What's this baseball with offense?
With the Reds in New York, famous cartoonist Jerry Dowling, and I went to watch Louisville play Columbus in a battle between Ohio farm clubs.
Wes Bankston hit two home runs off Zach Jackson, who made one start for the Indians this season. He had a chance to tie the franchise record but grounded out in his last two at bats.
Bankston saw a lot of action from the fifth inning on during spring games in Sarasota but he turns 34 on July 26.
While Justin Lehr, who will be 32 on August 3rd, handcuffed the future Indians with four hits. The Clippers managed to bunch three of them to score three times but Lehr used a nasty change up to limit the Central Ohio club.
Lehr lost his previous start to the Indianapolis Indians after winning six straight. His 8 1/3 inning performance put him in position to win his 12th game of the season. He allowed five hits and walked one.
But Pedro Viola allowed a three-run ninth inning home run to Matt LaPorta that tied the game.
Chris Valaika singled home pinch runner Luis Bolivar to give the Bats its 50th win of the season. Jared Burton pitched two innings of relief for the win.
Chris Heisey, who was recently promoted to Louisville, hit a home run completely out of Slugger Field on Friday, according to Columbus Dispatch reporter, Jim Massey. Massey covered the Reds for eight seasons before being reassigned to the Clipper's beat.
Heisey went to St. Louis to play in the Futures game.
When he was promoted from Carolina, Heisey was leading the Southen League with a .347 batting average. Since he ascended to Louisville, Heisey is hitting .365 in 14 games with three home runs and 13 RBI. His home run on Friday gave him long balls in consecutive games.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
The Game Looks Easy But
Edwin Encarnacion found out the hard way. He had a broken wrist that put him out of action since April 28. It was the first time that he had an injury that kept him out of action for an extended period of time.
While he worked out with cardio exercises until he healed well enough to swing the bat, he was forced to watch his teammates from the dugout and on TV.
"The hardest thing was watching my teammates play. I found the game looks so easy from the bench or on TV. I can now understand why fans think everyone should be able to get a hit any time they want to," Encarnacion told reporters before the St. Louis Cardinals came off the mat to win 7-4 over the Reds.
Even the great Albert Pujols struggled until he was able to reach David Weathers for his fourth grand slam of the season and a record setting 10th of his career. Both were records held by Hall of Famer, Stan Musial.
Pujols was 0-for-3 until then.
Homer Bailey struck him out in the first inning with two runners on and no outs. After that Bailey made it look easy. Starting with Pujols, Bailey retired 12 straight batters until he hit Joe Thurston with a pitch in the fifth inning. He retired seven more in a row while his teammates constructed a modest 3-0 lead.
"Homer Bailey threw an unbelievable game," Pujols said. "He has electric stuff. He is going to be around for a long time."
Bailey tired after Cody Rasmus led off the ninth with the Cardinals third hit, a ground single to right. After getting Bredon Ryan to fly out. Bailey showed fatigue. His pitches to Skip Schumacher were all up as Bailey walked him.
The mostly reliable Arthur Rhodes was summoned to get one batter out, lefthanded hitting Chris Duncan.
Tony La Russa elected to send young Jarret Hoffpauir to the plate instead. Hoffpauir was called up from Memphis on Wednesday. The at bat marked his major league debut.
The rookie, who roomed with former Colerain High School star, Mike Ferris, was nervous.
"I had to get on base. We had the best hitter in baseball batting behind me," Hoffpauir said. "I told myself to settle down. I've done this before and I have, just not at this level."
Hoffpauir's walked agains the veteran Rhodes to set up the key match up in the game.
David Weathers, who is in 19th place with over 900 appearances, came on to try to get the hitter who has had the highest batting average, most home runs and RBI over the last 10 seasons.
Pujols was 9-for-18 against Weathers, lifetime with two home runs.
Weathers almost got the key out but a foul ball on a 2-2 pitch eluded Joey Votto and landed out of play.
Pujols eclipsed Musial on the next pitch making it look routine in a situation that was anything but.
The game even for Pujols is difficult and his manager when asked about the St. Louis fans by a national writer before the game said, "The fans in St. Louis understand how hard it is. They don't get upset when a player or manager gets beat. They won't tolerate less than your best effort but they know how to take a win and a loss the right way."
While he worked out with cardio exercises until he healed well enough to swing the bat, he was forced to watch his teammates from the dugout and on TV.
"The hardest thing was watching my teammates play. I found the game looks so easy from the bench or on TV. I can now understand why fans think everyone should be able to get a hit any time they want to," Encarnacion told reporters before the St. Louis Cardinals came off the mat to win 7-4 over the Reds.
Even the great Albert Pujols struggled until he was able to reach David Weathers for his fourth grand slam of the season and a record setting 10th of his career. Both were records held by Hall of Famer, Stan Musial.
Pujols was 0-for-3 until then.
Homer Bailey struck him out in the first inning with two runners on and no outs. After that Bailey made it look easy. Starting with Pujols, Bailey retired 12 straight batters until he hit Joe Thurston with a pitch in the fifth inning. He retired seven more in a row while his teammates constructed a modest 3-0 lead.
"Homer Bailey threw an unbelievable game," Pujols said. "He has electric stuff. He is going to be around for a long time."
Bailey tired after Cody Rasmus led off the ninth with the Cardinals third hit, a ground single to right. After getting Bredon Ryan to fly out. Bailey showed fatigue. His pitches to Skip Schumacher were all up as Bailey walked him.
The mostly reliable Arthur Rhodes was summoned to get one batter out, lefthanded hitting Chris Duncan.
Tony La Russa elected to send young Jarret Hoffpauir to the plate instead. Hoffpauir was called up from Memphis on Wednesday. The at bat marked his major league debut.
The rookie, who roomed with former Colerain High School star, Mike Ferris, was nervous.
"I had to get on base. We had the best hitter in baseball batting behind me," Hoffpauir said. "I told myself to settle down. I've done this before and I have, just not at this level."
Hoffpauir's walked agains the veteran Rhodes to set up the key match up in the game.
David Weathers, who is in 19th place with over 900 appearances, came on to try to get the hitter who has had the highest batting average, most home runs and RBI over the last 10 seasons.
Pujols was 9-for-18 against Weathers, lifetime with two home runs.
Weathers almost got the key out but a foul ball on a 2-2 pitch eluded Joey Votto and landed out of play.
Pujols eclipsed Musial on the next pitch making it look routine in a situation that was anything but.
The game even for Pujols is difficult and his manager when asked about the St. Louis fans by a national writer before the game said, "The fans in St. Louis understand how hard it is. They don't get upset when a player or manager gets beat. They won't tolerate less than your best effort but they know how to take a win and a loss the right way."
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Dusty Baker Holds the Reds Together
The Reds played Sunday with three quarters of its infield, off the field. Joey Votto, Alex Gonzalez, the most recent DL inhabitant, and Edwin Encarnacion, who began a rehab assignment in Louisville, are missing.
Brandon Phillips is the only opening day infielder left and he is nursing a broken thumb on his right hand.
Yet the Reds are just three games out of first place in the National League Central.
"I tell them to stay together," Baker said of his charges. "I asked Bill Russel (the former Boston Celtic) about staying together as a team. He said, 'be kind and generous to each other. The same to your family. To lead is to serve."
Baker was asked about how the Reds, who are also in an extended team slump manages to stay above the .500 mark. They haven't had a winning season since 2000, yet 67 games into the season they are above that break-even point. He was asked if he thought that the Reds would continue to hold their own.
"I don't know if it can keep going or not. You don't think about not going on. A champion surfer once told me when you're riding a wave, you just continue to ride it. If you think about falling off, you're going to fall off. We are just riding the wave. We're getting good pitching, pretty good defense, some timely hitting, our belief, positive thinking and everybody in our organization. Everybody we brought up has done something. Like last night (Wilkin) Castillo got a big hit. I told everybody in Spring Training. If we're going to win this thing, everybody is going to play. Stay ready."
"It works in every job in life. You pull for each other, no envy or jealousy. If you have a problem you get it over with right away."
After another frustrating, 4-1 loss in which Aaron Harang, "pitched well enough to win," according to Baker, the Reds manager fought frustration.
"There is an approach to driving in runs with men on base," said Baker, who admits hatred for losing. "It's June now and we're still doing the same things we've been doing in April. We have to find a way to drive in runs."
"I am not going to disagree with that," said Jerry Hairston Jr. a third generation major leaguer. "Whether you're a rookie or a 10-year veteran, you fight frustration and sometimes you try to do too much. All you can do is play hard and forget about the day before, no matter what happened. Everything is magnified when you lose. Last night the White Sox made three errors but they won and it is forgotten. Had they lost those errors would have been the reason."
Aaron Harang was not hit hard but the White Sox first three batters reached base. A.J. Pierzynski drove in a run with the third of those hits and a double-play allowed the second run to score. That run was enough to win because the Reds squandered the few scoring chances they had.
"I didn't feel I made bad pitches," Harang said. "They just hit it where we weren't. Last year I worried about that. I put way to much pressure on myself. Once I let the ball go its out of my control. I have to find a way to give us a chance to win."
Brandon Phillips is the only opening day infielder left and he is nursing a broken thumb on his right hand.
Yet the Reds are just three games out of first place in the National League Central.
"I tell them to stay together," Baker said of his charges. "I asked Bill Russel (the former Boston Celtic) about staying together as a team. He said, 'be kind and generous to each other. The same to your family. To lead is to serve."
Baker was asked about how the Reds, who are also in an extended team slump manages to stay above the .500 mark. They haven't had a winning season since 2000, yet 67 games into the season they are above that break-even point. He was asked if he thought that the Reds would continue to hold their own.
"I don't know if it can keep going or not. You don't think about not going on. A champion surfer once told me when you're riding a wave, you just continue to ride it. If you think about falling off, you're going to fall off. We are just riding the wave. We're getting good pitching, pretty good defense, some timely hitting, our belief, positive thinking and everybody in our organization. Everybody we brought up has done something. Like last night (Wilkin) Castillo got a big hit. I told everybody in Spring Training. If we're going to win this thing, everybody is going to play. Stay ready."
"It works in every job in life. You pull for each other, no envy or jealousy. If you have a problem you get it over with right away."
After another frustrating, 4-1 loss in which Aaron Harang, "pitched well enough to win," according to Baker, the Reds manager fought frustration.
"There is an approach to driving in runs with men on base," said Baker, who admits hatred for losing. "It's June now and we're still doing the same things we've been doing in April. We have to find a way to drive in runs."
"I am not going to disagree with that," said Jerry Hairston Jr. a third generation major leaguer. "Whether you're a rookie or a 10-year veteran, you fight frustration and sometimes you try to do too much. All you can do is play hard and forget about the day before, no matter what happened. Everything is magnified when you lose. Last night the White Sox made three errors but they won and it is forgotten. Had they lost those errors would have been the reason."
