Cincinnati Reds Blogs

Albert Pujols and Joey Votto are having monster seasons.  Not only are the sluggers leading their teams in the playoff hunt – the Cardinals are 1.5 games back in the Wild Card race while the Reds lead the NL Central – but Pujols (.321, 34 HR, 93 RBI) and Votto (.326, 31 HR, 90 RBI) are the top two National Leaguers in each of the Triple Crown categories.  Both have strong cases for the MVP award, but if either one wins the first Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967, it would be awfully hard for the voters not to choose him as the league’s Most Valuable Player.

Continue reading "Pair of Triple Crown candidates duel it out"

Thank goodness Joey Votto (.314/.422/.589 with 22 home runs) was elected to the National League All-Star team via the Final Vote.  Billy Wagner, Carlos Gonzalez, and Ryan Zimmerman are great players and were all worthy of roster spots, but Votto should have been the NL’s starting first baseman over Albert Pujols, and it would have been a travesty had he not made it in the end.  Votto leads the NL in both On-Base Percentage and Slugging Percentage and is tied for the lead in home runs; if the season ended today, he’d likely be voted the league’s Most Valuable Player.  It’s too bad, then, that Votto went 0-2 and did not make an impact in the game.  (Each of the other first basemen on the National League side – Pujols, Ryan Howard, and Adrian Gonzalez – went 0-2 as well.)

Continue reading "All-Star Game thoughts"

The hype over Washington Nationals’ phenom Stephen Strasburg has been followed by terrific pitching from the young right-hander, but the Nats’ front office also deserves a lot of credit.  In his first three starts, Strasburg has faced the Pirates, the Indians, and the White Sox, all of whom rank near the bottom offensively.  While I think Strasburg has a tremendous amount of talent and is going to be a great pitcher for quite some time, I’d like to see how he fares against the heavy-hitting lineups of the Yankees, Reds, and Red Sox.

Continue reading "Nationals handle Strasburg’s schedule ..."

When the Atlanta Braves announced during the last week of spring training that Jason Heyward had made the big league roster, it made headlines in part because both Stephen Strasburg and Aroldis Chapman were being assigned to the minors.  However, after winning the starting right fielder’s job in Atlanta, the 20-year-old phenom wasted no time before impressing the baseball world by launching a three-run home run in his very first major league at-bat.  Batting seventh in the lineup behind Chipper Jones, Brian McCann, and others has limited the pressure on the 14th overall pick in the 2007 draft, but before long, you can expect to see Heyward taking his hacks in the cleanup spot.

Continue reading "Jason Heyward: Instant Hit"

In my life I have attended many more major league games than minor league ones, but 2010 will be a chance for me to experience the minors like never before.  I will be working in media relations for the Toledo Mud Hens of the International League.  The Mud Hens are the Triple-A affiliate of the Tigers and play at Fifth Third Field, just an hour from Detroit, which means that Tigers on rehab assignments will likely make cameo appearances throughout the season.

Continue reading "Next stop in my baseball career – ..."

Hey Everyone,

First, allow me to apologize for the length of time it has taken to post again.  I have had a busy few weeks since my last entry.  I've gotten engaged to my long-time girlfriend (I honestly am not sure why she waited for me but oh so glad she did!). Christmas and New Years and my birthday have all come and gone and were wonderful and I miss my extended family already.  And of course there has been lots of baseball news, though not Twins related, the biggest of which happened just a little bit ago today.

Continue reading "Just in case you thought I went away"

Continue reading "20 top horses of the decade - thoroughbreds"

     How many Saints’ fans wrote off the Saints when Washington lined up their game-clinching 23-yard field goal? This year’ s “ Finish” mentality has produced the franchise’s best season start ever, not to mention the team’s most unbelievable victory in 43 years Sunday. Previous season mottos never produced the results that the ’ 09 slogan has. Big Daddy wonders if the Saints brought in Tiger Woods to demonstrate how awesome happy endings feel? Tiger always benefits from coming hard at the end both on and off the course. If it works for Saints fans for the next 13 years, the Superdome staff will have lots of new banners to hang. Seriously, Big Daddy wants Saints fans to understand the significance of a team that wins games they should lose. Haven’ t we suffered the downside of that equation for far too long? Hell yeah! But now its our time! In this edition of the

Continue reading "Big Daddy Believes In Miracles"

BAILOUT the Redskins! Such is the state of things in Washington DC. Like most of the stocks traded on Wall Street, there are many assets that have no real value but continue to produce millions for its shareholders and owners. The Redskins are just like the stock market, look great on paper and generate millions to the owner but filled with high price, former blue chip stocks that have no real value when put to the test. This team is worse than bad, they are horrible and with no young, up-and-coming players to pin our hopes on, no star QB in the making, no player ready to bust out, if there was ever a time to blow the whole thing up it is definitely now!

Continue reading "The Washington Redskins - a perfect ..."

Last week I saw Andy Pettitte throw six and two-thirds innings of perfect baseball at against the Orioles at Camden Yards.  With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Adam Jones hit a ground ball to third.  Alex Rodriguez was getting the night off, and his replacement at the hot corner, Jerry Hairston, booted it.  Having grown up an Orioles fan and somewhere along the way developing into a Yankee-hater, one might think I would have been rooting for the Birds to end Pettitte’s bid for perfection; however, this was not so.  As a fan of the game, I wanted to witness history.  Sure; I would have preferred seeing an Oriole pitcher throw a perfecto (though even a shutout by one of this year’s starters would have been historic), but I can’t expect miracles.

Continue reading "Nobody’s perfect"

Continue reading ""Barry Zito has been Stellar Since ..."

  The Giants escaped from New York with a four-game split Monday, and grabbed the first game of a mid-week series in Cincinnati Tuesday thanks to plenty of offense.  How about 18 runs and 30 hits in the past two games.  The question remains; how consistently can the bats remain alive for this team to contend into September for the wild card -- or conceivably -- the division.  After blasting Livan Hernandez and the Mets' bullpen for 10 runs on 18 hits Monday, San Francisco stung the Reds with a seven-run comeback to erase an early 5-1 deficit against Tim Lincecum. The 8-5 victory included 12 more hits by the Giants.

Continue reading ""Will The Hits Keep Coming for the Giants?""

Continue reading ""Giants Escape With A Win over the ..."

Baseball families have made history in pinstripes. The Boones are in their 3rd generation playing baseball. Aaron Boone, whose brother Bret, father Bob, and grandfather Ray all had 10+ year careers in the majors, cemented his name in Yankee history. Jose Molina, whose brother Yadier plays for the Colorado Rockies and other brother Bengie plays for San Francisco Giants, also cemented his name in Yankee history. Now that the Yankees have acquired Jerry Hairston, Jr., whose brother Scott is playing for the Oakland Athletics, and father Jerry, Sr., uncle Johnny, and grandfather Sam also had MLB baseball careers. Now Jerry Jr. has a chance to continue this trend of success for baseball families playing for the Bronx Bombers. Before we get into the Hairstons, let’s take a look at what the Boones and the Molinas have accomplished in pinstripes.

Continue reading "Move over Boones. Move over Molinas. ..."

LeBron James' alleged confiscation of a tape in which Xavier sophomore basketball player Jordan Crawford executed a two-hand dunk on him took on a larger life of its own than it would have had the tape been made public.

Continue reading "Your Worst Face-to-Face Experience ..."

Cleveland Indians vs. Cincinnati Reds

June 28, 2009 - Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio

David Huff vs. Micah Owings

Watching the Indians lately is liking going into something knowing in advance it’s going to give you a migraine but you continue with it anyway. With aspirin in hand, I’m ready to watch game three of the “Ohio Cup”. I haven’t heard of a worse cup since the Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State. Today is game one without Mark DeRosa, who was acquired from the Cubs in the off season for three pitchers, then later traded to the Cardinals for a pitcher and a player to be named later? Makes sense when pitching has been the weakest part of your club right?

Continue reading "Cincinnati Reds leave town with the ..."

Indians vs. Reds

Friday June 26, 2009

Progressive Field - Cleveland, Ohio

Jeremy Sowers vs. Aaron Harang

Interleague foes have led to interleague woes for the Tribe this year. Coming into tonight’s game vs. Cincinnati, the Indians are 4-11 vs. National League opponents. One good thing going into tonight, this Reds lineup doesn’t look the least intimidating on paper, minus Joey Votto, it’s nothing to write home about. Then again, neither is ours!

Continue reading "Reds have the effect of a bad meal, ..."

Here we are at a little over two months into the baseball season; far enough in to create speculation and make predictions, but not too far in as to be entirely right in those predictions. So far I see the predictions made about the Reds to be correct. Good pitching, but the hitting is lacking. It's better than I thought it would be, but still lacking. Votto has been amazing until he started having the dizzy spells, Nix has been a great find in left field, and it may be too early to tell, but Gomes may just be worth more than we think he is.

Continue reading "How are the Reds doing? Better than ..."

Continue reading "My Brief Thoughts on Replay"

Continue reading "Alex Gonzalez, Reds make the Memorial ..."

Continue reading "Arroyo sharp, Tribe bats dull. Cincinnati ..."

Cleveland Indians @ Cincinnati Reds, Friday May 22, 2009

Reyes (1-1, 6.88) vs. Arroyo (5-3, 6.56)

Interleague play is back. I personally don’t have a problem with it. It’s lost it’s luster for sure, but I don’t mind the change of pace for a handful of series during the year. At the same time if they got rid of it tomorrow, it wouldn’t bother me either. One thing that I’ll never feel different about is that I don’t see the Reds as a rival to the Indians. I would prefer to play the Pirates every year if we must do this interleague thing. This year the Indians do play Pittsburgh, but it’s been the Reds who are the annual National League opponent. Plus, it gives Cleveland fans at least one opportunity to say one of our teams beat a Pittsburgh team. I wish that I could say I was being sarcastic.

Continue reading "Cleveland Indians at Cincinnati Reds ..."

Longtime Washington based horseman Craig Roberts has passed away. He had contracted pneumonia while recovering from a pair of strokes suffered last winter. Craig Roberts was a successful trainer at Longacres for years then later at Emerald Downs. He first got his trainers license in 1965 and developed one of the most dominant racing stables in the northwest. The dressing the part has been mentioned but I recall people holding him by a higher description - that of a horseman. One that looked for the good of the horse, able to get along with difficult horses and find a way to bring out the good in a horse.

Continue reading "Washington based trainer Craig Roberts passes away"

If you don't have MLBTV as part of your cable or satellite system, you're missing out.

 I'm currently watching Game 6 of the 1975 World Series - the classic between the Reds and the Red Sox.  For a guy who was born in 1977 and grew up a Sox fan, I've of course heard and read all about the 75 season and the World Series.  And of course if you tune into ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, Joe Morgan will remind you every 10 minutes that he played in it as part of the "Big Red Machine."

Continue reading "MLBTV Brings the Old Games to Life ..."

As you all now by now, thanks to the media, Manny Ramirez tested positive for an illegal substance last week and was suspended for fifty games. The MLB's suspension was understandable remembering what they are trying to accomplish and that is a clean league. What blows me away is the repetitiveness of news on this case.  Hundreds of thousands heard you all the first time, no one really cares about what his parents had for lunch and such. Who knows what is going to happen next but we can't assume the worst starting off. Maybe the guy really had the substance prescribed to him. Regardless there has been so much news and so much publicity with these current cases. A few months ago the same happened with A-Rod and he came out and confessed. Now look at what is going on with him, someone has written a book about him and people are reading over it with a fine pick comb.

Continue reading "Manny Ramirez has now tested positive ..."

The Cardinals managed to right the shift mid-way through their brief homestand. After allowing The Phillies to score 16 runs against them in just two games, they shut the Pirates down, limiting them to just four runs. The bullpen was responsible for 6.2 innings of work over those two contests, but didn’t allow any runs. They picked up a win in Mitchell Boggs’ start, which was earned by Kyle McClellan and also recorded two saves, both by default closer Ryan Franklin. The bullpen was a liability earlier in the season, but now that it’s managed to take shape around Franklin, it’s becoming a real asset for the club in the late innings.

Continue reading "Cards notes before their road trip"

Sometimes we have to wonder what crosses people's minds. The team favored to win at the pinnacle of competition in polo, Lechuza Polo from Venezuela, had not just one but 21 horses collapse and die as they were unloaded from trailers at Wellington Florida's polo club. Thoroughbreds are often used in the sport. Although the team is owned by a Venezuelan businessman most of the horses and players are from Argentina. This isn't a case of just going out and buying a couple dozen more horses. The team has 60 horses, and all who got sick died.

Continue reading "polo horses killed in Florida"

The Reds are off to a decent start having won three straight and going for a sweep of the Brewers in Milwaukee. Cincinnati's future is bright with a solid core of young pitchers and position players throughout the organization. 

Continue reading "Chris Dickerson should be playing everyday"

There are only a few sure things in the National League Central this year. The Chicago Cubs will win, the Pittsburgh Pirates will lose, and Albert Pujols will continue to be the best hitter in the NL. The Cincinnati Reds’ staff is intriguing, as is St. Louis’ if Chris Carpenter has a positive impact in his return from injury, and how much will Milwaukee miss CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets?

Continue reading "The Sports Don's 2009 NL Central Preview"

The news came out today that the Reds officially have interest in Gary Sheffield. Really? Sheff was a great talent in his prime, but it seems to me like he's another Griffey right now. He has great career numbers, and still gets respect at the plate (499 career home runs) but he's been hampered by injuries the past couple seasons and hasn't been at his best. There's a reason Detroit cut him when they did.

Continue reading "The Reds and Sheffield"

Just a week or so ago I realized that some players would be leaving camp soon to go play for their respective countries in the World Baseball Classic. Is that really neccessary? To interrupt their spring training? True, they are going to get in shape because they are going to play whether they go play for their countries or stay in camp. But they are not playing with their own teammates, the guys that they will be around all season. I think that's one of those intangibles that many people overlook but nonetheless is important.

Continue reading "Thoughts on the WBC"

I have to admit, this edition of The Sports Don’s Sunday Musings was harder for me to compile than the previous two weeks. Maybe it’s because I’m still bull over Steven the Black Jack Dealer cheating me out of all of my money at Foxwoods or perhaps it’s because I’m trying to remember to DVR Dark Days in Monkey City. Either way, I still managed to ramble on especially long this weekend so I’ll keep the words typed in the remainder of my intro to a minimum...here it is.

Continue reading "The Sports Don's Sunday Musings: Volume III"

This off-season has ultimately been a poor one for the Twins. From the terrible Pat Neshek news, to failed trade attempts and failed free agent signings, the Twins have missed out on a great opporunity to improve their team in what is a very watered down market in terms of dollars. The weak corner outfield market really hurt the Twins, since they were undoubtedly looking to trade either Michael Cuddyer or Delmon Young. Personally, I don't think the Twins did anything wrong by passing on both Casey Blake and Ty Wigginton. Neither player strikes me as a very good hitter, and while Wigginton's numbers look good on the surface, they are very misleading. I'll get into the exact stats and explanations of those stats sometime this week, but for now just trust me that his Home/Road splits are terrible, and leaving hitter friendly Minute-Maid Park should cause Wigginton's numbers to come crashing back to earth regardless of where he goes. (Unless the Rockies sign him, which won't be happening.) The team also failed in not signing at least one solid reliever when their bullpen is clearly the team's biggest weakness. With relievers like Jeremy Affeldt, Brandon Lyon and others signing for very reasonable deals, it's frustrating to see that the Twins haven't made a move yet.

Continue reading "A Failed Off-Season And Kubel's Extension"

Continue reading "Kentucky Derby Memories"

In seperate interviews today with Jocketty and Castellini both said that the shopping for the offseason is over, with at least one big hole left to be filled. The payroll is at the budget limit, and unless Obama can miraculously revive this economy before baseball season and the Reds sell out their stadium with season tickets, that budget ain't changing. With no other major free agent signings, and this budget supposedly in place since the fall, it makes me wonder if they really had any intentions of going after that left fielder at all? They did take on a little salary in Hernandez, but I don't think that was more than what they were expecting to take on for the catcher they wanted (and let me reiterate that I still think that was a bad trade: we picked up an overpaid mediocre catcher. I reserve the right to take back my comment should he have a career year and be that hitter we were looking for all along). Taveras also cost a little money, but again, they knew they were going to have to spend that money all along, and should have been planning on that as well.

Continue reading "I guess that's it then..."

One of the free agent names that is still looking for a job this season is 11 time gold glove winner Omar Vizquel. I started thinking if he would be a fit with the Reds and thought why not? Right now there's still uncertainty whether Gonzalez will be able to start the season healthy, and I'm just not sold on Hairston as an everyday shortstop right now. Vizquel played 92 games with the Giants last year, a part time role, and I think he could do the same very well in Cincinnati. Start the season as the everyday guy until Gonzalez gets back and then play the role of defensive replacement or fill in when Alex needs a day off (which might be good to have since he's coming off the injury). Basically he would be insurance...a very good defensive insurance. His hitting has gone down in recent years, but he was never known as a hitter to start with. He reminds me of someone we carried for a few years named Juan Castro, anyone remember him?

Continue reading "could another piece to the Reds puzzle be Vizquel?"

Speculation over at www.mlbtr.com (quickly becoming one of my favorite websites) has the top 20 free agents left and the most possible suitor for them. Included in the list was Bobby Abreu (easily in the top 20) coming to Cincinnati. Right away I was thinking "how would this work?" He's really not exactly what the team is looking for, or needs, but if you were going to pick from what's left he's gotta be looking pretty good. Not so many years ago he was considered a great player, and he's been putting up average numbers over the past couple years. I've never heard much about his defense but I don't think he'd be any worse than what we threw out there before. The only problem I can think of is that if signed then that would mean a middle of the lineup featuring Bruce, Votto, Abreu, and Philips. Signing him would not help with what we struggled with last year (left handed pitching) but would certainly make this team better. And I really don't see much else out there that have a chance of coming to the Reds that would improve the offense that much. MAYBE Ty Wiggington but I'm not convinced he would make the team that much better. Any thoughts on what else Abreu would bring to this lineup?

Continue reading "Bobby Abreu? coming to Cincinnati?"

For college football fans, the ultimate experience for each of us is a national championship for our team. To see players wearing the colors you cheer for every Saturday hold up ADT's crystallized football is the reason we get up early each Saturday to head to the tailgate. It is the reason we sit in a stadium filled with thousands of others like us, acting like raving lunatics.

Continue reading "Stafford and Moreno Leave Athens: ..."

http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/01/hairston_returning_to_reds.html 

It's being reported in the hot stove blog that the Reds have re-signed Jerry Hairston Jr. And from the first news coming out about the contract it sounds like a very good deal as well, only $2 million guaranteed, with up to $4 million in incentives. From what I was hearing it sounded like he would take no less than $4 million guaranteed. The article mentioned that he is expected to be the starting shortstop since Alex Gonzalez is scheduled to be out for another year (chalk that one up to a bad contract; we paid him two years to do nothing).

Continue reading "Hairston returns to Reds"

While reading columns about the Reds that I frequent (Hal McCoy's blog and the official Reds web site) I saw two articles about the same thing, the Reds moves this offseason. One was very negative (McCoy) while Mark Sheldon, writer for the Reds website, was looking at the positive side of things. To glance at the moves the Reds have made wouldn't shock anybody, even though I think they did sign some key players to fill needs. McCoy ( http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/cincinnatireds/) says that much more needs to be done, and that they haven't done enough to move out of 5th place. I hate to do it, but I'm gonna disagree with you here.

Continue reading "A look at the NL central"

In a story on ESPN.com this afternoon ( http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3807591) it was said that the Reds have expressed interest in Andruw jones. What?! I would have to seriously question the sanity of management if they made that deal. Yes, he is a right handed outfielder...but last year he hit .158 with 3 home runs and 14 RBI. Not to mention that he is overpaid. He made $14 million last year for those stats. $14 MILLION! He was set to make $15 million in 2009, but that deal was restructured to make him easier to move. He will still make that $15 million but it will be spread out over 6 seasons now. The Reds were mentioned as well as the Braves and Mets as having interest. He is a 10 time gold glover and would provide most likely provide some defense that is needed, but I think giving up anything at all for him is a mistake.

Continue reading "Andruw Jones rumors"

Yes, I know I'm late to the party with this one, writing about something that happened last week. But I figured I'd throw my two cents out there since the news about the financial details just came out today. It turns out thathe two year deal is only worth $6.25 million: $2.25 in 2009 and $4 million in 2010. If he does here what he is capable of doing then I think that's a pretty good signing.

Continue reading "Thoughts on the Willy Taveras signing"

I was just sitting here watching the Holiday bowl (I’m rooting for the Ducks by the way - Can’t get much more intimidating than that) and my mind drifted (as it sometimes does) to the Reds starting rotation for 2009. And the thought hit me: I’m not as nervous about the pitching as I have been in recent years. Now, in the era since I started following the Reds I’ve been introduced to the likes of Greg Vaughn, Dante Bichette, Ken Griffey Jr, and Adam Dunn, among other prolific hitters. Never in recent memory have the Reds had a pitching staff that is shaping up to be as good as what they have for 2009. I’m not saying that they will be as dominating as the Yankees look like they will be with CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett. But they will most definitely be better.

Continue reading "The starting 5"

Ok, so there really is no truth at all to the title. Walt Jocketty has even denied any interest in offering Sosa a contract. But a recent story this week ( http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3793001) made me think about all the "what-ifs." It's been no secret that the Reds have wanted to add a right handed bat in the outfield to the starting lineup this off season, preferably a power bat to replace Adam Dunn. Pat Burrell was the first name on the list, but it looks like he would be too expensive and in my opinion too much like Dunn. The strikeouts are lower, the average is higher, the defense is about the same, and the walks are lower: so it's not a carbon copy. But there was a reason the team traded Dunn, simply because that's not the kind of bat (or defense) we need. The deal with the White Sox for Jermaine Dye fell through, presumably because of the money. What other options are out there?

Continue reading "Sammy Sosa to the Reds?"

Maybe I'm just the average disgruntled sports fan of a team who has yet to win the big one, but I find that the reputation of the Colorado Rockies is a bit upsetting. Many teams can only dream of developing a superstar out of a previously unknown talent. However, it seems that the Colorado Rockies' best shot at another World Series is to win with a team full of average players that have alot of heart.

Continue reading "Colorado Rockies are not Saturday Night Live"

Oh boy, so much for trying to have a regularly updated Reds blog. Of course, as soon as I posted the first entry, I got sick and then a bunch of other stuff got in the way, but hey, I'm back for a reboot here. Let's try it again.

Continue reading "Restart and Why Taveras Is Not the Answer"

So how did last night’s Ravens-Redskins game measure up in terms of the 5 “keys” to success in ’08: