Press Clippings June 12, 2012

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

Dusty Baker incurs kneejerk wrath of Reds fans Doc: Failure of relievers dooms skipper on Sunday night By Paul Daugherty | 6/11/2012 6:28 PM ET

No players make a look dumb more quickly than ineffective relief . In the 7th Sunday night, walked a hole to Middle Earth between his perch and the ’s mound. Arredondo and Marshall and Ondrusek, oh my. Then in the 8th, Baker summoned for what Baker hoped would be a six- save. A six-out save is so against the orthodoxy, it belongs in a confessional.

If the moves worked, we’d all be saying how smart Baker was. Way to a ballgame, Pick. As it was, Jose Arredondo, and Logan Ondrusek didn’t do their jobs, and Chapman couldn’t have found the plate with Garmin catching.

Baker’s IQ dropped with every pitching change. The Reds kicked away a game they should have won.

Fans blame Baker. Knee, meet jerk.

There are things the manager does, and doesn’t do, that make some of us say Huh? He bats eighth, when Hanigan should be second. He tortures by insisting on hitting him fourth. If DatDude is a cleanup hitter, I’m Prince Fielder. For the love of Dude, lead him off and give Todd Frazier a whack at cleanup. Or Ryan Ludwick. Because right now, Phillips is like a Shakespearean actor in an Adam Sandler movie.

And can we puh-leeze find someone who can with friends on second and/or third base? Baker says this is a skill that can be taught. When is the summer session?

We pick on Sunday night because it arrived with an October feel and it contained more second-guess moments than even veteran armchair managers have a right to expect. All revolved around pitching. Baker went by The Book on every one of them. He didn’t mess up. His pitchers did.

He removed after 112 pitches, with two outs in the 7th inning, a 6-2 lead and a runner on first. Baker wanted Bailey to leave on a high; he didn’t want him to face , Detroit’s best hitter, after 112 tosses. Baker summoned Arredondo, who gets paid, essentially, to get right-handed hitters out in the 7th or 8th inning. Solid move.

With a four-run cushion, Arredondo walked Cabrera.

Baker replaced him with lefty Sean Marshall, to face the left-handed hitting Fielder. Marshall gets paid, essentially, to get left-handed hitters out in the 7th or 8th inning. Solid move. Marshall gave up an RBI to Fielder, for the second night in a row.

Digging that mole trail from dugout to mound, Baker replaced Marshall with Ondrusek, who escaped the 7th. Solid move, but he started the 8th by allowing a walk and a hit. With the potential tying run at the plate, Baker brought in his antidote. Chapman has been the pitching definition of savior. Plus, he’d have Monday off. And, he was accustomed to working two as a set-up man. Also, he’d been essentially unhittable for two months. There was that. Solid move.

Chapman might have been fazed by the big-ness of the evening. He was overly geeked. His arm was leaving his body behind. Or so it seemed. Part of Chapman’s allure is his mystery. Remind me to get back to my Rosetta Stone lessons.

Chapman gets paid, essentially, to get right-handed and left-handed hitters out in the late innings. He gave up a single, then hit a batter who couldn’t have base-hit him with Moses’ staff. Then, a down the line in left, a walk and a wild . Chapman looked like last June.

This might be Baker’s problem. It’s not his fault.

Good thing the manager had banked tens of IQ points over the previous weeks, with the most effective in the league doing what it’s paid to do. If had done all that maneuvering Sunday night, we’d have praised his brilliance, or at least forgiven it.

Baker’s theme song – one of them, anyway – is a Van Morrison tune called Why Must I Always Explain. He doesn’t like explaining. But he did the right things Sunday night. I don’t blame Baker for Arredondo, Marshall, Ondrusek or Chapman, same as I don’t credit him for using those guys when they deliver.

It was textbook managing. The players messed it up.

Maybe that’s why relief pitching has become so scripted. Blame assessment is that much easier. But that’s a topic for another day.

Panic about Chapman stops at clubhouse door By Tom Groeschen | 6/11/2012 3:35 PM ET

Aroldis Chapman had been so untouchable for so long. That is why some Reds fans are fretting today, with Chapman suddnenly having been scored upon in two consecutive appearances.

The panic stops at the Reds’ clubhouse door, with the team figuring the law of baseball averages finally has caught up to the hard-throwing Chapman.

Chapman was the loser in Sunday night’s 7-6 defeat against Detroit, as he allowed two earned runs in one inning. After beginning the year with 24 appearances and no earned runs, Chapman is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA over his last two outings (two innings, three earned runs).

“Sometimes that happens, I don’t care how good you are,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “He spoiled us by being so good, and he’s going to return to being great real soon.”

Chapman is now 4-2 on the year, and his ERA has risen from 0.00 to 0.87 over his past two outings. Before that, Chapman had allowed only one run (unearned) all year. “He’s human, you know?” said , the Reds’ Sunday night.

“He’s not a robot out there just striking everybody out.”

With America watching via ESPN Sunday Night Baseball, Chapman was throwing his usual share of 100- mph and had one , but he also was erratic. The Tigers’ decisive run scored on a , and Chapman also issued a walk and hit a batter.

Chapman was not the only guilty bullpen party, as Jose Arredondo, Sean Marshall and Logan Ondrusek all put at least one runner aboard.