Aaron Harang was not hit hard but the White Sox first three batters reached base. A.J. Pierzynski drove in a run with the third of those hits and a double-play allowed the second run to score. That run was enough to win because the Reds squandered the few scoring chances they had.
"I didn't feel I made bad pitches," Harang said. "They just hit it where we weren't. Last year I worried about that. I put way to much pressure on myself. Once I let the ball go its out of my control. I have to find a way to give us a chance to win."
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Joey Votto on Rehab
Joey Votto played six innings at first base for the Sarasota Reds in Ed Smith Stadium tonight against the Clearwater Threshers.
Votto, who is suffering from stress caused by an inner ear infection that caused dizziness, walked in his first at bat, took a called strike three in his second at bat and fouled out in his third plate appearance.
He had several chances in the field, one was a nice play that turned a line drive into an inning ending double play.
The Florida State Leauge starts its all-star break this weekend.
Votto will participate in intra-squad games staged by the just forming Gulf Coast League Reds during the break.
Votto, who is suffering from stress caused by an inner ear infection that caused dizziness, walked in his first at bat, took a called strike three in his second at bat and fouled out in his third plate appearance.
He had several chances in the field, one was a nice play that turned a line drive into an inning ending double play.
The Florida State Leauge starts its all-star break this weekend.
Votto will participate in intra-squad games staged by the just forming Gulf Coast League Reds during the break.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Arroyo Mows Down the Astros in Record Time
Bronson Arroyo pitched like he had a guitar playing gig after the game.
He used just 92 pitches to throw a complete game in just 2 hours and eight minutes.
The Reds beat the Astros 6-1. The only batter he walked was the game's leadoff hitter, Michael Bourn. Bourn stole second base, advanced to third when Miguel Tejada ground out. He scored on a foul ball out down the leftfield line by Red killer Lance Berkman.
He scattered four singles and a double the rest of the way.
"I think I completed a game in under 100 pitches one other time," Arroyo said. "I was getting a lot of ground balls with my sinker. They were swinging a lot early in the count which helped out."
Arroyo found a way to get two guys out that have haunted him in the past, Berkman and Carlos Lee.
Berkman was 0-for-3 and Lee 0-for-4. Berkman started the game with a .317 average and five home runs in 41 at bats against Arroyo. Lee started the contest with a .355 average against the fair haired, hurler.
"I pitched them a little differently. It's a chess match with them. Tonight it worked out pretty well," Arroyo said.
Arroyo improved to 7-3 on the season and has won three of his last four starts. He has a decision in each of his 10 starts which is a modern marvel, and a rare occurence in major league baseball these days.
"That's really weird," Arroyo said.
The quick game gave Dusty Baker's bullpen a rest.
"Bronson made it look easy. He had it going on," Baker said. "I wanted to give the bullpen a rest and Bronson gave it to us. Everybody (in the bullpen) was in pretty good shape tonight. At least they said they were but I didn't think they were. We have the day off tomorrow, then we go into Milwaukee with a lot at stake."
The Reds trail the Cardinals by a game and a half. They meet in St. Louis Monday to start a four-game set. They trail Milwaukee by half a game and could come out ahead of the Brewers by winning the series.
They are six games over .500 for the second time this season.
He used just 92 pitches to throw a complete game in just 2 hours and eight minutes.
The Reds beat the Astros 6-1. The only batter he walked was the game's leadoff hitter, Michael Bourn. Bourn stole second base, advanced to third when Miguel Tejada ground out. He scored on a foul ball out down the leftfield line by Red killer Lance Berkman.
He scattered four singles and a double the rest of the way.
"I think I completed a game in under 100 pitches one other time," Arroyo said. "I was getting a lot of ground balls with my sinker. They were swinging a lot early in the count which helped out."
Arroyo found a way to get two guys out that have haunted him in the past, Berkman and Carlos Lee.
Berkman was 0-for-3 and Lee 0-for-4. Berkman started the game with a .317 average and five home runs in 41 at bats against Arroyo. Lee started the contest with a .355 average against the fair haired, hurler.
"I pitched them a little differently. It's a chess match with them. Tonight it worked out pretty well," Arroyo said.
Arroyo improved to 7-3 on the season and has won three of his last four starts. He has a decision in each of his 10 starts which is a modern marvel, and a rare occurence in major league baseball these days.
"That's really weird," Arroyo said.
The quick game gave Dusty Baker's bullpen a rest.
"Bronson made it look easy. He had it going on," Baker said. "I wanted to give the bullpen a rest and Bronson gave it to us. Everybody (in the bullpen) was in pretty good shape tonight. At least they said they were but I didn't think they were. We have the day off tomorrow, then we go into Milwaukee with a lot at stake."
The Reds trail the Cardinals by a game and a half. They meet in St. Louis Monday to start a four-game set. They trail Milwaukee by half a game and could come out ahead of the Brewers by winning the series.
They are six games over .500 for the second time this season.
Dr. Scald Prescribes Rest and Bruce Responds.
Jay Bruce would never ask for a day off. He expects to play every day.
Yet, Dusty Baker, who was knicknamed Dr. Skald by his old teammate Rick Monday, gave his struggling young star Monday off.
"It's crazy. I got antsy but mentally I feel it was good," Bruce said.
Baker saw the signs, the lack of focus, the impatience of the 22-year old slugger.
"It was a day off at the ballpark," Baker said. "He got to see the other guys hit. A day off away from the park, you get your rest but being around the other guys without the pressure helps. As long as the guy that replaces you does the job, its a good day off."
Bruce was recalled from Louisville a year ago today. He celebrated the anniversary with his 13th and 14th home runs and a triple, driving in four runs. His average rose to .241.
"I appreciate the day off," Bruce said. "We can go on the road with momentum. I'm excited about this team."
Yet, Dusty Baker, who was knicknamed Dr. Skald by his old teammate Rick Monday, gave his struggling young star Monday off.
"It's crazy. I got antsy but mentally I feel it was good," Bruce said.
Baker saw the signs, the lack of focus, the impatience of the 22-year old slugger.
"It was a day off at the ballpark," Baker said. "He got to see the other guys hit. A day off away from the park, you get your rest but being around the other guys without the pressure helps. As long as the guy that replaces you does the job, its a good day off."
Bruce was recalled from Louisville a year ago today. He celebrated the anniversary with his 13th and 14th home runs and a triple, driving in four runs. His average rose to .241.
"I appreciate the day off," Bruce said. "We can go on the road with momentum. I'm excited about this team."
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Right Side of Reds Infield Ailing
Earlier this month Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips the right side of the infield and the heart of the batting order went down on the same day with the flu.
The flu turned into a nightmare for Votto. Air travel combined to cause an inner ear infection, leading to dizziness. Phillips, however, returned to bump his batting average from .188 to .275. He leads the National League with 27 RBI for the month of April.
On Saturday both were in the lineup at the same time.
Votto had two home runs and four RBI in his first two at bats. But Phillips had to leave the game in the seventh inning. He took a ground ball off his right thumb, sustaining a hairline fracture.
He does not want to go on the disabled list. He wants to try to play in a couple days if his protected thumb allows him to swing the bat and throw. Wilkin Castillo was recalled as a back up when emergency starter, Homer Bailey was sent back to Louisville as planned.
When the lineups were posted Sunday, Votto's name was conspicuosly absent.
"Joey is still feeling some of the effects," Dusty Baker said. "We knew it wouldn't go away over night. He could pinch hit. We'll see."
The Reds thought they had survived the loss of its two hottest hitters when the flu ran its course. Less than a month later they have the same storm to weather.
"If we get through this stretch, we'll be great," Baker said. "It's not exactly how we planned it but it doesn't do any good to feel sorry for ourselves. We just have to keep playing."
The flu turned into a nightmare for Votto. Air travel combined to cause an inner ear infection, leading to dizziness. Phillips, however, returned to bump his batting average from .188 to .275. He leads the National League with 27 RBI for the month of April.
On Saturday both were in the lineup at the same time.
Votto had two home runs and four RBI in his first two at bats. But Phillips had to leave the game in the seventh inning. He took a ground ball off his right thumb, sustaining a hairline fracture.
He does not want to go on the disabled list. He wants to try to play in a couple days if his protected thumb allows him to swing the bat and throw. Wilkin Castillo was recalled as a back up when emergency starter, Homer Bailey was sent back to Louisville as planned.
When the lineups were posted Sunday, Votto's name was conspicuosly absent.
"Joey is still feeling some of the effects," Dusty Baker said. "We knew it wouldn't go away over night. He could pinch hit. We'll see."
The Reds thought they had survived the loss of its two hottest hitters when the flu ran its course. Less than a month later they have the same storm to weather.
"If we get through this stretch, we'll be great," Baker said. "It's not exactly how we planned it but it doesn't do any good to feel sorry for ourselves. We just have to keep playing."
Saturday, May 23, 2009
And The Not So Funny
After so long in the press box, I realized that I'm a fish out of water in the stands now.
I have trained myself not to cheer. It is frowned upon.
On Wednesday, I'm in the stands at the Reds game with Philadelphia. I am oblivious to the fans in the row in front of me. I was discussing Tony LaRusa to a man to my left, who I had never met. He found out that I have been in major league clubhouses and occasionally hear things that give insight but are off the record.
One major league manager blurted out an unsolicited, unflattering opinion of LaRusa using the f-word twice. I told the man next to me the story, unedited.
I don't use that type of language often. I will to add color to a story, among friends and strangers as long as it adds to the story. But I don't cuss just to cuss. I try very hard to communicate without unnecessary shock value.
A fan in front of me, who was not and should not been involved in the conversation jumped all over me. He was offended and I believe used his five-year old grandson, who had a hot dog on his mind and not anything I said.
It was the way he immediately jumped me that pissed me off. I would have felt bad if the kid heard me but he didn't. I was not going to let some yahoo, who had no right to involve himself in my private conversation.
I unpolitely told him to mind his own business and butt the H out of my private conversation.
It is not my intent to offend people but I do not worry about the sensibility of others when I am not directing my speach to them.
I believe in free speech. I believe that there is far too much censorship. Words no matter how vulgar the meaning have never hurt anyone, unless the "victim" allowed it. I even hold the contention that even the youngest children are not harmed by hearing foul language. I believe that they should not be sheltered. I believe parents should teach their children that these words exist and how to react reasonably.
The eight o'clock moral TV standard is one of the reasons that this country is becoming too soft, too sensitive for its own good.
So now I've said it. Deal with it.
I have trained myself not to cheer. It is frowned upon.
On Wednesday, I'm in the stands at the Reds game with Philadelphia. I am oblivious to the fans in the row in front of me. I was discussing Tony LaRusa to a man to my left, who I had never met. He found out that I have been in major league clubhouses and occasionally hear things that give insight but are off the record.
One major league manager blurted out an unsolicited, unflattering opinion of LaRusa using the f-word twice. I told the man next to me the story, unedited.
I don't use that type of language often. I will to add color to a story, among friends and strangers as long as it adds to the story. But I don't cuss just to cuss. I try very hard to communicate without unnecessary shock value.
A fan in front of me, who was not and should not been involved in the conversation jumped all over me. He was offended and I believe used his five-year old grandson, who had a hot dog on his mind and not anything I said.
It was the way he immediately jumped me that pissed me off. I would have felt bad if the kid heard me but he didn't. I was not going to let some yahoo, who had no right to involve himself in my private conversation.
I unpolitely told him to mind his own business and butt the H out of my private conversation.
It is not my intent to offend people but I do not worry about the sensibility of others when I am not directing my speach to them.
I believe in free speech. I believe that there is far too much censorship. Words no matter how vulgar the meaning have never hurt anyone, unless the "victim" allowed it. I even hold the contention that even the youngest children are not harmed by hearing foul language. I believe that they should not be sheltered. I believe parents should teach their children that these words exist and how to react reasonably.
The eight o'clock moral TV standard is one of the reasons that this country is becoming too soft, too sensitive for its own good.
So now I've said it. Deal with it.
Fans Say the Funniest Things
Since 1992, I have covered thousands of MLB baseball games as well as hundreds of NFL games, a couple NBA and NHL games, lots of college and high school games. I've worked ABL pro-basketball, professional indoor soccer if anyone remembers the Cincinnati Silverbacks.
The stories I like the best are some that don't get into the paper. When I was younger and didn't really understand the nuances of the game, I could name all sorts of statistical records. I was the nerdy little kid with glasses, who could tell you Johnny Temple's batting and fielding average.
As I grew older, my enjoyment of sports shifted from the statistical to the human interest. I enjoy the locker room humor and the stories that give insight to the personalities of the participants.
Lately, my professional participation has slumped along with the economy. The news media has been forced to cut back coverage at a time when more and more people have the ability to publish their insights, like I'm doing on this blog.
Last year was the first season in which I did not cover all of the Reds home games. I sat in the stands with my lovely girlfriend for the first time in close to 20 years. Normally, I prefer to watch games at home but living alone, I occasionally like to watch at a sports bar.
I was not assigned to the Reds, Friday night contest in the cross state series between Cleveland and Cincinnati. I went to a neighborhood establishment to watch the last five innings. I intentionally picked one that I did not go to on a regular basis so that I could watch and not get sucked into a lengthy bar conversation, yet there were people around.
The thing that I have noticed from sitting in the stands and going out to watch on TV with a crowd is the commentary. It is the perfect example how a little bit of knowledge is so totally depleted of fact.
Cincinnati had runners on second and third with one out in a tie game. Pitcher Bronson Arroyo was the batter. Arroyo, would not be a superstarter hitter, but he does have a clue. He can get the occasional hit and is a decent bunter.
The Cleveland pitcher threw a pitch out of the strike zone, then Arroyo attempted a squeeze bunt but it rolled foul. The next two pitches were out of the strikezone. The Indians played the infield in to choke of the run and prevent a weak ground ball from giving the Reds a lead.
With a 3-1 count, Arroyo fouled off the next pitch. The local barstool manager, threw up his arms and yelled to Dusty Baker as if he could be heard through the bar's wide screen. "Why didn't he have the pitcher take that pitch?" the fan demanded. Not knowing the full background of Arroyo's and his relative ability as a hitter, it seemed like the logical strategy. I bit my tongue as the other bar flies agreed.
Major League managers do not micromanage pitch-by-pitch. They let the players make the in game decisions much more often than not. Players would not want to play for a manager that would constantly flash a take sign. It would be foolish to do so. Players in the batters box really have to be on their own. Do they make mistakes? Of course. The game is much harder than it looks from the press box and broadcast booth. I consider Thom Brennaman a horrible broadcaster. He should stick to play by play and save his less than knowledgeable opinion.
You have to let the player make the instantaneous decisions. They become professionals by their ability. The reason they go through several years of minor league play is to learn how to make the thousands of in-game decisions. Why try to dictate their movements when sitting dozens of rows in the stands. It makes no sense.
Arroyo eventually popped up. The fan blamed Dusty Baker, who did nothing wrong at all. It was so unfair but again I let it slide untill............
The Indians put runners on first and third with one out. Arroyo threw the next pitch and the Cleveland hitter bounced into a double play.
I jumped up, pumped my fist and said, "That's the way Dusty," in front of the bar full of strangers, who did not know my background.
The original "expert" looked at me with surprise. "What did Dusty do," he wondered out loud.
"He gave Arroyo the signal to throw the pitch that got the double play," I explained.
"Dusty didn't do anything," he countered.
"If you're going to blame him for Arroyo's at bat, you have to give him credit for Arroyo's pitch," I told him.
They got the point. We all had a laugh but it is true. Fans tend to blame the manager for strategies that they assume and rarely happen on the field.
The same crowd. The same game. Adam Rosales came to bat with a runner in scoring position.
The TV graphic was on the screen with the acronym RISP Runners in scoring position to show Rosales average in those situations.
"Why would anyone name their kid Risp," the fan asked in all seriousness.
I let the bar expert explain as I laughed out loud.
The stories I like the best are some that don't get into the paper. When I was younger and didn't really understand the nuances of the game, I could name all sorts of statistical records. I was the nerdy little kid with glasses, who could tell you Johnny Temple's batting and fielding average.
As I grew older, my enjoyment of sports shifted from the statistical to the human interest. I enjoy the locker room humor and the stories that give insight to the personalities of the participants.
Lately, my professional participation has slumped along with the economy. The news media has been forced to cut back coverage at a time when more and more people have the ability to publish their insights, like I'm doing on this blog.
Last year was the first season in which I did not cover all of the Reds home games. I sat in the stands with my lovely girlfriend for the first time in close to 20 years. Normally, I prefer to watch games at home but living alone, I occasionally like to watch at a sports bar.
I was not assigned to the Reds, Friday night contest in the cross state series between Cleveland and Cincinnati. I went to a neighborhood establishment to watch the last five innings. I intentionally picked one that I did not go to on a regular basis so that I could watch and not get sucked into a lengthy bar conversation, yet there were people around.
The thing that I have noticed from sitting in the stands and going out to watch on TV with a crowd is the commentary. It is the perfect example how a little bit of knowledge is so totally depleted of fact.
Cincinnati had runners on second and third with one out in a tie game. Pitcher Bronson Arroyo was the batter. Arroyo, would not be a superstarter hitter, but he does have a clue. He can get the occasional hit and is a decent bunter.
The Cleveland pitcher threw a pitch out of the strike zone, then Arroyo attempted a squeeze bunt but it rolled foul. The next two pitches were out of the strikezone. The Indians played the infield in to choke of the run and prevent a weak ground ball from giving the Reds a lead.
With a 3-1 count, Arroyo fouled off the next pitch. The local barstool manager, threw up his arms and yelled to Dusty Baker as if he could be heard through the bar's wide screen. "Why didn't he have the pitcher take that pitch?" the fan demanded. Not knowing the full background of Arroyo's and his relative ability as a hitter, it seemed like the logical strategy. I bit my tongue as the other bar flies agreed.
Major League managers do not micromanage pitch-by-pitch. They let the players make the in game decisions much more often than not. Players would not want to play for a manager that would constantly flash a take sign. It would be foolish to do so. Players in the batters box really have to be on their own. Do they make mistakes? Of course. The game is much harder than it looks from the press box and broadcast booth. I consider Thom Brennaman a horrible broadcaster. He should stick to play by play and save his less than knowledgeable opinion.
You have to let the player make the instantaneous decisions. They become professionals by their ability. The reason they go through several years of minor league play is to learn how to make the thousands of in-game decisions. Why try to dictate their movements when sitting dozens of rows in the stands. It makes no sense.
Arroyo eventually popped up. The fan blamed Dusty Baker, who did nothing wrong at all. It was so unfair but again I let it slide untill............
The Indians put runners on first and third with one out. Arroyo threw the next pitch and the Cleveland hitter bounced into a double play.
I jumped up, pumped my fist and said, "That's the way Dusty," in front of the bar full of strangers, who did not know my background.
The original "expert" looked at me with surprise. "What did Dusty do," he wondered out loud.
"He gave Arroyo the signal to throw the pitch that got the double play," I explained.
"Dusty didn't do anything," he countered.
"If you're going to blame him for Arroyo's at bat, you have to give him credit for Arroyo's pitch," I told him.
They got the point. We all had a laugh but it is true. Fans tend to blame the manager for strategies that they assume and rarely happen on the field.
The same crowd. The same game. Adam Rosales came to bat with a runner in scoring position.
The TV graphic was on the screen with the acronym RISP Runners in scoring position to show Rosales average in those situations.
"Why would anyone name their kid Risp," the fan asked in all seriousness.
I let the bar expert explain as I laughed out loud.
Homer Bailey Makes His First Major League Start of the Season
Edinson Volquez tried to take a flight of steps two at a time for some unknown reason. The conditioned professional athlete felt a twinge in his back and made an early exit from his last start.
Efforts to treat the injury to allow "Two Step" Volquez to make his scheduled start against the Cleveland Indians were unsuccessful.
The Reds called up its prized pitching prospect, Homer Bailey to start Saturday against the Indians. Ironically, Bailey made his first career start against the Tribe on June 8, 2007. He recorded a victory in a 4-3 Reds triumph.
Bailey, who is still only 23-years old, pitched well this spring, nearly winning a spot in the rotation that eventually was assigned to the more seasoned, Micah Owings.
Bailey returned to Louisville and had a couple rough starts but rallied to put together a streak of six starts in which he pitched at least six innings. Four were quality starts under MLB scoring criteria.
His record in Louisville was 3-5 with a 4.57 earned run average. In his last start Monday, Bailey was the losing pitcher in a 2-0 loss to Norfolk in a double-header seven inning game. Bailey got a complete game by working six innings as the visiting starter.
The highlight of the season for Bailey was a 15 strikeout performance against the Toledo Mud Hens on April 26.
Bailey had control problems and appeared to have problems communicating with catcher Ramon Hernandez. He walked the leadoff hitter, Asdrubal Cabrera, to open the game. He escaped in part because shortstop Alex Gonzalez ran down a pop up down the leftfield line off the bat of Grady Sizemore. That is the kind of defensive support that pitchers do not get at the Triple AAA level. Many times a pitcher's Triple A ERA is inflated when they come to the Major Leagues.
