Hall of Fame Museum
I took a quick trip through the Hall of Fame Museum after dinner…incredibly impressive. I fully understand why some memorabilia collectors take their hobby so seriously. Seeing the real things — whether it’s one of Babe Ruth’s uniforms, Hank Aaron’s locker stall or even Miller Huggins’ cardigan sweater with the interlocked ‘NY’ on the chest — it leaves me in awe that these legends actually wore or used these items.
For some reason, I took particular enjoyment from touching the cornerstone that was rescued from the demolition of Ebbets Field. I’ve never been a big memorabilia buff, but seeing these things does transport you to another time.
Here are some pictures from tonight…
The uniforms of the tallest-ever Major Leaguer — Jon Rauch — and the shortest — Eddie Gaedel
Barry Larkin items, including his 1995 NL MVP Award
The HOF plaques
This space reserved for Larkin and Santo
Bench and Morgan
The Babe Ruth room.
Big Red Machine display
Wednesday lineup
Reds lineup vs Cubs
Phillips 4
Renteria 6
Votto 3
Bruce 9
Alonso 7
Stubbs 8
Francisco 5
Hernandez 2
Cueto 1
*On the road trip thus far, Yonder Alonso is 6-for-15 with 1 HR and 3 RBIs. Jay Bruce is 7-for-22 with 1 HR and 3 RBIs. Juan Francisco is also 6-for-15 with 1 HR and 6 RBIs. Edgar Renteria is 6-for-13 with 1 HR and 4 RBIs. Brandon Phillips is 7-for-22.
*Lifetime vs. Cubs starter Ryan Dempster, Ramon Hernandez is 7-for-18 (.389) with 1 HR and 4 RBIs.
Votto rested, Alonso at 1B
Reds lineup vs. Marlins
Phillips 4
Sappelt 7
Bruce 9
Cairo 5
Alonso 3
Stubbs 8
Hernandez 2
Janish 6
Cueto 1
*A rare day off for Joey Votto, his first since July 25. Since that breather, he was batting .356 (32-for-90, with 9 HR, 21 RBIs). This is a chance for Miami native and former Univ. of Miami star Yonder Alonso to start in front of his hometown at his natural position. When the clubhouse opens, I will of course make sure to see what’s going on with Votto.
(**Just checked that Votto is 3-for-13 or .231 lifetime vs. Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco.)
*This week is the last time the Reds will be at the stadium known as Sun Life, Dolphin, Land Shark, Pro Player and Joe Robbie. Entering tonight, they are 37-34 there. The Marlins will open next season at a new ballpark on the site of the old Orange Bowl.
*The Phillies announced that LHP Cole Hamels was placed on the 15-day DL. Why should you care, Reds fan? The move was made retroactive so Hamels can start the Aug. 29 series opener vs. the Reds at GABP. Of course, Hamels is 7-0 with a 1.43 ERA in eight starts lifetime vs. CIN
*On Thursday, Reds Senior Director of Professional & Global Scouting Terry Reynolds will be inducted into the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame in St. Paul, Minn.
Bruce gets a rest
Reds lineup vs. Orioles
Heisey 9
Phillips 4
Votto 3
Gomes DH
Lewis 7
Stubbs 8
Hernandez 2
Cairo 5
Janish 6
Bailey 1
*Jay Bruce is 2-for-10 in the series so far, including a 0-for-5, 3 strikeout game last night. Not surprised he’s getting a break.
**UPDATE - Bruce is sick today. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt in the clubhouse and looking rather lousy. He was going to see the Orioles team doctor to find out what he has.
“I don’t feel good this morning,” Bruce said. “I felt perfectly fine last night. But when I got back to the hotel and went to bed, I caught a chill and couldn’t shake it.”
“We’re going to find a place to quarantine him if he’s contagious so he doesn’t get anyone else sick,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said.
*As expected, RHP Homer Bailey was activated from the 15-day disabled list to make the start today. To make room on the roster, Carlos Fisher was optioned to Triple-A Louisville.
*In the last 18 games, Reds pitchers are 10-8 with a 2.82 ERA, with the starters 10-5 with a 3.03 ERA.
*Joey Votto became the eighth Canadian born playuer to reach the 100 career home run milestone last night. The other seven are: Larry Walker (383), Matt Stairs (165), Jeff Heath (194), Jason Bay (193), Justin Morneau (185), Corey Koskie (124) and George Selkirk (108).
Heisey starts
Since so many clamored for it, thought I’d headline it.
Reds lineup vs Pirates
Heisey 8
Renteria 6
Votto 3
Phillips 4
Bruce 9
Cairo 5
Lewis 7
Hernandez 2
Cueto 1
A lot of people (and you know who you are) are harping about the lack of playing time for Chris Heisey. Today’s lineup probably doesn’t totally satisfy you because Heisey isn’t in left field. But the manager wanted to give Drew Stubbs a break.
“I’m going to need Drew all the way through Milwaukee (end of May, early June),” manager Dusty Baker said. Unless something happens, he’s not going to get a day off. We’re in a stretch of 20-straight games and 33 in 34 days, and this is May. He’s a racehorse. You can’t run those horses in the ground. I have to preserve him and his legs.”
As for the Heisey question that’s been asked and answered time and again, by all parties involved, here are some long-form quotes from Baker about how he uses Heisey and what his big picture thoughts about him:
“Everybody was screaming for Nix to play before. They were screaming for Dickerson to play and then they screamed for Gomes, how come Gomes isn’t playing every day? Then they were screaming about sending Stubbs out of here and they were screaming about sending Bruce out of here.”
“Every good basketball team has a sixth man. John Havlicek was a sixth man before he was a regular. He still has some things to learn – to me – hitting wise before he’s an everyday play, but he will be. He knows it. I told him. Sometimes you have to be that sixth man before you can be a fifth man.”
“Coming off the bench is hard to do and so very important. Who would you rather have come off the bench every day and be the secret weapon, Heisey or Gomes at this point? I’m trying to be patient waiting on Jonny. I know how he can carry the club. He’s putting a lot of pressure on himself being his option year. If he’s not playing some, he’s not going to get it at all. He’s the only guy I’ve got here that knows how to DH when we get to the American League, which is not easy to do.”
“Show me a lineup around that doesn’t have somebody in there that’s not productive in the lineup. There ain’t one around. We can look for what we ain’t doing. In the meantime, how many have we won now? That ain’t too bad. We’re trying to get better. We will. We’re not clicking on all cylinders yet. We’re getting there.”
“If you’ve noticed, Heisey stands by me every day during the National Anthem. If things weren’t cool, would he stand by me every day?”
Sunday vs STL
Reds lineup vs Cardinals
Stubbs 8
Janish 6
Votto 3
Phillips 4
Bruce 9
Rolen 5
Lewis 7
Hernandez 2
Wood 1
*Gomes is 0-for-13 lifetime vs Carpenter, and Lewis is hitting well and left handed. Therefore no surprise there that he is starting.
*Ryan Hanigan was supposed to be in the starting lineup today but is still bothered by a sore right hand. Hanigan was hit on the base of his hand by a Fernando Salas fastball in the eighth inning on Friday night. There was still some swelling where his hand and wrist met. X-rays were negative for a fracture.
“It’s got some fluid in there. It’s tender,” Hanigan said. “Nothing to be too concerned about, I can play. I’m trying to get one more day. Hopefully, it will be significantly better tomorrow. If something were to happen, I could play.”
Seeking .500 trip
Reds lineup vs. Brewers
Stubbs 8
Bruce 9
Votto 3
Phillips 4
Gomes 7
Cairo 5
Janish 6
Hanigan 2
LeCure 1
Well, I made a sizable goof in my game story last night. I wrote the Reds had only three seven-inning starts this season — two from Leake. I neglected the fact that Travis Wood pitched seven innings vs. the Brewers on April 2. Of course, I missed that game and didn’t update my book. It’s my fault and I apologize for the error.
Phillips cleaning up
Reds lineup vs. Brewers
Stubbs 8
Bruce 9
Votto 3
Phillips 4
Gomes 7
Cairo 5
Hanigan 2
Janish 6
Arroyo 1
*The lineup went up later than normal today. Dusty Baker had both Votto and Phillips in his office to discuss things, presumably about the change of order.
