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From news of the day to news of the weird, John Fay provides a glimpse of what it’s like to cover the Cincinnati Reds

John Fay
John Fay has been the Reds beat writer for the Enquirer since 2001. Prior to that, he served in a variety of roles for the Enquirer: backup Reds writer, UC beat writer, backup Bengals writer and as a general assignment reporter. He is a Cincinnati native and a graduate of Elder High School and the University of Dayton.

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Sunday, June 3, 2007

Rockies 10, Reds 9 in 10

So I'm thinking after Gary Majewski gets the flyout to end the seventh and keep it an 8-5 game: If Majewski can pitch a clean eighth, it would be a very good sign for the Reds.

You know what happened next. Majewski gives up three straight hits. David Weathers comes in and gives up a three-run triple. The Rockies take a 9-8 lead. The Reds tie it in the 9th and then lose it in 10th.

Just your run-of-the-mill major meltdown.

Bob Castellini was among those in the stands. I don't know if that means anything or not. Seems to me that Jerry Narron and Wayne Krivsky aren't on the same page at times lately, i.e, Narron saying Homer Bailey is going to start and Krivsky saying that it hadn't been finalized.

Bottom line: After all the fretting over Josh Hamilton not being here, over a lineup with Dewayne Wise, Juan Castro and Chad Moeller in it, if the bullpen get seven outs with a four-run lead, the Reds win the game.

Matt Belisle disputed Jerry Narron's claim that he was tired. But Belisle was having trouble putting batters away. My only quarrel with Narron: If Marcus McBeth is here, why not use him?


36 Comments:

at 8:47 PM Blogger Hawk22 said...

John,

Was Bob Castellini with the team during the whole trip or was this a surprise trip to Denver?

Yeah it does seem odd with the Narron/Krivsky info concerning Homer. Krivsky seems to always be on the same page and backing Jerry.

What is your gut feeling on the decision with Homer Bailey for Saturday?

 
at 8:55 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

John - Perhaps you can discuss the merits of bringing Homer up versus leaving him at AAA.

I'm all for developing talent and giving players a chance, but given the Reds' numerous glaring deficiencies, what good will it do?

Thanks,

 
at 9:52 PM Blogger Chris at Redleg Nation said...

Agreed on McBeth. And Burton. And Salmon.

I keep hearing Chris Welsh talk about how there are several guys in the bullpen that Jerry Narron "can't" use with the game on the line. I'd love to know why not. The guys he "can" use sure aren't getting it done.

And maybe this dovetails with John's comment about a communication gap between manager and GM -- if the manager simply won't use players on the roster, why are they there? Or, stated another way, if the manager won't use the players his GM has given him, why is he still there?

 
at 9:54 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Belisle retired two batters pretty easily in his last inning, and had gotten Holiday and Helton (the next two batters due up) out 7 of 8 times in the game. He should have been left in to finish the inning. Narron should be removed--hasn't he reached his "loss limit?" He reached mine 12 losses ago!

 
at 9:57 PM Blogger Redsheart said...

It would be a very good sign for the Reds --- but it was just a bad sign..... sigh.............. When can we say goodbye to hell? Krivsky, you need to admit fault for the contract with joker. Which team is he watching now? He's going to let us watch bullpen melt down again and again. If homer comes in, he won't become a winning pitcher until he pitches complete game.

 
at 10:07 PM Blogger Unknown said...

It's like seeing the same old tired flicks over and over again... Bullpen meltdown. If not that, poor defensive play. If not that, poor offense. This team, and I want to say that I love the Reds - have since I was born (or at least can remember), is making me consider bringing a bag to the next game I attend. My biggest complaints are that they make mediocre pitchers look good on a day the haven't really pitched that well and, mediocre hitters look like superstars (like the Nationals!) Paul, I may be almost 45 but do you think you can get me a shot in the bullpen? I can't be any worse than the guys have shown they can be.

 
at 10:10 PM Blogger Unknown said...

It's like seeing the same old tired flicks over and over again... Bullpen meltdown. If not that, poor defensive play. If not that, poor offense. This team, and I want to say that I love the Reds - have since I was born (or at least can remember), is making me consider bringing a bag to the next game I attend. Or a muzzle when look at the game on TV. My biggest complaints are that they make mediocre pitchers look good on a day the haven't really pitched that well and, mediocre hitters look like superstars (like the Nationals!) John, I may be almost 45 but do you think you can get me a shot in the bullpen? I can't be any worse than the guys have shown they can be.

 
at 10:19 PM Blogger Mark said...

