After reading Scioscias explanation I understand it even less. If you need to get two outs and have one out to get he chooses to get out Votto/Bruce and walk Phillips instead of walking Votto and getting out BP/Bruce? Votto even against a lefty still is a significantly more dangerous hitter than BP. Plus if you walk Votto BP comes up with a chance to hit into a double play and he's the most likely hitter on our team to hit into a double play.

(04-04-2013 10:07 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  After reading Scioscias explanation I understand it even less. If you need to get two outs and have one out to get he chooses to get out Votto/Bruce and walk Phillips instead of walking Votto and getting out BP/Bruce? Votto even against a lefty still is a significantly more dangerous hitter than BP. Plus if you walk Votto BP comes up with a chance to hit into a double play and he's the most likely hitter on our team to hit into a double play.

I would have walked Votto, no doubt about it. But BP absolutely has crushed left handed pitching throughout his career. Still Votto might be the best hitter in baseball AND you set up the possible double play. Baffling decision, but I will take it.

Yep. No way do I give Votto anything to hit with a base open. If you're going to lose, make Phillips beat you. He can hit, but not anywhere close to the level of Votto.

Reds win today 5-4.

Heisey 2 run homer, Choo and Frazier hit HRs also. Arroyo get the W.
Good start, tough April schedule this year.

Shin-Soo Choo homers as Reds hold off Angels in series rubber game

CINCINNATI -- Joey Votto? One single in 10 at-bats. Jay Bruce? One double in 13 at-bats with seven strikeouts.

Cincinnati's top run producers barely got the bat on the ball, yet the Reds managed to win the major leagues' first interleague series to open a season. Credit those other guys who don't normally do the heavy lifting.

Shin-Soo Choo homered on Joe Blanton's first pitch of the game Thursday, the first of Cincinnati's three homers off the right-hander, and the Reds won 5-4 over the Los Angeles Angels.

Not too bad considering the big hitters' struggles.

"It means somebody else picked us up," manager Dusty Baker said. "We had excellent pitching. Some of their players didn't get uncaged, either. That was an exciting series. Every game was a great game that could have gone either way."

Todd Frazier also had a solo homer off Blanton (0-1), and Chris Heisey's two-run shot put Cincinnati up 5-3 in the fifth. Blanton gave up five runs and seven hits in five innings during his Angels debut.

Blanton, who signed a two-year, $15 million deal in December, didn't make many bad pitches. He didn't have much luck, either.

"Two of them were off mistakes, and I felt I made maybe a handful of them all day," Blanton said. "That happens sometimes in baseball. One of those things that just happened out of the gate."

Heisey's homer was his first as the full-time left fielder. He's replacing Ryan Ludwick, who had surgery on Wednesday to repair torn cartilage in his right shoulder, an injury that will sideline him for at least the first half of the season.

"I've proven I can play off the bench," Heisey said. "I'm not feeling any pressure."

Bronson Arroyo (1-0) gave up three runs in six innings, including Josh Hamilton's two-run single that was his first hit for the Angels. Albert Pujols drove in a pair of runs with a sacrifice fly and a groundout.

Nobody enjoyed Choo's homer more than Arroyo. Choo has four career homers off Arroyo, his highest total off any pitcher. The Reds got him from Cleveland in the offseason.

"Every time he goes deep for me, it's like a holiday," Arroyo said.

Left-hander Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth, converting his first save opportunity. Mike Trout led off with a single and was sacrificed to second, but Pujols flied out and Hamilton struck out.

The teams combined for seven homers and 63 strikeouts during the series. The Reds fanned 36 overall, a club record for the first three games of a season. The 36 strikeouts were an Angels record for a three-game series.

Their biggest hitters also have had a tough time getting started.

Pujols and Hamilton were a combined 0 for 17 with six strikeouts before they finally put something together in the third inning. Pujols doubled for his first hit, and Hamilton followed with a two-run single; Pujols slid into home safely while catcher Ryan Hanigan missed his leg while attempting the tag.

Pujols also had a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring groundout, limping on his left foot after he'd run. Pujols is playing through pain from plantar fasciitis.

