CSNbbs

Reds hoping to even score vs. Tribe in Ohio Cup

By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com | 6/29/2011 6:55 PM ET

The Ohio Cup resumes Friday at Great American Ball Park, and the Reds are looking for a better outcome this time around.

Overall, the Reds are 5-10 against the American League this season, but they are coming off a series victory against the Rays in St. Petersburg. The Indians swept the Reds in their last meeting.

"We want to salvage this Interleague before we think about leaving it," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "If you think about leaving it, that's kind of conceding what you've got left."

The Reds will send Bronson Arroyo to the hill Friday. Arroyo has allowed 20 home runs this season, and he was charged with five runs on nine hits, including four home runs, in 6 1/3 innings against the Orioles in his last start. He's 5-3 with a 3.61 ERA in eight career appearances against the Indians.

Cleveland starter Justin Masterson was stellar in his last start, allowing one run on four hits in 6 1/3 innings against the Giants. However, he still has not won a game since April 26 -- a drought that has now stretched to 11 starts. Over that period, the righty has fashioned a 3.34 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP. Masterson has pitched into the seventh inning eight times, and has notched seven quality starts during that span.

"We know how good he's pitching," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "The numbers are there. We don't grade these guys or pay that much attention to wins and losses, because we know there's only so much they can do."

Acta, who managed in the National League, also knows Masterson will have to change his strategy pitching in an NL park.

"You just can't approach an eighth hitter in the NL the same way you approach it in the AL," Acta said. "It takes a 'makeup guy' to hit eighth, knowing he's not going to get that many pitches to hit in certain situations with a pitcher on deck. And actually, the way you start pitching guys starts [around] the seventh hitter ... you start to anticipate how many outs you'll have when the eighth hitter comes up, and if you can push the envelope. That's the thing. It's just the approach."

Indians: Acta confident in Brantley
Michael Brantley snapped a 0-for-13 skid with a single in the second inning Wednesday. Acta said he is not worried about his center fielder.

"It's the ups and downs of the season. He just got three hits the other day when he came off of those couple days off," the manager said. "They pitch him well, these guys pitch well. [Ian Kennedy] was very poised, he was able to pitch backwards, never gave in on 3-2 counts, and was able to throw breaking balls in 3-2 counts, and pitched him well."

• Masterson is 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA in his only start at Cincinnati, and is 0-2 with a 6.94 ERA for his career against the Reds.

Reds: Hanigan returns with a bang
Out since Saturday because of a sore lat muscle near his back, Ryan Hanigan was back in the Reds' lineup on Wednesday, and the catcher went 2-for-3, including a three-run home run, in the 4-3 win. Ramon Hernandez had caught the previous three games.

• Left-handed pitcher Matt Maloney, on the 60-day disabled list because of a broken rib, threw 35 pitches off the mound on Wednesday in Cincinnati.

Worth noting
• Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips needs three hits to reach 1,000 hits for his career. Shortstop Edgar Renteria has 899 RBIs in his career.

• The Indians are 9-6 against the NL this season. Last year, they went 5-13.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp...Id=rss_cin

Arroyo plush doll sneak peek/More Reyes chatter
12:55 pm, Jun 30, 2011 by nhurm

Via Twitter, the Reds sent out a picture of the Bronson Arroyo plush doll they’ll be handing out to kids during Sunday’s Reds-Indians game.

We’ll let you debate what you like better – the plush doll or Arroyo’s cover of STP’s Plush.







Olney on Reyes

Buster Olney added fuel to the Reds-Mets Jose Reyes trade rumors fire today, writing ‘Walt Jocketty may be aggressive enough to make deal happen.’

John Fay has responded to 1,125,631 people the scenarios why the trade to the Reds is highly, highly unlikely to ever happen – but if you hear the rumors picking up again, that’s probably why.

Former Red designated for assignment

Mike Cameron was designated for assignment today according to the Boston Globe. According to the site, Cameron is in the final year of a two-year, $15.5MM deal with Boston and earns $7.25MM in 2011.

