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An Ode to a Big Donkey

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Adam Dunn will play his first postseason game on Tuesday. This will come after a neat 2,000 games played, 462 homers hit, and 1,317 walks taken. After his postseason ends (because it's the A's 1 game and 15 games seem equally as likely) Dunn will almost certainly retire. He's stated this multiple time to writers, and he's hinted at retiring even before this year. It makes a certain amount of sense; he's been unquestionably on the decline the last few years, and it hasn't seemed like he's been having much fun. Even so, he's perhaps a season and a half away from 500 homers, and that would be enough of a carrot for anyone to stick around. Except for Adam. 34 going on sMarty.

It's been said many times by people smarter than me, but Dunn was one of the most under-appreciated Reds in his tenure here. His slash line of .247/.380/.520 is tremendous, and had he played a few years later when people started to appreciate OBP as a better predicator than BA, maybe we don't have to listen to Marty and Thom bemoan his at-bats. Maybe Jay Bruce is given a better reception despite his flaws. Maybe Paul Daugherty decides to retire. Either way, my biggest regret of those awful mid 00's teams is that Dunn is remembered the way he is. He struck out. A lot. His defense could kindly be called awful and he was never the best base runner. Having said all that, he was undoubtedly the best hitter the Reds had until Votto arrived. He hit the absolute shit out of the ball every few at bats, and he struck fear in to NL Central pitchers. He murdered the Cardinals (.365/.512/.877 and 32 homers). But most of all, he was a big, dumb doofus and a shoo in for the most likable ex-Red in retirement.

I'm glad he's finally getting his chance in the playoffs. He's the kind of hitter who'll do great in the postseason, and I hope we get to see him obliterate a ball deep into the October night. I hope he gets into the Reds Hall of Fame, and I hope he gets a street named after him. He's my favorite Red ever (Sorry, Joey, Barry and Aaron) and he hit two homers the first game I ever saw live. And though I'd love for him to take a front office position for the Reds, I'll have to settle for reading about how much he's fishing and hunting in retirement.

Just promise me you'll do this one more time, Adam.

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