But, everything that Cuban left-hander Chapman does is amplified. With a national TV audience having seen Sunday’s meltdown, and with the Reds being off Monday, the 24/7 social media world had a full day to pick things apart.

The Reds are tied for first place in the NL Central, but that is immaterial to some.

From Twitter: “Quit saying the Reds bullpen is OK because it’s not.”

“Blame that on Dusty taking Homer (Bailey) out too soon and the bullpen just totally choked.”

In other news, there were reports that Tigers Jose Valverde might have been throwing a Sunday. That failed to resonate among certain bullpen critics.

Tweet: “Was Jose Valverde throwing spitalls last night? Who cares. He didn’t give up four runs in 8th.”

Baker said he has not noticed anything different about Chapman’s mechanics in his last two outings. Chapman has been throwing mostly fastballs lately, and Baker recently said he saw no reason to change that.

“Why, because he gave up a run?” Baker said.

Sunday, Baker also cited some events that worked against Chapman in the eighth inning. That included Chapman nicking Matt Young with a pitch and Austin Jackson hitting a chalk-spraying double down the left field line.

“It’s a game of inches,” Baker said. “It was certainly true in that situation.”

After Sunday’s game, Chapman left the clubhouse before reporters arrived.

“He’s going to go through good times, bad times just like everybody else,” Mesoraco said. “I think for him, the key is just getting ahead and throwing good quality strikes early and then going from there. From here on out, hopefully he just can get strike one.”

Reds Killers: By dclark | 6/12/2012 12:45 AM ET

We took each team the Reds face in 2012 and examined which players on that team’s roster have owned the Reds (Reds Killers) during their careers and which players don’t historically seem to do so hot against the Reds (anti-Reds Killers). Here are the rest. Now: the Tigers. (UPDATED: 6/12/12)

REDS KILLERS Octavio Dotel: 2.93 ERA with 72 in 55 1/3 innings and just 44 hits allowed (1.066 WHIP) Jose Valverde: 2.66 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 23 2/3 innings Miguel Cabrera: .343 (36-for-105) with .905 OPS

ANTI-REDS KILLERS Rick Porcello: 7.20 ERA, 2.200 WHIP in 5 innings Drew Smyly: 9.00 ERA in 3 innings

UP-AND-COMING (small sample size but showing signs of potentially being a Reds Killer) Joaquin Benoit: 5 strikeouts in 2 1/3 scoreless innings Max Scherzer: 1.50 ERA, 0.833 WHIP with 9 strikeouts in 6 innings : .321 (9-for-28) with 5 runs scored Brennan Boesch: .556 (5-for-9) with 1 double, 1 homer

NOTES • In his first-ever appearance against the Reds on June 9, Justin Verlander allowed two earned runs on six hits, walking three and striking out nine in a no-decision.

• Reliever Brayan Villarreal has a 2-0 record in his two career appearances against the Reds, though he has allowed a homer, walked two and thrown two wild pitches while facing 12 batters.

• Prince Fielder‘/s batting average vs. the Reds is .276, but his 23 homers against the Reds rank third against any opponent (behind 28 against the Pirates and 24 against the Astros).

Tigers closer throwing ? By jlong | 6/11/2012 12:00 PM ET

The Reds lost the finale last night in front of a national audience, and it was because the usually reliable bullpen blew a lead. The Tigers bullpen, which has been less than reliable this year, held things down in the eighth and ninth innings. Later in the game, Twitter started to buzz with a slow motion video of Tigers closer Jose Valverde on the mound. The video appears to show Valverde spitting into his glove before a pitch.

It’s not conclusive enough, but what do you think, was Valverde throwing spitters last night?

The Morning Line, 6/11 (Excerpts taken from The Morning Line, 6/11) By Paul Daugherty | 6/11/2012 10:13 AM ET

Before we hop on the second-guess expressway and bury DBaker again for the millionth time, allow The Morning Man a selfish moment of rejoicing.

My Pirates Who Rock are in first place.

Actually, tied for first place, but when you are a Pirates fan, you don’t split those sorts of hairs. This isn’t to say I Believe. It is to state that I do not take small pleasantries for granted. When you are a Pirates fan, no pleasantry is too small.

Now, then. . .

What a compelling weekend of hardball in the silly little ballpark on the river. And Todd Frazier (bless him; Youk who?) is the latest Club man who should be thanking GASP for a . That flyball he hit last night is a fly out almost anywhere but here. Another year of trivializing the longball is officially upon us.

What was your biggest problem with the way Baker ran the bullpen last night?

I had no problems. Really.

I do wonder if the manager was getting a little clenched around the throat, wheeling out Chappy for what he hoped would be a two-inning save. But Baker knew he had an off day today, it was an important game and he went with his best. If TLR had done all that maneuvering, we’d praise his brilliance.

No players make managers look dumber than ineffective relief pitchers. I don’t blame Baker for Marshall, Ondrusek or Chapman, same as I dont give him lots of credit for those guys when they deliver. Actually, compared with most teams, Baker hasnt had to scramble much at all. Few injuries since the season began (beyond the predictable ache of Rolen), none to his starting pitching staff. If anything, Baker has lacked creativity. He has been on cruise control. Every move he has made has been reactive.

