By George

April 23, 2010 4:32 PM | Link to this

Until the Reds get rid of Dusty, get ready for a miserable season. I am suspecting that in the next few weeks, Morgan will inherit the job. Morgan can’t do any worse and he can teach some hitting skills.

By howard

April 23, 2010 10:32 AM | Link to this

i pretty much lost interest in the reds when dick wagner parted out the big red machine.

By watchman

April 22, 2010 11:21 AM | Link to this

wondering why adding joe morgan to the reds’ staff will benefit the team. could it be a racial balancing act in preparation for dumping dusty baker?

By misterunknown

April 22, 2010 11:04 AM | Link to this

I have the perfect solutioon for the Reds.Have them move to Truth or Consequences New Mexico,then they would be called the Truth or Consequences Reds and they would have to consider the truth or consequences!

By misterunknown

April 22, 2010 11:03 AM | Link to this

I have the perfect solutioon for the Reds.Have them move to Truth or Consequences New Mexico,then they would be called the Truth or Consequences Reds and they would have to consider the truth or consequences!

By whosyourdaddy

April 22, 2010 11:00 AM | Link to this

Paul…I appreciate your comments and the fact that you like to use initials instead of words when you insult me, so let me just say this without the use of initials…blow me.

By MAC

April 22, 2010 6:02 AM | Link to this

Mike I hear U, but I believe Obrien? is the one credited w/ most of the current group of Reds prospects/talent…NOT the current GM. My question has always centered around all the 1-3 Million $ contracts the Reds eat/waste yr after yr on marginal players…wouldn’t it be more cost effective to just annte up & pay a guy like Holiday when available instead of wasting it on players who don’t help? Clearly Votto is the future; everyone else has question marks. Who are the Reds going to put w/ him; I don’t think the answer is currently in the organization?

By Sparky Fan

April 21, 2010 5:19 PM | Link to this

the Reds would have a better record if Dusty knew how to manage pitchers.They tried to give away the game Tuesday night after he took out Author Rhodes who was pitching fine. I think it is time for Dusty to hit the road.

By paul

April 21, 2010 5:19 PM | Link to this

Whosyour daddy? KMA!!

By redsfandownunder

April 20, 2010 9:18 PM | Link to this

The lowest batting average for the position players for L.A. in today’s game is .281. The team record is 6-6. The Reds have one postion player batting over .286. I wanted to suggest that a couple of players get sent down to find themselves and shake things up (Stubbs for example) but then I look at the hitting stats of the Louisville bats and unless Daniel Dorn is the answer to our prayers (unlikely) the situation is hopeless because they aren’t hitting in AAA either.

By Mike-Dayton2010

April 20, 2010 6:48 PM | Link to this

You can sum up Dan OBrien’s ability to GM a team with one thing - did anyone else hire the dummy to be GM of their team? Nope - did anyone else put him in charge of everything? No … The Reds have had five managers and four GM’s since 2002 and not one (except Bowden who promptly went out and allegedly had a “tax” on signing Latin players) of them has been re-hired by another team in the same capacity the Reds had them working - not one (with the 100% guarantee no one will ever hire Baker once the Reds fire him). Which proves that the Reds upper, upper management has no clue how to judge really anything within the organization. They drift from one hire to the next hoping that THAT hire has all the answers - because there is no plan to execute since there is no plan - the Reds are clueless so every year or two they dump their high priced players for younger guys … but the younger guys get dumped right back into the same stupid system that didn’t work with the players they just dumped. Every two or three years, they reboot the manager and GM and hope the next group of people in charge do something. Ten straight losing season in the weakest division in baseball. These players aren’t the 76 Reds we have now obviously, but the organization is simply horrible.

By MAC

April 20, 2010 6:16 PM | Link to this

No doubt, there’s a talent void in Cincy; that’s not the players fault! Likewise, even our talented players make a number of pin headed plays entirely too often; that’s a player & coaching problem! Overall, there doesn’t seem to be a Cincinnati Red brand of baseball from the top down; what is the organizational philosophy or approach..they appear to still be wondering in all areas from the top down? In contrast, Twins seem to really “get it” and produce in a small market w/ it each & every year. I think Reds short changed Dan Obrien? in his GM roll. Maybe he wanted to make changes throughout the organization that many were not comfortable w/; I think many of those changes still need to take place?

