Griff to the White Sox

Pending his approval, it looks like Griffey will say good bye to his hometown Reds today heading up the Chicago and to first place. It's kind of sad to see Griffey go but it's time for the Reds to move on. No reports of who the Reds are getting but I'd say it's not much.

Free gas Card Give Away

Your right this has nothing to do with fantasy baseball but hey gas is killing me more than my pitching is so I just couldn't pass without telling you guys about this give away. All you have to do is click the link, it's takes less than a minute to sign up for these $50 gas cards.

I actually read this everyday and remember fantasy is just that fantasy.....and fantasy baseball rocks.....but so does saving money, so check it out!!!!!



On August 18, three winners will be announced at MoneyNing and each winner will receive a $50 gas gift card to help them fill up their tanks!
Click here to check it out!!

Jr. breathing Down Sammy's Neck

Ken Griffey Jr. just slammed his 608th career home run at Minute Maid park in Houston to give the Reds some much needed breathing room tonight. Look out Sammy Sosa because Jr. is about to push you down one notch on the all time home run list.

The Reds are actually wining a game tonight and the pitching is holding together pretty good so far as Edinson Volquez has a shutout going into the fifth inning.

In other news the Reds true lead off hitter Jerry Hairston is in Louisville to begin a short rehab stint to get ready to kick start this team back into some respectable baseball playing.

Adam Dunn just hit his second home run of the game and his major league leading 32th of the season. Is anyone having a better July than Dunn!!!! I think we might be working on ending this five game skid.......

Yet Another Loss

Looks like the Reds have packed it in for 2008 as they guaranteed themselves a series loss and now are looking up at the Astros. Brian Freakin Moehler nearly pitched a complete game on them today. Arroyo continued the trend of atroucious starting pitching and Majewski continuted the bull pen dominance.

This season officially ends tomorrow with a second straight series sweep.

Dunn's Slam Not Enough

When does the bleeding stop. After a very dismal 4-6 home stand in which the way the Reds played was sharply criticized over the air waves, they were ready to get out of town and just try to put the home stand behind them. Well it don't matter where you play when you are in the kind of rut the Reds are in. The season is looking more and more like it's over and time to start looking at 2009.

Tonight the Reds had to face Roy Oswalt and we all know what he does to the Reds. Oswalt wasn't really at his best but the way the Reds are playing it didn't matter. Coming into tonight's game Oswalt was 19-1 against the Reds.....make that now 20-1....how is that possible. I am listening to "baseball Tonight" as I write this and the Reds low lites just came on and they are saying Oswalt owns the best winning percentage of anyone against any other team in MLB.

Down in the Lone Star State the lone bright spot for the Reds was Adam Dunn's 30th home run, a grand slam no less to give him 72 RBI's on the season. This is Dunn's walk year and I think he will set career highs for HR's and RBI's.

Hopefully tomorrow the Reds hottest pitcher right now Bronson Arroyo will be the one to stop the bleeding.

Let's run through some stats from the Rockies series.......

Wins 0........Losses 3 Remember this is in Great American to a sub .500 team in the "Everybody Sub .500 NL West".

Earned Runs: 22

Reds Runs: 3

Hits Given up: 34

Hits by the Reds: 18

Reds Errors: 4

That's the opposite of impressive. If the Bucs wouldn't have traded away their team to the Yanks, the Reds would probably be heading towards last place.

Another Gem by Reds Pitching Today

The Reds pitchers are turning in another masterful performance today. Josh Fogg gave up 7 earned over 3 2/3 to raise is ERA to a fanastic 7.84. Great job Josh, waivers are in order and Mr. Thompson should be up soon. Swept away by the Rockies. Go ahead and put this season to bed and be sellers in the trade market. You've only been sellers the past 18 seasons.

Sickened Reds Fan.

Maybe The Low Point Of The Season

I wouldn't call what we saw this weekend, at home no less, major league baseball as far as the effort the Reds put forth. It's almost not worth watching and yes I did see people leaving the game after the third inning this afternoon. The starting pitching this series was as bad as it gets....The ERA for the three starters this series was over 11.00, how sad is that. I have seen more routine plays being botched and enough dropped balls, wild pitches, past balls, errors, you name it, to last a full season. I see guys walking around with their heads down, they are just not hustling at all. Where is the professional pride these guys are suppose to have, they are making way too much money to put forth the effort they displayed this weekend. For some reason I kinda feel for Dusty Baker, he has his work cut out for him for sure.