Bailey fanned Victor Martinez, who was hitting .391 as he stepped to the plate. Cabrera was gunned down trying to steal by Ramon Hernandez to end the inning.
The second inning was not so forgiving.
Joey Votto hit a home run to stake the Reds to a single-run lead but Bailey couldn't hold it. Shin-Soo Choo walked to open the inning and Mark DeRosa hit his seventh home run to put the Indians on top. Matt LaPorta singled. Jamey Carrol walked one out later. Opposing pitcher, David Huff bunted the runners along. Cabrera's two out single scored the runners, leaving the Reds trailing 4-1.
Votto's second home run of the game capped a five-run second half by Cincinnati and Bailey was handed a two-run lead.
He blanked the Indians in the third and fourth but lost control in the fifth. He walked Cabrera, Sizemore and Choo around a fly out by Martinez.
Baker took out the young prospect with the bases loaded, two out shy of the requisite five innings needed to qualify for a win.
His replacement, Jared Burton, allowed a game-tying single to left by DeRosa, both runs charged to Bailey.
He finished with 4 1/3 innings. He only gave up three hits but walked a career-high six and allowed six runs that tied a career-high.
Efforts to treat the injury to allow "Two Step" Volquez to make his scheduled start against the Cleveland Indians were unsuccessful.
The Reds called up its prized pitching prospect, Homer Bailey to start Saturday against the Indians. Ironically, Bailey made his first career start against the Tribe on June 8, 2007. He recorded a victory in a 4-3 Reds triumph.
Bailey, who is still only 23-years old, pitched well this spring, nearly winning a spot in the rotation that eventually was assigned to the more seasoned, Micah Owings.
Bailey returned to Louisville and had a couple rough starts but rallied to put together a streak of six starts in which he pitched at least six innings. Four were quality starts under MLB scoring criteria.
His record in Louisville was 3-5 with a 4.57 earned run average. In his last start Monday, Bailey was the losing pitcher in a 2-0 loss to Norfolk in a double-header seven inning game. Bailey got a complete game by working six innings as the visiting starter.
The highlight of the season for Bailey was a 15 strikeout performance against the Toledo Mud Hens on April 26.
Bailey had control problems and appeared to have problems communicating with catcher Ramon Hernandez. He walked the leadoff hitter, Asdrubal Cabrera, to open the game. He escaped in part because shortstop Alex Gonzalez ran down a pop up down the leftfield line off the bat of Grady Sizemore. That is the kind of defensive support that pitchers do not get at the Triple AAA level. Many times a pitcher's Triple A ERA is inflated when they come to the Major Leagues.
Bailey fanned Victor Martinez, who was hitting .391 as he stepped to the plate. Cabrera was gunned down trying to steal by Ramon Hernandez to end the inning.
The second inning was not so forgiving.
Joey Votto hit a home run to stake the Reds to a single-run lead but Bailey couldn't hold it. Shin-Soo Choo walked to open the inning and Mark DeRosa hit his seventh home run to put the Indians on top. Matt LaPorta singled. Jamey Carrol walked one out later. Opposing pitcher, David Huff bunted the runners along. Cabrera's two out single scored the runners, leaving the Reds trailing 4-1.
Votto's second home run of the game capped a five-run second half by Cincinnati and Bailey was handed a two-run lead.
He blanked the Indians in the third and fourth but lost control in the fifth. He walked Cabrera, Sizemore and Choo around a fly out by Martinez.
Baker took out the young prospect with the bases loaded, two out shy of the requisite five innings needed to qualify for a win.
His replacement, Jared Burton, allowed a game-tying single to left by DeRosa, both runs charged to Bailey.
He finished with 4 1/3 innings. He only gave up three hits but walked a career-high six and allowed six runs that tied a career-high.
Votto Returns Ends Apprehension
Joey Votto was described by Dusty Baker as the Reds answer to Baker's old Dodger teammate, Steve Garvey. Garvey played every Dodger game from 1976 through 1980.
Not only does the soft spoken Votto have movie star looks like Garvey. Votto played every inning of every Reds game of the Reds first 27 contests. "Joey Votto's a man," Baker said at the time.
Then the flu bug bit him and he missed four games with a nasty case.
He came back as part of a double switch but thes Reds subequent road trip, he became dizzy in a start at Arizona and had to leave the game. He played one game in San Diego on the next leg of the road trip but last Saturday, was removed after getting dizzy on the field.
Extensive test revealed that the pressure from the airline trips combined with the flu caused an severe inner ear infectioned that caused the dizziness.
After the relief that nothing exotic was causing the problem, Votto needed a couple of days to get back into playing condition by taking ground balls and batting practice.
His name was on the lineup sheet Saturday against the Indians.
"I felt great yesterday," Votto said before his return. "The tough part will be playing the entire game. The last time I played I have to leave. I'm worried about it happening again but once I've had a few games in a row and play nine innings, that will go away."
The apprehension at least over the effect the illness would have on performance was erased on a 3-2 pitch from Indian's starter David Huff. Votto drilled it into the stands in left center. In his next at bat he hit a long home run to right, giving him four RBI in the first two at bats in his comeback. It is his third multi-home run game of his career.
In the field he made a nice backhanded stop on a hard ground ball by Victor Martinez.
Not only does the soft spoken Votto have movie star looks like Garvey. Votto played every inning of every Reds game of the Reds first 27 contests. "Joey Votto's a man," Baker said at the time.
Then the flu bug bit him and he missed four games with a nasty case.
He came back as part of a double switch but thes Reds subequent road trip, he became dizzy in a start at Arizona and had to leave the game. He played one game in San Diego on the next leg of the road trip but last Saturday, was removed after getting dizzy on the field.
Extensive test revealed that the pressure from the airline trips combined with the flu caused an severe inner ear infectioned that caused the dizziness.
After the relief that nothing exotic was causing the problem, Votto needed a couple of days to get back into playing condition by taking ground balls and batting practice.
His name was on the lineup sheet Saturday against the Indians.
"I felt great yesterday," Votto said before his return. "The tough part will be playing the entire game. The last time I played I have to leave. I'm worried about it happening again but once I've had a few games in a row and play nine innings, that will go away."
The apprehension at least over the effect the illness would have on performance was erased on a 3-2 pitch from Indian's starter David Huff. Votto drilled it into the stands in left center. In his next at bat he hit a long home run to right, giving him four RBI in the first two at bats in his comeback. It is his third multi-home run game of his career.
In the field he made a nice backhanded stop on a hard ground ball by Victor Martinez.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Pete Rosales
Adam Rosales does nothing at half speed. He sprints to his position. He sprints off the field. He sprints to firstbase on a walk. He sprints to the bathroom to merely brush his teeth, not to heed nature's call. He runs to get into position to run.
He extended the Reds five run rally on Saturday by beating a throw to first on a force play. Cincinnati benefited by scoring two more runs.
In the second inning on Sunday, he beat a double play relay. The Reds didn't score that inning but they cleared the pitchers spot in the order, allowing the top of the lineup to start a tw0-run third inning, in which Jay Bruce cut a 4-1 deficit to 4-3 with his 10th home run.
Rosales earned the nickname "Pete" after the hustling style of Pete Rose, still an icon in Cincinnati in spite of his famous fall from grace.
In one spring training game in March against the Twins in Ft. Myers. Rosales came to the plate with the Reds trailing by four runs, with two outs and the bases empty. He clubbed a line drive into the gap for what appeared to be a double but as we looked up after the ball landed, Rosales was already half way between second and thirdbase.
In the fourth inning Sunday Rosales hit his first major league home run in to the leftfield stands and sprinted around the bases, full speed ahead. The joke in the press box was that one day he would be in the dugout before the ball landed in the stands. He would get knocked down for watching his home run, except he'd be watching from the dugout.
He extended the Reds five run rally on Saturday by beating a throw to first on a force play. Cincinnati benefited by scoring two more runs.
In the second inning on Sunday, he beat a double play relay. The Reds didn't score that inning but they cleared the pitchers spot in the order, allowing the top of the lineup to start a tw0-run third inning, in which Jay Bruce cut a 4-1 deficit to 4-3 with his 10th home run.
Rosales earned the nickname "Pete" after the hustling style of Pete Rose, still an icon in Cincinnati in spite of his famous fall from grace.
In one spring training game in March against the Twins in Ft. Myers. Rosales came to the plate with the Reds trailing by four runs, with two outs and the bases empty. He clubbed a line drive into the gap for what appeared to be a double but as we looked up after the ball landed, Rosales was already half way between second and thirdbase.
In the fourth inning Sunday Rosales hit his first major league home run in to the leftfield stands and sprinted around the bases, full speed ahead. The joke in the press box was that one day he would be in the dugout before the ball landed in the stands. He would get knocked down for watching his home run, except he'd be watching from the dugout.
Joey Pipp Votto
Joey Votto is healthy enough to play after missing three games with the flu, yet he was not in the starting lineup Sunday. Ramon Hernandez, who is the starting catcher, has been subbing at firstbase. Ryan Hanigan, the backup catcher, has been behind the plate in Votto's absence.
Far from the famous Wally Pipp scenario in which Pipp missed a game with a hangover, a young Lou Gehrig took over for the next 2,000 plus games, the Reds have played so well in Votto's absence that manager Dusty Baker gave him another day off. The Reds won all three of his missed starts coming into Sunday.
"He's close. He's real close. If we weren't playing so well, he'd be in," Baker said. "This way he can get his strength back. It will be great weather where we're going (Arizona). We added up everything."
"He is such a team guy. I talked to him too he said, 'yeah we're going to good.' He said he would have felt bad if he played and we lost. He asked 'what if we win tonight' I said you're playing Monday," Baker said.
Hernandez, while not dazzling, held his own at firstbase. He also contributed four hits in nine at bats. Hanigan threw out a runner attempting a steal in a key moment on Friday night. He also contributed two hits in the win over the Cardinals on Friday.
And as often happens with pregame plans in baseball. Votto entered the game Sunday in the seventh inning on a double switch with Hernandez replacing Hanigan, who made the last out of the sixth, at catcher.
Leading off the bottom of the seventh against Kyle McClellan, Votto declared himself fit with his fourth home run of the season to the leftfield, no less.
Far from the famous Wally Pipp scenario in which Pipp missed a game with a hangover, a young Lou Gehrig took over for the next 2,000 plus games, the Reds have played so well in Votto's absence that manager Dusty Baker gave him another day off. The Reds won all three of his missed starts coming into Sunday.
"He's close. He's real close. If we weren't playing so well, he'd be in," Baker said. "This way he can get his strength back. It will be great weather where we're going (Arizona). We added up everything."
"He is such a team guy. I talked to him too he said, 'yeah we're going to good.' He said he would have felt bad if he played and we lost. He asked 'what if we win tonight' I said you're playing Monday," Baker said.
