Red Reposter - 6/11/09 - Red Reporter

Red Reposter - 6/11/09

by Charlie Scrabbles on Jun 11, 2009 10:59 AM EDT in News Comment 36 comments

More photos » by Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP

Aaron Harang threw 7 2/3 shutout innings last night against the Nats, but poor decision-making and a 2 hour rain delay blew the save. I coulda really used that W from Harang for my fantasy team.

Browse more photos »

Fay has it from Baker's mouth regarding the Coco decision after the rain delay:
"I conferred with Dick Pole and Coco," Baker said. "He is the closer. It’s like closing both games of a doubleheader. It didn’t work out." Dusty really is inflexible with these roles, isnt he? Taveras is the CF and the lead-off man, Gonzalez is the SS, when Encarnacion gets back, he's the 3B. I can appreciate that assigning and maintaining roles is a positive thing for a baseball team, but to be this hard-and-fast with it is just reckless. Including last night, Cordero has pitched 5 of the last 6 days. The only day he did not pitch was the day off on Monday. I dont care who the closer is, no one can maintain an effective level of performance with that kind of use. And oh yeah, the rain delay too.
Hall o' Famer Hal has an update on Joey Votto
He's back in Cincinnati working out, preparing for a return to the team. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Dusty said, "I’ve talked to him and he’s doing better. That’s all I can tell you. You can tell by his voice. You can tell by anybody’s voice — when they’re sleepy, when they’re happy, when they’re angry." I dont know what to make of that last line, but there are probably 50 jokes in there.
We all know Jay Bruce has been slumping something fierce
but he seems to be pulling out of it. "I've been feeling a lot better at the plate," Bruce said. "I've been drawing some walks. I haven't been getting myself out as much." I think this is the key for Bruce. When he starts slumping, it seems like he tries to hit his way out of it. So pitchers start pumping him breaking balls and he gets himself out. But it looks like he's laying off that junk a little more now.
Reds Internal Affairs has a funny picture of Rob Butcher
director of Reds media relations, with the 4 presidents from the Nationals president's race. Note Ol' Honest Abe flashing a gang sign. Busta!
Doug at RML gives us a nice list of who the Reds drafted on day 2 of the draft
In case you missed Thundering Turtle's Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the draft yesterday, you can check it out here. Or if you dont have the time to read that whole thread, here are some of the names that TT is most excited about: RHP Daniel Tuttle, CF Josh Fellhauer, SS Deven Marrero, and SS Stephen Perez. The Reds also took 2B Matt Valaika, brother of Chris Valaika. So that's neat.
ShysterBall passes this one along
Remember Selena Roberts and her dramatic headline-grabbing book about Alex Rodriguez and his decades of rampant steroid use? Yeah, nobody else does either. Nobody bought it. It has only sold 16,000 copies so far of an original printing of 150,000. I really dont have a horse in this race, but I feel like I won anyway. Is that weird?

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Went to bed just knowing CoCo would be out there if the game resumed

Beware of the toothpick, it knows what you're thinking.

by Pilsner73 on Jun 11, 2009 11:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If there is any justice in this world

Harang will someday get to walk down a line of 2006-2009 Reds’ players, managers, coaches, and staff and kick every single on them squaw in the nuts.

Will you stop it with the vegetables

by Man Mountain on Jun 11, 2009 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 5 recs

Career record of 72-70

All seems to make sense now, right?

by Brendanukkah on Jun 11, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pssh

Abraham Lincoln was our tallest president. Can’t those Nationals get anything right?

by Brendanukkah on Jun 11, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that chili dog

Will you stop it with the vegetables

by Man Mountain on Jun 11, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Curly W pretzel is pretty damn good too

by Brendanukkah on Jun 11, 2009 11:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was just thinking

that all of the presidents are really tall. That or Butcher needs to get a show on TLC “Little Media Relations, Big Mascots”.

by CamIam on Jun 11, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't remember the precise number,

but the taller candidate has won a significant majority of presidential races.

by ken on Jun 11, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

every one but Kerry-Bush, I believe

by Cy Schourek on Jun 11, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gore - Bush too

by Charlie Scrabbles on Jun 11, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The mascots stand about 8 feet tall

I foolishly thought Teddy would win the race last night. He had an unsurpassable lead, but then, right before the finish line, he stopped to hold up a sign welcoming Drew Storen, the Nats’ pick at #10, who threw out the first pitch and I guess has already signed.

Thomas Jefferson won the race.

/cruelly wants FDR to be part of the race

by Brendanukkah on Jun 11, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it wasn't enough for a full eyewitness report

Ron Villone notwithstanding, but I went to a Nats-Orioles game a couple of weeks ago. Teddy was up to a pretty solid lead…but then this happened:

Yup, thats the Orioles’ Oriole taking out TR in a beautiful form tackle.

by Cy Schourek on Jun 11, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In addition, there was a sad, sad, inclusion to the list of birthdays

by Cy Schourek on Jun 11, 2009 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If only the Rays had been in town...

by Brendanukkah on Jun 11, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 9 recs

ouch

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jun 11, 2009 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wrong kind of Rays.