John,
Face it, there are absolutely no good signs with this team. I'd say it's time to get rid of about half the pen. Majewski has no business pitching for the Reds. How can they even have confidence in a guy who came to this squad knowing he was damaged goods in the first place.? I'm retiring my Dunn jersey to the back of the closet because he is simply wiffing out way too much. Looks like few pitchers fear his stick much anymore. Narron has the look of a manager but we have seen enough to know that looking the part and being one aren't the same. The worst thing that could happen is that the teams ahead of them keep losing and the Reds hang around only because this division is underachieving. If this happens, management will do very little in "hopes" of getting back in it. They may wear C's on this jerseys but in no way does this club reflect the grand tradition & history of this organization.

 
at 10:22 PM Blogger Donkey Dizzle 4's said...

Because John, that would make too much sense.

 
at 11:22 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Live by the pitch count...die by the pitch count. Pathetic.

The funny thing is that we were FINALLY playing decent baseball with yet another makeshift lineup. We'll get Hamilton back tomorrow and Homer this weekend so hopefully things will look better.

I'm just tired of even thinking about how the bullpen ruins our winning games. Hasn't Jerry learned his lesson yet?

Coffey and Sarloos (or however you spell it) can just stay in Louisville for the rest of the season. I can think of a few others in the bullpen that can join them. They haven't earned the right to wear a major league uniform.

It is just sick...we won but lost today. There was actually hope with how we played Houston.

 
at 11:43 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

I haven't jumped on the Narron Criticism Bandwagon until lately, but twice in the Colorado series he hooked starters after they gave up a meaningless single with two outs and leading by four runs.

I don't like the way he sets up his bullpen, I don't like the way he uses his bullpen, I don't like the way he leans so heavily on Weathers and I also don't understand why McBeth wasn't used at all. He should be being groomed as the closer.

Then Narron says Bailey is pitching this weekend? Why would you have the kid make his debut against a team that can flat-out rake in a home game that would be close to a sellout anyway? Makes absolutely no sense.

When all is said and done, Narron must go to shake up a listless ballclub.

 
at 1:16 AM Blogger REddlegg in Colorado said...

I just can not believe it! I am embrassed to be a Red's fan this season. I guess I have to watch at home in misery as Narron lets this team rot to you know what.

Thanks Jerry for 1 day of baseball & 2 days of cow manure, if it was not for Livingston we proably would have been swept(And for that he gets demoted,this a poor example of baseball management). I get one chance a year to go out support my favorite hometown baseball team and basically get embarssed and humilatied. Rockies fan laughing at me and my team, anyone know what it is like to have rockie fans busting your chops.Not a real good felling, the rockies stink all around.Terrible ownership, poor attendance, no pitching & a very young team.(With the exception of Helton) so that tells you where excaltly the Red's are sitting at. THE WORST FRANCHISE IN BASEBALL

THANKS FOR RUINING MY EXPERIENCE NARRON, KRIVISKY, & CASSETINLI .YOUR TEAM AND YOU GUYS ARE A BUNCH OF BUMS

 
at 9:32 AM Blogger Don said...

Coffey has pitched very well in AAA recently. He struck out the side Sunday. I wouldn't be surprised to see Coffey called up this week. I'd take Coffey over Stanton any day.

Saarloos is awful. His pitching stinks and his attitude stinks too.

By the way, it is interesting to note that Kyle Loshe's ERA is now better than Bronson Arroyo's.

 
at 10:27 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Seems to me pitchers have pretty much figured Dunn out. He's susceptible to even mediocre talent. Sad thing is, he's putting up better numbers than most of the lineup. Even Griffey. That says more aabout the team as a whole than Dunn in particular. Dunn is middlin' kind of talent.

 
at 10:57 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Long past time to see Narron to the door and see what Bucky can do for the rest of the season as interum manager. Then a major fire sale for prospects and go with youth like the Marlins have done.

 
at 11:38 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can someone please explain why Narron would give THREE starters a day off the day before an off day? Ross, Phillips and Dunn were all out of the lineup Sunday. If Dunn needs a day off, give it to him on Saturday when we're facing a lefty. Narron makes NO SENSE with his decisions.

 
at 12:34 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Castellini and/or Krivsky needs to have a press conference sooner than later explaining what direction the Reds are going in.

I think that John and the rest of the media need to push them on that. The fans want, and deserve, to know what is going on for the next couple of years.

 
at 1:25 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

What direction are they going? That's easy, Duke.

