(04-24-2025, 11:49 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Won't be shocked if Stephenson practices some 1B on his rehab assignment.

Take the greatness of our catchers hitting thus far this year and basically flip it for what we've gotten from 1B...
28th AVG, 28th OBP, 26th SLG, 26th OPS

Yep 1B has been atrocious.
I wonder if Stephenson can be an everyday 1B, and it may help keep him healthy.
I feel like Trevino and Wynns have C going just fine right now.

At least Candelario and Steer can play multiple positions as utility guys (although I hate the thought of highest-paid hitter as a utility/bench player, but he's the worst hitter right now).
I don't think CES has played anywhere but 1B, right?
If so, he seems like he is the one to demote out of the group.
Baseball-ref says he played 9 games at 3B and a couple games in OF back in 2023, but he's been strictly 1B last year and this one.

(04-24-2025, 12:14 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Yep 1B has been atrocious.
I wonder if Stephenson can be an everyday 1B, and it may help keep him healthy.
I feel like Trevino and Wynns have C going just fine right now.

At least Candelario and Steer can play multiple positions as utility guys (although I hate the thought of highest-paid hitter as a utility/bench player, but he's the worst hitter right now).
I don't think CES has played anywhere but 1B, right?
If so, he seems like he is the one to demote out of the group.
Baseball-ref says he played 9 games at 3B and a couple games in OF back in 2023, but he's been strictly 1B last year and this one.

He was a 3B in college, but I think the way he's hitting you need to keep rolling with Marte at 3B for now (until he tests positive again).

He's also just not hit anywhere near well enough this year or last year for me to really worry a ton about making sure he has a spot in the majors. His time being truly truly atrocious is closing in on matching the same amount of time he was actually good his rookie year. 

I think AAA is calling CES' name when Stephenson returns.

Phillies, Diamondbacks, Dodgers and Nationals have had some shitty home plate umps in their games.

Reds bats lively in Colorado, but what's going on with McLain just struggling hard?

McLain is still making good contact. That's kind of why his struggles don't quite jump out as much. Not sure what the stats show for TODAY, but less than a week ago, I was watching an Angels game and Kyrien(sp?) Paris was hitting and they showed a stat that said only 5 players(Paris) were in the top 90 percentile of hard contact and foot speed. McLain was one of the other players listed.

And I think that Steer is going to be fine . . . the Reds played 29 Spring Training games . . . even if you don't play, you still take batting practice. He had three Spring Training games before being shut down. He was "s'poseda" go on the DL/minor league re-hab but when Stephenson and Hays came up lame just before the season started, Steer took one for the team and more or less said "I can hit, but throwing is where I have a problem." They needed a middle of the lineup hitter BADLY so he went from "See you in 4-6 weeks" to "Can you hit cleanup or 5th after seeing almost no pitches for a month?"

He had three ST games, the Reds have played 26 games. His Spring Training is officially over. What he does from now on is where I'll measure him.

Good hard fought win in the rain.  The pitchers mound was all mud.  Lousy weather to play baseball in.  Reds won and are at .500

Pagan got Save #6, and Terry Francona seems to be settling in with Pagan as Reds closer as April ends.  Pagan in on pace to have 30 to 40 saves at this rate.

Reds win again 6-3. Pagan with another save. Also former Reds GM Walt Jocketty passed away today at 74. RIP Walt.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/04/walt-jocketty-passes-away.html

So back above .500 and in 2nd place. Hopefully we can complete the sweep today.

Marte staying hot so hoping this isn't just a flash in the pan. Hoping to see McClain get back on track soon.

What is wrong with McClain, he looks terrible at the plate? He never used to swing at balls outside, and chase pitches. Seems to me, he is not seeing the ball well, and just guessing.

https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/reds-top-prospect-chase-burns-makes-double-a-debut

Chase Burns got promoted to AA.

Reds in 2nd place and over .500 and only 2 and a half games behind Cubs.

Reds have 14 wins.  I want to see them get 15 or more for April.  That gives them to Wednesday.  

Pagan got saves Friday and Saturday.  I hope he doesn't pitch 3 days in a row.  Often on the 3rd day in a row, the reliever gets rocked. I think due to tired arm.  Good example was Chapman who got Cubs to game 7 of World Series, but was worn out by game 7.  He got rocked but Cubs came back and won, made Chapman look bad, but Cubs don't even have a chance to win that without what Chapman did getting them to game 7. These fans that think they can pitch every game, they can't.  I really don't want to see Pagan pitching 3 days in a row, he needs an off day today on Sunday.  Let some others finish the game. 162 game season and you do not burn out your bullpen arms by June as some managers do.

More games versus Colorado and Pittsburgh, please! Hopefully this has been a "get right" series for our offense and we can keep this up. Noticing more opposite field hits lately.

(04-24-2025, 11:49 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: Won't be shocked if Stephenson practices some 1B on his rehab assignment.

Take the greatness of our catchers hitting thus far this year and basically flip it for what we've gotten from 1B...
28th AVG, 28th OBP, 26th SLG, 26th OPS

Trevino's bat has been a really pleasant surprise.  I rip their talent acquisition a lot, but credit where credit is due: it looks like they really cleaned up on the rate front this past offseason.

Also, I can't remember a time that I saw this many 300 hitters in the Reds lineup.  It's likely flukey,but also encouraging.  Freidl is close, Lux is there, Hays is there until he cools off, Marte is absolutely exceeding expectations, and Trevino is at 300 or close.  

(04-27-2025, 07:06 PM)samhain Wrote: Trevino's bat has been a really pleasant surprise.  I rip their talent acquisition a lot, but credit where credit is due: it looks like they really cleaned up on the rate front this past offseason.

Also, I can't remember a time that I saw this many 300 hitters in the Reds lineup.  It's likely flukey,but also encouraging.  Freidl is close, Lux is there, Hays is there until he cools off, Marte is absolutely exceeding expectations, and Trevino is at 300 or close.  

Might be fluky, but you gotta take it while you can get it. We have gotten/get to play 3 of the 5 worst teams in baseball in a 4 series span. Make hay and crush those you can and then fight tough and try to keep even against those you can't and you'll be okay.

15 Wins and still April. Add to it with St Louis coming to Cincy for a big division rival 4 game series.

Reds are in 2nd Place only 1.5 games behind Chicago Cubs, but it's early with all 5 teams bunched up in the race. These Division games do count more, just as in NFL, because if you want to win the Division, you have to beat the teams in your Division.

Big 4 game series with St Louis Cardinals. Pagan got Sunday off, so he is ready to Close.

Go Terry Francona and 2025 Reds against Cardinals. Play it like it's September and play-offs on the line, because it's a big Division Rival Series.

(04-27-2025, 07:06 PM)samhain Wrote: Trevino's bat has been a really pleasant surprise.  I rip their talent acquisition a lot, but credit where credit is due: it looks like they really cleaned up on the rate front this past offseason.

Also, I can't remember a time that I saw this many 300 hitters in the Reds lineup.  It's likely flukey,but also encouraging.  Freidl is close, Lux is there, Hays is there until he cools off, Marte is absolutely exceeding expectations, and Trevino is at 300 or close.  

I was concerned in off season because for a long time all Reds had listed was Stephenson.  So Trevino and Wynn have been a nice surprise and huge to Reds having a good April.

I'm not sure about Stephenson at First Base.  He has had concussion problems at catcher.  If he can hit, don't rule out DH.  I'm sure Reds are thinking catcher, but I like what Trevino and Wynn are doing.  It reminds me of 1990 April, and Reds had a nice surprise how great Joe Oliver was catching and trying to pick runners off throwing to first and third, not just second, as Bench use to.  I really liked 1990 Joe Oliver, and so far I like 2025 Trevino and Wynn.  Trevino looks like a good catcher on defense to me, and that is the main thing.  Shortstop and Catcher better be top notch on defense, you can't go hitting and bad defense at those 2 spots. Trevino looks very good at Catcher and Wynn spelling him looks pretty good also.  

The Reds are not so strong on hitters not to try platoon on that DH spot.  They could go righty and lefty depending on starting pitcher.  I'm not sure how good Stephenson is at First.  I know one thing, besides De La Cruz, you want Marte in the game.  Lux is a pesky hitter and on a hitting streak.  Lux is like that Brett Butler from years ago, it takes a pitcher 10 or more pitches ro get him out, he wears down opposing pitchers.  There are parts to this team I really like, and TREVINO and WYNN at Catcher are a big part of what I like so far under Terry Francona.  Besides De La Cruz, Marte is flat out hitting as good as anybody in baseball this April, and he needs to play. So does Lux on a hittig streak.  I love that Lux makes opposing pitcher pitch count go way up each at bat. 

A Trade this year would not surprise me.  Once Terry Francona see's what he has, come July he might have a list of players he likes, and players he could live without, and his lists may surprise fans on who is trade bait.  I think he will go with who has played well for him, not who he is told played well for Bell, but are showing Francona nothing. There is a new sheriff in town. 

Don't look now, but the Reds suddenly have a top 10 offense in all of baseball.

They're 3rd in runs scored, 6th in hits, 6th in batting average, 7th in OBP, 8th in Slugging, and 9th in OPS.

Pair this with a pitching staff with the 9th best ERA, 2nd best WHIP, 2nd best Opponent's BA allowed (OBA), T-6th for most quality starts, and you've got a formidable team on both sides of the field.

I know our offensive numbers are buoyed a bit by a few blowout wins, but they've been on a tear now for several weeks. They've scored at least 3 runs in 16 consecutive games. It's been 22 games since the infamous 1-0 triplet.

Austin Hays has electrified this offense, with a .388/.444/.755 line in 12 games.
Noelvi Marte has been hot after a lost season, with a .364/.404/.659 line in 12 games.
Austin Wynns has been inconceivably clutch, with a .433/.485/.767 line in 11 games.
Gavin Lux has been one of the most consistent hitters in all of major league baseball, with a .333/.426/.437 line in 26 games (5th overall OBP in MLB among qualified hitters).
Jose Trevino has also been a consistent presence as perhaps the best #9 hitter in the majors (I know we've heard that before haha), with a line of .322/.375/.475 in 22 games.

Elly has raised his line to .270/.339/.432 with an 11 game hitting streak after struggling early in the season (his line was .224/.278/.403 before this hitting streak started).

Even Blake Dunn, who is just a back up or fill in player so far, has a surprising .396 OBP in his 40 at bats as a reserve player (just don't look at his average of slugging haha).

The only real stain on this offense is Jeimer Candelario's continued ineptitude, with a .113/.198/.213 line in 22 games.

The Reds need to either create an injury for him and stash him on the IL when Stephenson is ready to return, or they need to DFA him outright.

Because he just looks completely lost out there, and I don't know if he will get any better as the season goes on.

Matt McLain is also struggling. fortunately, it appears to be correctable. Per statcast, he is in the 94th percentile in barrel%, 90th percentile in hard-hit%, 84th percentile in walk%, and 87th percentile in chase% with good exit velocities, and defensive metrics.

His expected batting average is 0.251, which indicates he may be experiencing a fair amount of bad luck.

He's just whiffing and striking out too much. If he can improve there, his stats should pop off as well. Let's hope that happens soon.

It's still waayyy early, I get it, butt... I'm feeling a lot better about this team now than I did 10 days or so ago.

EDLC's average is up too .270 and he's in the top ten in MLB with 24 RBI's. I wish he could get the K's down and damn it to hell I wish he'd quit trying to steal 3rd so much!! He can score from 2nd under so many circumstances it's borderline irrelevant stealing 3rd for him.

Marte is on fire, I'm sure there's going to be some leveling out but hopefully not too much. .364 with 15 RBI's Hays and Lux batting .388 and .333 both with 13 RBI's. Friedl playing well, Wynns and Trevino swinging the bat. It seems like Steer is batting with some confidence now.

If McLain comes out of his funk we'd have the makings of a good offensive core.

I'm anxious to see what the next month brings.

(Yesterday, 09:39 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: It's still waayyy early, I get it, butt... I'm feeling a lot better about this team now than I did 10 days or so ago.

EDLC's average is up too .270 and he's in the top ten in MLB with 24 RBI's. I wish he could get the K's down and damn it to hell I wish he'd quit trying to steal 3rd so much!! He can score from 2nd under so many circumstances it's borderline irrelevant stealing 3rd for him.

Marte is on fire, I'm sure there's going to be some leveling out but hopefully not too much. .364 with 15 RBI's Hays and Lux batting .388 and .333 both with 13 RBI's. Friedl playing well, Wynns and Trevino swinging the bat. It seems like Steer is batting with some confidence now.

If McLain comes out of his funk we'd have the makings of a good offensive core.

I'm anxious to see what the next month brings.

Spot on. There is currently some optimism to be had, but I temper my feelings knowing it's a long season.

(Yesterday, 09:57 AM)TecmoBengals Wrote: Spot on. There is currently some optimism to be had, but I temper my feelings knowing it's a long season.

For sure

I'm not having champagne wishes and Worls Series dreams just yet. I'm hoping for having a reason to watch in August. The most likely real key is can our pitching hang in there? 

If it does....we have a chance of at least being competitive. For how long ???