By Bobbyd

April 20, 2010 4:55 PM | Link to this

Cincinnati Pinks you are wrong about Spring training. I loved spring training in Florida, but Cincy Reds needed a new start. And Goodyear is a beautiful park and better weather in the spring. At least the Reds dont have to worry about tornadoes every time it rains. Remember when a tornado tore through PlantCity.

By Jack

April 20, 2010 3:45 PM | Link to this

If you are going to get suspended, probably best to do it while you are on the Disabled List. I wonder if it was something to come back from the injury sooner.

By RRF

April 20, 2010 3:28 PM | Link to this

You have got to be kidding! Cincinnati Reds pitcher Edinson Volquez has been suspended 50 games for violating Major League Baseball’s drug policy.

By Mike-Cinci

April 20, 2010 2:50 PM | Link to this

Francisco is 1 for 22 at Louisville and he apparently is not hustling either.

By whosyourdaddy

April 20, 2010 12:57 PM | Link to this

Hal…please for the sake of all readers go away…retire…amscray….bubye..

By Ebes

April 20, 2010 11:35 AM | Link to this

Great formula Hal. Wasn’t that the one we started the season with?

By Kenny

April 20, 2010 11:08 AM | Link to this

Dusty isn’t great, but he is not the problem. Jackoby is not close to great, but he is not the problem. The batting order is not the problem. It is simply a lack of talent. These players are just not very good. Period. We overrated them again, especially the starting pitching. I’m as guilty as anyone. It’s very disappointing and we are in store for a long season.

By Jack

April 20, 2010 10:23 AM | Link to this

With you Mike-Cincy, for whatever reason I was following the draft on-line the year we selected Alfonso. Should have been Beckham. Shortstop was a position of need and Beckham was thought to be real close to being MLB ready. Instead, we draft a player whose ideal position is where our really only true player, plays. Was very puzzled by that.

By Jim

April 20, 2010 8:40 AM | Link to this

Hal, I have to say that your comments are a bit shocking. I normally agree with much that you write but about Gomes defense I strongly disagree. If that was Adam Dunn, and believe me I know Dunn was dung most of the time in the outfield, you would have ripped him. Dunn was out there for his bat too. I like Gomes and think the Reds are better off with him but be fair about it, you have been his biggest supporter.

By Mike

April 20, 2010 8:27 AM | Link to this

Players are not concerned with winning,it’s all about the salary.Pay me $10 mill a year and I won’t care either.

By DJ

April 19, 2010 10:49 PM | Link to this

The Reds seem to lack a team approach to playing. They don’t have the personnel that could rely on individual output alone to will a win, day in and day out.

By Cincinnati Pinks

April 19, 2010 9:48 PM | Link to this

The curse due to the moving of spring training to Goodyear seems to be working quite well. Drew Stubbs remains woeful at the plate. prescription for improvement 1) Fire 2)Release 3)Trade 4)Revamp 5)Return spring training to Sarasota

By jack mc coy

April 19, 2010 8:49 PM | Link to this

I HAVE A QUESTION,DO THE REDS GET PAYED EVEN IT THEY LOSE, YES, SO IT DON T MATTER IF THEY WIN OR LOSE. THATS THE REAL WORLD FOLKS.

By bob

April 19, 2010 7:32 PM | Link to this

All comments are basically the same. All results are basically the same. The reason is always the same. Dusty Baker being D.B. He was a winner as a player. He has always lost as a manager and still manages the same. Cabrara is just the 3rd edition of his idea of good additions. Bring in a veteran and let the promising young guy sit. Do you remember C.P., A.G., and W.T? Now, it’s O.C. Janish should play every day and Ryan Hanigan should play at min. 1/2 the time.

