INSTANT CLASSIC!….The Bruins won the Lady’s version, and the men were trying to make it a Summer Sweep!….It wasn’t to be. This years CWS was the last one to be played at ol’ Rosenblatt, and this final might go down as one of its best! USCe lost their first game, but ran through 4 elim games, and the first two of the best of 3 Finals to win the School’s first ever Men’s National Title! It was nice to see Steve Spurrier there to help the baseball team usher in this new era, and achive yet another SEC “back-to-back” Natty Title (LoSerU won the Title last year over Texas in Baseball, to go along with the SEC’s 4 straight Titles in Football, and the Gator “double”-win in Basketball in 06-07). Now, if Ukentucky can just get the conference some CURRENT Bball Titles (again) we’ll be all set!

Omaha, Neb. – Whit Merrifield singled home Scott Wingo in the bottom of the 11th inning, lifting South Carolina to a 2-1 win over UCLA, clinching the National Championship for the Gamecocks.

Wingo led off the final frame with a walk, moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a bunt by Evan Marzilli and scored on Merrifield single to right.

The two starting pitchers, South Carolina’s Michael Roth and UCLA’s Rob Rasmussen locked up in a tight duel, but neither was around to figure in the decision. Roth allowed one run on six hits over 5.0 innings, while Rasmussen scattered six hits and four walks over 6.0 scoreless frames.

UCLA broke the scoreless tie with a run in the top of the fifth. Trevor Brown led off with an infield single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Niko Gallego’s RBI single to left.

The Gamecocks finally tied the score in the bottom of eighth. Pinch-hitter Brady Thomas led off the frame with a solid single to center. Pinch-runner Robert Beary went to second on a ground out and scored when Bobby Haney’s grounder ended up in right field after being misplayed by UCLA first baseman Dean Espy and eluding second baseman Cody Regis.

Matt Price (5-1) worked three scoreless innings of relief for the win.

Jackie Bradley Jr. was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. He was joined on the All-Tournament team by Christian Walker, Evan Marzilli and Brady Thomas.

The Gamecocks finish the season with a 54-16 record, while UCLA ends its campaign with a 51-17 mark.

Nothing makes me laugh more than a guy that talks shit to someone, then when the guy gets back in his face he backs down, then when people around step in and try to break it up – the guy that started it all tries to get out of hand.  Who knows what the fuck B.J. Upton was saying, but I’m sure it went something like “You better be glad they’re holding me back”.    What a bitch move.  Look, you can’t just blow your starting pitchers shutout by going Albert Belle and jogging to go get a ball.

Florida punches its ticket by sweeping scUM!…..just like in Football, UFlorida beats down the “305″!….

FULLERTON, CA – Minnesota’s Matt Puhl drove home the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the top of the 10th and closer Scott Matyas struck out the final eight batters he faced to earn the win and lead the fourth-seeded Golden Gophers to a 6-4, 10-inning victory over No. 3 New Mexico on Saturday night at Goodwin Field.

Minnesota (32-28, 2-0 in NCAA Regional play) is now in the driver’s seat at the Fullerton regional, needing just one more victory to advance to the first NCAA Super Regional in the history of the program.

The Lobos (38-21, 1-1) will face elimination on Sunday at 4 p.m. PDT, clashing with host and top-seeded Cal State Fullerton, a 6-5 winner over Stanford earlier in the day. The victor will advance to face the Golden Gophers in the first of two possible regional championship contests beginning at approximately 8 p.m. PDT.

Matyas (5-1), who earned the save in Minnesota’s 3-1 win over the Titans on Friday night, pitched the final three innings, allowing only one baserunner on a walk to John Michael Twichell – the first batter he faced in the eighth. He then got a fly ball for the first out of the inning before embarking on his strikeout string, getting six of his eight victims to chase strike three.

The Golden Gophers battled back from deficits all night long, trailing 3-0 after two innings and 4-3 entering the eighth when they were able to push across the tying run on a balk with runners at the corners to force extra innings.

In the 10th, Minnesota broke through in a big way against UNM reliever Gabe Aguilar (1-1), stringing together four consecutive hits to snap the deadlock after the Lobo reliever had retired five straight.

Kyle Knudson got the rally started with a lead-off single on the first pitch he saw and moved to second on Nick O’Shea’s single to center. Puhl, who finished 3-for-5, then battled to a 3-2 count before lacing his winning hit through the right side to make it 5-4.

