I'm curious to see whether or not anyone can read this. If you can that's awesome, you should say something. If you can't that's awesome too, I'll say something in your place. I never understood why there is a word threshold on FanPosts, wouldn't it make more sense to have a character threshold instead? Although I suppose someone could just post a ton of random characters to defeat that. At any rate, I'm almost to 75

I'd like to think we have an open and welcoming environment here at Red Reporter, despite what this thread might imply. That unsavory showing of better-than-you-ness notwithstanding, I'd like to implore all the newish members of the site out there to come forward and let us know a little about yourself. I'll go first, even though anyone who's been here more than 2 weeks probably already knows most of this:

I'm a 6'4" hunk of gorgeous Reds fan, I have 2 equally gorgeous kids, and live in beautiful Silverton, OH (hometown of Roger Staubach and Barry Larkin). My all time favorite band is Pearl Jam, my favorite flavor of ice cream is strawberry, and my favorite Animaniacs credit goes to Kathryn Page. Also, despite being able to eat copious amounts of food I'm allergic to mustard and coffee, both of which will cause me to puke within a minute or two in most cases.

Here's what I look like. Fair warning - Despite what this picture might imply I'm not developmentally challenged (Hi Petey!) and I don't have a glass eye. I was just a little #overserved.

via i168.photobucket.com

So dear intrepid lurker/newbie, I ask you:

Who are you?

How old are you?

Where are you from?

What's your favorite dessert?

How did you find this little crazy corner of Reds fandom?

What keeps you coming back?

What's your guilty pleasure movie or song? (mine is Lilo & Stitch and Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, FWIW)

When confronted with a yellow light, do you hit the gas pedal or the brake pedal?

Yesterday's games didn't tell us a whole lot we didn't already know. The Saints are going to be really hard to beat, and the Bengals still aren't ready to be serious players in the NFL.

What will today's games teach us? Who knows, but here's what we got on tap:

Atlanta Falcons at N.Y. Football Giants, 1:00 PM, FOX - The Falcons are on the road despite having a better record. I'm sticking with my pick from yesterday, Falcons 27 Giants 21. No Manning Magic(tm) today.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Tebows, 4:30 PM, CBS - The NFL's home field advantage rules strike again. There's zero percent chance Denver wins this game, do you hear me? ZERO PERCENT CHANCE. Steelers 24, Broncos 10.

What do you guys think will happen?

If you could have one restored classic car to drive around for fun, what would it be?

What's your favorite snack during football games? Prep time must be under ten minutes.

The NFL playoffs have begun and that means one thing - College basketball is king and the countdown to Spring Training can begin! Erm, I mean, there will be great football on today. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Anywho, today's Titanic Struggles are as follows:

Bengals @ Texans, 4:30 PM, NBC - The Bengals look for their first playoff win since the first Bush was president. The last time the Bengals won a playoff game, their opponent? You guessed it, Houston. My Prediction - Bengals 24, Texans 10. This game would be completely different if Houston had a decent QB. I'm really happy for Andre Johnson though.

Lions @ Saints, 8:30 PM, NBC - I have a feeling this game's going to get ugly. My Prediction - Saints 41, Lions 14.

As is the case with these types of threads, if yoou don't want to talk football that's cool too. College basketball is in full swing, with UK hosting South Carolina at 4:00, Ohio State at Iowa at 3:00, Notre Dame visiting Louisville at 4:00, and #18 Murray State visiting Austin Peay tonight at 8:00 on ESPNU. I'm curious to see Murray St. play, there's talk of them going undefeated through the regular season.

So what are your predictions for today's games? What did you want to be when you grew up? Do you have any Grey Poupon?

Another day, another thread, and we still don't know who'll be joining T-Pain Wood in the Cubs' organization this summer. Maybe it will be these two:

via www.counterweights.ca

Anywho, talk amongst yourself, I'm off to gorge myself at a holiday party and answer the "wow, having a birthday on Christmas must really suck, huh?" question approximately 432 times.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011, Red Reporters! While our favorite team may have had a season to forget I am here to lift your spirits and remind you of the good that outshines the bad.

