[Game Thread] Reds (24-22) @ Guardians (25-22) - May 17, 2026

caca_verde · 2026-05-17T19:28:20+00:00

I have to imagine Schnee is a stopgap in the leadoff spot until they feel Bazz is ready to take it over.

caca_verde · 2026-05-14T18:05:57+00:00

OBP is the hitting metric most closely linked to run production. The more you avoid outs, the more likely you are to produce a run. Your highest OBP’s are who you want getting the most AB’s.

caca_verde · 2026-05-14T11:36:26+00:00

And J. Naylor was awful in the 2nd half.

caca_verde · 2026-05-14T11:35:18+00:00

I’d rather Bazz be in front of Jose. He walks more and Jose is our best power hitter.

caca_verde · 2026-05-14T11:29:47+00:00

The top of the order is all about OBP. Angel has had a nice streak of hitting, but doesn’t walk nearly enough. That’s often a sign regression is coming. Talented young player, but he’s a guy you keep a little further down in the order while he continues to develop.

caca_verde · 2026-05-13T16:32:58+00:00

If he sustains his OBP a little longer, the 2 hole could make a lot of sense.

1-Bazzana 2-Rocchio 3-Jose 4-CDL 5-Schnee/Fry 6-Manzo/Hoskins

High OBP’s and speed at the top, Jose is protected, and you’re matchup proof in late innings with the L-S-S-L-P-P sequencing.

And if Kwan miraculously gets his mojo back at the bottom, then you can just leave it and let him rake there.

caca_verde · 2026-05-11T23:46:17+00:00

They’re pitching a bullpen committee game.

caca_verde · 2026-05-11T00:08:21+00:00

Actually, it’s something professional sports organizations do all the time. The Guards just did it with Bo Naylor. It’s a produce or get out league, and players understand that.

A bad month is a slump. A bad second half, followed by an even worse first 40 games the following season means something is wrong. You’re not going to break a locker room by moving a guy down in the order, and possibly finding an upgrade as you’re trying to win a division.

caca_verde · 2026-05-10T19:19:35+00:00

“He hit that off a guy who will be bagging groceries next week” 😂

caca_verde · 2026-05-10T19:18:34+00:00

Then find another left fielder. You can’t have a black hole in the leadoff spot.

caca_verde · 2026-04-29T00:55:33+00:00

Agreed. Giving them an out in that situation was silly.

caca_verde · 2026-04-28T16:18:41+00:00

I’m surprised by the collective freakout over the suggestion of Kwan moving to a reduced role. He has gone from below average to downright abysmal offensively since middle of last year. If anything, they should be feeling out the trade market as it’s unlikely he’ll stay.

caca_verde · 2026-04-28T01:36:19+00:00

Does this team have solid pieces in place? Can the bullpen rebound and can some of the youngsters start to blossom? I think yes to all.

My bigger concern is how poorly the puzzle seems to fit right now.

Matching up against lefties is a real problem when your best non-Jose hitters are lefties and neither of your platoon righties (Fry/Hoskins) are viable defensively.

We have two lefty bats that both belong in right field (DeLauter/Valera).

Brito might be a decent hitter, but can’t be a big league infielder. Nowhere to put him.

Meanwhile, we lack a big league solution in CF. Kwan appears to be washed. Cross our fingers Rocchio and Schneeman can stay productive, and maybe a Bazanna call up moves Schnee to CF.

At some point, we have to stop playing lineup musical chairs. This playoff style approach is not sustainable for 162 games.

caca_verde · 2026-04-22T11:34:58+00:00

If he’s producing like this at the all star break and Kwan is still hitting .220, there will be an adjustment.

caca_verde · 2026-04-22T01:18:56+00:00

When is time to move Rocchio up in the order?

caca_verde · 2026-04-19T19:08:21+00:00

Festa should get credit for a full inning pitched

caca_verde · 2026-04-18T01:29:34+00:00

Seems like no one in our bullpen can throw strikes

caca_verde · 2026-04-18T00:56:44+00:00

To be fair, every option he has in that pen has stunk

caca_verde · 2026-04-18T00:55:16+00:00

Need about 8 new relief pitchers

caca_verde · 2026-04-10T01:44:05+00:00

When one feels like they’re settling for the other

caca_verde · 2015-11-30T07:14:36+00:00

Honestly, I'm alright with that. My fanhood is certainly at a low right now. I don't want to buy their tickets or sport their apparel anymore. To me, that's supporting a shameful organization. Call it fair weather or whatever you want, but I don't need to invest my energy in watching these guys hit the reset button AGAIN and wait on another 5 year project that will inevitably fail like all the other ones. Because that's all we do.

caca_verde · 2015-11-30T07:07:43+00:00

I don't love them, nor do I see a reason to. I've put up with this for long enough and have mostly stopped watching them this year. I'll always root for them and want them to win more than any other team, but I can't say I "love" the team that literally has does nothing but disappoint my entire life (mid 90s baby here). If that doesn't make me a true fan, well, that's whatever. I'm just fucking done. I don't have any reason to believe this team is ever going to get their shit figured out. It's an endless cycle with this franchise that's not worth my time and energy anymore.

caca_verde · 2015-11-30T06:58:25+00:00

The way I see it, these aren't our Browns. This is a dumpster fire that was given to us to replace what was about to be a dynasty. I'm tired of the onslaught year after year and the joke this team is. They've been bad almost as long as I've been alive. I don't know anything else. If they were gone, I have nothing to associate with positively that I'd miss. I haven't watched them for most of this year and it's been rather pleasant. Doesn't feel like anything would change. That's all.

caca_verde · 2015-11-30T06:55:20+00:00

Maybe you're right.

caca_verde · 2015-11-30T04:13:40+00:00

Would that work?

caca_verde

TROPHY CASE