Choo got the Reds started with his sixth career leadoff homer. Frazier led off the second inning with a homer just inside the left field foul pole, and Heisey connected in the fifth.

The game featured the first replay of the season at Great American Ball Park. Frazier's fly ball went off the yellow padding atop the wall in the fourth, and he continued to third when Trout bobbled the carom for an error. The umpires checked to make sure the ball didn't clear the wall. Frazier scored on Hanigan's sacrifice fly -- Cincinnati's only run that didn't come off a homer.

Baker got through the series without using left-handed setup man Sean Marshall, who's had some tiredness in the front of his pitching shoulder the last couple of weeks. Marshall said Thursday he felt much better and should be available for the opener of a series against Washington on Friday.

Game notes

The Angels head to Texas to play Hamilton's former team in a weekend series. The Reds host the Nationals in a matchup of the NL's top two teams last year: Washington won 98 games, Cincinnati 97. ... Angels manager Mike Scioscia might use Pujols as the DH over the weekend to rest his sore left foot. "He's fine. If he's struggling with something, I'll consider giving him a day. I can look to DH him this weekend," Scioscia said.

---

Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay

http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=330404117

Angels pitcher Joe Blanton gives up 3 homers in 5-4 loss to Reds


Angels starting pitcher Joe Blanton gave up three homers in a game for the ninth time in his career on Thursday against the Reds. (Joe Robbins / Getty Images / April 4, 2013)

By Mike DiGiovanna

April 4, 2013, 12:52 p.m.

CINCINNATI -- Joe Blanton gave up three home runs in his Angels debut, one on his first pitch with his new team, in a 5-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Thursday, the ninth time in his career Blanton has given up three or more homers in a game.

The Angels banged out 11 hits, including three by Erick Aybar, but they also struck out nine times, bringing to 36 their number of strikeouts in the three-game series, a club record.

The last came on a 98-mph fastball from Reds closer Aroldis Chapman to Josh Hamilton, who swung through it for strike three with Mike Trout on second base to end the game.

Blanton is a strike-thrower with such good command he didn't issue a walk in 19 spring innings, but the combination of his aggressive approach and underwhelming stuff has led to an average of 28 homers allowed in Blanton’s last three full seasons.

When Shin-Soo Choo smacked his first pitch for an opposite-field shot to left field to start the bottom of the first inning, Blanton became the first Angels pitcher in 17 years to have his first pitch with the club hit for a homer.

The last player to suffer that indignity? Jason Dickson, whose first career big-league pitch was hit by Derek Jeter for a homer on Aug. 21, 1996.

Dickson recovered to throw 6 scoreless innings for a 7-1 victory that day. Blanton did not rebound that effectively Thursday, giving up a solo shot to Todd Frazier to open the second inning and a two-run shot to Chris Heisey that snapped a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/...9644.story

love it

So far so good...except for Bruce. I have extremely high expectations for this pitching staff the way they contained one of the most potent offenses in baseball.

Marshall missing due to shoulder fatigue

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | 04/04/2013 12:04 PM ET



CINCINNATI -- Especially with the way the bullpen needed to be used through the first two games of the season, Reds lefty reliever Sean Marshall has been conspicuous in his absence from the mound.

It turns out that Marshall wasn't available for either game, and he wasn't available for Thursday's series finale vs. the Angels.

"Spring Training was so long. I think I peaked a little early," Marshall said Thursday morning. "I was getting a little bit of fatigue in my shoulder. It's just precautionary. They have me doing some therapy and getting it strong again. I'm probably a day or two away. I'll probably be ready by Friday night's game."

Marshall was last used in a big league Spring Training game on March 22. Had the club placed him on the 15-day disabled list, he wouldn't have missed much regular-season time. But the DL is no longer a concern.

During Monday's 13-inning loss, Marshall got up briefly to warm up and threw at about 75 percent intensity. He has thrown in other bullpen sessions on the side and has taken it easy to prevent a setback.

"I've made good progress," Marshall said. "Guys have stepped up, big time. We've got a very capable bullpen. All of those guys can get any guys out in mostly any inning. They told me they would pick me up while I was down, and hopefully I can pick them up sometime during the season when maybe they're hanging a little bit."

