Freel good, Freel bad
Ryan Freel has cost the Reds two runs by turning good plays in to bad ones. He beat out an infield single in the third, but was thrown out trying to go second when the ball got away. Adam Dunn hit the next pitch out for a home run.
In the fifth, Freel nearly made a diving catch on Derrek Lee’s liner to center. But Freel got up, threw wildly to third. The ball went in dugout, allowing Mike Murton to score and Lee to go three. It’s 3-1 after 4 ½ innings.
posted by John Fay at 3:40 PM
5 Comments:
at 3:59 PM 
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at 4:00 PM 
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at 4:04 PM 
John Fay said...
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at 11:57 AM 
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at 12:27 PM 
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Post a Comment*John,
Freel just made a great catch, and I know a lot of people will point to that as a reason he should be starting, but do you think he costs the Reds too many runs to be an everyday player? I don't think Hamilton makes that bad throw, but I'm not sure if Hamilton runs out the single or makes that catch.
This is evidence of why Freel is better as a utility player than an everyday centerfielder. The more he plays, the more these costly mistakes will affect the Reds' overall record.
I think Freel should play everyday -- or at least five of seven. But he's going to make some mistakes. He just almost tried to stretch a double int a triple. Haimlton's speed will surprise you. But I don't know if he makes that catch.
Freel would have been safe at 2nd 99% of the time. The play was shown over a dozen times and the ball either hit the rail or the camera and bounced directly back to the 1st baseman and it still took a good throw to get Freel out. He had to attempt taking 2nd as soon as that ball got by the 1st baseman. If a runner doesn't go to 2nd and the ball doesn't take that rare bounce, many people, inluding myself would have questioned the runner's judgement when he was left standing at 1st.
It will be a mistake to not play Freel. He can change a game in so many ways. The Reds need his style of play and his speed. As much as I want to see Hamilton play, I don't want it to be at the expense of Freel. As for getting thrown out a second--luck bounce for Chicago. Every other player on the team would have been out at first because the SS would not have been rushing the throw. Freel is exciting and that is what I want to see when I go to the park. Find a way to get rid of Griffey and then play Freel and Hamilton. I would love to see that happen. I'm tired of Griffey's lack luster play and big salary. We can't afford to have that salary hog in Cincinnati.
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