Sport

The Reds offense right now

12 hours ago, Korkie said:

I miss the players wearing their own uniform. It made it feel like they were representing their team. This doesn’t feel as special. But we need jerseys to sell!

Not only do they look bad, but it's harder to ID the players. I don't know what every guy in both leagues looks like. This is a real problem created by the uniforms that happened last night: We turned it on late and saw Pirates pitcher Mitch Keller give up a home run. My wife says "Does he play for the Phillies?" I said "no he plays for the Pirates" and she says "no I think he has a Phillies P on his sleeve" and I said "no it's a Pirates P. Don't try to argue with me about uniforms because you will lose." And then a closer shot of him vindicated me, but that whole argument would've never happened if they were still wearing their own team's uniforms!

1 hour ago, McCall said:

What's scary (for division rival fans such as myself) is that these guys are so young and controllable that the team has plenty of time before they have to start paying them, which delays any firesale for awhile.  

I'll say to you what I've been saying to fellow Reds fans - It's exciting (or frightening from your POV) to have our team back, but we all need to pump the brakes and chill TF out. They had a good two months, but they're not the next Astros just yet. Even the most annoyingly optimistic of the performative optimists in Reds Rebuild Twitter didn't think these guys would all outperform their expectations by 30%. I keep waiting for that crash. 

On 7/8/2023 at 6:35 PM, TrueYankee26 said:

He single handedly revived baseball in Southwest Ohio. And stuff like this is why. 

 

I wouldn't say "single handedly". He's a superstar for sure, but there's four other stud rookies, as well as a few other young, promising guys on the team who were fun to watch even before EDLC got called up. This is without two of their most potential-out-the-ass starting pitchers currently on the IL and they also have Christian Encarnacion-Strand in AAA. 

What revived baseball in Southwest Ohio was the team stopped being a pile on the field and the games started mattering again. De La Cruz is just one piece of that.  

3 hours ago, HOOVER said:

Nike has its faults, but I'm really tired of the ignorance of the shiny pants complainers:

 

We're all aware the 49ers and many others wore matte pants. Absolutely nobody who posts here is ignorant of that fact. That's got nothing to do with a personal preference of matte vs. dazzle fabrics. 

My only thought is that dipping the buns in water and eating two hot dogs at a time should be against the rules. You should have to eat each hot dog the normal way. 

This Reds team is unbelievably fun. Diaz blows his first save of the season in the 9th, San Diego scores two in the top of the 10th, down to their last out, rookie Matt McLain ties the game with a two run homer. Padres score again in the top of the 11th. Elly De La Cruz ties it with a double and then steals third. On an infield single he tries to go home and would've been safe, but his hand never touches the plate and review holds up that he was out (correct call). Next batter is Spencer Steer, who's quietly having a really good rookie year, blasts a home run deep into left field and the Reds win.

They're making magical moments seemingly every night. 

I liked them at first because they were a good decision among a sea of bad decisions with the EDGE. And they replaced the extremely clunky uniforms of the late 90's, which always looked like a minor league team doing an impression of the Bruins, but I think they're a bit stale. Give me the late 70's/80's look any time. That uniform is just a rock solid handsome look. 

And bring back the yellow socks damnit. 

On 6/24/2023 at 7:46 PM, BBTV said:

Serious question - why does anyone care about a cycle?

Normally I wouldn’t. Like I said last page, “And normally I think the cycle is kind of overrated because it’s mostly an accident. Like a 3 run home run game is a better game than hitting for the cycle.” I’m certain De La Cruz would’ve rather had two home runs, a single, and a double because that’s a better game, but sometimes things are cool just because they are weird and fun and rare. The Reds haven’t had one in 34 years so to say I was there when it finally happened is just one of those cool baseball quirks. In this case, however, it’s a little more impressive than a regular cycle because he needed a triple late in the game and then manufactured one seemingly at will to pull it off. It also plated another run and it was like the ninth incredible thing that happened in that game so the crowd was already in full wild baboon mode. Also would’ve been even better if he hadn’t been thrown trying to steal home right after. 

16 hours ago, Sec19Row53 said:

You saw a dandy!!!!

7 hours ago, tBBP said:

 

You and @Sport have something to carry y'all for the rest of your [sportsfan] lives...and I'd imagine your fellow Cincinnatian probably won't be able to speak straight for a couple days due to de la Cruz-induced hoarseness. 

This is why I don’t gamble on sports. Lol. 
 

I’ve been to over 150 Major League Baseball games and last night was easily the single best baseball game I’ve ever attended. Big comebacks, packed house, back and forth seesaw, athletes crushing dingers, action on the base paths, and lots of balls in play. It had everything. Also the first time I’ve ever seen one of baseball’s special moments like a no-hitter, perfect game, 4-homer game, record breaker, or cycle. And normally I think the cycle is kind of overrated because it’s mostly an accident. Like a 3 run home run game is a better game than hitting for the cycle. But in this case I genuinely believe he knew he needed the triple to get it, went to the plate trying to hit a triple, and then was successful, which makes it a really cool achievement and is crazy when you think about it. 
 

And yeah the voice was a little raspy this morning from yelling “CYCLE!” like a lunatic. I don’t think most people in my section knew what he’d just done and once I informed the old guy next to me he was even more amped than I was. 
 

Great night at the yard. That’s why you buy the ticket - for the chance you see a rare game like that. It was magic. 

10 straight wins for our beloved Cincinnati Reds. 

Will this streak ever end? I got tickets through work for Friday's game against Atlanta, which will be my first game in person since 2021. Place bets on it to end there. 

12 hours ago, Sec19Row53 said:

Your First Place Cincinnati Reds.

 

Congrats for now.

Apparently this run is a major league first. 

I'm having fun!

The Cincinnati Reds have won 8 straight games, just went 8-1 on a road trip, and are above 500. 

This has been your semi-regular Reds Report. 

Two mile world record is now 7:54

That is so fast. I could maybe run one mile in that time. 

I know they're the "Golden" Knights, but their best look is the dark gray jerseys and socks. I thought that was really sharp right out of the gate. Gave it a medieval knight vibe and had enough gold to meet the "golden" quota.

My problem with all the all-gold sweaters is there's no black next to the dark gray to give context for that color so the dark gray ends up just looking like a black that got dulled in the sun. 

I just think these are a little garish. 

The last non Californian, non Texas team from the West to win the NBA championship was the Sonics. I knew the Blazers, Suns, Nuggets, Sonics/Thunder, and Jazz were all on pretty long dry runs, but never occurred to me that it's been that long. There's 8 teams that fall into this category and the Clippers and Kings haven't contributed to this at all. That makes Canada's Stanley cup drought look short. 

1 hour ago, BBTV said:

The question, even this early, is - will they be able to keep him?  Or is this another situation of a team developing a potential star just for some other team to reap the benefits.  I hope they can keep him - baseball is more interesting when more teams are in the mix.  Also can't wait to see Christian Encarnacion-Strand's jersey.

Good question and why I've been skeptical since the re-rebuild began in the 22 offseason. They just gave Hunter Greene a big extension and they have the money to lock up whatever this core ends up being - Every team does, but it's a matter of how much ownership wants to and I don't trust Reds ownership as far as I can throw them in that regard.  Best we can realistically hope for is recreating the 2015 Royals and win a World Series before everyone gets expensive. 

7 hours ago, See Red said:

 

I jumped off the couch when this happened. He tripled in his next at bat too. Couldn't have had a better first two games.

And thank heavens for John Sadak. He's so much better than Thom Brennaman just on a basic talent level, but he also doesn't treat the job like a chore or birthright. His enthusiasm is genuine. He sounds like grown up Smalls narrating The Sandlot (huge compliment) and he's been having the time of his life the past few weeks. 

Also, the Reds have won the last two games after trailing 8-3 and last night 6-2. Here's Will Benson's first career home run to walk it off. 

Fun things are starting to happen in Cincinnati again and Christian Encarnacion-Strand isn't even on the big league club yet (he's hitting .352/.408/.716 with 15 home runs this season in AAA). 

The Reds finally called up Elly De La Cruz and I haven't been this excited about a Reds prospect since Jay Bruce. 

Look at the shape of this guy. He's like new Darryl Strawberry.

Come a long way from the wooden spoons threepeat. 

12 minutes ago, Sec19Row53 said:

Agreed about the division. SOMEONE has to win it.  As a Brewer fan now down 4 of 6 projected starting pitchers, I don't see us as being it. Heck, the offense has been  the bigger problem.

Jackson Chourios - waiting for him  

And we all know that someone will be the Cardinals. 

"But they're in last place" They're 4.5 games back and they're the Cardinals. They'll go 29-2 in the last month and win the division by five games. Then they'll win at least one playoff series against a team with a far better record. Everyone keep your head on a swivel. 

20 minutes ago, Sec19Row53 said:

Your Cincinnati Reds (well, they're someone's Reds) are only 3 games out of first in the NL Central.

 

As was pointed out during last night's Brewers-Jays broadcast, the first place Brewers would be in last place in the AL East.

Well that's only because the NL Central this year is Ass on Grass. 

I'm gonna pump the brakes on getting any hopes up. They're still a 25-29 baseball team. I'm gonna see how June shakes out when they play the Brewers, Dodgers, Cardinals, Astros, Braves, Orioles, and Padres before I get excited. Don't know if their starting pitching can carry that load and the offense will be prone to stretches of ineptness, though they're hot currently. In any case it's fun to care about wins and losses again instead of being like "yeah they lost 11-4, but I liked what I saw from "Prospect #37" in his two at-bats. Progress is hard to see, but it's happening." 

One thing I am excited about his Elly De La Cruz joining the big league club at some point. 

I don't know what they're waiting for. He's about as proven as you can get in the minors. 

^{Reds went into the bottom of the 9th in Boston up 9-3 and escaped with a 9-8 win. A Boston team nearly pulls off an improbable comeback, but falls just short.} 

On 5/24/2023 at 12:14 AM, BBTV said:

that’s exactly what I meant.  Neither city is known for rabid baseball fanaticism. He’s another soft guy who’d thrive on the cardinals or Reds or a team like that.  Anyone watching him this season would have to question how he’s ever had any success. 

Ohh is it time for this :censored: again?

This bit is really annoying. If it's not a bit then it's really stupid and annoying. 

 A neighbor down the street from me in Cincinnati has a Miami Heat flag flying from their house. You might think that's not that weird with the Heat being one game from the Finals, but this person has had this flag on their house round the calendar since I moved to the neighborhood four years ago.