Kyle Geason then followed with a single to left, plating O’Shea with an insurance run, giving the Golden Gophers a 6-4 advantage.

Matyas then shut the door emphatically, striking out the side in the 10th to cap an impressive night of work and give Minnesota the victory.

The Golden Gophers outhit the Lobos, 15-7, paced by three hits apiece from Puhl and Michael Kvasnicka while three other players also finished with multiple hits. Cameron Smith led UNM at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

News out of the Gainesville Regional: (cuz you know, you need to know!):

Top-seeded Florida (44-15) used a seven-run third inning to post a 10-2 win over third-seeded Oregon State (32-23) in a winner’s bracket game of the NCAA Gainesville Regional on Saturday night at McKethan Stadium. Sophomore left-hander Alex Panteliodis (Tampa, Fla.) (10-2) matched his career high with eight strikeouts over five innings and earned the win to become the first Gator pitcher with 10 victories since Alan Horne went 10-2 in 2005. Seven of Florida’s 14 hits went for extra bases, with three homers, two triples and a couple of doubles.

The Beavers will meet second-seeded Florida Atlantic (36-23) in an elimination game tomorrow at 1 p.m., with the survivor needing to defeat the Gators twice to advance to next weekend’s NCAA Super Regional.

UFlorida and USCe were all tied up heading into the Thursday-Saturday 3-game series,….UF sitting at #4 in the country, and USCe ranked #6….Aside from both being top tem teams, each was sitting at 20-7 in the SEC, with an SEC Championship and #1 Seed in the Tourney hangin’ in the balance.

Two games into the set though, and its ALL over. Florida took the first two games (3-2 and 5-2), and will enjoy the spoils: The SEC Title, #1 Seed in the SEC Tourney, and (almost assuredly) Host in the Super Regional and Regionals. USCe and Auburn will finish in the top 3, with few teams in the country playing a well as Auburn of late!

UKentucky, with a win yesterday would have hooked THEIR wagon (once again) into the Tourney but have been denied 2 straight times against Jawja!…..JAWJA!….who had just 3 SEC victories ALL year entering this series!!!, Yeah!,..THEY beat UK 8-6 on Thursday and 20-0 UFriday night!…This follows a weekend sweep by the ‘Kats over Reigning Champ LoSerU, that had them back in the hunt! That’s got to sting a little….Too bad John Wall can’t play baseball too?!?!

The Bengals are going to go from winning the division, to #23 in 2010?…Well, that’s how the self-proclaimed NFL Guru sees it HERE! Ol Pete King doesn’t offer any REASON(s) for why they’ll fall so far, aside from a self-question about Carson Palmer. No, he just randomly places them in the low twenties. I know, typical Peter King, right!

During the 2nd Baltimore game the field stretching Bengal wide receiver Chris Henry went down to an injury and the Bengal offense was never the same. Chris Henry ultimately passed away as the result of a horrific accident that was apparently no one’s fault(oddly)? You recall that?; then Chud Johnson-cinco proclaimed to be Chris’ best friend (to, of course, help promote himself in the media some more), and later sucked ass vs the Jets as the team limped into the Playoffs. A week after being shut-down completely in the seasons’ final game, Chud was shut-up and down AGAIN by the Jets young Mr Revis, and the Bungels were done. Oh, then Chud welched on his bet that he’d change his name back to Johnson, but that’s me running away on a tangent again, and away form the point.

THE BENGALS #23?!?!?!….Good gawd man! They won their division in ’09, refused to sign Terrell Ass’wens in the off-season and added perhaps their best draft class of all time this past April!!,…Yet they’re going to be WORSE in 2010!??…and much worse at that?..Come ON Mr King. perhaps you should jump back on Brett Favre’s jock again?!

The Bengals WILL be in the playoffs in ’10, despite what the “KING” OF DOUCHE SAYS! AND, this YEAR THEY JUST MIGHT WIN ONE! Yes, I said it! Unless Chud cries, whines and punches another coach at halftime because he thinks he’s not getting enUFf balls throw his way, they WILL win a playoff game this year!….That or, if Ocho-stinko is in traction during a large portion of the season AND into that playoff game?..yeah, they’ll win one! You heard it here!

When it works, it looks good,….when it doesn’t work,..you look like a jackass! This one worked!

Baseball Season is in full “swing”, particularly against our beloved Reds. We turned a pitching strength into a mighty weakness, once again! Oh Mr Chapman, when will you come and save us? When you lose 3 straight against the Pirates, you know early its going to be a LONG season.