Things have gotta get better as I do believe this team has hit it's low point of the season.

Notes From the Rain Delay

First I want to say why isn't there a descent radio station in the Louisville market carrying the Reds these days. It's a damn shame when right here in the heart of Reds country you can't catch the game on the radio if you are five miles outside of Louisville.

During the rain delay to start the game tonight I turned on the radio to "TRY" to hear what Jeff "The Cowboy" Brantley and Marty "Hall of Fame" Brennaman had to say. They were taking phone calls on the air during the rain delay, I got thru but was still on hold as the game was starting so I didn't get a chance to ask this question. Who is the odd man out when Aaron Harang comes off the DL. Homer Bailey and Josh Fogg both have had a few bright spots the past couple of weeks. Well tonight's game made have made Walt Jockety's job a little easier. There is no dought Homer Bailey has issues and still hasn't got his act together. In his defense he did battle out of a few jams tonight, but six straight hits might have gotten him a ticket back to Louisville until the roster expands to forty.

Some of the calls were real good ones as Brantley flat out laid it on the line by saying there is "no way Griffey is back next year." Marty told a caller that Adam Dunn just doesn't drive in enough runs to warrant the reds to pick up his option next year. All in all though the fans that did get through where pretty up beat about this team. I AM NOT THOUGH.......PROVE ME WRONG REDS, PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG!!!!!!!!

Griffey Blast # 607

Ken Griffey Jr. was the lone bright spot for the Cincinnati Reds tonight. Griff hit #607 to the opposite field no less. I guess he still has a little power left. Three more home runs and this future Hall of Famer will be in sole possession of fifth place all time in the home run department.

This gonna be short as I cannot stand to watch what I have been seeing the last two games. Not to take anything away from the the Rockies, but damn you can't let a team do this to you at home. Every time I think they are ready to roll the train gets derailed. I won't say stick a fork in them yet, but it's getting closer everyday. You have to win at home and split on the road to even think there is a chance at contending and these guys just aren't quite there. There is a great nucleus to a pretty good team somewhere down the road, but these guys are just still having growing pains.

I thought Homer Bailey was getting better and he was until tonight were he just plain sucked. I believe he gave up fifteen hits in less than five innings. He did battle out of a few jams but you could tell it was only a matter of time until he would self destruct. Dusty Baker let him give up six straight hits in the fifth before coming to get him. Tell me what good that did besides break Homer down a little more and pump up some Rockie batting averages.

Homer got hit hard tonight.......and the hitting was brutal

Homer Bailey gave up 15 hits tonight. Of those 15 hits, only 1 was an extra base hit as Adkins hit a double. Somehow, he only gave up 5 runs (4 earned). Not good. Homer's ERA is looking real bad at just under 7. He just doesn't have a put away pitch. I wish it would happen for the guy. He's got a great arm but still hasn't learned to pitch to big league batters. The Reds are yet again on the high road to no where.

The Reds hitters however, managed a big two hits one of the being 606 by Griff. Two freakin hits to De La Rosa who had an ERA well over 6 and a half. Nice job guys, you're all tearing the cover off the ball!

Has Edinson Volquez Hit the Wall

Edinson is still a young man at 25 years of age. Is he over worked at this point of his career, his first full season in the majors? After his poor outing last night one might think that. I myself don't buy into that theory. I can still remember when pitching staffs consisted of only four starters and those starters usually went a lot later into games than today's pitchers. Hell you have at least four days off now between starts and it's rare when a starter pitches into the eighth inning, much less take a save away from a closer by finishing the game.

Volquez has pitched l26 innings so far this season. I would say that's on track for close to 200 innings. Is that too many for a young pitcher.......I heard Dusty say he wasn't concerned about him being over worked, did he say that about Kerry Wood, just thinking out loud. If he had shut out the Rockies last night there wouldn't even be a discussion here. So what is the problem, is there a problem. I think the problem is that Edinson started the season so good that any little hiccup will be over analyzed. Let's sit back and wish the rest of the Reds staff could be having the same problem Volquez is having......I would take a 12-4 record and an ERA of 2.77 from every starter. Instead of bitching about over working Volquez we would all be bitching because we couldn't get playoff tickets.

For some reason reason the Reds have a real bad record in the first game of series and they have winning records in the second and third game of series.....watch out Rockies, game two tonight and Homer Bailey is starting to get a little better each outing.

Arroyo to the Rockies?

From my reading today, Arroyo obviously doesn't want to get traded but I wouldn't be surprised if it happened this weekend to the Rockies while they're in town. Let's see if I'm right. Mr. Thompson is sitting down in Louisville at 6-0 with a 1.08 WHIP.

Reds Ticket Deals

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/mlb/tickets/value.jsp?c_id=cin

The Reds have some great family deals on tickets right now as they try to get back to .500. Cut and paste to get all the deals. My family and I got the $15 ticket and got $10 food vouchers for each. My kids got kids meals for 4.25 each and we ate well for and still got ice creams at the end of the game for the $40 in vouchers. Go see the Reds. They're trying to make it more affordable for families.

mlb.com trade talk

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080724&content_id=3188039&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin

Just cut and paste.

Cordero-40 million in blown saves!

Mr. 40 Million dollar man..........Reds closer Francisco Cordero is the opposite of on fire blowing his 2nd save in recent days and getting a loss for the Reds. The starting pitching is getting it done but the Reds seem to only be scoring in 1 big inning and being done. Putting it simply, they continue to sicken me. Tonight, they blow it to one of the worst teams in the National League. Tomorrow, they get to face one of the best pitchers in the league. It's already looking like a dim series. Mr. GM, it's about time to make some moves b/c this team continues to not get it done. Too much talent to be 4 games under .500 Mr. Dusty Baker!!

What not to take to the ballpark!!!!!!!!!!!!

On Thursday night as me and a couple of my friends were heading into Great American Ballpark to see the Reds/Mets game one of the security guys at the ballpark "really went above and beyond the call of duty to insure our safety at the game." One of my friends, whose name shall remain anonymous, decided to "help" provide our protection that night. As we entered the park the "wand guy" picked our friend out of the crowd to do a strip search, uh I mean a wand search. I really think by the way he was looking at Dean, oops I said I wasn't going to say his name, that he really wanted to do a strip search though. Dean, oops there I go again, decides to carry in his own protection. No it wasn't that type of protection so get your mind out of the gutters. He did something I would recommend no one do and that was bring his pocket size AK-47 into the park......BAD IDEAL......
For some strange reason Cincinnati's finest frowned on this move. After loaning him a nice tight pair of shinning bracelets to wear on his wrists they hauled him off down the tunnel, no this was not to see the dugouts up close either. Me and my other friend did all we could to try to keep this off U-Tube, the crowd was just to large and rowdy to stop all of them though. Seems like everyone carries a video camera these days. This story is still breaking news, but the last time I checked there was only fifty three copies out there, so not too bad at this point.

We took this photo in case anyone sees our friend walking around the streets of Cincinnati looking for his truck. If you come across anyone answering to the name of Dean, I had to use his name this time......please call 555 REDS and we will be right there to get him.......by the way his wife said to make sure it's clear that there is no reward offered for his safe return.....just do the right thing!!!!!!!!!!

Reds/Mets Series

After the All-Star break the Reds opened a four game series at home against the hottest team in the majors heading into the break. Riding a nine game winning streak and their ace Santana on the mound for game one looked like they might stay hot. The Reds did a pretty good job on Santana running him after four innings. I was taking in a couple of these games and I felt real good heading into the night with a two run lead and Cordero jogging in from the bull pen to close the door. That good feeling was short lived as Cordreo served up a home run ball to David Wright with one on to tie the game. This just wasn't his night as he blew his fifth save of the year and took the loss after giving up four runs in the top of the ninth.

The Reds came back to win the next two games of this series and hope to win three of four this afternoon. Bronson Arroyo went eight strong on Friday night to get the Reds back on track and snap the Mets ten game winning streak and improve his record to 8-7. Arroyo has now won four straight games and is throwing better than at any time this season and that speaks very well for the second half of the season for the Reds.

On Saturday night Josh Fogg got the start and threw his third straight good game sense coming off the Dl. This was a pitcher's battle until the Reds erupted for four runs in the seventh to seal the win in front of a sell out crowd at Great American Ballpark.

