Cincinnati Reds Blogs

Greetings and welcome to my brand-spanking new Reds blog. We currently boast a readership of, well, let's not talk about that right now, but we're growing! That's the idea. GROW!

The Reds just finished their 400th miserable season in a row, and, as always, there's talk of competing next year, but the question is, is it possible?

Continue reading "What to Do with 30 Million Dollars"

Yes - there was A highlight during the Lions/Redskins game this past Sunday.

The Lions scored a touchdown in the first half. WOO HOO!!!!!

And, true to Lions fashion, they stayed in the game just enough to let many Lions fans actually believe that they may win. AND, like many, MANY, MANY times before - they let it all slip away. Again.

Continue reading "Highlight of the Lions/Redskins game"

        Francisco Cordero converted 44 saves in 51 chances in 2007 and had an ERA below three.   Cordero was one of the most touted relief pitchers in the league at the end of the 2007 season and he received offers from several teams.  Cordero decided to go for the money, signing a contract with the Cincinnati Reds.  The Milwaukee Brewers had offered a four year $42 million contract with an option for a fifth year.  Instead, Cordero packed his bags and moved to Cincinnati, taking their four year $46 million offer - also with an option for a fifth year. 

Continue reading "Brewers Bullpen"

A big thanks to everyone who participated in the "Inbound Link Contest".  We have a winner!  A big congratulations go out to Marija.  Thank you for all your hard work on this.  While we had a lot of people participate, Marija was able to win with only 4 links!  So it wouldn't have taken a lot to win this contest!  We'll be having another contest soon so stay tuned.

Continue reading "Inbound link contest winner announced!"

Arizona has just traded for Adam Dunn, reports Baseball Digest Daily, bolstering their outfield to offset injuries to Eric Byrnes and Justin Upton, as well as to counteract the Dodgers' recent acquisition of Manny Ramirez. That Dunn passed through waivers is both an indication of his big salary for the year, as well as his undervalued status among GMs.

Continue reading "Arizona Dunn-Backs"

Remember, the Astros still stink. They are going nowhere. ;-)

Reverse psychology, ahhh...

Houston is now 58-59 on the season, courtesy of a four-game winning streak. Today they capped a sweep of the hapless Cincinnati Reds with a 13-4 win over Cincy. "Magic" Wandy Rodriguez pitched well, allowing only five hits and two runs in 6.2 innings. He walked only one and struck out seven, giving up two home runs in Cincy's homer-friendly Great American Ballpark. What's more, he even got a hit and scored a run today.

Continue reading "Astros sweep Reds, Lee out for season, ..."

Seems like every time I write the Astros off as done for the season, they ruin my blog posting by going out and winning a few games. Well, who am I to mess with a successful formula? So, with that...

Continue reading "Using reverse psychology with the Astros"

    The Mets limped home from a disappointing 1-5 road trip with a slew of injuries.  Marlon Anderson and John Maine were put on the DL over the weekend and Billy Wagner joined them today with a strained left forearm.  Ramon Castro is still shaken up from the bizzare home plate collision on Saturday, and is listed as day-to-day with a sore ankle.  Rather than make any external moves, the Mets have turned to their farm system for help.  Although for the time being Jerry Manuel says he will use a bullpen by committee in the ninth inning, Eddie Kunz, the heir apparent to Billy Wagner, is on the major league squad and may get some looks in the closer role over the next two weeks while Wagner is out.  Daniel Murphy, who was a third baseman in the minors but requested some work at second base and the outfield--a smart move, considering David Wright isn't going anywhere anytime soon--is getting the start in left field tonight agains the Padres.  The Mets really love the way he hits, so he could be a fixture at the major league level for the remainder of the season and perhaps into the future.  And rumor has it that the Mets are considering calling up Jon Niese to make a few starts in Maine's stead.