Still waiting to see Hanigan hit 2nd. Still waiting to get Datdude out of the 4 hole, where he is miserable and hitting that way. Still hoping that lax, sometimes mindless effort (DD’s non-play on the 1st-to-3rd sacrifice Thursday night cost the Reds the game, not to mention the whole situational hitting thing) will be corrected. Baker is a good manager when things are going well, and they have been, mostly. But when situations require a little pro-activity, he tends to let things drift.

Beyond that, what’s different now than a month ago, other than Chapman to closer?

Still can’t hit w/RISP.

Still have no cleanup guy. At least none they’re willing to try. Still burying Hanigan at the bottom of the order. Still win mainly when they hit home runs, because they can’t get runners over.

All that said, there’s no reason The Club can’t win the Central, mainly because someone has to. The Cards just moved Carpenter to the 60-day DL and said Garcia will be out 1-2 months. Milwaukee is an abject mess. MPWR for now are fun to watch. But no one expects that scrap-heap rotation to (1) stay competent or (2) healthy. It’s nice what Burnett, Bedard and Correia are doing now. It’s fool’s gold.

The Reds can win the Central with 86-88 victories.

Are you with me? Or are you closer to Mobster Howard, whose enlightened pessimism has graced this virtual page many times? Howard says: After watching the latest run when batters can’t get runners over to third from second with less than one out and the “best defensive ” hot dogs his way to giving up a run in a key game against YPWS one has to wonder if there will ever be championship baseball played in Cincinnati. Dusty is clearly feeling the heat from someone. How else do you explain his poor handling of the bullpen over the last week or so? Tonight was the cake with so many changes. I understand those types of moves in the playoffs, but not in a game in June. He panicked. If he was going to go to Chapman in the 8th, for a two- inning save, why not let him start the 8th?

Howard also blasted the $2 mil being paid Ludwick (good point), the emptying of the farm system for Latos and Marshall (we’ll see) and the signing of Rolen (sorry, no sale). Easy to blast in hindsight. But, you know, that’s what we do in This Space, so have at it.

Meantime…

EMBARRASSING, hearing all the Let’s Go Tigers noise over the weekend. I know the Reds will take big crowds any way they can, but come on. Does it have to sound like a neutral-site game? The Wahoos from Mistakeville won’t do the same starting tomorrow, because it’s the middle of the week. Which means, oh, 75,000 for three games, instead of the 120,000 or so they got for the Tigers.

BIG UPS to the ESPN guys last night. Shulman, Francona and Hershiser were very complimentary to our town and team. Shulman even informed a national audience that Roebling built our Suspension Bridge before he did Brooklyn’s. Nice work, gentlemen. And the outside and aerial shots did us proud.

MIRACLES. Went to the dedication of the Joe Nuxhall Miracle Fields last night, in Fairfield. It was a wet- eye bonanza. Kim Nuxhall was superb, as usual. “This speaks to the power of relationships, friendships, faith and respect,” he said, as seemingly half of Fairfield looked on. Kim roll-called the list of donors. It took him six minutes. Reps from each entity that had contributed time, money and/or materials marched into the little stadium with its Red Monster wall, and received a standing ovation. More than $2 million was donated to build the two state-of-the-art parks, to be used primarily by kids and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities.

“This legacy is far beyond the (Nuxhall) name,” Kim said. “Some day, your children and grandchildren will say, ‘My dad built that, my grandfather built that’. I wish there were larger words to cover it. I will say only, ‘Thank you. Well done’.”

Well done, indeed. People are good.

The Morning Line, 6/12 (Excerpt taken from The Morning Line, 6/12) By Paul Daugherty | 6/11/2012 9:27 AM ET

The Morning Man is fresh out of Redlegs story lines. Either they start hitting w/RISP, or they don’t. Either DBaker gives Hanigan a shot batting 2nd, or not. Either he relieves DD of his 4-hole duties, or he continues to burden the young man. The Reds are talented enough to win the Central, just the way they’re playing now. Given the relative mediocrity of the NL, they could get hot at the proper time, and do better than that.

So, just a few What Ifs…

WHAT IF S. Rolen returns within the next month? Who plays? T. Frazier has been among the most dependable hitters in the lineup recently. He seems to be hitting a stride. I suggested trying him at cleanup, though that probably won’t happen. If Rolen can be Rolen, what does that mean for Frazier?

He has to play somewhere. Left field on days he isn’t playing third?

Rolen can only play 3B, and when he’s ready, he will play.

BTW and FWIW… all who said Rolen would be back “very soon” including W. Jocketty, had to have known better. Rolen went on the 15-day DL exactly one month ago today, and he hasnt swung a bat seriously since.

WHAT IF D. MESORACO is a reason Chapman has had issues in his last two outings? I had an Insider tell me yesterday that Mesoraco sets up differently than Hanigan. He gives Chappy a target that Hanigan does not. Maybe it’s just coincidence that The Missile’s last two, entirely lousy, outings have been with Mesoraco catching. Probably, it is. Just a thought.

WHAT IF OPPONENTS STARTED WALKING VOTTO the way opponents used to walk ? As in, in almost every conceivable situation. Would The Club ever score? In SF, Bonds always had someone to protect him in the lineup. First, Matt Williams, then Jeff Kent, even and JT Snow. Votto has Stubbs in front of him and Phillips behind.

Votto already leads the league with 9 intentional walks. If the cavalry doesnt come soon, he’ll be seeing a lot more wide ones.

Isnt it time to do something besides running out the same 10 guys every day, in the same order?

Now, then. . .

* YOUK, WE HARDLY KNEW YE. Given Frazier’s rise and Youkilis’ decline, the Reds are no longer so interested. From Yahoo, in a story about impending free agents:

3. Kevin Youkilis What once seemed like an easy decision – exercise an option on a core player – has been upended. Since returning from a back injury, Youkilis has struck out 17 times in 57 at-bats. Especially next to , he looks a lot older than 33, and for all of the and pitching depth, Youkilis’ spot atop the third-base list illustrates a frightening paucity of good in the Class of ’13. Stock report: Way down.

MLB.COM

Bump in the road for usually dominant Aroldis Hiccups in past two games mere smudge on reliever's season By Mark Sheldon | 6/11/2012 1:29 PM ET

CINCINNATI -- After two months of enjoying total domination on the mound, it's taken his past two games for Reds reliever Aroldis Chapman to get a bitter taste of how the other half lives.

Chapman's numbers from the past two games -- Thursday vs. the Pirates and Sunday's outing vs. the Tigers -- are something even the hoi polloi would turn their noses upon.

In two innings, the Cuban left-hander has taken two losses, given up three earned runs, two inherited runs, four hits, one walk with three strikeouts and one winning-run-scoring wild pitch.

"Sometimes it happens. I don't care how good you are," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He spoiled us by being so good. He's going to return to being great real soon."

It wouldn't be fair to say Chapman's earlier results were too good to be true, because they were clearly well earned with a streamlined tempo and delivery, not to mention his often-devastating high-90, low-100-mph velocity.

Until Thursday, Chapman had begun the season by having a club-record 24 appearances without allowing an earned run. His 29 scoreless innings to start the season were a Major League best. He had only given up seven hits, and none of his nine inherited runners has scored.

"He's human. He's not a robot out there, just striking everybody out," Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco said. "He's going to go through good times and bad times, just like everybody else. For him, the key is just getting ahead and throwing good quality strikes and then going from there. From here on out, he can just get strike one."

On Wednesday vs. Pittsburgh, Chapman notched his sixth save by retiring all three batters on nine pitches, with two strikeouts. Casey McGehee got only three pitches, first fanning on 98 mph and then watching a pair of 100-mph strikes blow past him.

"As a hitter, you can't give him too much credit," McGehee said the following day. "He's going to give you a pitch to hit. [Wednesday night,] the first pitch he gave me was probably the one to hit. From there, he made two good pitches to get me. You can't go up there thinking he's going to paint something down and away. You have to stick to your guns. When he does make a mistake, you're better off not missing it."

Pirates teammates heeded that mode of thinking on Thursday as Chapman took over in the top of the 10th inning during a 4-4 game. Clint Barmes, a .191 hitter, laced a 91-mph for a ground-rule double to center field. Mike McKenry then scorched a 99-mph to right field for the RBI single that snapped Chapman's scoreless streak.

On Sunday vs. Detroit, Chapman entered in the eighth inning to protect a three-run lead with two on. He would be trying for a six-out save. Following a first-batter single by Brennan Boesch off of 99-mph heat, Chapman hit Matt Young with a 100-mph pitch and then saw a 99-mph fastball pulled by Austin Jackson for a two-run double that touched the left-field line. The go-ahead run scored on a Chapman wild pitch in the dirt to Miguel Cabrera.

"You've got a guy coming in that can throw the ball 105 mph, and you beat him -- that's pretty good," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.

Despite the two bad nights, Chapman still has a stingy 0.87 ERA to go with a 4-2 record in 26 games. He's walked 10 batters and struck out 55 in only 31 innings, with at least one strikeout recorded in each of his games.

"It doesn't change how any of us feel," Reds said on Friday. "It's baseball, and every pitcher will give up a run here and there. I still like our chances when he's in there. As long as he keeps coming in and throwing strikes, he's going to have a great success rate."

That Chapman is even working as a reliever, let alone the Reds' closer, is a result of the club's original plan and subsequent Plan B falling through. As the 24-year-old competed for a spot in the rotation during , newly acquired closer was lost for the season because of an elbow injury. Nick Masset suffered a shoulder injury and lefty setup man Bill Bray had a groin injury.

Chapman was the Reds' best starter during camp, but his stuff also made him their best reliever. He was tapped for the eighth-inning setup role while lefty Sean Marshall was elevated from setting up to closing. By mid-May, Marshall was struggling in the ninth as Chapman looked invincible while earning two of his victories with a pair of crucial two-inning appearances.

On May 20 in New York, Baker switched Chapman to the closer's role. He was 6-for-6 in save attempts after taking over, until Sunday.

Like accomplished placekickers that push a football wide left with seconds left, and superstar hockey goaltenders that let pucks through their legs, closers are just as capable for off nights with games on the line.

Chapman's last two outings might have been a cold splash of water to the faces of Reds fans, but it was bound to happen -- even to 100-mph-throwing left-handers.

"Obviously, the ninth inning can get pretty nerve-wracking at times when a game is on the line," Reds Drew Stubbs said. "Just to have a guy come in and have the dominating stuff he has to put guys away, it's really is relief. Everybody is human, and obviously, he's going to give up some runs. Facing other closers and what we've had to deal with in the past, it's pretty nice to have a three-up, three-down inning most of the time."