Great American Ball Park review

Paul Swaney from the web site http://www.stadiumjourney.com recently posted a review of Great American Ball Park. He gave GABP relatively high rankings Check it out.

Final thoughts: Great American Ball Park is a moniker bestowed by a corporate sponsor, but the name is apt indeed. It is a celebration of the great American pastime in a wonderful baseball town. Within 5-6 hours circumference you will find other outstanding towns like Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Nashville, and St. Louis. Cincinnati should be a baseball destination for anyone within that circle.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2011/06...s-chatter/

No King James on diamond
2:27 pm, Jun 30, 2011 | Written by jfay

My Sports Illustrated was waiting for me at home. It’s the “Where Are They Now?” issue, my favorite of the year.

The MLB Poll cracked me up, however. The question: “Which athlete in another sport would make the best baseball player?”

Michael Vick led with 16 percent. LeBron James was next at 13 percent.

Just after James was drafted, he took batting practice with the Reds in Cleveland. There was some kind of Nike-Ken Griffey Jr. connection. Anyway, James was the single worst hitter I’ve seen among athletes taking BP. He looked like he had never swung a bat. He hardly got any out of the cage. Tom Hume was throwing. He kept slowing it down and down. Finally, he was just trying to hit James’ bat.

This was before iPhones that took video or you’d be able to find on You Tube.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2011/06...n-diamond/

4 Bats make All-Star Game
4:08 pm, Jun 30, 2011 by jfay

From the Louisville Bats:

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The International League All-Star team was announced this afternoon for the game that will culminate on Wednesday, July 13, in Salt Lake City. The Louisville Bats will be represented in the game by four members of its current roster. OF Jeremy Hermida, OF Yonder Alonso, SS Zack Cozart and C Devin Mesoraco will represent the Louisville franchise in this year’s game.

This is the first time since 1994 that Louisville has had four players selected for the All-Star Game. In that 1994 season, LHP Steve Dixon, RHP Gary Buckles, INF Allen Battle and INF Scott Collbaugh were chosen to represent the Louisville Redbirds. It has happened one other time in franchise history in 1993 when the Redbirds also sent four players to the game.

This is OF Jeremy Hermida’s first Triple-A All-Star Game selection and his second career Minor League All-Star selection. In 2004 as a member of the Florida Marlins Double-A affiliate, he was selected to the Florida State League All-Star Game. In 2011, Hermida is has a .344avg with 7hr and 30rbi. The .344 average is good for a tie for first in the International League.

OF Yonder Alonso will be appearing in his first career Triple-A All-Star Game. This will be his second career All-Star selection in his minor league career. The other was in 2009 as a member of the Sarasota Reds when he was selected to the Florida State League All-Star Game. In 2011, Alonso has a .299avg with 9hr and 42rbi. His .299 batting average is good for fourth best on the team with a minimum of 200 at-bats.

SS Zack Cozart has been selected to his third career minor league All-Star Game and it will be the first time he has played in the annual IL – PCL showdown. He was a 2009 Southern League All-Star while with Carolina and a 2008 Midwest League All-Star while a member of the Dayton Dragons. In 2011, Cozart has a .321 avg. with 7hr and 30rbi. He also is second on the team and third in the International League with 26 doubles.

This will be C Devin Mesoraco’s first career All-Star Game selection at any level of professional baseball. Entering the 2011 season as the Reds third-best prospect according to Baseball America, Mesoraco hasn’t missed a beat from his 2010 season that saw him named the Reds Organization Minor League Player of the Year. In 2011, he has a .315avg with 8hr and 46rbi, including a team and International League leading 28 doubles.