Hernandez, while not dazzling, held his own at firstbase. He also contributed four hits in nine at bats. Hanigan threw out a runner attempting a steal in a key moment on Friday night. He also contributed two hits in the win over the Cardinals on Friday.
And as often happens with pregame plans in baseball. Votto entered the game Sunday in the seventh inning on a double switch with Hernandez replacing Hanigan, who made the last out of the sixth, at catcher.
Leading off the bottom of the seventh against Kyle McClellan, Votto declared himself fit with his fourth home run of the season to the leftfield, no less.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Happy Birthday Harang
Aaron Harang gave himself a present on his 31st birthday. He pitched his way to an 8-3 victory over the division leading St. Louis Cardinals.
Harang has been the victim of non-support over the last two years losing or levied no decision in well pitched games because the Reds hitters couldn't score runs. To that end Harang also gift wrapped a two-out, two-run single in the Reds decisive five-run fifth that broke the 2-2 tie.
"Im happy we got some runs for him," Dusty Baker said. "He made just one mistake to Ryan Ludwick. The pitch was supposed to be farther inside."
Ludwick's two-run home run in the third matched Jay Bruce's two-run first inning home run. It was the eighth home run of the season for Ludwick and the ninth for Bruce.
"I'm more happy with the way I pitched with that (Cardinals) lineup," Harang said. "On the hit I was just trying to put the ball in play and make something happen."
To navigate that lineup, Harang had to face Albert Pujols four times with a total of five runners on base. Pujols had whopping .364 career batting average against Cincinnati with 35 home runs and 102 RBI coming into the game Saturday despite an 0-for-4 evening on Friday night. Harang had more success against Pujols with a .304 average and two home runs.
"I just went after him," said Harang, who hung Pujols with his second straight 0-for-4. The last two games are the only two that Pujols has not reached base at least once this season. "Great hitters like him feed off the timidness of pitchers that try to pitch around him."
The larger-than-normal bobblehead crowd let out a loud cheer if not a relieved exhale when Pujols fouled out to catcher Ryan Hanigan on the first pitch to him in the seventh inning. Visions of a 7-6 game swirled in the head of Dusty Baker
"I don't want to do that again," Baker said. "You don't want to mess with Albert."
The Reds have won three games in a row, missing its entire starting infield until Brandon Phillips returned from a battle with the flu. Joey Votto is still out with the same malady, even though they Reds gave away bobbleheads with his likeness that drew 40,651 to the park.
"I'm happy the team was winning without me and Joey," said Phillips, who contributed two hits to the cause. "It was fun playing in front of the big crowd. I thank Joey for his bobblehead. We get to show the fans that we have a good team. It was like the Field of Dreams. Win and they will come."
Baker also liked the crowd and the energy that they showed.
"We had over 9,000 walkups," Baker said. "It shows we have some buzz going in this town."
Harang has been the victim of non-support over the last two years losing or levied no decision in well pitched games because the Reds hitters couldn't score runs. To that end Harang also gift wrapped a two-out, two-run single in the Reds decisive five-run fifth that broke the 2-2 tie.
"Im happy we got some runs for him," Dusty Baker said. "He made just one mistake to Ryan Ludwick. The pitch was supposed to be farther inside."
Ludwick's two-run home run in the third matched Jay Bruce's two-run first inning home run. It was the eighth home run of the season for Ludwick and the ninth for Bruce.
"I'm more happy with the way I pitched with that (Cardinals) lineup," Harang said. "On the hit I was just trying to put the ball in play and make something happen."
To navigate that lineup, Harang had to face Albert Pujols four times with a total of five runners on base. Pujols had whopping .364 career batting average against Cincinnati with 35 home runs and 102 RBI coming into the game Saturday despite an 0-for-4 evening on Friday night. Harang had more success against Pujols with a .304 average and two home runs.
"I just went after him," said Harang, who hung Pujols with his second straight 0-for-4. The last two games are the only two that Pujols has not reached base at least once this season. "Great hitters like him feed off the timidness of pitchers that try to pitch around him."
The larger-than-normal bobblehead crowd let out a loud cheer if not a relieved exhale when Pujols fouled out to catcher Ryan Hanigan on the first pitch to him in the seventh inning. Visions of a 7-6 game swirled in the head of Dusty Baker
"I don't want to do that again," Baker said. "You don't want to mess with Albert."
The Reds have won three games in a row, missing its entire starting infield until Brandon Phillips returned from a battle with the flu. Joey Votto is still out with the same malady, even though they Reds gave away bobbleheads with his likeness that drew 40,651 to the park.
"I'm happy the team was winning without me and Joey," said Phillips, who contributed two hits to the cause. "It was fun playing in front of the big crowd. I thank Joey for his bobblehead. We get to show the fans that we have a good team. It was like the Field of Dreams. Win and they will come."
Baker also liked the crowd and the energy that they showed.
"We had over 9,000 walkups," Baker said. "It shows we have some buzz going in this town."
Six Pack Abs
Kyle Lohse was the Cardinals starting pitcher, a former Red. His old friends roughed him up with five runs in the fifth inning, including a run scoring single by opposing pitcher Aaron Harang. Harang lost 25 pounds since he last faced the Cardinals.
Denis Reyes, who Jack McKeon called "Big Sweat", came by and said hello. Reyes is a big man with a pot belly and a physique that would never tip off that he is a professional athlete. Besides that he is missing a rib on one side. When he walks away from you it looks like he is leaning to his right.
When he was with the Reds at the end of one spring training, the players sign up to have their cars trucked back to Cincinnati. A list with the players names and make of cars are listed. One spring pitcher/jokester, Pete Harnisch wrote Reyes' name on the list and put down burro for his mode of transportation.
The writer of this blog went to the Orange Bowl game to watch the University of Cincinnati play on January 1st. On the flight to West Palm Beach, he couldn't get the seat belt around his ample hips and belly. That prompted him to drop close to 70 pounds since.
Jason LaRue the former Red catcher came up to him and said. "Dude you've gone from half barrel abs to six pack abs."
LaRue exaggerated some. It is more like 12 pack abs but a couple of rounds away from being six pack abs. The dude desires to be cut when his girlfriend comes to town.
It is rare that a baseball player will notice the physical appearance of another person. They are pretty narcissistic as a rule. And rarely one involving the shape of a writer, since they around hard bodies most of the time and consider that the norm.
LaRue himself has changed appearance from his clean cut Reds days. His hair is longer and he has more facial hair than he's ever had. He wore a bandana on his head and looks like he should be playing for the Pirates.
Denis Reyes, who Jack McKeon called "Big Sweat", came by and said hello. Reyes is a big man with a pot belly and a physique that would never tip off that he is a professional athlete. Besides that he is missing a rib on one side. When he walks away from you it looks like he is leaning to his right.
When he was with the Reds at the end of one spring training, the players sign up to have their cars trucked back to Cincinnati. A list with the players names and make of cars are listed. One spring pitcher/jokester, Pete Harnisch wrote Reyes' name on the list and put down burro for his mode of transportation.
The writer of this blog went to the Orange Bowl game to watch the University of Cincinnati play on January 1st. On the flight to West Palm Beach, he couldn't get the seat belt around his ample hips and belly. That prompted him to drop close to 70 pounds since.
Jason LaRue the former Red catcher came up to him and said. "Dude you've gone from half barrel abs to six pack abs."
LaRue exaggerated some. It is more like 12 pack abs but a couple of rounds away from being six pack abs. The dude desires to be cut when his girlfriend comes to town.
It is rare that a baseball player will notice the physical appearance of another person. They are pretty narcissistic as a rule. And rarely one involving the shape of a writer, since they around hard bodies most of the time and consider that the norm.
LaRue himself has changed appearance from his clean cut Reds days. His hair is longer and he has more facial hair than he's ever had. He wore a bandana on his head and looks like he should be playing for the Pirates.
Reds Nearly Healthy
Brandon Phillips recovered from the flu but the malady kept Joey Votto sidelined. The possibility exists that he could make a pinch hit appearance on his "bobblehead" night. The bobblehead did not come with a mask.
"Tonight its possible he could pinch hit. Last night there was no chance," Dusty Baker said before batting practice on Saturday. Votto took some swings in the cage.
"He is past the incubation period," Baker said. "So he won't spread around the clubhouse or relapse himself.
"Tonight its possible he could pinch hit. Last night there was no chance," Dusty Baker said before batting practice on Saturday. Votto took some swings in the cage.
"He is past the incubation period," Baker said. "So he won't spread around the clubhouse or relapse himself.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
May Day Owings Pitches Reds to 6-5 Win
Micah Owings is barely old enough to remember Sam "May Day" Malone the character from the 25 year old sitcom Cheers but the Cincinnati Reds sent out an SOS.
Dusty used Paul Janish as a pitcher last night in the Reds 15-3 defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers last night. Janish, who is subbing for Alex Gonzalez and his sore oblique muscle, was sore due to the one-inning stint that saved Dusty Baker's bullpen an inning.
He was supposed to rest his shoulder but a non-swine variety of the flu wiped out the right side of the Reds infield. Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips the third and fourth hitters in the lineup were sick. Baker has to wait to see if they are well enough to be in the lineup.
Catcher, Ramon Hernandez played first with Ryan Hanigan behind the plate. Votto had played every inning of the Reds first 27 games. With the two catchers in the lineup and arguably two pitcher, albeit Janish had just one career inning, the Reds had a spare battery right in the lineup.
Owings had to pick up not only some big time slack for a pitching staff that needed innings from its starter but he also had to provide some offense.
"It was crazy," Owings said.
"The bullpen was upside down," Baker said. "The lineup was upside down too. The guys came through."
Jerry Hairston played secondbase and turned double plays started by Janish in the second and third innings. But after Cincinnati built a three-run lead, he dropped a potential double play ball that helped the Brewers load the bases. Prince Fielder unloaded them with a double.
"If they had turned that Micah might not have given up anything," Baker said.
That is when Owings bat made a difference.
"I've been blessed with the ability to swing it," said Owings, who was a DH and firstbaseman when he wasn't pitching in his college days.
He followed Janish's second hit of the game with a triple to right center. He scored what turned out to be the winning run on a wild pitch.
The Brewers made it close but the regular bullpen, Nick Masset, Arthur Rhodes and Francisco Cordero closed it out.
"It was a big win. It showed us we can win, no matter who we put out there," Baker said.
Asked if he could play firstbase in an emergency, Owings responded, "Phew, I'd have to let Dusty make that call."
Jay Bruce, who started the Reds offense in the first with his eighth home run off Braden Looper in the first inning, volunteered to switch positions to help a bench that consisted of just outfielders Darnell McDonald and Chris Dickerson.
"I told Dusty that I could play firstbase," Bruce said. "I played it when I was real young but as I got a little older, I grew into my body I got faster. They put me in the outfield."
Dusty used Paul Janish as a pitcher last night in the Reds 15-3 defeat at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers last night. Janish, who is subbing for Alex Gonzalez and his sore oblique muscle, was sore due to the one-inning stint that saved Dusty Baker's bullpen an inning.
He was supposed to rest his shoulder but a non-swine variety of the flu wiped out the right side of the Reds infield. Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips the third and fourth hitters in the lineup were sick. Baker has to wait to see if they are well enough to be in the lineup.
Catcher, Ramon Hernandez played first with Ryan Hanigan behind the plate. Votto had played every inning of the Reds first 27 games. With the two catchers in the lineup and arguably two pitcher, albeit Janish had just one career inning, the Reds had a spare battery right in the lineup.
Owings had to pick up not only some big time slack for a pitching staff that needed innings from its starter but he also had to provide some offense.
"It was crazy," Owings said.
"The bullpen was upside down," Baker said. "The lineup was upside down too. The guys came through."
Jerry Hairston played secondbase and turned double plays started by Janish in the second and third innings. But after Cincinnati built a three-run lead, he dropped a potential double play ball that helped the Brewers load the bases. Prince Fielder unloaded them with a double.
"If they had turned that Micah might not have given up anything," Baker said.
That is when Owings bat made a difference.
"I've been blessed with the ability to swing it," said Owings, who was a DH and firstbaseman when he wasn't pitching in his college days.
He followed Janish's second hit of the game with a triple to right center. He scored what turned out to be the winning run on a wild pitch.
The Brewers made it close but the regular bullpen, Nick Masset, Arthur Rhodes and Francisco Cordero closed it out.
"It was a big win. It showed us we can win, no matter who we put out there," Baker said.
Asked if he could play firstbase in an emergency, Owings responded, "Phew, I'd have to let Dusty make that call."
Jay Bruce, who started the Reds offense in the first with his eighth home run off Braden Looper in the first inning, volunteered to switch positions to help a bench that consisted of just outfielders Darnell McDonald and Chris Dickerson.
"I told Dusty that I could play firstbase," Bruce said. "I played it when I was real young but as I got a little older, I grew into my body I got faster. They put me in the outfield."
Monday, April 27, 2009
Blow to the Head Makes Dickerson's Week Harder
Chris Dickerson has had a tough week.
In a key situation in Chicago, he misplayed a fly ball with the bases loaded off the bat of Derek Lee that led to the Cubs winning rally.
On Saturday, he dropped a couple fly balls after his athletic ability allowed him to get into position.
"He gets to more balls than we are used to," said manager Dusty Baker, who won a gold glove by playing in leftfield. "Every one hits the ball hard to left and nothings straight. The righthanders hook the ball toward the line and the lefthanders slice to toward the gap. He's been getting to some tough balls to catch he just needs to keep them in the glove."
On top of the everything else Dickerson struck out in the first inning against Roy Oswalt. It was his 13th strikeout over 16 at bats.
Baker gave Dickerson Sunday off to clear his mind, using Laynce Nix in his place.
"Young players have to learn to relax. If you look at the older guys they are usually more relaxed. He puts so much pressure on himself," Baker said.
After the strikeout in the first inning though it looked like things were going to turn around for the young player from Hollywood, California.
He chased down a single near the leftfield line and through out Miguel Tejada, trying for a double in the second inning of the game eventually won by Houston 4-1. He ran down a hit into the gap in Tejada's fourth inning bid for a double. This time Tejada wisely stayed at first after a big turn.
The play saved starter, Johnny Cueto, a run when Hunter Pence singled as the next hitter, Tejada could only get to secondbase.
Dickerson then found his bat and singled sharply to rightfield with one out in the fourth and things were beginning to go Dickerson's way. But................
Joey Votto hit a high chop ground ball to Lance Berkman at first base. He threw to second to try to force Dickerson but the runner's speed prevented shortstop Tejada from fielding the low throw cleanly. The two players butted heads.
Both stayed in the game immediately following the play but Dickerson, who had "four or five" concussions knew something was wrong.
His vision was beginning to blur as he led off the base.
"It was like I had an eyelash in my eye. Then I couldn't see the hitter's face, the ball seamed to split apart almost and looking in the crowd everybody meshed together. I tried to focus on small things. It's like going from HD to regular TV where nothing is clear. I know the symptoms where you lose peripheral visions. I'm not to the point where, I'm losing peripheral visions but I know the signs. My vision is coming back which is a good sign but I'm drowsy and just want to sleep."
Dickerson, who is one of the best pure athletes to come through the Reds system in years, had his first concussion as a fifth grader.
"They lower the backboards a little in the gym and I tried to slam dunk but hit my head on the backboard."
Dickerson didn't need a cat scan but will take tests on Tuesday to make sure that he is ok.
In a key situation in Chicago, he misplayed a fly ball with the bases loaded off the bat of Derek Lee that led to the Cubs winning rally.
On Saturday, he dropped a couple fly balls after his athletic ability allowed him to get into position.
"He gets to more balls than we are used to," said manager Dusty Baker, who won a gold glove by playing in leftfield. "Every one hits the ball hard to left and nothings straight. The righthanders hook the ball toward the line and the lefthanders slice to toward the gap. He's been getting to some tough balls to catch he just needs to keep them in the glove."
On top of the everything else Dickerson struck out in the first inning against Roy Oswalt. It was his 13th strikeout over 16 at bats.
Baker gave Dickerson Sunday off to clear his mind, using Laynce Nix in his place.
"Young players have to learn to relax. If you look at the older guys they are usually more relaxed. He puts so much pressure on himself," Baker said.
After the strikeout in the first inning though it looked like things were going to turn around for the young player from Hollywood, California.
He chased down a single near the leftfield line and through out Miguel Tejada, trying for a double in the second inning of the game eventually won by Houston 4-1. He ran down a hit into the gap in Tejada's fourth inning bid for a double. This time Tejada wisely stayed at first after a big turn.
The play saved starter, Johnny Cueto, a run when Hunter Pence singled as the next hitter, Tejada could only get to secondbase.
Dickerson then found his bat and singled sharply to rightfield with one out in the fourth and things were beginning to go Dickerson's way. But................
Joey Votto hit a high chop ground ball to Lance Berkman at first base. He threw to second to try to force Dickerson but the runner's speed prevented shortstop Tejada from fielding the low throw cleanly. The two players butted heads.
Both stayed in the game immediately following the play but Dickerson, who had "four or five" concussions knew something was wrong.
His vision was beginning to blur as he led off the base.
"It was like I had an eyelash in my eye. Then I couldn't see the hitter's face, the ball seamed to split apart almost and looking in the crowd everybody meshed together. I tried to focus on small things. It's like going from HD to regular TV where nothing is clear. I know the symptoms where you lose peripheral visions. I'm not to the point where, I'm losing peripheral visions but I know the signs. My vision is coming back which is a good sign but I'm drowsy and just want to sleep."
Dickerson, who is one of the best pure athletes to come through the Reds system in years, had his first concussion as a fifth grader.
"They lower the backboards a little in the gym and I tried to slam dunk but hit my head on the backboard."
Dickerson didn't need a cat scan but will take tests on Tuesday to make sure that he is ok.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Rest for the Weary
Wily Taveras got Saturday off.
Dusty Baker believes in making sure that players are not overused in a 162 game season.
"I talked to Jamie Quirk, who coached Wily in Colorado. He told me that I have to watch him. He gets tired but he won't come to you."
Taveras played in three spring training games for Cincinnati before he went to the Dominican team in the World Baseball Classic. The Dominican team was bounced in three games, then Taveras missed time with a bout of the flu. He didn't get a chance to build strength.
Baker plans to get Brandon Phillips, who has started slowly a rest at some point.
The program of building strength slowly since he didn't play at all last season. Gonzalez has shown signs of shedding his season opening slump. "We told him to run down and touch first base once in a while so he doesn't forget what it feels like," Baker quipped. "But he's starting to hit the ball hard. He's one guy who hits Lowe (Atlanta starter Derek Lowe) well."
Gonzalez was 3-for-10 with a double and home run, against Lowe coming into Saturday's game and on cue hit a two-run home run in the second inning.
Baker plans to watch Joey Votto. "He will need a rest at some point," Baker said of his .375 hitting firstbaseman. "I have to see fatigue. I have to see reduction in bat speed. Or fatgue from running the bases. That's what Ted Williams said. When you stay on the bases all the time, you get worn down."
Dusty Baker believes in making sure that players are not overused in a 162 game season.
"I talked to Jamie Quirk, who coached Wily in Colorado. He told me that I have to watch him. He gets tired but he won't come to you."
Taveras played in three spring training games for Cincinnati before he went to the Dominican team in the World Baseball Classic. The Dominican team was bounced in three games, then Taveras missed time with a bout of the flu. He didn't get a chance to build strength.
Baker plans to get Brandon Phillips, who has started slowly a rest at some point.
The program of building strength slowly since he didn't play at all last season. Gonzalez has shown signs of shedding his season opening slump. "We told him to run down and touch first base once in a while so he doesn't forget what it feels like," Baker quipped. "But he's starting to hit the ball hard. He's one guy who hits Lowe (Atlanta starter Derek Lowe) well."
Gonzalez was 3-for-10 with a double and home run, against Lowe coming into Saturday's game and on cue hit a two-run home run in the second inning.
Baker plans to watch Joey Votto. "He will need a rest at some point," Baker said of his .375 hitting firstbaseman. "I have to see fatigue. I have to see reduction in bat speed. Or fatgue from running the bases. That's what Ted Williams said. When you stay on the bases all the time, you get worn down."
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Bad Timing On Triple Play in 2-0 Reds Win
It happens to all of us. It is one of the corollaries of Murphy's Law.....Anything that can go wrong will.
You go to a sporting event and a rare play happens while you are in line for concessions or in the bathroom.
The last time Dusty Baker was near a triple play was when he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With Brandon Phillips on secondbase and Jay Bruce on first to start the ninth inning, Baker started the runners. Edwin Encarnacion had to swing on the hit and run. He blooped the ball into very shallow leftfield. Pittsburgh shortstop caught the ball in the air. He flipped to Freddie Sanchez to retire Phillips. Sanchez threw the ball to Adam LaRoche to get Bruce by eighty of the possible ninety feet, completing the Pirates first triple play since August 10, 1993.
"It was the first time I've seen one in person. The last time one happened I was in the bathroom. I came out and everybody was grabbing their gloves and I said what happened? They said triple play."
As rare as a triple play is, Wilson and Sanchez pulled off an amazing double play earlier in the game.
Encarnacion singled to start the inning. Ramon Hernandez hit a hard ground ball up the middle barely to the left of secondbase. Wilson dived for the ball and gloved it. He flipped it with his glove to Sanchez. Sanchez had to reach across his body and stretch for the low pitch. He regained his balance with Encarnacion and fired a strike to LaRoche to complete the DP.
