Scooter Gennett makes Reds history by slugging four home runs

Yesterday, against the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds' Scooter Gennett slugged four home runs. Here are the video highlights. No Cincinnati Reds player has ever done this. Gennett is also a Cincinnati kid. And by the way, the Reds won, 13-1.

Check out Scott Van Pelt of ESPN who details how rare this feat is. It's only been done seventeen times in the history of baseball.

An open letter to Jay Bruce

Dear Jay Bruce,

As I watched you strike out with the bases loaded in the eighth, it's become clear you have not been paying any attention as to how the opposition plays you or pitches to you. Because we see the same results with the same defense all the time. You make an out, usually by striking out. Mind you, I'm not asking for a four hundred batting average. I just want to see contact and clutch hitting. So, let me tell you how they're defending against you.

Um... Jay, have you noticed that the third baseman, shortstop and second baseman all move to the right, i.e. towards first base? That's because you pull a lot of balls even ground balls. Now, I'm not against pull hitters but they're going to get you out because balls that would be hits if the defense played regularly would be fair. To keep them honest, why don't you try going the other way? Heck, a weak ground ball at third base is likely going to be a double, maybe a triple. You do that enough times and guess what happens? They'll play you honestly. Then you will be able to get better pitches to hit and pull.

Second, do you know how they're pitching to you? Let me put it this way. They're not coming in. It's away. Away. AWAY. Most of the time it's a low and away breaking ball. Now, q lot of these pitches are balls. Why swing at them? You won't make good contact. Hit strikes.

I hope this helps.

Sincerly, a life long Reds fan.

Reds are the champions of the.... Ohio Cup

With today's 4-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians, the Cincinnati Reds are the champions, my friend. They'll keep on fighting till the end. The Reds are the champions. Reds are the champions. No time for losers, the Reds are the Champions of the .... Ohio Cup.

Reds should stand pat at trade deadline

Yesterday, the Cincinnati Reds lost a series to the Washington Nationals. They're not scoring runs lately and have lost eight of the last nine. The Reds at the at the All Star break were 1.5 games out of first place in the Central Division. Today, they are six games out and the 2014 season is about to become another year the team doesn't make it to the World Series.

The Cincinnati Reds should stop shopping for players as if they're buyers. They should not be sellers either, unless another team gives them a deal they can't refuse. As bad as it is right now, the Reds are still in it. Yes, it will take a small miracle for the Reds to make the playoffs. But the team is not out of it.

The Reds should stand pat at the trade deadline. The team is more than one player from making the playoffs. So all the talk about trading for Philadelphia Phillies' Marlon Byrd makes no sense. But should the Reds do anything? Yes. Sign a free agent that will come cheap and has gas in the tank. The St. Louis Cardinals just signed A.J. Pierzynski who was cut from the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees cut Alofonso Soriano. Reports indicate that he's done for this year. But money talks. The Yankees are on the hook for the bulk of his contract. But could the Reds add a little money to get him to play this year? And I mean a little compared to what he makes now. Maybe he needs a week to get back into the swing of things. The Reds could get him to "rehabilitate" at their AAA affiliate in Louisville. A small but "Hail Mary" move is what the Reds need. I believe Soriano would do well at Great American Ballpark. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Sign Alfonso Soriano.

Reds should pursue Alfonso Soriano

Okay, the Cincinnati Reds are in the hunt for Reds October. They're only 1.5 games out of first place in the NL Central Division. With injuries to second baseman Brandon Phillips and superstar Joey Votto, the Reds need offensive help. But where? Trade? Give up shut the door closer Aroldis Chapman or the very good starter Johnny Cueto? No. Don't mess with what got you here. It was the pitching. And don't think about the kids in the minors. They won't get you much and you don't want to mortgage the future.

That leaves looking for guys who have just hit the streets. The New York Yankees have just released Alfonso Soriano. He can play outfield and second base. He's 38. He's hitting a paltry .221 with six home runs and 23 RBI in 238 at bats. He's known for being a power hitter. I think there's still gas in the tank for Soriano. I believe playing in hitter friendly Great American Ball Park will rejuvenate him. He brings world championship experience to the Reds. And he won't cost you much in salary or minor league talent. I believe by releasing him, the Yankees will eat his salary. So what do you say Reds GM Walt Jocketty?

Reds biggest win of the season and Chapman sets major league record

Where in the world did Ramon Santiago come from? The Cincinnati Reds utility player is filling in for the injured Brandon Phillips. And he's making the best of it. He was a hero in yesterday's game with the Pittsburgh Pirates, leading the Reds to victory.

It looked bleak. The Reds were reeling from injuries from the last few days. Brandon Phillips out for up to eight weeks. Previously, superstar Joey Votto was hurt and is out indefinitely. Reds starter Mat Latos left the game early due to pain in his back. The Pirates took a 5-1 lead. It looked like the end of the season. And make no mistake, the Pirates are a good team. They're made the playoffs last year and are in the hunt this year. A defeat may have signaled the end of the season.

Then something magical started to happen. In the seventh, Ramon Santiago knocked in a run with a double to bring the Reds to within two runs at 5-2. He would later score. In the eighth, the Reds made a quick two outs. Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco blasted a 419 foot home run. Then singles by Ryan Ludwick and Chris Heisey. Now up comes the unheard of Ramon Santiago. Could he get another hit? The odds were against him. He was facing All Star Pirates reliever Tony Watson. The answer was yes. Santiago hit a sharp line drive for a single. Game tied. (Video) Now all that was needed is the hit to win it. Pinch hitter Bryan Pena singled in the go ahead run. Reds lead 6-5.

Oh yeah, there's more. Reds closer Aroldis Chapman would set a major league record for consecutive innings with a strikeout for a reliever. He did so with three straight strike outs. Each pitch that struck out a batter was over one hundred miles The speed of the pitches was 101, 102, and 103. Game over. And as Marty would say. "This one belongs to the Reds."

With the victory, the Reds move within 1.5 games of the division leading Milwaukee Brewers. Season is not over yet. It ain't over till it's over. Here's the story with video.

The Cincinnati Reds 2014: Season over?

With the Cincinnati Reds just 2.5 games out of first and having taken four out of five from the lowly Chicago Cubs, is the Reds season over? How could I ask that? Here's why. The Reds biggest offensive threat in first baseman Joey Votto looks to be out indefinitely. Now second baseman Brandon Phillips is out for 8-12 weeks with torn ligaments. Oh, and today, starting pitcher Homer Bailey came out of the Cubs game early with a right knee injury. Want more? Centerfielder Billy Hamilton has tweaked his left hamstring. The baseball gods are not smiling at the Cincinnati Reds.

But seriously, can the Reds survive and thrive? Maybe. It requires good performances of the Reds bench to take over. At the start of the season, you couldn't ask me to pick Ramon Santigo out of a lineup. He's a utility infielder now with a chance to shine. Fans have regularly called on outfielder Chris Heisey to start. Today, he struck out four times. Not a good way to show you are going to help this team offensively. He's got a hole in his swing. But when he makes contact, he hits the ball hard. The Reds are going to have to look internally, i.e., the minor leagues and even any free agents wondering around out there. They can't give up their young minor league talent and mortgage their future. Regardless, there's little there to offer another team. In 1969, the New York Mets won the World Series. They were called the Miracle Mets. Maybe it's time for the Reds to offer their version of a baseball miracle. When it comes to this great sport, one can hope.

Reds win a big one over Washington

The Cincinnati Reds were reeling after dropping two straight to the Philadelphia Phillies. Last night, the Cincinnati Reds endured and beat the Washington Nationals, 4-3 in extra innings. Those extra innings numbered six. Here's the story from MLB. It was an important win because it stopped the bleeding. The Reds climbed back to within three games of .500.

But why was this game big? The Reds didn't quit. They don't have their big bats in Joey Votto or Jay Bruce due to injuries. In the thirteenth and fourteenth innings, the Nationals came within a glove's length of winning the game. First, Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips made a diving catch to end the inning. Then in the fourteenth, Reds centerfielder Billy Hamilton made another diving catch to end that inning. Both would have scored winning runs. Finally, in the fifteenth, Reds third baseman Todd Frazier hit a two run home run to give the Reds the winning edge. They endure and win, 4-3. The Reds move to within six games of division leading Milwaukee Brewers. Season isn't over yet. Here's Lance McAlister's blog post with video of the two catches and the home run.

Joey Votto wins it in the ninth with a walk-off home run

As a Reds fan, we expect things like this. Reds Joey Votto drives in the winning run in the ninth inning. In this case, Joey Votto blasts a deep home run to center to win the game in the ninth inning. Reds beat the Colorado Rockies, 4-3. Here's the highlight and story of Votto's walk-off home run. I tried to embed the video below but there seems to be some technical difficulties.

