Reds Insider: Grand slam of reality

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Grand slam of reality

The Reds came into today 6 1/2 games back with almost no margin for error.

So Freddie Sanchez's long drive cleared the fence for a grand slam in Game 1 of the doubleheader with the Pirates, it really felt like the beginning of the end of the Reds' brief flirtation with contention.

We shall see.

6 Comments:

at 6:41 PM

Dan H said...

Well it was going to be tough not only to jump 3 teams but do it with only 2 established starters out of 5. Let's hope the bats come alive and get us back in the game and the bull pen can hold it to just the 5 runs.

at 6:59 PM

Anonymous said...

Cantu, at 25 years old, could be as good a pick up as Phillips, and we could see Cantu and Phillips anchoring quite a right side of the infield (of a Morgan-Doggie quality perhaps) soon.

Too bad, as Marty is pointing out, Votto needs to get up here and play...since with Cantu and Votto at first-base in 2008, that leaves little room for Hatteberg...

Cantu at First, Phillips at Second, Keppinger at SS, and Encarnacion at Third...that's quite a lineup. Votto playing behind Cantu, and Bruce playing behind Hamilton/Dunn/Griffey/Hopper.

Wow! That's a great offense...

The Reds are just 2 starters and maybe 2-3 bullpen guys away from matching the quality of the rosters of, at least, St. Louis and Chicago.

For my money, assuming Sheets gets healthy, the Brewers are the team to beat in 2008 in the Central.

Would the Brewers ever use a guy like Ellison? Ramirez?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Ellison just had a lousy at bat (according to B the younger...), and now we have A-Gon up, pinch-hitting after spending weeks away from live hitting...we didn't allow Hamilton to just show up and play so what the heck is A-Gon even doing on the team?

And of course he strikes out.

Game One has been an example of how BAD a manager Mac can be--and how paradoxical the Reds' player handling/movements can be...

If it's good enough for Hamilton (a younger and more talented hitter by far than A-Gon) but it's not good enough for A-Gon....then that just points out a real weakness with the Reds...whether the GM gets all the blame can't be known but this game is just a mess.

Yet Keppinger and Cantu are heralding a better offense for next year (if Dunn returns).

But more managing and player moves like tonight and this week, and I doubt the Reds get much better (than maybe a .500 team).

at 7:03 PM

Unknown said...

As much as I'd like to see the Reds make a run at the division, I'm afraid it would give ownership / management an excuse to go into the off season with the philosphy that we're only a player or two away. The team has played well in stretches and does not need to be gutted, but we are definitley more than just a player or two away.

at 8:03 PM

Anonymous said...

Justin do you have any idea what you are talking about?

"Would the Brewers ever use a guy like Ellison? Ramirez?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

Have you followed baseball for the last 15 years? The Brewers lineup was all Ellisons and Ramirezz.

at 8:28 PM

Anonymous said...

Well, I don't think anyone expected them to go undefeated the rest of the way. Going up against 2 lefties, a split was all I figured the Reds to get tonight anyway. I know it's a steep uphill battle, but if one grand slam in game one put them out, they never had a shot to begin with.

at 11:06 PM

Anonymous said...

MikeC, I was talking about today's Brewers. A quality organization from top to bottom.

Tonight was a hack job from start to finish. Bad lineups; bad decisions.

Disgusting.

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Grand slam of reality

6 Comments: