Daily Archives: August 21, 2012

August 21, 2012

Mesoraco suspension reduced to 2

By
Zeldink
Posted at 5:11 pm

Devin Mesoraco’s suspension for contact with umpire Chad Fairchild has been reduced from 3 games to 2 after his appeal. Mesoraco begins serving that sentence immediately.

The suspension forces the Cincinnati Reds to go with a 24-man roster. Since Ryan Hanigan was the only other catcher on the roster, the team decided to make sure that they still had 2 catchers. They activated Dioneer Navarro from AAA Louisville. To make room for Navarro, Logan Ondrusek was optioned to AAA.

Ondrusek has been struggling a little lately, but it’s not exactly worthy of a demotion. Regardless, the rules state he’ll have to remain in the minors for 10 days before being called back up. Unless there’s an injury to another pitcher. And why do I feel that Sam LeCure might be “injured” soon?

Posted in Cincinnati Reds, NL Central, Wheeling and Dealing.
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August 21, 2012

Game 123: Reds 5, Phillies 12

By
Amanda
Posted at 1:22 pm

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Reds2000300005120
Phillies10114311-12150
W: Halladay (7-7) L: Leake (5-8)

Boxscore

Brandon Phillips at PHIWell, there’s good news and there’s bad news about last night’s game. First, the good news:

  • The Reds didn’t commit any errors.
  • The Reds did score 5 runs, and it was Roy Halladay starting.
  • No one in the game suffered a career-ending injury (if you haven’t got your health, you haven’t got anything).

And the bad news:

Mike Leake started for the Reds in the series opener against the Phillies. He lasted only 4.1 innings, giving up 7 runs (earned) on 10 hits and a walk. This is coming off that complete game he threw last time, you’ll recall.

But it wasn’t just him. The bullpen didn’t fare any better. Sam LeCure worked the next .2 innings, allowing 2 more runs (earned) on a hit and a walk. Jose Arredondo did the best of anyone, but still allowed an earned run on a hit in his 1.0 innings of work. Logan Ondrusek mopped up the last couple innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, 2 walks, and a HBP.

If there’s a Reds’ hero to be had in this game, it’s Jay Bruce. He went 3-for-3 with a walk and 2 RBI. Bruce is on fire! If only we can keep the Phils from putting it out. Chris Heisey went 3-for-4 with a run scored, and Brandon Phillips went 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored.

Hopefully the guys have been resting up tonight because they’re going to need all the energy they can muster as this series rolls on. Homer Bailey (RHP, 10-8, 4.16 ERA) takes the mound for the Reds against Cliff Lee (LHP, 2-7, 3.83 ERA) of the Phillies. First pitch at 7:05 p.m.

Posted in Game Thread.
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August 21, 2012

Reds say Bailey not fatigued

By
Amanda
Posted at 8:24 am

Last Game
Last night’s game was a good ol’ fashioned blow out, the likes of which the Reds have not been the victims of the whole season. The offense managed 5 runs against Roy Halladay, which is nothing to sneeze at, but Mike Leake could do nothing to restrain the Phillies, who touched him for 7 runs in 4.1 innings.

To be fair to Leake, the Phillies line-up also got to the bullpen for another 5 runs before it was all over. In fact, there was only one inning where the Phillies didn’t score, and it was one of Leake’s. So there’s that. For those who have lost track, the final score was Reds 5, Phillies 12.

Next Game
Things don’t get too much better tonight as the series continues. The pitcher for the Phillies, Cliff Lee (LHP, 2-7, 3.83 ERA), gave up 3 home runs in his last start. Unfortunately the pitcher for the Reds, Homer Bailey (RHP, 10-8, 4.16 ERA), has been having a pretty rough time of it lately. According to the Gameday Probables page, Bailey is 1-2 with an 8.24 ERA since July 31. In that span, he’s allowed 35 hits.

Hopefully the Phillies’ batters will be tired after yesterday.

Bailey and Hernandez long-tossing before the gameWhat’s Eating Homer Bailey?
Bailey had an exceptionally great July, which puts his not-so-steller August in sharp relief. Maybe if he’d been mediocre the whole way through, no one would be asking not about whether he’s hurt or fatigued. But he wasn’t, and now people are asking.

There’s an article about possible Bailey fatigue on Cincinnati.com today. Dusty Baker has been saying that he doesn’t think anything is wrong with Bailey physically because his velocity is still high. In this article, pitching coach Bryan Price agrees:

As with all the guys, we keep our fingers crossed that they stay all year. But we don’t see any signs that there’s a health issue with Homer.

Rather, he says they’re working on a “glitch” that is affecting Bailey’s release point. I guess he knows what he’s talking about, but I’d rather have an excuse to hold on to understand why Bailey is suddenly so unreliable.

To that end, I’m trying to decide whether a person could actually be fatigued without feeling bad or losing velocity. I suppose it could sneak up on you and you wouldn’t feel the difference, but what about the pitch speed? Maybe his speed *is* down. Maybe, if Bailey were 100%, he’d be throwing 98. OK, probably not.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
The Phillies are 57-65, but the Reds have lost their last 7 games to them. They’ve just had the Reds’ number. It’s kind of a relief that the Phillies are 10 games back on the wildcard.

Posted in Daily Briefs.
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