The Lousiville game never happened...........

Please, allow me to Cat-jack this weblog.

Kentucky's Jodie Meeks just went 10-15 from 3PT, 16-16 from the line, and scored 54 pts against conference rival Tennessee, scoring 26 in the first half and actually improving to 28 in the second, besting Dan Issel- DAN ISSEL- for most points in a single game in Kentucky history.

I can't believe I just saw that!  Now you know why my name is BLUE!

Story here:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/oh/story/sports/pro/dragons/2008/07/24/ddn072508spdragonsweb.html

DAYTON — A first-inning four-run rally quickly escalated into a bench-clearing brawl between the Dayton Dragons and Peoria Chiefs tonight at Fifth Third Field that halted play for an hour and 9 minutes.

Several fights broke out behind home plate, and Castillo threw a ball that sailed into the stands behind the Dragons' dugout, hitting a fan who had to be taken to a hospital.

Castillo was arrested soon thereafter.  The fan was at the game with his wife and kids.

Photos here (don't mess with Justin Reed):

http://www.daytondailynews.com/p/content/gen/sharedoh/photos_galleries/sports/pro-dragons/072508dragonsbrawl.html

Video here:

http://www.daytondailynews.com/m/content/oh/media/video/news/index.html?bcpid=1459469120&bclid=1459331347&bctid=1688297742

One of the uglier scenes on a baseball field in recent memory.

One stat often overlooked when analyzing the Reds offense is how many times they've been caught stealing.  Here are some facts...

Reds stats (Rank)

SB - 61 (8th)
CS - 31 (2nd most)
SB% - .66 (15th)

- The only NL team with more CS than the Reds (31) is Houston (32).  Houston has 23 more SB than the Reds.

- The only NL team with a lower SB% than the Reds (66.3%) is Arizona (66.0%).  Arizona has attempted 45 fewer steals than the Reds.  (SABR guys will tell you that it takes a success rate of 75% for an attempt to be worth the risk.)

The bottom line is, guys are trying to steal bases who have no business trying to.  Now, I think I know who is responsible for this, but I shall let him remain nameless.

I propose a few new team rules:

1. If your name isn't Brandon Phillips (19 SB/4 CS, 83%) or Jerry Hairston, Jr. (15 SB/3 CS, 83%), you are not allowed to attempt a steal unless the pitcher forgets what he's doing and goes from the full windup.

2. If you are the manager, you are not allowed to give the third base coach the steal sign unless the runner on first base is named Brandon Phillips (19 SB/4 CS, 83%) or Jerry Hairston, Jr. (15 SB/3 CS, 83%).

3. If you are the third base coach, you are not allowed to relay any steal sign given by the manager to any player who isn't named Brandon Phillips (19 SB/4 CS, 83%) or Jerry Hairston, Jr. (15 SB/3 CS, 83%).

4. If you are the first base coach and see that the third base coach has relayed a steal sign from the manager for anyone who isn't named Brandon Phillips (19 SB/4 CS, 83%) or Jerry Hairston, Jr. (15 SB/3 CS, 83%), you must whisper into the baserunner's ear "don't do it", or shout "HE'S GOING TO STEAL!!!" to encourage the sign to be taken off.

There you go.  That's four layers of security to keep your team away from several unnecessary and wasted outs.

Thoughts?

I really wish there was not a word minimum for each post, because I would just have the title and an empty post.  Its all you really need to know.

At roughly 5:00 PM, Tracy Jones was for some reason allowed to be on WLW for a show he did on his own.  He said something to this affect:

I have said in the past that I thought the Edinson Volquez for Josh Hamilton trade was a good trade and that I would do the trade again if it was offered now.  I've changed my mind.  Write this down, because I like being right and I'm right a lot: The Edinson Volquez for Josh Hamilton trade will go down as the worst trade in Reds history.

Now, you are surely reading this thinking to yourself, "He must be excepting the Frank Robinson trade."  Nope.  He followed:

Even worse than the Frank Robinson trade.

Ahh, the dim witted, lazy, out of shape, (just to complete the Adam Dunn trifecta,) Cincinnati media.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008807130431

I don't know what he's thinking here, and the article doesn't make it any more clear.

Four of their highest-paid, most experienced players are having bad years. Among Griffey, Adam Dunn, Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, none is having even a mediocre year.

