DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Reds @ Cardinals (and other stuff)

April 28th, 2008
Probable Pitchers

RHP Bronson Arroyo (0-3, 7.56 ERA)
vs.
RHP Todd Wellemeyer (2-0, 3.77 ERA)

Scouting Report:
Reds: Arroyo is off to a rough start to his 2008 season and has yet to pitch six innings. His latest outing came in Wednesday's 9-3 loss to the Astros where he was pummeled for eight earned runs and a season-high 10 hits over 3 2/3 innings. Arroyo and pitching coach Dick Pole have poured over video to see where the right-hander has gone wrong but have yet to come up with any solutions.

Cardinals: The Cardinals' rotation has surprised so far, and Todd Wellemeyer has been a big reason why. He has been impressive in his first full season as a starting pitcher. In his last outing, a no decision in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, he tossed six innings and surrendered four runs on seven hits. Despite not having his best stuff he battled and gave the club a chance to win.



Other stuff:

- The Reds offense has gotten it together the past two games (too bad they couldn't show any of that when Harang pitched)

- Love the fact we finally got rid of Castro. Hairston has been pretty good at the plate. I don't expect him to keep it up but at least we now have a spot for an extra bat now that Castro is gone.

- Todd Coffey gets too many chances. He has not pitched well and the club seems to be clinging to the hope he'll regain the stuff he had a few seasons ago. If he has another terrible outing he needs to be sent packing to AAA ball.

- Speaking of pitchers, Arroyo needs to get it going or he's in danger of losing his roster spot. He has not looked good at all (and in spring training he was lights out). It makes me wonder if his all start season two years ago was a fluke?

- The catcher situation is getting interesting. Bako has been money, and is the catcher for both Cueto and Volquez. Valentin hasn't really gtten it going and seems to be the backup and #1 PH. Ross is the right handed option in the catcher by commitee,

- Maybe not this or next season, but it looks like Volquez is going to be the ace of this pitching staff.

- Belisle, although he won his last start, needs to prove he can pitch in this league, otherwise he may be moved back to AAA or the bullpen.

- Dunn has been horrible this year, more than usual. I used to not want him off this team but if he's moved I don't think I'll be sad.

- Griffey is in the last year of his contract but has a $16.5 million option for next season. I wonder if we pick it up. While not the Jr. of old hes still decent.

It looks like Harang - Volquez could be a dominant 1-2 if he keeps this up. He "upped" his ERA today from 1.21 to 1.23...ouch. Tough times for the youngster. ha


Arroyo has been really disappointing, especially after such a strong spring, and he's my boy so that makes me sad. I dont want to see him go anywhere. at all. But i think he'll come back around, he seems to be strong for half the year every year.


Cueto is still looking very good too, maybe itd be smart to give Bronson an extra day of rest, and move one pitcher up a spot and see how it goes. Give him a chance to straighten things out.

Dunn...I'm with the not being sad if he's gone. He doesnt seem to fit the mold we're building here. With Phillips hitting in the cleanup spot, it seems like we have a lineup built for speed and manufacturing runs, not just pounding them out of the stadium every batter like the yanks and sox are. Plus, id like to see Hopper get more appearances, I think he'll be good, and that will in turn give Bruce more reps too. Personally i think the Reds should look for an additional catcher (Bako and Ross are ok, but nothing special), or maybe some bonafide help in the Pen. Other than Cordero and Burton, I dont particularly trust our Pen. Lincoln is tolerable i suppose, but Affeldt, Mercker, Stormy Weathers, eh.

thank goodness they finally got some runs this weekend though, hopefully that can be a spark. Good thing Hairston came through. I was real nervous about him and Patterson, i thought theyd be useless because they were in Chicago and in Texas and Baltimore respectively.

Belisle and Arroyo look bad, real bad. Almost time for Homer to come up and replace Belisle. Arroyo needs to be the fifth man if he doesn't come out of this funk. He needs to be three or four even if he does start pitching better.

Arroyo on the mound!

Hopefully he will settle down and throw a decent game!

I have a feeling that we are going to need the hot bats again tonight....let's hope for a good game!

GO REDS!

Nice to see the bats starting to come around.

Arroyo was lookin great until the 6th, still a great start compared to his previous outings.

Edwin has been hittin the leather off the ball lately, but his fielding is so...I can't describe it. He'll make the worst throw possible one play, and then makes an amazing diving catch and throw to save runs the next.

Coffey was finally sent down to the minors for Bill Bray. I'm a little concerned that we may have too many lefties in the pen. Affeldt has been great out of the pen, and if Arroyo and Belisle continue to struggle he might be considered moving into the rotation if they want to wait a little longer on Bailey.

Tonight is the first time the Reds have one the first game of a series all season.

its about time Arroyo looked better. Hopefully this is the start of better things, I love the guy...he can be so good, he has such good stuff when his fastball is on

good W tonite

You continue to harp on the pen like you have since the beginning of the season. At least you have the right players, for the most part, listed now. I'm still wondering if you watch many games, the bullpen is much improved. And Hopper more time? Ugh.

Good win last night. Arroyo looked better, I'd take that kind of pitching as a 4th starter, where he needs to be.

I dont get a chance to watch the games. I dont get FSOH in WNY. I just check the stats, they havent been bad at all to this point, but they still scare me.

The history of the guys there arent very good, cept Mercker but he's so old.

Is Hopper that bad? He had a decent (at worst) year last year, he batted .329 which isnt bad by any stretch of the imagination. And I think him in the leadoff spot or maybe #2, he can do well, and then we dont have to use Dusty Baker retreads like Hairston and Patterson (though Hairston hasnt been bad to this point).

But no sadly I dont get to watch games that arent against the Mets, Yankees, or on ESPN, or Braves when theyre on TBS. I just get to watch sportcenter or the yahoo gamechannel which is painfully boring.

Hopper is on the DL

yea i saw that...but ive no reason to think he wont be back in the relative near future.

I mean...if he can come back before the trade deadline and make some moves, he could make Dunn expendable. And we could trade him, and get something instead of letting him go via free agency?

It would be very nice to deal Dunn....the sooner the better!

We need some hitting right now...and Dunn just struck out!

Are you saying Hopper as an option to replace Dunn? Oh Lord.

Cueto had a terrible night. It's the lumps you have to take with young pitching.

You're crazy if you think Hopper can replace Dunn. Hopper is valuable depth; nothing more. I do however think that it might be time to call up Bruce. With the way Dunn is playing we need someone to step in. And Patterson has a .280 OBP. Not exactly what you want from you leadoff guy. Also, unless Belisle starts pitching better we may want to call up Bailey. He's doing really well in Louisville.

2-1 Reds, top of the third.

Could we get Harang some run support for once!

3-2 St. Louis. Harang having a shaky start apparently.

until Bruce is ready maybe?

But if you look, a .329 hitter, who has a near .400 OBP, could replace Dunn. Hopper isnt old, he's young just like a lot of guys on the roster.

He may not get on base quite as much (because he wont walk as much as Dunn), but he'll be a threat on the basepaths.

I guess I dont see enough. but looking at stats, I'm not sure we lose much. A guy like Encarnacion could replace the RBIs if he can stay consistent. I just see Hopper as more of a small ball player, which is something that I think Cincy could do better without Dunn? is that crazy?

The problem is Hopper isn't a .329 hitter, he's a .329 bunter. He really isn't much of a hitter. We need Dunn to drive in runs.

Yes it's crazy to play Hopper over Dunn. There's got to be power somewhere in the lineup, and I really don't trust Encarnocion to drive in 100 runs every year.

I'm not going to defend Dunn since he lets me down every time But people would be alittle more forgiving of his blunders in the outfield and taken 3rd strikes if he'd just hit better with runners on base.

This team must hate Harang, they never give him any runs

Thats fair. Will Votto be able to drive in 100? Sounds like hopper would be best as a late game sub, to move runners and such things.

I'm just kinda lookin for someone to replace Dunn's power without all the strikeouts. I know Votto isnt one for drawing walks, does he take a lot of Ks?

Haven't seen enough of Votto yet personally.

Votto's looked real good, Hatteberg is done after this year.

Someone whos impressed me lately is Freel, hes hittin over .300 and has a good OBP.

The Reds hit four home runs in the second inning this afternoon. Maybe the bats are waking up.

5-0 in the top of the 4th.

Two more homers in the fifth! Woohoo!

Yet only one homer here talking about it.

I'll carry the burden all alone!!

he's not worth your trouble...

Yay! My friend to the rescue!! Go Reds.

GO REDS!!!
(boo turtles)

9-0 baybay

Yay!!!

Joey Votto with a crazy day, even stole a base for good measure.

Welcome to the board, noob!

Reds win 9-zip.

I love shutting out those awful cubs. They are my most disliked team and fans.

I do love Sweet Lou though.

Congrats.

awesome.

I don't know if I hate any baseball teams... I'm just indifferent to the rest of them... just killing time until football starts.

Hey! How'ed you get out of your cage? Bad girl!

bite it, I own you.