Along with being named to the International League All-Star team, Alonso and Mesoraco have both been named to represent the Reds organization in the 2011 MLB Futures Game. This is the second time Alonso has been selected to represent the World team in the game. Mesoraco will be making his first appearance on the USA roster.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2011/06...star-game/

Landscape to determine Reds' Deadline outlook
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | 06/30/11 1:59 PM ET

The Reds have been a middling team getting only modest results in the win column this season. Yet they are very much in the hunt to repeat as National League Central champions.

Like they have in the past, general manager Walt Jocketty and manager Dusty Baker have demonstrated maximum patience. But as the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline approaches, it's historically been a good time to make upgrades to boost a club.

Sometimes that's easier said than done, especially with the current landscape.

"Right now, I was talking to our scouts, it's very quiet," Jocketty said. "There's little talk going on. The GMs I've talked to have said the same thing. There's not much happening."

Blame parity, as 20 Major League clubs are currently contending in their respective divisions. Several more teams are still on the cusp and not ready to wave the white flag.

"Clubs that are borderline don't want to give up players, because they're still trying to win games," Jocketty said. "It's getting harder and harder to make deals midseason, because clubs are trying to sell tickets and get people to come to the ballpark, and they don't want to dismantle their clubs and erode their fan base. It makes it tough."

The Reds are the NL leaders in runs scored and rank high in batting average, but there is room for improvement. The club does not have an everyday left fielder, although the three-way mix-and-match system of Jonny Gomes, Fred Lewis and Chris Heisey has stepped up offensively lately. At shortstop, Paul Janish and Edgar Renteria haven't hit well, and neither player has a home run yet this season.

Regarding the pitching staff, the rotation ranks near the bottom among NL staffs in ERA, but it has also come on lately. Johnny Cueto has emerged as a No. 1-type starter, but the Reds lack an experienced or undisputed ace.

Rumors that the Reds have kicked the tires on Padres left fielder Ryan Ludwick and Mets shortstop Jose Reyes are false, according to Jocketty. He indicated the time hasn't come yet for an aggressive move.

"Right now, I don't know if there's anybody out there that makes sense for us," he said. "There are a lot of rumors about guys being available, but that's not necessarily true. And if they are, the price tags are ridiculous."

The Reds made no Deadline deals last season, but Jocketty wasn't sitting on his hands either. He aggressively engaged the Mariners last July in trade talks for left-handed ace Cliff Lee. Although what was offered in return was never revealed, Cincinnati's package of players and prospects was viewed as attractive.

Lee ended up going to the Rangers and helped Texas reach the World Series.

Even though Jocketty normally plays his intentions very close to the vest, he conceded that changes could more likely come from within the organization rather than a trade. The Reds have a vast wealth of hitters at Triple-A Louisville who have made good cases that they deserve promotions.

Up to this point, there has been no vacancy on the roster for shortstop Zack Cozart, slugger Yonder Alonso, outfielder Dave Sappelt or catcher Devin Mesoraco. Other prospects waiting for another call back to the big leagues include Todd Frazier and Juan Francisco.

"My first priority would probably be to go from within the organization before we go outside," Jocketty said. "It makes more sense, both from the standpoint that the guys have worked hard and deserve an opportunity, but also economically, it makes more sense."

Of course, those same prospects could serve as attractive trade chips if the Reds were so inclined. Trying to stick with a long-term plan of stability and contending, the club has been resistant about moving its top young talent.

"We've hit a lull right now, but we still feel the guys we have are capable of playing," Jocketty said. "We've got a few guys that are about to pick it up, we'll see what happens."

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=...Id=rss_cin

Dragons' Renken fans 10 in a row
Reds prospect ties league record, totals 14 strikeouts
By John Parker / Special to MLB.com
06/29/2011 11:10 PM ET


(Dayton Dragons)
Daniel Renken took over the Midwest League lead with 106 strikeouts.

Dayton teammates Daniel Renken, Josh Smith and Daniel Corcino have been jockeying for the Midwest League strikeout lead all season. On Wednesday night, Renken vaulted into first place with a stunning record-tying performance.