Reds Opener: The shape of things to come?

Yesterday, the Cincinnati Reds lost their opening day game to the hated St. Louis Cardinals, 1-0. The Reds had runners on first and third with no outs in the eighth inning. They could not score. This was an issue last year. The Reds had offensive problems. They could not hit with runners in scoring position. And Reds rookie centerfielder Billy Hamilton struck out four times. Can't steal bases without getting on base. Let's not hope this is a metaphor for the season.

Tomorrow is another game. Time to start a winning streak. One hundred and sixty one games to go.

Reds' third basemen Todd Frazier wants to get batting average up

The Cincinnati Reds' third basemen Todd Frazier batted a paltry .234 last year. He hit 19 home runs. He tells MLB that he wants to get his batting average up. You think? Third base is a power position. The Reds need some offense from the left side of the field. It's particularly dire with the loss Shin-Soo Choo. I'm very concerned about the 2014 Reds.

Reds make the right decision in firing Dusty Baker

Yesterday, the Cincinnati Reds fired manager Dusty Baker. Now, I'm not one of those guys who bash Dusty Baker. I think he's a good manager. He knows baseball. He's a fine teacher. He's a good man. According to CBSSports.com, Baker stood up for batting coach Brook Jacoby when Reds GM Walt Jocketty wanted to fire him. Allegedly, Baker said, "If you want to fire someone, fire me." And maybe that gave Jocketty cover to fire Baker. According to the story, It certainly didn't sound like Jocketty was happy with Baker at the end of this year.

But was it the right decision? Yes. The Reds didn't hit with runners in scoring position. So dumping Jacoby was correct. However, some of the Reds offensive woes belong to Dusty Baker. The Reds played like him. Laid back. In 2010, the Reds had a leader in third baseman Scott Rolen. But since then, there were no leaders in the clubhouse. If there's no leader in the clubhouse, then the manager must lead the team. After being swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the last three games of the season, I had no faith they would win a one game playoff. The team looked lifeless. Someone needed to fire them up. And without leaders, the spark must come from the manager. Dusty should have thrown some tables, do what the manager in the movie Bull Durham did. Throw the team in the showers, and read them the riot act.

Dusty Baker is a good manager. He deserves better. But he's not the right man for the Reds at this juncture. He would be great for a Reds team that had a leader like the 1999 Reds. I hope he and the Reds find a happier future.

Pirates bomb Reds again

The Cincinnati Reds lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the one game Wild Card playoff, 6-2. The game was much like the Reds this season. The team was laid back and listless. They could not hit with runners in scoring position. Reds starter Johnny Cueto did not look like he was ready to pitch after a long absence for an injury. He gave up a home run to the Pirates Marlon Byrd on a change up that looked like a batting practice pitch. Cueto did not last the fourth inning. The Pirates hit three home runs. Here's the story.

The problem for next year is whether the Reds will have enough offense to compete. You can't depend on speedy Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton, left fielder Ryan Ludwick or Todd Frazier. There are a lot of holes.

So the season ends. Wait until next year.

Reds stumble into playoffs

The Cincinnati Reds lost their last five games of the season. What does that mean? Well, it certainly stopped them from winning the Central Division. And by losing to the Pirates two out of three and getting swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates, they now must play a one game playoff with them in Pittsburgh. Not exactly momentum building.

Okay, so who starts for the Reds? Johnny Cueto. What? He's coming off an injury. One lost game and you're done. What about Mat Latos? Reds manager Dusty Baker better know what he's doing. UPDATE. It's being reported that Mat Latos has a bone chip in his right elbow. He won't pitch at the Wild Card playoff game. If the Reds win, Latos can pitch on Thursday.

Bengals win wild one; Reds destroy Pirates

Oh, me of little faith. After the Cincinnati Bengals turned the ball over on four straight possessions against the Green Bay Packers, I turned the channel to the Cincinnati Reds game. The Bengals then proceeded to blow a fourteen point lead. Yep, I said to myself, this is Bengals football. The Bengals went down by sixteen points in the third quarter.

Then it got stranger. Packers All Pro Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw two interceptions. The Bengals magnificent defense held. And a forced fumble was recovered by Bengals cornerback Terence Newman who ran it back for a touchdown. Bengals win 34-30. WTF. I'll just say this. Thank God for the Bengals defense. Here's the story.

And oh yeah, the Cincinnati Reds won. They pummeled the Pittsburgh Pirates, 11-3. That puts them in a tie for second place in the National League Central with the Pirates. They are also tied for the first Wild Card position. There are six games left. The St. Louis Cardinals are currently 2.5 games ahead of both the Reds and the Pirates. This could be a wild one also. Here's the story.

Reds sweep the Dodgers?!!!

This week was going to be a test for the Cincinnati Reds. First, they faced their National League Central nemesis, the St. Louis Cardinals. Now folks, the Cardinals own the Reds and were ahead of them in the division along with the Pirates. Reds take three of four.

Then came a three game set with he Los Angeles Dodgers. It's one of those teams that money has put together. I hate baseball's economics. But I digress. The Dodgers are perhaps the most talented team in major league baseball. They pretty much have the Western Division sewn up. I was not thinking sweep. Hopeful for two out of three. Could see losing two. But the Reds defy all odds. They took all three. Last night the Reds won in walk-off fashion. Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan doubles home Zack Cozart all the way from first in the bottom of the ninth. Reds win 3-2. The Reds now stand just one and a half games from first in the Central Division. They are tied for second. Here's the story from last night's game. And here's video of Hanigan's double to win the game.

The Shape of Things to Come

Yesterday, Billy Hamilton of the Cincinnati Reds came into run for Ryan Ludwick who singled. It's the seventh inning. In case you don't know, Billy Hamilton is one of the Reds hottest prospects. He's also fast. Very fast. Make that very, very fast. Well, he promptly stole second even though St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadir Molina's throw beat him. His throw was wide probably due to Hamilton's speed. And you got to love what happens next, Reds fans. Third baseman Todd Frazier singled and Hamilton easily scored. The Reds went onto win the game, 1-0. It's the shape of things to come. Here's the video of the stolen base and Frazier's single.

Reds get a big win over the Giants

Yesterday, the Cincinnati Reds defeated the San Francisco Giants, 8-3. It was a big win for the Cincinnati Reds even though they didn't gain ground on the two teams ahead of them, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Cardinals. The important thing is that the Reds did not lose ground as the Pirates and the Cardinals won. The Reds are fourteen games over five hundred and remain five back of the leading Cardinals.

Another big thing about the win last night was that it took place on the west coast. The Reds beat the World Champion San Francisco Giants. And if you know the Reds, usually west coast road trips are disasters. But not this year. The Reds took three out of four from the Giants. Here's the story.

Reds' Brandon Phillips fantastic double play

Did you see this Cinicnnati Reds highlight? Against the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh, the Reds were clinging to a 3-2 lead. There were two on for the Brewers at first and second. A Brewer hits the ball up the middle towards second base. Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips grabs the ball with a bare hand and starts to fall on second. He steps on second and flings the ball across his body for an inning ending double play. Look you have to watch the astounding video below. He also blasted a home run in the bottom of the inning to give the Reds four runs. By the way the Reds ended up winning the game, 4-3.

I've been following Brandon Phillips since he came to the Reds in 2006. He's been making great plays in the field every month. I will say he's the best fielding second baseman the Reds have ever had. Yes, Hall of Famer Joe Morgan was great at second base but he didn't have the range that Phillips does. My favorite Phillips fielding play happened in 2007 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He races into right field to field a single and whips around. He throws a strike to the catcher for the final out at home plate. Reds win. Watch Brandon Phillips regularly and you will get a great play every month.

Reds take two series by beating the Angels and Nationals

When it comes to baseball, the adage of winning in April that it's early is true. That being said, April baseball games still count. But the month of April is not going to wreck a season unless you lose a lot of games.

Well, the Cincinnati Reds have started the season by winning the first two series by beating the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Nationals. Folks, you win divisions by winning baseball series, that is, taking two out of three games. And the Reds didn't just beat two bad teams. The Los Angeles Angels are big spenders. They have just recently spent a ton of money on outfielder and former Red, superstar Josh Hamilton. And don't forget about first basement Albert Pujols and left fielder stud Mike Trout. Yet the Reds pitchers struck out 36 of the Angels batters in shutting down that vaunted offense. And today the Reds defeated the Washington Nationals 6-3. That sealed the series. The Nationals won 98 games last year, the best in baseball Both teams are predicted to win their divisions. Some say they might win the World Series. But the Reds handled both teams without much of a problem. This means two things. The Reds are defeating great teams. If they beat bad teams, the Reds will win a lot of games. Second, the Reds are proving they can beat any team in baseball.

Yes, it's only April. But one can dream of a Reds October.