Reds Report One Coffey Short Of A Krispy Kreme Combo

For the first time since Spring Training 2004, the Reds’ pitchers and catches reported early on Saturday and were short one Toddy Coffey, or rather were one Todd Coffey lighter.  240 pounds lighter, to be exact.

Cincinnati designated Big Red for assignment on September 9th of last year and the Brewers signed him off waivers one day later.  It is hard to put in to words how exciting it is for me and Charlie Hustle to see a Reds’ roster Coffey-less in camp for the first time in a long time.  It wasn’t that Todd was Eric Milton-bad but he wasn’t that good either, posting a 4.62 ERA in just over 206 innings for the Red Legs, and his “trademarked” sprint from the Bullpen to the pitcher’s mound became more of a annoyance than a crowd-pleaser.  In addition to being obnoxious, aforementioned sprint also made no noticeable difference on his waistline.

Coffey will once again lace ‘em up for the Brewers in 2009 in what will presumably be his first full season for the franchise assuming he can make it to the end of the year on their active roster.  Milwaukee, known for their tasty brews, should be a good fit for Todd where that beer belly will feel right at home.

Bowden: ‘I Wish I Knew How To Quit You’

The Washington Nationals signed free-swinger Adam Dunn to a 2-year, $20,000,000 dollar contract this week, or approximately $60,606 per strikeout.  The signing reunites Dunn with former Reds running mates Austin Kearns and Wily Mo Pena, a trio of outfielders who all played ball for my hometown Dayton Dragons before making their way through the Reds system under the tenure of then-Reds GM Jim Bowden.  I am glad to see The Donkey staying with the National League, though, so we can all continue to be witness to his fielding prowess in the outfield.

Between Dunn, Kearns, and Pena along with Dmitri Young, Felipe Lopez, Aaron Boon, and Corey Patterson, it is beginning to look like Bowden has a penchant for pillaging the table scraps of the perpetually sub-.500 Red Legs.  I guess the more things change the more they stay the same.  In Bowden’s defense, Dunn is a virtual lock for exactly 40 home runs, 100 rbis, 110 walks, 165 strike outs, and an obp of .386 each and every year.

I guess there’s something to be said about consistency these days.  Even if it’s not all that impressive.

♣ Linkage: ESPN.com

Junior Griffey Swings In To History

Ken Griffey, Junior has forever inscribed his name in the annals of history after sending his 600th career home run to its normal right field landing strip.  Junior becomes just the sixth person in the history of Major League Baseball to reach the 600 home run plateau behind Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy “Say It Ain’t” Sosa with a first inning, two-run bomb off of Florida Marlin Mark Hendrickson.  Unfortunately the landmark home run came in front of a mere 12 fans at Dolphin Stadium in the last game of an extensive eight game road stand and had he waited just one more game, he would’ve had nine straight home games to reach 600 in from a larger, more appreciative home crowd starting tomorrow.

There is something to be said for Junior’s success with the recent injury-plaugued seasons he’s had to go along with the advent of the “Steroid Era” in baseball — a movement Griffey’s name has NEVER been linked to.  I fully attribute Ken’s growing list of injuries to both his years spent on the carreer-shortening Astroturf in Seattle as well as him being presumably steroid free throughout his career.  I would love to know where Junior would be on the all time home run list had he’d stayed healthy his entire career as I firmly believe he would be sitting somewhere between 650-675 career home runs and on pace to possibly challenge Barry Bonds at the top.

Griffey is as much of a class act as there comes and a rare talent with the sweetest swing we may ever see.  I feel nobody in Major League Baseball right now deserves this accomplishment more than #3 and my congratulations go out to Donora, Pennsylvania’s own Ken Griffey, Junior.

A Red Observation

For the love of God, can somebody PLEASE teach Adam Dunn how to slap one down the 3rd Base line?!?!  Everytime I listen to a Reds radio broadcast, when Adam Dunn comes to bat all that I ever hear is:

“The defense has put the shift on Adam Dunn, the Shortstop is playing directly behind 2nd Base and the 3rd Baseman is playing where the Shortstop would on a double-play situation.  Well I tell ya’, the 3rd Base line is WIDE. OPEN.”

Dunn has all four infielders playing on the right side of 2nd Base….

JUST STICK YOUR BAT OUT.

And oh, to answer your question…he struck out.  I’m not kidding.

I Can’t Believe I Am Saying This…

I can’t believe I am saying this but the Reds seem like they’re actually trying to give me something to be excited about in the offseason. The whirlwind of moves started with the signing of a “big-name” manager in Dusty Baker. Say what you want about Dusty’s ability to ruin young arms, his high profile name has forced the Reds to dig deeper in to their pockets than management is used to.