How can a team like the Reds afford to pay Harang 12.5 million a season, and hand him another $2 million to leave us alone next year? Thanks to that GREAT Union we have running Baseball. How ’bout this, when the US actually is the best country in Baseball, how ’bout THEN we justify paying a failure 12.5 million a year to go 12-33 over the last couple years plus. Sure, none of this is “news”, but there’s also nothing that can be DONE about it! The Union runs the show, and quality baseball is NOT a concern with them.

As Reds fans we have to wait out bad contracts, then HOPE for little mini-miracles to happen just to get a shot at the playoffs! -NOW, Pro FOOTBALL is going to run their game w/o a cap?; and some of us still wonder why so many Steeler and Colt fans live among us?….Oh, and I haven’t even GOTTEN to Chud Ocho-stinko yet!

How long is it until Xavier Basketball starts up again?…..

Rounding the bases Friday night, Austin Maddox wasn’t sure if he was going to wake up before he reached home plate.

Moments earlier, Florida’s freshman designated hitter had just belted the second collegiate pitch of his career over the right-center field wall for a two-run home run to give the Gators (1-0) a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first.

His trance ended after he touched home and realized what happened.

“First (at-bat). That doesn’t happen to many people, but it felt really good,” Maddox said.

It felt pretty good for the Gators all night in their season opener against South Florida at McKethan Stadium. Along with Maddox’s debut, junior infielder Josh Adams showed off some power by clearing the left field bleachers twice as the Gators defeated USF 6-2 in front of a crowd of 3,309.

While Maddox felt like his at-bat was a dream, Adams, who has won consecutive All-SEC accolades, said he had goosebumps after his first at-bat when he hit a two-run homer off Randy Fontanez in the first.

He was giddy after the hit, but he wasn’t very nervous coming into the game.

“Honestly, for a lot of us it felt like another scrimmage game because we’ve been scrimmaging so much,” Adams said. “About five minutes until game time everybody started getting that look like, ‘All right, it’s here. We’re ready to go.’ Everybody was ready and it was a good night.”

Besides Florida’s offensive explosion in the first, Friday meant the return of a familiar face. After spending the 2009 season sidelined after shoulder surgery, sophomore right-hander Tommy Toledo made his first appearance on the mound in more than a year.

He started strong as he struck out his first batter, but admitted jitters caught up to him while facing his third batter, Stephen Hunt, who saved the inning with a single to center. After Hunt stole second, Toledo walked Sam Mende off a wild pitch, putting runners at the corners.

Toledo then calmly struck out the next batter on a 3-2 count.

Toledo’s nerves didn’t leave him. His control problems landed him in a bases-loaded situation in the second, but like the inning before, he escaped with a strikeout and the clean sheet.

“It was definitely good to get my feet wet a little bit with the guys on and get those situations out of the way,” Toledo said. “I’m sure its going to be like that for the rest of the season, so I’m glad I got the first one out of the way.”

Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan pulled Toledo after 3 1/3 innings with four strikeouts, two walks and an unearned run off 71 pitches. He was replaced by lefty Alex Panteliodis, who picked up the win after 3 1/3 innings and three strikeouts.

Florida’s bats went silent after Fontanez found his rhythm. He retired six straight after giving up those four runs and went 6 2/3 with five strikeouts in the losing effort.

Adams, who went 3-for-3 on the night, hit his second homer in the fifth and drove in his fourth run with a double in the seventh that scored senior center fielder Matt den Dekker.

The early bat work proved too much for the Bulls, but nerves kept the game from getting out of hand as Florida committed two errors on the night and only five hits after the first inning.

Still, O’Sullivan was pleased with the solid opening.

“There’s nothing like opening day,” he said. “Everybody’s anxious and everybody’s kind of amped up. I could tell our (batting practice) was a little different. It’s always good to get the first one out of the way.”

Then there’s the 34 year old Scott Rolen!…As much of a fan as I was of getting him, and getting RID of “EE”, there has to be some kinda of focus on turning this around quick. He counts a heavy price towards next year, particularly if we’re just gonna dial it in again. Kick in that the two arms given away in that Rolen\”EE” swap (deal) were considered STRONG prospects, and it makes you cringe a little — again if this wasn’t done with something “now‘er” in mind.

