MLB: The Cincinnati Reds Baseball Site for Fans.

2008-11-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

Just 17 days to Redsfest!

2008-10-30T11:28:00.001-07:00

Get out there and vote next Tuesday, November 4th, Cincinnati!

2008-10-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

Practice your voting skills here and now by casting your ballot for the 2008 This Year in Baseball Awards!

Mama Knows Best

2008-09-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

I always picture the moms of football players hating what their sons do for a living and freaking out with every injury. But not Chris Wells' mom, no sir. Mama Wells called up the Columbus Dispatch and said her boy will be back on the field for Saturday's game against Ohio U. It's just a toe injury, right? Hell, he's got nine more. Rub it off on the grass and get back out there to make your mama proud!

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

My friend gave himself a FD gift this year by taking his kids to the Father's Day Catch at the Great American Ballpark - information here and here. It's a fundraiser for the Reds Community Fund, which is a pretty cool organization. They're not curing cancer or anything, but they do a lot of good.

Too Much Love

2008-06-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

It's pretty rare that I want to buy concert tour tickets for anything in Cincy. But tomorrow there are two shows at once I'd like to see. Jersey Boys and Moody Blues. When it rains, it pours. Maybe I can just run back and forth between the two, like they do on sitcoms when they accidentally have two dates. That always works, right?

598 and Counting

2008-05-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

I hope Griffey's rested up and ready to hit 600 soon. He's just two homeruns away from it! He's got to be feeling pretty impatient. Can you imagine the anticipation?

Double header, double disappointment

2007-08-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

What a difference a couple of games can make... looks like the Pirates had it out for us.

So much for us coming out on top in the post season. :(

A gift from the Cincinnati Reds

2007-06-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

Merry Christmas!

And happy birthday, and congratulations to the Houston Astros on breaking their 10-game winning streak! Too bad it had to happen at the expense of the Cincinnati Reds.

Don't say we never gave you anything...

Mo, Mo, Mo!

2007-03-08T10:35:00.000-08:00

I feel like Billy Idol. Allow me to bask in optimism. I like the prospects of Bailey baseball. The Reds are armed and dangerous. Okay that was corny, but really the mound is looking good for the Reds. A young arm with a 98 mph fastball. Narron knows Bailey is their season ticket.

Cast off

2007-01-17T11:41:00.000-08:00

Ken Griffey Jr. expected to be ready to play in time for spring training. The Cincinnati Reds player broke his left hand in an offseason accident, and has just recently had the hard cast removed and replaced with a removable splint.

Wearin' O' the Red

2007-01-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

It doesn’t happen often, but it would be fun to see when it does – the National League’s Reds against the American League’s Red Sox. Weren’t we Red Stockings once upon a time? Or was that their original name? I see I have some googling to do. Well, that search will be more fruitful than looking for tickets to the game itself. Only January and that St. Patrick’s Day duel is already sold out.

Griffey Possibly Moving to the Corner

2006-12-10T17:49:00.000-08:00

Ken Griffey Jr. has repeatedly told the Cincinnati Reds that he will not be willing to make a move to a corner outfield position allowing for more speed in center field. But this year at the winter meetings Griffey was asked again if he would move to the corner, and he didn't say yes, but he also didn't say no. Griffey may be realizing that he's getting a bit old and if he wants to keep playing then he may need to be flexible.

Get Your Reds Fix at Redsfest Soon!

2006-11-17T13:04:00.000-08:00

Why does the half a year from October to April seem so-o-o much longer than the other half? Is it because we need our Reds and we haven't got 'em? Well, don't forget Redsfest--it's coming up Friday evening, December 1st and most all day Saturday, December 2nd, at Duke Energy Center. Adult tickets are $10 or $15 for both days; kids get in for $5 or $7 for the 2-day pass.

Photos and a chance to get them autographed, an indoor "Field of Dreams" to play on, concerts and the live taping of Fox Sports' Best Damn Sports Show Period featuring Rob Dibble -- those are just a sampling of the fun. Plus you can be among the first to see what the Reds' new uniforms will look like. Just what the desperate Cincinnati fan has been waiting for!

Ohio in the spotlight

2006-11-02T11:45:00.000-08:00

With the Reds’ season over and the World Series all done, my TV viewing has expanded in other directions. But what do I get to watch? Election year crap! Once again Ohio is getting attention due to elections that could go either way and/or may be being manipulated by…somebody.

Pardon me if I’m hallucinating, but back in civics class I thought they said how democracy had improved by letting more and more people vote (not just the particular demographic groups that agree with you). Also, if people didn’t agree with your ideas, you were supposed to try to persuade them that you were right—not scare them that the other people running for office were treasonous evildoers. But see, that was how democracy was getting better, not how one party or another was eviscerating their opponents.

The only good thing I’ve seen of all this is The Daily Show coming to Ohio. Jon Stewart and the people that have put together the “Midwest Midterm Midtacular” have a much better take on all this tacky electioneering than the politicians do. Plus, they don't mind mocking their hosts, the OSU Buckeyes.

Good MLB news for seasons to come

2006-10-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

Looks like Major League Baseball is ready to lock in a collective bargaining agreement that should last for the next five years. And the owners and players didn't wait till the last minute or whine at each other all over the sports pages.

Great news for us baseball lovers!

Goodbye Coach

2006-10-12T11:26:00.000-07:00

The Cincinnati Reds have just fired hitting coach Chris Chambliss this past Wednesday. The reason for their decision was based upon the 6 seasons that they lost in a row. Who will be next in line to coach the Reds & take them to their victory? I guess we will just have to wait & see.

Can We Do It Next Year?

2006-10-03T09:25:00.000-07:00

Our shot in the pennant race at least made for some exciting times over the last few weeks. I’m encouraged to see GM Wayne Krisvky make some aggressive staff moves, bringing in enough talent to at least give us a shot. Still, a sub-500 year isn’t much to cheer about. But given our relative weak NL Central rivals, I truly believe ’07 has the best potential in years.

Who will pitch us into the post-season?

