Alex the over-priced-cant-hit-a-lick Gonzo is gone! The Reds sent him and his buy-out money to beantown for a 23 year old “ss” who’s still in Single A ball. Hairston Jr was sent to the best team in the Majors, for a low-ball prospect (too)….and Weathers = the infamous: “PTBNL” (player to be named later). Some good moves, some ???, some had to happen,..& some still might!

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!

First off, Brandon Phillips is one of my favorite baseball players, ever. Favorite current Red, and in my opinon the FACE of the Reds as a team. He’s hardly been the team leader (by example), of course, as his “tank-it” on another fly ball routine showed in the opener of the Dodger series. This is nothing new to the star second baseman.

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…????

…ANY move, to show they have an idea, a direction, or even just the motivation to get better!….SOMETHING! I think the reds should look towards a trade.

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!

….OUT OF CINCINNATI!

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”!

…QUIT HATE’n on Duh’sty!…..oh, and he and Jerry Hairston Jr think if you don’t like current Reds’ manager Duh’sty Baker, it just might be because you’re a  racist!….HA!..yeah, isn’t THAT nice to know? Apparently, if you call into question some of the moves Duhsty’s made here, its GOT to be for that one ready to use reason. ”That there” is some cutting edge reporting, Johnny Boy!! He quotes current Red and former Baker player at Chicago, Jerry Hairston Jr to help illustrate his point!

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!

Brandon Phillips is heating up, and the Reds 20-14 record reflects that surge!

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,….????

Save for the two HORRIBLE Dickerson AB’s, WHAT A GREAT GAME!. As now GREEDY fans, I think most of us suspected another DOMINATING performance from “Mr Steady”.  The Reds were gonna ride the VOLQ’swagon to a sweep of top place St Lou, on Mother’s Day! It didn’t happen, of course, but the game was not without some great moments.

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!!!!

WAIT!?!?!…Duh’sty can read?……

“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”!

He’s not, and he even says so in the paper this morning.

He’s not playing Laynce Nix, Ryan Hanigan or Paul Janish (who’s error LAST night was the doozy, btw!)…because, get this,..(his quote) “I ain’t no front runner”!…HE’S NOT A FRONT RUNNER!!!!????, yeah, and neither are the Reds, BAKE!….WHAT THE FAHQ?….Are the Cardinals front runners?…Are the Cubs?…THIS is what I mean, when I repeatedly say, this town too easily accepts losing,…AND, LOSE-ERS!. Baker is a loser, pure and simple. He can ride extreme talent to a point, but managing to win?, is NOT his “game”!…after all, “HE ain’t no front-runner”!

Playing Nix, Hanigan and/or Janish PROBABLY doesn’t cure all the ills,….and doesn’t secure the Reds a Playoff spot, alone…..but, much like his blind love for Corey Patterson, who was THE WORST LEAD-OFF man in ALL Baseball, Baker is OFF-BASE with his “loyalties”! You should at least TRY!, right? Baker, it now seems, left Corey Patty-Pat in the lead-off spot and in CF all year, because,..HE AIN’T NO FRONT-RUNNER!! And having Patterson in the #1 hole was a great way to insure THAT!…

The Reds finished 2008 at 74-88,…with a payroll of 74.1 million (ranked 18th in all of Baseball)….That works out to right about, 1 million dollars a victory(I’m a math wizz!) Those 74 wins helped the Reds to finish, OUT OF CONTENTION!….Really, 3rd, 4th, 5th,…what does it matter? The BREWERS went to the playoffs, but the REDS did not!….and now we find out, in print, what most of us ALREADY knew!….We are being led by a guy who doesn’t want to WIN!….He wants to play the guys he likes, even if they under-perform!, because he ain’t a front-runner!…WELL!… at least he has a great excuse for losing, huh!…Jackass!

In other BASEBALL towns, where losing isn’t a badge of honor, I’d like to think an ass’n'holin’ statement like that would get you terminated. “To all you salary paying Baseball fans, I’m not a Front-runner,”…”So, the players I like will be playing, while those that are doing well, (but I don’t like), will be sitting!”…..WOW!…he’s so clever!…-BRILLIANT, really!…Almost as brilliant as MickyD’s bunt attempts last night!…How the FAHQ you make it to the major leagues and can’t bunt?….Its poor Baseball, and poor management. There just isn’t an area that Baker is excelling in. To have SO many areas where he/the team isn’t “front-running in!”, there has to be some balance somewhere!. I could understand if they were/are a poor bunting team, BUT!, then a smart hitting ball team?, or, ….a strong offensive team?,…one with great power?…smart base-running?…awesome “D”,..ANYTHING!….but they’re not!  He was given the best starters the Reds have hade in 20 years!,…and they persisted despite Duh’sty’s shortcomings as a “manager”. They have enUFf GOOD players (that are permitted to play Under Duh’sty Baker) that they’ll win a few games,…just not enUFf to make a difference ,and not the guys who will help win that “extra” game or two a month!

