Reds squander Golden Opportunity vs. Giants

By TheNaturalMevs on June 8, 2010

A couple of observations from last night’s ballgame:

Jay Bruce

Bruce had a really nice game off of Barry Zito last night. He broke out the white ash bat, which I tweeted right after I said it would a long night. Jay surprised the heck out of me. He fell only a triple short of the cycle after doubling into left center on a line shot, homering to right off of a curveball, and singling on a tough at-bat to left. He’s got his average up to .276 on the year and really he’s about a good week and a half stretch away from being a .300 hitter. Really want to see him continue to hit every single night here in June and make it a nice first half before the All-Star break.

Bruce (along with Drew Stubbs) also added an outfield assist last night, his 4th of the year.

MLB Draft

The Reds chose catcher Yasmani Grandal out of Miami. I like the move as the catcher fell to the Reds. The players whom I wanted the Reds to draft (Harper, Colon, etc.) were gone by the time the Reds picked. I’m glad they passed on Alex Wimmers.

The battle of the bullpens lost this one

The Giants seemed to have arms all day long, and we didn’t even see Jeremy Affeldt against our lefties. Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla, Guillermo Mota, and Brian Wilson to finish off the night. What a stark contrast to the guys we trotted out there. Enerio Del Rosario and Daniel Ray Herrera surrendered really costly hits after a less-than sharp Johnny Cueto gave up four runs over six innings.

I don’t know why Herrera was in the ballgame. There really was no reason for it. That’s the type of move you don’t even make on Playstation. Herrera really struggles against righties, so Dusty allowed him to come in to face Freddy Sanchez and Pablo Sandoval? I know Sandoval is a switch, but there’s guys I want over Herrera there. Even if it’s Nick Masset or Micah Owings. Herrera is a guy who can face two lefties in a row and if he gets them, you can let him face a right handed hitter with two outs. Otherwise, the kid is misplaced in a role.

First look at Buster Posey

How about this kid? He’s now hitting .455 since his call-up to the big leagues. He looks like a guy who is going to hit everything in sight. I swear, I thought he was black though.

Another day in first place

The Cardinals got pounded by the Dodgers 12-4 after the Reds wrapped up, so we’re still deadlocked for 1st place in the NL Central as I head to the park tonight for my buddy Tyler’s 28th birthday.