Dusty, of course, quickly came to the defense of his players:

"That's a fair assessment," Baker said. "You pay attention to them because they're big guys. They're the highest-salary guys."

... wait a minute...

There's also this article from Fay that really deserves its own thread, if someone would be so kind.  Wait until you read the explanation for having Homer swing away in the second inning.  I can't believe Dusty actually says what he thinks sometimes.  If that was my line of thinking, I'd just keep it to myself.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080714/SPT04/807140377/1071

http://www.usmagazine.com/exclusive-ny-yankee-making-late-night-visits-to-madonnas-apartment

Us Weekly reports in its new issue, on newsstands tomorrow, that Madonna's seven-year marriage to Guy Ritchie has stalled out – and the singer has been hosting late-night visits from New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez at her Central Park West apartment in New York City.

Okay.  I don't care about this at all.  It does explain her presence at Yankee Stadium during the Reds recent trip.  I imagine some pretty good "A-Rod" jokes can come from this.  A-Rod.  haha!

With the Reds current roster riddled with more holes than Baby Face Nelson and the claims that 2009 is the Reds year to compete appearing less and less likely, its time for a good old fashioned fire sale to take place between now and July 31st.

Trade everyone not named Bailey, Cueto, Volquez, Bruce, and Votto.  Fill the holes.  We're in for another five year plan.  Hopefully the Reds will be able to build a winning team around Bruce, and unlike Dunn, his consistent offensive performance will not be wasted for 7 years.

These were the words of Mr. Castellini after firing GM Wayne Krivsky. Well, we're still losing Mr. Castellini, and anyone with a brain can see that though this team is really bad, they're substantially better than the manager allows them to be.

Dusty Baker not only gives Corey Patterson at-bats, he puts him in a postition in the lineup to get extra at-bats.

Got a light hitting young SS? Bat him second, because everyone knows the CFer leads off and the SS bats second.

Have an old Griffey? He's got to hit third. He's Griffey.

Adam Dunn? Seventh if he's only striking out and clogging the bases.

And while we're at it, lets start Paul Bako, PAUL BAKO, at catcher against LHP.

Have the worst RFer in baseball? Double-switch out an average LFer and leave the RFer in during close games. Oh, by the way, that LFer is the best hitter on the team and the guy coming off the bench is a guaranteed out.

Have a stud CF prospect? Make up some garbage about chronic leg injuries so you can justify keeping him in the minor leagues until there is a corner OF spot available.

Have young stud pitchers? Leave them in for 118 pitches in a 9-0 game.

Have a power hitter at the plate and the game on the line? BUNT!

We're paying him $10.5 million for this! If any one of us made mistakes like these at our jobs, we'd be fired.

And so should he.

Walt Jocketty said that "Dusty and I won't stand for losing." Well, Dusty is not only standing for it, he's doing his part to make it more likely every game. Walt should go to Mr. Castellini in an effort to not make a liar out of himself and get this clown canned immediately. Pretty much any available manager would be better than this guy.

The time has already come. Twenty percent of the way through his contract, its time to cut your losses, Mr. Castellini. You fired Wayne Krivsky in a move that I didn't agree with at the time. In retrospect, this team really does stink, and you made the right move. You fired him because the team wasn't winning, and the fact that he had the overall organization in better shape than when he took over did not matter. Dusty Baker cannot claim the same accomplishment. He has not given this team the best chance to win day in and day out, and we are now in worse shape manager-wise than we were with Jerry Narron, Dave Miley, and *GULP* Bob Boone. He's not winning, and no matter how well Jocketty constructs the roster, the team will have a lesser chance of winning because of his mismanagement.

Dusty was a bad hire, Mr. Castellini. You don't even have to admit that you made a mistake. Just fire him, and move on to pretty much anyone else. If you want another big name manager, you can definitely find one better than Dusty Baker. If you have truly the desire to bring winning baseball back to Cincinnati, its a move you must make.

An avid reader, Baker's office shelf is filled with leadership and motivational books written by the likes of John Wooden and Bill Walsh. Asked about his collection, Baker pulled out a book about Attila the Hun.

"Everybody will think I'm crazy for liking him," Baker said. "Attila the Hun is one of the best leaders of all time. I don't think I could cut off hands and arms or something like that if you don't do what I tell you. I liked that his people were all nationalities, all different languages, a lot of stuff."

from Reds.com

According to Trent, the Pirates players are claiming that Freel dropped the ball after he slammed against the ground, and that Norris Hopper put the ball back in Freel's glove while he was laying on the warning track apparently unconcsious.  It seems the Reds players aren't denying it.

