Brandon Claussen pitched a horrific ballgame tonight. Oh, wait, I’m sorry, he threw a lot of pitches, but it wasn’t what you could call "pitching." A lot of balls, a lot of full counts… 62 pitches in 2+ innings… 9 earned runs in all. Geez.

This was one of those games where you didn’t seem to mind paying $6.50 for beer, and you were getting the attention of the beer vendor literally every time he came up or down the aisle. That is, if you stayed after the score made it to 10-3 in the third inning. (It hurts me to type that.)

I’m being completely serious when I ask this question: Did Eric Milton transfer his cruddy 2005 mojo to 2006 Brandon Claussen? Not so serious: Is this like a virus? Is this the kind of thing that you can only get rid of if you pass it on to someone else, like in ‘The Ring’? ’cause if so, Claussen needs to stay the heII away from any Reds pitcher in the minors. Perhaps he could go have dinner with Roy Oswalt…? ::wrings hands Devilishly::

Alright, alright, enough silliness… Tomorrow it’s The New Eric Milton vs. the Jose-Contreras-who-has-won-his-last-15-straight-decisions, and is 7-0 on the season. Yes, that’s right. 7-0 with a 2.62 ERA. ::gulp:: On the bright side… Theoretically, Milton could get his ERA under 4 tomorrow. (I am so thrilled to be able to write that!)

I’m too tired to come up with some sort of a witty close, so I’ll just ask for a favor… Please, dear Reds, don’t make me have to write a post after tomorrow’s game that has the word "ugly," or some other similar adjective, in the title.

Go Reds!

*deep breath*

Well, the White Sox are in town for the weekend, and starting for the Reds tonight is Brandon Claussen.

I have no idea how this is going to go. Absolutely no idea.

The Reds have lost six straight to the Sox, and our starter with an ERA over 5 and a 3-7 record is pitching. The Sox counter with Freddy Garcia who is also sporting a 5+ ERA, so… perhaps we’ll score some runs? Maybe? …please! Let’s just say that tonight is not the night to wait until a late inning to score.

I’ll have the radio on tonight at work.
Go Redlegs!

Before I get to yesterday’s game, I have a question. Has anyone seen the commercial where Eric Gagne pitches to a trash bag? We’re talking several pitches… at a trash bag. I saw this for the first time on the same day that Gagne was placed back on the DL. Not only did the trash bag win, apparently it also assisted in injuring him. Sorry, Dodgers.

______________________________________

If I would have said before the game that Elizardo Ramirez, along with a couple of pitchers from the ‘pen, would combine for an 11 inning shutout, would you have laughed in my face? Yup. Believe me, I would have done the same thing had anyone suggested that we’d see three scoreless from anyone in the bullpen.

I like Elizardo Ramirez, but for whatever reason, I keep waiting for him to get lit up. I was thinking I’d be unlucky enough to have to witness it yesterday, but I was wrong. He pitched an absolutely amazing 8 innings, giving up only 5 hits, one BB, and recorded a career-high 10Ks in the process. Unfortunately for him, the offense took 10 innings off, and he was left with the no decision. Perhaps best of all, he only got stronger as he went along. 4 of the 5 hits came in the first three innings, and although the last hit – a double to Prince Fielder – led off the 7th inning, he didn’t let it touch him AT ALL, and proceeded to strike out the side. He had great control and command, and his fastball made it up to 92 mph. He had a good change in the low 80s as well. I was impressed.

It’s amazing how the performances of the two teams matched up as the game went along: The first batter of the game for each team struck out swinging. The second innings were identical – A lead-off K, followed by a single, followed by a 5-4-3 DP. Each team had a lead-off double, and the runner was left stranded on second without advancing. Each team had a lead-off walk that didn’t make it to second. Each team had an error committed by the shortstop. The lines were identical after 9 – 0 runs, 6 hits, 1 error. Another odd thing about this game – there were six foul-outs, three to the catcher. I don’t think I’ve seen that many foul-outs in a week, much less one game. I also saw three Reds batters strike out on three pitches. Junior, Dunn, and BP all committed this unholy sin, and that pisses me off.

The new Frontgate Party Suite plaza-area-thing that was introduced recently was full of Bengals yesterday. Several Bengals took batting practice before the game, and they were the leaders of ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ during the seventh inning stretch. It was nice to see them all hanging out, wearing Reds hats, enjoying the game. That’s the kind of stuff that makes me smile. I’d love to see the Reds have the kind of success turning the franchise around like the Bengals have had over the past two seasons.

