Matt Adams is a dope. He pushed the fan. It was caught on tape. Fess up. The guy reverse Bartman'd him and he was angry. Not a big deal but don't insult our intelligence by saying you didn't push him.

 

I don't care about the push. What I don't like is the weak explanation. Like you said, just own it.

Really hard for me to call Phillips selfish when I personally feel like he goes out of his way to interact with the fans more than anyone else on the team.

 

 

Not singling you out MJ, by any means, but who cares about fan interaction? Give me a guy that is a good teammate and will do whatever it takes to make the team better, not flashy nonsense to get attention and signing a few extra autographs on the caravan. Brandon is as PHONY as it comes, and his smile for the cameras and signing autographs along the rail pre-game shouldn't fool anyone. He is a bad guy, a bad teammate, and, as we saw this winter, a guy that was a frigidly cold commodity on the market.

 

I believe his 10/5 rights kick in on September 3rd, keep that date in the back of your mind.

I watched the whole series and my general thoughts. Too early to get a pattern, but these are observations:

 

The Good -

1) Starting pitching - I'll take 2 quality starts (outstanding really) out of 3 all year

2) Defense was spectacular for the most part really just Votto and Frazier, but Bruce and Ludwig had a couple of key hits

 

The OK -

1) The bullpen for the most part

2) 3-6 hole hitters

 

The Bad -

1) Timely hitting

2) Nothing from the 1,2 7, 8 hitters

 

Biggest dilemmas:

1) Cozart - great defense, offensive liability

2) Hamilton - if he doesn't get going after 100 at bats or so, there is no one else on the 40 man that is a leadoff hitter.

 

Looks like about 80-85 wins if this pattern develops

 

The most concerning things is the leadoff hitter, although timely hitting is up there. The Cards tried to give us runs in games 1 & 3 with atrocious defense and we never took advantage of it. Above average teams make you pay.

Reds Plan, MTGL laughs.

I watched the whole series and my general thoughts. Too early to get a pattern, but these are observations:

 

The Good -

1) Starting pitching - I'll take 2 quality starts (outstanding really) out of 3 all year

2) Defense was spectacular for the most part really just Votto and Frazier, but Bruce and Ludwig had a couple of key hits

 

The OK -

1) The bullpen for the most part

2) 3-6 hole hitters

 

The Bad -

1) Timely hitting

2) Nothing from the 1,2 7, 8 hitters

 

Biggest dilemmas:

1) Cozart - great defense, offensive liability

2) Hamilton - if he doesn't get going after 100 at bats or so, there is no one else on the 40 man that is a leadoff hitter.

 

Looks like about 80-85 wins if this pattern develops

 

The most concerning things is the leadoff hitter, although timely hitting is up there. The Cards tried to give us runs in games 1 & 3 with atrocious defense and we never took advantage of it. Above average teams make you pay.

 

I feel like that is the case with the Reds at all times, that there is at least 4-5 guys that can't even put the ball in play.

 

Cozart's hitting is honestly just brutal at times. I don't think I've ever seen him hit the ball the other way. As far as Hamilton goes, I think he is just pressing right now and too anxious to get on. Also, doesn't help that he had to go against Wacha and Wainwright in two of his first three games, they make even the best hitters look bad.

 

On a side note, after seeing this up to 28 pages and the comments, I'm almost scared to join in the conversation :lol2:

Not singling you out MJ, by any means, but who cares about fan interaction? Give me a guy that is a good teammate and will do whatever it takes to make the team better, not flashy nonsense to get attention and signing a few extra autographs on the caravan. Brandon is as PHONY as it comes, and his smile for the cameras and signing autographs along the rail pre-game shouldn't fool anyone. He is a bad guy, a bad teammate, and, as we saw this winter, a guy that was a frigidly cold commodity on the market.

 

The only reason I think fan interaction matters is because of the younger generation and I'm talking about kids that are like 7-14 years old. They seem to light up when Brandon Phillips is coming up to bat. Or when he's doing something pre-recorded on the big screen. Baseball seems to be dying off when it comes to having fans from the younger generation, so I believe guys like Brandon Phillips are important to keep them engaged in baseball and engaged in the Cincinnati Reds. His smile is contagious to them.

 

I see it all the time down there at the ballpark. Kids love them some Brandon Phillips and maybe I'm wrong but that is why I think fan interaction is important, to an extent.