*According to Elias Sports Bureau, only three players in MLB have reached base safely in each of his team’s games — Joey Votto, Ryan Braun (MIL) and Aramis Ramirez (CHC).
*Tonight will be Bronson Arroyo’s 300th career Major League appearance, and 264th start.
*Reds relievers have a 1.55 ERA over their last 13 games.
*Although it is sunny now as I type, rain is in the forecast all three days. It’s also going to be rather chilly. Highs the next two days are in the 40s. But as you know Miller Park has a roof, and as far as I’m concerned at this moment — that roof makes this yard the greatest place on Earth. For the first time this week, there is no rain delay — or the threat of a rain delay — hanging over us.
I’m in a glass case of emotion!
Great Oden’s raven, here is the Reds lineup vs. Padres.
Heisey 8
Phillips 4
Votto 3
Rolen 5
Gomes 7
Bruce 9
Hernandez 2
Janish 6
Volquez 1
*Johnny Cueto (shoulder) pitched today at the complex in Goodyear. His line vs. extended spring guys:
2 ip, 3 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 2 K 34 pitches. Details were not available with, however.
“I know he came through it unscathed. I haven’t got the full report,” pitching coach Bryan Price said.
*Not too surprising Stubbs is sitting. He is 0-for-his-last 10 and has struggled since that last game vs. Houston on Thursday. His average, after a great start, is down to .237.
*RHP Jose Arredondo started his rehab assignment this morning at Double-A Carolina. Arredondo pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
*Beautiful day here in San Diego. A little cool near the water but not a cloud in the sky.
*Apologies for the ‘Anchorman’ references. I will try to keep them to a minimum.
Hanigan big in sweep
It’s hardly the time to start declaring the NL Central as belonging to the Reds again, but the 3-0start to the season with a sweep of the Brewers was still impressive. Sunday’s 12-3 pounding of Milwaukee featured 19 hits and four home runs.
Some highlights:
*Every member of the starting lineup notched at least one hit.
*Ryan Hanigan set career highs with four hits (4-for-4, walk) and two home runs.
*Brandon Phillips had three hits and a homer.
*Bronson Arroyo pitched seven strong innings despite all six of his hits being for extra bases. Hestayed out of big innings and the two homers against him were solo shots. Impressive day especially when you factor in his having mono.
*Aroldis Chapman was firing bullets (or Cuban missiles) during his 2011 debut in the ninth. Chapmanregular topped 100 mph during his 1-2-3 inning, with one strikeout. The fastest he hit on MLB.com’s gameday screen was 102.
Notes:
*Drew Stubbs’ infield hit gave him an 11-game hitting streak going back to Sept. 24 of last season.
*Phillips had 16 three-hit games last season.
*The Reds have not opened the season with a three-game sweep since doing it to the Mets in 2005. The last 4-0 start to a season was in 1990 — the world championship season.
*The Reds had 19 hits twice in 2010 (5/28 vs. HOU and 7/27 at MIL)
*CIN has eight home runs from seven different players in the three games.
Quotes:
“We beat a very good ball club. It was close for a while and our offense took over. It was just a big weekend. Any time you start the season 3-0 against a team you know is going to be there at the end, that’s always a big boost for you.” — Dusty Baker
“I battled out there today. Those guys, the hits they did get, they hit real hard. I had good command and I had decent stuff. The wind was a little funny blowing at the back a little bit. It was kind of hard at times to make the ball move a little bit.” — Bronson Arroyo
“Since Monie [Ramon Hernandez] had the walk-off home run, the momentum has been in our favor. We kind of rode that high for the last couple of games. The Brewers have a great team. They’re going to be in the mix. They have a great offense, great pitching. It was just our weekend.” — Ryan Hanigan
“We have a very good team. When Cincinnati’s good, obviously they’re a great team. But you can come across anybody and when they’re locked-in for three games, you can get beat in three games. If we’re not on top of our game against a club like this, they’re going to beat us. But I think that, in all three areas, we’re going to be good. In all of the phases of the game, we weren’t good in this series.” — Brewers manager Ron Roenicke
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Mark Sheldon
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