Chapman's stats boggle, even after hiccups By Matthew Leach | 6/11/2012 5:35 PM ET

Perhaps it took a couple of hiccups to put Aroldis Chapman's season into perspective. Even after consecutive ugly outings, the kind of thing that can easily sink a normal reliever's season statistics, Chapman is posting eye-popping, historic numbers.

In his last two outings, Chapman has been touched for three earned runs -- three more than in his previous 24 appearances combined. He allowed as many hits in those two games (four) as in his previous 19 outings. Chapman, it turns out, is a human being and not a robot. But he's still the most dominant human pitching in relief in the Majors this year.

For the sake of comparison: with a couple of rough outings at the end of May, Cardinals closer Jason Motte saw his ERA rise from 2.00 to 3.43. Chapman? Yeah, his ERA soared to a ghastly, um, 0.87.

There is no other pitcher in baseball as dominant as Chapman, even after his two worst outings of the year. There is no pitcher against whom a hitter has less chance of getting on base, or against whom a hitter is more likely to strike out. Eleven times in 31 innings, a hitter has put bat on ball for a base hit. Ten times, a hitter has drawn a walk.

And 55 of the 118 batters who've faced Chapman have walked back to the dugout without even putting the ball in play. Chapman has struck out 46.6 percent of the batters he's faced, the highest percentage in the Majors of any pitcher with 25 or more innings, according to STATS Inc. The only person close is Ernesto Frieri, but the Angels right-hander has walked nearly five batters per nine innings. Chapman's walk rate is under 3.00.

As for a pitch-by-pitch basis, Chapman is getting more swings-and-misses than any other pitcher as well. Opposing hitters' contact rate on all swings is 60.6 percent, according to FanGraphs.com. Frieri is just a nose better, at 60.5 percent, meaning that in both pitchers' cases, nearly 40 percent of all swings have not resulted in contact.

And then there are Chapman's individual offerings. His fastball, which pushes 100 mph, has the third-highest swing-and-miss percentage of any heater in the Majors, at 40.7 percent, again according to STATS. His slider has been missed 46.4 percent of the time, the 28th-best ratio.

DAYTON DAILY NEWS

Reds' Baker drops in on Dragons game Reds manager in town to see AF museum. Dayton promotes center fielder Muller to Bakersfield team. By B.J. Bethel | 6/11/2012 11:24 PM ET

DAYTON — As the rain fell prior to Monday’s game, Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker was inside the clubhouse talking with Dayton manager Delino DeShields and Dragons players.

Baker was in town visiting the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force with his family during the Reds off day on Monday.

“We just went to the museum to check things out,” Baker said. “Taking my mind off baseball — but here I am.”

The Reds manager wanted to take his mind off Sunday’s loss to Detroit. The Tigers came back with a four- run inning in the eighth against closer Aroldis Chapman to beat Cincinnati 7-6 and win a three-game series.

The game was notable for the frequent arguing between Baker, Reds players and Angel Hernandez over Hernandez’s .

“It was a heartbreak loss,” Baker said. “It didn’t let me sleep and it woke me up this morning.”

The loss left the Reds tied for first in the National League Central with Pittsburgh. After a slow start, the Reds have been one of the hotter teams in baseball over the last month and a half. The result has been a rise to first in the division.

“Our bullpen is a lot better,” Baker said. “The pitching is better and we’re healthier. These guys play together a while and they reach a maturity level where you are no longer a young kid anymore. Now we have young men with 1,500 or 2,000 at-bats.”

With baseball and its current economics, continuing player development in places like Dayton is a key.

“I think it’s mandatory,” Baker said. “In the world of high finance now, you have to definitely have to build a system.”

Indians have edge in 'Battle of Ohio' wins By Staff Report | 6/11/2012 11:17 PM ET

The Reds have the last win, but the Indians won six of seven games in baseball’s version of the Battle of Ohio in 2011. Cincinnati and Cleveland open a three-game series today at . The Indians hold a 39-36 advantage overall. The teams meet again June 18-20 at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Reds vs. Indians in 2011:

Date Winner WP LP Attendance

May 20 Cleveland, 5-4 Pestano Bray 31,622 (PF)

May 21 Cleveland, 2-1 Tomlin Bailey 40,631 (PF)

May 22 Cleveland, 12-4 Carrasco Volquez 26,833 (PF)

July 1 Cleveland, 8-2 Masterson Arroyo 40,440 (GABP)

July 2 Cleveland, 3-1 Herrmann Bailey 41,580 (GABP)

July 3 Cincinnati, 7-5 Leake Talbot 34,948 (GABP)

Dragons’ value ranked best in Forbes says local baseball team is worth $23 million. By Kyle Nagel | 6/11/2012 9:16 PM ET

The Dayton Dragons are the country’s most valuable franchise at their level of minor league baseball, and the eighth-most valuable minor league baseball franchise in the country, according to Forbes.

The Dragons, who last year set a record for professional sports’ longest consecutive sellout streak that is still running, are valued by Forbes at $23 million, the highest in Class A.

In their 13th season, the Dragons have sold out each game of their existence at the 7,230-seat Fifth Third Field.