Renken matched the Dragons team mark with 14 strikeouts and matched the Midwest League record by fanning 10 in a row as Dayton cruised past the visiting Lansing Lugnuts, 7-1.

The 21-year-old right-hander pitched six shutout innings, allowing two hits and a walk.

"It was kind of a freak thing, getting all those strikeouts," Renken said. "I got away with a few bad pitches and got a little lucky. Sometimes it happens like that."

The Dayton club mark was set by Josh Hall against Cedar Rapids on Aug. 7, 2001. Only one other Midwest League hurler has ever struck out 10 straight hitters: Burlington's Art Groza did it against Dubuque on May 22, 1966.

Decatur's Robert Sprout holds the league record for strikeouts in a game, fanning 22 Waterloo hitters on Aug. 18, 1960.

"I had no idea about any of the records, but at some point in the third or fourth inning it occurred to me that I was striking out more batters than usual," Renken said.

The 14 strikeouts gave him 106 over 84 1/3 innings. He leads Smith, who has made one fewer start, by 11 for the league lead.

"Josh and I kind of joke about it because neither of us really want the notoriety of being the league leader," Renken said. "If one of us goes ahead, the other will say thanks for taking over as 'King of the Ks.'"

Renken, the Reds' 25th-round pick in 2010, entered with a 2-8 record, 4.25 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 78 1/3 frames. He'd lost four of his previous five starts, including a June 7 outing at Clinton, where he gave up one run over seven innings.

Renken's toughest inning Wednesday was the first, despite the fact that he fanned three in the frame. After leadoff man Markus Brisker went down swinging, Carlos Perez singled to right. Jake Marisnick reached on an error by shortstop Billy Hamilton and Renken fanned Marcus Knecht, but K.C. Hobson reached on Hamilton's throwing error to load the bases.

The Cal State-Fullerton product took matters into his own hands and set down Michael Crouse to end the threat.

That was the start of Renken's record-tying string as he went on to fan the next nine batters, culminating with Crouse, who went down looking to end the fourth. After four innings, Renken had 12 strikeouts.

Matt Nuzzo led off the fifth with the Lugnuts' second hit, an infield single, to end Renken's run of Ks. Bryson Namba became strikeout victim No. 13 before Garis Pena grounded into an inning-ending double play -- Lansing's' first non-strikeout outs.

Renken walked Markus Brisker to open the sixth, then got a flyout and forceout. With action in the bullpen and his pitch count approaching, Renken fanned Knecht on three straight pitches for his record-tying 14th strikeout.

Renken (3-8) was the beneficiary of solid run support from the Dragons, who scored five runs in the second and added one in the third.

Donald Lutz led off the second with his 11th homer and David Vidal single to knock out Lansing starter Sean Nolin. Reliever Sean Strickland yielded a triple, double, two singles and two walks to go along with two wild pitches in the frame.

Vidal doubled and scored on Tucker Barnhart's single in the third to give the Dragons a 6-0 lead.

Yorman Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs, while Juan Duran doubled, singled twice and drove in a run for Dayton.

Nolin (1-2) took the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in one inning.

John Parker is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/...Id=rss_cin

Farmers Only: In the time it took you to read this headline, Daniel Renken struck someone out

by BK on Jun 30, 2011 8:00 AM EDT in Farmers only

*Louisville lost 3-1 to Gwinnett. Dontrelle Willis started and went 6 1/3 innings, giving up 1 run and striking out 6 in the process. Another solid start, and Brad Boxberger made his AAA debut, getting the final 2 outs in the 7th. Jeremy Horst came in and surrendered 2 runs in the 9th, which wouldn't have been a big deal if the offense could get anything together. Juan Francisco and (surprise, surprise) Zack Cozart had 2 hits each. Up next: Chad Reineke takes on Braves super prospect Julio Teheran tonight at 7:05. Not a bad day to watch on an off day if you ask me.