Okay, so the question is, who cares about getting that out more?  1) Freel, who collided with Hopper trying to catch it, or 2) Hopper who picked up the ball and placed it into the glove of an unconscious teammate before motioning for medical personnel?

I hope there is video of this.  It could be classic.

per Josh Katzowitz, filling in for C. Trent Rosecrans:

"BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eric Milton has been placed on the 15-day DL with a left elbow strain. Jared Burton is on his way up from Louisville to take his place. Will have more from Wayne in a few minutes."

It sure will be interesting to see who, if anyone, takes Milton's place in the rotation.
Josh has comments from Krivsky: http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/spring/

I don't mean to be telling tales out of school, but methinks the Lovable Losers aren't going to be losers for long this season.  Despite the fact that they are tied for 4th in the division, the Cubs have far and away the best Runs Scored vs. Runs Allowed numbers in the division:

Cubs: 110 RS, 88 RA
Reds: 100 RS, 104 RA
Astros: 98 RS, 101 RA
Brewers: 107 RS, 112 RA
Pirates: 78 RS, 95 RA
Cardinals: 81 RS, 104 RA

They're the only team in the division that has played well enough to warrant a record of .500+, yet, they are 3 games below at 10-13.

Perhaps there is a simple explanation for this: they're cursed.

But, if you're like Pedro Martinez and don't believe in damn curses, don't be surprised if the most annoying fans in all of professional sports have something to cheer about pretty soon.

Funny thing about this guy.  This is his walk year, and Scott Boras is his agent.  If he has any kind of a decent season, you've got to figure that, at his age, he's going to be looking for a 5-year deal.  Any way the Reds give him one?  Should they?

And if they let him go, how many draft picks would we get?  Any way he could be a Type-A free agent?

I emailed the Reds when I found that Friday's game was not being broadcasted on FSN Ohio, locally.  Today, I recieved this response, and I am very surprised and pleased both with the fact that I got a response and the fact that the response indicates that they are going to do something about it.

The text of the email is below:

-------------------------------------------------

Thank you for bringing this situation to our attention.  You should definitely be receiving the Reds on FSN Ohio in the Lexington area.  We will contact the system to trouble shoot the problem and resolve it as quickly as possible.

Thank you for support of the Cincinnati Reds.

Jim

Jim Cook

V.P. Affiliate Sales & Marketing

Fox Cable Networks

Phone:

E-mail:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From:  
Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 8:46 AM
To:
Subject: FW: MLB Contact Us

Jim... can you help?  Thanks.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Do Not Reply
Sent: Friday, April 06, 2007 7:58 PM
To:
Subject: MLB Contact Us

From:

Email Address:

Subject:
cin - Other - Broadcasting -

User-specified subject:
4/6 no reds on tv in lexington

Message:
I know that FSN Ohio is carrying tonights game. However, they chose not to air the game in Lexington, KY. I called my cable company (Insight) and they said that there was nothing they could do, and that I should call FSN. FSN's system was automated and completely unhelpful. (I realize you don't control FSN Ohio.) I'm an avid Reds fan, and there are a lot of us down here. Its very frustrating, and I can see no reason why they think a Cleveland Cavaliers program would be better to show in this market than a Reds game. If there is anything you can do to make sure that all Reds games televised on FSN Ohio are aired on that channel in Lexington, KY, I would really appreciate it.

I was getting ready to order tickets to a couple first week games via reds.com and much to my surprise, they've added a $4 convenience fee to each ticket this year.  So, I decided to call instead.  Same thing.  

Some of the tickets that I buy barely cost $4.  I'm buying 12 tickets, so the convenience fees alone will cost $48.  Now I've got to drive 100 miles to Cincinnati on Monday, which will cost about $24 in gas and be a general pain in the ass.  All this, plus increased ticket prices and escalated prices for "Select" and "Premiere" games.  John Allen is nickel and diming me to death!

I just posted this on another site and was surprised by some of what I found when I looked up Majewski's career numbers.  Thought some of you might also be interested:

The guy has to be injured. He had WHIPs of 1.36 last year and 1.34 with the Nationals this year. His OPS against was .665 in 2005 and was .680 this season with the Nats.