By redsfandownunder

April 19, 2010 6:43 PM | Link to this

Hal, I agree with everything you said. I’ve also been on the “bat Phillips second” bandwagon with some of the other bloggers for a long time. He can hit to RF very well when he wants to. I think he can become a better contact hitter if put in that role and makes some adjustments. If BF is productive in that spot, it would allow Baker to put Janish on the field more often.

By MAC

April 19, 2010 6:26 PM | Link to this

Inept @ all levels it seems. Players, & Coaches inability to execute or teach fundamentals continues 2 B the problem; it’s not just 1 thing! Reds win when the play fundamentally sound. Unfortunately, that doesn’t occur very often.

By Al Kaline

April 19, 2010 6:21 PM | Link to this

I agree with jeff completely. The lineup he came up with is correct. Phillips should not be batting fourth spot.I also believe Coco,Harangatang and Arroyo will be gone. In spite of all the fustration, its baseball,no matter what. Go down to the park with your kids and gloves and enjoy your time together. It is something I will never forget as a kid with my dad.I wish he was here now so we could go.I went to a lot of damn yankee years(10)when they won every year. In the end, it didnt matter, it was baseball.

By bill

April 19, 2010 6:07 PM | Link to this

when the last time you saw a red leadoff hitter this year try to drop a bunt down for a basehit. seems like everybody is swinging for the fences.

By Believe It Or Not

April 19, 2010 6:03 PM | Link to this

I believe the Reds will win 88-90 games this year—if Dusty, or someone else, uses personnell properly. I never hear anyone discuss the fact that Cabrera is terrible defensively at SS—he has NO RANGE, and is normally, either, too deep in the hole at SS, or playing too much towards second. Someone is positioning him improperly!!! In addition, he has a terrible arm—Granny Goodrich could get more on her throws!Everyone else on our infield has a stronger arm—not to mention Janish!!! Cabrera was a waste of money—should have played Janish! Hanigan needs to play AT LEAST AS MUCH, as Hernandez—he’s better defensively, and has a better throwout percentage than Hernandez. Dickerson should play CENTER ONLY and Platoon with Stubbs, both playing equal time, as long as Stubbs, begins to make contact{or else sit him}—Bring Francisco back up to play LEFT FIELD full time, because of his bat. Hit Votto 4th,Francisco 3rd,Phillips 2nd,Dickerson 1st.

By JRed

April 19, 2010 5:15 PM | Link to this

Calm down folks, there are 150 or so games left. From the apocalyptic tone of some commenters you’d think the team was 0-13. No team is as bad as its worst slumps or as good as its hot streaks. Yes, the starters as a group have been erratic and nobody much is hitting. Even so, they have been in practically every game. No game—win or loss— has been decided by more than 3 runs—with the exception of Harang’s blowout starts vs. the Cards and Marlins. And I suspect that problem could be remedied if Harang changed his pattern & pitch inside more instead of nearly always nibbling at the outside corner—where his mistakes tend to end up in upper deck or the Ohio River.

By michael

April 19, 2010 5:03 PM | Link to this

Come on Busty Faker….Rolen does not suck! :o)

By Rick

April 19, 2010 4:42 PM | Link to this

The GABP is one of the teams biggest problems. The pitchers are afraid to throw strikes because medium fly balls become home runs plus the Reds hitters swing for the fences every pitch and this mentality follows them on the road. The Reds will never win in that ballpark in the current configuration.

By moneyman

April 19, 2010 4:03 PM | Link to this

What did the Reds do with the luxury tax share they have had? They did not spend the nearly $60 million per year extra they have gotten on players or bettering the team, as the money is required to be spent. When will someone ask Bobbo about that? You have crap when you pay crap for it.

By Busty Faker

April 19, 2010 3:50 PM | Link to this

dusty baker sucks brooke jacoby sucks aaron harang sucks bronson arroyo sucks johnny cueto sucks homer bailey sucks ramon hernandez sucks scott rolen sucks chris dickerson sucks johnny gomes sucks drew stubbs sucks jay bruce sucks laynce nix sucks logan ondrusek sucks mike lincoln sucks nick massett sucks arthur rhodes sucks daniel ray herrera sucks

By life long fan

April 19, 2010 2:02 PM | Link to this

god im so sick of the Cincinnati Deads,time to wave the white flag Busty Faker

By Kyle

April 19, 2010 1:57 PM | Link to this

I am no longer amazed, but I continue to be miffed at how often Dusty refuses to play small ball. Man on, none out, Cabrera up, and they won’t bunt him. Seriously? Also, in a franchise built to take advantage of young players (because we can’t afford good, proven players) why not play them? Get what you can out of them before we have to trade them. Can they do any worse than the group that’s up here now?

By Michael in Monterey, CA

April 19, 2010 1:47 PM | Link to this

When once asked about his team’s execution John McKay replied he was “All for it”. Quite appropriate here.

By Mike-Cinci

April 19, 2010 1:37 PM | Link to this

The Reds problem is not the manager or the coaches…it is the players. As a group these guys are not good enough. At least it seems that way through the first 2 weeks. They are good enough to be in the majors but as a group they are not good enough to win enough games. The season is young and they still have a chance to prove this evaluation wrong. Fans have hated every Reds manager since Jack McKeon. The Reds players have made every coach and manager look like a dunce since Jack made the one game playoff in 1999. Teams with bad players fire managers and coaches all the time. It will happen to Baker and his coaches but the next group won’t do any better until this team develops better players out of its farm system. Hiring and firing managers and coaches is the easy part. Finding good players who help you win is the hard part. The Reds drafted Alonso, who is in AA ball without a sure position at the MLB level, was the 7th player taken in the 2008 draft. Why? They could have had Gordon Beckham a SS/3B who is starting for the White Sox. In 2007 they drafted Mesoraco, a catcher, with the 15th pick in the first round. He is still in A ball and has not hit above .225 yet. This is how you build teams that continue to lose. Pitchers who can’t throw strikes and hitters who strikeout at league leading levels are just not good enough to help a team beat teams who don’t do these things. It is a simple as better players win more games.

By John

April 19, 2010 1:14 PM | Link to this

What’s everyone complaining about? You just saw two of the BEST minor league teams in the majors square off against each other! It was VERY competitive with the outcome of each game in doubt virtually to end of each game! It doesn’t get any better!! For the many minor league teams in the majors, that’s AS GOOD AS IT GETS! So, be happy if they don’t end up in the cellar, even if they finish below .500. Be happy for an occasional “top-10” play on ESPN. Be happy you have a team in the MAJORS, even if they’re minor leaguers! The cup is 10% full, WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?!?

By jeff

April 19, 2010 11:55 AM | Link to this

I don’t think it is totally his fault but can someone please explain to me how Jacoby still has a job. This franchise spends top dollar for the broadcasting booth but they keep a hitting coach who has yet to lead improvement. This players have no approach when they come to the plate. They can only hit pitchers mistakes. Watch the game Tuesday and count how many batters they pitch low and outside too. The ony one they don’t is Votto because he hit the ball that way. All 7 other guys are waiting for a mistake pitch to pull. You can’t be successful at this level doing that. They all pull their front shoulders and fly their hips trying for the long ball and it results in low OBP and low averages. Runners on base lead to mistakes pitches. This team will be out of it by Memorial day. I have said that from Day one. The good news is that Dusty will be gone. Our only hope is that Arroyo and harang and cordero can make themselves trade worthy and we can at least try to get something out of this season. 10 straight here we come!!! All the sping excitement hides the fact that this team still doesnt have people in front of the 3-4 hitters that get on base. Stubbs strikes out too much,and Cabrera is not a number two. If it were me I would go Dickerson, Phillips, Votto to protect him, Rolen and Bruce. But Phillips needs to understand that he is a two hitter and not a 4 anymore.

By Steven Ross

April 19, 2010 11:50 AM | Link to this

Randy hit the nail on the head: This team will continue to flounder till they replace Dusty Baker and Brook Jacoby. I’m amazed Jacoby still has a job. Dusty’s on borrowed time. He won’t last the season. Time to cut the cord with both and move on.