DOWN.

Something's got to change... and I don't think anybody knows quite what.

 
at 1:32 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

John, several good points. Offense hasn't been this team's problem (though I wouldn't run Sunday's lineup out there very often.) They are scoring plenty of runs.

McBeth was the AAA closer. Then, he should be the major league 8th inning guy for a team that already has a closer and can't get anybody out in the 8th. Why is a minor league callup automatically delegated to blowouts?

I imagine that when Hamilton is called up, Wise goes back down? It wouldn't surprise me when Homer is called up to see Majewski go back down. If I were GM, the only thing that would stop me from demoting Majewski would be an great week by him or a much worse week from someone else.

 
at 1:35 PM Blogger Laura said...

Brendan, Dunn was sick with a sinus infection and was feeling pretty horrible.

 
at 1:36 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, it is interesting to hear what management thinking about current and future situation. But it should be remembered that now seems totally different situation in MLB then it was before, like building dynasty, etc. You can be in playoff regularly like few some, Red Sox, Yankees, but it looks like that to win the whole thing is now one shot only (Marlins (twice!) Cardinals, Diamondback, etc). So, the management (which is complete failure now, especially, buying and using pitchers) should build there ideology and aggressively implement from the beginning into the heads of the players around it. Otherwise, Reds will build/develop there winning future forever, especially considering incapability of Reds to play and win at-home.

 
at 1:39 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

have to admit... i thought todqay would be the day narron showed the door. why not pitch mcbeth. it just keeps getting stranger.

 
at 2:02 PM Blogger cow town said...

Listening to the Bats broadcast this afternoon, and they said Rob Butcher sent a message saying that Coffey & Hamilton will join the Reds tomorrow, and Salmon and Wise are returning to the Bats.

 
at 2:25 PM Blogger Mr. Redlegs said...

John, if you don't mind, and since it's your travel day, I'd like to apply that so-called "voice of reason" (ha!) to a few of your respondents:

This team . . . is making me consider bringing a bag to the next game I attend.

Will that be paper or plastic?

The Cincinnati Reds thank-you for your patronage, nonetheless. That'll be $6 for a Bud Lite.

They may wear C's on this jerseys but in no way does this club reflect the grand tradition & history of this organization.

Frankly, that grand tradition vanished after the 1994 strike. Seems like a different breed of Reds fan, attitude, expectation, and organization metamorphosized after that debacle. Very heavy on the frontrunners, even heavier on the whiners of "I Ain't Coming Back -- Unless You Win." The only team to suffer worse backlash from the strike was Montreal. See where that got 'em?

I get one chance a year to go out support my favorite hometown baseball team and basically get embarssed and humilatied. . . .

It really helps to spell embarrassed and humiliated properly to give your pain any validity. But point taken.

Rockies fan laughing at me and my team, anyone know what it is like to have rockie fans busting your chops. . . . THANKS FOR RUINING MY EXPERIENCE NARRON, KRIVISKY, & CASSETINLI .YOUR TEAM AND YOU GUYS ARE A BUNCH OF BUMS

Rockies fans known for their barbarianism? Who woulda thunked? Nevermind that humanity wasteland called Yankee Stadium. . . .

Oh, it also helps to spell the GM and owner's names properly, too.

Live by the pitch count...die by the pitch count. Pathetic.

Totally agree with this in theory, but Narron has been known to let his starters stretch out--if he trusts them. Let's be honest, almost everything Narron does with a pitching staff is built around trust. Evidence? The young relievers collecting mold.

But Narron will make changes based on physical evidence--body language, pitch locations, falling behind in the count, taking too long between pitches--all the usual signs of fatique or drooping confidence that catchers, retired or active, quickly recognize.

Can someone please explain why Narron would give THREE starters a day off the day before an off day?

Gladly. For Ross, day game after catching two nights in a row. Phillips has a sore rib cage and needed a breather, and Dunn has a sinus infection, not to mention a 4-for-29 funk.

The bottom of the order of Wise, Castro and Moeller was 4-for-12 with 2 runs, 3 RBI and a walk, and all had excellent defensive games.

Long past time to see Narron to the door and see what Bucky can do for the rest of the season as interum manager.

Always amazed at how many games fans believe managers actually make a difference. If you say more than 5 percent, there's a $6 Bud Lite waiting for you.

Castellini and/or Krivsky needs to have a press conference sooner than later explaining what direction the Reds are going in.