Then, in the most shocking move of all, the Reds signed a big-name, free agent pitcher in Francisco Cordero to a 4-year $46-million dollar contract, which is unheard of in the Greater Cincinnati area.  And shortly thereafter, former Saint Louis Cardinal general Manager Walt Jocketty signed a deal with the Reds to be a special assistant to the front office.  You have to love that move.

Add that along with the acquisitions of pitchers Edison Volquez (right handed) by way of the Texas Rangers and Jeremy Affeldt (left handed) — who was apparently the last solid south paw free agent left on the open market — by way of the Colorado Rockies just this weekend, and the Reds are actually creating some buzz. Now I hated more than anyone to see Josh Hamilton traded as part of the Volquez deal but face it, the Reds have always had the offense and what they’ve needed is pitching, so if Edison pans out the loss of Hamilton won’t seem as bad.

And finally, what I feel might be the best offseason move of Wayne Krivsky’s Reds tenure, the organization refused arbitration for Eddie Guardado and, more importantly, Eric Milton, a pitcher who was the best player on the opposing team on a yearly basis. Good riddance.

Pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in 27 days and I might be as excited as I’ve been in a long time. Reds coverage will amp up then as I’ll need something to pass the time and the Kentucky Wildcats will likley be mathematically eliminated from the NCAA Tournament by then…

♣ Linkage: ESPN.com

In Like A Lamb, Out Like A Lamb

Doc’s column on the Saint Louis Cardinals from this morning sparked a renewed, if only momentary, interest in baseball this offseason and, more importantly, my Cincinnati Reds.

Then I realized that they’re still the Reds.

After dropping a few dollars on closer Francisco Cordero and manager Dusty Baker, I was almost certain the Reds’ front office would tear in to the MLB Winter Meetings full steam ahead; in like a lion, as they say. That, however, would prove not to be the case as the headlines on Reds.com all week long mentioned Wayne “Burnt Crispy” Krivsky being content and comfortable staying completely quiet during the annual conference, with the week’s final headline reading “Reds Content To Conclude Quiet Winter Meetings.”

The Reds didn’t even make a splash. In fact, the Reds couldn’t even muster involvement in any rumors — ideas which are usually conjured up against a teams’ will by internet trolls and message board addicts. However, this time around I would’ve welcomed involvement in any trade rumors with open arms, even if they were just rumors, as at least something is better than absolutely nothing.

But no, the Winter Meetings have come and gone without so much as a hiccup by Wayner and Company and, at this point, I guess I should have come to expect nothing more.

Here’s hoping that Cordero is the savior.

Reds Management Finds Wallet

In a stunning turn of events this offseason – a ride that started with the Redlegs finally signing a “big-name” manager in Dusty Baker – the management of Cincinnati’s finest baseball franchise just might have finally found their wallet that had gone missing for the better part of the last decade by agreeing to, in part, a four year, $46-million dollar contract with All Star Closer Francisco Cordero.

Francisco was second in saves last season in the National League and may, or may not, be worth the contract that he received; however, his talent is the farthest thing from what is actually on my mind.  What has me slightly intrigued is the fact that Reds’ management is at least showing that it might actually be willing to put forth the adequate amount of money to possibly develop a somewhat successful baseball team in “The Queen City.”

It is no doubt that the Reds have some young talent down on the farms but rarely do fans have much to be excited about during free agent signing periods and around the trade deadline.  However, the Reds have inked a deal with not only a big-name manager but also a high-dollar free agent at the fact that the Reds might be showing a little life in their back pocket gives us faithful followers at least a little something to be excited about.

ESPN.com (link) is reporting that deal also has an option for the fifth year and is pending Cordero passing a physical exam.

Rounding Third And Heading For Home

It is a sad day in Red Leg Nation as long time Reds’ radio broadcaster – one of the best in all of baseball – and former Reds’ pitcher Joe Nuxhall passed away late last night near Cincinnati, Ohio at the age of 79 stemming from complications arising during his battle with cancer. The “Ol’ Left-hander” began his relationship with baseball, and the Reds for that matter, on June 10, 1944 just 50 days shy of his 16th birthday. At 15 years, 10 months, and 11 days of age, with the World War II ravaged rosters of the ’40s, Joe became the youngest player to ever suit up for a Major League Baseball team – a record he still holds today – when he took the mound against the Saint Louis Cardinals at Crosley Field for his lone appearance that season. That outing would prove to be the beginning of a 63 year relationship with baseball’s oldest professional team.

