MVN - Most Valuable Network

Major moves coming?

Like I said last week, the Reds (hopefully) on the verge of making a major move or two.  They can’t keep Junior and Dunn.  And, Jay Bruce, now hitting .366 in AAA Louisville, is proving himself on a daily basis.  It is time to bring this kid up…NOW! 

It’s obvious this current team is going nowhere.  So, let’s blow it up and do this:

Rotation:

• Harang
• Volquez
• Arroyo
• Cueto
• Bailey

Starting 8:

• 1B -Votto
• 2B-Phillips
• SS-Janish
• 3B-Encarnacion
• LF-Dunn (for now)
• CF-Freel (as much as I absolutely hate to say it)
• RF-Bruce
• C-Bako

Bullpen:

• 7th-Bray/Burton-depending on matchups
• 8th-Weathers/Affeldt-see above
• 9th-Cordero

Dead Weight:

• Valentin-really, what’s his value?  He’s not a great PH
• Hatteberg-terrible PH
• Patterson-terrible, especially at that salary
• Belisle-will never get it
• Fogg-send him back to Colorado

The longer the Reds continue to act like they’re “still in the race” this year, the tougher it’ll be for Bruce/Bailey/Janish to learn on the job. 

The time is now.  Make some moves.  Show the fans some direction. 

Volquez Dominates Marlins

If you’re Dusty Baker, you have to feel comfortable when Edinson Volquez takes the mound. Most teams don’t put their faith in a 24-year old prospect, but those teams don’t have Edinson Volquez. He continued his dominance of hitting tonight.

Volquez got run support early. With the bases loaded, Ryan Freel kept the inning going by beating out a throw from the first baseman on a slide, scoring Jerry Hairston. Jeff Keppinger then walked in a run to make it 2-0. The Reds’ lead was extended in the third on an Adam Dunn RBI-groundout. Injury struck the Reds in the fourth. Jeff Keppinger sliced his bat, fouling the ball of his left knee in the process. He went down in pain immediately, but got up and amazingly continued the at-bat. He was later pulled, and it was recently revealed he has a fractured left patella, or knee cap. More on Kepp later. Joey Votto gave the Reds insurance in a big way in the seventh, he slammed his eighth homerun of the year to left field, making it 5-2. The Marlins would make it 5-3, but Francisco Cordero slammed the door shut for the second straight night in the ninth.

Volquez continues to set the pace for National League pitching. He went seven innings, allowing just one run on seven hits, striking out five. His record improves to 6-1, with an NL low 1.12 ERA. He has yet to give up more than one earned run in a game. Joey Votto went 2-3 with a homer, and Jerry Hairston went 2-3 with two runs scored, moving from right to short to play for Keppinger. Corey Patterson came off the bench to play Hairston’s spot, he went 2-3. Keppinger will obviously be out a while, and reportedly the Reds will look to young Paul Janish of Triple-A Louisville. Janish will not be able to replace Kepp’s bat, but he his hitting .289 with four homeruns and 18 RBIs.

The Reds and Marlins will be back at it tomorrow night at 7:10. Bronson Arroyo will take the hill for Cincinnati, looking to build on a strong start last time out. He will face Ricky Nolasco, who is 2-3.

Cordero Slams the Door on Marlins in Reds Win

However you feel about the Francisco Cordero signing, you have the respect the guys work. Today was another stellar performance from “Coco” (affectionately dubbed by George Grande), and the Reds rolled 8-7.

The game was tied in the seventh inning, but Jeff Keppinger and Brandon Phillips slammed two two-run homeruns to give the Reds a comfortable 8-4 lead. David Weathers and Jeremy Affeldt got into trouble in the eighth, and Cordero was brought in with two outs, still up by three. A lazy fly ball was hit by Mike Rabelo, and appeared to be the third out. Ken Griffey Jr. somehow mishandled a simple catch and it popped out of his glove, scoring two runs, and putting the tying run on third. The third out was recorded, but Junior dropped this one two but managed to make the juggling catch.

Corey Patterson gave us a reminder to what he looked like in April. He went 4-5 with a double and an RBI. Brandon Phillips went 2-4 with his seventh homerun, and two RBI. Jeff Keppinger added his third homer in his only hit of the night. Aaron Harang went seven innings, giving up four runs to earn his first win since April 10th. He improves to 2-5 with a 3.32 ERA. Cordero recorded his sixth save, and the Reds remain the only team to not blow a save (granted there have only been six opportunities).