Rays are named after the sun now, I think.

Or perhaps a New York pizza joint (or 150).

But rec’d anyway.

And Adam Dunn's spirit, ranging for revenge / With Ate by his side come hot from hell, / Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice / Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war...

by Paul Householder on Jun 11, 2009 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not Famous Ray's

Or Ray’s Original, or World-Famous Original Ray’s…

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Jun 11, 2009 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

corner of first and first?

that’s like the nexus of the universe right?

"Avoid the Clap, Jimmy Dugan. That's good advice!"

by jmgard6 on Jun 11, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then there was the game we went to when he got distracted by a panda

by Brendanukkah on Jun 11, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that was the most effective thing Corey Patterson did that day

by Cy Schourek on Jun 11, 2009 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they had a "bonus race" after the game was over last night

i forget who won that one. i was just glad i could go home.

Baseball worshiped here.

by Daedalus on Jun 11, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another Votto article

on Fox Sports is a nice recap of how the Reds have done the right thing in handling the Votto situation (HT to BTF).

Votto is different in that he was at the top of his game when the anxieties became too much. Baker understands there is not always a direct relationship between performance and outlook. He learned from being around a family member who suffers from depression that mental problems do consider statistics.

Baker said there is more pressure in the game now than at any time in his career, which began when he broke in as a 19-year-old outfielder with Atlanta in 1968. He listed factors ranging from increased salaries to the proliferation of fantasy leagues.

I’ll excuse the throwaway line about fantasy leagues and give Dusty some credit for showing he’s a player’s manager (and he’d better be, because he sure as hell isn’t a good bullpen manager). I’m also a little surprised Dusty thinks it’s tougher now. Sure there’ s more financial and media pressure, but back then you also had to worry about making a living after playing. Plus Dusty must have encountered some nasty, hateful personalities when he was playing.

by ken on Jun 11, 2009 12:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think most players

Still have to worry about how to make a living after playing.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jun 11, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What is Bubba doing?

by Brendanukkah on Jun 11, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dunno

But he’s luckier than most. He got a million dollar signing bonus, as a first round draft pick. His parents are well-off, judging from the neighborhood they live in. He was drafted after his junior year, but went back to school in the off-season and finished up his degree. If he’s smart with his money, he may not have to work at all. But he’s got a four-year degree from an elite university to put on his resume if he does hit the job market.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jun 11, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably not going to be at an auto dealership.

Those jobs are getting scarcer by the day.

And Adam Dunn's spirit, ranging for revenge / With Ate by his side come hot from hell, / Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice / Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war...

by Paul Householder on Jun 11, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A-Rod

owns a Mercedes dealership in Houston. Maybe he’s hiring. :-)

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jun 11, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're right

I was talking more about Votto, who may not be set yet (don’t know what his draft bonus was) but will be.

by ken on Jun 11, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Votto

got a $600,000 signing bonus.

That’s US dollars, eh?

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jun 11, 2009 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the question

is/was he stressed over the symptoms of inner ear problems or is he depressed because of the pressure? Seems odd that he would get the flu, have problems with his inner ear and become depressed.

by ol Pete on Jun 11, 2009 1:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I kind of doubt that it's straight depression

since I imagine it has a lot more to do with anxiety, but of course I know nothing about what’s actually going on.

Let me write out a formal proof for you.

by Gray on Jun 11, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember reading somewhere

that ear infections can bring on anxiety attacks because of the loss of balance and other issues. I’m not saying that’s what happened, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it had more to do with his flu/ear infection than anyone has said.

Isn't there a slanket somewhere you should be filling with your farts?

by nycredsfan on Jun 11, 2009 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that was a popular theory in Van Gogh scholarship about 15 years ago

Will you stop it with the vegetables

by Man Mountain on Jun 11, 2009 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we really don't know what the problem is

But my guess would be that it’s related to the ear infection…if I had to guess. It’s not uncommon for anxiety disorders to result from ear infections.

But I wonder if he knows that. From the Wikipedia entry on it, it sounds like it’s still a relatively new practice – treating ear infections with antidepressants. And perhaps there’s still resistance to the idea that psychological problems can have a physical basis. Not uncommon among the macho manly types you find in sports.

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Jun 11, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dusty, dude, you're the manager

“I conferred with Dick Pole and Coco,” Baker said. “He is the closer. It’s like closing both games of a doubleheader. It didn’t work out.”

As somebody (Slyde?), said last night, you’re the manager. Yes, talk to the player and the position coach, but ultimately what they think doesn’t fucking matter. It’s your call. What did he think a professional athlete (especially as one as intense as Cordero) was going to say: ‘Nah, coach, I don’t want to go back out there.’ Also, I have a hard time trusting anything Dick Pole says — mainly because he looks like he lives in an abandoned shack in Saylor Park.

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans

by Farneyismycopilot on Jun 11, 2009 2:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

*Sayler Park

Eighty-five percent of the f*ckin' world is working. The other fifteen percent come out here. A f*ckin' playground for the cocks*ckers.
-Lee Elia on Cubs fans

by Farneyismycopilot on Jun 11, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs