SB Nation User Blog: Fat Vegas Alan

May 8, 1976

Fat Vegas Alan — Fri, 08 May 2009 01:42:44 -0000

I've been watching the most recent Reds games on DVR-delay which means that I'm usually pressing 'play' and enjoying the first innings (Ahem. I'm looking at you, Arroyo) after my three kids have been put to bed and the dog has been walked and all other remains of the day have been cleared away. The good thing about this is that I get to see more of each game and I get to really watch the game instead of trying wash dishes, mix Similac, catch Votto's at-bat, stir up more bubbles in the bathtub, remove Legos from cans of Play-Doh, admire a Volquez strikeout or two, wipe someone's ass, read 'Go, Dog. Go!' and then wonder who grounded into that double play. That's the good thing. The bad thing is that I don't get to join ya'll in game threads.

So I'm sitting here watching Willy's home run with Sea Bass's bat and it's great but it's 930 and I can't help wondering which Red Reporters are gnashing their teeth in the ninth and why. <sniff> I miss you guys.

Now I'm sure you birds have had a gay old time in the threads without me and that's cool but it's left me wanting to contribute something to Red Reporter so I dug up a "This Date in Reds History" boxscore for some boring old FanPost fodder...

May 8, 1976: Reds 14 Cubs 4 ..Yay!

Thirty-three years ago I was just settling into my second season of Reds fandom. I was a month shy of my sixth birthday so I was too young to really have an awareness of (and now remember) individual games. I did know one thing- the Reds were reigning World Series Champions and if you were asking five year olds' opinions, I would have told you that the Reds were gonna win it all again! Anyway, this game was played on a Saturday afternoon so it's possible that I watched it (or more likely listened to it) with Dad and it's possible that this was the day that he first explained to me what it means to 'hit for the cycle' and how close George Foster came to doing it.

Other notes from this game:

The Reds scored fourteen runs without a home run. At Wrigley.
The Reds scored fourteen runs without stealing a base.
Pete had a hit. And a HBP.
Little Joe had two hits. And a walk. And a sac fly. And two runs. And three RBI.
Concepcion had his eight and ninth errors of the season. In early May?!
Reds pitchers combined on a two-hitter but Santo Alcala (of whom I had no recollection) walked a bunch of guys and gave up a home run to Bill Madlock (who would hit .354 that year- only his second full season).
Rick Reuschel started 529 games over like thirty seasons and this might have been his worst. (Game score of 18.)
Nick Swisher's dad was an All Star catcher this season but on this day he was 0-for-4 and he called all nine innings of crap from Reuschel and company.
The Cubs would lose 87 games and finish fifth or sixth in '76 but did you know that the Cubs actually finished second or third a bunch of times between '67 and '72?
Pete LaCock.

And Happy Birthday to Harry Truman and Gary Glitter. And Bill Cowher. And Don Rickles. And Roberto Rosselinni. And David Attenborough. And Henri Dunant. And Ronnie Lott. And Alex Van Halen. And Toni Tenille. And Enrique Iglesias. And Sonny Liston. And Melissa Gilbert.

And Joselito.

"You could dislocate a tail."

Fat Vegas Alan — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:23:11 -0000

via www.chicagotribune.com

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Add another yarn to Wrigley Field lore. Let it be known henceforth as the "cat-tail-grabbing incident" at the Friendly Confines.

Animal lovers are head-over-tails about a security guard’s treatment of an errant feline during Tuesday night’s Cubs-Reds game. Speculation is flying about the cat’s origin and ability to gain a front-row seat at Wrigley Field.

Cubs spokesman Peter Chase has an idea of how the cat made its way onto the field.

"The leading theory is that it came into the stadium through right field — the Sheffield entrance — then made its way up to the bleachers and on the field," he said.

After scurrying across the outfield in the fourth inning, the white, orange and black calico mix was finally captured by a Wrigley Field security guard who was stationed at the left-field bullpen. The security guard picked the cat up by the tail and handed it over to a towel-wielding security worker in the stands, inciting boos from the crowd.

The kitty left, but not before leaving considerable carnage in its wake. Multiple employees were bitten by the cat and needed treatment at Wrigley.

"We’re assuming they’re fine," said Chase. "Once we get results back about how that cat is, that’ll give us a little bit more information."

The cat was promptly transported to "a local veterinarian" where it will be examined to make sure it's disease-free, said Chase. The veterinarian asked the Cubs organization to maintain its privacy.

Grabbing a cat by its tail is "definitely not the best way to pick it up," said Dr. Eileen Murphy of West Wrigley Animal Hospital (which she assures the Sun-Times is certainly not where the cat was taken). "You could dislocate a tail."

Chase said the team does not currently have a protocol for dealing with streaking felines. But despite fans’ protests, Chase defends the guard’s actions.
"This one was certainly something you don’t come across every day," said Chase. "The security guard did his best in a unique and trying situation."