Heisey back in lineup after taking ball off nose



CINCINNATI -- Reds left fielder Chris Heisey didn't have his nose too out of joint, literally, a day after being whacked on the face by a thrown ball.

While stealing second base in the fifth inning of Wednesday's 5-4 victory over the Angels, Heisey was hit on the nose by the throw from catcher Chris Iannetta. He needed a couple of moments to collect himself before staying in the game.

"I was feeling good today," Heisey said on Thursday, as he was back in the starting lineup. "It's a little sore. I took some Advil, and it's good enough."

Heisey learned a lesson from the experience. He'll never turn his head toward the catcher when sliding into second base.

"What was I doing looking back at the ball while I was sliding?" Heisey wondered aloud after the game on Wednesday. "That's one of the dumbest things I've done in a long time."

Reds join exclusive list with 20,000th game

CINCINNATI -- Thursday's series finale against the Angels marked the 20,000th game in the franchise history of the Reds. Cincinnati had the first professional baseball team, founded in 1869, but did not join the Major Leagues officially until 1882 -- when it played in the American Association.

Known then as the Red Stockings, the club took the field for the first time on May 1, 1882, vs. the Pirates.

The starting rotation during that first 80-game season consisted of only two pitchers -- Will White and Harry McCormick. White had a record of 40-12.

The Braves and Cubs are the only two other clubs that have already surpassed 20,000 games in their histories.

Baker consistent in warning against headfirst slide



CINCINNATI -- Even before left fielder Ryan Ludwick suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder Monday while sliding headfirst into third base, manager Dusty Baker was never a fan of that style of slide.

"Most guys don't know how to headfirst slide. I was told years ago to never headfirst slide into home plate," Baker said on Thursday. "I was told Johnny Bench, Jerry Grote and Randy Hundley would hurt you. There are a lot of things that can go wrong -- shoulders, wrists, elbows, fingers, everything. Everybody is not Rickey Henderson or Pete Rose."

During Spring Training, Baker warned his players not to slide headfirst into any base. That included Joey Votto, who did it several times during spring games.

"Sometimes it's a sad lesson," Baker said. "It happens. You hate to say what's coming and then, 'I told you so.' Sometimes, it's a natural thing. You just do it."

Reds not skipping Leake first time through rotation



CINCINNATI -- The Reds had their usual day after Opening Day off on Tuesday but still decided to use all five starters the first time through the rotation rather than skip fifth starter Mike Leake. Skipping Leake would have kept ace Johnny Cueto on his regular four days of rest.

Last season, the Reds never skipped Leake, and no one in the rotation missed a start. However, manager Dusty Baker wouldn't commit to doing the same thing this season around scheduled off-days to keep the other four on turn.

"It's impossible to say what's going to happen," Baker said Thursday. "You make the best of plans, but rarely can you use the plans you make. We have to deal with situations as they come, much like life."

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=...n&c_id=cin

(edited) I've been of the camp that the Reds should be finding out what Chapman can do as a starter this year. But I gotta admit, it's been great to have him in the pen the last two games especially with Marshall out.

I don't know if this is directly related to that decision or not (although it makes sense in light of it), but fellow Reds LHP Cingrani is in the rotation in AAA. What kind of start is he off to? Glad you asked since this is hot off the press:

Quote:Reds’ Tony Cingrani Strikes Out 14 In Six No-Hit Innings
April 4, 2013 by Ben Badler

Tony Cingrani started the 2013 season in about as dominant a manner as possible.

Making his Triple-A debut, not only did the Reds lefthander have a perfect game going through five innings, he also struck out 13 of the first 15 hitters he faced in doing so. Cingrani, 23, walked the leadoff hitter in the sixth inning, then left the game after six scoreless, no-hit innings. He threw 55 of his 82 pitches strikes and struck out 14 of the 19 batters he faced, good for a nifty 74 percent strikeout rate.

Cingrani, Cincinnati’s No. 3 prospect, made three appearances for the Reds in the big leagues last year. It might not be long until he’s back up there in a starting role.