I like this suggestion because, well, I suggested it to John last week in his "Three Things to Change the Reds" thread.

However, now's not the time for a public address. But when they start breaking down this team, Castellini and Krivsky should hold a townhall meeting at the Reds Hall of Fame, admit how-many-ever fans the viewing room will hold, get Fox SportsNet to televise live, and have an honest, frank and open discussion with the public in which e-mailers could also ask questions.

All those in attendance get a free night on that silly-looking boat in center field, complete with grub and booze. E-mail questions used on-air get two free tickets to a game, and you create some good, hearty, dialogue with the fan base.

It might also be the most watched local TV show of the month.

Nothing but good can come from this sort of novel, refreshing, public standup. It'll be the talk of the town (and media) for days.

 
at 5:39 PM Blogger REddlegg in Colorado said...

Mr. Redlegs,

To answer your post about my spelling, thanx's for the spelling check. I was pretty tired after siiting in the heat and sun for 4 hours drinking beer. The lost did'nt help much either. But after coming home and taking a nap I was a little out of it and feeling a little lazy.I had some things on my mind that I had to post and I think you & the others knew what I was saying regardless of my spelling.I do take pride in my grammar, but it is always good to have a self righteous, smug, & know it all correct you.Thanx Mr.Redleg for the correction, I hope you can sleep better now.

And to correct you, Ross only played on Sat.! Javy V. started Fri. night. Trust me I know I was behind home plate for frri & sat.'s games.Moeller did not play bad on sun. and It was not his fault they lost.That one goes to Narron, Pole, Hume, & the bullpen.

 
at 5:43 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr. RedLegs you are indeed an a$$. By virtue of the vitriol that you use to rip into everyone elses suggestions, frustrations, misspellings, you'd swear that they were the ones who'd put together the worst team in baseball.

 
at 5:59 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why can't a current starter or a minor league starter be a reliever? Seems like the starters get tired by the 5th/6th inning, why not let them relieve?

 
at 11:09 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr. Redlegs might be more arrogant than Reds management. He's certainly more condescending. And illogical. And wrong. And old.

 
at 11:48 PM Blogger Mark said...

I still contend that Tom Hume has been getting a free pass in all of this for a long time. Why are few people looking at the problems in the pen and asking why Hume isn't being held accountable for his coaching shortcomings? Is he a sacred cow? As I recall in his years with the Reds in the 1980s weren't so hot either. It's time to tackle this issue, John.

 
at 7:41 AM Blogger RickNMd said...

While the Reds haven't been overly entertaining this season, the touchy, angry, resentful Reds fans continue to be a curious source of entertainment. Why? The ways you continue to make loudmouth, illiterate larks of yourselves.

Look at the comments on this thread alone. The attitude of the fan base has become a big topic by long-time Reds fans, those who remember the loyal and insight fans of the Big Red Machine era. I remember how Curt Gowdy used to brag on the Game of the Week, "Cincinnati fans, some of the most knowledgable in all of baseball!"

I was at Anderson High School when you hung Dick Wagner in effigy and it was great. I was at UC when Pete Rose came home to manage. It was great. I came back for the 1990 playoffs and world series, and it was great.

But look at you now.

Some anonymous poster used the word "vitriol" to outline "Mr. Redlegs" summation. Wow, was anything he said untrue? No. He was even right about Ross playing Friday and Saturday. The spelling-challenged fan who was at the game was obviously drunk or not paying attention. Ross replaced Valentin and even had an at-bat. Check the box score.

I keep thinking the gas tank of complaining, whining, "vitriol" and narrowness will finally run empty. But it doesn't! It keeps getting recycled. Dunn is a bum, Narron is an idiot, trade Junior for three starting pitchers, a closer and catcher, fire the GM, the owner is a liar, when does Bengals season start . . . and on and on.

All of this beheavior this season has become arrogant, illogical. And wrong. And certainly old.

