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BRANDON PHILLIPS WILL HAVE A MRI ON HIS HAMSTRING MONDAY.

6.14.10
BY:MEH
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
BRANDON PHILLIPS WILL HAVE A MRI ON HIS HAMSTRING MONDAY.

The Reds were defeated 7-3 by the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon. Brandon Phillips (hamstring) and Scott Rolen (scheduled off-day) were both missing from the Reds' lineup as the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke struck out twelve batters and pitched a complete game for the Royals. Joey Votto hit two solo home runs, but the Reds' offense only assembled three runs on five hits against Greinke. Sam LeCure threw 120 pitches effectively (6.2IP, 6H, 4ER, 4K), but received his third loss of the season.

Prior to Sunday's game against the Royals, Dusty Baker scratched second baseman Brandon Phillips from the Reds' lineup. Phillips currently owns a 15-game hitting streak and until Sunday, was the only Red to start in every game this season. According to Dusty Baker, Phillips has been aching for some time:

 ”I don’t know if you’ve been noticing how he’s been stretching and limping for about the last 10 days to two weeks. Finally today, it’s really bothering him, especially with all the running he has been doing. If you’re not hitting, you just run to first base, turn right, then go sit down. This guy has been running, stealing, going first-to-third, second-to-home, first-to-home.”

It seems that Phillips' NL leading 48 runs scored are catching up to him. During his 15-game streak Phillips is batting .463 with 31 hits and has scored 14 times.

 “Certainly you can’t afford to lose Brandon for 10 days to two weeks,” Dusty Baker said. “Hopefully having an off-day helps, too.”

Phillips will have a MRI on Monday to determine the damage, if any.




Injury is also sidelining the return of Homer Bailey. During a rehab start for Louisville on Tuesday, Bailey experienced new soreness in his pitching arm.

“We’ll probably keep him from throwing for maybe a week,” Walt Jocketty said. “Then it might take two of three weeks before he’s ready to pitch for us. There’s really no timetable.”

Luckily, the Reds have ample depth when it comes to starting pitching. Rookie Sam LeCure has pitched well during Bailey's absence despite his record hardly showing it (1-3, 3.75). The Reds have lost during LeCure's last three starts, but in his defense, LeCure faced three studs (Chris Carpenter, Matt Cain, and Zack Greinke) in those games.

The Reds also have Travis Wood (4-4, 3.77), Matt Maloney (5-3, 3.10), and Aroldis Chapman (5-4, 4.22) at their disposal in AAA Louisville. There will be no sense of urgency surrounding Bailey's return.

"Being frustrated and upset is not going to help it heal any faster," Bailey said. "Luckily the team is still doing well, so that kind of helps out a lot. Knowing that we have a good enough team that even though I’m not able to help, that we can still continue to play well."

After pitching three scoreless innings for Lynchburg on Saturday, the time-table for All-Star Edinson Volquez is becoming more clear. He is on a 30-day plan that will include two starts at each level of the Reds' farm system. After his second start for Lynchburg on Thursday, Volquez will start twice for Carolina and twice for Louisville barring any setbacks. Volquez's fastball was clocked at 96mph on Saturday and he was hitting 92-95mph consistently. Volquez's 50-day suspension ends Monday.

“Right now it’s a matter of getting his pitch count up toward 100,” Walt Jocketty said. “We want him to do that two or three times before he comes back up here.”

LHP Bill Bray is also rehabbing in Lynchburg. Bray has tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings for the Hillcats allowing one hit while striking out nine.

Catcher Ryan Hanigan's fractured left thumb is improving. Hanigan was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 29.

"Now it's just getting my swing back together," Hanigan said. "I'll start playing light catch next week and see how it feels and then make an evaluation mid-week about if I can start catching pitchers or not."

The Reds will begin a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday followed by their first West Coast road trip of the season against the Seattle Mariners and Oakland Athletics.

“The off day is coming at a good time,” Baker said.