With Volq shelved until what will be 2011, the lingering effects of a poor economy and little wiggle room in getting rid of those 2 over-priced arms;  there might be sound reason for “buying” more time. That time being the 2010 season….of course, Harang and “Straight leg the guitar man” could both turn it around and have fantastic years in 2010,..but who’s gonna forecast that?

If that’s the case (another “prep” year in 2010), then Rolen was brought here for no other reason than 2 teams getting rid of bad deals; and, advantage Blue Jays!

 Toronto, who is markedly better than the Reds, is dumping big contracts (thanks in part to a stupid White Sox team) in what might be an attempt to reposition themselves for a run in the most competitive division in baseball….?? (They know Roy Halladay is not coming back)..maybe? What is it the Reds are doing?…sending mixed signals?

How long does this (Reds) team pay Yonder Alonso to piddle in the minors?….particularly considering his brash claims that he’s Pro ready, already?  (Mark Light Stadium is a lefty’s wet dream, btw….The Parking complex in right field creates a jet stream that often favors guys like Yonder..-and few schools still play more home games than the ‘Canes.)

The Reds had a shot this year!…Your buddy Baker might not have been THE only reason for the failure, but…there he is again, amidst another team that’s under-achieved. Considering his age, this is Baker’s last stop. He’s somehow been able to build a resume others in Baseball find attractive but, even with that, his days are numbered (here a Faber). They (The Reds brass) will keep him on for next year though, through another trying season; and then move on with a fresh approach in 2011 (We hope!)

That’s my take anyway…..jump in here: http://www.fatguysports.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6858#post6858 and give YOURS!

By now we all know the STORY and the “big” news that Baker took offense to it, and sat him in last night’s LAUGHER, a 12-3 loss. (yeah, it WAS 12-1 after 5,..and “Man Ram” was being “Manny” long before it ended, his day being over in the bottom of the 3rd.)

I didn’t see anywhere in the article that he was forfieting a game check, or providing it as a donation to some charity,..so,…I’m gonna assume he got paid to sit there. WOW,…little DRASTIC don’t cha think? He sits in a Major league Dugout….everything is still comped; -food, drinks, laundry, care, everthing….but instead of “WORKING”?….he’s gonna sit, AND get paid?;….and THAT’S gonna teach ANYONE a lesson? I know here at work, if they told me to come to work and just sit and watch, BUT get paid…I tried like HAIL to make sure THAT wasn’t a regular happening!….brutal punishment Baker, BRUTAL! Send his ash back to Cincy, w/o pay, and that message is a little stronger,….my opinion. Of course watching the team lose 12-3 MIGHT make him feel like a fan, for a minute, and just might leave a lasting impression…????

There are a lot of ”fit” players out there that have “somewhat” low value. First off, and he’d fit here tremendously, Ben Zobrist!  Tampa Bay wont have a slated everyday place for him to play him when Iwamura comes off the DL, “really” anyway. Currently he fills in nearly everywhere,….so you’re saying a guy who plays everywhere, plays hard, and isn’t a media whore is generally a player we TRADE AWAY, and not one we covet,…WELL,..you may have a point there! Let’s hope THIS time, we go against our grain and target him as “primary”.

Another player the Reds should be looking to, is Willy Aybar, also currently of Tampa Bay. He’s not an everyday player for them right now, but could be for Reds. He has a lot of potenital and responds well when given time in Tampa.

Mike Aviles, (28, INF) His “price-tag” should be reletively low; Last year he hit .325  w/10 homers. He’s got a good glove and decent speed. He struggled early THIS year, hitting around a buck-70 in first month or so of the season. He was put on DL and the Royals seem to have moved on without him here- for ’09. Since the Royals need a 3B and I will never again be a Double-EE fan, regardless of what he’s done these past few games, – I say TRADE them even UP!

The reds are (or sure COULD be) close to trading away some “spot” guys. The guys: A-yoyo, Weathers, Rhoads, Harang, and Cocco..Any of these 3 mentioned position players make good sense, and are “Red-worthy” players (Cheaper than top shelf, but show we are trying) who could out-grow their britches! Plus, like many others have said,  I think it is time to give Mr Stubbs a chance!….-Officially in August of course, when the Reds will be 10 games under .500 and long out of any conceivable contention!

If you need 36 players a team, play 2 fuckin’ games….and stop taking a player per team. That’s just rewarding some random “kind-worthy” guy for being on a loser team, not as an all-star! Cocco might have deserved some kind of recognition for his efforts so far this year, but c’mon, an ALL-STAR??!?!…NO! 72 “All-Stars” kinda cheapens the whole idea, take 20 and PLAY BALL!