Edinson Volquez takes the hill tomorrow night. His record speaks for itself, 5-1 with a 1.06 ERA. He will face Mark Hendrickson, who is also 5-1, with a 3.56 ERA. First pitch tomorrow night is scheduled for 7:10.

Series Preview: Reds vs. Marlins

When: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 7:10

Where: GABP

TV: FSN Ohio-All four games (Mon, Tues, and Thurs-HD)

Radio: 700 WLW

Records: Reds 15-23 (Dead Last N.L. Central); Marlins 23-14 (First place N.L. East)

Pitching Matchups:

• Monday-Reds RHP Aaron Harang (1-5, 3.09) vs. Marlins RHP Burke Badenhop (1-2, 6.31)
• Tuesday-Reds Edinson Volquez (5-1, 1.06) vs. Marlins LHP Mark Hendrickson (5-1, 3.56)
• Wednesday-Reds RHP Bronson Arroyo (2-4, 7.14) vs. Marlins RHP Ricky Nolasco (2-3, 5.35)
• Thursday-Reds TBA vs. Marlins LHP Andrew Miller (3-2, 6.52)

Questions:

• Is this team dead in the water?
• When do you start trading off dead weight?
• Can the Reds get ANYTHING for Junior and/or Dunn if they should choose to move them?
• Would you trade Arroyo before his next start to wreck his value again?  (A joke…I think)
• Will Ryan Freel get picked off down 5 runs again? (Of course!!)
• How many more times do you run Matt Belisle out there to get his head bashed in?
• Can we trade for another Jeff Keppinger?
• (For Doug Gray) Are there any right-handed power bats coming up through the minors?  And, if so, when will they get here?
• (Money aside) Do you think Francisco Cordero wishes he’d have stayed in Milwaukee?
• Does it get any worse than batting out of order?
• Is there hope? 

Arroyo Dominates As Reds and Mets Split DH

The skies opened up Friday night in New York, forcing a day-night doubleheader to be played yesterday. In game one, Matt Belisle struggled, and so did Bill Bray and Mike Lincoln behind him. Final score was 12-6, but at one point it was a three-run game. Game two proved to be much better for the Reds.

Ken Griffey Jr. gave the Reds an early lead in the first when he singled in Ryan Freel, who continues to earn himself some valuable playing time. The Mets tied it in the sixth, but the Reds retook the lead in the sixth. Scott Hatteberg slammed an RBI-double to plate Jeff Keppinger. Hatteberg added another RBI-single to begin the eighth. Paul Bako added two separate RBI-singles, and the Reds rolled to the win, 7-1.

Arroyo showed glimpses of his old self. He went eight innings, only allowing one run on four hits, striking out a season high nine batters. Francisco Cordero pitched a scoreless ninth. Scott Hatteberg got the rare start at first, and provided great relief for Joey Votto. He went 3-4 with three RBI. Paul Bako went 2-4 with two RBI, he is now hitting .319 to lead the Reds’ regulars. Jeff Keppinger achieved a baseball rarity, going a perfect 5-5 with an RBI. Kepp raised his batting average to .317.

The Reds will go for the series victory this afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 on a game that can be seen on FSN Ohio. Johnny Cueto will get the ball for the Reds, against the Mets’ Oliver Perez. This will be Perez’s fourth start at home, but he owns a 6.17 ERA at Shea this season.

Series Preview: Reds at Mets

When: Friday 7:10, Saturday and Sunday 1:10

Where: Shea Stadium-Flushing, NY

TV: FSN Ohio all three games (Saturday in HD)

Radio: 700 WLW

Records: Reds 14-21 (last place N.L. Central); Mets 17-15 (4th place N.L. East)

Pitching Matchups:

• Friday-Reds RHP Matt Belisle (1-2, 6.91) vs. Mets RHP Mike Pelfrey (2-2, 5.27)
• Saturday-Reds RHP Bronson Arroyo (1-4, 8.63) vs. Mets LHP Johan Santana (3-2, 2.91)
• Sunday-Reds RHP Johnny Cueto (2-3, 5.27) vs. Mets LHP Oliver Perez (2-3, 4.63)

Questions:

• Which Matt Belisle will show up?  The one we saw last time out or the one we saw before then?
• Is Saturday’s game the most unwinnable in the history of the Reds franchise? (yes, sarcasm)  Think about it: Bronson “The Batting Tee” Arroyo against lefty Johan Santana. 
• Will Junior hit a HR in the month of May?
• Will Junior be in a Reds uniform by the end of May?
• Anyone sad this is the Reds last time ever in Shea Stadium?  Yeah, me neither.  Note: I will be making my one and only visit of my life to the palace of Shea in July just to say we’ve been there.  BALL TRIP!!!!
• Given the Reds’ inability to score any runs off lefties, will they score 10 runs this series? 
• Anyone else have a question? 
• Oh, yes, I have one more unrelated to the Reds (sorry).  Is LeBron James the most overhyped player in the HISTORY of the NBA?  I’ll answer that one.  YES!!!!  OJ Mayo might be the next one, too.  I’ll quote one of the best movies of all time (Spaceballs) to LeBron: “Keep firing….” 

Votto’s Big Day Leads Reds to Rout, Series Win Over Cubs

I’ve heard to many times this season that “maybe this will be the win” or “this will be the series that turns them around”. In spite of that, I’m going to do it. I’m venturing out on that limb and saying the Reds are over their offensive blunders, and that the Sunday game in Atlanta was just a fluke (hopefully). My point in case, exibit A, today’s offensive barrage and beat down of the Cubs.

Joey Votto have Edinson Volquez a lead to work with in the second when he slammed a solo homerun to right. Adam Dunn added to that with a solo homer of his own, followed later by Paul Bako with the same result. Jerry Hairston slammed a two-run shot to close out the second and give the Reds a 5-0 lead. After a Brandon Phillips homer in the fifth, Votto connected for his second homerun of the game, sending one to center. The young Canadian was not done however, and in the sixth he crushed his third homerun of the game to left-center, scoring Phillips. Every run in the game came as a result of a homerun, oh yes, a mighty resemblance from last year’s team. Final score 9-0 in favor of the Reds.

Edinson Volquez (5-1) continues to amaze everyone. He went seven shutout innings, tying a career high with 10 strikeouts. That will certainly extend his Major League lead. That outing also lowered his ERA to a sparkling 1.04, closing in on Cliff Lee’s MLB lead of 0.96. The deal that had a few fans scratching their heads now has them wondering who we actually traded.

Joey Votto is putting his stamp on the NL Rookie batting numbers. He went 3-4 with three homeruns, four RBI, and a stolen base. Adam Dunn slammed his sixth homer of the year, Paul Bako hit his fourth, Hairston hit his first, and Phillips hit his sixth. Brandon did leave the game with a muscle injury in his leg, but he did not immediately exit the game, instead he finished the inning on the base paths.

The Reds will enjoy an off-day tomorrow, before flying to New York to open up a three game series with the Mets at Shea Stadium. Matt Belisle will look to build on his last start as he opens up the series for the Reds against Mike Pelfrey.

Junior’s days as a Red numbered?

Speculation is rampant about Ken Griffey Jr being traded from the Reds sooner than later.  Some say once he (finally) reaches HR #600, the Reds will unload him.  I say, do it before 600 so you don’t look so bad in dumping him shortly after you sold tickets and promoted the event. 

The Reds are going to take a hit either way.  If they keep him, then people will complain he’s not worth the money (which I say is becoming more and more true unfortunately).  If they trade him, then they were using him to sell tickets (duh!). 

It’s plain to see, the Reds are going absolutely nowhere this year (again), so why not see what you can get for him in trade?  So, you probably won’t get much, but you clear the salary, hopefully get a right-handed bat in return, call up Jay Bruce, and see how it goes. 

While they’re at it, you might as well see what you can get for Adam Dunn, too. 

I know I’ve gone on record as saying the Reds need to dump Dunn.  But, I’ve changed my opinion if only for this reason: you’re going to lose a LOT of pop in that outfield, plus rely on a rookie in Jay Bruce, if you let Junior AND Dunn go.  BUT…where are they WITH those two?  Yeah, that’s right, last place.  So, change the dynamic of the team and see if it works.  How much worse can it get?? 

I love Ken Griffey Junior.  He’s been my favorite player since I was old enough to know better.  I shed a happy tear when Leatherpants traded for him.  I was at his first game (that lovely tie against the Brewers in the rain!!).  I still love Junior.  Always will.  I think he gets a very bad rap for being “grumpy”.  He’s a great person and a great player, but you don’t hear much about that around Cincinnati.  It’s usually “overpaid”, “hurt all the time”, blah blah blah. 

In the end: I’m a Cincinnati Reds fan first and foremost.  What’s best in the long run for the Reds is what I want.  And, if that means Junior has to go, then I’m OK with that.  I’m just sad that it has to be that way.