MORE NEWS:
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-For Bailey, it's operation shutdown
TOM GROESCHEN
-Reds leading the way with .300 hitters
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-2010 Draft: RHP Drew Hayes
REDLEGS BASEBALL
-Reds fall prey to Cy Young-winner
HAL McCOY
-Star Wars night in Appleton
COREY BRINN
-New role helps his bankroll
JOHN FAY
-Pride & Joy
CHRIS SABO'S GOGGLES

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JONNY GOMES DRIVES IN SIX RUNS WITH TWO HOMERS

6.12.10
BY:MEH
GOING, GOING, GOMES!
JONNY GOMES DRIVES IN SIX RUNS WITH TWO HOMERS

Jonny Gomes had a career high six RBI in the Reds 11-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday.
Gomes' 47 RBI currently leads the National League. Gomes hit a pair of three-run homers; one in the first inning, and one in the third. He was then hit by pitches during his next two at-bats by Kaneoka Texeira. During the seventh inning, Paul Janish and Chris Heisey were also hit by pitches from Dusty Hughes, but no intention was suspected:

“I don’t think they were intentional,” Dusty Baker said. “At least I hope they weren’t.”

FROM OMGREDS:
THANKFULLY Jeff Brantley pointed it out during the FSN broadcast on several occasions throughout the evening. Including the following dialogue with Thom Brennaman after Heisey got hit in the 7th by Hughes.

Jeff: Alright, now it’s getting old.

Thom: Well, you don’t think that one had any intent to it, do you?

Jeff: I don’t care if it had any intent at all. You brushed my guy once, then you hit him. He had two home runs. And now you’ve hit a third guy. Well, that bothers me.

Brantley later added, "If you’re in that locker room and you want to be Jonny’s (Gomes’) friend, I’ll tell you what to do."

So obviously Brantley saw some or all of the HBP action as harshit. I’m certain that some of the Reds did as well but there was no retaliation Saturday and I’ll be curious to see whether there appears to be any Sunday, when the Reds face the Royals for the final time this season (and if we manage to reach the World Series, something tells me this isn’t the team we’re going to face). The question is … as long as Texeira doesn’t get an at-bat Sunday (he got an at-bat Saturday but unfortunately it was before he hit Gomes for the second time) … who is the top candidate for a fastball between the shoulder blades on Sunday? I’d guess maybe David DeJesus or Billy Butler. Don’t wish them any harm, just looked at their lineup for star players. And I don’t think I’d mess with Kendall or Jose Guillen. Because wouldn’t you say something kind of ought to happen?

By the way, what about the tremendous restraint Gomes showed by not charging Texeira when he plunked him the second time! Because I’d guess he thought about it. I wanted him to … did you? Then again, do we want to be without the services of the league-leader in RBIs for the better part of a week?


Scott Rolen went 2-4 with an RBI in front of 32,240 Reds fans on his bobble head night and Brandon Phillips (3-4, HR, 3R) extended his hitting steak to sixteen games.

Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman went five innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out nine, during his start for Louisville on Saturday. The Bats were trailing Pawtucket 1-0 when the game was delayed during the sixth.

Edinson Volquez pitched three scoreless innings for single-A Lynchburg on Saturday. With 44 pitches, Volquez allowed hits to the first two Potomac batters then retired the following nine. Volquez struck out three and walked none during his first game action since June 1, 2009.

Sam Lecure (1-2, 3.12) will face Zack Greinke (1-8, 4.05) and the Royals at 1:10pm on Sunday.

MORE NEWS:
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-Royals, Reds set for rubber game clash
MLB.COM
-Eating your way to a pennant
HAL McCOY
-30 seconds with Ken Griffey Sr.
NYTIMES
-Ken Griffey Sr. remembers POSTCRESCENT
-Jonny was good
JOHN FAY

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IT FEELS GOOD TO BE A GANGSTER: PART TWO

6.11.10
BY:MEH
BRANDON'S PARADISE
IT FEELS GOOD TO BE A GANGSTER: PART TWO

Brandon Phillips batted leadoff for the Reds' on Thursday for the old and tired Orlando Cabrera who was given the day off. Phillips has not hit first in the Reds' lineup since April 13, 2007 when Jerry Narron managed the team. Phillips extended his hitting streak to thirteen games on Thursday, going 4-5 with two RBI and two runs scored against the Giants.

“I don't need a day off, just don’t want one,” Phillips said. “I’m here to play. What if today is the last game I’ll ever play and I miss it."