Some people enjoy nice, long pitcher’s duels. I don’t mind them, but I much prefer an 8-4 ballgame, so long as it’s the Reds doing a majority of the scoring. This worked out, though, because I got to see a towering three-run drive from #44. Until then, I can say, without any hint of exaggeration, that it seemed like this game would go on FOR-EV-ER. The 11th inning started off with Felipe striking out, and looking bad doing it. Dan Kolb, who had pitched a 1-2-3 10th, was still in there, so I figured it would be more of the same. Then Junior singled through the screwed-up shift the Brewers had on. And then Rich Aurilia singled, and the fans finally had something to cheer about. We were all standing, watching Dunn, and then he fouled off a pitch and swung through another one, and the count was 2-2. Every single Reds fan anywhere in the world was thinking the same thing I was right then: "He’s either gonna strike out, or hit a long, deep drive." And he swung, and he launched the ball a long, long way. Finally, the five-game slide was over, and there was much joy in Reds-ville. After Dunner was mobbed at home plate, Junior ended up on his back, and he started running around before letting him off – that made me laugh hysterically.

All in all, it was a beautiful day at Great American. It was one of those nice, warm, sunny, slow days that makes you appreciate being there and being a Reds fan.

Go Redlegs.

The Reds lost 6-4 today. The ‘pen gave up 2 runs. Do I really need to say that those were some important runs?

This is getting really, really old.

Perhaps the best thing about this game is that I was not around to watch it.

Well, The Lizard is pitching tomorrow, and I have every intention of attending the game. I sincerely hope to see a winner. (That was a bonehead sentence – When don’t I want to see a winner?)

Anyway, um… go Reds!?

I’d love to see Aaron Harang go out tonight and pitch the way we all know he is capable of pitching. In his last outing against the Brewers he pitched a 5H CG SO, and, boy, could this team use another start like that right now.

I keep reading that this is the time two seasons ago that the Reds started to fade. So what? That was 2004. Welcome to 2006. Things are gonna be different…

Go Redlegs!

<RANT>
Well, ***.
Someone please explain to me how you go out and win eight straight games and then lose the following four.
Oh, wait, I’m sorry, I think we already know the answer to that one: A lack of timely hitting, and the bullpen from HeII.
The Reds hit FOUR homers tonight, and still lose 6-5. How pathetic is that? Granted, Harang didn’t have the outing I was looking for – at all – 5 IP, 4 ER, but that’s still not a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad start. Joe Mays pitched two solid innings, and then in came Kent Mercker. 2/3 of an inning, 2 ER. Wonderful.

There’s talk that Jason Standridge is coming up from AAA soon. I think everyone has conveniently forgotten that he was already up once this season, and although I don’t have his exact stats in my brain – and I’m not looking them up – it really didn’t go all that well. At this point, however, good Lord, I’m willing to see anything happen.

Last night, the Cardinals ‘pen pitched 5 innings. They combined to give up one hit.

That must be nice.
</RANT>

Slightly off topic, but still important:
Wear seatbelts in cars and helmets when riding motorcycles.

Memo to Jerry Narron
RE: Esteban Yan

Dear Mr. Narron,

WHY!?

Sincerely,
A Reds Fan

I admit it: I was one of the nay-sayers when I saw the starting lineup tonight. Scott Hatteberg hitting 3rd? Aurilia hitting cleanup? ::groan, sigh, etc.:: I think I did a quadruple-take at the television when the batting order was on the screen.

Well, that ended up working out pretty well, didn’t it!? Aurilia went 4 for 5 with 5 RBI. Hatteberg went 2 for 3, with 2 BB and 2 RBI. Those two batted in every single Reds run between them. I am suitably chastened, and completely OK with being wrong!

So, yes, the Reds scored seven runs tonight. That’s without Junior and Edwin in the lineup. AND that’s with Dunner and Kearnsie going 0 for 9. Kudos to Lopez with his 2 BBs and 2 runs scored, and Freel for his two hits with two runs scored. Can’t bat in runners with nobody on base!

I just got an even bigger surprise… I knew Bronson was pitching tomorrow, but I just discovered that it’s Glendon Rusch going for the Cubs. I could giggle like a schoolgirl right now, but I won’t. Can Arroyo make it 3-0 in starts against the Rusch-led Chicago Northsiders? I certainly hope so. Believe me, I tried like heII the other day to switch shifts for tomorrow so I could make it to the game, and now that I know it’s Rusch pitching, keeping in mind that the Reds (And Arroyo!) tend to beat him like… what’s a good simile?… like a Salvation Army drum (that one OK?), I will try again to finagle my way out of work. Probably won’t happen, though.

Ahhhhh… life is so sweet right now. Castellini says he will do whatever it takes in July, Junior is hitting like a monster, the pitching is good… I’m happy. It’s like a dream. Sure, this team still has its problems, but what team doesn’t? I’d love to see Dunn start hitting the ball with some consistency, and see some sort of resolution in the catching situation – although, admittedly, I have no idea what the best resolution would be. I’d love to see another great arm in the ‘pen, and Claussen start pitching to his potential (whatever the heck that means), and I’d love to see the Reds get some respect for what they have accomplished so far.

I am well aware that it is merely June. I am well aware that the season is only 1/3 of the way complete. I am also aware that anything could happen between now and August or September, so I’m looking at the standings today, June 8, 2006. The Reds are in first place. I consider that an accomplishment, especially after the sub-par May that this team experienced – a month in which some predicted that the "real" Reds had finally shown their faces, and April was as good as it would get.

I’ve seen the good this season, I’ve seen the ugly… I now see resilience and patience, and guys stepping up when called upon. Dunn and LaRue are slumping, so Ross and Aurilia are there to back them up. (Well, LaRue isn’t slumping, he assures us that he’s just a slow starter. Anyone else groaning right now?) Junior is amazing, and I really don’t know any other adjective that fits so well there. Harang, Arroyo, Milton, Ramirez = a solid rotation, and Brandon Phillips has been a fantastic addition to a team that began the season with 4 decent second basemen. I know I’d rather have one everyday guy, who is hitting over .315 to boot! We’ve also seen that a rested Freel is a great-leadoff-hitting Freel. …I really don’t know how I got off on the let-me-run-down-the-positives-of-the-Reds tangent, but it’s a Reds blog, so I can throw that in there whenever I want.

So, if we could just ship Quinton "G 6-3" McCracken out on the next bus to… Bangor, I would be even more pleased with this team.
(I think Narron finally learned his lesson – Javy was the first/only pinch hitter of the evening, and McCracken made no appearances.)
I don’t know exactly when my dislike of McCracken developed into full-blown "Get off my team" -edness, but it happened quickly, and it just keeps getting worse. Am I wrong? Seriously. Am I missing something good out of this sub-.200 hitting guy? Waaaaiiiiit. It was the night he was playing CF and dropped the fly ball that ended up scoring the deciding run… was it the Phillies who were in town? I think it was Claussen that night, and he pitched an absolute gem, even with Quinton’s error. Punk. (Sorry, I try to plan out my posts before I sit down and write them, but sometimes it’s kinda a stream-of-consciousness thing, and apparently my anti-Quinton tirade falls into that category.) I’m willing to possibly negotiate some sort of a truce if you were to, say, get a couple of key hits or make a great grab or two to end an inning. Do that and we’ll talk. Until then you will be the guy who grounds out. A lot.

And in conclusion: (finally!)
Reds = good. Me = happy. Arroyo = better than Rusch. Thursday night vs. Cubs = win? We shall see…

Go REDS!

I was at work today… all day – from 9am-11:30pm – and the thing that made the last few hours absolutely fly by was being able to listen to the Reds beat the Cards 7-0 in St. Louis.

I spent a good portion of the day desperately trying to figure out who the Reds drafted in the first round of the draft today. I finally figured that out around 6 after calling everyone I could think of who might be near a tv or a computer. It was amazing, my cell phone’s wireless internet told me the first seven picks. And the 11th pick. And I think the 17th pick was there too. Then somehow I found the 9th pick. WHERE WAS THE REDS’ PICK? I’m telling you, there’s a vast anti-Reds conspiracy afoot. …Ok, I’m only half-serious, but…

I had the radio on 700 WLW during the game, of course. Unfortunately, I was only able to hear snippets here and there as I couldn’t sit at my desk the whole time. I heard "long fly ball, deep to…" in the first inning, as Marty called Felipe’s homer. I also got back just in time to hear someone say something about a player walking off the field under his own power. I knew Junior was on base, and my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. It ended up being Edwin Encarnacion with a mild ankle sprain, but it was a couple of tense minutes there until I could discover the facts. (Phew.)
I called Dunner’s homer right before it happened. It wasn’t hard, the guy was frickin’ due. He was overdue even. 3 RBI tonight – I expect more from you over the next few weeks, Adam. (Seriously, this is a great time to de-slump, especially with the Cubs in town for four games this weekend.)
That was the point of the game where I think I realized that this was ours. Milton was pitching almost lights out, and the lead was 5 runs, soon to be more… I know I’ve said this before, but I’ve got to say it again:

It is a very exciting time to be a Reds fan, and I love this team.

So the world didn’t end, and the Reds won. All in all, a **** fine day!

Go Redlegs!