Reasons to follow the 2016 Reds: Joey Votto, Pete Rose and lots of Bobbleheads...

The Reds are in rebuilding mode or maybe torched mode and probably not going to see a huge amount of wins this year. I was kind of surprised Baseball Prospectus had them at 74 wins in their online numeric prediction. Oh well, rebuilding, it happens just in Cincy it might take a while.

Cincy is already planning even more than usual events at the stadium. They do quite a few bobblehead games anyway, but they have a big exhibit at the stadium museum this year that looks fun.

The Reds Hall of Fame game probably the big home game this year especially with Pete Rose joining the club hall. It is always a nice event at the park and this one should be the biggest since Junior went into the club hall a few years back.

I'd think at some point the Reds might do an event with Junior going into the Baseball Hall of Fame too, but I have not seen one scheduled yet. Maybe do it next year after he is enducted, I figure.

http://m.reds.mlb.com/news/article/165948168

the new Ryne Duren

“It’s not fair,” muttered one Reds minor leaguer (who will remain unnamed) after his first live batting practice against Reed earlier this spring. “6-foot-5, lefty, throwing gas and with those glasses, you don’t know if he knows where it’s going.”

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2016/03/20/lefty-cody-reed-could-reds-newest-superhero/82056698/

Reds do have some decent young pitching if they can stay healthy. Michael Lorenzen is pretty banged up and might miss some time. Couple of the others are knicked up too along with Bailey coming back.

I still thought they needed to get an innings eater and really don't get why they didn't go after Leake, who I think will prosper with the Cards. Leake to me is glue for the pitching and could probably get them back to contending a year early.

Since the Reds couldn't deal Brandon Phillips, they seem to be setting up Jose Peraza who they got from the Dodgers to be a super sub. He has started in spring training at 2nd, SS, and CF. They are also getting Adam Duvall who they got from the Giants and has mostly been an 1b playing in lf and doing some starts at 3b. Eduardo Suarez completing the move to new positions as he looks to be penciled in playing third.

Scott Schebler and Adam Duvall both have shown some power this spring. Some have thought that might be a good tandum to platoon together in left field. Jake Cave has also hit a bit and is in the outfield mix, he was one of the guys the Reds got from the Yankees.

It's a pretty wide open club, there are some MLB jobs that could be earned this year if people produce when they get playing time.

Biggest questions to me is can Devin Mesoraco still catch without hurting his hip, how will Homer Bailey bounce back from injury and can Jay Bruce get his groove back after a couple of bleh seasons. If all three of those fall into place well, the Reds could be a bit more interesting.

https://twitter.com/jnorris427/status/713114732929163265

Is that Amir Garrett?

juan martinez, whose stats are kinda crappy. sick pitch tho

got briefly confused when looknig at stats and saw that zack cozarts ba/obp are .389/.379

The Reds are not a good team. The bullpen seems to be the worst element of a bad club. Right now the bullpen has been the kerosene suit gang, there is no lead that can be protected.

That said, the starting pitching is iffy and they really don't hit all that good either.

Reds bullpen streak of futility stops at 23 straight games giving up a run last night. Tony Cingrani and Caleb Cotham, both of which have pitched average around the stink of Hoover and others holding on to end the streak.

https://sports.yahoo.com/news/phillips-homers-again-reds-beat-brewers-5-1-021044348--mlb.html

I was kinda thinking this years Reds bullpen might be known as "The Crusty Boys" or perhaps the "The Kerosene Suit Gang." They definitely are not safe with any lead. JJ Hoover seems to have completely lost it again like he did a couple of years ago.

Spoke too soon. I guess in honor of The Crusty Boys leader being sent down to the minors they had a classic meltdown in his honor.

Aaron Hill gets tonight's Bill Hall tribute award for middling Brewers middle infielder hitting like Hammering Hank against the Reds.

yeah and he's my damn HM 3b, so thx a lot Reds

Ross Ohlendorf has been around for a long while, but I don't ever recall how much his pitching motion is like a beerleague softwall pitcher wind up. I can't think he was trained that way, got to figure people have tried to smooth that rusty gate out since he was a teenager.

i think that's a relatively recent development by him -- last few years maybe

https://uk.style.
L.
M .yahoo.com/post/143886091294/kfc-has-created-a-edible-nail-polish-range-that-is🔗?🔗

i think that's a relatively recent development by him -- last few years maybe

i think that's a relatively recent development by him -- last few years maybe

Big Daddy Rick Reuschel had that kind of floppy wind up like Ohlendorf does now. I knew Ohlendorf was a big dude and I remember him pitching for the Pirates, but his windup has been getting me to chuckle this year with the Reds.

The Reds 2016 video is going to be called “In play, run(s).”

- M Kory, BP

The Tribe are putting a second straight beat down on the Reds staff. Yikes. Batters making some free agent money off the Reds this year, probably wish they could see them every week.

bryan price said after last nights game "it's gotta get better"

Yeah but when it happens he probably won't be around. That dude is a sacrificial goat at this point.

I don't think this pitching staff could win in AAA.

That said, the Reds hitting ain't no great shakes. No one in the lineup besides Votto can draw a f-ing walk.

Little tidbit from Redleg Nations recap of tonight's game. Yikes, what a bullpen.

"The bullpen has blown 10 of 14 save chances. It’s the 11th time this season that the Reds have surrendered a lead in the seventh inning or later and went on to lose the game."

Two bullpen demotions and a DFA at the same damn time.

This is probably the worst week of Reds baseball in quite a few years. Bryan Price seems to age everyday. Kinda feel sad for the guy as he is going to end up fired at some point and really it wouldn't have mattered who was managing the past couple of seasons, the Reds were going to lose a lot.

One thing that also came up this week was Homer Bailey has been put back on the shelf again as he had some setback in just starting to throw. Part of the reason the Reds pitching has gotten so exposed is that the planned rotation has pretty much been on the DL on and off all year.

I'm probably going to Great American for the first time this season in a couple weeks to see the Reds play the Nats. Got to figure there will be some Reds wanting to play well against Dusty. Maybe I'll get lucky and Strasborg will start when I go. I've never seen Bryce Harper play live yet either.

read the other day that they're on track to throw more relief innings than any team ever, except one year of the Rockies.

they won't have layne somsen (2.1 IP, 5 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 HR, 2 K) to get kicked around anymore -- he was claimed by the yankees (!)

Alfredo Simon!

52.1 IP, 1.97 WHIP, .338 BAA, 9.11 ERA

anchor of the rotation

oh 14 HR allowed

!!

Isolated slugging percentage, ground balls

Billy Hamilton, .148
Kevin Pillar, .057
Jose Altuve, .057
Brian Dozier, .056
Trayce Thompson, .055

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-latest-billy-hamilton-development/

The completely trashed pitching staff has kind of hidden some of the nice things the Reds have gotten out of this year. What do you expect when half the staff is on the DL, your starters can't get through five and your bullpen is middling if at AAA. Reds are bleeding ticket sales and I got to wonder considering how much attendance is down, would it have been more prudent to maybe get a couple arms to at least give it a fighting shot. Eh...it is what it is. I know Bryan Price has aged a ton the past couple years and really doesn't deserve to get canned for the clubs record, but I know it will happen at some point.

Adam Duvall probably will come down to earth, but he has hit with some really good power and done better in the field than expected for a guy who when he was traded was primarily a first baseman.

Zach Cozart is having a career year and as of now deserves the Reds slot on the All Star team. With his glove, he would be a nice player to add to a club where he could bat like 7th as while he can hit a bit, he doesn't get many walks at all.

Jay Bruce has seemingly bounced back to his old self after often being lost in the plate after he hurt his knee.

Simon outta the pen for the 12th!

votto heating up -- june splits are .344/.494/.525

hey Billy Hamilton does his thing

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/cincinnati-reds-chicago-cubs-billy-hamilton-passed-ball-score-from-second-070516

votto's wRC+ by month

april: 62
may: 112
june: 171
july: 240

Matt Sussman, BP:

"There are three players with 20 home runs and 20 doubles and one of them is Adam Duvall, so there's your good story, Cincinnati. Now see what kinds of prospects you can get for him later this month."

These past two games are probably the best back to back games the bullpen has had all year.

I'd figure that Jay Bruce, Zach Cozart and Brandon Phillips (if a deal can be secured he wants) will be dealt by the break. I've seen reports that the Dodgers and Indians could be interested in Jay Bruce.