What do YOU think?…tell us!

OOOOH!,…glad we got that straightened out!….wheeww!, Manny-being-Manny, nice English skills too. What a role model you is-ith!

A little mixed on his quote, though….even a Manny apologist might:

On the one side, he is correct in that what he did was not some major felony a’la Pac Man or Michael “Dawg” Vick, but neither was Pete Roses’ “crime”, Roger Clemens,…or even Steve Howe (RIP) for that sake….but, in Manny’s case its “I didn’t kill nobody”?….and all should be good again?

He took a performance enhancing drug that is common among body builders who use steroids. His whole crap line about “it was not a steroid” is Bullshtyie! That stuff is taken after your cycle of steroids is completed, to kick in your natural hormones. Does he just take fans for stupid? He and his “guys” know what that was. He just didn’t have the ‘nads (left) to come out and say he’s cheated, and BEEN cheating! He came closer than Roid’ger Clemens, but that’s not saying much.

Too bad Roger doesn’t have the catchy little “Roger-being-Roger” moniker to fall back on….Manny is a douche!

Super Star 5-tool players get traded from here, once they show promise! These guys and/or players that play hard, are moved out like a vomit soaked couch at Halftime!  We have little tolerance for this kind of contribuatory player, in the ‘Nati. We like Dickerson and Patterson types here!…..rUFfly .200 or below BA’s, and average OF skills are whats BIG with the Baker’ REDS!

Look for Nix as an Angel, or a Ray perhaps….maybe even as a Brave? Anywhere but here, OH, and don’t look for a big return either!….its not in the “Cards”!

“We are very excited for the start of Regional play,” second-year head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said. “Playing at home should be a good opportunity for our fans to come and support us. It will be a challenging field and we are looking forward to facing a talented Bethune-Cookman team on Friday.”

The Regional continues through Sunday, with a final game to be played Monday night, if necessary. The Gainesville Regional winner will face the winner of the Atlanta Regional in a Super Regional series next weekend. The eight Super Regional winners advance to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

UF is 64-51 (.557) all-time in NCAA Tournament action and has reached the CWS five times: 1988, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2005. The Gators are 3-0 against Bethune-Cookman in NCAA play, most recently defeating the Wildcats at the 2003 Coral Gables Regional. Florida has not encountered Jacksonville in the postseason since posting a 3-0 win at the 1991 NCAA East Regional at McKethan Stadium.

The Gators have faced Miami (Fla.) three times this season and suffered a three-game sweep during its second series of the campaign. The Sunshine State rivals last met in the postseason at the 2004 Coral Gables Super Regional won by the hosts in two games.

The national top eight seeds are Texas (41-13-1), Cal State Fullerton (42-14), LSU (46-16), North Carolina (42-16), Arizona State (44-12), UC Irvine (43-13), Oklahoma (41-18) and the Gators.

The Big 12 and Southeastern Conference lead all conferences in the number of teams in the championship field with eight, followed by the Atlantic Coast Conference with seven. The Big Ten, Big West, Conference USA and Pacific-10 each have three teams each.

Twenty-nine of the 64 teams were not in the field last year. Binghamton (AQ), Cal Poly (at-large), Georgia State (AQ), Kansas State (at-large) and Xavier (AQ), all are making the championship for the first time. Utah last was in the field in 1960, Boston College last made it in 1967.    

Miami (Fla.) is in the field for the 37th consecutive year, extending its own record. Florida State is making its 32nd straight appearance, second all-time. Other long consecutive streaks: Cal State Fullerton (18), Rice (15) and Oral Roberts (12).          

Of the 288 championship eligible Division I institutions that sponsor baseball, Coastal Carolina and LSU have the most Division I wins with 46. Twenty-five other teams won at least 40 Division I contests, and all of which but New Mexico State and San Jose State, are in the field.

Each of the 16 NCAA Regionals features four teams, playing a double-elimination format. The Regionals are scheduled to be conducted from Friday, May 29, to Monday, June 1 (if necessary). Selection of the eight Super Regional hosts will be announced on www.ncaa.com, Monday, June 1, at approximately 11 p.m. The best two-of-three Super Regionals will be played from Friday, June 5, to Monday, June 8. The 63rd College World Series begins play Saturday, June 13, at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb.