RR Outing: Lullvile Bats in the 614 Monday Night

Fat Vegas Alan — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:06:38 -0000

via www.dispatch.com

Tickets to the Clippers' new Huntington Park went on sale this morning and it appeared that the opening homestand might be on its way to selling out. (Hotcakesque, even.) So I went ahead and purchased four reserved bleacher seats. Six bucks each. Second row. Left field. Behind Reds' Top Ten-ish prospect Danny Dorn.

I'm gonna hold one for '3 Fast 3 Furious' until he tells me to do otherwise and of course I'm gonna need a place to sit soooo.... I've got two left. Who's in?

The game is Monday night. First pitch is at 635. Ideally, we could meet somewhere around 6? (We'll figure all this out below.) And of course, if there is more interest in this RR outing we can always figure out who else wants to go and how to get bleacher seats for them.

Go Bats!

The Reds Need a Canadian-to-English Translator

Fat Vegas Alan — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 07:38:49 -0000

The Reds Need a Canadian-to-English Translator

From the gorgeously named Nicolino Dibenedetto:

"This year, I wanted to play well, not just because I know I’m an important part of the team, but because I want to help the team win," Votto said.

I love Joey but... huh?

From the New York Times' Freakonomics feature: "Here’s my favorite new fact about N.C.A.A. b...

Fat Vegas Alan — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:52:54 -0000

From the New York Times' Freakonomics feature:

"Here’s my favorite new fact about N.C.A.A. basketball: teams that are behind by one point at halftime are actually more likely to win than teams that are one point ahead. This striking finding comes courtesy of a terrific new paper by my Wharton colleagues, Jonah Berger and Devin Pope. Their findings are summarized in this graph, which collects info from 6,572 N.C.A.A. basketball games since 2005."

Astros Fear the HAVOC: Ed Wade Brings in a Hall of Fame Catcher

Fat Vegas Alan — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:07:36 -0000

"Boo."

From the Associated Press:

Ivan Rodriguez appears headed to the Houston Astros. Cole Hamels and Manny Ramirez aren't sure when they'll be back in spring training games.

A 14-time All-Star catcher, Rodriguez was closing in on a $1.5 million, one-year contract with the Astros, a person familiar with the talks told The Associated Press on Monday.

The deal would contain $1.5 million in performance bonuses based on games and plate appearances, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not yet been announced by the team...

...Houston needs a veteran catcher to replace Brad Ausmus, who signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Astros have several young catchers in camp who need time to develop. Humberto Quintero had been in line to start this season, but he'll likely move to a backup role.

"It's very important for me (to be a starter) because I feel good enough to play every day," Rodriguez said. "I feel very good, ready to play a whole season. My cannon is primed and ready to disrupt Dusty Baker's HAVOC."

He added that his strong play with Puerto Rico probably boosted his bid to find a major league team.

"It helps a lot for some players like myself, who still don't have a job. I think this Classic has been a very important factor," he said.

Predict the Opening Day Pitching Staff

Fat Vegas Alan — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:41:13 -0000

via pro.corbis.com

Micah Owings has put up some excellent numbers in his four Spring Training starts. He certainly hasn't nailed down the fifth spot in the rotation as Homer Bailey has pitched almost as well (lower ERA but far fewer strikeouts). Most folks see Nick Masset as having fallen out of serious contention (though to my knowledge Dusty has said boo about it). But most folks who are aware that Masset is out of options also seem to think that he might still earn a spot in the pen. But what would his role be? Long man? Sixth man? Does that mean that the loser of the Bailey/Owings battle heads to Louisville?

So, what say you, Red Reporters?

Poll

Is it time to get serious with our informed yet ultimately meaningless predictions about the Opening Day pitching staff?

No, it's still too early.

8 votes

Yes, I'll tell you everything I know about it in the thread below.

9 votes

Louisville? Oh yeah. And Pitt, Memphis and North Carolina.

6 votes

23 votes | Poll has closed

Steven Seagal Still Hard at Work on Screenplay About Ramon Hernandez

Fat Vegas Alan — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 05:02:51 -0000

Steven Seagal Still Hard at Work on Screenplay About Ramon Hernandez

Moms' Basements Empty Across the USA: 450 Geeks Visit MIT for Sabermetric Conference

Fat Vegas Alan — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:34:48 -0000

Moms' Basements Empty Across the USA: 450 Geeks Visit MIT for Sabermetric Conference

OBAMA INVITED TO THROW FIRST PITCH The Cincinnati Reds have invited President Barack Obama to...

Fat Vegas Alan — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:31:20 -0000

OBAMA INVITED TO THROW FIRST PITCH

The Cincinnati Reds have invited President Barack Obama to throw out the first pitch at the Civil Rights Game on June 20 at Great American Ballpark.

The hook the Reds hope will lure Obama is that they are facing his favourite team, the Chicago White Sox.

"We sent a letter signed by (Commissioner) Bud Selig and myself," Reds CEO Bob Castellini told the Cincinnati Enquirer on Wednesday. "We're hopeful. We haven't heard yet."

Reds manager Dusty Baker knows Obama personally, campaigned on his behalf and attended the inauguration.

The Civil Rights Game has been played since 2007. It was previously an exhibition game played in Memphis.