Lance

    Tuesday

    Monday, May 12, 2008, 06:05 PM EST [General]

    Brazelle update
    Mark Curnutte's blog

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    Guest update
    Mark Curnutte, Enquirer, 3:30
    Larry Stone, Seattle Times baseball writer, 4:30

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    C. Trent from OTA today

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    Post OTA notes for Bengals
    Mark Curnutte's blog

    Head coach Marvin Lewis said the team is installing a new defense.

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    Tuesday show preview
    Guest
    Mike DeCourcy, The Sporting News, on OJ and college hoops
    Topics
    Reds: What did you think of Jim Kelch last night?
    Bengals
    Human Highlight Films: See below
    Sports Jargon: Ever hear a term or phrase and wonder the origin and meaning?

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    What? Why?
    I'm working on a possible topic. Things you have always wondered about...such as.....
    1. Why is it called the foul pole if it's fair if the ball hits it?
    2. Why is it called the rubber game of a series?
    3. Why is a high pop fly called a can of corn?
    4. When did the 7th inning stretch begin? Why is it the 7th?
    Got one for me....even if you know the answer?
    If I get enough, I'll make it a topic. Email me.

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    Chad and TJ no-shows for day one
    Mark Curnutte's blog

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    Volquez earning "Little Pedro" nickname
    ESPN
    "He's in love with Pedro," said teammate Francisco Cordero. "He sees Pedro like he's a god. He's not trying to be like Pedro, and the good thing is he's not trying to imitate him. He's just trying to do his job."

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    Win-now focus could mean heavy action in Cincy
    Fox Sports
    Dusty Baker is a win-now manager, Walt Jocketty a win-now GM, Bob Castellini a win-now owner. Alas, the Reds need to rebuild.

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    Mets pitcher calls Nationals "softball girls"
    Fox Sports"
    They were cheerleading in the dugout like a bunch of softball girls," the beleaguered Mets right-hander said after getting stomped in a 10-4 loss to the Nationals last night. "If that's what a last-place team needs to do to fire themselves up, so be it. They need to show a little more class and professionalism."

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    Last night's anniversary
    Casey and I were listening to the game in his room as he went to bed last night.
    Marty mentioned what happened on May 12, 1984. I remember it well. I was mowing the grass at Ashland Chemicals in Indy(where my dad worked). I stopped the riding mower. and stood up on the seat to adjusted my walkman to make sure I could hear it.
    Mario Soto was one out from a 1-0 no-hitter when George Hendrcik too him deep to tie the game. I'l never forget the call from Marty...."the no hitter is gone, the shutout is gone, the game is tied.

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    Things noticed last night
    Bunting is such a lost art...and a thing of beauty when done well.
    Patterson 4 for 5....I've always loved him.
    Dunn infuriated me on the grounder to first...but made a nice running catch and lifted a sac fly.
    Edwin made a smart move and hustled to tag and go to third on the SF by Dunn.
    I've never seen Jr drop a pop fly like that.
    This bullpen is more than a little shaky lately.

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    Nice job by Kelch
    What did you think of Jim Kelch, the Reds AAA voice, last night? I really enjoy his work. I've listened to him on-line for years. He's smooth, paints the picture well, and is easy to follow the action with. You can tell he does his homework. And he's got a nice build up for big moments.

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    Break up Reds....now
    Hal McCoy, Dayton Daily News
    Is it time to trade Griffey and Dunn, if that's possible, for young talent? Is it time to bring up Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey and a lot of other young prospects?Looking at the standings I can only shake my head and say, "Get ‘er done."

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    Cabrera turns unassisted triple play
    Cleveland Plain Dealer
    Cabrera's is the 14th unassisted triple play in major-league history, the 13th in the regular season.

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    Hottest TV show cast all-time
    I noticed Jennie Garth will join the 90210 spinoff.
    What is the hottest TV show cast all-time?
    Melrose Place
    or
    90210
    or
    Las Vegas
    or
    Desperate Housewives

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    Michigan prospect picks OSU
    Columbus Dispatch
    He actually picked OSU over UCLA. He said Michigan had faded from his list after Lloyd Carr retired as coach last year and was replaced by Rich Rodriguez."The old coaching staff, I really liked," Jackson said. "The new coaching staff, I really couldn't get a feel for."