FIELD BY CONFERENCE (30)

Big 12: 8 (Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M)

Southeastern: 8 (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Mississippi, South Carolina, Vanderbilt)

Atlantic Coast: 7 (Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami (FL), North Carolina, Virginia)

Big Ten: 3 (Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio State)

Big West: 3 (Cal Poly, UC Irvine, Cal State Fullerton)

Conference USA: 3 (East Carolina, Rice, Southern Miss)

Mountain West: 3 (San Diego State, TCU, Utah)

Pacific-10: 3 (Arizona St., Oregon State, Washington State)

Colonial: 2 (George Mason, Georgia State)

Southern: 2 (Elon, Georgia Southern)

Southland: 2 (Sam Houston State, Texas State)

Sun Belt: 2 (Middle Tennessee, Western Ky.)

America East: 1 (Binghamton)

Atlantic Sun: 1 (Jacksonville)

Atlantic 10: 1 (Xavier)

Big East: 1 (Louisville)

Big South: 1 (Coastal Carolina)

Horizon: 1 (Wright State)

Ivy: 1 (Dartmouth)

Metro Atlantic: 1 (Marist)

Mid-American: 1 (Kent State)

Mid-Eastern: 1 (Bethune-Cookman)

Missouri Valley: 1 (Wichita State)

Northeast: 1 (Monmouth)

Ohio Valley: 1 (Tennessee Tech)

Patriot: 1 (Army)

Southwestern: 1 (Southern)

Summit : 1 (Oral Roberts)

West Coast: 1 (Gonzaga)

Western Athletic: 1 (Fresno State)

FIELD BY STATE (27)
Texas: 7 (Baylor, Rice, Sam Houston State, Texas, Texas A&M, TCU, Texas State)

California: 5 (UC Irvine, Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, Fresno State, San Diego State)

Florida: 5 (Bethune-Cookman, Florida, Florida State, Jacksonville, Miami [FL])

Georgia: 4 (Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Georgia Tech)

Ohio: 4 (Kent State, Ohio State, Wright State, Xavier)

Kansas: 3 (Kansas, Kansas State, Wichita State)

New York: 3 (Army, Binghamton, Marist)

North Carolina: 3 (East Carolina, Elon, North Carolina)

Oklahoma: 3 (Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oral Roberts)

South Carolina: 3 (Clemson, Coastal Carolina, South Carolina)

Tennessee: 3 (Middle Tennessee, Tennessee Tech, Vanderbilt)

Kentucky: 2 (Louisville, Western Kentucky)

Louisiana: 2 (LSU, Southern)

Mississippi: 2 (Mississippi, Southern Miss)

Virginia: 2 (George Mason, Virginia)

Washington: 2 (Gonzaga, Washington State)

Alabama: 1 (Alabama)

Arizona: 1 (Arizona State)

Arkansas: 1 (Arkansas)

Indiana: 1 (Indiana)

Massachusetts: 1 (Boston College)

Minnesota: 1 (Minnesota)

Missouri: 1 (Missouri)

New Hampshire: 1 (Dartmouth)

New Jersey: 1 (Monmouth)

Oregon: 1 (Oregon State)

Utah: 1 (Utah)

NOTE TO John Fay AND J Hairston Jr!……STFU, jerkasses!

Hey, if you don’t like MY opinion, here?..You hate modestly mid-eastern blooded, slightly French & German Gators fans!…Just to warn you!….See?..and you didn’t think you were a racist either! Well; Welcome to your Awarness Day!

What a bunch of crap. Seems only blind unconditional puppy love, is acceptable here for this Coach……is this fandom, or some evil  HR driven corporate promotional film?

J-Hair said in Chicago, they were critical of Duhsty….but he says nothing about the “In Dusty we Trust” promotion that ran through that town his first year in, NAH!…that would hurt his chances of spreading his race agenda. Duhsty’s first year in Chicago was quite memorable, if you recall. In his first year with Chicago he inherited a  SOLID team, and “took” them  to the playoffs, only to MONUMENTALLY Fail against the Florida Marlins. In the Cubs’ case, of course, that’s just business as usual. They collapsed (and here’s where its kinda erily close to our ’09 Reds) despite a super pitching staff of: Woods, Prior (both before Baker burnt their arms up), Zambrano and Matt Clement!, who ALL won 13+ games that year!. They dropped the final 2 Home games, in the NLCS, and missed out on going to the World Series for the first time, in, like 4200 years!

Guess who (collectively) the city of Chicago blamed for that now infamous 2003 playoff loss? Baker, the manager?…NOPE!…Alex (not the Reds “ss” now) Gonzalez who booted an EASY DP ball?….NOPE AGAIN! ….Anyone ELSE on the team? No, guess who those RACIST Cub fans blamed for that 8-run 8th inning, and ugly ass loss in Game 6?…(For the record, they also got this guy on the hook forthe loss in Game seven?…yeah, and the manager and players involved were ALL given a “FREE PASS”!)……yeah, they blamed a skinny goofy white kid named Steve!! The scrawny ass white guy had to escape town, because the “racist Cub fans” wanted him dead!…NOT the manager or players, Jerry Jr! NO!,…NOT the people directly influencing the game by PLAYING in it,..no, they fried a kid who touched a foul ball, that Moises Alou later admitted he wasn’t going to catch anyway! Jer’?..Let’s say YOUR credibility on this issue is not quite up to reality, huh?……about like the fans hate toward Steve Bartman was, for the game 6  loss wasn’t quite long on reality. The kid had to LEAVE the stadium, in fear for his safety…but old “Boot-the-Ball” Gonzo at shortstop?…NOTHING!…no one even MENTIONED his bone-head play for MONTHS down the road! The Cub fans just tired of Bake’s act and disappointing finishes with GOOD teams, and it took them 4 years to get to that point!

So Reds fans are a bit critical of a manger with a tempid history, making questionable player moves ?…and for that we’re linked to racism?,  WOW!?!?!!…..yeah, WOW,…with such a qualified argument, who could dispute that notion, huh!?!?…I mean, after all, Duh’sty IS a black man, and there are a lot of fans that dislike him, so…FAHQ!,…they all must be racist!  (note SARCASM please)

Isn’t Cincinnati the same town that has been OVERBOARD in their devotion of one Marvin Lewis?…..So much in fact, that after failing to win even ONE post-season game in 7 years, that he’s still over-whelmingly supported in this NUT of a Football town?…..(Not by me, though!…., waaaaaait a damn minute!..now even I’m getting suspicious of “me”!?!?!?!-why is winning more important than blind support of your head coach?).  Marvin Lewis doesn’t even have a “plus” .500 record here! Hhhmmmm, John Fay and Jerry Hairston Jr,…are either of you aware that there is a Football team here in town? admitingly, they haven’t been DOING well; -and for a long time. So you may not recognize them by looking at them, but they do carry American Express cards…Of course, with the Bungles they are all STOLEN AMEX cards, but still…..

Back to the article, in Sunday’s Enquirer….and I understand if most people don’t know of the article, hell, readership is down to,like,  140 I hear….The Fay’ster and Hairston jump right in about how UNbelievable it is that Baker gets so much hate….never ONCE stopping to think, maybe ALL the fans are right, and his BUDDY Jerry might be the biased one?….Maybe, just MAYBE, a guy that followed him over from Chicago (like a few others) might be GREATFULL for the opps he’s getting here?…and that maybe his support is what’s tainted, not the “dis-love” the fans have for Baker?…NNNOOO,…yeah, people who hate Duh’sty are just racist, sure,..yeah, let’s go with that thought line instead!

Wasn’t it DUH’sty that said the crap about Black players and White players, and hot & cold weather, and all that silly stUFf that would of had another manager fired?….And wasn’t it DUH’sty who had his very young grand kid serve as batboy during Giant games, only to have some COLD WEATHER player scoop him up and carry him out of harm’s way, when the kid went out during a play at the plate?…Yeah,….but to consider even for a second that Baker uses questionable mental soundness in an area of concern for Reds fans, would be ludicrous, right?…yeah,…”No way, HITLER!, you just hate!”….He sits 3 guys hitting over .320, to play 3 guys who collectively weren’t hitting .300?….and you find fault in that?…-OH NO, YOU must be a Klansman, dude!….What a cop out!. Not for a second could it be that he actually isn’t the greatest in the business (after all, he’s here, right?)….NO WAY!,..or maybe he’s “lost” it?…. in over his head?,..Nah, impossible…the fans are just racists!

 Mr Fay is trying to sell more papers, &/or trying  to become the imbedded patsy-boy for the Reds organization. Either way it has nothing to do with Baker’s love level here ( or in Chicago or ’Frisco).  Since Fay quoted the one player who infused the discussion with racial overtones, I feel safe saying there was a purpose behind him using ONLY Hairston’s comments!…That, or maybe the other players think Fay is an ass, and dont bother talking to him???? After reading his article in Sunday’s paper, who could categorically rule that out? 

