Reds July 2023 thread

[grampahol]

(07-27-2023, 01:13 PM)kevin Wrote: A much needed day off for the Reds Bullpen.

Diaz and Sims can not pitch every game.  There is still August and September and hopefully October to go.  Diaz and Sims are going to have to get games off.  I go on the rule of 2.  If you pitch a reliever a 2nd day in a row, he isn't as good. You should never pitch a reliever 3 days in a row, or you are ruining his arm, plus he will probably not pitch well.  I'm always amazed by fans and announcers when a reliver looks bad pitched 3 days in a row, and fans and announcers say, " I don't get it, he looked good the last 2 days ".   I'm amazed they don't comprehend fatigue.

Still in July.  April-May....June-July....Reds not even into August - September.....A lot of baseball still to be played.  

Reds are having a great season.  On Pitching, injuries to Greene, Lodolo and Ashcraft have hurt.  However other young pitchers have stepped up.  Williams, Lively, Abbott.   Abbott looks like either Robert Redford as The Sundance Kid. On the mound, that face and moustache, he looks like The Sundance Kid..  Abbott is one heck of a left handed starter, and could be around as long as Tom Browning.  He has the work ethic attitude that Tom Seaver had on the mound.  I don't see much off field trouble, he seems to be a leader, not a goof off.  

It will be good if Reds can get Greene, Lodolo and Ashcraft all healthy at the same time, but Abbott may be the best of the bunch, and Williams and Lively look pretty good also.  I would NOT make a trade for pitching in July, because Reds have good pitchers coming off IL in August.

I will point out that Votto is batting under .200, after missing the first 3 months.  The 2 highest paid Reds are Votto and The Moose who they still pay full price to play for another team.  That ends at end of season.  The Reds get out from under Moose Contract in November.  The Reds get out from under Votto contract in November.  Reds have an option to keep Votto one more season but at a very cheap price. The days of Votto making the mega bucks in Cincy are over in November.   Clearly The Moose gone and Votto batting under .200 around age 40 are not the future.  

If it was me, I would not bring Votto back next season, even at the cheap option price.  The Reds have too many good young hitters needing playing time.  Old man Votto is just in the way now. He has been paid more money than any other Red in their history.  THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT with Reds able to go into 2024 without the Moose or Votto Contracts breaking the bank.  

I wish Votto would say this is his last season, and in September have Joey Votto Day.  Then maybe he finishes with Reds in play-offs in October.

The Reds have good young hitters, and if they can get Abbott, Greene, Lodolo, Ashcraft, Williams, Lively healthy and pitching, The Reds will have an amazing Pitching Staff. I'll point out that if Reds can get Abbott and Lodolo both pitching, the Reds will have 2 Tom Browning type lefthanders, because they both have a lot of talent and good southpaws are hard to find.

Diaz and Sims are very good, but they can not pitch every day.  There is still all of August and September to go.  Others need to log some end of game bullpen time.  If they are paced right, Sims and Diaz can get this team into the play-offs,  Sims is a top Holds Guy and Diaz is a top Saves Guy.

GO REDS.....Glad the bullpen got a much needed day off today.  Reds needed an off day.

I'm always split with Votto. He's been a great player for a long time now so I hope he retires a Red. Father time has caught up with him though. Perhaps they can convince him to retire and take up coaching or even broadcasting for the Reds..