*Carolina lost to Tennessee 3-1. Neftali Soto went 2-for-4 and didn't hit any homers, because I clearly jinxed him. James Avery pitched 6 1/3 innings and gave up 3 runs, 2 of which were earned. Up next: Tim Gustafson takes the hill against Tennessee at 7:15.

*Bakersfield lost 4-3 to Stockton. Curtis Partch went 7 innings in his start, giving up 4 runs and striking out 5. Mark Fleury led the offense, going 3-for-4, and Ryan LaMarre drove in 2 runs. Up next: J.C. Sulbaran goes against Stockton at 10:05.

*Dayton beat the tar out of Lansing 7-1 behind a dominant pitching performance by Daniel Renken. Renken pitched 6 shutout innings, only allowing 2 hits and 1 walk. The big story here is that he struck out 14 hitters, including a stretch where he put down 10 in a row, a team record. He's currently leading the Midwest League in strikeouts (interestingly, holding a 11 K lead over teammate Josh Smith). A 25th round pick from last year, he's holding up an absurd 11.3 K/9 ratio, and should absolutely be in Bakersfield. On offense, Juan Duran and Yorman Rodriguez had 3 hits each, and Zinzinnati's favorite German baseball player Donald Lutz hit his 11th homer of the year. Up next: Kyle Lotzkar takes on Bowling Green at 7.

*Billings lost 4-2 to Helena. Ismael Guillon had control problems again, walking 6 for the second start in a row, but only gave up 2 runs in the 4 innings he pitched. El'Hajj Muhammad stepped up and pitched 3 shutout innings of relief. Kyle Waldrop and Kurtis Muller had 2 hits each, and Devin Lohman homered. Up next: Wes Mugarian takes on Helena at 9:05.

*The AZL Reds beat the AZL Royals 14-6. Brandon Dailey went 3-for-4 with 2 walks and 4 RBI, as the team collected 14 hits in all. Daniel Tuttle started and gave up 4 runs (3 earned) in 5 innings, with 8 strikeouts. Up next: AZL Mariners at 10.

http://www.redreporter.com/2011/6/30/225...ine-daniel

Tickets available
by jfay

From the Reds:

The Reds have released all visiting team tickets as well as any holds for tonight’s Reds / Indians game.

Tickets are available at reds.com, Reds ticket kiosks, and Great American Ball Park box office. After these are sold, there will be an additional 1700 Standing Room Only tickets that are made available.

Standing Room tickets remain available for Saturday’s 4:10pm game, and plenty of tickets are available for Sunday’s 1:10 pm game.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2011/07...available/

Reds on TV notes
Another Fox Saturday awaits

Written by
John Kiesewetter

Thom Brennaman and Mark Grace will call the Reds-Indians game for “Fox Saturday Baseball Game of the Week” at 4 p.m. Saturday (Channels 19, 45).

But it’s not a national game. Only 10 percent of the U.S. will see it, in Ohio, Louisville, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Detroit. The network also will air the White Sox-Cubs game to 10 percent of the country, but most viewers will see the Yankees-Mets matchup. Of course.

Fox Sports Ohio, originally scheduled to air Saturday’s game, instead will show a Thursday afternoon game between the Reds and Mets on July 28.

AFN gets Reds

FSO will celebrate the Fourth of July one day early with a special salute to troops during Sunday’s Reds-Indians game.

The 1 p.m. game will be broadcast by the American Forces Network (AFN) to soldiers stationed overseas. Throughout the telecast, viewers may send messages to our troops, which will be displayed on the screen throughout the game.

Members of the military also can send messages back through FSO’s web page at http://www.foxsportsohio.com/pages/troops.

“Reds Live” at 12:30 p.m. Sunday will include a feature on the Folds of Honor Foundation, which helps families of fallen and disabled soldiers with scholarships and other assistance.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll...nnati_Reds

Reds can't salvage interleague, but can improve


AP Photo/John Bazemore
Dusty Baker's lead-off man, Drew Stubbs, had an on-base percentage of just .315 in June.