Folks will see the play on Sportscenter hundreds of times this week.
Aaron Harang threw 114 pitches in his opening day start, in which he lasted just five innings.
On Sunday, Harang threw a complete game shutout at the Pirates. Complete games are an endangered species in the major leagues. They are especially rare in early April.
"He was masterful," Baker said. "It shows you what kind of shape he's in."
Harang shed 25 pounds this winter before reporting to spring training.
It paid off early.
"It was nice to get a complete game this early," said Harang, who credited catcher Ramon Hernandez and umpire Jerry Layne for their roles in the 2-0 shutout.
"Ramon and I were definitely on the same page," Harang said. "I think I only shook him off once and that was just to change location. Jerry had a good strike zone and he was very consistent. Early on if you can find out what the strike zone is going to be, it's a relief."
The winning margin came on the fourth batter of the game.
Brandon Phillips, the cleanup hitter, hit his first home run of the season off Ian Snell with Wily Taveras on base.
"It was good that Wily got on, so it was a two-run home run instead of a solo homer. I just tried to put a good swing on the pitch," Phillips said. "It was nice to give Wranger the lead. He looks like the Wranger from 06 and 07. It was nice to finally look at the scoreboard and see a zero under errors."
Harang lost 17 game last season after winning 16 in both 2006 and 2007.
"The home run was big," Baker said. "I think it was the first time we scored first. We didn't get many runs for Aaron last year. It was important to get him some and he made them stand up."
You go to a sporting event and a rare play happens while you are in line for concessions or in the bathroom.
The last time Dusty Baker was near a triple play was when he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
With Brandon Phillips on secondbase and Jay Bruce on first to start the ninth inning, Baker started the runners. Edwin Encarnacion had to swing on the hit and run. He blooped the ball into very shallow leftfield. Pittsburgh shortstop caught the ball in the air. He flipped to Freddie Sanchez to retire Phillips. Sanchez threw the ball to Adam LaRoche to get Bruce by eighty of the possible ninety feet, completing the Pirates first triple play since August 10, 1993.
"It was the first time I've seen one in person. The last time one happened I was in the bathroom. I came out and everybody was grabbing their gloves and I said what happened? They said triple play."
As rare as a triple play is, Wilson and Sanchez pulled off an amazing double play earlier in the game.
Encarnacion singled to start the inning. Ramon Hernandez hit a hard ground ball up the middle barely to the left of secondbase. Wilson dived for the ball and gloved it. He flipped it with his glove to Sanchez. Sanchez had to reach across his body and stretch for the low pitch. He regained his balance with Encarnacion and fired a strike to LaRoche to complete the DP.
Folks will see the play on Sportscenter hundreds of times this week.
Aaron Harang threw 114 pitches in his opening day start, in which he lasted just five innings.
On Sunday, Harang threw a complete game shutout at the Pirates. Complete games are an endangered species in the major leagues. They are especially rare in early April.
"He was masterful," Baker said. "It shows you what kind of shape he's in."
Harang shed 25 pounds this winter before reporting to spring training.
It paid off early.
"It was nice to get a complete game this early," said Harang, who credited catcher Ramon Hernandez and umpire Jerry Layne for their roles in the 2-0 shutout.
"Ramon and I were definitely on the same page," Harang said. "I think I only shook him off once and that was just to change location. Jerry had a good strike zone and he was very consistent. Early on if you can find out what the strike zone is going to be, it's a relief."
The winning margin came on the fourth batter of the game.
Brandon Phillips, the cleanup hitter, hit his first home run of the season off Ian Snell with Wily Taveras on base.
"It was good that Wily got on, so it was a two-run home run instead of a solo homer. I just tried to put a good swing on the pitch," Phillips said. "It was nice to give Wranger the lead. He looks like the Wranger from 06 and 07. It was nice to finally look at the scoreboard and see a zero under errors."
Harang lost 17 game last season after winning 16 in both 2006 and 2007.
"The home run was big," Baker said. "I think it was the first time we scored first. We didn't get many runs for Aaron last year. It was important to get him some and he made them stand up."
Jay Bruce The Young and the Breathless
Jay Bruce screwed up as Dusty Baker would say "big time."
The 10-2 loss to the Pirates on Saturday ended when Bruce, in his 112th big league game, rounded second on Ramon Hernandez's long fly to centerfield with one out. He was easily doubled off first.
Every knotholer knows that it is a sin to forget the number of outs. Bruce knew the situation.
"He even told Edwin and held up a finger, one out," Baker said. "And Hatch (firstbase coach Billy Hatcher) told him one base at a time."
But for some reason Bruce was overly aggressive when the ball was hit. In a 10-2 game the base runner is not supposed to make things happen. The team needs more than his run to get back in the game. The runners in that situation have to be more conservative.
"Jay came in to my office yesterday," Baker said. "He came to me before I went to him. It was a case of a young guy trying to do to much. He felt terrible. He knew what he'd done. I was pissed off but when I saw how terrible he felt it was hard to stay pissed off. You know when you're pissed off at your kid and you're about to spank him. But he comes in and says 'dad I screwed up'. You say ok don't do it again."
It is the paradox of baseball. You have to be quick but not too quick. You have to be patient but you have to be aggressive. It is the how and the when that talented baseball players take years to learn in the minor leagues.
Bruce 22 on April 3.
He has 356 games total as a professional.
It was a case of a young guy trying to do too much at the wrong time.
"You need to be alert," Baker said.
Baker draws on his experience as a player but is also a deep thinker, who is a speed reader. He read a book by John Wooden, "Be Quick and Don't Hurry". It's about breathing. You have to continue to breath. It sounds silly but if you hyperventilate, especially in clutch situations, your mind's not clear. I talked to Sadahru Oh when I was with the Dodgers. He said you have to continue to breath to get oxygen to the brain. Let your mind control your heart, rather than the heart controling your mind."
Baker wants them to have that ability, "it" now.
"Some players got it. Joey Votto's got it but he's four years older than Jay. Some guys get it sooner, some guys get it later and some guys never get it. My job is to help them get it."
The 10-2 loss to the Pirates on Saturday ended when Bruce, in his 112th big league game, rounded second on Ramon Hernandez's long fly to centerfield with one out. He was easily doubled off first.
Every knotholer knows that it is a sin to forget the number of outs. Bruce knew the situation.
"He even told Edwin and held up a finger, one out," Baker said. "And Hatch (firstbase coach Billy Hatcher) told him one base at a time."
But for some reason Bruce was overly aggressive when the ball was hit. In a 10-2 game the base runner is not supposed to make things happen. The team needs more than his run to get back in the game. The runners in that situation have to be more conservative.
"Jay came in to my office yesterday," Baker said. "He came to me before I went to him. It was a case of a young guy trying to do to much. He felt terrible. He knew what he'd done. I was pissed off but when I saw how terrible he felt it was hard to stay pissed off. You know when you're pissed off at your kid and you're about to spank him. But he comes in and says 'dad I screwed up'. You say ok don't do it again."
It is the paradox of baseball. You have to be quick but not too quick. You have to be patient but you have to be aggressive. It is the how and the when that talented baseball players take years to learn in the minor leagues.
Bruce 22 on April 3.
He has 356 games total as a professional.
It was a case of a young guy trying to do too much at the wrong time.
"You need to be alert," Baker said.
Baker draws on his experience as a player but is also a deep thinker, who is a speed reader. He read a book by John Wooden, "Be Quick and Don't Hurry". It's about breathing. You have to continue to breath. It sounds silly but if you hyperventilate, especially in clutch situations, your mind's not clear. I talked to Sadahru Oh when I was with the Dodgers. He said you have to continue to breath to get oxygen to the brain. Let your mind control your heart, rather than the heart controling your mind."
Baker wants them to have that ability, "it" now.
"Some players got it. Joey Votto's got it but he's four years older than Jay. Some guys get it sooner, some guys get it later and some guys never get it. My job is to help them get it."
Joey Votto The Man
Joey Votto was limping after the play. He was thrown out at the plate on Saturday following a single by Edwin Encarnacion in the fourth inning.
The slide was ugly. He right foot went three quarters of the way up his keister and his left leg scraped the base path, tearing his pants. His left foot came to an abrupt halt when it met the shin guards of Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit, who fielded the strong throw by rightfielder, Brandon Moss.
His pants were torn, providing the Reds marketing people another piece of merchandise to peddle at Redsfest or for a fund raiser at any woman's group in Cincinnati.
Yet, in spite of the pain, Votto finished the game.
Dusty Baker was obviously impressed by the "old school", throwback, willingness to play through the pain and placed his name indelibly in his normal position on the field and in the batting order.
Baker offered a comparison to his former teammate Steve Garvey. who played every game the Los Angeles Dodgers played from 1976-1980 and 1980 included an extra game.
"People used to ask me who played first base for the Dodgers," Baker said. "My answer was Garvey, Garvey and Garvey. We didn't think about anyone else."
"He's a little sore but hey man, Joey Votto's a man. That's what men do they come to play," Baker said. "He's going to need a blow (rest) too. We'll get him some time off."
The slide was ugly. He right foot went three quarters of the way up his keister and his left leg scraped the base path, tearing his pants. His left foot came to an abrupt halt when it met the shin guards of Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit, who fielded the strong throw by rightfielder, Brandon Moss.
His pants were torn, providing the Reds marketing people another piece of merchandise to peddle at Redsfest or for a fund raiser at any woman's group in Cincinnati.
Yet, in spite of the pain, Votto finished the game.
Dusty Baker was obviously impressed by the "old school", throwback, willingness to play through the pain and placed his name indelibly in his normal position on the field and in the batting order.
Baker offered a comparison to his former teammate Steve Garvey. who played every game the Los Angeles Dodgers played from 1976-1980 and 1980 included an extra game.
"People used to ask me who played first base for the Dodgers," Baker said. "My answer was Garvey, Garvey and Garvey. We didn't think about anyone else."
"He's a little sore but hey man, Joey Votto's a man. That's what men do they come to play," Baker said. "He's going to need a blow (rest) too. We'll get him some time off."
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Pittsburgh and Cincinnati
The teams from these two Ohio River cities are in the throes of a long dry spell.
Pittsburgh last winning season was 1992 when they last made the playoffs. Cincinnati last had a winning campaign in 2000, Jack McKeon's last year as manager and Ken Griffey Jr's first year with the club.
The Pirates are becoming like a Class AAAA farm team for the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Once players like Jason Bay, who went to the Red Sox and Xavier Nady, who now toils for the Yankees, reach their top earning years, they are dealt. The Reds traded Adam Dunn late last year to get Micah Owings and Nick Masset both righthanded pitchers, along with Wilken Castillo.
