Tonight’s game was not fun, as losses pretty much never are, but it wasn’t quite up to the ‘heartbreaking’ levels of other losses. Nothing was surprising, no really outstanding performances were wasted, no ridiculously terrible performances were out there to be ridiculed.

I mean, yes, Leake’s six runs in three innings meltdown was pretty bad. But, really, Leake may just be  an saverage pitcher (which is fine), and average pitchers are going to have a couple outings like this every year – and at least it wasn’t an epic blowout – like Yovani Gallardo allowing 10 runs in 2 innings to the Cardinals tonight. It did feel worse in the ninth inning when Jay Bruce and Devin Mesoraco’s solo home runs brought us within 2, but I’m pretty confident that had we not been 4 runs behind, we wouldn’t have been facing Fernando Abad.

Ludwick and Rolen were also pretty bad, each going hitless. I’m getting closer to losing hope with both these guys, but at least it’s not at all surprising. Ludwick seems to get by with a clutch hit every now and then, just often enough to escape being entirely useless-seeming. And at this point Rolen is a big part of this team’s personality, and management loves his leadership and overall veteranocity. That would be fine if we got some offense out of left field.  Hey, I hear the Angels released Bobby Abreu?

In better news, Stubbs made up for a fielder’s-choice-picked-off combo by getting an actual hit and only striking out once, Bruce was pretty awesome, Frazier’s pinch-hit triple was bad-ass, and the bullpen was excellent. We haven’t seen a lot of J.J. Hoover, but I’ve got a feeling he’s going to be a pretty good return for Juan Francisco. Even much-maligned Alfredo Simon did quite a job mopping up after Mike Leake.

So now it’s up to the Reds to win the next two games to win their second series in a row, and come back to .500 on the year. The pitching matchups are Cueto vs.  Lucas Harrell and Mat Latos vs. Bud Norris.  That’s probably a solid advantage, and a good chance, so I don’t think it’s out of the question at all.

The late-morning Sunday news is apparently that the Reds really meant it when they said they were unhappy with Juan Francisco, and have traded him to the Braves for RHP prospect J.J. Hoover, according to Mark Sheldon of mlb.com

I’m honestly pretty down with the take. Hoover is a 24 year old that the Braves converted almost full time to the bullpen last season. Between AA and AAA, he put up 117 K and 40 BB in 105 innings. While Jonathan Mayo rates Hoover as #13 in the Braves organization, John Sickels has him even higher, at #7, with a B- grade. Sickels also thinks that Hoover could be a good third or fourth starter, so perhaps the Reds will try him out there, as we’re a little light on starting pitching prospects right now. (In 2010, as a starter, he put up 152 K and 50 BB in 153 innnings)

This 2010 report from fangraphs, describes Hoover as throwing: “88-92 mph fastball, good change-up and curveball”. However, the Mayo article cites him as throwing a good changeup and slider, and that’s the more recent report, which probably includes some adjustments made when Hoover started full time in the bullpen.

Were the Reds perhaps a little overly down on Juan, who may have been able to help the Reds more this season than Hoover will? Perhaps, but Francisco’s behavior this winter has been legitimately unimpressive, and I think J.J. Hoover be pretty good for us in the coming years.

My biggest problem with Hoover is that I’m very confused as to where the other J comes from. His milb player page has his name listed as “James Allen Hoover.” That’s only 1 J. ONLY 1. WHERE IS THE OTHER J COMING FROM, GUY? This is going to drive me nuts.