By TC

April 19, 2010 11:01 AM | Link to this

Not a talented team. I love them but they suck. Same ole Reds, terrible at bats … Gomes is a joke. Swing from the butt and hit a long one every 30 at bats. Wow!!! Phillips and Bruce continue to swing at everything even close to the plate, and most of the time not so close. Face it, the Pirates weren’t facing the Big Red Machine either, more like the 61-101 Reds of 1982. Still love em, but can’t stand watching them.

By terry

April 19, 2010 10:54 AM | Link to this

It doesn’t matter who the manager is on a bad team. We have seen two winters go by since Jocketty became GM. He has done virtually nothing to improve this team so why expect a different outcome?

By Mike

April 19, 2010 10:52 AM | Link to this

The good news for the Reds’ bats is that the woeful Dodger pitching staff is coming to town.

By max

April 19, 2010 10:31 AM | Link to this

He also pinch hit Owings a few nights ago with men in scoring position and less than two outs. I certainly hope Owings isn’t the first pinch hitter off of the bench. What about Stubbs? Dickerson on third with the tying run in the ninth, nobody out and he looks at a third strike which isn’t even close to marginal?

By Ralph

April 19, 2010 10:20 AM | Link to this

Euthanasia is prescribbed.

By oldtimer

April 19, 2010 9:43 AM | Link to this

This team reminds me of the Reds of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Lot of promise, but nothing to back it up.

By Boomer

April 19, 2010 9:32 AM | Link to this

Hal, Maybe the wretched Pirates aren’t as bad as you Deads fans think.

By W.Va. fan

April 19, 2010 9:28 AM | Link to this

Swept by the Pirates!? Thank goodness for Houston, or we would be in the cellar. I sort of dred playing the Astros. They may sweep the Reds. No wins by a starting pitcher !? It’s time to get rid of Dusty Baker and perhaps Brook Jacoby. Especially Baker.

By Randy

April 19, 2010 9:23 AM | Link to this

This team will continue to flounder till they replace Dusty Baker and Brook Jacoby.

By Jack

April 19, 2010 9:12 AM | Link to this

Good news for some, very doubtful that Jacoby is around next year. At this rate, I think Dusty and Jacoby are on short leashes.

By florence ky

April 19, 2010 9:09 AM | Link to this

The Rolen signing was a joke just like getting excited over Sept baseball when you are 15-20 games out. The wins in Sept against teams out of the race DOES NOT MATTER. Rolen 35 but a body of a 45 yr old. I predicted 75 games out of him. This was a terrible sign because he will never play. The Pirates kicked that Booty

By Ty Cobb

April 19, 2010 8:57 AM | Link to this

Hey, at least they are consistent. Need to chage name back to Red Stockings.

By Jim M.

April 19, 2010 8:29 AM | Link to this

Well the one constant for the past 4 seasons?? Jacoby is STILL the lousy hitting coach. He should have been fired in the off season. Kevin Mitchell would be a better hitting coach to be on this staff. the other part, If you watch the Cardinals, they seem to be focused at the plate and in the field. Our players seem to be lost, especially at the plate.Doesnt seem there is no plan going to the plate. Just swing as hard and hope you hit it approach. Not looking where the fielders are. No common sense when a pitcher throws 4 straight balls, the next batter HAS to mswing at the 1st pitch to make a out!! And without Rolen batting they cant put a better replacement in the lineup. Another losing season and they better not blame us for not buying tickets!! I am sick of buying tickets to watch losing baseball!!

By Emily

April 18, 2010 10:28 PM | Link to this

The stench is getting a bit unbearable. How could so little have changed from last year to this year? Utterly disappointing.

By Mark

April 18, 2010 9:28 PM | Link to this

A couple of thoughts. Does the losing streak have anything to do with the inability of Scott Rolen in the line-up. Looking at ‘09 and his positive influence it is posssible. It is also scary that this team might depend on his bad back. How can Dusty not use Dickerson to pinch hit for Owings when there is a change to a righthander and the game at a real imprtant spot.?