Fan Guest Post Winner

As promised, here’s this week’s fan guest post winner. It was submitted by Scott Shrewsberry. Scott takes a fan’s view of what 2011 could hold for the Reds, but in a way that those of us here at BRM may not take. That’s what drew this entry to my attention.

I don’t want to give away much more from Scott’s post. I do find this a very worthy read.

So, here’s Scott and his work. I do think you’ll be impressed.

I’m in a long distance relationship. A relationship that I have had for 34 years. A relationship that I will never leave regardless of how bad things get, how dire the situation may become, how betrayed I feel or how mad I get. This relationship is just like any other relationship between two people. It’s had its good times and bad times. Times of laughter and times of pure sadness. Times of celebration and times of utter disappointment.

As is the case of most relationships, I tend to remember the goods times and try not to focus on the times that were, well, maybe not so good. I share this relationship with other people. Some I have met. Some I haven’t. Most I will never meet, but really, really want to. I haven’t seen my companion in about 5 months and I’m starting to have withdrawal, but come March 31st, 2011, I will be back in my beloved companions company. I am speaking of my relationship with the Cincinnati Reds.

It seems like it’s been an eternity since the final out was recorded on the Cincinnati Reds season that night of October 10th, 2010. That being said, I can’t remember the last time there was this much buzz in Reds Country during the offseason surrounding the historic Queen City baseball franchise. Man, it’s a great time to be a Reds fan!!!

In a couple of weeks the roster will be set and the crowds will be strolling along the banks of the Ohio River waiting for that first pitch to be thrown. I always look forward to coming over the hill into to Covington, KY on I-75 and seeing the great city of Cincinnati appear before my eyes like some majestic Nether, Nether land. Walking into Great American Ballpark is my complete nirvana. I get a feeling like a kid on Christmas morning knowing that I am about to receive the greatest present I could ever ask for. A Cincinnati Reds baseball game.

I have read all the news, blogs, and rumors I can find about the predictions, expectations, contract extensions, prospects, pitching rotations and all pertinent information that pertains to the greatest sports entity on God‘s green earth. 162-0 is never out of the question for me. All kidding aside, I am ready to watch it all come to fruition.

As Spring Training gets to rolling and we catch a glimpse of all the players and coaches that will be gracing the field at GABP this season, there is no reason to think that this 2011 team shouldn’t be able repeat the surprise success of last years team. This years team has the ability to sneak up on the NL Central again. Most so called baseball “experts” regard 2010 as a fluke and have the Redlegs finishing no better than 3rd in the division this year.

This team is a year older, a year wiser and now they know what it takes to bare down and keep plugging away during the stretch run of the season and the chaos that surrounds the playoffs. I have no delusions of grandeur that the team couldn’t hit a rough patch at some point during the season and drop 5 or 6 games in a row, however I will always stand by the moniker that “tomorrow is a new day.” So let’s show ’em how strong and resilient Reds Country can be.

Go to the ballpark, watch on TV and listen on the radio as we prepare for another season of Cincinnati Reds baseball.