8.26

Reds win last night 8-6, @ Milwaukee. 17 hits!!! If anyone has seen the Reds we've been watching all year, will you tell them to get lost? I want the team we saw last night...

Bombs from Laynce Nix (2) and Votto were the difference last night, as well as another real good outing from Bronson Arroyo.

Ahem, the first two maxims this site suggests to field consistently competitive teams? Pitching, power...(anyone, anyone?!)

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My thought today on our squad, however, revolves around the third pillar of consistent baseball success...on base percentage. The site is called 'Reds Need OBP', after all.

Scott Rolen last night went 4-7, which is great of course. My issue with last night...Rolen only had 1 RBI.

Why is this? Couple of reasons... The man batting ahead of him, cleanup hitter Brandon Phillips, went 2-for-7 last night, making 5 out of 7 times last night Rolen came up with not too many people on.

Crazy suggestion here...bat Rolen first.
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Rolen's on base percentage this year with the Toronto Blue Jays was .370, which coincidentally is his career average as well. The NL average OBP is .331.

Let's compare OBPs for Rolen (.370) versus some of his teammates this year.

Nix .302
Phillips .320
Rosales .286
Tavares .273 (I know, I know)
Gomes .360
Janish .295 (batted 2nd last night, by the by)
Stubbs .353 at Louisville
Votto .390
Easy-E .333 (thankfully, the man Rolen replaced)
Bruce .283
Dickerson .373

Among those teammates, only Joey Votto and Chris Dickerson get on base more often. Can I get a witness for Rolen-Dickerson-Votto-Phillips Top 4 when all are healthy?!?!

Reds Lineup - 8.25

8:05 PM, @ Brewers.

Drew Stubbs cf
Paul Janish ss
Joey Votto 1b
Brandon Phillips 2b
Scott Rolen 3b
Laynce Nix rf
Jonny Gomes lf
Corky Miller c
Bronson Arroyo p

vs. Jeff Suppan (5-8, 5.27)

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Things to entertain you this evening:

- Family Guy fix.

- No truth to the rumor Lou Ruedebusch was in this foursome.

- Just a reminder, if any of you wanksters are interested in playing some wiffleball this weekend, there is a tournament we're putting on for a good cause! (Click logo)

OBP Leaders - AAA

- One of the stats our blog believes to be important is "BBs per 10 AB".

- This ratio measures how disciplined a hitter is to draw a walk per every ten times at the plate.

- Attached are sorted lists of hitters with high BB rates per every 10 AB.
* International League - AAA

* Pacific Coast League - AAA

**Walt Jocketty - Pursue these players!!**

8.25

- John Fay tells us Corky Miller and Darnell McDonald have been called up to replace the DL'd Chris Dickerson and Ryan Hanigan.

- Reds game tonight - @ Milwaukee - 8:05 EDT.

- As you will notice from our previous posting, the Reds now rank DEAD LAST in on-base percentage in the majors. Ick.

- Josh Katzowitz coming out with a history of the UC football program.

- Your daily Denise Milani. Wouldn't that be cool, a DAILY Denise Milani?!

Runs and OBP Rankings (Click to expand)

* As of 8.24.09

8.24

Erin Andrews gets dirty

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Always have to take in a funny Family Guy clip before I hit the hay.

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2010 Reds Outlook

Rotation
1 - Harang ($12M)
2 - Arroyo ($11M)
3 - Cueto ($500K)
4 - H. Bailey ($500K) - ick
5 - Owings ($500K) - ick
6 - ?? - AAA options - LHPs M. Maloney, Travis Wood. RHP Sam Lecure.

Analysis: Not looking too good.
- Beyond Harang, Arroyo, and Cueto (who I believe will be better monitored this offseason), you cannot rely on Homer, Owings, or any of the AAA recommendations. You need at least TWO more backend options with ML experience.

Recommendations:
- FA: Jon Garland.
- Trade: - Jonathan Sanchez (Giants), Aaron Heilman (Cubs), Garrett Olson (M's), Jeremy Sowers (Indians), or Jeremy Guthrie (Orioles).

Pen
1 - Cordero ($12M)
2 - Rhodes ($2M)
3 - Masset ($600K)
4 - Burton ($600K)
5 - C. Fisher ($500K)
6 - D. R. Herrera ($500K)
7 - ?????

Analysis:
- A fairly easy area to source talent on the open market. Look for pitchers with high K rate (regardless on velocity readings), as K's become more crucial late in games in order to wriggle out of tricky situations.

Recommendations:
- Pen: TBA.