GDT 5/19/26 Cincinnati Reds (Burns, Ch) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Luzardo)

[zambonir]

It's funny how, as thin as the RHB situation has been, the bench still actually lacks a LHB entirely except when the two strong platoon guys sit. Replacing Schwarber with, essentially, Sosa against a tough RHP hardly ideal even if they did it for defense and to get Trea a day off his feet (whereas yesterday it made sense to play both Sosa and Kemp against LHP but normally Sosa would have played 2B). Surprised they didn't play Stubbs in LF for this one.

[EDmuch]

Why is Banks being brought in to relief when the game is still close? Seems his primary role is putting the game out of reach. He was ok last year. But this year he has been terrible.

[Philsmania]

Two of the Reds runs came about because a Phillies pitcher failed to cover first on an infield hit--Luzardo in the second, Banks in the 7th. But, it was all academic with the feeble Phillies' offense in the last six innings.

Some credit has to go to Burns. He is an early NL CYA candidate.

[zambonir]

It's fine to use Banks in the 6th inning of a game in which the Phillies trailed to get out a LHB (and because Mattingly thought the Reds would PH for Bleday if he tapped a RHP). But he failed.