2008 All Star Game-My Take

I really enjoyed the All Star game tonight for the first time since I can remember. I have enjoyed moments like Teddy Ballgame coming out with Ripken and Gwynn in Boston and Bo Jackson and Wade Boggs going back-to-back in KC, but I think tonight was the first time I've watched the entire game in years. I think it was because my son was so fired up about it before the game started. We walked in the door from his all star practice as the players stepped on the field. He was amazed to see all the Hall of Famers on the field and everything going on in Yankee Stadium. He yelled to his mom every time they announced another old player. Tonight was great.

Right now, it's 3-3 Top 9 and as much as I'd like to see the National League win one, I'd also love to see Rivera get this save in Yankee Stadium tonight. As Rivera runs in to the mound with 1 out in the 9th, it's hard not to get cold chills. My son dozed off on the couch right before Volquez gave up the homer. Thank goodness, b/c it would have ruined it for him.

Volquez's All Star Appearance

The Lone Red Edison Volquez made his 1st All Star Appearance tonight and gave up a two run dinger to JD Drew on a god awful pitch call by Russell Martin. On a 2-1 count, Martin called a knee high inside fastball and Volquz delivered. I knew it was gone when Martin set up there. Volquez came back to blow away Michael Young to end his 1 inning of work. Nice call Russell Martin. It should've been an outside knee high fastball.

Home Run Derby

Well the Home Run Derby was flat out awesome tonight. Ex-Red Josh Hamilton put on a show that won't soon be repeated. I see no reason why all the home runs can't count in a competition like this, but the powers that be just don't see it that way. With the 28 first round shots, and I mean shots, Josh probably hurt himself by hitting "too" many. The 28 was a new first round record, beating out the 24 that Bobby Abreu hit in 2005. I think he not only wore out his 71 year old pitching coach but he also wore down himself. This years results might help to make a rule change in the future, as it should. I think they just have to keep the end result in question, as this does keep more fans at home watching. And the more watching the more ad revenue....the more people that has their sets tuned in the more the ads cost, never forget it's always all about the money!!!!!!!!

I will say this Justin Morneau was a very graceful winner, as he did everything but apologize as he knew the night belonged to Josh. This story just keeps getting better and better for Hamilton, how can you not cheer for his success. He has a great story for the young people of this country that has demons they need to shake. I see another baseball movie in the works as well. You can say what you want about the NBA slam Dunk contest, The Pro Bowl game whatever else is out there, but nothing compares to the three day break for the Major League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby and all the fan fest activities they have. Show me a sport that has over 53,000 people show to just cheer for something of this nature. I have been lucky enough to go see a couple of these in person and they do rock.

Next up the game itself Tuesday night from New York City and Yankee Stadium, the greatest sports venue in the world, bar none....Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bailey Good, Sabathia Better

Homer Bailey pitched a good game today....5 2/3 innings of five hit, two run ball and racked up four K's and more important no walks today. But....CC Sabathia was better throwing a two run,complete game against the Reds. CC fanned nine to even his record at 8-8. The road trip ends with a 3-3 record and I still say it has to be considered a pretty good six games against two very good teams.

The loss was a costly one for the Reds in more ways than the won/loss record. Jerry Hairston pulls a hamstring and will be given an MRI in Cincinnati tomorrow to find the extend of this injury.

The Reds go into the All-Star break with a 46-50 record and playing pretty fair ball. If you would have told me Aaron Harang would only have three wins at the All-Star break and the Reds would only be four games under .500......Well you just have to believe that Harang will win more than three games after the break.

It's been plenty of good and plenty of bad baseball in the first half....Hope to be writing about more good the second half.....It will be interesting....Enjoy the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium, and get ready for the 4 games series against the Mets at Great American Ballpark starting on Thursday night. I plan to take in the first two games of this series so come on Reds!!!!!!!!!

Jerry Hairston

Jerry Hairston starts the game this afternoon by getting plunked by hard tight fast ball from CC Sabathia while trying to bunt, he rubs it off and stays in. Adam Dunn gets
hit on the first pitch he sees from Sabathia and gave CC a little stare down on his way to first. Between the Prince on first and CC on the mound, that's a lot of beef looking at you, so Dunn takes his base without incident.