2006-07-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

The Cincinnati Reds have been struggling a lot in the bullpen. We have needed some change or increased motivation for a while. The Reds have made a move to acquire Eddie Guardado and some cash from the Seattle Mariners for minor leaguer. Could he be the answer to our burning question?

27-22 Reds Making Me A Happy Fan

2006-05-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

The Cincinnati Reds are doing really well this summer but I am a little worried by this series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Losing that series to Detroit got me down a little bit but we went on to take the series against the Brewers so I guess I can’t complain too much. It would have been nice to see them end this month strong, going into June with an aggressive edge. Oh well.

Reds Racking Up Victories

2006-04-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of my Cincinnati Reds this season. They started winning right out of the gate and have had an impressive April. I am more than certain that we are going to see great things from this team in May. Our current winning streak is at six games in a row. Go Reds!

Ace pitcher Arroyo connects.

2006-04-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

The Cincinnati Reds hit six home runs against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday for a blowout 9-2 win. The crazy thing was that starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo hit his second home run of the season and also gained his second win. The power hitters are really stepping it up for the Reds and it looks like it's going to be a killer season. I'm keeping a lookout for Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn who are coming out strong and making it fun for the fans.

My View may be Askew

2006-04-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

President Bush threw the ceremonial first pitch at Monday’s Cincinnati Reds home opener versus the Chicago Cubs. I think it is a little ironic that the only other US President to do this for the Reds was Richard M. Nixon. These guys seem like the perfect match. They both have middle initials in their moniker; they both like baseball and they both enjoy the recreational use of illegal wire-tapping. There’s a pattern here, I am sure of it.

The Two Clintons Meet

2006-03-10T15:34:00.000-08:00

The Cincinnati Reds may not be contenders this year but I have underestimated them before. I am not really into all the spring baseball events this year. I am more interested in seeing George Clinton and the Parliament Funkadelic at Bogart’s on March 19^th. If you have never seen George Clinton live – you are missing out.

Funny story - years ago a friend saw me at a café eating and came over to talk. He was giddy with anticipation over seeing Clinton live and in person that very night. He didn’t have anyone to go with and invited me. The best part was the show was supposed to be free. I agreed to go and we headed off to the city. When we got there I gasped and started to crack up! We were at a rally for Bill Clinton and not a Funkadelic concert at all. I will never live that one down.

That Spring Baseball Feeling

2006-02-03T20:28:00.000-08:00

Cincinnati Reds tickets will be on sale in a matter of weeks and I have to say I am getting pretty excited for the new season. I can’t wait to spend opening day at the Great American Ballpark. The Reds have like ten candidates for the GM position and we’ve got our fingers crossed that they’ll make a decision soon.

Victimized

2005-06-09T13:13:00.000-07:00

As the fourth pitcher in the rotation for the Reds, right-handed-pitcher Ramon Ortiz has had a pretty easy schedule. Still, Ortiz is struggling to get wins. Ortiz was part of an attempt to beef up the Reds rotation with the addition of Milton and the re-signing of Wilson. Last night Ortiz was victimized for six runs in just 1 2/3 innings that he pitched. It just seems like he has been a waste of money so far.

BURNING ISSUE:

2005-05-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

- from FOXSports.com

Determining whether RHP Ryan Wagner is ready to take over the closer's role is the big issue surrounding manager Dave Miley right now. When Graves was designated, Miley said the bullpen would operate with a closer by committee. But if the team does indeed see Wagner as the closer of the future, Miley has to decide if the short-term risks of running the youngster out there are worth it.

Graves Cut

2005-05-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

Danny Graves has been let go by the Cincinnati Reds due to crappy production and his little stunt that he pulled the other day. So, the Reds are stuck either finding a way to trade him or Graves will still be contractually obligated to receive the full payment of $6.25 million.

"At this point in time, Danny's overall performance during the '05 season has been unsatisfactory and unacceptable, and just not consistent with the standards that we've come to expect in the Reds organization. It's an exceedingly difficult decision for us."
- General Manager Dan O'Brien

Graves is a veteran to the Reds organization. At 31, this season was most likely going to be the finish and now it is. Graves had stacked up 182 saves.

Danny Graves moves to Cubs ... ?

2005-05-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

Danny Graves has not had the best start this year. One of the leading starters in 2003, Graves had been moved to reliever over the past year. Now, he feels that this has strongly put a damper on his possibly prolific play. Graves is currently being ousted from the Reds bullpen.

"I changed roles and probably ruined my career. I don't know. I don't have the answers. I felt like I've been given up on. It's a shock to me. If I can recall, I'm not the only closer that has struggled."
- Danny Graves

Graves recently flipped off a fan in the audience who was giving him hell for blowing the game. This influenced the Reds to speed Graves out the door with a $5 million contract left to figure out. The Cubbies are currently trying to figure out whether to take on his contract (make a trade) or wait until he is ousted after 10 days and give him a minimal contract (the Reds would still have to finish funding the former agreed upon contract).

Reds Lose Series to Mets

2005-05-19T14:05:00.000-07:00

The Cincinnati Reds continue to have some bad luck as the season continues to wind. In their most recent game, not only did they lose with many an error, but Manager Dave Miley was ejected for disputing a call in the fifth.

If I was Miley, I would have wanted to be ejected either way. The Reds let four errors throughout the game. In the 10-6 game, the only reason the Reds left with dignity was due to a late offensive surge.

This makes the 17th consecutive game that a Reds pitcher has let a home run.

Team Report:

2005-05-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

- from FOXSports.com

Though he traditionally has gotten off to quick starts at the plate, 1B Sean Casey took some time getting into a rhythm this season. Once Casey got going in late April and early May, the lineup began to have a little more flow, though Casey still has a penchant for grounding into double plays. . . .

The Reds still don't seem willing to hand the closer role over to RHP Ryan Wagner, even though

RHP Danny Graves continues to struggle with putting teams away in the ninth. . . .

Given C Jason LaRue's problems at the plate, C Javier Valentin might get a lot more playing time.