Obviously it's way too early to make judgments on an outing or two from each but nobody really talked about the Cingrani issue wrt the Chapman decision. I'm not in favor of players calling the shots, but I'm not looking to put them where they are uncomfortable either. We know Chapman came out and said he wanted to relieve. I wonder if and wouldn't be at all surprised if Cingrani much prefers starting.

When you factor in Leake having a very nice spring (per scouts even if the numbers weren't great) and the Marshall injury (although I don't know exactly when it happened and it appeared/appears to be short-term) the case for Chapman to the pen gets a little better.

(04-04-2013 07:21 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  I still think the Reds should be finding out what Chapman can do as a starter but I gotta admit, it's been great to have him in the pen the last two games especially with Marshall out.

I don't know if this is directly related to that decision or not (although it makes sense in light of it and could change the equation quite a bit), but fellow Reds LHP Cingrani is in the rotation in AAA. What kind of start is he off to? Glad you asked since this is hot off the press:

Quote:Reds’ Tony Cingrani Strikes Out 14 In Six No-Hit Innings
April 4, 2013 by Ben Badler

Tony Cingrani started the 2013 season in about as dominant a manner as possible.

Making his Triple-A debut, not only did the Reds lefthander have a perfect game going through five innings, he also struck out 13 of the first 15 hitters he faced in doing so. Cingrani, 23, walked the leadoff hitter in the sixth inning, then left the game after six scoreless, no-hit innings. He threw 55 of his 82 pitches strikes and struck out 14 of the 19 batters he faced, good for a nifty 74 percent strikeout rate.

Cingrani, Cincinnati’s No. 3 prospect, made three appearances for the Reds in the big leagues last year. It might not be long until he’s back up there in a starting role.

Totally with you on Chapman, but the depth that the Reds have at SP is great. I expect Cingrani will get the call when one of the starters inevitably gets injured.

If I had the choice between the Angels offense or the Reds pitching I would choose the Reds every time. Great starting pitching is what wins championships.

(04-04-2013 07:51 PM)BeerCat Wrote:  

(04-04-2013 07:21 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  I still think the Reds should be finding out what Chapman can do as a starter but I gotta admit, it's been great to have him in the pen the last two games especially with Marshall out.

I don't know if this is directly related to that decision or not (although it makes sense in light of it and could change the equation quite a bit), but fellow Reds LHP Cingrani is in the rotation in AAA. What kind of start is he off to? Glad you asked since this is hot off the press:

Quote:Reds’ Tony Cingrani Strikes Out 14 In Six No-Hit Innings
April 4, 2013 by Ben Badler

Tony Cingrani started the 2013 season in about as dominant a manner as possible.

Making his Triple-A debut, not only did the Reds lefthander have a perfect game going through five innings, he also struck out 13 of the first 15 hitters he faced in doing so. Cingrani, 23, walked the leadoff hitter in the sixth inning, then left the game after six scoreless, no-hit innings. He threw 55 of his 82 pitches strikes and struck out 14 of the 19 batters he faced, good for a nifty 74 percent strikeout rate.

Cingrani, Cincinnati’s No. 3 prospect, made three appearances for the Reds in the big leagues last year. It might not be long until he’s back up there in a starting role.

Totally with you on Chapman, but the depth that the Reds have at SP is great. I expect Cingrani will get the call when one of the starters inevitably gets injured.

If I had the choice between the Angels offense or the Reds pitching I would choose the Reds every time. Great starting pitching is what wins championships.

Upon more thought, I fine tuned that post a bit. Looking just at Chapman, I still think the Reds should've used this season to see how Chapman handles starting. But I can see how some other factors might combine to even out the equation a bit as far as another year for him at closer. It's good to keep in mind that we don't always know everything that is going on behind the scenes. At this point it's water under the bridge anyway.

I agree about the pitching overall. Things can change quickly, especially with injuries, but I really like the quality and depth on this Reds pitching staff. On that note, Cingrani is the obvious favorite, but depending upon how he is used and everyone performs, Sam LeCure could have something to say about who joins the rotation if the Reds need someone down the line.