It's a ball game -- aka entertainment -- and nothing more. Doesn't next year always come around? Yessir.

 
at 4:43 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey RickNMD. If you live in Hamilton County you were promised a new stadium which would provide increased revenues, which would in turn allow ownership to field a competitive team. The taxpayers dug into their wallets, but ownership did not. In the past
4 - 5 years ticket prices have gone up substantially and ownership has received money from the luxury tax but none of that has translated into a substantially larger budget. While it's true that sports is entertainment, the taxpayer does not subsidize movie studios, record companies, tv and radio stations (except for PBS/NPR) etc. RickNMD, we've been paying this sales tax since 1996. The public provided almost $300 million to build GABP. What we've gotten in return is crap. People have every right to complain and stay away, just as you have every right to spend your money on an inferior product and hold no one accountable.

 
at 5:34 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well Rick,
As ticket prices continue to climb and the product on the field diminishes it's not, what I'd call, entertainment! By the way, calling players bums and asking for the firing of managers is not a new trend in baseball. Just ask your grandpa. You accuse people here of being arrogant. And what? A front office acting like they don't care if the bullpen blows up nightly isn't arrogant? Is it not presumptuous to think that management can dig deeper into our wallets while fielding a sub-par major league team & we are just suppose to sit in overpriced seats and cheer on mediocrity? The difference between fans in the 70s and now has a lot to do with what's going on between the foul lines and front office. Thanks for chiding us though, because maybe we will all just become too ashamed to express our ignorance or show up at ball games. That place will be pretty empty since there seem to be (in your opinion)so few baseball geniuses, like you, left in Cincy.

 
at 6:23 PM Blogger Mr. Redlegs said...

Oh, boo-hoo. Taxpayers had to pay for a stadium. Like that's novel. You want to be a professional sports city? You pony up--unless you want Cincinnati to be a slightly glorified Louisville.

In fact, it was recently figured that GABP has cost each person in Hamilton County about $39.

Some of you bellyache about the payroll--buy a bullpen, get a real manager, spend more, sis-boom-bah.

But you complain about ticket prices, you complain about parking, you complain about concessions, you just don't stop complaining. "You're out of the $1 hot dogs?!?!"

Here's another thing that's real novel: As payroll goes up, so does the cost of going to a ballgame. And as years go by, so does the cost of players. The average MLB salary now is almost $3 million. That's right. The average.

So let's check. Hmmmm. Cincinnati Reds' cost for the family of four to go to a game: ranks No. 22. That's right, only eight teams are lower.

www.teammarketing.com/fci.cfm

On one hand you scream for a higher payroll to win more games. But you don't want to pay for it. Then, you don't have the patience for the organization to build from within.

Can't have it both ways. Make up your minds.

 
at 7:24 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hmmm Mr Redlegs... Ok so we should not complain that this team ranks 22nd in cost for a family of 4 to attend. And based on rank the Reds are such a bargain? Yeah and with the quality of the team on the field we should just be so thankful to pay "so little" to watch a minor league caliber team. Give me a break! I have a hunch that you and Rick must be the parents of somebody from Reds front office since you are the only ones that seem to defend this organization so passionately. You will be the same guys who will blame the fans if this team moves out of the city because we sure know that no one else seems to own up to this chronic state of mediocrity. Honestly, is this a team you have no problem laying down your hard earned money to watch?? Entertainment? Must not take a whole lot to amuse some people. PLEASE!

 
at 8:15 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr RedLegs, are you sure your last name isn't Krivsky, or maybe Castellini? I don't know where you got that $39 figure but that's a joke. Just because you throw a number out there doesn't make it so. That figure is based on each individual in Hamilton County, not each wage earner. I have 6 Hamilton County residents in my house and I am the sole wage earner therefore that $39 your talking about goes up to $234 for me. The number is still low anyway. Sit down, figure out what you spend each year on little things like food, gasoline, clothing, hygeine products, entertainment and even Reds tickets and then multiply it by .005. If it comes out to $39 then you are probably hungry, lonely, wearing old clothes and a little smelly.

I did vote for the sales tax and would do so again. The voters of Hamilton County showed a vote of confidence in the team and ownership should have responded in kind. Carl Lindner, the 2nd wealthiest owner in all of baseball was handed a stadium bought and paid for by the taxpayers. He didn't put money into the payroll or into the minor leagues. He wouldn't pay the going rate for 1st round draft choices and hired incompetents like Dan O'Brien. He did make a nice profit of about $100 million when he sold the club though.

The team that was put together this year is a perfect reflection of the failures of both the past and present ownership and management of the Reds. They are hamstrung on payroll because of Milton, Griffey and Dunn. The little money they had was spent poorly, Stanton, Cormier, Conine.

The Reds do have alot of talent that should be making their way to the majors very shortly so there is reason for optimism. But one winning season in the last 11 gives everyone the right to complain.

 
at 9:55 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr. Redlegs Castellini is so off-base it's hysterical. Get a clue, old man.

 
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