Bruce and Cozart both should be pretty decent trade pieces as both have another year left at reasonable cash, so a club wouldn't have to look at them as a pure stretch run rental.

I think for the right club, Zach Cozart might be a nice pickup especially if you can put him at the tail end of a good hitting lineup. His glove is quite good and while he doesn't take many walks at all, he does have a bit of power.

Jay Bruce's bat has come back to his old normal this year, but ever since he hurt his knee a couple of years ago his defensive fielding stats are pretty gnarly. I've seen him make a couple of dumb plays, but really I can't see that much difference actually watching play, but by the zone ratings he can't cover squat out there. He's got a decent arm and used to be pretty good, I'll defer to the scouts and stats guy on that one. Bruce has played a bit of first in spring training and with his build, you probably could see him ending up there at some point.

At least as of last winter, BP didn't want to be dealt unless he got paid some extra cash. I think he likes it in Cincy to be honest anyway as he's got family etc. living there. Only place I could see him going is to Atlanta as that is where he is from. Don't see the Braves dealing for him, so I doubt he will leave.

While it is probably tempting to deal Duvall as you got to figure this might be a lark, the Reds probably won't as the guy has 5 more years of team control.

...dealt by the trade deadline not the break.

https://twitter.com/kiasuchick/status/758415854228738049

amazing

He's been doing this all year. Got to do something I suppose when you are 20+ games under .500 to make the work day move along. Lance Berkman used to do some similar things.

http://www.csnphilly.com/the700level/joey-votto-trolls-phillies-fans-doesnt-care-your-kids

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/watch-nationals-fan-learn-about-joey-votto-baseballs-greatest-troll/

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2/3/8/187430238/070116_votto_fakes_out_fans_med_80t6dv4p.gif

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2/3/8/187430238/070116_votto_fakes_out_fans_med_80t6dv4p.gif

a true canadian

i fucking love votto

Scarborough right there.

judge john hodgman podcast recently had a caller who heckled votto, and it made votto not give a ball to a child and the child cried. one of the better episodes of jjho in recent memory

Scarborough right there.

lol

Sad to see Jay Bruce go, he was a good Red even if never as good as originally hoped. He will do the Mets fine.

he's a DH who unfortunately plays in the national league

votto continues his torrid second half. 3-3 with a walk so far tonight

also!!

https://twitter.com/cjzero/status/760651724189081600

The Greatest

4-4, slugging .500 now after slugging approximately -.45678987654 for the first 40 games

If he goes on the same glorious 'second half' tear as last season, I'll lose it.

I don't think Schebler's bomb reached the road behind the stadium in the air like Juan Francisco did a few years ago, but it probably was close.

https://redlegnation.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/image.jpeg?w=300&h=300

@ctrent
Billy had 9 steals in last 3 games. Reader email prompted me to look for similar run. Looked at 100+ seasons from Rickey, Coleman... (1/2)

@ctrent
In 100+ steal seasons, Rickey had 1 stretch w/ 10 steals in 3 games. That’s it. Coleman didn’t have 9 in 3-game stretch in those yrs (2/2)

Billy owns Yadi

Billy Hamilton has played pretty well the past couple of months.

may have the worst pitching EVER!

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/i-found-the-worst-thing-about-the-reds/

They have been playing close to .500 ball since the burning crater from April and May, but the pitching is still no great shakes. Other than Iglesias and Lorenzen, the bullpen pretty much hasn't found a lead that is safe.

I'd imagine it would even look more pathetic if you took out DeScalfini and Dan Straily, those guys have pitched ok. Straily has been a nice junkyard pickup by the Reds.

look at the FG piece: the pitching has been the worst shakes ever! worse than the '66 Mets!

holy crud billy hamilton lately

Votto 2016 AVG.

5/31 .213
6/30 .249
7/31 .285
8/13 .301

It's a pretty nice come back considering how completely out of wack Votto was the first couple of months of the season.

yeah it's such a shame he had that early slump because he's 100% back to MVP form

sad to me that he's stuck with being a (very rich) guy lately known for fan antics

he's awesome

.462/.560/.692 in 26 games since he ASB now. has his overall slash line above .300/.400/.500 again

They have not been in the same division for decades, but beating the heck out of the Dodgers always feels good.

