Cincinnati Reds Lose in Long Fishing Trip

This game was so long, I can’t even remember what happened in the beginning. I think I remember something about Aaron Harang having a good night. Something about Josh Johnson looking dominant.

Something else about Brandon Phillips. Oh yeah! I remember thinking, “If Brandon Phillips wasn’t a Gold Glove second baseman, he would be playing in the Appalachian League somewhere.”

Truthfully though, BP is a quality defensive glove in the infield, but he has no business batting cleanup. It’s embarrassing. 

All you need to know about the game last night is that the Reds nor the Marlins could score if their lives depended on it. That was due in large part to fantastic pitching by Harang, Johnson, and their respective bullpens.

The game went 14 innings before the Marlins scored the winning run off of a Paul Janish throwing error, giving the Fish the 3-2 win. Dusty, of course, credits the error to Herrera saying he broke late to the bag. I maintain it was Janish’s fault for making a crappy throw to a guy who’s 5′6″.

Others debate that Hanley Ramirez was running way outside the baseline and the ump should have scored it an automatic double play. Whatever. After spending four hours of my evening watching that game only to be let down in such a way, I felt like I had been kicked in the balls.

Alex Gonzalez left the game with a strained oblique muscle. He looks to be headed for the DL and I have no idea who they’ll call up to replace him. There’s really no viable option.

My guess is that they’ll call up Wilkin Castillo because he’s a utility man who can play the outfield and he’s on the 40-man roster. Janish and Hairston will probably split time at short.  

But today is a new day and a new game. A new game that Laynce Nix, more than likely, will not play in—because Dusty “ain’t no front-runner.” And that’s all I’m going to say about that, because it will no doubt end in an R-rated tirade.

No. I will say this: Nobody is asking Dusty to be a “front-runner.” All the fans want to see is their manager put the best possible lineup on the field each and every night. I am a strong proponent of playing who’s hot and Dusty Baker is a strong proponent of playing who he thinks looks hot. 

The good news for the Reds tonight is that Edinson Volquez will be on the hill. The Marlins will throw Chris Volstad who’s 2-0 in five starts and has a 2.67 ERA. Volstad has served up five home runs over the course of five games this season.

In 2008, he only gave up three homers the entire season. Luckily for him, there aren’t many Reds who can hit home runs.