The only reason I think fan interaction matters is because of the younger generation and I'm talking about kids that are like 7-14 years old. They seem to light up when Brandon Phillips is coming up to bat. Or when he's doing something pre-recorded on the big screen. Baseball seems to be dying off when it comes to having fans from the younger generation, so I believe guys like Brandon Phillips are important to keep them engaged in baseball and engaged in the Cincinnati Reds. His smile is contagious to them.

 

I see it all the time down there at the ballpark. Kids love them some Brandon Phillips and maybe I'm wrong but that is why I think fan interaction is important, to an extent.

I agree with you, but I think MTGL's point is that regardless of the face he puts on for the public, and it's a good one typically, he's a horrible teammate. He's selfish to no end. His attitude infects the whole. The Reds don't have a Scott Rolen type who can counter that stuff, perhaps grab him by his neck if need be. I love watching Datdude play defense, but I'll be one happy guy to see him wear the jersey in another city.

I watched the whole series and my general thoughts. Too early to get a pattern, but these are observations:

 

The Good -

1) Starting pitching - I'll take 2 quality starts (outstanding really) out of 3 all year

2) Defense was spectacular for the most part really just Votto and Frazier, but Bruce and Ludwig had a couple of key hits

 

The OK -

1) The bullpen for the most part

2) 3-6 hole hitters

 

The Bad -

1) Timely hitting

2) Nothing from the 1,2 7, 8 hitters

 

Biggest dilemmas:

1) Cozart - great defense, offensive liability

2) Hamilton - if he doesn't get going after 100 at bats or so, there is no one else on the 40 man that is a leadoff hitter.

Looks like about 80-85 wins if this pattern develops

 

The most concerning things is the leadoff hitter, although timely hitting is up there. The Cards tried to give us runs in games 1 & 3 with atrocious defense and we never took advantage of it. Above average teams make you pay.

Bernadina could fill that role. He's done it before.

I agree with you, but I think MTGL's point is that regardless of the face he puts on for the public, and it's a good one typically, he's a horrible teammate. He's selfish to no end. His attitude infects the whole. The Reds don't have a Scott Rolen type who can counter that stuff, perhaps grab him by his neck if need be. I love watching Datdude play defense, but I'll be one happy guy to see him wear the jersey in another city.

 

Yeah, I probably got hung up on the question at the beginning of the post.

 

We saw last year that the lack of leadership was a problem. Guess that will be the same this year too.

Yeah, I probably got hung up on the question at the beginning of the post.

 

We saw last year that the lack of leadership was a problem. Guess that will be the same this year too.

I think Dusty was part of that problem. He is from a generation when players policed the clubhouse on their own. Maybe I'm mistaken, but there seems fewer and fewer of those guys around these days. Maybe our new manager will take more of a role in establishing roles. I have my doubts however.

I'm also not all gloom and doom on the season. Frankly, I think the starting pitching is as good as anyone else's. That alone will keep them in games and in contention.

I think you should resume your post, but just remember, you can put lace on a turd, but it's still a turd. You're working with a leadoff man who is the world greatest base stealer, may as well be the worlds greatest diamond thief, neither can get on. You're 2hole hitter wouldn't move him over regardless because it would hurt his "numbers". Your 3 hole is terrific, unless there's someone in scoring position, then he works on his "eye". Your cleanup hitter is streaky as a windexed windshield in the glaring sun on the equator at high noon. Your 5 hole is a year from AARP eligibility. Your 6hole is your hottest hitter right now, but is 2 weeks away from not being able to touch a pitch on the outside part of the plate with a friggin' boat oar. Your 7 hole has on a pair of floaties to do his very best to stay above the Mendoza water level. Your 8 hole is a coin flip between a parade of backstops who are trying to set the table for what may be your best offensive option,,,,,the staff. They can actually rake.

 

 

Good luck.

 

So I'm fired from that position? Glad I had to find out on a message board...

So I'm fired from that position? Glad I had to find out on a message board...

You've moved up to 3rd base coach. However, there hasn't been much action for you yet.:walk:

You've moved up to 3rd base coach. However, there hasn't been much action for you yet.:walk:

 

So who's taking the reins for the weekend series? HT still in charge?

So who's taking the reins for the weekend series? HT still in charge?

 

No, you need to take a stab at it. But let's give our boy some credit, he took the bull by the horns, knowing the team on the slate was better than our Redlegs.

No, you need to take a stab at it. But let's give our boy some credit, he took the bull by the horns, knowing the team on the slate was better than our Redlegs.

 

It gave it my best effort, all things considered it could have been much worse. Just trying to tread water for the first 3 weeks here.