Last year, had the Reds won just ONE extra game a month, they’d have been 80-82, and a sniff away. Baker NOT playing the guys who are hot, and instead sticking to his “NOT A FRONT-RUNNER” mentallity, we’ll be lucky to make it to 74 wins again-and that SUCKS!!  Christ, let the memory of Patterson go already,…Let the Fans enjoy a mini-run now and again…SIT THE GUYS NOT HITTING!!!!…..JERKASS!

Baker is?…….LLOYD?

Cueto and the Reds shutout Pie-rites, 5-0, move 2 games over .500 (13-11)! Cueto went 8 innings, allowing 4 hits, a walk, fanned 9 Bucks, and lowered his ERA to 1.65.

The win is the 9th in their last 13 road games, ans was the 5th shutout of the year-that leads the majors!  Homer Bailey who?

STATS

The “Road Warrior Reds” drop Pittsburgh 4-0, get back to winning ways on the road! Behind 8 strong shutout innings by Bronson A-yoyo, Cincy moves 2 games over .500, at 12-10.

RECAP HERE

First off, did anyone know the Reds had Cheerleaders?  I know, me either!  I’m not sure who fatty is in the middle or the little dingo to his left, but the two chicks on the end need to stop by FatGuy HQ, wrap their hands around my Microphone, and sing a duet for me!  Let me get an “Amen”!

Now, on to the issue at hand (and not it’s not those big ta ta’s on the chick to fatty’s right).  The Reds are a little fun to watch again right? 

For the last few yrs the only excitement was wondering if the Reds were going to keep the game close enough for Dunn or Griffey to hit a game winning or thrilling walk off Home Run.  Now, its fun to watch all aspects of the game.  Except for the dismal abyss that is a hitting slump for Brandon Phillips, but everyone goes through hitting slumps.

The pitching that we have cried about for so many years is finally better, our closer is 7 for 7 in saves.  There’s youth at nearly every position.  And they genuinely look like they are having fun.  They are playing small ball, doing the little things, and most of all…Hustling!

I’m not saying they are headed for the WS or even the playoffs for that matter, but there’s more hope this year than there has been in a long time.

Ahh,…Opening Day. Looks like it’ll be a sh.tty day, and if you believe in Preludes!,…then,…yeah,….Well, that’s enUFf about import cars, its AMERICAN BASEBALL TIME! This “day” usually has less to do with the game, and MORE about the event. So, ENJOY IT CINCY!!!!, its generally short-lived enthusiasm anyway…..- noticing how the Reds finished their final Spring session in ‘Sota this year, well….Honda Preludes all around!

1. Willy Taveras – CF
2. Jerry Hairston – LF   - Santana to go for the Mets?
3. Brandon Phillips – 2B
4. Joey Votto – 1B
5. Edwin Encarnacion – 3B
6. Jay Bruce – RF
7. Alex Gonzalez – SS
8. Ramon Hernandez – C
9. Aaron Harang – P

Looks like the last year for Dusty, huh?….yeah, I’m bummed too!…Oh well, GO REDS!

The Enquirer is supporting THIS line-up,…over mine…..BASTAGES!

Jerry Hairston, Darnell McDonald, Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, Edwin Encarnacion, Ramon Hernandez, Alex Gonzo, and Aaron Harang,…I like mine better! -How’s Tavares gonna steal 100 bases, sitting on the bench?

The Reds have indicated a willingness to “talk” with Gary Sheffield about his employment status,….in so much that they’re gonna have a sit down with him today. Sheffy!?!?!….former Tiger, who in a limited role last year hit .224!!!.. as a DH only in Detroit?….A 40 year old that can’t play (a position) a lick ANYwhere,  & just hits?….Sheff-Daddy! I didn’t in all honesty get to see him play a whole lot the last few years, but what I did wasn’t good!…and what I hear, is more of the same. If Detroit is willing to get him out, AND PAY him $14 mil,..the dude has faults! But why so against this possible move/addition?…..Jonny “hands of stone” Gomes, of course!

This is the guy how should be playing every 2nd or 3rd day (once the season is off and going),..NOT Gary Sheffield! You think when the going gets tUFf, that Sheffy will be out there laying down the law, or back in the dugout pimpin’ yet another restricting injury???   $400,000 a year for a career .292 hitter with 499 HR’s sounds tempting, so I understand the interest, but pASS on the thought here, Cast-i!…just keep on walking,….Gomes is our guy!  Sheff’s best, or even servicable, days are behind him!