SSC

No reason to even put this on tv anymore. Twitter coverage owns tv coverage tonight.

Would they really risk doing better than them with picks? I don't think those two alone would do it, but those two and a catching prospect probably would.

Not sure to either question, but I'd be shocked if they didn't like Wood and Cozart as a starting point. I'm not saying they're the only team that has the prospects. I am saying they should look into it very hard.

Your point is why the Mets would make the deal and why the Reds should. The Reds are crazy to waste any of the 3 seasons they have Votto and Cueto for that matter. I'd go for it big time with Reyes. He answers their biggest need and improves their leadoff spot and makes the 5 or 6 spot a lot better. No other player could help any other contender as much.

Reyes not being willing to negotiate an extension hurt the Mets trade value. I think they would take Wood and Cozart with another prospect.

Yes. I would give up any two prospects they wanted because they will get two first round picks back after he leaves in the offseason. The Reds are literally Reyes away from contending for a title this year. It also would help them sell tickets for the rest of this year and for future years by winning the division two years in a row and Milwaukee going all in this year and not really having anything left in the minors for the future. Votto is only here this year and the two following years and I don't think they can afford him after that. They need to try to win now. If they don't at least try to make a move for Reyes or a good left fielder they threw away one of Votto's years.

Ok. That's why I wanted to see a replay. Either way they should have got him out and that's a completely different game if they do. I also didn't understand why Votto didn't go throw it right to second to try to turn the double play on the play where he tagged first and fired home. Leake could have had a great game if not for those two plays.

I want to see a replay, but I think BP made a play and didn't throw it to Leake fast enough allowing Gardner to beat the throw. I thought Leake was there plenty early enough but BP didn't toss it. It cost them their first two runs.

Yep. The offense is fine. Nothing to see here

Maybe he didn't look at 3 of the last 5.

Game 3 of this series is a perfect example. The offensive stats for this series won't be terrible, but the offense was terrible for the series.

IMO Phillips killed them the first game with one play on defense. Where are the offense isn't a problem folks? I'm looking at you GT...

And I'd guess big spenders win a majority of their games against NL foes. The author of the article is trying to downplay the clear advantage that a DH and higher payrolls have.

That's a pretty significant difference.

6 of the AL's have been the Red Sox or Yankees and they have clearly spent a ton during those 14 years. I'd say that's an advantage. I don't buy that much into strength based on 1 series either, but they must not be that dominant if they aren't dominating the WS and the NL has won 3 of the last 5 so maybe the gap isn't that big. Sure they can dominate the bad teams, but they aren't dominating the good ones.

Easily. 1st off they are better and I don't know anyone who would argue that. However hasn't the NL held their own in the World Series lately? There are reasons the AL is better. Not just 1 reason. I would love to have Papi sitting on my bench waiting to pinch hit compared to say Heisey or Gomes in a close game at a NL park. Also ignoring the money the Yankees and Red Sox spend and have spent is absurd. I wonder what the Phillies record is against the AL the last few years?

How did they make that go away? Aren't arrests public record?

It's absurd to say the DH and the money aren't reasons. His money argument is bad b/c Philly just started spending that kind of money and they've had very similar results to the Yanks and Sox. Also the Yanks outspend them by $50M per year or more. So the Phillies and Sox are similar but nobody is in the Yanks range. Also who wouldn't admit the AL is better? One more thing I'd love to know average salary per team. I'd bet the AL has a nice advantage there.

I agree with you. You would think Renteria wouldn't be used at all with other options to pinch hit. Some of his moves baffle me, but to some people he gets a pass b/c the Reds had a good year last year. I don't get those people.

It allows them to overcome mistakes in judgement or injuries, but it isn't their fault they can spend more money than others. If MLB ever wants to regain fans in small markets they need a real salary cap.

I'm sure that Dusty has forgotten more about baseball than we know, but I'm not a fan of him at all. On a side note some people talk bad about his looking at the numbers, but that doesn't bother me. I wonder what info Jocketty and the Reds look at as far as metrics.

No doubt. They are out in front of most other teams on a lot of things and when others figure out what's going on they've found another angle.

Rain out tonight. Day night double header tomorrow. Leake goes early and Cueto goes late.

I've seen some of that talk and it's because even though people act like it's a huge deal it isn't that huge of a deal to close out a game. Like I said teams with the lead after 8 innings now are winning at about the same clip they were 100 years ago. I've seen the estimates that the Sox think they'll save by keeping Bard where he is and it's a staggering amount of money. It makes a lot of sense.

I didn't see those conversations, but I'll add this. That is the dumbest idea in all of sports and the stats back it up. Some smarter teams are now using their best reliever earlier in the game and in tougher situations because they know the win percentage for teams leading after 8 innings is almost exactly the same as it's been in baseball for 100 years. It also saves them a ton of money if they aren't letting guys collect save stats. I think Massett is the Reds best pitcher out of the pen so I like that he isn't the closer. I would love if Dusty started the 9th out with Bray against a lefty before going to CoCo if the hitter struggles against lefties, but I understand why he doesn't. I just don't agree with it.