Continue reading "Mets Look to Bounce Back at Home"

    For the third time in a week, the Mets showed some moxie last night in winning convincingly the day after a disconcerting loss.  First, it was John Maine's solid performance against the Phillies the day after the bullpen blew Johan Santana's eight-inning gem.  Then, it was Santana going the distance to conserve the worn out bullpen the day after the five-hour, 14-inning loss to St. Louis.  And last night Oliver Perez fought through six innings, allowing just the one first-inning run, after the bullpen blew an eighth-inning lead on Monday.  David Wright gave the Mets an early lead with an RBI double in the first and Carlos Beltran put New York ahead with a rare two-out RBI single in the sixth.  Carlos Delgado jacked a two-run homer in the eighth for insurance, and Heilman pitched two scoreless innings for the hold, before Billy Wagner tossed a perfect ninth for his 27th save.

Continue reading "Heilman Holds Perez's Lead, Delgado Puts it Away"

    The trade deadline is approaching and the Mets still have some needs to fill.  It's still unknown whether Ryan Church will be able to come back and play everyday, so a corner outfielder is certainly a priority.  On Monday Jerry Manuel named Fernando Tatis the everyday left fielder, but his red-hot month may not, and probably will not, last.  Even if Tatis remains decent as a starter, the uncertainty surrounding Church's health calls for a stronger bench.  Endy Chavez is an excellent defensive replacement outfielder, but when he plays everyday he eventually gets exposed offensively, so he is really more suited to a role as a fourth outfielder.  Casey Blake would have been a good fit because he can play both corner outfield positions as well as first base, but he has already been traded to the Dodgers.

Continue reading "Trade Market: Will The Mets Be Involved?"

Roy Oswalt is now 20-1 in 24 career starts against the Cincinnati Reds, courtesy of his rust-shaking win against the Reds. The Houston Astros won 5-4, perhaps Oswalt's only blight was a third-inning two-out grand slam by Adam Dunn (who got his 30th home run on the season). Astros third baseman Geoff Blum answered in the bottom of the third with a two-out home run of his own--this one a two-run shot that turned out to be the go-ahead runs for Houston.

Continue reading "Roy O reaches winning level in season ..."

First, the good news: Houston defeated Milwaukee Sunday 11-6 to take the rubber game of the three-game series. Third baseman Geoff Blum hit two home runs for Houston, which seems to have a knack for beating the tough teams while struggling against the wimpy ones. What's more, newly-acquired lefthanded pitcher Randy Wolf went 1-2 at the plate and even scored a run.

Continue reading "Astros take another series, Wolf ..."

"The banishment for life of Pete Rose from baseball is the sad end of a sorry episode. One of the game's greatest players has engaged in a variety of acts which have stained the game, and he must now live with the consequences of those acts. By choosing not to come to a hearing before me, and by choosing not to proffer any testimony or evidence contrary to the evidence and information contained in the report of the Special Counsel to the Commissioner, Mr. Rose has accepted baseball's ultimate sanction, lifetime ineligibility." 

Continue reading "A Rose By Any Other Name Should Smell As Sweet"

I used to believe I had already gone through the greatest sports books already, but a summer read has changed my mind.

"Eight Men Out," by Eliot Asinof, is quite unlike most great sports books and movies, which tend to be inspirational. This is nothing of the sort — it’s a cynic’s delight, the kind of book that reinforces your sense that the world is screwed up, no one has pure motives and problems are not so much solved as dealt with by finding convenient scapegoats.

Continue reading "'Eight' good enough to be among best sports books"

To try and motivate our bloggers to get inbound links we're going to have a contest to see which blogger can get the most inbound links to their blog. The contest begins now and ends July 31st, 2008. To be entered in to the contest all you have to do is go out and get as many websites to link to your blog as you can and at the end of the month send us an email listing all those links. All links must be active from August 1st through August 7th when we'll be judging the entries - a winner will be announced on August 7th. All entry emails must be received by Midnight on July 31st, 2008. You can email them to sportsfan@nbabasketballonline.com

Continue reading "Inbound link contest - Win $100!"