During the last thirteen games, Brandon Phillips has hit .441 with 10 runs scored and 26 hits. Phillips has raised his season average to .301 and is the only Red to play in every game this season. Phillips is tied for second in hits (74) and tied for third in runs (44) in the National League. Gangster.



Mike "Godzilla" Leake pitched the worst game of his young career on Thursday against the Giants. Leake pitched only 4.1 innings and allowed five earned runs on eleven hits. Leake left the game down 5-4, but the Reds' offense and bullpen would not allow him to lose his first major league game.

“I think what was different about this game is they had a pretty good plan for me,” Leake said. “They punched me right off the bat, and I couldn’t react fast enough. Sometimes games are going to be like that. They didn’t square every ball up. But I made more mistakes than I wanted to.”

The Reds relief brigade of Del Rosario, Herrera, Masset, Rhodes, and Cordero pitched 4.2 innings of two-hit, one-run ball. Squirmy Nick Masset was the only reliever short of perfection.

After Nick Masset allowed a run during the seventh inning, the Giants were finished scoring for the night and led the Reds 6-4. After a Ramon Hernandez single and a Chris Heisey double during the bottom of the eighth, Brandon Phillips drove them both in with his first triple of the season, tying the game at six. Joey "Capone" Votto drove in Phillips with a single and the Reds beat the Giants 7-6 at Great American Ballpark.

"I tell ya' what it's all about is believing in ourselves," said Brandon Phillips. "We did that (today). The pitching staff did its job and we just believe. We just learn from our mistakes and keep rollin'. This was a great game and we really needed it. When you're winning, you become a different player and that's what Scott Rolen has been talking about. When you start winning, you're going to see what type of player you really are. And hey, it's a lot of fun."

Arthur Rhodes extended his scoreless appearance streak to 27 outings. Rhodes' five outs on Thursday were the most he's recorded since May 1, 2008. Francisco Cordero pitched the only Reds' 1-2-3 inning during the ninth and notched his seventeenth save (tied for 2nd in the NL) of the season.

The Reds are now 1 1/2 games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central.

"I'm doing a lot of hoping and praying and finger-crossing and stuff like that," said Reds' manager Dusty Baker. " I just hope everybody keeps believing - including the fans and everybody out there.  When everybody believes, from the front office to the administrative assistants to the ground crew to everybody and just thinks positive, good things will happen."

Bronson Arroyo (5-3, 4.65) will face Luke Hochevar (5-4, 4.74) and the Kansas City Royals (25-36) at 7:10pm on Friday at GABP.

MORE NEWS:
-Masset battles boos, balls and bats HAL McCOY
-Reds players appearing at Adopt-a-thon
BETTER OFF RED
-RNR #51: Wire to Wire Reds Joel Luckhaupt
REDLEGNATION
-Comfort for Cabrera as interleague resumes
REDS.COM
-Mustangs player suspended
REDS REPORT
-Harang impresses scouts
JOHN FAY
-You need it
OMGREDS

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ORLANDO CABRERA AND JONNY GOMES LEAD THE REDS OVER THE GIANTS

6.10.10
BY:MEH
GOMES AND CABRERA REAP
ORLANDO CABRERA AND JONNY GOMES LEAD THE REDS OVER THE GIANTS
jonny gomes and orlando cabrera
Entering Wednesday's game against the San Francisco Giants, Reds' leadoff hitter Orlando Cabrera was sporting a 0-12 mini-slump. Cabrera led off the first inning with a single and scored on a Scott Rolen double giving Aaron Harang and the Reds an early 1-0 lead. Cabrera ended the day going 4-5 with three doubles and three runs scored. Scott Rolen went 3-3 driving in two runs with two doubles and Jonny Gomes went 1-2 with three RBI. Combined, the trio went 8-10 with six doubles.

Aaron Harang started for the Reds and went seven innings. Harang allowed only five hits while striking out three. After retiring the first five Giants' batters he faced, Harang walked Pat Burrell, and Buster Posey hit his first career home run into the left field bleachers at GABP. After Harang left the game, Danny Herrera and Logan Ondrusek combined for a scoreless eighth. The Giants scored again in the ninth inning off closer Francisco Cordero, but could not overcome the six runs the Reds had already put on the board. The Reds defeated the Giants 6-3 and gained a one-game lead for first place as the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the Cardinals on Wednesday night.



In case you missed it, the Reds were featured on MLB Production's This Week in Baseball on Saturday afternoon (Watch it here). The show highlighted the Reds' double play combination of Orlando Cabrera and Brandon Phillips, former University of Texas Longhorn Drew Stubbs, and the friendship between rookie Mike Leake and veteran Bronson Arroyo. During the broadcast, Brandon Phillips talked about his teammate Orlando Cabrera:

"We're going to the playoffs because we have him on our team."

Mike "Godzilla" Leake (5-0, 2.22) will face Todd Wellemeyer (3-5, 5.72) and the Giants at 12:35pm on Thursday.

MORE NEWS:
-Leake? All-Star? Rookie of the Year? HAL McCOY
-May in review: Better Days CHRIS SABO'S GOGGLES
-Masset trying to work through struggles
MARK SHELDON
-Rehab Roundup (Volquez, Bailey, Burton, Bray)
JOHN FAY
-Junior was a different kind of star
JEFF PEARLMAN
-Reds' MLB Draft selections 31-50
REDS REPORT
-Familiar surnames in draft
C.TRENT

COMMENTS?
 

 

HOW WILL THE CINCINNATI REDS SPELL RELIEF?

6.9.10
BY:MEH
SAVE OUR SHIP
HOW WILL THE CINCINNATI REDS SPELL RELIEF?

It is no longer an enigma; the Cincinnati Reds will need to locate bullpen help if they want to remain in the 2010 playoff hunt. The Reds have lost their last two attempts at the San Francisco Giants, both games being entirely within reach, until the Reds' bullpen entered the game.

On Monday, Johnny Cueto clearly struggled (6IP, 10H, 4ER, 5K) against the Giants, but held himself together enough to keep his team in the game. Cueto left the game down 4-3 in the sixth, but the Reds' offense offered two runs in the bottom half of the inning, giving the team a 5-4 lead and a possible victory for Cueto. Danny Herrera came into the game in the seventh with only one run allowed in his last nine appearances. Herrera quickly allowed two singles to Giants' hitters. After recording only one out, Herrera was pulled for the young Enerio Del Rosario. Giants' shortstop Juan Uribe drove in his third and fourth RBI of the game off Rosario with a single. Arthur Rhodes and Logan Ondrusek finished the game with scoreless appearances, but the Reds' offense was out of gas as they lost to the Giants 6-5.

On Tuesday, Sam LeCure made his third major league start against the Giants. LeCure pitched well during six innings allowing only one run on five hits. LeCure left the game trailing 1-0. After Logan Ondrusek and Arthur Rhodes recorded four outs without allowing a run (WOW!), Nick Masset entered the game. The Giants continued their singles parade from the previous day and scored two insurance runs off the seemingly hopeless Masset. In the end, the Giants only needed one as they blanked the Reds 3-0. Matt Cain pitched a complete game shutout (7H, 2BB, 5K).

The Reds' bullpen seems so desperate that even David Weathers has offered to help. Walt Jocketty quickly disposed of the rumors, but it still makes one wonder. Enduring the apparent inadequacies of the Reds pen, along with Mike Leake's innings beings closely monitored, Arthur Rhodes playing hurt, and closer Francisco Cordero remaining in his funk; the Reds may need even more help than suspected. Where will we find it?



The Reds' farm system is very deep when it comes to starters. Relievers; not so much. Aroldis Chapman has been speculated to possibly become an option out of the Reds' pen, but Walt Jocketty has said otherwise. It is hard to imagine that the Reds would risk his demise experimenting with him in relief situations. Chapman will likely spend more time developing in Louisville than any fan would like. Even when he is ready, he will probably have to wait for a hole in the rotation to open up. Not a bad problem to have.

Homer Bailey made his first rehab start in Louisville on Tuesday (4 1/3IP, 5ER, 6H) after coming off the 15-day disabled list. Rookie Sam LeCure has pitched very well (1-2, 3.12) as Bailey's replacement and could slide into a reliever role once Bailey returns to the Reds.