Thanks Mr Fay!….I’m sure more people now like YOU less, must make us all some kind of heathen, huh!?!?!- jerkass!

Void of any competition as “Team Leader” or “Face of the Franchise”, Brandon has done well as a leading force;- AND in rebounding from a poor start. His position within the team is not discounted by the fact “NO ONE” else could step into that position. Collectively the Pitching staff has been a SOLID base for the team, but they need an every day face to go out and lead; and Phillips is the man! (ol   Taco Bell   ).

By showing 100% effort (not always his calling card in the past), his actions have fed the rest. He may have tanked it at times last year, and even early THIS year, but not lately! He’s made fielders pay for their lack of enthusiasm, like he did by taking 2nd off Eric Byrnes the other night; and making opposing pitchers think twice about his early hitting slump, by raking up timely rbi’s (of late) like they’re free!

I’m as surprised as most by the 20-14 start, and hope like hell they keep it up. Pitching is tUFf, hitting is coming around ( and they’ve averaged 4.6 runs a game over-all) and not shabby defense (not surprising that “EE” has been OUT!). The lone bad spot is Duh’sty,…but they could win despite his dellusions…..and if those two Gonzo and “EE” can just stay hurt?..well,….????

The immortally great Pete Rose said, reportedly, as he ran off the field after game #6 of the 1975 World Series,…”That was the greatest game”!….or some thing erily similar. Sparky Anderson had to remind Pete, he thought, that the Reds just lost the game to Boston-forcing a Game 7. Pete shrugged it off, and continued, “Yeah, we’ll win it tomorrow, but that was one great game”……Yesterday’s mini-classic was FAR removed from that dramatic WS Classic, when some virtual unknown Beantown hero hit a sh.tty ass home Run to win game 6…but it was one of the best Reds games I can remember listening to on the radio,……while watching my kid play soccer,…ON Mother’s Day, for GAWD sake!

Volquez wasn’t throwin’ his “A” stUFf,…that or The Cards were really lucky!….or some level of combination of both…who knows??. The Reds were down 7-4 going into the bottom of the 7th,…then faced a 2-run deficit in the 9th AND that rediculously effective Cards Closer; Bonnie Franklin (not his real first name). Miss Ramano entered the day not having been scored on in 13+ innings (yeah, apparently she’s still frigid!….and “Schnieder still ain’t tappin’ that ass!). Jerry Hairball Jr opened the inning with a solo shot, and 2 outs later in a battle at the plate, Micah Owings hit a 3-2 offering out to tie it up! A pitcher pinch-hitting, working the count, fighting off pitches, then hitting his first Home Run of the year off a great closer to tie the game!?…YE-UH!…go baseball!

The Reds would put 2 runners on after that, but Dickerson failed AGAIN!….like he did 2 innings before. Is this guy really just Chris Stynes?….Actually, Stynes wasn’t THIS bad after having HIS “Late-Season-call-up” success the September before. Can we send Dick and McDick down, and bring up the dude from doubleA?…the kid with the power? I can’t imagine he’d be any worse, though he plays 3rd, not OF.

Still, great 3-game set against the Cards!…they were lucky to get out of here with one win. Baker is still the worst manager in the league, but these guys are playing a little now.. Hernandez is hitting, and maybe guys are discovering that if you don’t give the effort, there just might be some one there to take your spot!..yeah, even on the REDS!….”EE” and Gonzo,..STAY HURT GUYS!!!!

“Nix is in, Dickerson is out as Baker goes with hotter bat”….and the sage advice his assistant read to him on FatGuySports.com!”….Its in The Enquirer today…Go ahead, read the Sports page!..Yeah,  and help increase the circulation of that Commie-Rag trash paper. Well, if you’re like me, you probably don’t (often) get your paper before you leave for work, and didn’t GET to read that. The paper delivery people we get make it about 3 times a week. Some people think more timely deliveries would actually HELP sales,…but who knows???….

Anyway, NIX, Hanigan and Janish got starts, and !…..REDS WIN 6-5 ! Now, if only Gonzo and Double “E” can stay the HAIL away, maybe the Reds can stay above .500 for awhile. Sadly, it was but a token start for Hanigan. Baker will never let him start 2 games in the same week….He’d rather quit Toothpicks “cold turkey”!

MANNY’S 50