In the bottom of the first Hairston playing Jr's spot in right today, makes a play that as good as Griffey is he would have had no chance to make. I just love the way this guy plays this game. Again show me a better lead off hitter in the game at this moment.

OK, top of second and the Reds have the bases juiced with Corey Patterson at the plate, oh no did I say Patterson......He does get the first run of the game in with a sacrifice fly. 1-0 Reds....Back to the game......

Reds Standing-Last day before the break

Reds
46 Ws
49 Ls
.484 Win %
11.5 out in the Central
7-3 over the last 10.
3 game win streak.

Three games under .500/11.5 back. There's no chance of catching the Cubbies. The Reds will have to battle it out for the Wild Card with the Mets or Phils, Cards, the Brew Crew, and maybe even the Marlins. Will the Reds make a move? The first couple weeks after the break will be huge. They need Harang back quickly and pitching like Harang. Hopefully Homer or Thompson can come on and start pitching at least like Cueto.

Futures Game on Live 12:30 Sunday-2 Reds

Only two Reds dot the roster of the Futures Game today which is a little disappointing. I wish it was pitching but it's SS Chris Valaika from AA Chattanooga and 3B Switch hitting Juan Francisco.

Valaika is batting .292 with 8 homers and 28 RBI in AA and .363 in A ball this year. Franciso is batting .268 in Sarasota. He's got some pop with 12 homers and 55 RBI. He has 83 Ks and only 7 walks this season. He's got a long way to go.

Just as a note, Oakland has three pitchers in this game. Why are they always so loaded with young pitching. No wonder they could trade Rich Harden away. Maybe the Reds need to hire Billy Bean.

Volquez and Getter Dunn Show

Wow, do I dare say this was expected.....no way. The Reds head into Sunday's afternoon game with a chance to sweep the Brew Crew and are right now guaranteed to not have a losing road trip. This in my mind is the biggest six game trip the Reds have taken this season. Here's hoping Homer Bailey has better stuff than CC Sabathia this afternoon, and the Reds head into the all-star break on a nice note.

Last night Edinson Volquez was simply amazing holding the Milwaukee Brewers to just two runs, and scattered six hits over his seven innings of work. Volquez also racked up ten strikeouts while walking walking only two as he picked up his 12th win of the season. I think he might be ready to take on the Big Apple on Tuesday night at the mid summer classic. Volquez actually has 126 K's to go with his 2.29 ERA and a 12-3 record on the season.

Edinson wasn't the only big star last night as Adam Dunn smashed two home runs to power the Reds offense. Dunn's two blasts gave him 26 on the season, he also added 4 RBI's to up that number to 58 on the season.

What can you say about the job Jerry Hairston is doing in the lead off spot for the Reds. Hairston went 4-4 last night to raise his average to .349, I don't think you could find a better lead off hitter in the game right now. This guy comes out of no where to bring excitement and hustle to this lineup. The Reds are flat out a better team with Hariston at the top of the order. He does what your lead off guy is suppose to do and that's get on base and find a way to get around and score.

Former Reds GM Jim Bowden And Jose Rijo

Breaking news from the the "Baseball Tonight " crew. Former Reds and current Washington Nationals GM, Jim Bowden is being investigated by the FBI for some kind of bonus money skimming for their Dominican Republic prospects. Jose Rijo's name was also mentioned in the story. Of course Bowden has denied any wrong doing so we know their is nothing to this story.....wink wink

I'm sure more on this will follow; stay tuned.......

New Baseball Movie Hitting The Big Screen

If you like baseball anywhere near as much as I do then you might want to check out this sneak peek at Hollywood's newest attempt to bring "AMERICA'S GAME" to the big screen.

The "Perfect Game" hits the big screen early August and it looks like it could be another along the lines of the "Rookie" as it is also a true story. Let's hope it's half as good as the "Rookie" was .....check it out here.......

http://www.theperfectgamemovie.com/

You can also sign up for playoff tickets and travel money the movie is sponsoring. Check it out here and see how many players you know......

Reds Take Exciting First Game in Milwaukee

This was a very exciting game tonight as the Reds got the best of the Brew Crew by a final of 6-5. It has got to feel good to take the first game of such a big road series. The Reds can actually head into the break with a head of steam with another win in the final two games this weekend.

Josh Fogg threw what I would say was his best start ever in a Reds uniform. The numbers are bit deceiving as he only gave up one hit and three runs. Josh allowed a home run to Ryan Braun on an 0-2 pitch, and that was really about the only mistake he made. With two walks and six strikeouts I think Josh Fogg and Dusty Baker was very well pleased tonight.

It was a very close game the whole way as the Reds and Brewers took turns answering the bell each time they needed to. Going into the ninth with a one run lead it was going to take another answer from the Brewers to take this much needed game from the Reds. It was not to be though as Reds closer Francisco Cordero coming into the game to a chorus of boos from his former teams fan's held the home team in check for his 19th save.

Tomorrow has Edinson Volquez taking the mound trying guarantee the Reds a winning series in Miluakee as he goes for his twelve win of the season. Edinson will also make his first all-star game appearance on Tuesday night in the Big Apple as Yankee stadium hosts it's final all-star game.

Reds Win With The Long Ball.....Avoid The Sweep

It was a day for the Cub fans to have sore arms. With the Reds smashing seven home runs on Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field, the Cub fans might wake up Friday morning with some sore arms throwing all those bombs back onto the field.......My previous post told you what I think of this tradition. I hope they all can't raise their drunken arms tomorrow.

At least the Reds got out of town on a positive note and head to Milwaukee on a somewhat positive note. With Bronson Arroyo not having his best stuff, but still enough to earn the win, the home run barrage picked up the slack for him.

With every hitter in the starting lineup getting at least one hit, here are the guys that left the yard for the Reds:

Edwin Encarnacion.....#14
Brandon Phillips......#15
Griffey Jr. ..........#12.......and 605th of his "Hall of Fame Career"
David Ross............#2 and #3
Adam Dunn.............#24 all the way on to Waveland Avenue
Joey Votto............#13

In another note it was reported on FSN this afternoon that Homer Bailey will be taking Aaron Harrang's turn in the rotation on Sunday........Good Luck to you Homer, prove you are worthy to stay around longer this time!!!!!!!!!

Jr. hits number 605

After falling behind early the Reds bats finally came alive this afternoon. It's the bottom of the fourth and Ken Griffey Jr. just blasted #605 into the right/center field seats. Edwin Encarnacion hit his 14th of the season and Brandon Phillips also homered to help jump start this offense. Encarnacion and Phillips home run balls were both threw back onto the playing field. Where were these dumb ass Cub fans when Griffey hit his ball out. I guess they do make exceptions when it's a guys 605th......If you are going to throw them back throw them all back, don't be selective in your stupidity if you are going to do it do it!!!!!!!!!! Just for the record I think this might be the lamest tradition in baseball. Everyone dives over people and begs players for just a regular baseball before, during, and after a game and then these crazy Cub fans want to throw home run balls back on the field.......Oh yeah, except when it's a guys 605th home run ball.....that ball will be on a Cub fans mantle tonight. Let's just hope it's the winning run and that Cub fan can think about that ball giving his team another loss!!!!!!!!!!!!

We need Bronson to hold this 8-3 lead going to the bottom of the eighth.

Road Woes Continue

I think I wrote a couple of days ago how tough this road trip would be on these Reds, I still hope I am wrong but it just doesn't seem that I will be.

After tonight's loss in which Johnny Cueto could sue for non support and take to court a few fielding blunders as star witnesses. Cueto actually threw a good ball game but again he just loses concentration after a fielding blunder or a close call going the wrong way. Adam Dunn badly misplayed a ball in the left field corner, which in all honesty is a very tough spot to cover, but I agree with Jeff Brantley's statement "that ball should have been caught." After the Dunn's misplay the flood gates opened on Cueto and he just never recovered and yes he deserved better tonight. Johnny has threw so much better the last month and now I think it's a lot mental right now. As far as Dunn goes how do you hammer the guy responsible for all the offense your team could muster tonight with his 23rd home run for the Reds lone run.

How about that fat ass Carlos Zambrano.....He was actually untouchable. The Dunn home run was the only hit he gave up to earn his tenth win against only three losses. Johnny Cueto fell to 7-9 but Reds fans need to remember who he faced tonight and the fact that he grew as a pitcher and this game was a game he learned from. Every loss stings, but sometimes you have to look beyond the loss, yes that's as hard for me as anyone.