If Reds' starters remain healthy and effective, Edinson Volquez could become an option for the Reds when he returns from Tommy John surgery. Volquez is currently rehabbing in extended spring training in Goodyear, Arizona. His 50-day suspension will end on June 12, but he will not be available to pitch until mid-to-late July. The Reds will need help before then.

The obvious option would be Louisville, but there is not much there. Carlos Fisher (9.82), Logan Ondrusek (9.90), and Enerio Del Rosario (1.35) have already been up and down this season and have suffered from their inexperience. All three pitchers have showed signs of dominance, but are not ready to take on the savior role for the Reds' harrowing pen.

Louisville starters Travis Wood (3-4, 4.15) and Matt Maloney (4-3, 3.55) could be converted to relievers to help their major league affiliate, but the decision would deplete the Bats' rotation considerably, creating a contrary impression. We have already seen potential youngsters (Fisher, Ondrusek, Rosario) tangle with major league hitters and the dubious chance of a Wood or Maloney endeavor suspends the idea of farm system assistance.

Jared Burton is rehabbing in Louisville (1-1, 6.30 in 9 games). Burton did not make the team out of Spring Training and has been working his way back from fatigue issues this season. He has spent most of the last three seasons in the majors (10-3, 3.47) and will be back with the club once he regains his endurance. Burton's 4.40 ERA in 53 games during 2009 suggests he will assist, but not save, the Reds' bullpen.

It appears that the solution will need to come from another team. There are currently five teams in the majors that are ten games or more out of first place. With trade-bait like Yonder Alonso, Juan Francisco, and Chris Valaika; the Reds could easily acquire what they need. If the Reds' appetite craves the 2010 post-season, a serious addition to the bullpen is mandatory.

Walt Jocketty, here are some suggestions:

David Aardsma: RHP with 12 saves for Seattle this season. Seattle is currently 13 games out of first place and desperate for a bat after Junior announced his retirement. Just kidding about Junior, but the M's do lack outfield depth.

Chris Perez: RHP with 5 saves and a 2.95 ERA in 23 games for Cleveland this season. The Indians have slid 12.5 games behind the Twins in the AL Central.

Will Ohman: LHP with a 3.38 ERA in 29 games so far for the Orioles. Ohman knows the NL Central (spent '00-'07 in Chicago), and was second in the NL in games (83) and fourth in holds (23) during 2008. The guy is a workhorse who knows how to get hitters out. Ohman has great breaking pitches and could capitalize with the Reds' solid defense behind him. The Orioles are already 20 games out of first place and will be unloading soon.

Aaron Heilman: RHP with a 2.84 ERA in 26 games with Arizona. The D-Backs are 11.5 games away from first place and have a trade history with the Reds. Heilman and Arthur Rhodes would be a nasty R/L setup-man combination.

Kyle Farnsworth: Another ex-Cub who has posted a 2.70 ERA in 20 games for Kansas City this season. Farnsworth's heat and control would be a great ingredient for the Reds during late innings. Kansas City is currently 10.5 games out of first. Farnsworth would probably fair well in a return to the National League since his departure during the 2005 season. He can fight too.

MORE NEWS:
-Phillips: 'I'm a showboat, always have been.' HAL McCOY
-Reds' 1st Round Pick: C Yasmani Grandal
REDLEG NATION
-Maybe our hard work is paying off?
REDS COUNTRY
-Photos show Pete Rose bats corked
JOHN FAY
-Reds' draft selections 2-30
REDS REPORT
-Reds trot fast
WEEZEN-BALL


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THE REDS HAD TO COME BACK TWICE TO DEFEAT THE NATIONALS 5-4 ON SUNDAY.

6.6.10
BY:MEH
ARROCKETTE
REDS AND ARROYO COMEBACK TO BEAT NATS'

(Props to @pinklibrarybook for the photoshopspiration)
Francisco Cordero scares me like Freddy Krueger did when I was ten. Cordero blew his fourth game of the season on Sunday afternoon, but also managed to steal the win away from Bronson Arroyo. After the Reds came back for the second time during Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals in the tenth inning, Nick Masset recorded the second save of his career, and his first in the National League. The Reds defeated the Nationals 5-4 to win the weekend series, moved back into a tie for first place after a Cardinal loss, and salvaged the road trip going .500 in six games against the Cardinals and Nationals.