But Larry Grimes, president of sports mergers and acquisitions company the Sports Advisory Group, said the valuation was much too high for a Class A franchise.

Grimes said Class A franchises usually sell in the range of $9 million to $11 million.

“There are exceptions to the rule, but not exceptions at $23 million,” Grimes said.

Michael Rapkoch, president of Texas-based Sports Value Consulting LLC, echoed that Forbes’ valuation was too high. But, he said, a minor-league baseball team with high attendance has significant value.

The Dragons’ average attendance was 8,288 per game (571,886 total) last season, which ranked sixth in all of Minor League Baseball behind five Class AAA franchises.

Three other franchises in the region ranked in the top 10, including the Class AAA Columbus Clippers and Class AAA (tied for fourth at $24 million) and Class AAA (tied for No. 9 at $22 million).

Dragons President Bob Murphy declined to comment on the Forbes ranking.

“Since 2000, (the Dragons have) been a great thing for baseball and baseball at this level,” said George Spelius, president of the , of which the Dragons are a member. “It’s a beautiful park, and they’ve been great people to work with.”

FOXSPORTSOHIO.COM

Cueto's mission: Get the Reds back on track By The Sports Xchange | 6/12/2012

The Reds have lost two straight, and Sunday's 7-6 loss to Detroit was something of a debacle. The bullpen blew a 6-2 lead in eighth.

But they've got the right guy going Tuesday to turn it around. will start Tuesday's series against Cleveland.

"He's solid every outing," Ryan Ludwick said. "Every time he takes the mound, you feel like you have a good shot to win. There have been other guys on other teams I've played behind that you feel like that. That's his job. He's the of this staff. Not to put extra pressure on him, but that's what he's supposed to do."

Cueto (6-3) snapped a two-game losing streak his last time out.

He went 7 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on six hits to beat Pittsburgh 5-4. He walked one and struck out six. He pitched better than his line. Cueto left with the score 5-1 after throwing 118 pitches.

Cueto has had quality starts in nine of 12 outings. He's also been successful against the in general and the Indians in particular. Cueto is 7-3 with a 3.09 ERA in . He's 2-0 with a 2.49 ERA against the Indians.

The Reds have won all four of his starts against the Indians.

NOTES, QUOTES

Frazier's numbers have spiked up after dry spell

--3B Todd Frazier is hitting .333 with two home runs and nine RBI in his last eight games. However, Frazier is hitting only .253 since went on the disabled list May 12.

--1B 's 15-game ended Saturday against Detroit with an 0-for-4. Votto didn't reach base at all. That's only the fourth time this season he has failed to do so.

--SS Zack Cozart has hits in six of the last eight games. He's 12-for-36 with two home runs over that period.

--RHP Nick Trevieso, the club's top pick in the draft, and the Reds are moving forward on a deal. "It's not done," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "But we hope to have it done this week." Trevieso was the 14th pick overall.

--RHP Alfredo Simon has allowed only two earned runs over his last 11 appearances and 21 2/3 innings.

BY THE NUMBERS: 115,062 -- That's what the three-game series with Detroit drew to Great American Ball Park.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Right now it doesn't mean anything. We're trying to win games and we came up a little short today. That's the bottom line." -- Todd Frazier on his 2-for-4, 4-RBI night in Sunday's 7- 6 loss to Detroit

ROSTER REPORT

MEDICAL WATCH:

--CF Drew Stubbs (strained oblique) was injured swinging at a pitch June 5, and he didn't play June 6-10. He is day-to-day.

--LHP Bill Bray (strained left groin) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 19. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Louisville on April 29, but he moved back to extended spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., after one outing. He resumed throwing May 28, and he threw a bullpen session June 1. He made rehab appearances for Class A Dayton on June 9 and June 11.

--RHP Nick Masset (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 26. He threw on flat ground May 24 for the first time and now is throwing 120 feet. There is no timetable for his return.

--3B Scott Rolen (strained left shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list May 12. On June 6, he took batting practice on the field for the first time since he was injured. There is no timetable for his return.

--RHP Ryan Madson (Tommy John surgery in April 2012) went on the 60-day disabled list April 4. He is out for the season.

Reds fans win Twitter hashtag war vs. Detroit By FS Ohio Staff Reports | 6/11/2012

Fans of the Cincinnati Reds stepped up and dominated social media over the weekend, and the Detroit Tigers organization has to pay their part of a friendly wager.

After Cincinnati fans outnumbered Tigers fans by a 3-1 margin, the official Twitter page of the Detroit franchise has changed their avatar to a picture of Reds' mascot, among other spoils.

@Reds: Final hashtag battle results: Tigers-6,780, Reds-21,017. Congratulations Reds fans and Thank you! #VoteReds reds.com/vote

Major League Baseball has been using Twitter to promote a push to get fans to vote for their favorite players in the All-Star Game (July 10th at 7:30PM on FOX), which has included heavy use of hashtags. MLB approved a challenge between the Reds and Tigers designed to boost that promotion.

During the weekend series between Detroit and Cincinnati, fans were urged to Tweet #VoteReds or #VoteTigers. At the end of Sunday night's game, the Tweets would be counted, and the losing team would have to support the winning team in All-Star voting on Monday.

The Reds began their mission on Friday at Noon and reached out to their fans for support, who gladly picked up the cause.

