Final: Pirates 7, Reds 6

Reds lineup

1. Brandon Phillips (R) 2B
2. Joey Votto (L) 1B
3. Todd Frazier (R) 3B
4. Jay Bruce (L) RF
5. Marlon Byrd (R) LF
6. Eugenio Suarez (R) SS
7. Tucker Barnhart (S) C
8. Josh Smith (R) P
9. Billy Hamilton (S) CF

I'm increasingly convinced that TODD FRAZIER should always be in all-caps. He's pretty much earned that at this point. Anyone else?

Agree DK. He has really become one of the most dangerous hitters in all of baseball this season, nut just against the Buccos. It will be interesting to see how the Reds approach a new contract with him.

Mercer instead of Kang, again. You need runs tonight (and every night),
not his (slightly) better glove!!!

Are you really worried about Mercer's psyche or wins?.

Agreed...it is a run producing spot. Martel seems to be the best fit at cleanup right now.

I said weeks ago that Walker is not a number 4 hitter. Of course, the night I said that he jacked a three-run homer in Atlanta. But overall he does not belong in the cleanup spot. Maybe last year when he was hitting for power, that would be a good move, but not this year. Now that I have said that, maybe my reverse jinx will work again and he will pummel the ball tonight

Also J-Hay is not your protypical number 5 hitter. Seems like we really don't have legitimate number 4 and 5 hitters, although at this point, Marte is probably our best option for either one of those slots. I think the question about who should hit 4 or 5 would have been answered if only KDro had produced like he was expected to as a number 2 draft pick several years ago.

Walker should be 2. He'll get more fastballs in front of Cutch. Get him going.

Lineup: 1) Thank GOD Clint broke up the JHay - Marte swing-a-pa-looza at the top of the order. That is not a good combo there. 2) You can definitely make a case for Walker 2nd and Marte 4th, but it's not a huge thing. Maybe Neil is more comfortable at 4 and at this point, you need to get Neil going.

8/18 against Locke. 2 bombs.

Uggghhhh...

+1

Votto, FRAZIER, Hamilton...they seem to all have our number...

Anyone know how long Price has had Hamilton hitting 9th?

Kid couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat, but Joey Votto had some smart things to say about how many fastballs he got hitting *behind* Hamilton, at least in those rare occasions he got on base.

NMR...I think Price has been hitting Hamilton 9th for at least the last month.

Thanks, steel.

Shhh. That's local knowledge.

Well I brought up Napoli awhile back, but that's basically a RH Alvarez, not really an upgrade.

I actually think RF is the easier to address. As bad as 1b has been, and it does need address, the RF production has been the worst in the NL (along with SS).

Adam LaRoche stinks, and Adam Lind has a .649 OPS outside of that bandbox in Milwaukee.

You're just not getting an appreciable upgrade unless you cross your fingers on a guy like Napoli. It's simply not out there.

The Pirates best bet to improve their offense right now is to improve their run prevention.

I take that back, the Pirates *can* easily improve 1B, and Mr. Napoli would be the guy to do it, but Alvarez wouldn't be the guy getting replaced.

Napoli's 136 wRC+ against lefties this year blows away anything the Pirates could match, and he'd be there to step in for Alvarez full time if for whatever reason he started hitting well again.

Cmat, I don't know if you were looking for what prospects I'd be comfortable parting with but I would say -Wily Garcia, Harold Ramirez, Zach Dodson, Mitch Keller or Stephen Tarpley.

I don't know how much some combination of those names would garner, but in my opinion those are the likely trade chips.

Taillon, Glasnow, and Meadows are pretty untouchable unless the return is sick. I'm on the fence about Elias Diaz and Alen Hanson. Not sure what the plans are for C and 2B are down the road.

Of course Josh Bell is the heir apparent at 1st and mostly untouchable. But I think he's farther away than some think, especially defensively

I get it that a RF is an easier pickup. But that doesn't address 1b. So are we essentially stuck playing Serpico for defense and get someone else for RF? I agree that the two Adams are suspect but I couldn't see anything else.

Sellers market brother.

Which means he'll probably give the Buccos fits tonight...lol.

He throws junk. You know what that means for our team. If he throws his 88-89 mph fastball he's toast. So he won't.

Well said.

Agree Milo...this is ridiculous.

😀

Keystone Cops...

They should only have scored one. Every other run they get this inning is on Pedro plain and simple.

I guess this was Pedro's fault too?

Two out of three were on Pedro....yes...

The force at 2nd should have ended the inning so yes, yes it was.

You ain't kidding.

Last week that was the second baseman's ball.

If that's the best you have you better quit while you're behind.

If Locke fields an easy bunt by Votto they don't get 3. Then he doesn't even get a mitt on a perfect throw from Mercer

Unipress....are you actually Scott Boras in disguise??

Pedro stinks. Walker has no range. Harrison leads third basemen in errors. Locke is a lousy fielder. Spread the hate around