Series Preview: Brewers at Reds

by Jeff Sackmann on Apr 16, 2007 12:39 PM CDT in News Comment 22 comments

As dreadful as it was to suffer through Ben Sheets's outing yesterday, it's a good time to remember what's nice about this team: there are other good players, including several excellent starters. I don't mean to understate Benny's importance to this team, but at the same time, it's a pretty decent club without him, too. Conveniently illustrating my point are the pitching matchups for our quickie two-gamer in Cincinnati:

Monday, 6:10 CT: Chris Capuano vs. Eric Milton
Tuesday, 6:10 CT: Dave Bush vs. Matt Belisle

Belisle has pitched well so far this year, having already recorded two wins, but these two names illustrate the Reds's achilles heel of the last few years. The emergence of Aaron Harang and the arrival of Bronson Arroyo gives the team a nice 1-2 punch, but after that...ugh.

Oddly enough, it's that pitching staff that has put the Reds in first place thus far. The offense, gutted by Wayne Krivsky's moves last season, is managing a mere .226/.316/.344, while the pitching staff has an ERA just over 3.00, thanks to the unlikely efforts of Belisle and Kyle Lohse. To make matters worse for the offense, Enrique Cruz appears to still be on the roster.

Here's your optional reading assignment:

Red Reporter is discussing the implications of a possible decent season from Lohse. (I wouldn't worry about it if I were them.)
The Church of Baseball does something alarming with a racing sausage.
Red Hot Mama doesn't like Thom Brennaman, prompting the question: who's worse, the old D-Backs announcer or the new one?
My team preview, written in mid-March.

In non-Reds news, the Marlins may be interested in Jose Capellan. I'm not sure why, judging from the looks of their bullpen last week; now they've got Taylor Tankersley back, too. Think about this: they sent down Lee Gardner to make room for him. Given the way Gardner has been pitching so far this year, there aren't very many teams that could do that. In other words, if the Marlins got Jose, he could easily be headed to Albuquerque.

Go Brewers!

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game one

I really like the pitching matchups especially tonight with Cappy going for the crew. Dunn is a monster but is "only" .241/.359/.477 against lefties the last three years (.253/.390/.560 against righties). Griffey and Josh Hamilton are lefties too so that should help. Not quite sure what to make of Hamilton's start though.

On the flip side Milton is an extreme flyball pitcher against a team with power up and down the lineup at a great park for homeruns. Seems like a good time for Hall and Hart to break out of their slumps. I expect Prince to be the only lefty in our lineup and wouldn't be surprised to see Miller behind the plate. With all those righties in our lineup hopefully we can take advantage of Dunn in left as well.

by dixieflatline on Apr 16, 2007 1:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lineup game

Sounds like a good time to play the lineup game!

Weeks 2B
Hardy SS
Fielder 1B
Hall CF
Mench LF
Hart RF
Miller C
Counsell 3B
Capuano P

What's that? Counsell, you say? Graffy's gotten a couple of games in now, and a couple of iffy defensive plays is the quickest route to the Yosy doghouse. Also, Counsell is a gamer. Doesn't matter who the pitcher is.

Mench before Hart? Yep, that's some Nedification for you.

by Marty McSuperFly on Apr 16, 2007 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'll play

though i've got no gems like counsell leading off.

weeks 2b hardy ss fielder 1b hall 3b estrada c mench lf hart rf graffy 3b

left handed pitcher straps Ned a bit into playing the best lineup, which this is. put a right handed pitcher out there though and you get counsell's positional flexibility, you've got three LH OFs to play with... etc.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Apr 16, 2007 4:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Temptation

I was tempted to channel some Yostian dementia and flip Hall and Mench, but I can't believe Ned would be that silly.

I think your lineup is the smart one, but I think I have a Nedification edge with mine :)

by Marty McSuperFly on Apr 16, 2007 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Winner!