@KaseyBeckham: Guys, even if you don't have anything to say at this point, tweet. Tweet as if your life depended on it. #VoteReds #Reds

FOX Sports Ohio was proud to take part in the effort from the start, with a constant reminder of the benefits to Tweeting for the Reds.

@FOXSportsOH: Tweet #VoteReds right now and Scarlett Johannsen will think you're cute.

The end result? On Monday morning, the Tigers' Twitter feed began their support of the Reds.

@tigers: The Tigers took 2 of 3 from the @Reds this weekend, but lost the hashtag battle. Visit tigers.com/vote and #VoteTigers AND #VoteReds!

On the field, the Tigers took two of three games from their hosts after winning Sunday night's game 7-6.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cleveland at Cincinnati 6/12/2012

While the have been hindered by injuries, Jason Kipnis has stepped up.

Kipnis and the Indians look to continue their run Tuesday night when they open a three-game road series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Cleveland won two of three against Detroit and St. Louis last week as part of a nine-game road trip. Kipnis hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the ninth Sunday for a 4-1 victory over the Cardinals.

With the win, the Indians (32-27) improved to 16-11 on the road and moved within one-half game of Chicago for the AL Central lead.

Kipnis has helped keep Cleveland in the mix of the division race while Carlos Santana, Travis Hafner, Jack Hannahan and Grady Sizemore have all spent time on the disabled list. After hitting seven homers in 36 games last season, he is leading the team with 10 homers and 39 RBIs while hitting .285 in 2012.

Kipnis has been on a tear recently, hitting .357 with four homers and 15 RBIs over the last 17 games, playing all three games this weekend despite taking a ball off his knee Friday.

Cincinnati (32-27) dropped the final two in a three-game series with Detroit over the weekend, losing 7-6 Sunday after Detroit scored five runs over the seventh and eighth innings. The Reds have lost five of seven heading into this series.

Aroldis Chapman picked up the loss for a second straight appearance after being charged with two runs allowed in the eighth. He opened the season with franchise-record streak of 24 appearances without allowing an earned run.

"Sometimes, it happens," manager Dusty Baker said. "I don't care how good you are. He spoiled us by being so good, and he will be great again."

The loss dropped Cincinnati into a tie with Pittsburgh for the NL Central lead.

"Tied or not, we're still the leaders," said third baseman Todd Frazier, who homered and had a career-high four RBIs.

The Reds may not have much luck ending their recent struggles if they can't solve the Indians, who won five of six last season.

Cincinnati will try to take advantage of a matchup against Jeanmar Gomez (4-4, 4.97 ERA), who has struggled in three straight starts, giving up at least five runs in each of them.

Despite surrendering two homers among seven hits and getting reached for six runs over five innings Wednesday, Gomez did get the win as the Indians beat Detroit 9-6.

The right-hander is making his first start against the Reds. He made his first interleague appearance against Miami on May 19, allowing three hits in 6 1-3 innings of a 2-0 victory.

Cincinnati will counter with Johnny Cueto (6-3, 2.63), who gave up three runs in 7 2-3 innings of a 5-4 win over Pittsburgh last Wednesday, avoiding a third straight loss.

"When he's on the mound, you feel like you've got a good shot to win," Ryan Ludwick said. "I've been on other clubs with pitchers like that. I don't want to put any extra pressure on him, but that's what he's supposed to do.

Cueto is 2-0 with a 2.49 ERA in four starts against the Indians, last facing them in 2010.

CBSSPORTS.COM

Video: Jose Valverde's possible 'spit ball' By Matt Snyder | 6/11/2012 1:07 PM ET

Did Tigers closer Jose Valverde throw a spit ball Sunday night against the Reds? This video has been making the Internet (blogs/Twitter) rounds Monday:

I don't think there's much disputing that Valverde spit into his glove, which contained the baseball. But did he doctor the ball? It's hard to tell. As Kevin Kaduk of Big League Stew points out, doctored tend to move down, but Valverde's next pitch was a high four-seam fastball.

Here is the MLB rule in question, with only the currently relevant portions, via MLB.com:

The pitcher shall not -- (a) (2) expectorate on the ball, either hand or his glove; (6) deliver a ball altered in a manner prescribed by Rule 8.02(a)(2) through (5) or what is called the "shine" ball, "spit" ball, "mud" ball or "emery" ball. The pitcher is allowed to rub the ball between his bare hands. PENALTY: For violation of any part of Rules 8.02(a)(2) through (6) (a) the pitcher shall be ejected immediately from the game and shall be suspended automatically. In National Association Leagues, the automatic suspension shall be for 10 games.

Expectorate means to hawk a loogie, in layman's terms.

Personally, I'm willing to pass this off as a coincidence. Remember, that YouTube above is in slow motion and consider Valverde threw a four-seamer instead of a split-finger fastball (which spit would benefit).

So what do you guys think? Let us know ...

USA TODAY

Did Jose Valverde throw a spitball at the Reds? By Gabe Lacques | 6/11/2012

When baseball's inevitable expansion of instant replay arrives, it will likely include reviews of fair and foul balls, and caught or trapped balls.

Perhaps it may want to add a clause to review pitchers spitting into gloves.

During Sunday night's nationally-televised Tigers-Reds game, Detroit closer Jose Valverde certainly appeared to spit into his glove - with the ball housed inside - before grabbing some dirt and gripping the ball before 1-2 pitch to Cincinnati's Devin Mesoraco.

The enclosed videos - in super-slo-mo and regular speed - appear to show as much, and would seem to require some explanation from Valverde.

He could always fall back on the "I was just hoping for a better grip on a sweaty night" defense. The subsequent pitch also was a fastball; while everyone loves a little more movement on their heater, it would seem a greater benefit would be derived if a ball were doctored on a breaking pitch.

And perhaps the best twist to it all: The accompanying videos were disseminated by none other than Dallas Latos. That would be the wife of Reds pitcher Mat Latos.

Nice work, Dallas. It's too bad she has an obvious conflict of interest, because when the replay apocalypse arrives, she'd make one heck of a Mike Pereira.

THE DESERT SUN

Rahier officially part of Reds By Drew Schmenner | 6/12/2012 12:24 AM

Tanner Rahier took his first swings as a member of the Cincinnati Reds' organization Monday.

The Palm Desert High School graduate signed his professional contract in the morning at the team's facility in Goodyear, Ariz., and then participated in a full day of batting practice and , baserunning and conditioning drills with dozens of other players.

“Knowing you're a pro, that's so weird,” Rahier said. “It's just so awesome.”

The Reds selected the in the second round June 5. He signed for $649,700, which was the value assigned to the 78th overall pick. Rahier purchased a red Ford Raptor pickup truck with his bonus money.

Rahier is currently living in a hotel with other young pros. He brought one suitcase full of clothes and belongings and one bag packed with baseball equipment with him from his home in Indian Wells.

On his first day of work Monday, Rahier met other players in the lobby at 6 a.m. to go to the Reds' facility and finished his day with a shower 12 hours later.

“It's just long days, but it's fun,” Rahier said. “It's baseball all day, and then you sleep and wake up and do it again. It works out good.”

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound shortstop was projected as a first-round selection. 's Jim Callis called him the steal of the second round.

Chris Buckley, the Reds' senior director of amateur scouting, said it was a “real pleasant surprise” that Rahier was available to draft with the 78th overall pick.

“We've just seen him do so many good things,” he said. “We've seen him play shortstop. We've seen him swing the bat. We've seen him run the bases. We've seen him make outstanding defensive plays. He's impressed us a whole lot of ways.”

The Reds can easily measure a player's physical attributes, but they also have been impressed with Rahier's innate desire to play baseball.

“The hardest stuff is the player's makeup and how strong his desire is,” Buckley said. “Not every day goes well for you out there when you're a pro player. You have to be mentally tough. You have to be physically tough, and we think Tanner's all those things.”

In the run-up to the draft, scouts debated whether Rahier will stick at shortstop with his size. He will get the chance to play there for the Reds.

“He's a good-sized kid, and we certainly believe he can play third if short (doesn't work out),” Buckley said. “We've seen him . We've seen him play all over the field. There's a position out there for Tanner for sure.”

Rahier will be assigned to one of the Reds' rookie league teams. The one in Arizona is primarily made up of players recently drafted from high school or newly arrived signees from Latin America. The Reds could decide to send him to the Billings (Mont.) Mustangs, which is composed of players recently drafted from college as well as those who have been with the organization for about a year.

Rahier will soon find out which team he will play for because rookie league games begin next week.

After the season is over, he will participate in the Reds' fall instructional league at their facility in Arizona.

TRANSACTIONS

Monday's Sports Transactions By The Associated Press June 11, 2012

Major League Baseball

MLB-mlbpa: Named Dr. Jeffrey Anderson independent program administrator of the joint drug prevention and treatment program.

American League

Los Angeles Angels: Agreed to terms with RHP Roy Alvarez, RHP Mark Sappington, SS Eric Stamets, C Andrew Patterson, C Zachary Wright, OF Quintin Davis, RHP Pat Lowery, OF Joel Capote, C Zachary Livingston, C Pedro Pizarro and RHP Kenny Hatcher on minor league contracts.

Toronto Blue Jays: Agreed to terms with OF D.J. Davis, INF Mitchell Hay, RHP Tyler Gonzales, OF Anthony Alford, RHP Tucker Donahue, LHP Brad Delatte, INF/OF Eric Phillips, OF Ian Parmley, C Harrison Frawley, INF Jordan Leyland, OF Alex Azor, C John Silvano, LHP Zakery Wasilewski, LHP Shane Dawson, INF Jorge Flores, OF Dennis Jones, LHP Colton Turner, INF Jason Leblebijian, C Daniel Klein, INF Derrick Chung, C Jorge Saez, INF Shaun Valeriote, LHP Kyle Anderson, RHP Justin James, RHP Justin D'Allesandro, RHP Robert Joseph Brosnahan, RHP Charles Ghysels, RHP Tim Nicholas Brechbuehler and LHP Joseph Spano on minor league contracts.

National League

Atlanta Braves: Recalled RHP Cory Gearrin from Gwinnett (IL). Optioned RHP Julio Teheran to Gwinnett.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Activated INF Juan Uribe from the 15-day DL. Optioned INF-OF Alex Castellanos to Albuquerque (PCL).

New York Mets: Named Jose Leger manager of Kingsport (Appalachian).

Pittsburgh Pirates: Signed C Wyatt Mathisen.