First and foremost we should all be thankful, if for no other reason than the fact that we got to spend another summer watching our favorite team play the most beautiful game in the world at the highest level while taking us along a roller coaster ride of emotions. Feeling is living, and baseball gives that to us.

I'm here to tell you why we should bow our cyber heads and thank the good baseball gods above for the graces he/she has bestowed upon us. All praise our favorite turkey!

I hereby give thanks that:

• Dusty Baker is the manager of the Reds. Complain if you will but the man brought playoff baseball to Cincinnati for the first time in 15 years and the players love playing for him. I dare you to say you would prefer Jerry Narron, Dave Miley, or Bob Boone.
• Joey Votto is a Cincinnati Red - It's looking more likely by the day that Joey won't retire a Red so please, enjoy him while you can. The man is one of the best overall hitters I've seen in my lifetime. I get chills watching him hunker down and fight off borderline pitch after borderline pitch before lining a fastball off the plate to left center for a 2 RBI double. His at bat against Broxton was an absolute thing of beauty and the best part was as you were watching it happen, you KNEW Joey wasn't going to make an out. I might have an unhealthy crush on this man.
  
• Brandon Phillips is a Cincinnati Red - We may have become spoiled with 2B defense over the years with Bret Boone and Pokey Reese, but BP has taken it to another level. If you haven't had the opportunity to see one of his masterpieces in person, get to the ballpark this year please. It's an unbelievable experience to see a sharply hit ball to the right side go from single to Web Gem in 2 seconds. If you're like me you'll start cheering late because you're looking to the person next to you yelling "HOLY SHIT, DID YOU SEE THAT?!?!!?". Seriously folks, we're going to miss him when he's gone.
• Jay Bruce is a Cincinnati Red - There's been talk recently as to whether or not Jay Bruce has peaked as a hitter. For the record I don't think he has, but if he plateaus at 30 HR/100 RBI for the next five years with great RF defense for the next five years you're going to have to find someone else to color disappointed.
• Johnny Cueto is a Cincinnati Red - Johnny seems to have figured it out and has gotten better each year, to the point of dominance last year. He's become the bulldog I wasn't sure he could, and I couldn't be happier to be wrong.

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   In the latest installment of the "Red Reporter Interviews" series, yesterday I spoke by phone with former Cincinnati Red and Hall Of Fame catcher Johnny Bench. Why would Johnny Bench take the time to speak with some schlepp like me, you ask? Well I'll tell you - Because I'm handsome, witty, and charming in a "aaawww, he just doesn't know any better" sort of way. And me and Pepsi MAX go way back.

   Remember the Field of Dreams promotion that ran this summer where fans got to vote for a Living Legends team that would come to one lucky voter's city to take on a team of his/her friends? If you don't, we talked about it here and here. As it turns out the grand prize winner was Tim Wisecup, a chemist from Columbus, OH. Tim will be throwing out the first pitch tonight before Game 2 of the World Series and his favorite player, Johnny Bench, will be catching. Hopefully Tim will only throw one baseball so this unfortunate situation doesn't occur again:

via cincinnati.reds.mlb.com

   Anywho....Johnny and I chatted about Carl Lindner, The Pepsi MAX promotion he's a part of, his statue outside GABP, and Devin/Yasmani. Enjoy.

(There's no introduction portion of the interview because we basically talked over each other for about 30 seconds and it sounded like hell. My bad.)

The Cardinals are winning so we've moved on to other topics. Can the Lions go to 5-0? Is Chaz's beard Bonofide? Will the internet blow up if we create a second open thread? Find out the answer to this and other life's mysteries inside!

via thecheesegrater.co.uk

With the 2011 Reds season mercifully over, we as baseball fans turn our attention to the tighter-than-a-nun's-WHOAWHOAWHOA Wild Card races. As of right this minute the Phillies and Braves are tied 1-1 in the 2nd inning, The Cardinals will play the Astros in 30 minutes or so, the Yankees lead the Devil Rays 1-0 in the first inning, and the Red Sox-Orioles game is scoreless in the second inning. If you're interested in watching, here's the channels (in Cincinnati anyway):

ESPN: Red Sox-Orioles

ESPN2: Phillies-Braves

All of the games are available on ESPN3 if you have it.

ESPN2 will pick up the end of the Cardinals-Astros once the Braves game ends.

Talk about whatever you'd like within reason, and ask yourself - Which fan would you rather see in 2 days?

via www.straitpinkie.com

or:

via 2.media.sportspickle.cvcdn.com

That's what I thought. Go Braves, Astros, Orioles, and Devil Rays!

  Tonight Mike Vick makes his return to his old stomping grounds of Atlanta as an Eagle, and the 2011 Emmys take place in Hollywood. Give us your predictions on tonight's winner/winners below:

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   Tonight the National Football League kicks off its 92nd season when the Green Bay Packers host the New Orleans Saints in a match up of the past two Super Bowl champions. Obviously with this being an open thread any and all subjects are welcome (except whether Aroldis Chapman should be a starter or a closer). Now I leave you with the two best pictures I could find on short notice for this fanpost:

via www.examiner.com

via www.nostarclothing.com

Remember way back in the day when I interviewed Barry Larkin and talked about the Pepsi MAX Field of Dreams contest? Well voting is over and while our boy didn't make it some other former Reds did. Here's the team:

The Pepsi MAX® Field of Dreams^TM Team roster is comprised of:

• Starting Pitcher – Randy Johnson
• Catcher – Johnny Bench
• First Baseman – Frank Thomas
• Second Baseman – Rod Carew
• Third Baseman – Mike Schmidt
• Short Stop – Cal Ripken, Jr.
• Outfielders – Ken Griffey, Jr., Tony Gwynn and Reggie Jackson
• Relief Pitcher – Dennis Eckersley
• Designated Hitter – Edgar Martinez

   More info after the jump, including how to decide where the game will be held, after the jump.

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Reds are down 3-1 in the top of the 7th and Chris Welsh has said "dookie drag" more than once. 

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Miguel Cairo - Game winning hits win JNMHSoG, always. Honorable mention to Dontrelle Willis, who went seven solid (if shaky at times) innings and 3-3 at the dish.

Key Plays

• Both starters worked out of jams in the 1st, stranding runners at second and third to end the inning.
• In the top of the second David Espinosa doubled before Fan Favorite Jonny Gomes(FFJG) grounded out. Then BP did what BP does, making a ridiculous play to rob Wilson Ramos of a hit and save a run. Dontrelle walked Wang to put men on first and third but got Ian Desmond to ground out and escaped without harm.
• In the Reds' half of the third, Todd Frazier hit a ball that burped loudly after eating Ian Desmond alive. After Paul Janish flied out weakly to LF I made the comment to snohio it sounds like PJ is swinging a wiffle ball bat up there. Dontrelle followed WeakWrists McGee by smacking a ball through the right side(you should have heard the crack of the bat!), moving Frazier to third. BP followed with a single to score Frazier and the Reds had their first lead at 1-0.
• This is where the Reds started making life easy for Wang. Wang had thrown 20 pitches in the first inning but only throw 72 over the next five. It was maddening. 
• Dontrelle got into trouble again in the 4th, walking Espinosa and giving up a single to FFJG. Then Wilson Ramos blasted one into right field and the bad guys led 3-1.
• Wang gave a run back in the 6th when BP plated Paul Janish after Janish had walked (more on this in the notes) and Dontrelle had moved him over with his third hit of the night. Janish would have been out at the plate but thankfully FFJG was the one making the throw. Mark Berry should have been fired on the spot for sending Janish.
• Dusty sent Dontrelle back out to pitch the 7th even though he was at 101 pitches and the top of the Nats lineup would follow what was sure to be a pinch hitter. I may or may not have taught the youngsters in front of me some new "colorful" words when this happened. Dontrelle labored a bit, put two more guys on, but made it out alive by getting Ryan Zimmerman to ground out and striking out Mike Morse. You win this round, Baker.
• This is where things get weird. A couple of banks of lights went out and the game was delayed for 17 minutes. This obviously helped the Reds, who rallied to tie the game on an RBI single by Todd Frazier in their half of the 7th.
• After blowing a golden chance in the 8th, Drew Stubbs and Todd Frazier singled in the 9th to bring Miguel Cairo to the plate. Miggy smacked a game winning single to the wall in left center and the Queen City could sleep safe tonight, for our Redlegs were victorious.

