6/30 Astros @ Reds (Dunn bats second)

[Wally Mo Pena]

I figured i'd just start the game thread early to pass on the Marc Lancaster is reporting that Dunn will bat second and Casey will bat fifth. I can't find anything else on the lineup. I'm guessing

Lopez
Dunn
Randa
Griffey
Casey
Pena
Aurilia
Larue

maybe Ray Olmedo will get a start, who knows?

Reds                      Astros
1. F Lopez, SS            1. W Taveras, CF
2. A Dunn, LF             2. C Biggio, 2B 
3. J Randa, 3B            3. L Berkman, 1B
4. K Griffey Jr., CF      4. M Ensberg, 3B
5. S Casey, 1B            5. J Lane, RF
6. R Aurilia, 2B          6. A Everett, SS
7. W Pena, RF             7. C Burke, LF
8. J Valentin, C          8. R Chavez, C
9. E Milton, P            9. B Backe, P

[Wally Mo Pena]

Also, just because i was curious, i checked FeLO's splits by batting order. I thought that he didn't look as good leading off. I was wrong:

Bat Order AB R H 2B HR RBI BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS

Batting 1 83 13 30 6 4 15 4 12 .361 .391 .578 .969

Batting 2 104 22 31 11 5 18 12 1 .298 .368 .548 .916

He walks a lot more and strikes out a lot less in the 2 hole, but the .361 batting average leading off is pretty dominant. In fact it's the highest in baseball from the leadoff spot (of people with more than 75 PA). His .969 leadoff OPS is #2 in baseball behind brian roberts.

But since OBP is really what you look for in a leadoff man, the nod still has to go to Ryan Freel, who is third in the majors from the leadoff spot (felipe is 6th).

Our offense really could have been special this year if we hadn't played jiminez and Aurilia all those games early on, and had a manager who could fill out a lineup card (hopefully we do now). Certainly our offense hasn't been the main problem, but i'm talking about really special.

[CincyRedsFan30]

Some sense finally?

I guess O'Brien is finally feeling the pressure and told Narron to change things.

[missionhockey21]

Dunn batting second. What's next, we'll hire a GM who can evaluate talent?

[redsrbetter]

slowly but surely we are getting what we are asking for. Hopefully a DanO pardon is next. I really want that to happen before our likely firesale.

[redsrbetter]

What are the chances that we get this game in?

[CincyRedsFan30]

Good. The storm will be done soon.

The only problem is that it's training(sitting in one spot) over downtown.

[Slyder]

Good. The storm will be done soon.

The only problem is that it's training(sitting in one spot) over downtown.

Hope the reds dont hire grounds crew from the same place the Marlins did, man that was horrible how much trouble they had that other night, and cost them playing the rest of the game.

[redsrbetter]

Our offense really could have been special this year if we hadn't played jiminez and Aurilia all those games early on, and had a manager who could fill out a lineup card (hopefully we do now). Certainly our offense hasn't been the main problem, but i'm talking about really special.

I agree, Aurilia has not been as horrible as we make him out to be, but he has still taken many ABs away from Felo, Freel, and Kearns. All of which are a better option than him. We did not lose this season because of him, but there is no doubt in my mind that our offense would have clicked a lot more without him tampering it. Good looking out on Felo too Wally.

[missionhockey21]

Anyone here?

FeLo started things off with a linedrive into CF-RF.

[missionhockey21]

Dunn walks.

[missionhockey21]

Randa strikesout looking.

[missionhockey21]

My brother wants to drop his car off to get it worked on so I have to follow him. I should be back within 25 minutes. Sorry guys I forgot.

[redsrbetter]

OK Reds down 2-0 in the 2nd. tow runners in scoring position for Tavares.

[redsrbetter]

Lopez catches the slow bloop for the final out. Time to see this lineup get things done. I want to see some things happen today. Like Pena to start hitting, Dunn to look good in the 2 spot and see him work better with RISP. See what Casey can do in the 5th spot as well. And of course see Milton get something going.