Nicely done.

by Marty McSuperFly on Apr 16, 2007 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Delayed reaction?

by battlekow on Apr 16, 2007 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope

Posted that when I saw that jacob had it right. Maybe I missed your point?

by Marty McSuperFly on Apr 16, 2007 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha, no, I'm just retarded

by battlekow on Apr 16, 2007 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lineup

I'm pretty happy with this lineup. Though I wouldn't mind seeing Miller in there as it makes some sense to have Miller start against lefties. I am fully expecting some George Webb burgers tomorrow.

by dixieflatline on Apr 16, 2007 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Enrique Cruz

Cruz is still on the roster because Alex Gonzalez's son is seriously ill in Venezuela. He hasn't played yet though. And if you are wondering who he is, DO NOT search his name on Google and choose "I'm feeling lucky." Trust us.

The Reds have been getting pounded by tough lefties so far this year, so it doesn't help that the right-handed hitters are sucking out loud. I'm not looking forward to facing Capuano tonight, especially with the Reds throwing Milton on there.

Hope some of you will stop by Red Reporter during the series for some friendly smack talk. We enjoyed hanging out with you at the end of last season, routing the Brewers on against the Cardinals. I doubt you'll get the same positive vibes from us, but you all are good people. :)

by Slyde on Apr 16, 2007 2:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

d'oh

routing = rooting. Damn homophones!

by Slyde on Apr 16, 2007 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, yes

of course that's why he's on the roster. But if Enrique Cruz is your backup infield insurance, that's not good. I mean, you NEVER want that guy getting at-bats for you. Just like Chris Barnwell needs to stay in triple-A for us.

by Jeff Sackmann on Apr 16, 2007 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

The Reds are quite weak in the minors up the middle. I think Cruz got the golden ticket because most of the guys in triple-A lack the options to make a move for a bereavement leave. Of course, they also lack the skill to deserve the move, but that's another story.

by Slyde on Apr 16, 2007 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reds vs. Lefties

Vs. Lefties 2.3 Runs per game 3W-3L
Vs. Righties 5.0 Runs per game 5W-1L

Reds Bull Pen 1.73 ERA

Milton - nothing to get excited over at all

by Grinder12000 on Apr 16, 2007 2:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Jumpin' jehosofat!

Bill Hall cannot catch a break

On the bright side, he passed the field sobriety test, so I think we can safely say he was nowhere near LaRussa.

by Marty McSuperFly on Apr 16, 2007 3:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

you guys have any extra bats?

"Another interesting sight of the day, Wayne Krivsky is talking to Dan O'Brien right now out on the field. They're with Brewers GM Doug Melvin. O'Brien is a special assistant to the Brewers GM."

we sure could use some bench players with pop.

of course, it's more interesting about krivsky talking to o'brien, who was a miserable failure of a GM for the reds before krivsky, who has yet to prove he's a miserable failure.

Come worship at the Church of Baseball with Sister Daedalus!

by Daedalus on Apr 16, 2007 4:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"prove" being the operative word

by Jeff Sackmann on Apr 16, 2007 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lineup Game 4/17

weeks    2b

hardy    ss

fielder  1b

hall     cf

jenkins  lf

estrada   c

gross    rf

counsell 3b

In a total head scratching move, Yost will pull Gross late in the game so Mench can get a pinch hit AB... against a right handed reliever.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Apr 17, 2007 11:34 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Loogy lineup

Weeks 2B
Hardy SS
Fielder 1B
Hall CF
Jenkins LF
Estrada C
Gross RF
Counsell 3B

I think Ned's got the top 4 cemented in. I see him playing the hot hand with Jenkins, and rewarding Hart for his outstanding play last night with a ride on the pine.

by Marty McSuperFly on Apr 17, 2007 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, the cynicism.

by Jeff Sackmann on Apr 17, 2007 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

nice lineup

i got you on the timestamp tie-breaker though ;)

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Apr 17, 2007 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Holy crap!

I actually started with Hart in the lineup, and then reconsidered, and never checked back on yours. I guess I should have just edited it down to a "me too!"

by Marty McSuperFly on Apr 17, 2007 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

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