The Reds try to break the freakin Cubbies brooms tomorrow by winning the final game of this three game series in an afternoon match up between Bronson Arroyo and Ted Lilly being the sacrificial lamb for the Cubbies.

Marty Brennaman is still talking smack to the Cub fans and the Reds decided to put a security detail with him for this series after some remarks he made back in April about how the Cub fans are the most obnoxious fans in baseball.....I won't disagree. But yes we are still looking up at them!!!!!!!!!!

Get Out The Brooms

Brooms were in order Sunday afternoon at Great American Ballpark. No the clean up squad didn't go on strike, the Reds finally sweep a four game series. You might say, it was the Nationals, but I say it's still a four game sweep and we will take it.

This series win pushed the Reds up from the cellar into fourth place in the NL Central. The next step is to get to .500 baseball and keep pushing in the right direction. The road trip coming up (three in Chicago and then three in Milwaukee) might let us know how far the Reds have come or can go. Make no bones about it, this shapes up as a brutal road trip and even a 3-3 trip would be considered a minor success.

Congratulations are in order for today's winning pitcher, Edinson Volquez as he was selected to the National League All-Star squad. This is some heady stuff for this youngster who is sporting an 11-3 record and a very stingy 2.36 ERA. He has been at or near the top of the league in several pitching categories all season.

What else can I sat about Jerry Hairston, another multi hit game to go with his .343 batting average, add his 15 steals and this is what a lead off hitter looks like. Adam Dunn also blasted his 22nd home run of the year. Yeah he will get his 40 HR's to go with 100 Rbi's and 100 Walks......he's not a gold glove winner but he get some clutch hits.

I may be a homer, but I just have this love/hate relationship with this team and right now it's much more love than hate.

Fogg keeps Reds in game for 3rd Straight Win over the Nat's

Josh Fogg, making his first start sense being recalled from AAA Louisville threw a pretty good game tonight to help the Reds win their third straight against the Washington Nationals at Great American Ballpark sending over 37,000 fans home happy. Fogg had pretty good numbers and held the Nat's to just one run over six innings in what was in my opinion his best start of the season. If you can get this kind of start from your number five pitcher a little more often it's gotta help.

Cordero trying to get his 18th save, and third in a row, let the Nationals tie the game at 2-2 in the ninth. Cordero had to face three straight former Reds in Dmitri Young, Austin Kearns, and Aaron Boone. Boone laid down a prefect bunt after Young walked and Kearns singled, to move another former Red, Felipe Lopez, to third. Lopez pitch ran for Young and scored the tying run on a long drive off the bat of Jesus Flores. Griffey made an excellent play on the ball to save another run from scoring. This run set the table for the Reds ninth inning come back.

Jerry Hairston got his third hit of the night leading off the home half of the ninth. Hairston continues to amaze me time and time again with his bat, his speed and his defense. Jay Bruce struck out on a ball in the dirt to finish off an off night at the plate going 0-5. Jay does have enough AB's to be in the Rookie of the Year race now and he did make an outstanding play to steal a home run off the bat of Austin Kearns. After the Bruce strike out, Brandon Phillips came to the plate and allowed Marty to shout his favorite quote "And this one belongs to the Reds" by singling sharply to left to score Hairston from second. This sets the table for a four game sweep on Sunday afternoon if the Reds can win and I like their chances with Edinson Volquez on the mound looking for his 11th win on the season.

Reds Win.....Another Good Start For Arroyo

Sweet, the Reds gauranteed themsleves at least a split of the four game series against the Nationals. Make no bones about it, no one would be happy with a slpit after winning the first two games so let's keep it up Reds......

Bronson Arroyo scatered five hits over six shutout innings to improve to 6-7 for the season, has he finaly come around......Let's hope so. After the start Bronson had to start the season, this can only be good news for the Reds. Does he have fantasy value yet, well I'm not going to rush out and pick him up but I do hope he proves me wrong.

Ok, for my nit pick on Dusty Baker for the day. He pitch hit for Bronson Arroyo in the bottom of the sixth inning with two on and two out. Usually this is considered a good smart baseball move. Not so sure that was the case this time. Bronson was used as a pitch hitter earlier this season and he has hit as good as any pitcher on this team. No he isn't the next Rick Anikel, but in a close game I would have used Bronson at the plate and then let him start the seventh if he had any gas left. If he can't start the seventh you still bring in a new pitcher and you still have the extra pitch hitter on the bench in this must win close game. Like I said maybe I'm just nit picking, but that's the way I would have managed this game. Yes we have ran out of pitch hitters at least once this season and yes Bronson did line a ball to left field earlier in the game that got the final run home, the guy can hit. Just saying........