via www.fangraphs.com

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MONDAY NIGHT, the only first round draft pick not to sign was Tyler Beede. Beede is a RHP from Lawrence Academy (HS) in Groton, MA. who decided to attend Vanderbilt and try his luck in three years. Yesterday Aaron Fitt from Basbeball America tweeted the following:

Just got off the phone with #Vanderbilt freshman to be Tyler Beede, who said the final offer he turned down from #BlueJays was $2.4 million.

and this:

Beede said his number was $3.5 million. "Life is not without risk, and I plan on working hard for three years." Good head on his shoulders.

Those tweets caused my head to explode, and brought a certain someone to my mind.

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I just got back and aspparently there are no mods in the thread or they just don't care. Time to get FUNK-AY! 

Reds down 5-1 in the 6th, this is the comeback thread.

Reds down 4-2 after seven innings. This isn't over. No sir, not by a long shot.

Due to some poor planning I am in possession of two tickets for tonight's 8:00 game that I don't need. They're terrace outfield, section 106, row K, seats 8/9. This is in LF just inside the foul pole. I'm willing to eat the fees so they can be all your for the face value of $22 each. As an added bonus, you might even get to meet me! Who wouldn't want that, right? Seventy five words is an awful lot, dangit.

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Johnny Cueto - 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. He lowered his ERA to 1.98 on the year, which would lead the NL if he had 2.1 more innings pitched. Bad. Ass.

Key Plays

• In the first inning Chris Heisey ended up at second base after an error by SS Terrence Trent D'Arby and after being sacrificed to third by Edgard, scored on a sacrifice fly by Votto. People filled the streets of Cincinnati rejoicing the Reds' first run since Sunday afternoon and all was well in Porkopolis.
  
• In the second inning Jay Bruce walked, stole second, moved to third on Jonny Gomes' single and scored on a sac fly by Miguel Cairo. Reds up 2-0. Two innings, two runs scored on sacrifice flies. At this point we'll take what we can get, no?
• After hitting Niel Walker with a pitch leading off the 4th inning Johnny Cueto gave up a double off the wall in right-center field and the the Pirates were right back in it, down 2-1.
• The good guys got that run back in the top of the 5th after yet another error by D'arcy Wretzky put Cueto on first. Heisey moved Cueto up with a single and Johnny scored on an RBI single by everyone's favorite veteran SS, Edgar Renteria.
  
• Logan Ondrusek worked out of a first and second one out jam in the 7th, Chapman looked good in the 8th, and CoCo did what CoCo do in the 9th. Reds win and avoid the sweep. Three Musketeer bars for all!
  

 

via www.fangraphs.com

Pirates lead 1-0 in the top of the 7th, but the Reds are threatening. RALLY CAPZ TYME!

Ed. note: A replay of yesterday's post. This was a proud moment in Red Reporter history.

EDIT: I somehow forgot to add a link to the voting page, fixed. -jch

Today I had the opportunity to talk to Barry Larkin on behalf of the site, and I even managed to keep my pants on during the interview. Not an easy task. Let me first say that Mr. Larkin was easy to talk to and made my first interview as the interviewer go surprisingly smooth. I'm sure it sounds cliche but you can just tell he's a good dude.

At any rate, Barry is in Phoenix and promoting a pretty cool contest that Pepsi Max is running. Remember the "Field Of Dreams" commercials we've been seeing all year? Well, Pepsi Max and MLB are giving you the chance to create your own field of dreams and play against a team of living legends. Who wouldn't want to take the field with this handsome fella?

 

via 3.bp.blogspot.com

Details after the jump.

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