Written by
John Fay

Reds manager Dusty Baker was asked if he was ready to move beyond interleague play. His club, after all, hasn't exactly worn out the American League.

Baker dismissed the notion the Reds were ready for interleague play to end.

"We want to salvage this interleague before we think about leaving it," Baker said. "If you think about leaving it, that's kind of conceding what you've got left."

Salvaging is impossible at this point. And, were there concession speeches in baseball, the Reds would have given one long ago. The Reds are 5-10 in interleague play this year.

They wrap up interleague play with a three-game series with the Cleveland Indians that begins Friday at 7:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park. The Reds were swept three games by the Indians in Cleveland May 20-22.

What this series does - other than allow the Reds a chance to play to a draw for the coveted Ohio Cup - is allow the Reds to build on the good series in Tampa Bay. The Reds won two of three from the Rays.

It was their first winning series in four tries.

A good showing against the Indians would set the Reds well for the final seven games going into the All-Star Break, which are against the teams they are trailing in the National League Central.

The Reds go to St. Louis for the first of three on July 4. (Johnny Cueto faces Chris Carpenter in that one. A scenario for potential "fireworks.")

After St. Louis, the Reds play a four-game series at Milwaukee, which leads into the break.

"We have 10 days to go," Baker said. "We'll try to win as many games as we can before the break. I always tell my guys: This is like basketball right before the first half ends. You can get a quick 3-pointer, steal an in-bounds pass, have the layup.

"Hopefully, we can pick up a couple of games while guys are thinking vacation. The teams we're playing aren't necessarily going to be thinking that. ... We've got work to do."

The key to success and with the Reds continues to be starting pitching. In the just-concluded streak against AL East, the Reds were 1-4 when they didn't get a quality start (three earned runs or less in six innings pitched or more). They were 4-3 when they did.

Overall, they are 35-13 when they get a quality start. The Red put up quality starts in all three games against the Rays. Starters were 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in the series.

If the Reds can get starts like that in the Cleveland series, they may be able to salvage interleague play - if only a bit.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll...nnati_Reds

Notes, Quotes
The Sports Xchange
July 1, 2011

--RHP Bronson Arroyo goes after his fourth consecutive victory Friday. He hasn't pitched lights out, compiling a 4.09 ERA in his past three starts. But he was 4-1 with a 3.67 ERA in June.

--RHP Brian Boxberger retired the only two batters he faced in the his debut at Class AAA Louisville. Boxberger, the Reds' supplemental first-round pick in 2009, had a 1.31 ERA over 30 appearances at Class AA Carolina.

--RHP Johnny Cueto will face RHP Chris Carpenter in the series opener in St. Louis on Monday. Cueto and Carpenter were principles in the brawl in August of last year.

--SS Zack Cozart, C Devin Mesoraco, OF Jeremy Hermida and OF/1B Yonder Alonso all made the International League All-Star team for Class AAA Louisville.

--RF Jay Bruce struck out in all four at-bats Wednesday. Bruce, the NL player of the month in May, finished June in a 2-for-17 skid with nine strikeouts.

BY THE NUMBERS
8-1 -- The Reds' record against the Rays in interleague play. They are 85-120 against all other American League teams.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"I was trying to relax and get some pitches I could handle. He's tough. He changes speeds. He's tough guy to sit on pitches with because he has four quality pitches. I was seeing the ball well. He threw it up in the zone. I was back on it. I put a good swing on it. It was big swing for us." -- C Ryan Hanigan, on his three-run home run off Rays RHP James Shields.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/15282...nnati_Reds

Reds have been out of their league against AL
The Sports Xchange
July 1, 2011

Interleague play mercifully ends for the Reds with the three-game series that begins Friday with Cleveland at Great American Ball Park.

"We want to salvage this interleague before we think about leaving it," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "If you think about leaving it, that's kind of conceding what you've got left."

The Reds can't salvage their record in interleague play. They are 5-10, and that's after taking two of three games from the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Reds are 5-7 against the American League East.