The Pirates farm system has produced a trio of good young pitchers in Paul Maholm, Zach Duke and Ian Snell. Trading Xavier Nady to the Yankees, gained the other two starters in the Pirates rotation, Jeff Karstens and Ross Ohlendorf.
Maholm was drafted in the first round in 2003.
He was facing Johnny Cueto, who is the only pitcher in the Reds rotation that earned his way through the Reds system. Cueto was not drafted but signed as an undrafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in in 2004.
Maholm had a great spring training. He allowed just four runs in 23 2/3 innings. The key is that he walked just two batters. That success has carried over into the regular season to date. He pitched 6 2/3 innings at St. Louis, allowing one run and one walk.
Maholm pitched seven innings against the Reds in the 10-2 win on Saturday. He walked two but allowed just one run.
"In spring training, I worked on challenging hitters," Maholm said. "There was never an outing where I would work on my sinker. I used all my pitches and tried to set up hitters. Today, I threw my change up to get ahead. I wanted to get some quick outs and guys made great plays. I knew that if I got in trouble, I could get a double play with the sinker."
Cueto impressed everyone last season out of the gate. He also challenged hitters. The 23-year old didn't walk a batter until he recorded 16 innings. This spring he walked six in 23 innings but four of them were in his last tune up on March 30 against these same Pirates.
On Saturday Cueto lasted six innings in which he struck out nine and walked just one. However he gave up eight hits, including a two-run home run to Nate McClouth in the first and a run scoring double to Jack Wilson. Nyjer Morgan added a triple to score Wilson.
"I tried to be aggressive," Cueto said through translator, Juan Lopez. "The mistakes I made were when I wasn't agressive."
Ramon Hernandez saw the same thing from behind the plate.
"He threw the ball real well but the mistakes he made came with men on base," Hernandez said. "He left a change up, up (to Wilson) for a double but it came with men on base."
Pittsburgh last winning season was 1992 when they last made the playoffs. Cincinnati last had a winning campaign in 2000, Jack McKeon's last year as manager and Ken Griffey Jr's first year with the club.
The Pirates are becoming like a Class AAAA farm team for the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Once players like Jason Bay, who went to the Red Sox and Xavier Nady, who now toils for the Yankees, reach their top earning years, they are dealt. The Reds traded Adam Dunn late last year to get Micah Owings and Nick Masset both righthanded pitchers, along with Wilken Castillo.
The Pirates farm system has produced a trio of good young pitchers in Paul Maholm, Zach Duke and Ian Snell. Trading Xavier Nady to the Yankees, gained the other two starters in the Pirates rotation, Jeff Karstens and Ross Ohlendorf.
Maholm was drafted in the first round in 2003.
He was facing Johnny Cueto, who is the only pitcher in the Reds rotation that earned his way through the Reds system. Cueto was not drafted but signed as an undrafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in in 2004.
Maholm had a great spring training. He allowed just four runs in 23 2/3 innings. The key is that he walked just two batters. That success has carried over into the regular season to date. He pitched 6 2/3 innings at St. Louis, allowing one run and one walk.
Maholm pitched seven innings against the Reds in the 10-2 win on Saturday. He walked two but allowed just one run.
"In spring training, I worked on challenging hitters," Maholm said. "There was never an outing where I would work on my sinker. I used all my pitches and tried to set up hitters. Today, I threw my change up to get ahead. I wanted to get some quick outs and guys made great plays. I knew that if I got in trouble, I could get a double play with the sinker."
Cueto impressed everyone last season out of the gate. He also challenged hitters. The 23-year old didn't walk a batter until he recorded 16 innings. This spring he walked six in 23 innings but four of them were in his last tune up on March 30 against these same Pirates.
On Saturday Cueto lasted six innings in which he struck out nine and walked just one. However he gave up eight hits, including a two-run home run to Nate McClouth in the first and a run scoring double to Jack Wilson. Nyjer Morgan added a triple to score Wilson.
"I tried to be aggressive," Cueto said through translator, Juan Lopez. "The mistakes I made were when I wasn't agressive."
Ramon Hernandez saw the same thing from behind the plate.
"He threw the ball real well but the mistakes he made came with men on base," Hernandez said. "He left a change up, up (to Wilson) for a double but it came with men on base."
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
One Down Two Injured
The Reds started spring training with more outfielders than they could use.
Jonny Gomes, who led the Reds with four home runs this spring, was designated for assignment on Sunday as one of the last five players cut.
The Reds had 10 days to trade him or ask waivers but Gomes elected to stay in the organization and accepted the assignment to Louisville.
But wait a minute.
Willie Taveras did not start because of his flu but tripled as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.
Then Jerry Hairston Jr., no stranger to the disabled list fouled a ball off his left leg and left the game with a tight, left, lower, leg. Hairston fouled a ball off his calf in the first inning. He then fouled one off his left ankle in the fourth inning.
"I hit my calf pretty good in the first inning," Hairston said. "I tried to keep it loose but it locked up on me. The ball off the ankle killed but it went away. I'll be alright. I'll just take treatment."
Gomes decision could bring him closer to the big leagues than he thought on Sunday.
Jonny Gomes, who led the Reds with four home runs this spring, was designated for assignment on Sunday as one of the last five players cut.
The Reds had 10 days to trade him or ask waivers but Gomes elected to stay in the organization and accepted the assignment to Louisville.
But wait a minute.
Willie Taveras did not start because of his flu but tripled as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning.
Then Jerry Hairston Jr., no stranger to the disabled list fouled a ball off his left leg and left the game with a tight, left, lower, leg. Hairston fouled a ball off his calf in the first inning. He then fouled one off his left ankle in the fourth inning.
"I hit my calf pretty good in the first inning," Hairston said. "I tried to keep it loose but it locked up on me. The ball off the ankle killed but it went away. I'll be alright. I'll just take treatment."
Gomes decision could bring him closer to the big leagues than he thought on Sunday.
Great Sports Cartoons by Jerry Dowling
Check them out.
http://www.jerrydowling.com/
This famous cartoonist has been drawing cartoons since he was four-year old waif in Windsor Canada.
He had his first published cartoon as a more mature eight-year old in the Windsor Daily Star.
They got around to paying him in 1960 for a caricature of Peter Sellers that appeared in all three Toronto papers, the Globe and Mail, the Star and the Telegram.
Since he has poked fun in brilliant colors with hundreds of famous sport figures.
He drew enough cartoons of Pete Rose to fill a book, "Drawing Pete" which is available at several local bookstores by or through http://edgecliffpress.com/
Do yourself a favor and check them out.
http://www.jerrydowling.com/
This famous cartoonist has been drawing cartoons since he was four-year old waif in Windsor Canada.
He had his first published cartoon as a more mature eight-year old in the Windsor Daily Star.
They got around to paying him in 1960 for a caricature of Peter Sellers that appeared in all three Toronto papers, the Globe and Mail, the Star and the Telegram.
Since he has poked fun in brilliant colors with hundreds of famous sport figures.
He drew enough cartoons of Pete Rose to fill a book, "Drawing Pete" which is available at several local bookstores by or through http://edgecliffpress.com/
Do yourself a favor and check them out.
Where is Willy Taveras?
One of the Reds key acquisitions in the off season is still absent from the lineup.
Willy Taveras, who filled the leadoff void that the Reds had for several years, is still out with the flu.
Dusty Baker usually holds a player back an extra day after they say they are ready to go.
Taveras was also hit by a line drive off the bat of teammante Joey Votto while attempting a steal of thirdbase in the last week of spring training. He then came down with the flu.
Jerry Hairston Jr., who lost 10 lbs. from a flu bug that he contracted as a member of the Mexican WBC team, was in the lineup as the centerfielder and leadoff hitter.
Willy Taveras, who filled the leadoff void that the Reds had for several years, is still out with the flu.
Dusty Baker usually holds a player back an extra day after they say they are ready to go.
Taveras was also hit by a line drive off the bat of teammante Joey Votto while attempting a steal of thirdbase in the last week of spring training. He then came down with the flu.
Jerry Hairston Jr., who lost 10 lbs. from a flu bug that he contracted as a member of the Mexican WBC team, was in the lineup as the centerfielder and leadoff hitter.
Beyond Opening Day
The media crush is over.
The number of media members that covers opening day in Cincinnati is four fold above a normal night.
Even with the nine New York writers the crowd is slim.
Cincinnati is down to one Daily, The Enquirer and the Dayton Daily New still covers the Reds everyday. Mlb.com has a daily presence and the Associated Press has two members at each home game.
TV crews send only a videographer. These guys used to be known as camermen. Now they ask questions like a reporter does but there is no need for them to grace the tube with their image.
Every radio station does a remote on the initial day. Now just the flagship station has a presence.
It is not just the media. Every seat in the park is filled on the uniquely Cincinnati holiday. Now for the second game of the year the crowd is a paltry, 13,568, even with warmer weather and no rain.
The players are more relaxed and into a routine. They are much easier to talk to now that the comedic and lesser experienced media members are gone.
As the experienced baseball fan knows that in the standings the opening game is still only one of 162 in spite of the extra hoopla. Yet the one-day baseball media asks, "How important is it to win the first one?, etc"
It is laughable.
One year I walked up to Denny Neagle, a noted practical joker, after an opening day loss. He was not the starting pitcher and the rest of the media was crowded around Pete Harnisch giving the usual cliche answers.
I walked up to Neagle and asked, "Is it too early to panic."
He actually started to answer before he realized that I was having fun with him.
The number of media members that covers opening day in Cincinnati is four fold above a normal night.
Even with the nine New York writers the crowd is slim.
Cincinnati is down to one Daily, The Enquirer and the Dayton Daily New still covers the Reds everyday. Mlb.com has a daily presence and the Associated Press has two members at each home game.
TV crews send only a videographer. These guys used to be known as camermen. Now they ask questions like a reporter does but there is no need for them to grace the tube with their image.
Every radio station does a remote on the initial day. Now just the flagship station has a presence.
It is not just the media. Every seat in the park is filled on the uniquely Cincinnati holiday. Now for the second game of the year the crowd is a paltry, 13,568, even with warmer weather and no rain.
The players are more relaxed and into a routine. They are much easier to talk to now that the comedic and lesser experienced media members are gone.
As the experienced baseball fan knows that in the standings the opening game is still only one of 162 in spite of the extra hoopla. Yet the one-day baseball media asks, "How important is it to win the first one?, etc"
It is laughable.
One year I walked up to Denny Neagle, a noted practical joker, after an opening day loss. He was not the starting pitcher and the rest of the media was crowded around Pete Harnisch giving the usual cliche answers.
I walked up to Neagle and asked, "Is it too early to panic."
He actually started to answer before he realized that I was having fun with him.
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