12-4

2005-05-15T12:19:00.000-07:00

In a 12-4 upset of the Phillies, the Cincinnati Reds rocketed out the points to defend a fairly good pitching game by Aaron Harang. Ryan Madsen of the Phillies regretted taking on Ken Griffey, Jr. with two people on base. Griffey bolted out a three-run homer that ignited the flow of six runs.

This makes two season-high’s for the Reds; both in scoring and hit assault (racking up 17). Go REDS!!!

Team Report:

2005-05-10T14:10:00.000-07:00

- from FOXSports.com

With the offense failing to click with CF Ken Griffey in the No. 2 hole, he was moved to cleanup. Griffey is used to hitting in a run-producing spot. The problem now is an overload of lefthanded power hitters in the middle of the lineup. . . .

The Reds are being patient with RHP Ben Weber, but his continued struggles are testing that patience. . . .

Though veteran Rich Aurilia will remain as the primary starter at shortstop, the team wants to get more playing time for Felipe Lopez. He has the bat and the speed to provide a spark near the top of the order.

Dirty Upset

2005-05-03T15:39:00.000-07:00

After watching a wondrous game, I was real excited. The Reds were about to win with a score of 9-3 against the St. Louis Cardinals. But then, for some reason, Danny Graves had his first blown close of the season. In one inning, the Cards were able to come up from a 6 point deficit to turn the game into a 10-9 victory.

"The way things are going, we've had no baseball luck. When it rains, it pours."
- Danny Graves

4 Losses

2005-05-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

Ramon Ortiz just came off of the disabled list, but maybe he was not ready just yet. The Cincinnati Reds are returning home after a terrible road swing. Right now, the Reds have lost 4 straight and their last loss was vicious.

In a game that ended with a score of 13-3, Ortiz became stuck in a third inning rut. Ortiz allowed 4 runs and the Reds could not compensate for such a detriment.

"It was just a bad game. They hit everything. I made a couple bad pitches, and they hit them. I made a couple good pitches, and they hit them. There's nothing you can do about that, you know?"
- Ramon Ortiz

Pitchers, Games, and other Updates

2005-04-26T11:03:00.000-07:00

So, first of all, let’s talk about the most recent series against the Pirates. After a glorious win in the first part of the series, the series was stifled in a loss with a score or 4-2. Wily Mo Pena brought Sean Casey in with a double during the first inning. But, Pittsburgh held the lead from the 3rd inning, where Wilson and Wiggington contributed to add two points. Afterwards, the Reds could not come back from the deficit.

On the topic of pitchers, both Luke Hudson and Josh Hancock will be coming back off of the DL soon. This may be good for the Reds, but it’s not looking as positively for Joe Valentine and Matt Belisle. Both of these guys are going to have to show that they have the spunk to stay on the squad.

Lastly, Felipe Lopez may be getting the chance to take Rich Aurilia starting position at shortstop. Lopez may not be the best at fielding, but he is a more powerful hitter than Aurilia.

SEE A DIFFERENT GAME:

2005-04-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

- from FOXSports.com

Why is CF Ken Griffey batting second against righthanded pitchers? Simple: The team had too many lefthanded hitters -- Griffey, 1B Sean Casey and LF Adam Dunn -- in the middle of the order. Austin Kearns, a righthanded hitter, is batting cleanup against righties, sandwiched between Casey and Dunn. Griffey's presence at No. 2 might also unsettle a few opposing pitchers.

Victory

2005-04-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

After racking up 4 straight road losses, the Cincinnati Reds finally pulled one through with a 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. This makes their current record 4-4 with only the first game of the series through.

The real story of this game was that of Matt Belisle who experience his first major league game debut. The right-hander started for Ramon Ortiz who was out with a groin strain. Belisle was able to go five innings allowing only one run.

3-3

2005-04-10T17:27:00.000-07:00

The Cincinnati Reds have been starting out in a mediocre stance. At first, I was real excited watching the 3 game sweep of the Mets. Now, we’re all waiting to see that come back.

Currently, the Reds have racked up 3 wins and 3 losses. Beginning the series with the Astros, the Reds let the game go with the weak efforts of Eric Milton.

Milton was acquired this season after making a record-high season of giving away home-runs. This is exactly what he did in this past game. Milton let runs fly from both Biggio and Bagwell.

SCOUTING REPORT:

2005-04-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

- from FOXSports.com

LF Adam Dunn has the potential to hit 50 home runs -- and strike out in bunches. He fulfilled one part of that potential in 2004, setting a major league record with 195 strikeouts while hitting 46 home runs. The Reds don't want to take away his power by shortening his stroke, but they are trying to change his approach and reduce his 2-strike counts.

Griffey Still Lookin Good

2005-03-31T15:16:00.000-08:00

From all the sources I’ve looked at, Ken Griffey, Jr. looks like he will be ready to play on opening day. Griffey has been taking it very steadily through rehabilitation, making sure to limit his amount games and pressure. Griffey has been coming off of a surgery to his reconstructed hamstring.

But, he is looking positively at the road ahead. He knows that he is ready and all the tests and training have proven the same.

"Spring Training doesn't count. On Monday, it counts, so I've got to play. That's the way it is. I know that. Everybody knows that. No matter what the conditions are, I've got to play. Once the season starts, it's rain or shine."
- Ken Griffey, Jr.

BREAKOUT PLAYER:

2005-03-24T17:21:00.000-08:00

- from FOXSports.com

Kearns showed flashes of what he's capable of in 2002 and '03, but he has been unable to stay healthy the past two seasons. Shoulder and thumb injuries have held back his progress. But Kearns has felt good and looked good in Spring Training. The Reds love his simple approach at the plate. He looks poised to be a worthy complement to the likes of Griffey, Casey and Dunn in the middle of the order.

2005 Ken Griffey, Jr.

2005-03-22T17:52:00.000-08:00

The Cincinnati Reds are hoping to help make 2005 the year that Ken Griffey, Jr. will stay healthy throughout. The last four years Griffey has fought with different injuries keeping him from being in the limelight he once was. Ken Griffey, Jr. will always be a household name. He has had his fame and it could be rebounding back, but he needs a season with no opposing force.