Building a loyal following on your blog isn't going to be easy.  It's going to take some time.  And while our network of sports sites does get substantial traffic and you will benefit from that traffic, in order to turn your blog into something that makes $100, $200, $1,000 or even $5,000 per month it is going to take a lot of work on your part.  It's not going to be easy.  But hopefully it'll be fun.

Continue reading "How can I increase traffic (and revenue) ..."

It’s the annual midpoint of the baseball season, and for the brief span that is the All-Star break, all eyes are upon the Bronx. As everyone is well aware of, this campaign is the last go around for the world’s most famous, largest, and most prominent ballpark, Yankee Stadium. It seems hard to believe, and even more sacrilegious that this living legend’s days are numbered. Built in 1923 and christened by the greatest ballplayer to ever live, Babe Ruth, the cathedral of baseball will never truly be replaced. Although the Bombers will move a block to Yankee Stadium’s heir, the Mecca of America’s Pastime will still live on in our hearts. Whether you’re a diehard Yankee fan, or Yankee-hater, you still can respect the history and awe that the stadium brings. So when the All-Stars take the field Tuesday night, sit back on your couch, crack open a cold one and soak up the history of Yankee Stadium, as its final chapter is unveiled to all of us.

Continue reading "National League Looks to End Rut"

One of the All-Star Break traditions: Reassessing our predictions from the first half of the season. Some of mine have changed, some have stayed the same—and some were just damn wrong. Living in the West, I will take the contrarian position and roll from west to east in my choices.

Continue reading "Second Half Predictions"

    Mike Pelfrey pitched another gem Sunday night, throwing eight shutout innings in the Mets' 7-0 victory over the Rockies, and won his sixth straight start.  New York cruised through their six-game homestand, outscoring the Giants and Rockies 31-4 with four shutouts to boot.  They now stand just a half game behind the Phillies for first place in the NL East.

Continue reading "Big Pelf and the Mets Take Nine Into ..."

It's that time of year again when every other commercial on television promotes the All-Star Game, and ballparks around the majors are stocked with ballots. So keeping with the theme, I’ve decided to name players to my inaugural All–Star team and I’ll start with the National League. So far there have been the usual suspects putting up solid first halves, and also some surprises that have shocked everyone with success.  So far in 2008, the season seems almost as a Bizarro season to steal Sports Illustrated’s mantra. The Rays and the Cubs have been pace setters, and the defending National League Pennant winners are at the rear of field, lost somewhere in the ice cold Rockies.  So keeping with the spirit, here are my National League All-Stars with a few surprises and few old schoolers.

Continue reading "Mic's National League All-Star Team"

All right then, it’s almost July, which means it’s almost time for yet another midsummer classic, which once again will pit the National League against their arch-rivals, those bums from the junior circuit.

Continue reading "All-Star foppery"

Every so often, I'll include a post that is not all (or maybe at all) about sports.  Just a reminder of the bigger world that also deserves our attention--even though it can be infinitely more depressing than knowing Kei Igawa is only a an injury, a Ponson failure, or a Rasner melt down away from being back on the Yankee Stadium mound...

Continue reading "Random musings...sports, politics, society"

The Reds have gone into Yankee stadium and in three consecutive games, their starting pitchers have held the Bronx Bombers, who are just beginning to wake from their early season slumber, to three runs.

Continue reading "Daryl Thompson: One of an Endangered Species"

Hey y'all, I think that I'm still in shock and recovery mode after such a sweet, sweet title run by the Boston Celtics.  It's been so much so that I still can't truly find the right words to explain the way I feel now and how the series went.  I couldn't have asked for any more, and the joy that I feel right now is (almost) equal to the feeling I had during October of 2004 when the RedSox broke the 86 year-old curse and won the World Series for the first time since 1918.

Continue reading "Sweet 17!"

The Dodgers’ nine-game road trip was coming to an end, and the imminent sweep of the Cincinnati Reds would help ease the anguish of five straight defeats in the middle of the trip. The offense was putting up runs early and often, and for the third day in a row the starting pitcher had allowed just one run. It seemed the Dodgers were ready to put the 4-5 road trip behind them, and return to Chavez Ravine for the comforts of home and visits by the Indians, White Sox and Angels. The Dodgers had checked out of Cincinnati, and were ready to go home.

Continue reading "Dodgers Survive Seventh-Inning Stench, ..."

The Dodgers’ roster is assembled to win a certain type of ballgame. With power hitters and RBI machines nowhere in sight, the Dodgers know that to win they’ll need solid starting pitching, lockdown relief and opportunistic hitting. A typical Dodger game plan, for example, would have the starter going five to seven innings, the offense chipping in around three to five runs, and the bullpen passing the baton until the game is over.

Continue reading "Red Means Go for Dodgers; Loney Drives ..."

You can’t say there are many teams the Dodgers have enjoyed playing this season.  The team is inconsistent to the point that consecutive wins are hard to come by, and winning streaks , other than an eight-game stretch B.F.I. (Before Furcal’s Injury), are few and far between.

Continue reading "Win Some, Lose Some: Dodgers Win ..."

I know, I know, Junior actually hit No. 600 yesterday, but by my calculations, if Ken Griffey Jr. would have been able to avoid the injury bug as soon as he arrived in Cincy that would be the headline across many sports pages in the morning’s paper.

Continue reading "Griffey Jr. blasts No. 741 in first inning"

After Ken Griffey Jr. joined the 600 club yesterday afternoon, it got me thinking about where he stands with the other members of this 6 man club. I could not honestly say that he deserves to be behind guys like Sosa and Bonds, so I did a bit of research (as usual) to determine where he stands. Lets look at the numbers.

Continue reading "Ken Griffey Junior: Ranking the 600 club"

To Junior, it must have felt like giving birth after a long and complex labor. Hitting his 600th home run last night was probably the most overpredicted and overdue statistical milepost in baseball history. We've been waiting for this to happen for at least ten years, ever since he put up back-to-back 56 homer seasons for Seattle in '97 and '98. When that season wrapped up, he had 350 career longballs at age 28, becoming the fastest player in history to hit that many, a feat he repeated when he cracked his 400th.

Continue reading "Junior's 600"

Congratulations are in order for Ken Griffey Jr. today after he became the sixth player in Major League Baseball history to hit 600 career home runs with his blast off Florida's Mark Hendrickson last night.

Continue reading "Griffey joins the 600 club"

Who has the best bullpen in baseball this year. Is it the Red Sox with Papelbon and Okajima? Is it the Reds with Cordero, Weathers and Bray? Here is a breakdown of the top pens in the big leagues.

Continue reading "The Best Bullpen In Baseball"

In case you haven't been closely following the box score, you may not have noticed that Richie Sexson has not seen action in 3 straight games. Miguel Cairo has instead been taking the duties at 1B. Could it be that Sexson has seen his last action in Seattle? I believe so.

Continue reading "Believe It: Sexson is Gone"

Easily the biggest news anywhere in baseball this past week was the long-anticipated callup of Jay Bruce, savior-in-waiting for Cincinnati and #1 prospect by most of the writers in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook. With Cincy wallowing in last place in a revitalized NL Central that offers not only the surprising Cardinals, but also the resurgent Astros and the overachieving Bucs, it seems that Reds management is ready to bring out the big guns--or at least begin the rebuilding process. As further signal of the latter possibility, they called up Andy Phillips and sent down Corey Patterson, someone only a vet-lover like Dusty Baker still considered a serviceable outfielder.

Continue reading "Cincinnati's Youth Movement"

It's a well-known fact among baseball fans that your superstars can get you to the postseason, but winning it often requires production from unexpected places. Pitchers can pitch around your superstars, then relax on the lesser lights--who then proceed to knock the cover off the ball. Think Billy Hatcher of the surprising 1990 Cincinnati Reds, with his 7 straight hits to start their sweep of the heavily favored As. Or Jim Leyritz's massive blast to tie up Game 4 of the 1996 World Series and help the Yanks to "sweep back" the Atlanta Braves, winning four straight after dropping the first two. 

Continue reading "Around The Horn With The '61 Yankees: 2B"

One of the talked-about items in two of my fave teams (Reds and Mariners) is the possible return of Griffey to the place where he got his start. Seattle's been scouting him, and there's a bit of a buzz, but it's not much more than idle talk at this point, but it's an interesting feel-good possibility that could help out both teams. Let's look at the pros and cons and possible stumbling blocks:

Continue reading "Junior Back in Seattle?"

Edinson Volquez picked up his sixth win on the season and added on 5 more strikeouts! The man is a great addition to our Rotation and I hope he can keep it up! I wasn't too happy we had to give up Jos

Continue reading "VOLQUEZ wins #6!!!"

May 12, 2008 – Padres Bloggers: I’m still behind so this is my one-stop effort to get Padres release information up-to-date. Obviously they are off to a rough start and going into today have the worst record in baseball at 14-24 (.368).

Continue reading "San Diego Padres Updates"

Two interesting things happened at the end of the Reds-Mets game today. Well, really it was only one thing, but it told me two interesting things. In the top of the ninth inning, trailing 8-3, the eighth spot of the Reds order was due up, and Dave Ross, who had entered the game as part of a double-switch in the bottom of the sixth inning, came to bat. He flied out to right, and Corey Patterson, who had entered in a double-switch in the bottom of the eighth inning, stepped up to the plate.

Continue reading "This Whole Team's Out of Order!"

The Reds went all homer-happy over the Cubs last night, and Edinson Volquez twirled a gem on the mound, leading the Reds commentators and Steve Phillips on ESPN to go all gushy on them, proclaiming the future is now and they're gonna take the NL Central. Is this the case?

Continue reading "Here Come the Reds! (Really?)"

My father asked me how "Sweet Caroline" became an 8th inning tradition at the Fens.  After some investigating, I have found the answer.

But first, a quick note on the sweep over the weekend. Turns out we can dish it as well as we can take it. Papi seems to be out of his slump, as on Saturday he went three for five and finally got his batting average up over .200.  Beckett may not have been as amazing as he was in his previous outing, but he still went 8 innings and had 5 K's.  Then on Sunday, our own first baseman, Kevin Youkilis, was a one-man hitting machine as he went three for four including a home run and two doubles.  Those doubles would help him tie his career high of four RBI's.

Continue reading "The Music of Fenway"

The Reds woes continue. They have lost five straight games and there are no signs things are going to turn around. They are just not consistent. In one game the offense struggles in the next game the pitching lets them down. They managed to scored two runs or less in four of the last fives games, and in the one game they found offense, Bronson Arroyo allowed seven runs and couldn't get out of the second inning. They managed to scored seven runs but lost 14-7. The offense is ranked 13th in the National League in runs scored and the starters are also ranked 13th in the National League with a 4.78 ERA.

Continue reading "Struggling Reds"

The Mouth That Roars...and Bores!

The good thing about Joe Morgan announcing baseball games on ESPN is that he knows the game.  The bad thing about Joe Morgan announcing baseball games on ESPN is that he will tell you how much he knows again and again, over and over – until views are ready to say: Over and out!

Continue reading "ESPN's Joe Morgan: The Little Red ..."

Hey guys, this is my first Prospect Perspective and who else could it be on but super hitting outfielder Jay bruce. There has been alot of hype on Jay and hes just about as old as I am, He's stuck behind a glut of Reds outfielders(where have I seen this story before..) but will likely get to play once the Reds are out of contention at the all star break. The Reds are trying not to rush this power hitting phenom but it wont be long before he's blasting extra base hits and HR's out of Great american ballpark.

Continue reading "Madgear's Prospect Perspective"

It was not pretty!!!!! Two games and 20 runs!  It was not pretty.  The Giants and their pitchers spent the last two games, Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon watching a multitude of Cinci

Continue reading "20 RUNS. OUCH!!!!!"

…Courtesy of a 5-3 win this afternoon against the Cincinnati Reds. Houston (11-12) is learning this simple formula: Solid pitching + Clutch hitting = Victory

 

today, Houston’s pitchers were very impressive—especially the bullpen. Starter J Cassell picked up the win as he pitched five innings, allowing seven hits and three runs. Houston’s relievers (including Jose Valverde) combined for four innings pitched, giving up only one hit, no runs and striking out three. What’s more, Astros pitchers today didn’t walk a single batter.

Continue reading "Houston's only one win away from .500..."

Ok, so it was against the Cincinnati Reds, a team that's a shell of the famed Big Red Machine of the 1970s.

 

Astros pitcher Chris Sampson notched his first win of the season, scattering eight hits over seven innings, allowing two runs, a walk and six strikeouts as the Houston Astros continued their red-hot ways Wednesday night, defeating the Cincinnati Reds 9-3.

Continue reading "Houston continues winning ways Wednesday, ..."

On Tuesday night, the Houston Astros did something that they generally don’t do—something really, really good, besides defeating the San Diego Padres 11-7.

 

They not only got hits off of Padres ace Jake Peavey, but they scored

Continue reading "Are the Astros bats waking up? Houston ..."

Ozzie Guillen swears that Phil Cuzzi, the home plate umpire at the Sox home opener has a vendetta against him. He flew out of the dugout in the 3rd inning to argue balls and strikes and ended up getting tossed. Of course. Arguing balls and strikes pisses any ump off. No vendetta necessary. This is a little too much Ozzie if you ask me. Though I do enjoy hearing him rant angrily from time to time.

Continue reading "V for Vendetta"

Not a whole lot of description necessary for the Sox first week of 08. I'd say a sweep of the Tigers and a 5-2 record does a pretty nice job of speaking for itself. A record, I might add, that iIm pretty sure is identical to the 05 start. As is the lack of respect, which is fine; under the radar is the way to be.

Continue reading ""

Next up on my preview for the 2008 Major League Baseball Season is the National League Central. Here are the biggest questions which will play a factor in the season for each team.

Chicago Cubs

Continue reading "MLB 2008 Season Preview: NL Central"

http://lebasketbawl.blogspot.com/2008/03/interview-brendan-kirsch-coach-

Continue reading "Interview: Brendan Kirsch, Coach ..."

March 6th, 1964.

Tom O'Hara of Illinois finished the indoor mile in under four minutes 44 years ago today.

Yikes!

Myself, I keep an eight-minute pace and I've never just tried to race a mile. It might be an interesting undertaking, if you're into punishment from the pavement like myself anyhow.

Continue reading "This Date in History: Tom O'Hara ..."

Time to move on from the rough and tough NL East and we head into the middle of the country and into the weakest (and saddest) division in baseball.  It should be fun though, however bad the baseball might be.  This race is wide open with four or five teams that could honestly win this division.  The NL Central has many newcomers to the division and has some very important people spread throughout the six teams.  But I will discuss that later on.  First, the team-by-team breakdowns.

Continue reading "Part II: NL Central"

Finally, they're playing ball down in the Florida Grapefruit League, and today's the Twins first spring training game against the Cincinnati Reds. Just for the fun of it, lets follow along for the first inning, and see if we can find any signs or portents for the coming year.

Continue reading "Play Ball!"

It's a time for re-birth in literature.  Even though it's dumb that supposedly every book ever uses the 'universal symbolism guide', a new baseball season is upon us.  We're in a cool era here.  If you can calm yourself down and look past the circus on capitol hill, there are a bunch of teams who are in a pretty good spot to compete in '08.  Who wants division previews?

Continue reading "Spring, Glorious Spring"

http://lebasketbawl.blogspot.com/2008/01/michael-jordan-sues-woman.html

Continue reading "Michael Jordan Sues Crazy Woman..."