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    UK offers scholarship to 9th grader
    Lexington Herald Leader
    "I was honored," Davis said Monday about the offer. "I don't know if I'm going to take it yet. I'm still a freshman."

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    Maxim Hometown Hottie
    Careful opening

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    Jr's return could be more letdown than triumph
    Seattle Times
    This is real life, not a fairy tale. A Griffey homecoming could end up an anti-climactic letdown just as easily as it could be a triumphant valediction for a homegrown Hall of Famer.

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    Another Griffey Jr rumor takes seed in Big Apple
    Seattle PI
    After eight of the 10 smallest crowds in Safeco Field history have turned up this season, the ballclub would have to consider the attendance implications and financial advantages of having Griffey back in a Mariners uniform.

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    Congrats to NKU
    SAUGET, Ill. - Another even-numbered year equals another Great Lakes
    Valley Conference baseball championship for the Northern Kentucky
    University Norse.
    The Norse battled through the loser's bracket and through the weather
    all weekend before demolishing Saint Joseph's College by a score of 15-4
    for their fourth title in seven years. NKU had previously won the GLVC
    title in 2002, 2004, and 2006.
    Both NKU and SJC will now advance on to the NCAA Division II North
    Central Regional on May 15-18 at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood,
    Ill. SJC will serve as the six-team tournament host.
    NKU earned the sixth seed and will face top seed Grand Valley State
    University on May 15 at 11:30 a.m.

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    Dunn in a nutshell
    3rd inning...he hits a topper down the line at first. He thinks it's foul. He jogs about 30 feet and then shrugs his shoulders and raises his hands wondering why it wasn't called foul. He's out. Pathetic.

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    LHP vs RHP
    I know the Reds woes vs lefties has been talk about over and over. Lefties went 0-13 vs the Mets yesterday. Do you realize how poor they are vs RHP?
    LHP vs RHP............AVG....OBP...SLG....OPS
    Reds vs RHP........ .249 .312 .409 .721
    Reds vs LHP......... .277 .358 .446 .804

    Reds rank 10th in ML vs LHP .277 (2007 .253)
    Reds rank 22nd in ML vs RHP .249 (2007 .273)

    Reds vs...'08 LHP/RHP....'07 LHP/RHP
    Keppinger .394/.290.....'07 .362/.320
    Phillips .457/.223.........'07 .341/.262
    Griffey .171/.287.........'07 .236/.300
    Dunn .185/.232...........'07 .239/.278
    Edwin E .324/.229........'07 .284/.291
    Votto .367/.271...........'07.269/.345
    Freel .361/.279...........'07 .143/.315
    Bako .265/.351

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    0 (0 Ratings)

    Lance -- Excellent post. Illuminates something important about this offense that goes against the grain of the criticism they usually get. As you would expect, these discrepancies in BA (vs LHP/RHP) translate neatly into fewer runs produced per game against righties (4.23), as compared to against lefties (5.58).

    So what are the options vs RHP? Sit Phillips, who is awful vs RHP (.223/.264/.350/RC27 of 2.53), and play Freel at 2nd (.279/.319/.326), since C-Pat generally starts in center vs RHP anyway? Not much of an improvement. Edwin has a low BA vs RHP (.229) but better OBP (.308) and SLG (.500) than Phillips. Maybe Hairston, or (God forbid) Bruce could be brought into this equation.

    Thoughts?

    Anthony
    May 12, 2008
    07:25 PM EST

    What I get out of these stats is the two guys making the most money...Griffey and Dunn....are contributing the least. These two cannot possibly get off this roster fast enough!!

    Ken
    May 12, 2008
    10:27 PM EST

    The Griffey performance tonight is a perfect example of "just going through the motions". I have been in his corner until tonight. For a "Hall of Famer" to drop that ball is evidence that he is on cruise control. Please, somebody, put an end to this "I don't care I'm a star" attitude in this city. The Reds will not be successful until Griffey and Dunn are gone!

    jeff
    May 12, 2008
    11:05 PM EST

    I have been a big fan of Jr. since he started his career in Seattle. Time to send him back for some Starbucks and a some unopened copies of Vista.

    Kevin
    May 12, 2008
    11:18 PM EST

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