty Baker’s decision making process, if you can call it that. Oh and
Please denote the before mentioned wristbands and batting gloves. Ridiculous!
since we are on the subject and I am rolling…Dusty, you are NOT a player anymore, so you can take off the damn batting gloves and the damn wrist bands. You look as ridiculous as your decision to keep playing Taveras over Dickerson and Hernandez over Hannigan. And quit chomping on that damn toothpick.
- With Gonzalez out yet again, no surprise, why is Paul Janish not seeing some playing time? I mean he is an actual shortstop, so his defense and range might be an improvement over Harriston. And Harriston is about equal to Rosales defensively at third and gives you, at least right now, more offensively. So, since you are strapped, give Janish a go at short and let Harriston play third at least until EE gets back(I still can’t believe I said that).
And that about covers all my ranting on the Reds today. Really I think what it all boils down to is that Walt and Dusty need to have a little sit down and figure out how to get this train back on track. After losing EE, Joey and Edison to the DL I think this team just lost too much and has floundered since. It will help to get them all back and healthy, but Dusty’s managerial skills and choices HAVE to get better.
To end on a positive note, welcome back Joey Votto. I am sorry to hear what
High Fives all around for Joey!
you have had to go through battling depression and anxiety and I am sure that you are still fighting it, as you might for the rest of your life. But it was great to see you back on the field and playing ball again. It gave me hope that this team can turn around soon.
Ross said
Every day, either Chris Heisey or Todd Frazier is doing something to get the Carolina Mudcats a win. You can’t lose by calling one (if not both) of these guys up. Are they going to hit worse than Taveras? I very much doubt it. Frazier could play SS, 3B, OR Left Field! Get this guy some reps! Heisey has been lights out all season in Carolina.. Get these guys up for an opportunity and drop some of the mediocre 4A guys out