Also, this stuff about RFK being responsible for his numbers is rubbish:

His ERA was much worse when pitching at RFK (4.56) than on the road (2.73).

The last game he pitched with the Nationals was also a disaster, 1/3 of an inning and 3 ER. I have to wonder if he has been injured the entire time he's been with the Reds.

ERAs of 3.86 in 2004, 2.96 in 2005, and 3.58 in 2006 before coming to the Reds. He's not a bad pitcher. Something is wrong with him. Hopefully he can be put on the DL and brought back when the rosters expand in September. We need a way to keep all of these relievers under Reds control until the offseason, anyway.

We've traded for 5 relief pitchers since the start of the season.  Those guys are pretty much locks to be a part of the pen for the rest of the season:

Guardado
Majewski
Bray
Cormier
Lohse

we can have two more relievers from this group:

Weathers
Coffey
Belisle
Standridge
Mercker

so... what's going to happen?  Are we just going to cut some guys loose and get nothing in return, or put them on waivers, or what?

Homer Bailey threw 6 more shutout innings today, allowing 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 8.  He lowered his AA ERA to 0.74... He was mixing in his offspeed stuff A LOT!

but now, as Paul Harvey would say, the rest of the story:

3rd inning: A batter stepped out of the box on Bailey on a pitch.  The next pitch is 96 mph... off the batter's head.  Bailey steps to the plate the next inning, and the opposing pitcher throws one behind him and is instantly ejected!

If you want to read more about his start, check out this Redszone thread: http://www.redszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49232

I don't really know how to post YouTube videos, but here is the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDuyrLkp5kw&search=cincinnati%20reds

Its from the game when Brandon Phillips singled with the bases loaded against Billy Wagner to give the Reds the lead in the top of the 9th.

Enjoy!

.................................................................................................... ......................................................................................filler

"After committing his third error, Alex Rodriguez was pulled from Monday's game to start the eighth inning.  Just a brutal effort from A-Rod, who was 0-for-4 before being replaced by Nick Green at third base. Maybe he was a little under the weather. Still, he's up to 16 errors this season. It's a good thing he doesn't play for the Reds or he'd be benched in favor of Rich Aurilia."

The Reds have acquired LHP Eddie Guardado from the Seattle Mariners for minor league RHP Travis Chick.

Source: official Reds website

rant and rave below

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As of the time of this post, the official Reds website has a headline under the "Reds Update" section that says "Griffey leads Reds past Brewers", obviously written before today's bottom of the ninth.  Clicking on the link takes you to an article about the loss.  You'd think the person running that site would know by now what happens when the Reds bullpen pitches.

His name is Jake Long, currently a Modesto JC sophomore and the Reds have drafted him twice.  There is a clip from the Modesto Bee about it which you can see at http://www.redsminorleagues.com   .

I did a little searching and found some statistics from his 2006 Junior College season:

In 121 ABs he went .372/.516/.562, with 13 doubles, 2 triples, and two homeruns.  He also had 4 SB (0 CS), and if I am reading these stats correctly, he was hit by a pitch 17 times (double check that someone, I'm not sure what HB means).  He struck out 20 times compared to 20 walks.

I don't know if he's a real prospect or not, but he sure hit in juco.  Conference player of the year.  Bats lefty.
 http://spincostats.com/CommunityCollegeBaseball/2006/CVSTATS.pdf

Thought some of you might be interested.  Hopefully they can still get Milton Loo to sign on the dotted line.

Can you believe he sent Dunn home today?  I know Pierre has a weak arm, and Berry couldn't have known that the ball miss the ivy when it bounced off the wall, but man, that was gutsy.

Next time someone doesn't pick him up when he gives them the stop sign, he should just throw one of his really really big balls in front of them and knock them down.

RHP Belisle
RHP Coffey
RHP Wagner
RHP Weathers
RHP White
LHP Hammond
LHP Mercker
LHP Shackelford

The four vets are virtual locks, and so is Coffey.  Wagner has tremendous potential and has been pitching well since his first Spring appearance.  Belisle did not have a defined role on the staff last season, but showed tremendous potential as a late inning reliver, posting good K totals and a good GB/FB ratio.  Shackelford pitched some fine baseball last season and is having a good Spring.

Who doesn't make the cut?