By the way, Derek Jeter is back on the DL with a calf strain.
Apparently the Bob Castellini (the Reds owner) thinks Dusty is a good manager. A lot of casual fans think he is fine. But to almost all the more knowledgeable fans, the moves he makes during the game and his lineup construction just drives us nuts. Unlike FoieGras, I don’t mind him playing Cozart since I don’t think he has any other option and Cozart is a decent fielder, but he was having him bat second in the lineup for a good part of the season, which was just insanity. I bet Joey Votto has led off the inning more than any number 3 hitter in baseball. Of course, then Dusty gripes about him not having more RBI’s. I know there is more to being a manager than just making out the lineup and in game managing, but we should surely be able to find someone that could do things as well as Dusty.
Also, a Redleg Nation blogger pointed out the following quotes from Saturday’s Cincinnati Enquirer:
From Mike Matheny: “I take full responsibility. I think that’s one of the qualities of a very good team is when everybody’s looking at themselves first. Losing teams typically are quick to point out who isn’t doing it. For me, it’s not so much second guessing as it is an opportunity to learn. Every decision, was I prepared? Did I miss anything along the way that would have helped me make a better decision?”
From Dusty Baker: “You can reinforce them, but they’re making decisions on their own. Everyone wants to blame the staff or whatever it is, but sometimes you have to put the blame on the pupil.”
Also, Reds beat reporters seem afraid to ask him tough questions. If they did, he would likely just cut off their access, which would jeopardize their jobs. The only times any tough questions get asked is when there happens to be a nationally televised game, and you get the national press questioning him.
Dodgers win a well-pitched game against the Cards. Good start to a very tough week for them.
On the other side, the Indians lose a heart breaker to the Tigers, and fall back four out of first.
We now return you to Alex Rodriguez, who is 1-3 tonight thus far.
Greinke beats Wainwright. Puig takes Wainwright to the wall in right-center for what would have been a triple if A. Gonzalez had any wheels. Great closing on a night we didn’t have Kenley.
I haven’t seen anything like this in many a year as a Dodgers fan.
Indians’ bullpen is going to be the death of them.
Puig’s throw to nail Craig at the plate was pretty epic.
Also, Matheny needs to stop ordering sacrifice bunts. Now. There were at least 4 in this game, I think, none of them well-advised or particularly well executed. The front office needs to issue a “thou shall not bunt” edict for any player other than Kozma, (maybe) Jay, and pitchers (rarely). And absolutely never with zero outs.
Just painful to watch a solid offense give away outs.
ETA: I was wrong - only 3 sac bunt attempts by the Cards. But one was Carlos Beltran with two on and nobody out. Which should count as at least two.
Presented in their entirety, the Astros’ half of the 3rd through 5th innings of their game vs. Boston:
Houston - Bottom of 3rd
L Hoes lined out to first.
J Villar singled to left.
J Villar stole second.
R Grossman struck out swinging.
J Villar stole third.
B Barnes struck out swinging.
Houston - Bottom of 4th
John Lackey pitching for Boston
J Altuve reached on infield single to third.
J Altuve stole second.
J Castro walked.
C Carter struck out swinging.
J Altuve caught stealing third, catcher to third.
B Wallace struck out looking.
Houston - Bottom of 5th
John Lackey pitching for Boston
M Dominguez struck out swinging.
L Hoes singled to right.
L Hoes stole second.
J Villar walked.
R Grossman singled to right, L Hoes scored, J Villar to third.
R Grossman stole second.
B Barnes struck out swinging.
J Altuve struck out swinging.
So in those three inning we have 5 steals, 1 caught stealing, and 7 strikeouts? But at least they scored a run!
Meanwhile, the Braves continue rolling, with the 11th straight victory, icluding sweeps of the Cardinals, Rockies, and Phillies. as well as taking game 1 from the Nats last night.
If you haven’t seen the fielding wizard that is shortstop Andrelton Simmons, here is his relay last night to nail a runner at the plate. When watching this game live, when that ball went to the wall, I said to my wife, “that’s two runs in right there”. Nope, just one, because Andrelton Simmons has a cannon for a right arm. In the minor leagues, he was both a pitcher and infielder. Fastball clocked at 97mph.
Keep on focusing on the Dodgers, or Royals, or A-Rod. Meanwhile the Braves have a 13 1/2 game lead and are crushing everyone in their path.
Hey, they won the game. There are worse box scores.
Yes, Lackey had a good game and Salty didn’t. That’s not unusual.
With 51 games to play, the Reds have a 4.5 game lead over the Diamondbacks for the final playoff spot. At the Reds’ current winning rate, the Diamondbacks will have to win 74.5% of their games going forward to catch up to them. And looking at their schedules, the Reds have a relative cake walk to maintain their lead.
Without question, the Braves’ pitching has been outstanding. However, outside of the Cardinals, you haven’t played anyone anywhere near .500 since the All-Star break, and the Cardinals will be your only real test for the remainder of this month.
I don’t think there’s any doubt Atlanta’s going to the playoffs, but how do you feel they stack up against the other contenders once they get there?
The Braves are great right now. No question. But they more or less have a lock on their division and it’s not that interesting…which is a shame. They should be getting more press.
Now, back to the Dodgers, who are two wins away from tying the all time NL consecutive road win record set in 1916 by the NY Giants, which is sort of meaningless and sort of cool all at the same time.
But see, that is the cool thing about the way their schedule falls. They played a first half heavily stocked with .500 plus teams, and STILL built up a hugeass division lead. The second half of the season is full of sub .500 teams.
So far this year:
[ul]
[li]Braves over Pirates 4 games to 3[/li][li]Braves over Reds 4 games to 3[/li][li]Braves over Dodgers 5 games to 2[/li][li]Braves over Cardinals 3 games to 0[/li][/ul]
Actually I think they will stack up pretty well against the contenders. As you say, their pitching has been solid, and their offense is clicking right now. Bullpen has been consistently at the top of the NL.
Two things scare a little. One, they have a number of streaky hitters. Justin Upton being the streakiest of them all. Freddie Freeman (excuse me, All-Star Freddie Freeman) has been their one consistent hitter all season, everyone else has had hot and cold streaks. Second thing that concerns me is the huge lead. If it stays in the double digits for the rest of the season, they may lose a little bit or urgency and edge.
TWC and CBS have 2 hours to get their shit together or I’m going to start casting curses their way. A plague on both their houses if I have to miss a minute of a Dodgers game scheduled for KCAL-TV.
And more bad news other than a tough loss. Corey Kluber who pitched such a terrific game is out for probably at least a month, so they said on the telecast tonight.
Whew. Masterson loads the bases with nobody out in the 2nd inning but gets out of it.
The way Tom Hamilton was talking about it sounded like he was giving a eulogy. Really ugly.
Yes, but He was not prepared for the Juggernaut that is Don Kelly.
Yes but with their batting woes, that can change pretty quickly. This team was supposed to contend for the division. I don’t want a stupid wildcard…I know, cry me a river and all but dammit, this team is wasting wonderful pitching! And yes…we just beat the A’s 3-1 behind another pitching gem by Mat “I’m missing a T” Latos.