The Reds were swept in three games by the Indians on May 20-22. The series with the Indians leads into a crucial seven-game stretch leading to the All-Star Break.

The Reds go to St. Louis for the first of three on July 4. After St. Louis, the Reds play a four-game series against the Milwaukee, which leads into the break.

"We have 10 days to go," Baker said. "We'll try to win as many games as we can before the break. I always tell my guys: This is like basketball right before the first half ends. You can get a quick 3-pointer, steal in-bounds pass, have the layup."

The Reds have played well against Milwaukee and St. Louis. They are 5-1 against Milwaukee and 4-2 versus St. Louis.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/story/15282...nnati_Reds

Arroyo has to be loving his 3-year/$35 million extension right now. Already 24 HR allowed and the ERA is approaching 6.

The Indians crap lineup owns Reds pitching.

And with all the pissing and moaning from the constant "pissers and moaners" we are a whopping 3 games out of first place. Isn't that horrible?

(07-01-2011 10:46 PM)ctipton Wrote: [ -> ]And with all the pissing and moaning from the constant "pissers and moaners" we are a whopping 3 games out of first place. Isn't that horrible?

I actually gauge how we're doing against the real contenders like the Phillies, Boston, Yankees, etc.

Even if we won our division, it would be a repeat of last year. We don't have the pitching to get it done.

(07-02-2011 08:29 AM)Vottomatic Wrote: [ -> ]

(07-01-2011 10:46 PM)ctipton Wrote: [ -> ]And with all the pissing and moaning from the constant "pissers and moaners" we are a whopping 3 games out of first place. Isn't that horrible?

I actually gauge how we're doing against the real contenders like the Phillies, Boston, Yankees, etc.

Even if we won our division, it would be a repeat of last year. We don't have the pitching to get it done.

Not me. I just want to win our division. Anything can happen in the post-season. If we squeak in and get hot at the right time, it doesn't matter that we only won 89 games or whatever.

That said, this is a .500 team right now, and that will not win even this crappy division.

(07-01-2011 10:46 PM)ctipton Wrote: [ -> ]And with all the pissing and moaning from the constant "pissers and moaners" we are a whopping 3 games out of first place. Isn't that horrible?

July 2, 2010 the Reds were 46 - 35 with a 1.5 lead in the central. AGAIN no one is saying they absolutely cannot still make the playoffs. But IF they keep playing the way they have all year, they are not going to make it. Some things have to change for this team to make the playoffs again. That is what all the "pissing and moaning" is about.

I've just given up on the Reds against American League opponents this year. The faster interleague play is over, the better.

Arroyo felt fine, but so did Indians
by tgroeschen

Bronson Arroyo always has surrendered lots of home runs, but not to this degree.

Arroyo was rocked for three homers in the first three innings, and the Reds’ offense was relatively silent in an 8-2 loss to Cleveland on Friday night.

Brandon Phillips hit two solo homers for the Reds’ only runs. The homers were the 999th and 1,000th career hits for Phillips.

Arroyo has allowed 24 homers this season, the most in the major leagues. Entering Friday, Houston’s Brett Myers (22) had surrendered the most homers.

“The homers don’t bother me as much as consistency with my stuff,” Arroyo said. “I’m trying to keep the ball off the sweet spot of the bat, regardless of where it goes. It’s about executing pitches.

“I felt fine. I just had terrible stuff.”

Arroyo has allowed between 28 and 31 homers annually since joining the Reds in 2006. Arroyo’s average fastball of 86.7 mph ranks among the slowest in the majors, according to FanGraphs.com. Yet, Arroyo has endured by throwing a variety of speeds from several arm angles.

And sometimes, he gets lit up. Arroyo (now 7-7 this season) saw his ERA soar from 5.01 to 5.49.

“There’s always concern, but the main problem is keeping the ball in the ballpark,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “(Reds pitching coach) Bryan (Price) and Bronson will figure it out.”