Joe retired as a player from the Reds, and the game of baseball, in 1967 and immediately entered the broadcast booth and this past summer, where Joe worked a limited schedule along side long-time partner Marty Brennaman, marked his 40th year in radio for the Red Legs. With his catch phrase “…and this is the Ol’ Left-hander, rounding third and heading for home…” to end every broadcast, Joe was a constant joy to listen to and the epitome of class in a sport now tarnished with scandals.

I am not one to jump on the personal bandwagons of recently deceased public figures but this is one situation where I can honestly say I grew up listening to Marty and Joe on Reds’ radio broadcasts. For me, the sound of their voices will forever be synonymous with listening to a Reds game on the back porch on a clear summer night with my father. I even found myself, during the majority of this season, turning down the audio on my television and turning up the volume on my radio just to hear Marty and Joe call Reds games a few more times during Joe’s limited work schedule — even if that meant I was able to hear what happened before I saw it thanks to telecast delays.

The Cincinnati Reds and the world of Major League Baseball lost a good one last night and it is too bad that his story will be overshadowed by this morning’s news of Barry Bonds’ indictment from late yesterday afternoon.

God bless you, Joe Nuxhall, you have meant a lot of things to a lot of people for a very long time and you will be missed.

And now you truly are “rounding third and heading for home.”

Reds Exercise Option For Adam Dunn

The Cincinnati Reds have exercised the one-year option on uber-slugger Adam Dunn’s contract that will pay him $13.0 million for the 2008 season, making him the highest paid player on the Reds’ roster and ensuring another season of fans being in awe of his towering home runs while defiling him for his ballooning number of strikeouts.

I have always been a BIG Adam Dunn supporter – although I nearly jumped off of the wagon during the worst of times last season – and having watched Dunn play for the Single-A Dragons of my hometown Dayton when he first came on the scene for the Reds, it is nice to watch the continuance of his career.

That being said, Reds’ General Manager Wayne “Burnt Crispy” Krivsky had this to say about Adam Dunn’s self-proclaimed improvement -  and reduction of strikeouts – at the plate in the second half of the season:

“For him to say that, it must be true,” Krivsky said. -Courtesy of ESPN.com

Oh really, Wayner? I can hit 80 home runs in a season will you pay me millions of dollars? I mean for me to say it, it must be true.

Reds’ Fans, Prepare For Three Years Of Hell

 

^”If you wanna crown ‘em then crown their asses!”

The Cincinnati Reds signed manager Dusty Baker to a three year deal this weekend, which will extend their history of pathetic managers to 1 trillion.  Dusty Baker almost single handedly ran the Cubs organization into the ground by overusing players, and over pitching young pitchers, which would lead them to career threatening and life altering injuries.  This coupled with one of the worst managing ordeals in post season history makes me wonder: “Why take Dusty Baker out of the T.V. booth and back into a dugout?”

Mark my words, young Reds pitchers such as Homer Bailey will have arm and shoulder problems their entire career directly due to overuse from Dusty Baker.  I just don’t see this acquisition helping a young team like the Reds at all.  Dusty will only be an overpaid, overhyped manager which will end up being ran out of town by Reds fans all over Southern Ohio. 

I got some advice for you: “Save your money and go get someone who will end the Reds’ draught and not continue this plight…”

Cincinnati Welcomes Joe Torre With Open Arms

Well, we haven’t yet but we would, and doesn’t that crimson and black look good on Joe? I think so.

If, or when, the New York Yankees and Mr. Torre part ways, I am sure there are many teams that would be high on his services and he’s already stated that he isn’t ready to move somewhere and do nothing. If Torre is still looking to manage, what a perfect place Cincinnati would be for him. There is a lot of young talent in Josh Hamilton, Edwin Encarnacion, Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Jeff Keppinger, Homer Bailey, Phil Dumatrait, among others, for Torre to mold and bring together as a strong, cohesive unit around veterans such as Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey Junior, Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, etcetera.

There would be absolutely no pressure on Torre like he felt in The Big Apple, where his job was on the line anytime he didn’t win the World Series. In Cincinnati, if his teams starting sniffing the smiling side of .500 quickly, Reds fans would be elated. A Playoff appearance? Joe Torre is a saint. A World Series ring? Joe Torre gets a street and/or bridge named after him. It’s that easy.

Now I realize the Cincinnati Reds front office has already interviewed former Giants and Cubs manager Dusty Baker and he seems to be the early favorite to win the job, but I just hope the Reds don’t act too quickly and can weigh all of their possible options, especially if those options include Joe Torre. I would not be against Dusty Baker as he is a high profile manager and that is something the Reds have needed for a long time, but there are a lot of fish in the pond and if the new ownership is set on winning, they should settle for nothing less than the best; especially if the best available is Joe Torre.

Because Cincinnati would welcome Joe Torre with open arms.