"There are certain players who, no matter what people are in the stands talking about, they're going to stop and watch him hit or have a ball hit to him. I just happen to be one of those people."
- Ken Griffey, Jr.

Griffey is well through rehab and this 35-year old is ready to hit the field again. He has now been in the game for approximately 16 years.

Rich Aurilia

2005-03-17T17:19:00.000-08:00

Rich Aurilia is giving his all to keep his spot as shortstop in the Reds’ roster. Aurilia has a very prominent career behind him as of now, holding both league experience and All-star glory.

Felipe Lopez is coming onto him strong though. At 24, the youthful player hit a .346 during the span of nine games. Aurilia held a .320 hitting in the Grapefruit league.

On this account, Aurilia works as a very solid teacher to Lopez. With veteran experience, Aurilia can be a great help in molding an extremely good player. At the same time, the competition makes him keep on top of his game.

"I knew competition would make me work and concentrate, and it has so far. That's why I came here. This is a good spot for me."
- Rich Aurilia

Luke Hudson’s Shoulder

2005-03-13T11:38:00.000-08:00

After ending a fantastic season in 2004, Luke Hudson was pretty positive of his spot in the Cincinnati Reds’ rotation. After some Spring Training, this may not be the case any longer. Hudson has been suffering with an ailing shoulder. This shoulder was operated on in April of 2003.

Recently, the shoulder has been really hampering Hudson in showing off his initial skill. This is really hindering his possibility of taking the fourth or fifth position in the line.

"There's never a good time for [soreness], but this is really tough."
- Luke Hudson

Reds up for Sale

2005-03-08T14:30:00.000-08:00

Louise Nippert, George L. Strike and the Gannett Co., Inc., who make up about 51 percent of the ownership of the Reds, have decided to put their shares up for sale. As of now, most of the other partners in ownership plan to remain seated as they are.

"While we have all enjoyed our association with the Reds over many years, for personal reasons we have concluded that this is the right time for us to sell. The current ownership group, under the leadership of Carl Lindner, has secured the future of the Reds in Cincinnati with a great ballpark and the finest team Hall of Fame in baseball. The commitment to winning could not be stronger, as evidenced by our offseason activity."
- Carter Randolph, spokesman for the Louise Dieterle Nippert Trust

Kearns is Back, Ready for More Injuries

2005-03-01T16:48:00.000-08:00

After being on the injured list for quite some time, Austin Kearns is returning and is very invigorated by the potential of his upcoming season. In 2004, Kearns sat out most of the year with different injuries, most predominately because of his shoulder.

"Last year, it felt like it was all I could do to turn on a fastball. I felt like I had no bat speed and I had to go out of my realm and try way too hard to hit anything on the inside part of the plate because my shoulder was either really tired or dragging."
- Austin Kearns

During 2003, Kearns was hitting .309 with 13 homers and 44 RBIs when he injured his shoulder. In 2002, he led all rookies with a .315 batting average but was held back with a strained left hamstring. In 2004, injuries to his forearm and thumb caused him to miss a total of 84 games.

This adds to the many power hitters that will be filling up the outfield. Ken Griffey Jr. should also be ready to participate in this season’s play. With five players (Kearns, Wily Mo Pena, Adam Dunn, Griffey and Ryan Freel) covering the outfield, many people are wondering if everyone will get enough at bats.

Griffey’s Back

2005-02-15T15:02:00.000-08:00

After joining the Cincinnati Reds in 2000, Ken Griffey Jr. has been on and off the injury list very frequently. In these four seasons, he’s had injuries to his right shoulder, right ankle, and both hamstrings. Most recently, he had surgery on his hamstring and has been going to rehab since.

Being a 12-time All-Star, the Reds want to put him back out on centerfield, but they are in no hurry to do so. Moreover, Griffey wants to get through his rehab so that he can join in during Spring Training and be out on the field for opening day.

During his time with the Reds, Griffey has only averaged about 79 games. Hopefully, if all goes well, he will be able to play through this upcoming season without re-injuring himself and gaining back most of his previous ability.

“I'm just trying to get back to, or close to, what I was before the injury. That’s it. This offseason for me consisted of taking the kids to school, going to rehab, going home and doing some more things at night that I didn't do at the rehab place and then going to bed and doing it again the next day.”
- Ken Griffey Jr.

Machado undergoes surgery..

2005-01-31T14:30:00.000-08:00

From sports.yahoo.com:

Infielder Anderson Machado had surgery on Friday to repair a torn ligament in his left knee, leaving former All-Star Rich Aurilia and Felipe Lopez to compete for the starting shortstop job for the Cincinnati Reds.

Machado injured the medial collateral ligament last month while playing winter ball in the Venezuelan League. He had trouble getting a visa to have the knee examined by the Reds' medical staff in Cincinnati.

Dr. Timothy Kremchek performed the 40-minute surgery Friday to repair the medial collateral ligament. Machado is expected to undergo several months of rehabilitation, and it is uncertain when he can return.

The Reds declined to offer Barry Larkin a contract for 2005, and expected either Machado or Lopez to take over. After Machado hurt his knee, the Reds signed Aurilia to a minor league contract.

This will probably leave Machado out indefinatley, which leads to the question of who will take his place. I guess it will be left to whoever performs better, so lets keep an eye on the shortstops before the season kicks into gear.

Reds sign Aurilla

2005-01-26T17:19:00.000-08:00

From sports.yahoo.com:

Four years removed from his 2001 All-Star campaign, shortstop Rich Aurilia has signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

On Monday, the Reds agreed to terms with Aurilia on a minor league deal and invited him to spring training.

In 2001, Aurilia received a Silver Slugger Award as the best offensive shortstop in the National League after setting career-highs with a .324 average, 37 home runs and 97 RBI with the San Francisco Giants. He also led the NL with 206 hits that year and finished 12th in the league's Most Valuable Player voting.

