Well, some of you know me and some of you only know the persona here. For those in the latter category, please suspend disbelief for just a moment and consider the following. 

I've recently become involved with Cincinnati Golden Gloves/PAL (Police Athletic League) boxing program which focuses on at-risk inner city youth. It's a program that has thrived over the years under the watchful eye of Buddy LaRosa, of pizza fame, who's attempted to keep the great, rich spirit of the city's boxing history alive while reaching kids that truly need a guiding force. No one makes a dime and the kids get top-notch coaching and real, valuable advice about how to deal with the immediate problems of how to survive amidst a poverty stricken upbringing. 

Now, hey, we all have our opinions of the pro sport. All valid. This is not that. These kids are busting their asses for nothing except achievement. They get to compete and find self-worth amid some pretty awful circumstances. The program currently ranks #1 in the United States for Golden Gloves/Olympic qualifying boxing programs. Over the past 15 years, we have produced more Olympic boxers than any other program in the United States. One of our kids, RauShee Warren is getting set to go after his unprecedented 3rd Olympic team. Another of our kids, Adrien Broner, is an undefeated pro, twice recently featured on HBO as one of Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy up and coming fighters. RauShee and Adrien still come to the gym, still help out the other kids, still believe. That's a community to be proud of. 

Yes, we've lost some kids. Ricardo Willams made some mistakes. Larry Donald was a pro bust. Tony Tubbs is a jackass. But, what is lost in the shuffle are the rest of the kids, hundreds of them, that have used the program well. They've found purpose and a belief that someone gives a damn about them. Once that belief is in place, life matters. 

So, the purpose of this post is to invite you all to the largest gathering of amateur boxers in the United States this year. The "Last Chance" Olympic qualifier is being held over the next week, giving over 300 youth boxers a chance to make their dreams come true, right here in the Queen City. Here is some basic information: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Last-Chance-Hotel-and-Ticket-Info.html?soid=1103431944082&aid=rzl72quccQQ

If anyone wants to attend or would like more information, please let me know. My e-mail address is available through my account here. These kids put on a great show and deserve support. 

Now, back to your regularly scheduled vulgar snark.....

Paul Daugherty is yet again firing shots across the bow of any and all who have a problem with the way Dusty Baker manages. He begins with his usual "You're stupid for thinking I'm stupid" bit, but what's this?

Joel Luckhaupt is a baseball researcher. He deals in inside-baseball stuff that bores me to jeers. No disrespect intended. Luckhaupt suggests Baker's lineups aren't terrible, exactly. "I don't think he uses the least optimal lineups," Luckhaupt said. "Batting the pitcher first or second would be much worse."

Is it our very own Slyde he enlists to his aid? In a riveting dialog exchange that I'm sure was not at all cherry-picked contextually, we are shown that line-ups mean nothing. Say it aint so. First the book, now Daugherty. What's next for Slyder? White shoes after Labor Day?

Via the Fay

Damnit, the idea is to take the wheel out of Dusty's hands. Let's hope this is a Jacque Jones-esque signing.

To fill in space, here's a classy poem:

There once was a man from NantucketWho kept all his cash in a bucket.But his daughter, named Nan,Ran away with a manAnd as for the bucket, Nantucket....

Please finish the poem for my childish pleasure.  
Damn, still too short. How about now?

Coming as a surprise to absolutely no one, Mark McGwire admitted Monday that he used steriods during his career. 
I suppose it's a preemptive move now so that when he begins to act as hitting instructor for the Cards this spring he'll be less of a distraction if the media has all winter to beat this dead horse. So, what do you guys think? Think he'll start signing balls that say, "Sorry I used the juice, Big Mac"?

       Hello, fellow nerds. My name is Pops and I drink recreationally. Which brings me to the point of this here Fanpost: you are all cordially invited to attend our annual Labor Day Riverfest Party in Newport, Ky. on Sunday Sept. 6th. There will be food by yours truly and a certain famous local Cincinnati chef. There will be fine beers, wines, liquor, and vanilla extract. There will be a juggler if you decide that you'd like to juggle.

       The point here is that I consider you all to be part of my bizarre family. No less bizarre than my own blood relations, to be sure, but family none the less, and we'd be honored if you would consider joining us for a party that is always lots of fun. Because our house sits in such close proximity to the Levee, we always get first dibs on a front row area for the fireworks event, plus they can be seen from my side yard and porch. We've done this for 3 years now, and most say they have enjoyed themselves. I would ask jch, Red Menace, and snohio to bear witness to this (and even if you didn't enjoy yourselves fellas, please lie). 

         The party runs from 4 p.m.ish to whenever I pass out and our only request is that you bring some kind of dish (appetizers and desserts are preferred). Please e-mail me if you are interested in attending and I will provide you with all of the necessary information and begin to tally up the number of people we can expect. Don't worry folks, I'm not nearly as creepy as my internet persona and children are not only welcome, but encouraged (mine have plenty of toys to share). 

           If some of you would be so kind as to rec this so that it stays up for a while, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks all.    

