Reds

Well, it’s about time! The best in the game are coming to Ohio. It’s been about a decade since that shiny new venue was opened, and it was recently announced that it will host its first All-Star game in 2013. But enough about hockey. This isn’t a Blue Jackets blog. So what about the Reds? When will Great American Ballpark host its first All-Star game?

  Toward the end of July last season I wrote a piece entitled “1970-1971:  A Retrospective…or is it?” drawing comparisons between the Reds teams at the germination of the Big Red Machine with the current incarnation of Redlegs.  In 1970, the Reds made it to the World Series for the first time in 9 years led by their brash young Catcher, MVP Johnny Bench.  In 2010, the Reds returned to the postseason for the first time in 15 years led by rising star MVP Joey Votto. Both squads returned to earth in 1971 and 2011 respectively with a 79-83 record.  [...]

It’s easy to get carried away with everything the Reds have done this offseason. Mat Latos. Sean Marshall. Ryan Ludwick. Ryan Madson. The Reds beefed their roster by adding substantial talent. And it’s easy to look at 2012 with big ambitions and expectations. But one thing a lot of people are surprisingly not talking about are the World Series Champions. Albert Pujols left the NL Central. The Cardinals didn’t. Here’s what the Cardinals have going for them. Chris Carpenter. Adam Wainwright (remember him?). Jaime Garcia. Kyle Lohse no slouch either–3.39 ERA last year. And that’s all without Roy Oswalt, who [...]

Over the next two weeks, I will begin a series of posts in regards to that talent and managers within the National League Central. For each position, I will rank the players as they are so named on the depth chart of each teams website. I will also be ranking each starting staff as a group and each bullpen staff as a group. Each position, closer and even managers will have a separate ranking. I know there will be disagreements on my view. Keep that in mind that this is my view and does not include those of the other [...]

New BRM Podcast with a special guest (of mine)!

A crazy assertion…

Is there a need to worry? Now?

I have question, you have the answers…don’t you?

The newly signed Ryan Ludwick and his 2012 season? It will depend.

Can Jay Bruce produce from the plate as he did in 2011?

Last night the Cincinnati Reds came to an agreement with Jose Arredondo to again avoid sitting in front of an arbitrator.  Cincinnati hasn’t had to face an arbitration case since 2004 and from a management and morale standpoint this is an excellent business decision.  The very process of arbitration serves a purpose, but to actually move into the hearing is bound to damage the relationship between the player and the team. Consider the situation, before the hearing both the player and his representatives submit the figure they  feel the player has earned based on service time and performance.  The team [...]

I have a friend that thinks Marty Brennaman is a jerk. I’ll admit, Marty can be a polarizing figure. Generally speaking, Reds fans love him, whereas, Cubs and Cards fans do not. His audacity turns some people off. I like it. I always have. Like many of us, I started listening to the Reds as a youngster. With my Walkman, I could get the Reds broadcast clearly from my bedroom in Bloomington, IN. The 1982 Reds lost 101 games. I didn’t care. There are some sounds that just soothe the soul. Crickets, classical music, ocean surf, gentle rain, and Marty [...]