I was listening to Brantley and Marty and they were talking about Blanton and how Blanton takes took the mound in the 6th and by his expressions you couldnt tell he had a 5 run lead.

Cowboy starts talking about going after hitters...throwing strikes unlike Lohse who walked 3 in the inning and all 3 scored...Cowboy replied and Blanton doesn't give up.

Do you take that as Lohse gave up in the 5th inning? I didn't see any of the 5th.

This hits on the big problem with Lohse.

He has some of the best "stuff" in the game but doesn't seem to have them mental fortitude to use it when he needs it most...

If he did give up that is a shame for a professional.

His mental makeup was brought up during his stint with the Twins.

He shook offf the pitch called by Ross that preceded the big homerun in the 5th...correct?

 

Marty and Jeff both agreed that it looks like the Reds are just going through the motions. Sad commentary to hear that before the AS break.

How much of this goes back to Narron?

Haven't really followed the whole Orioles firing of Perlozzo, but if they are angling for Girardi, then they are being proactive.

If the Reds really want to make a run at Girardi, the time is now.

Let's just say for a minute the Reds fire Narron and don't go the interim route.

 

What type of manager can get this team to play? Gruff vet like Jack McKeon, Dusty Baker, Ken Macha, Buck Showalter, or Davey Johnson. Or a young guy like Girardi or Tony Pena?

The Reds are 0-6 against the A's since sweeping them in the 90 series according to Sportscenter.

The Reds are 0-6 against the A's since sweeping them in the 90 series according to Sportscenter.

 

0-7 after last night.

0-7 after last night.

 

I had just heard it on sportscenter this morning so I just figured they had already counted last night.

Maybe you are one of those that dismisses where a guy hits in the order, and thinks that it doesn't matter much. If you are one of them, stop reading.

 

Okay, can anyone still reading explain to me why Narron would move Dunn out of the 4 spot considering the tear he has been on hitting behind Griffey? This year, when hitting 4th, Dunn is batting .421 with an OBP of .488 and a sluggling pct near .900. So what does Narron do when they get out there, move him down to 5th. Why break up what has been working? You KNOW Griffey loves hitting 3rd with Dunn behind him -- much better pitches to hit. As evidenced by Griffey also being on a tear lately.

 

That just makes no sense.

Maybe you are one of those that dismisses where a guy hits in the order, and thinks that it doesn't matter much. If you are one of them, stop reading.

 

Okay, can anyone still reading explain to me why Narron would move Dunn out of the 4 spot considering the tear he has been on hitting behind Griffey? This year, when hitting 4th, Dunn is batting .421 with an OBP of .488 and a sluggling pct near .900. So what does Narron do when they get out there, move him down to 5th. Why break up what has been working? You KNOW Griffey loves hitting 3rd with Dunn behind him -- much better pitches to hit. As evidenced by Griffey also being on a tear lately.

 

That just makes no sense.

 

 

A lot of things the Reds do make no sense. From ownership all the way down to the players on the field.

At this point I think you have to put E-4 in the 3 or 4 hole.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070617/SPORTS07/706170575/1002/SPORTS

 

 

After a slow start, Votto has lived up to his billing in Triple-A. He erased an April of hitting just .192 by going .402 through May, and his 17-game hitting streak that ended May 26 is the team's longest this season. Votto has reached safely in 39 straight games, which rank second in the International League.

 

Votto was batting .312 through Friday night's game and ranked second in the IL in on-base percentage (.423), third in walks (43) and eighth in hits (71). Not to mention the 23-year-old leads the Bats with eight homers.

 

"I don't know the Reds' thinking," Votto said. "All I know is I'm down here to get better, and that's all I really can do.

One speed bump has been Votto's fielding. He's made seven errors playing mostly first base and some left field. His errors are second most on the Bats behind Mark Bellhorn's eight.

 

"We've kind of dropped on him learning to play left field, too, so that makes it tougher trying to learn another position," Bats manager Rick Sweet said. "But he's just going to have to do it. In order for him to play in the big leagues he's going to have to be able to defensively go out and play the game."

 

Votto believes he can do that now.

 

"I've really felt like my defense has come, not necessarily full circle, but I can definitely hang with the major leaguers," he said. "Hitting-wise, I've got to cut my strikeouts down. I've got to learn to drive the ball to all fields, but I don't feel like this is anything I have to be in Triple-A for."

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070617/SPORTS07/706170575/1002/SPORTS

 

 

After a slow start, Votto has lived up to his billing in Triple-A. He erased an April of hitting just .192 by going .402 through May, and his 17-game hitting streak that ended May 26 is the team's longest this season. Votto has reached safely in 39 straight games, which rank second in the International League.

 

Votto was batting .312 through Friday night's game and ranked second in the IL in on-base percentage (.423), third in walks (43) and eighth in hits (71). Not to mention the 23-year-old leads the Bats with eight homers.

 

"I don't know the Reds' thinking," Votto said. "All I know is I'm down here to get better, and that's all I really can do.

One speed bump has been Votto's fielding. He's made seven errors playing mostly first base and some left field. His errors are second most on the Bats behind Mark Bellhorn's eight.

 

"We've kind of dropped on him learning to play left field, too, so that makes it tougher trying to learn another position," Bats manager Rick Sweet said. "But he's just going to have to do it. In order for him to play in the big leagues he's going to have to be able to defensively go out and play the game."

 

Votto believes he can do that now.

 

"I've really felt like my defense has come, not necessarily full circle, but I can definitely hang with the major leaguers," he said. "Hitting-wise, I've got to cut my strikeouts down. I've got to learn to drive the ball to all fields, but I don't feel like this is anything I have to be in Triple-A for."

" I've got to cut my strikeouts down" YIKES:scared:

" I've got to cut my strikeouts down" YIKES:scared:

If he is hitting .312 I don't care how many times he strikes out.

Homer really really has his work cut out for him tonight.

Homer really really has his work cut out for him tonight.

Yeah. He plays for the Reds:cry:

If he is hitting .312 I don't care how many times he strikes out.

You can't hit .312 and strikeout as much as Dunn. If you're going to be a .380 team, might as well get the wheels turning to see what the future brings. We already know what the present is