                                                                                                    ---------Your weird internet friend, Pops

Ok, so the general consensus is that the Reds will be below .500 for the upcoming season and we'll have to really gird up our loins to fein surprise at the poor showing in the standings. My contention is that this may be the true rebuilding season that the Reds have needed for quite a long time. 

Jocketty may not be a dynamic personality and he may have made a few small head scratchers (Taveras, J. Jones, etc.) but he has not given away any of the promising youngsters that could mature relatively soon and contribute to a sustained success.

Now, I will dispense with the things that we already know (like complaints about line-up construction and bench fodder being starters) and try to focus on what will be fun about '09 instead. That is the point of this post, to try and get you all to into the spirit of spring and hope and all of that. I'll keep my intuitions brief here and hopefully everyone else will fill in what their gut (Dusty strategy) tells them will happen this year.

1) Cueto breaks out. I think he's an ace in the making. I say he puts up a sub 4.20 ERA this season and is an All-Star in '10.

2) Jay Bruce lives up to his Zips projections. I think he could fall ass backward into 37 HR rather easily and improves his plate discipline. Believing in the kid is not difficult, obviously.

3) EE hits 30 HR and only throws 5 balls over Votto's head. Defensive metrics rejoice.

4) Drew Stubbs gets to play LF by July. This is my wish.

5) Chris Valaika gets a shot at SS after the trade deadline when Seabass is dealt for a minor league relief pitcher.

6) Homer Bailey wins the 5th spot and has success early and builds the confidence he so desperately needs. I say he pitches 125-150 innings. That would be lovely but difficult from the 5 spot, I know, I know, but these are my wishful guts, damnit.

So, what else? Good things will be happening amid all of the stupid double switches, right?

According to Ken Rosenthal, the deal is close to being done.

"12:01 p.m. — Reds close to signing Rhodes

The Reds have reached a preliminary agreement with free-agent left-hander Arthur Rhodes to a two-year, $4 million contract. The deal is pending a physical, which the 39-year-old Rhodes will take Friday.

Rhodes appeared in 61 games last season — 36 for the Mariners, 25 for the Marlins — and had a combined record of 4-1 with a 2.04 ERA."

I personally only think a one year deal was the right thing here, but he's our LOOGY, it looks like. Thoughts on the money?

UPDATE from Slyde: Too many years and too much money for a guy that only pitched 35 innings last year.  Also, the Reds took David Patton in the Rule 5 Draft today...

UPDATE from BK: ...and traded him to the Cubs for cash. (Teh Fay)

So here's the thing my Reds internet nerd compatriots, the WEBN fireworks on the river hold us hostage every year and there's nothing left to do buy embrace it and throw a big party. So, it's Aug 31 and it's Riverfest and we're located in the middle of all of it in Mansion Hill in Newport. Since y'all are sort of an extended family for me, united in Reds fandom pain, you are invited to the madness, but I need to know how many of you are interested in coming so we can plan accordingly. We are having it catered with servers and will have a keg, wine, and booze. Juice boxes are for the kids only, Slyde. And kids are not only welcomed, but appreciated.  

All that I ask is that you e-mail me in advance, so Mrs. Pops and I can plan. You have to bring nothing but yourselves and you are on your own with parking. I will give directions to those who need it and will give out the address privately via e-mail. It starts at 4 p.m. with dinner served around 6 p.m. It ends whenever you can drive out of the madness. I may be forgetting crucial details, so questions here will be answered whenever the hell I feel like it (between bottles and diapers actually). Thanks for being a main source of entertainment for me ladies and gentleman. This is my gift to you.

Pictures are here.

We are blessed beyond our wildest dreams. Gus Wylie Daniels was born on the 18th and weighed in at 8lbs. 7oz. and 22 in. long. Mrs. Pops was f'ing nails and Gus came out admirably feisty and ushered in a beautiful win. Will check the pregnancy pool later to see who won the prize. Thanks to any and all interested. Mrs. Pops and I were watching the game and she (In massive pain going natural) looked up from a contraction and saw Freel futz around with a grounder in the outfield and said "eh, damn, looks like he's struggling" then went back into horrific pain. I married one of the good ones..... Looks like Alan is on the clock. 

    As you might surmise from the alliterative title, Mrs. Pops and I are expecting child number two around mid-May.
    Now, I do not often post anything of value hereabouts and am usually only entertaining myself with my absurd blitherings, but I thought this might be a good opportunity for me to pull back the curtain and invite everyone here to share some of the joy of our imminent arrival.
    For those of you interested, I am asking for predictions about sex (we are not going to find out), weight, and length in inches. For the number huggers among us, I offer the following information to aid in predictions: My first child was a boy 9lbs. 8oz. and 22 in. long. My wife is 6'2" and ???lbs. (quite slim) and I am 6'1" and 203. I am one of three boys and my wife is one of two girls.

Name shout-outs might be fun too.

The results shall be posted here as soon as the little one gets here and the winner gets and authentic Tony LaRussa 8x10 glossy "enhanced" and signed by yours truly.

Thanks and let 'em rip. (the guesses, not my wife of course)    

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