After Bronson Arroyo's last start against the Cardinals (4.1IP, 10H, 7ER, 5BB), he was due to pitch the gem that he did. Arroyo went eight innings and allowed only two earned runs on six hits while striking out five. Arroyo always has his fair share of horrible starts each season, but his short term memory and professional demeanor usually propel him over his opposition five days later.

Placing his last start behind him, Arroyo pitched well enough to receive the win, but left the game in the eighth inning trailing the Nationals 2-1. Attempting to award their teammate with a win, the Reds' offense put together three runs in the top of the ninth. With the National League's save leader Matt Capps (18) on the mound, Drew Stubbs doubled with one out. Pinch-hitter Jonny Gomes then doubled Stubbs in and pinch-hitter Scott Rolen hit his 14th home run of the season to make the score 4-2.

“You can’t ask for more than the team three spot in the ninth when you’re down 2-1 after throwing eight innings,” Arroyo said. “It was good win for the team.”



Francisco "Coco Krueger" Cordero entered the game during the bottom of the ninth inning attempting to record his 17th save of the season. Cordero walked Josh Willingham to begin the inning. One out later Ian Desmond singled, both runners stole as Alberto Gonzalez struck out, and pinch-hitter Michael Morse tied the game with a double to right-center.

“It’s always easy to do something again when you’ve done it before," Johnny Gomes said. "We’ve won some games in last at-bats. We know we have that ability."

The spunky Reds wasted no time coming back. During the top of the tenth inning Jay Bruce and Lance Nix singled. Drew Stubbs then notched his third hit of the game with a two-out RBI single giving the Reds the lead once again. Nick Masset allowed a hit and a walk during the bottom of the tenth, but got the job done, as the Reds beat the Nationals 5-4.

“Nix said it best," Dusty Baker noted. "We’re a bunch of fightin’ fools.’ That’s what we were today.”

The Reds lead the NL in numerous offensive categories at home (166 runs, 45 homers, .291 average, .487 slugging percentage) as they begin their longest stay at GABP of the year on Monday. They will play four games against the Giants (luckily avoiding two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum), three games against Kansas City (will likely see the unlucky Zack Greinke Saturday), and three games against the Dodgers. Here are this week's probable pitching match-ups against the Giants and some interesting tidbits from
@juergenscj:

MON: Johnny Cueto (5-1, 4.09) vs. Barry Zito (6-2, 2.78) @ 7:10pm
TUE: *Sam LeCure (1-1, 3.97) vs. Matt Cain (4-4, 2.36) @7:10pm
WED: Aaron Harang (4-5, 5.43) vs. Jonathan Sanchez (4-4, 2.63) @7:10pm
THU: Mike Leake (5-0, 2.22) vs. Todd Wellemeyer (3-5, 5.72) @ 12:35pm
*Homer Bailey comes off the 15-day disabled list and could pitch.

-Giants are the second worse team in the league in free passes (2.9 per game)
-Giants have the second stingiest difference in the league (3.5 runs per game)
-Giants are the third worst team in base on balls allowed (4 per game)
-Giants are the third best in the league in striking out (6.7 per game)
-Giants have the best hits allowed in the league (7.2 per game)
-Giants' hurlers lead the league in K's (8 per game)

During the Cardinal's 4-3 loss to the Brewers on Sunday night, Albert Pujols hit a kid. A young Cardinal fan poorly attempted to catch Pujols' sixth inning solo-shot, resulting in the line-drive home run catching him in the chest. Despite acquiring a spectacular souvenir, a fantastic bruise/story to go with it, and air time on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, the kid continued to cry. Like his favorite team, he complained. The Cardinals gave the kid an Albert Pujols bat as his father posed him for cell-phone snapshots instead of teaching him how to correctly catch a baseball. Watch the video here.


MORE SCREAMERS:
-2010 Draft: Guys the Reds should target REDLEGS BASEBALL
-Draft Preview: Reds stick with best available
MARK SHELDON
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REDS ROCKET
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REDLEG NATION
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HAL McCOY
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-Fighting Reds Dread
JON WEBB

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LEAKE PITCHED WELL ENOUGH HIS LAST TWO STARTS TO RECEIVE A WIN. THIS TIME HE DOES.

6.5.10
BY:MEH
"GODZILLA" FINALLY GETS "FIF"
LEAKE PITCHED WELL ENOUGH HIS LAST TWO STARTS TO RECEIVE A WIN. THIS TIME HE DOES.

(Photo: Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Mike "Godzilla" Leake finally received his fifth win of the season on Saturday against the Washington Nationals pitching seven innings (7H, 0BB, 5K) of one-run ball. The rookie has put together quality starts for the Reds ten times over his eleven starts and has posted a 2.22 ERA on the season. The undefeated right-hander is undoubtedly the best pitcher in the Reds rotation.

"The thing about him is he pitches to the situation," Baker said. "If he needs a double play, he throws his best double-play pitch. If he needs a strikeout, he’ll go for the strikeout. That’s tough to teach. Most guys don’t learn that until far into their careers."



Avoiding their third straight loss, the Reds defeated the Nationals 5-1 on Saturday. Joey Votto and Orlando Cabrera each had two hits and a RBI while Mr. Leake helped himself out, as he usually does, going 2-3 and scoring a run. Leake became the first Reds' pitcher to have a four-game hitting streak since Bobby Livingston's in 2007. Godzilla can do it all.

Reds' second baseman Brandon Phillips added some hysteria during the eighth inning. After driving in Orlando Cabrera with a single, Phillips went to third on a wild pitch with Joey Votto at the plate. Phillips was clearly out at third, but the Nationals' Ian Desmond unintentionally clogged the base-path and was called for interference. After Votto walked, Scott Rolen hit a ball to short. Phillips aggressively charged home, bulldozing over National's catcher Luis Nieves as he blocked the plate. Nieves dropped the ball and Phillips scored causing him to beat his chest in celebration. During the bottom of the eighth, Phillips was drilled by a Miguel Batista pitch. Batista was promptly ejected by umpire Joe West.

"I just go out there and play the game of baseball the way I know how," Phillips said. "I just play with a lot of excitement. I didn’t see nothing wrong with what I did. If people think I did something wrong, I apologize to whoever thinks so, but it’s baseball."

Bronson Arroyo (5-3, 4.92) will face Craig Stammen (1-2, 5.88) and the Washington Nationals at 1:35pm on Sunday.

MORE NEWS:
-Davis visits Lynchburg, offers batting tips CHRIS LANG
-The innings meter is running on Leake
JOHN FAY
-Gomes all about heart for Reds
BILL KOCH
-Nats: Worst Unis Evar?
OMGREDS

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JUNIOR IS ON HIS WAY TO COOPERSTOWN

6.2.10
BY:MEH
ADIÓS AMIGO
JUNIOR IS ON HIS WAY TO COOPERSTOWN

Ken Griffey Junior's final hit of his hall of fame career was a walk-off pinch-hit single to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 at Safeco field in Seattle on May 20, 2010. His final home run was hit on October 4, 2009 helping the Mariners defeat the Teas Rangers 2-1. Junior hit 19 home runs in 2009. He failed to go yard this season. After batting only .184 in 98 at-bats this year as the Mariner's left handed specialist and dealing with rumors surrounding his decline, Junior decided to walk away from the game of baseball on June 2, 2010 at the age of forty.

Although it didn't bolster Junior's career homerun total of 630 (5th all-time), Cincinnati fans will always remember the walk-off grand slam he hit to defeat the Reds 6-5 on March 26, 2010 during spring training while playing for the Mariners. It was the first game in which Junior had ever faced his former team. After hitting 210 home runs for the Reds in nine injury plagued seasons, Junior crushed a 3-2 Kip Wells pitch for his final (unofficial) homerun to defeat them.

There was nothing unofficial about Junior's 21-plus year major league career. During baseball's steroid era, Junior will always be know as the one who did it right. Because of that, he suffered multiple injuries over the years that sidelined his numbers and himself. Juicing could have potentially prevented, or at least minimized, his stints on the disabled list, but Junior never submitted to the temptation. He played the game that he loved aristocratically, and when he failed to have fun, he stopped.


"I've come to a decision today to retire from Major League Baseball as an active player,"
Griffey said. "This has been on my mind recently, but it's not an easy decision to come by. I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to play Major League Baseball for so long and thankful for all the friendships I have made, while also being proud of my accomplishments. While I feel I am still able to make a contribution on the field, and nobody in the front office asked me to retire, I told the Mariners when I met with them prior to the 2009 season and was invited back, that I will never allow myself to become a distraction. I feel that without enough occasional starts to be sharper coming off the bench, my continued presence as a player would be an unfair distraction to my teammates, and their success as a team is what the ultimate goal should be."

Ken Griffey Junior will always be remembered as a dedicated family man, a congenial sports icon, and an extraordinary baseball player. Long live The Kid.



JUNIOR AND MORE:
-Mariners star ends career MARINERS.COM
-Griffey changed baseball in Seattle
ESPN

-The joy was gone, and now so is The Kid SEATTLE TIMES
-Carpenter nails Reds once again
HAL McCOY
-Cameron bids Griffey adieu
BOSTON HERALD
-How to turn a loser into a winner
BOB SMIZIK
-Investment paying off for the Reds
NY TIMES
-Wishing Junior well
MARK SHELDON
-Nobody's perfect
OMGREDS
-Reds on Griffey
JOHN FAY

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JOEY VOTTO HELPS REDS DEFEAT CARDINALS AFTER MISSING SIX GAMES.. STILL GANGSTER.

6.1.10
BY:MEH
"THE BEST GAME OF THE YEAR."
JOEY VOTTO HELPS REDS DEFEAT CARDINALS AFTER MISSING SIX GAMES.. STILL GANGSTER.

After Monday's 12-4 blowout against the Cardinals, first place for the Cincinnati Reds appeared to be fading away. Bronson Arroyo allowed seven runs in just over four innings of work and the bullpen looked terrible, as Mike Lincoln and Carlos Fisher allowed five more after Arroyo's exit. The offense was stale as the wheels seemed to be falling off for the Reds. After Monday's game, St. Louis moved back into a tie for first with the Reds.

Prior to Tuesday's game the Reds decided to make some changes. Mike Lincoln was placed on the disabled list and Carlos Fisher was sent back to AAA Louisville. Logan Ondrusek and Enerio Del Rosario were called up to remedy the Reds' ailing pen and Joey Votto started at first after missing six games with a stiff neck. Some speculated that Votto spent the week voting for himself.

On Tuesday, the Reds' offense exploded to defeat the Cardinals, reclaiming an isolated spot atop the NL Central. Despite Johnny Cueto having a rough night (5IP, 10H, 8ER, 0K) and the score fluctuating constantly, the Reds held on and put together enough runs to defeat the Cardinals 9-8. Dusty was delighted:

"Both sides were battling. That was probably the best game of the year. That was as close to a playoff atmosphere as a young team can get in. That’s just a sample of what exciting baseball is all about. That was big for us to win that game tonight."

Joey "Capone" Votto confirmed his "gangster" going 4-5 with a home run and Scott Rolen went yard twice, as he went 3-5 on the night with four RBI. The Reds' bullpen rebounded triumphantly, pitching four scoreless innings after Cueto's departure. Enerio Del Rosario received his first career win and Arthur Rhodes assembled his 21st consecutive scoreless appearance (19 2/3 innings).

"Tomorrow, we've got a chance to win a series," said Scott Rolen. "That's important. It's a series. It's not the battle of first place in June. We've got a chance to win a series. That's why we're here in the position we're in playing good baseball and tied for first place. It's because we played well and won series. It doesn't matter who you're playing, you win series and play good baseball, you'll find yourself in good position."

Sam LeCure (1-0, 3.00) will face Chris Carpenter (6-1, 2.93) and the Cardinals at 8:15pm on Wednesday.

MORE NEWS:
-Creeper pushy over bobbleheads DIAMOND HOGGERS
-This one was like a playoff game
HAL McCOY
-TDIRH: Soto's one hitter?
REDLEG NATION
-Minor league POTM:
REDS MINOR LEAGUES
-Josh Garton's HR sprint...
COREY BRINN
-Rolen rocks Cardinals
STL TODAY
-Not so fast Homer...
JOHN FAY
-Gomes can do it all
OMGREDS
-Chapman in the zone
MLB.COM
-Q&A: Lynchburg Hillcats
CNATI

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