Reds out of last place in Central. They are 21-12 in the second half and 36-34 since June 1st. Considering how the burning crater they were in at the end of May, you have to say they have played better ball.

That was Finnegan's best start of the year going 1 hit in 7 innings. Might be one of his last starts as there seems to be discussion of shutting him down around 150 innings. He's been up and down, but definitely deserves a shot at rotation for next year.

Oh yeah this too...

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2016/08/20/reds-joey-votto-pranks-ichiro-with-51-pizzas-sent-to-locker/

padding those Worst Pitching bonafides today

ball seems to be . . . carrying at the gabp

votto tho

love votto, he's like the villain version of beltre

this 26-run game is 8 runs short of setting the record for most runs in an mlb game, if i am reading the internet correctly

(a record set by the 30-3 rangers-orioles game from... 9 years ago to the day)

nope, that's a lie/i misread the internet, never mind

GABP is about the cheapest home run in baseball but on warm early day games, the ball carries especially well to right field as there is generally a breeze running to the river on those days. You get the ball up going to right and there is part there isn't a stadium to stop the wind.

I was there a few years back for of Moyer's last starts for the Rockies when he got blasted I think for four home runs by the Reds including the infamous Todd Frazier one armed jack. It was really hot and breezy and a 1235 start like today.

i
fucking
love
joey
votto

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/joey-vottos-most-joey-votto-game/

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/why-joey-votto-is-the-most-underappreciated-great-hitter-of-his-era/

It's obvious most of the commentators on that article haven't watched the Reds much and know about the usual OBP black hole that has been the lead off and often #2 spot has been for the Reds along with for most of Dusty's time it was Brandon Phillips batting clean up. There have been runs where clubs just basically put him and and dared Phillips and Bruce to beat 'em.

I saw that 'most Joey Votto game', the Cards pitched around him all night, it's just he hit the only strikes he saw.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2016/09/20/reds-break-96-tigers-record-hrs-allowed/90735316/

Brandon Finnegan = Felipe Lira

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/joey-votto-is-playing-with-his-food/

yes yes more articles about joey votto plz

i think if i weren't in medical school i would follow the reds around the country just to try to be joey votto's friend

Yeah they broke this record last week. They have added at least 1 more home run to the total, still got a shot at 100 HRs out of the pen.

I guess saving grace for such sxxtty pitching is that they have won more games than you might expect all things considered. I think they still are a game or two over .500 for the second half.

Reds bullpen gave up it's record setting 93rd HR breaking the record of 92 from the 1964 KC A's!

They still got a shot at 100 with 16 games to go! I'm sure Kris Bryant has a couple more 4-5 games with 3HRs and 2x2Bs left in him against Reds pitching.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/reds-reach-dubious-records-in-9-7-10-inning-loss-to-pirates/2016/09/17/f96d465a-7c93-11e6-8064-c1ddc8a724bb_story.html

― earlnash, Saturday, September 17, 2016 10:30 AM (three days ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

god, votto

Votto has definitely been the best hitter at least in the NL in the second half.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2016&month=31&season1=2016&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=17,d

not even close!

haha, was about to post the same thing:

http://i.imgur.com/aQXIXTK.png

evan gattis wtf

this Iglesias guy is horrifying

Ok so far this post season...

Edwin Encarnacion has hit a walk off home run to win a game for Toronto.
Travis Wood comes out of the pen get a win and hits an HR.
Aroldis Chapman has two saves.
Johnny Cueto pitched a three hitter losing 1-0.

...oh well.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CuRhXG-UIAASIB8.jpg

I guess you can add Chris Heisey hitting a two run pinch hit homer to the list above too.

i mean ... couldn't you do what you're doing for the Reds for pretty much any team

Off the top of my head, maybe the A's might have 2-3 guys that played together in the past few years doing things in this particular playoffs.

"They didn’t speak to me directly, but they spoke to me through their Baseball-Reference page, through their game logs and their game experience."

http://cincinnatireds.blog.daytondailynews.com/2016/08/23/votto-reaches-out-to-may-musial-jeter/

joey votto continues to be the best

marty brennaman -- still a clueless dick

http://redsminorleagues.com/2017/01/03/marty-brennaman-joey-votto

Yeah...Cincy is a sad sports town. I was thinking to use that to start the 2017 Reds thread.