Baker said the Indians played their hand well, starting six left-handed hitters – including two switch-hitters – against the right-handed Arroyo. Entering Friday, lefties were hitting .331 and right-handers just .257 against Arroyo.

The Indians’ three homers (Grady Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera, Carlos Santana) all came from the left side.

“They’re stacking left-handers against him,” Baker said. “We’ve just got to figure out which pitches to get the lefties out.”

Arroyo in his last three starts had been 3-0 with a 4.09 ERA.

Phillips hit a solo homer in the ninth to make it 8-2, off of reliever Chad Durbin. The crowd stood and cheered hit No. 1,000.

“I’m happy that I hit a home run (for No. 1,000), but I wish we would have won,” Phillips said. “It would have felt better.”

Otherwise, it was a night to forget.

“There’s not a whole bunch you can say about this game,” Baker said. “We just got our butts whipped. It’s one of the few games we haven’t been in, in a long time.”

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2011/07...d-indians/

Reds seek reversal of fortune vs. Indians

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com | 7/2/2011 1:02 AM ET

The Reds are still right there in the NL Central

The last time the Indians faced the Reds, they were the runaway leader atop the American League Central. This weekend Cleveland is still fighting for the division lead, but at only a half-game ahead of Detroit.

One thing has remained constant, however, and that's Cleveland's dominance over Cincinnati this season. With Friday's 8-2 victory, the Indians have won the first four games of the six-game series, giving them their first season-series victory against their intrastate rival since 2005.

Although the Indians are only 13-22 since their earlier sweep of the Reds, Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said prior to Friday's series opener that he wasn't looking at the Indians as a struggling team.

"We're not going to approach [them] as a team riding low. We're going to approach them as a team that's capable of beating you with so many superstars," Baker said. "I don't know if they're different. They've got Grady Sizemore back; they've got young [Lonnie] Chisenhall in there. They're missing a couple of key players, but basically they're the same. Things go in streaks."

On Saturday at Great American Ball Park, the Reds will look to snap their five-game losing streak against the Indians when right-hander Homer Bailey faces Cleveland's Fausto Carmona.

Bailey, who was on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain, returned on Sunday against the Orioles and struggled, allowing five runs on nine hits (two home runs) in five innings. He faced the Indians earlier this season before he went on the DL, taking the loss despite throwing seven strong innings in which he allowed a two-run homer to Travis Buck in an eventual 2-1 defeat.

Carmona pitched better in his most recent outing but still lost. On Sunday against the Giants, he allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings, taking his seventh loss in his last eight starts. He has a 8.58 ERA during that stretch, with opponents hitting .322 against him.

Indians: Perez placed on bereavement list
• Closer Chris Perez was placed on the bereavement list on Thursday so he could travel to Gainesville, Fla., to be with his family following the death of his maternal grandmother. Perez is eligible to come off the list on Sunday, and manager Manny Acta expects him to return by then. To replace Perez on the roster, Cleveland recalled right-hander Josh Judy from Triple-A Columbus.

• On Thursday the Indians signed 14-year Minor League veteran catcher Michel Hernandez to a Minor League contract. He will report to Double-A Akron.

Reds: Lewis on a roll
• After missing the first month of the season because of injury, Fred Lewis has been making up for lost time during the past 11 games, hitting .407 with three doubles. Lewis, who splits time in the outfield with Jonny Gomes and Chris Heisey, said the platoon has been a big reason for his success.

"I have fresh legs, for one," Lewis said. "I know what I'm capable of doing when I get more and more opportunities to play. I think I'm just taking advantage of playing time."

• Second baseman Brandon Phillips recorded his 1,000th career hit, a solo home run, on Friday.

Worth noting
• Including their sweep of the Reds earlier this year, the Indians are 10-6 against the NL this season.

• The next RBI that Reds shortstop Edgar Renteria records will be the 900th of his career.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp...Id=rss_cin