Ok, Reds let's keep this going and Jr. it's your day tomorrow.....Nice looking jersey giveaway tomorrow honoring Griff!!!!!!

Fourth of July......Rain Delay

It's 3pm and I think we have baseball after a two hour rain delay. The Reds are honoring are troops today and we should all do the same. Stop for a second and say a few words of thanks for our freedom.

Brandon Phillips is already throwing the leather at the Nationals. On the second out of the game a great played was turned in by Phillips.

Jay Bruce gets a one out double in the first, and Griffey follows that with his 604th home run. Sammy is about to fall down a spot.....It's 2-0 Reds early, heading to the second inning.....great start!!!!!!

The Brandon Phillps and Johnny Cueto Show

Was it just last night that I was writing about the great young players the Reds have. Well tonight, game one of a four game series against the Washington nationals, was the youngsters stealing the show again. Brandon Phillips and Johnny Cueto lead the Reds to the 5-3 win on Thursday night fireworks night at Great American Ballpark. Heck they even walked another bright young player, Jeff Keppinger, to get to Ken Griffey Jr. and his 603 HR's.

Johnny Cueto threw seven strong innings allowing only three runs. Cueto had eight strikeouts as he picked up his seventh win. After a kind of ho hum June, Cueto has now won his last two starts and seems to be back on track and ready to roll.

The real star of this game though was yet another young gun the Reds are showcasing this season, second baseman Brandon Phillps. I have said this for the last two months, Phillips needs to quit swinging for the fench and just hit the ball that's thrown. I think maybe he got the message as he seems to be doing just that. Brandon collected three hits in extending his current hitting streak to seven games. Phillips also made play after play to help keep the Nat's in check late in the game.

The best closer the Reds have had in quite a few years, Francisco Cordero came in to pitch the ninth and collect his 16th save.

Let's keep the fireworks going again today Reds!!!!!!!!!!

Why I Still Love My Reds

I am again at a lost for words as I write this. The Reds just aren't this bad, but their record says yes they are. I think there is a good mix of young players and veteran players on this squad, that should complement each other. What is the problem....Did anyone mention Dusty Baker's name again.....surely not me!!!!

The young phenom, Jay Bruce went 2 for 3 with two home runs and four RBI's. When you get that kind of production from a rookie the veterans had better step up and do their part. Adam Dunn did hit number HR #21 tonight to add the other lone run. Bruce had a little let down after his torrid start but look out National League as he is now is heating it up again.

If you love baseball as much as I do consider taking in a game at Great American Ballpark and watch these young guns in action. We might not win that much right now, but the Reds have a bright future ahead of them. Consider these youngsters, Joey Votto, Jeff Keppinger, Brando Phillips and quite possibly the 2008 "Rookie Of The Year" Jay Bruce. Anytime you let the freakin Pirates come in to your house and win two of three it's not good, but hang with these guys as things do look better down the road. Now I am sounding like a drunken Cubs fan, oh no!!!!!!!!!! At least it hasn't been 100 years for us.......

Let me say this, a bad day at the ball park is better than a good day at work anytime and this team will give you "some good days" at the ball park.....We just need more of them.

Last Years Reds

Are we back to last years ways of losing. I remember how the bullpen would blow it for us at least twice a week or we couldn't move runners around that were in scoring position with less than two out. Tonight's game was a reminder of just how far we haven't come this year.

I think my biggest question is why in the name of Abner Doubleday was Corey Patterson and his .189 BA allow in the batters box in the bottom of the 11th with the tying run 90 feet from scoring, and yes Ken Griffey Jr. was on deck. It's the frekin Pirates and we are home and we didn't protect the home field. Total BS. Hell I would bat Bronson Arroyo before I would let Corey Patterson and his interstate average get anywhere near the batters box in the bottom of the 11th of a game we "have to win"....it's the Pirates...... Ask me tomorrow what I think of Dusty Baker, tonight he just plain sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!