In three seasons since then, however, Aurilia has managed to hit just .260 with 34 homers and 163 RBI. He split last season between the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, batting .246 with six homers and 44 RBI.

Aurilia, who in 2001 became the first NL shortstop with at least 30 homers in a season since Barry Larkin hit 33 in 1997, will be battling to replace Larkin this spring.

The 40-year-old Larkin, who hit .289 with eight homers and 44 RBI last season, had his 19-year career with the Reds come to an end when the team failed to offer him a contract last month.

The 33-year-old Aurilia, who has hit .275 with 132 homers and 517 RBI in 1,117 career games, will battle fellow shortstops Felipe Lopez, Anderson Machado and Ray Olmedo in spring training.

Lets hope he can kick into All-Star mode and help us get to the playoffs next year. Keep up the trades Reds, and I will be anxiously awaiting opening day.

Reds sign Randa to one-year deal

2004-12-23T15:55:00.000-08:00

By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

Joe Randa is in, and Austin Kearns is back in the outfield.

On Tuesday, the Cincinnati Reds signed Randa, a free agent third baseman, to a one-year contract, effectively ending the Kearns' experiment to move to third.

The Reds also announced the signing of second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez to a one-year deal on his 27th birthday, thus avoiding arbitration.

Kearns had been working out in Lexington, Ky., and following a plan established by the Reds in an attempt to make the conversion from right field to third. But the addition of Randa puts an end to that, though it wasn't for lack of effort on Kearns' part.

"It was evident [Kearns] had made progress," Reds general manager Dan O'Brien said Tuesday. "But from our perspective, the pace of the progress he was making left some question in our minds as to whether or not he'd be ready to handle this challenge on Opening Day of the 2005 season.

"Collectively, we felt that it wasn't fair, not only for Austin, but his teammates to have that uncertainty going into the season," O'Brien said. "We walked through that with Austin. He's still a very integral and important part of our ballclub. He understood it and was supportive of us bringing on board Joe Randa."

Randa wasn't aware of the opening on the Reds. He simply wanted to stay in the Midwest.

"When the season was over, with the debacle I went through in Kansas City, I knew I wasn't going to be coming back," Randa said. "You look on the map and look at the opportunities. Things may present themselves."

The "debacle" in Kansas City wasn't just losing Carlos Beltran.

"Injuries, and one thing led to another," Randa said. "It was a situation where we went from being picked to win the division, with the additions that we made in Spring Training, to having the injuries. One led to another, and we just fell apart. It was so frustrating for me.

"In the latter part of your career, you want to win," he said. "Things were going in a different direction [in Kansas City]."

Randa is familiar with the Reds organization, having played against them often in Spring Training.

"This seemed to be the best fit for me and my personality," he said.

Having Kearns back in the right, does create a logjam in the outfield.

"Having four quality outfielders is not a problem," O'Brien said.

Randa, 35, batted .287 with eight home runs and 56 RBIs in 128 games for the Kansas City Royals. He missed one month after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee but came back to earn honors as the Royals Player of the Month in September. He hit .316 in the final month with two homers and 14 RBIs.

"First, he's a professional hitter, he's a professional in terms of his defensive play," O'Brien said. "He knows how to play the game. For us, I think he'll be a very valuable addition to our lineup. We needed a professional hitter who is a contact hitter and knows how to handle the bat. We hope that makes our offense more efficient and hopefully more productive."

On Sept. 9 at Detroit, Randa became the first player in American League history to record six hits and six runs in one game.

A 10-year veteran, he has spent the last six seasons in Kansas City, averaging 13 homers and 80 RBIs. In 2000, he had his best season, batting .304 with 15 homers and 106 RBIs in 158 games.

"I have a chance to play with two of the nicest first basemen in the league in Mike Sweeney and Sean Casey," Randa said.

The Reds' infield for 2005 will have Casey at first, Jimenez at second, either Felipe Lopez or Anderson Machado at short, and Randa at third. Ray Olmedo, a candidate for the shortstop job, had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on Nov. 9.

Jimenez hit .270 with 12 homers and 67 RBIs in 152 games last season. The infielder established career highs in runs (76), hits (152), doubles (28), RBIs and stolen bases (13).

Jimenez was one of four Reds who were arbitration eligible. Kearns, outfielder Adam Dunn and newly acquired pitcher Ramon Ortiz also are arbitration eligible.

Reds Decide not to Re-sign Larkin

2004-10-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

By Todd Lorenz / MLB.com

CINCINNATI -- Barry Larkin's 19-year run as the Reds' shortstop came to an end on Tuesday.

After hitting .289 and making his 12th All-Star team in 2004, Larkin will leave the Reds with a 1995 NL MVP Award, three Gold Glove awards and a 1990 World Series ring to go along with his career .295 batting average, 198 home runs and 960 RBIs. He's also the only shortstop in Major League history to accumulate over 2,200 hits, 190 home runs and 370 steals.

"[Manager] Dave Miley and [general manager] Dan O'Brien called me at about 2 p.m. to say they wouldn't be offering me a contract [for 2005]," said Larkin from his home in Orlando, Fla.

The Reds made the announcement official about two hours later in a press conference at Great American Ball Park.

"Dave [Miley] and I had to make a most difficult telephone call today to Barry Larkin," said O'Brien. "In that conversation we shared with him that as a result of our organizational meetings, where we had an opportunity to talk with scouts at length as well as our coaching staff, that there was a clear-cut consensus that we needed to give Felipe Lopez and Anderson Machado an opportunity to play in Cincinnati in the '05 season. As a result, we explained to Barry that there would not be a contract forthcoming for him.

"It's consistent with our organizational direction of trying to give younger players an opportunity to play. For 19 years Barry Larkin has been an outstanding player and representative for the organization. For many of you who have seen him on a day-in, day-out basis, it's been a pleasure to see him play the position at such an exceptional level. We thank Barry for all of his contributions to this organization and for all that he's meant to it."

For Larkin, the move hardly came as a shock.

He'd already been shelved for the final month of 2004 as the Reds took a closer lookat the pair of young shortstops, which gave him a pretty good idea that he wouldn't be around for his 20th season in Cincinnati despite announcing that he'd like to play at least one more year.

"Things ended on a sour note," he said. "I think, as a player, things always tend to end up that way. That's OK. I don't have a problem with that."Of course, he would have much rather seen things have a happy ending.

"It's disappointing," he said. "I don't think that as an organization they've done a good job of dealing with players. I think it's disappointing the way things went down because it can hurt the organization from a public relations standpoint. But they did business the way they do business."

In the short term, Larkin is still considering playing, but the business side of baseball is where he sees his future -- although that doesn't necessarily mean it'll be in Cincinnati.

"If there's a situation that makes sense and is a fit for me and my family, either as a player or if it's something in a front office, that I might want to pursue, we'll sit down and consider it," Larkin said. "I don't know if a lot of teams fully understand what I have to offer because I've never played with a different team, but I think word of mouth travels throughout the league. So I don't know where or if I'll be back as a player or something else somewhere, but I like my chances of landing on my feet."

The Reds haven't considered offering Larkin a position in the front office, mainly because they feel Larkin's primary objective is to play again.

"A new Red dawn spawns hope"

2004-10-05T14:57:00.000-07:00

I'll let Todd Lorenz comment on this season since he does it so well:

CINCINNATI -- All things considered, it was a pretty successful season for the Reds.
On Opening Day, many experts had ranked them among the worst in the baseball only to be shocked when the club went into the All-Star break six games over .500.

Sadly, though, when the snow falls in the Queen City and fans begin to look back on the Reds, the 2004 season will be mostly remembered for a second-half slide that left them 76-86 on the season.

General manager Dan O'Brien and manager Dave Miley will look at their first year together in Cincinnati a little differently.

"We've improved on a lot of facets that we wanted to coming out of Spring Training," Miley said. "I don't think you can ever say you're where you want to be. Obviously, we've got to get better at P.F.P and overall defensively. When we get to Spring Training we'll work on it more. We do have to get better at some areas of the game. We've got to go out on a daily basis and not beat ourselves. As long as we go out there and play the game that we're capable of playing, I think we'll be able to accomplish what we want to be able to accomplish."

"I think it's been everything that one could have hoped or dreamed for," O'Brien added. "But there are no illusions. The challenges we face are very real, but there have been enough positives, and in particular, improvements by not only our young players, but in our veterans, that it's very encouraging as we look to 2005."

The biggest reason -- believe it or not -- is the starting pitching.

Despite finishing the season with the second highest ERA among all Major League staffs, the Reds may have finally developed a core of starters worth getting excited about.

Luke Hudson, Josh Hancock, and Aaron Harang all pitched well down the stretch and will likely have to either get hurt or pitch their way out of the rotation this spring to not be on the Opening Day roster.

"I think the progress that we've made in terms of starting pitching is probably the most gratifying element of the year," said O'Brien. "If you look at where we were at the start of the year, and our rotation today, based on the performance of those young pitchers, they're the reason to be encouraged [abot] next year. That would have to be the single, and most significant, step forward for us this year."

If they can't find a way to sign Paul Wilson, it'll be a huge step back.

The veteran right-hander had a breakout season, leading the Reds in wins (11), innings (183 2/3), starts (29) and quality starts (16). More important, he became the leader of a young pitching staff.

The Reds had a policy of not talking about contracts during the season, but signing Wilson will be among their top priorities after they hold their organizational meetings in Sarasota, Fla. the week after the season.

"We'll go down there and review the '04 season, discuss everybody on the roster and devise a plan for the '05 season," Miley said. "Decisions will be made when the season's over."

One of the biggest will be deciding which free agents they'll attempt to retain from the following group: OF Darren Bragg, LHP Gabe White (mutual option), IF Juan Castro, SS Barry Larkin, RHP Todd Van Poppel and Wilson.

"One of the main focus points of our plan will be to take a look at our free agents," said O'Brien. "We fully expect to take full advantage of the exclusive period we have. That doesn't necessarily predetermine the outcome of the negotiations, but were going to take advantage of that time frame to try to work out any deals that might be out there for us.

"I think the budget process will run its course at some point this fall, but in the interim we're trying to go forward on a case by case basis."

After Wilson's the most interesting one will be Larkin. The Reds' captain proved he can still play, hitting .289 in 2004 and wants to finish out his 20th season in 2005.

The Reds seem set on making either Felipe Lopez or Anderson Machado their everyday shortstop.

While the possibility of watching Larkin finish his career with another club might be painful for Reds fans, it would hardly compare to the beating that the Reds' bullpen took in 2004.

Quality relief pitchers tend to come cheaper than starters, but that doesn't mean the Reds will look to free agency to fill their bullpen needs.

"I don't know that I could target the bullpen as the area where we'll focus on free agents," said O'Brien. "We'll have to look at both trades and free agency, but we also think we have several young pitchers that we believe have the ability to be successful at the Major League level. The question is, when they can contribute?"

It's one of many.

The next being third base.

In 2004 the Reds were counting on Brandon Larson, but after three trips to the disabled list and little success at the plate, the Reds went with a three-man rotation of Ryan Freel, Castro and Felipe Lopez.

Double-A prospect Edwin Encarnacion appears to be the third baseman of the future, but the Reds don't want to rush him.

"Edwin is very gifted, and he'll be given every opportunity this spring to earn the job," O'Brien said. "Realistically, he's still a little inexperienced. So we're likely going to have to go via trade or free agency or have to look at some combo such as a Freel/Lopez combo to satisfy the need at third."

The final question for the Reds is one they figure can't be answered incorrectly.

If the season started today, they'd have five outfielders, all deserving to start.

Adam Dunn's a lock in left, but after that it could be a chaotic situation.

Austin Kearns was hurt for most of the year, but finished strong and is as talented as any player his age. Ryan Freel provided an irreplaceable spark at the top of the lineup along with some outstanding defense at all three outfield spots. Wily Mo Pena could be the next Sammy Sosa, and at $12 million a year, it's pretty tough to sit a healthy Ken Griffey Jr.

"Depth and competition are a fabulous thing," O'Brien said. "Right now we see the situation as a strength. It gives us a measure of comfort, knowing that we have quality players if someone gets injured."

It's hard to argue that it helped them in 2004, but they'll be keeping their fingers crossed that they won't need that insurance in 2005.

Todd Lorenz is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Reds rally in ninth for thrilling win

2004-09-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

By George Henry / Special to MLB.

ATLANTA -- John Riedling's nightmarish second half took another take cruel turn before his teammates bailed him out with a season-high 17 hits and a five-run ninth Wednesday night.

"That was nice," Riedling said. "I mean to come back against a guy like John Smoltz -- it's really great for the team with the year we've had. It's still fun to come back and score five runs off one of the best closers in the league."

Javier Valentin's three-run homer off Smoltz chased the Atlanta closer and ended the scoring in the Reds' 11-8 victory. Cincinnati made it 8-8 on Sean Casey's RBI single and D'Angelo Jimenez's RBI double, but Valentin, who went 4-for-5, delivered the big blow.

"We won the game," Valentin said. "I feel good. I'm not going to lie to you."

The Reds also benefited from two wild pitches by Smoltz (0-1) that advanced runners into scoring position for Casey and Jimenez.

Cincinnati and Atlanta combined to use 14 pitchers, six by the Reds, before Joe Valentine induced a game-ending double-play grounder by Eli Marrero to earn his second career save.

"Hey, don't get a big head now," Casey joked with Valentine. "Just keep it even keel."

Phil Norton (2-5) pitched just one-third of an inning, walking one of the two batters he faced, for his first win since June 16.

Riedling needed a helping hand. His father, Jack, died early last month, and Riedling returned Wednesday for his first appearance since spraining his left knee as he attempted to field a grounder last Saturday against the Cubs.

Chipper Jones' three-run homer in the seventh put the Braves ahead, 8-6. Taking the mound with a two-run lead and two out in the seventh, Riedling insisted he had confidence in his mechanics, but he hit the first batter he faced, Marcus Giles, in the elbow and allowed J.D. Drew to drill a single into center before Jones lofted his 1-0 pitch into the left-field seats.

Jones' 30th homer stung the Reds, who knew Riedling had retired Jones the first seven times they faced off. This time, though, Jones won the battle as Riedling's ERA rose to 6.88 in his last 45 games.

"I know I always pitch good against him and the Braves," Riedling said. "But in the second half, I haven't pitched good against anyone."

His problems also it also wasted a decent outing by Josh Hancock. The Reds' starter retired 12 straight hitters to harness his control after Giles' solo homer and shortstop Anderson Machado's throwing error gave the Braves a 2-0 lead in the first. Hancock led 6-2 when Giles led off the sixth by hitting a liner off the right-hander's hip.

After two straight walks loaded the bases, Hancock was in trouble as he faced Johnny Estrada. He exercised some damage control by holding Estrada to a sacrifice fly, but both runners advanced when center fielder Ryan Freel made a wide throw to third instead of gunning for Jones at second.

Hancock faced one more hitter, Adam LaRoche, who chased him with a two-run double, but he surrendered just three hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"We were trying to get him through the first inning," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "Overall, he pitched pretty good."

Man oh man,

2004-09-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

I was really hoping the Reds would be able to sweep away the Phillies... 'looks like the season is definitely winding down.

Homers plague Harang

2004-09-12T16:10:00.000-07:00

By Jeff Wallner / Special to MLB.com

CINCINNATI -- The cause of Aaron Harang's recent struggles remains a mystery. The reasons behind the Reds' 11-0 loss to the Brewers on Sunday were abundantly clear.
Harang (8-9) allowed seven runs on nine hits, including three home runs, in 4 1/3 innings pitched to take the loss.

Meanwhile, Brewers starter Ben Sheets (11-11) limited the Reds to three hits in seven innings to earn his 11th win of the season as Milwaukee rolled to the victory before 17,236 at Great American Ball Park.

"You knew going in it was going to be tough scoring runs off him," said Reds manager Dave Miley. "You can't give him that much room to work."

Harang has now allowed 11 home runs in 13 1/3 innings pitched over his last three starts.

"His velocity is there," Miley said. "He's a pretty strong kid. It's just location and command. I just think he's making bad pitches. He's got to make better adjustments."

Former Red Russell Branyan went 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, walk, three runs scored and three RBIs for the Brewers.

"I'm leaving pitches up," Harang said. "When I throw the ball, sometimes I feel like there's nothing behind it. I don't know if it's dead arm or what."

Lyle Overbay's RBI double in the first inning scored Bill Hall from first base, giving the Brewers a 1-0 lead.

Ryan Freel appeared to tie the score with a solo homer leading off the bottom of the first inning. The umpires conferred, however, and it was ruled a ground-rule double because a fan reached over the wall and made contact with the ball while still in the field of play.

"The guy did lean over," Freel said. "It was a good call. It just wasn't a good call for me."

That's the closest the Reds would come to scoring against Sheets, who allowed three hits, did not walk a batter and struck out 11 in seven innings. It was the eighth 10-plus strikeout game of Sheets' career, all occurring this season.

"He got all of his pitches over for strikes," said Freel. "He was throwing a nasty cutter. He was effective in all aspects of his game."

Branyan led off the second inning with his ninth home run, making the score 2-0. His second home run, a two-run shot in the fourth inning, gave the Brewers a commanding 4-0 lead.

Clark's three-run home run broke the game open in the fifth inning, putting the Brewers up, 7-0, and chasing Harang from the game. Chad Moeller followed with an RBI single to score Branyan, who had doubled, to give Milwaukee an 8-0 lead.

Clark and Branyan finished the three-game series in Cincinnati 12-for-26 with five home runs and nine RBIs combined.

The eight runs were more than enough for Sheets, who owns a lifetime 4-0 record in games played in Cincinnati.

Jenkins' 23rd home run of the season came off Todd Van Poppel and plated Scott Podsednik and Overbay to give the Brewers an 11-0 lead in the sixth inning.

Freel's infield single with one out in the sixth inning off Sheets ended a streak of 11 consecutive Reds batters retired.

Harang addressed the media following the game with a blank look of bewilderment.

"We'll have to look at the video and figure out what it is," he said. "I'll get with [pitching coach Don Gullett] and see if there is something I'm doing wrong. I want to figure it out and finish the season on a positive note."

Cincinatti 8, Milwaukee 0

2004-09-05T13:28:00.000-07:00

Yeah! The game is still "in progress," which means that Milwaukee is being progressively stomped into the ground. The Reds have definitely come back with a vengeance after their "non-win" yesterday. That's the good news.

The not-so-good news: Hurricane Francis is hitting Florida hard and many of the players are worried about family they have in that area. Hopefully, even if property is lost, the friends/family can make it through unscathed. Condolences to all those who have lost loved ones already during this violent hurricane season.

Houston (67-63) at Cincinnati (62-67), 7:10 p.m. ET

2004-08-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

We have solid starters, but we need solid hitters. I saw some decent action against the 'backs on Sunday. More of that needs to happen tonight.

How 'bout that Hudson?

2004-08-25T11:48:00.000-07:00

Hopefully tonight's performance will closely resemble his performance last Friday against the Diamondbacks... of course, there's a bit of a difference between St. Louis and Arizona, and The Reds have only beaten Woody Williams once. However, it will still probably be a good game to watch. Sure, it's a Wednesday, but I can still knock down a few cold ones.

A reversal of luck?

2004-08-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

Some info from the 'Reds official site:

After falling to the Cardinals for the 12th time in 14 tries in the opener of a three-game series on Monday, the Reds will send left-hander Brandon Claussen to the Busch Stadium mound Tuesday in hopes of evening the series.

It will be Claussen's first career start against St. Louis and his sixth of the season.

The Reds will need him to do better than he has in his last four outings.

After holding the Brewers to a pair of runs over seven innings to pick up the win in his season debut on July 20, Claussen has allowed 17 earned runs in 17 2/3 innings over his previous four starts.

Not surprisingly, three of them have been losses.

The left-hander's biggest problem has been control. He's allowed 13 walks over the four starts, while striking out just nine.

To end his personal slide he'll also need more help than his offense has provided him recently. Over his last four starts, the Reds have averaged just 2.75 runs for the rookie.

Claussen takes on Dodgers

2004-08-11T13:51:00.000-07:00

From MLB.com:

After dropping the series opener to the Dodgers, the Reds will try to even things up Wednesday evening as they continue their three-game set with Los Angeles at Great American Ball Park.
Including Tuesday's loss, the Reds are 7-17 since the All-Star Break.

They're hoping left-hander Brandon Claussen will be the one to start the turnaround.

Claussen will be making his fifth start for the Reds since being called up on July 20. None have gone as well as his first.

The southpaw, who will be facing the Dodgers for the first time in his career, held the Brewers to a pair of runs over seven innings to pick up the win in his Cincinnati debut at Great American Ball Park. Since then, he has allowed 10 earned runs over 15 2/3 innings.

The Dodgers are countering with right-hander Jeff Weaver, who has thrown quality starts in 16 of his last 19 outings.

GOOD LUCK, REDS!!!

Slipping...

2004-08-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

Well,
The guys are pretty much at the bottom of the NL Central: with two months left of the season, they definitely have time for improvement, but their chances of catching up with St. Louis (hmm, let me grab my calculator... yup) are not too good.

Anyhow, 'looks like some current buzz is revolving around Mr. Wilson, an excellent pitcher who could use a little more team support. He becomes a free agent next season unless Cincinatti decides to sign him. Given his great attitude, excellent relations with other team members, and pitching skills, it would probably be foolish if they don't offer him a sweet long-term deal. Unwritten rule dictates that open discussion of a signing deal does not happen until after the regular season, but I for one am definitely anxious to see what happens.

50-50

2004-07-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

My buddies, the Reds, ranking 3rd in the NL Central are facing the top-ranked band of ball-players from St. Louis. Honestly, it's not looking too good: Lidle starts out on the mound this evening against a team with much better season stats, so, while I'm not optimistic, I do have hope. Missing Griffey Jr., Kearns, and Larson definitely does not help the situation.

Anyhow, I look at it like this: on the way home from work I'm picking up a six-pack, so I'll either be smiling into my beer or crying into it... either way, I'll have a buzz.

After the break...

2004-07-20T14:00:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Ken Griffey Jr. on joining the 500 home run club!!! He's only the 20th player ever to do so. No small feat.

The Reds swept the Brewers 2-0 with 8-4 and 6-2 wins yesterday and today in a pair of solid performances. Brandon Claussen had a great debut with seven strong innings to pick up the win today and the sweep. Look for more great things from him soon.

Tomorrow we head up to Chi-town to face the Cubs in a pair of games. Look for 9-2 Wilson to take the mound against the Cubs' 7-9 Clement. Good luck REDS!!!

New Cincinnati Reds Blog

2004-07-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,

Thanks for checking out my new Cincinnati Reds blog. I'm a diehard Reds fan and I hope to be able to share my enthusiasm with others on the web through this site. I'll be regularly posting news and opinions on the Reds and baseball in general, so stay tuned for more :-). For now I'll just put up some general info for starters about where the Reds are this season.

We're currently 3rd in the NL Central division at .534. It's a solid position for the season midpoint, plenty of time to pick up the pace and not too much catching up to do. We're coming off a 3-1 series against the Brewers before the All-Star break. Next we face the Cardinals at home, so we've got our work cut out for us this weekend.

Also, congrats to Danny Graves, Sean Casey, Barry Larkin, and Ken Griffey Jr. on making the NL All-Star team!!! Unfortunately, Griffey is out right now after an injury during a game against the Brewers. Get well soon, Ken! We need you out there!

Well, that's all for now. Thanks for visiting, and come back soon!!!

GO REDS!!!