SB Nation User Blog: jgoodfri

Rose, the Reds and Racism

jgoodfri — Sat, 10 May 2008 01:26:02 -0000

On the recent Why is Cincinnati So Racist post, the subject was raised of Pete Rose having closer friendships with the black and hispanic players than with the white players in the 60's.

It's true that he did. The following comes from the book Crosley Field by Rhodes and Erardi.

Rose loved (Frank) Robinson and his buddy, Vada Pinson, because the black fielders befriended him when the white players wouldn't; they were upset that Rose had taken (Don) Blasingame's job. Rose splashed on their brand of cologne, wore his baseball pants long and tight like them, warmed up with them on the field before the game. The Reds' front office told Rose to stop hanging around the blacks. "It's bad for your image," he was told. Rose ignored the advice, just as he ignored it when manager Fred Hutchinson passed along the same message from above. Johnny Temple said Hutchinson told him in 1964 to make sure of two things: that Rose didn't hang around with the black players and that Rose learned how to use a knife and fork when he ate.

50 losses, one incredible statistic

jgoodfri — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 23:02:05 -0000

Want a feel-good comeback win? Play the Reds. After last night's you've-got-to-be-kidding-me loss, I decided to look over the box scores and see just how bad our bullpen really is.

I can't believe this is true, but it is: We have had the lead in in the 5th inning or later in 22 of the 50 games we've lost.

Of the remaining 28 losses, we were tied in the 5th or later in five of them.

I have nothing more to say about this, except that I just noticed my Skyline tastes saltier than usual, because I'm crying in it.

Enjoying seeing the Braves in last place

jgoodfri — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 15:00:07 -0000

The Braves have lost 9 in a row and are in last place. They are worse than the $15-million-payroll Fightin' Fish.

After 15 years -FINALLY- I can dance on the grave of the Braves dynasty.

Braves: How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways:

For having fans so lazy that you can't even sell out a playoff game, even when thousands of out of town fans are buying up tickets.
For the most annoying thing in the game: The Tomahawk Chop.
For celebrating like you just won the World Series when you ended Pete Rose's hitting streak in 1978.
For giving us such prizes as wife beater Bobby Cox, philanderer Chipper Jones, and proto-Klansman John Rocker.
Skip Caray, you make my ears hurt.
Chief Noc-a-homa. Seriously?
For your long years of sponsorship by Red Man Chewing Tobacco. Teaching kids prejudice and tobacco use at the same time. Thanks.
And finally, for holding us to 5 runs in 39 innings of play in the 1995 NLCS.

Braves, you are dominant no longer. In fact, you suck. Good riddance!

Game Thread: Game 72

jgoodfri — Wed, 22 Jun 2005 17:40:12 -0000

[Thanks for putting this up jgoodfri! Much appreciated. - JD]

Tony LaRussa's St. Louis Cardinals: 45-25
vs.
Jerry Narron's Cincinnati Reds: 1-0

Pitching matchup: Mulder vs. Ortiz

Mets Sign Graves

jgoodfri — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 17:01:21 -0000

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2078917

From the '73 NLCS, to the '99 playoff game, to their inability to win despite having a huge payroll,

I'VE NEVER LIKED THE METS.

Now that they've signed Grave Digger, I've got another reason. Let's hope they play Graves the next time we see them. It's payback time!

On what day did the Reds die?

jgoodfri — Tue, 03 May 2005 18:55:36 -0000

I don't expect to see another Reds championship in my lifetime, thanks to baseball's lack of revenue sharing and the franchise's own problems.

If the franchise is dead, the question is, on what day did it expire. I would suggest the following possibilities:

October 14, 1995:
The Braves defeat the Reds 6-0 to complete a NLCS sweep. In the series, the Reds score a total of 5 runs in 39 innings of play. This season marks the end of over a decade of consistently competitive play for the franchise.

February 10, 2000:
Coming off a good winning season, and with a new ballpark in the works, the Reds sign Ken Griffey, Jr. 'Nuff said.

May 2, 2005:
Returning home after a disasterous road trip, the Reds allow a 7 run comeback in the 9th against the Cardinals. The loss highlights all the Reds' problems in terms of indifferent play, bad attitudes, poor coaching, and questionable roster moves.

I invite your comments. Thanks. Joe