(08-04-2023, 10:58 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I was having fun ignoring the run differential this year. 

Getting crushed by a -21 difference in the middle two Cubs games makes it look even worse, but even if you take out those two thumpings they would still be -4. Doesn't mean you can't have a winning record with a negative one, but generally playoff teams have one.

Ignoring 2020 (where more than half the league made the playoffs and the tiny season did a lot of statistical oddities) the last time a team made the playoffs with a negative run differential was 2007. The Brewers and Reds are both negative, and the Stupid Cubs are +71 and looking to be 1.5 back from the division lead if the Brewers/Pirates score holds.


Not scoring a single run for 7 straight innings changes the game, too. You lose a lot more games than you win when you only score 3 runs.

(08-05-2023, 07:48 AM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: David Bell needs a lineup coach.

Since almost every decision he makes is based off of charts, trends and percentages, all he really contributes is pumping up the crowd when getting thrown out while ''defending his team''. Since shortly after they hired him, I've basically considered him as a shitty mascot that occasionally makes an on field appearance and, for some stupid, ****ed up reason, has also been given decision making responsibilities.

(08-05-2023, 01:25 AM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: Here's the good news:
In the next 8 games (2 vs Washington, 3 vs Miami and 3 vs Pittsburgh), we're only going to face 2 lefties.

That means only 2 opportunities for Bell to put this goofy ass Fairchild/Senzel/Newman lineup out there that we have suffered through for the last 3 games (in which those 3 players have gone 7 for 34 with 2BB and 7K)

Also, EDLC is looking really good at the plate. He did not swing at a single pitch in the dirt today.

In his first at bat, he did strike out, but 2 were in the strikezone and the other was outside, but was up towards the middle of the strikezone. Threre were two balls down and in that he took.

In his second at bat, there were two balls down and in that he took, one up that he took and then he swung at a strike near the strikezone and then his the home run.

In his third at bat, he laid off a ball down and away, fouled off a strike and then flew out on a strike.

In his fourth at bat, he laid off a slider down and in, and then grounded out on a strke in the strikezone.

And then in his fifth at bat, he was intentionally walked because the Nationals knew Senzel would not win the game (and he didn't).

I know my posts occasionally border on obsessive when it comes to Elly, but I truly believe if he learned to lay off off speed pitches in the dirt, he'd be the best player on the team by a long shot and I think this game (as well as the last few games) is showing progress towards that goal.

Of course, now that I say this, he's probably going to strikeout 4 times tomorrow, swinging at every single pitch regardless of where it is in the zone haha.

(08-05-2023, 12:13 PM)samhain Wrote: It seems like CES is making good adjustments as well.  He's not mashing homers, but he is getting on base a lot.  I have to think that eventually the power that everyone talks about him having will follow suit in time.

Also, unrelated: I'm starting to miss having India in the lineup.  He may not be the face of the team any longer, but he's still a hell of a lot better than Newman, Senzel, or Fairchild.  It's getting tougher to ignore the fact that his absence coincides with the beginning of the decline.  

It really boggles the mind to think that Reds fans (myself included) were worried about having enough spots in the everyday lineup to cram CES, Elly, and McLain in at the MLB level.  I mean, shit, they apparently have enough room for all 3 of Fairchild, Senzel and Newman, so I'm not sure it was ever a problem.  

Also think it's criminal for a healthy Benson to be on the bench.  When he's not a the bottom of the lineup, the opposing pitcher gets the dead spots that the Reds don't normally give teams between the guys that can rake.

(08-05-2023, 12:13 PM)samhain Wrote: It seems like CES is making good adjustments as well.  He's not mashing homers, but he is getting on base a lot.  I have to think that eventually the power that everyone talks about him having will follow suit in time.

Also, unrelated: I'm starting to miss having India in the lineup.  He may not be the face of the team any longer, but he's still a hell of a lot better than Newman, Senzel, or Fairchild.  It's getting tougher to ignore the fact that his absence coincides with the beginning of the decline.  

It really boggles the mind to think that Reds fans (myself included) were worried about having enough spots in the everyday lineup to cram CES, Elly, and McLain in at the MLB level.  I mean, shit, they apparently have enough room for all 3 of Fairchild, Senzel and Newman, so I'm not sure it was ever a problem.  

Also think it's criminal for a healthy Benson to be on the bench.  When he's not a the bottom of the lineup, the opposing pitcher gets the dead spots that the Reds don't normally give teams between the guys that can rake.

(08-05-2023, 01:01 PM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: Newman, Senzel and Fairchild weren't playing because we didn't have the bats to fill the lineup. They were playing because David Bell is a dedicated follower and worshipper of the "Splits Doctrine." If the starter is left handed, Bell will sit Fraley, Benson and sometimes even Friedl. 

I don't mind giving Senzel Fraley's ABs because Fraley is really bad against lefties, but Friedl is just as good against lefties as he is against righties. And Benson has only had 24 career ABs against lefties and, personally, I think he should be given a chance to show he is more than just a platoon player. He has been on fire for 2+ months straight (.769 OPS in 6 games in May, 1.073 OPS in June, .997 OPS in July). 

Especially if dropping Benson means more ABs for Fairchild... 

Our future infield is still likely to be Marte at 3B, EDLC at SS, McLain at 2B and CES at 1B. That leaves DH wide open for India in 2024, or maybe he could transition to LF or something like that. Right now, Votto is taking up a lot of those DH ABs and they're also still fiddling with Stephenson at DH when he's not catching (and he's not really great at hitting or catching at the moment). Votto may not be here next year and almost certainly won't be here in 2025, so there will be room in our lineup for India. It's just a matter of time before Marte arrives and pressed India even harder for playing time this year and next year.

(08-05-2023, 01:02 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: And yet they still had a runner on 3rd in the bottom of the 9th with 1 out and couldn't bring him in to walk it off.

(08-05-2023, 03:47 PM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: Last night was 100% on the offense. 

(08-05-2023, 06:08 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: Please make Nick Senzel go away.

(08-05-2023, 06:15 PM)cinci4life Wrote: That was a horrible throw hence the error on Maile. That said are we really on the verge of losing this series to the pathetic Nats?