(04-20-2016 07:43 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(04-20-2016 10:10 AM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  

(04-20-2016 08:26 AM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(04-20-2016 06:49 AM)SuperFlyBCat Wrote:  

(04-19-2016 09:05 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Of course he gives up a two run bomb but he squeaks out the save. Stephenson 2-0.

and Iglesias, Finnegan have good stuff. Need Bailey, DeScalfani, Lorenzen etc back soon.

Not gonna see Lorenzen anytime soon. The dude dropped 20lbs from his recent bout of Mononucleosis.

Yeah it sounds like it will be a few weeks before he gets back. It's unfortunate because I could see him grabbing the closer position if he was full strength as Hoover doesn't seem suited for the closer role. Don't forget Moscot is also hopefully coming back soon with Homer and Disco. In other Reds pitching injury news, Cody Reed went on the DL. He has a lacerated finger so hopefully it's a short term thing. He might just end up as the best pitcher of all those mentioned above.

Lamb (Cueto trade) is also coming off the DL soon - throwing simulated innings similar to Bailey. I know Lamb is unproven but I like his upside potential. Time will tell but he adds depth to our young arms department. I also saw Diaz got sent down to AAA. He's not been much better than Hoover in giving up the gopher ball.

Momentarily forgot about Lamb as I kept thinking I was missing somebody. I agree with you about Lamb. Guy misses bats and doesn't walk many which is a huge part of the recipe for success imo. He's the most underrated guy of all those mentioned above imo. Speaking of underrated, how great is that Cueto trade looking right now for the Reds (and I love Cueto)?

No guarantees of course, but this next generation rotation is showing the makings of shaping up very well probably starting in 2017. Iglesias, Bailey, Reed, Stephenson, Disco and/or Lamb, Finnegan, Moscot, Lorenzon (though I'm thinking bullpen for him), plus maybe Garrett soon after. IF they stay healthy and keep developing, that's a lot of pieces to put together a quality rotation that can win some games while the leftovers restock the bullpen.

As a saber guy, it's a given that I think the value of conventional closers tends to be overrated but it's really about putting players in their appropriate roles and that includes recognizing that stats have to be taken in context. In theory, it shouldn't be any harder pitching in the 9th inning than in the 6th, but the mind can be a funny thing. I think both Hoover and Diaz can pitch in the bigs, but at this point it's more than fair to question their make-up to close games. Unfortunately this team doesn't have a lot of options right now. I like Cingrani, but he's currently our only lefty in the pen and I'm not even sure if he's the right guy either right now. I kind of like the idea of giving Simon a shot or Lorenzen when he gets back down the road.

(04-20-2016 07:52 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Chicago 11- 4
Cincinnati 8-7
St. Louis 8-7
Pittsburgh 7-7
Milwaukee 6-8

Ok. It's a long season. Lots of games to be played. A lot of games. Still in April. Yes, the Redlegs will likely finish the season near the bottom of the division. But, I like how this team is younger and scrappy and if our young arms can continue to develop....and the young bats can hit consistently...could end up a better year than expected. There, sincere optimism gentlemen.

Schebler, Barnhart, Duvall..............too much young white privilege.

The key to this being a quick rebuild and being competitive in 2017 is the offense. They've got a lot of good starters potentially. The issue is that our offense isn't good now and aside from Winker there's no help in the upper minors. Hopefully a close to ready college bat is available at #2 and some of our pitching stockpile gets used as trade bait for hitting.

Redlegs take the opener against the Cubs. You read it first here.

Reds out draw FC Cincinnati...because the Cubs fans travel.

You heard it here first.

(04-21-2016 03:58 PM)Bearcat Otto Wrote:  Reds out draw FC Cincinnati...because the Cubs fans travel.

You heard it here first.

Later tonight....

Finnegan 2-0
Arrieta 3-1

(04-21-2016 03:58 PM)Bearcat Otto Wrote:  Reds out draw FC Cincinnati...because the Cubs fans travel.

You heard it here first.

I would say a better reason is that FC Cincinnati is on the road this weekend.

Starting Lineup...

Cozart, SS (.432)

Suarez, 3B (.291/4 HR/10 RBI)

Votto, 1B (.182)

Phillips, 2B (.347)

Bruce, RF (.293/4 HR/15 RBI)

Mesoraco, C (.161)

Duvall, LF (.294)

Schebler, CF (.182)

Finnegan, P (.571)

Wow, the Cubs are just punishing Finegan tonight. I do like the effort so far this season. I expected better bullpen work. However, the season is young. Our hitting has been a pleasant surprise.

More games like this, please.

The fight for the #1 pick is on!

@ckamka: Jake Arrieta last 24 regular season starts:
20-1, 0.86 ERA, 178.0 IP, 91 Hits, 173/33 K/BB, 0.697 WHIP.
These are REAL numbers. #Cubs

(04-21-2016 03:53 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  Redlegs take the opener against the Cubs. You read it first here.

No more predictions!

Brutal yes. Tip your cap to Arrieta and to the Cubs. Flush it down and lace it up again tomorrow. Reds even the series - book it!

It's baseball....in April. Who cares. MLB is stale.

This is funny. I'm in Chicago. In a big sports bar getting a drink and dinner. Watching the game. Place is packed. 10 big screens on the Cubs-Reds game.

At 8:00 local time, literally all of the TVs turn over to the Blackhawks pre-game talk show. I tell the bartender that it's the 6th inning and there is a no-hitter in the works and ask if one TV can be switched to the Cubs game and I'm very politely told that nobody in there generally cares. We watched the talk show.

Not surprising, the Blackhawks are winners and playoff hockey coverage trumps regular season baseball.

What a night for Chicago sports fans.

Kane is a God.

(04-22-2016 08:23 AM)Coopdaddy67 Wrote:  Not surprising, the Blackhawks are winners and playoff hockey coverage trumps regular season baseball.

What a night for Chicago sports fans.

Kane is a God.

I've always suspected Coop was a closet Chicago fan. He'll be wearing his Cubs stuff come October / November.

(04-21-2016 06:41 PM)OhioIsMySacredHome Wrote:  Wow, the Cubs are just punishing Finegan tonight. I do like the effort so far this season. I expected better bullpen work. However, the season is young. Our hitting has been a pleasant surprise.

I jinxed it when I said pleasant surprise in the early innings last night.
That was a beating that will take awhile to recover from. An absolute curb stomping

How JJ Hoover continues to be on a major league roster, much less gets playing time, is completely beyond me

(04-22-2016 08:52 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  I've always suspected Coop was a closet Chicago fan. He'll be wearing his Cubs stuff come October / November.

Better chance of the Browns winning the AFC North this year.