Crazy

As soon as the ball left Pujols' bat, I thought it was gone... (The Cardinal fan to my left said something to the effect as soon as it left the bat as well) it sounded like it was gonna be gone, it looked like it had more carry than it eventually did. I watched it for a split second, then lost the ball because some tall guy with a ginormous hat moved in front of me, and then I happened to look over at Freel, expecting to see him climb the fence and watch it sail out, but instead saw him dive... and make the catch. Oh. My. God. A thought popped into my head: "He just saved the season." It was our game after that.

Amazing catch, amazing game.

by Ash on Aug 8, 2006 11:31 PM EDT reply actions

Sorry, let me clarify

I meant Freel/baseball circa 2006. I'n not trying to downplay the accomplishments of Rose, Bench, Larkin, etc. I'm talking about today, this season.

...even Marty said "this game is... DID HE CATCH IT?" He thought the same thing I did: three-run homer.

by Ash on Aug 8, 2006 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions

How about

the ovation from the crowd!

by mattg on Aug 9, 2006 6:58 AM EDT up reply actions

ash

Where were your seats? And did you comsume any dollar dogs?

by ohiobobcat on Aug 8, 2006 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Was in 110... third-base line

about 6 or 7 rows back. I did enjoy a dollar dog.

by Ash on Aug 8, 2006 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Albert's oblique

This proves to me that all is not right with Pujols. He clearly doesn't have all his power back, and probably won't for the rest of the season. I'm guessing that pre-injury, it would have been a homer. Time to strike while the iron is hot...and the oblique is weak!

by teb7 on Aug 8, 2006 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions

such a beautiful play

i've watched it four or five times on MLB.com tonight, in addition to the pirated espn sports center footage i've seen. Seriously. That may be the greatest catch I've ever seen.

And sorry. I'm a baseball purist, a lover of history, but that was better than the Mays catch.

I duly believe that this catch is a season saver.

This is my corn. You people are guests in my corn.

by Daedalus on Aug 8, 2006 11:38 PM EDT reply actions

agreed

The ED catch over the Riverfront wall is up there, and maybe something by Gary Pettis and Torii Hunter that I don't remember specifically.

Any other nominations?

by ohiobobcat on Aug 8, 2006 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Watch Baseball Tonight

Wednesday night, 7:00. Top 3 Reds Web Gems of all time.

I am DVRing that.

Don't mind me...just pitching to contact, that's all...

by Paul Householder on Aug 9, 2006 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Glenn Braggs...

Game 6 NLCS in 1990...top of 9th...Carmelo Martinez smokes one to right field with Bonds on base. Braggs pulls it back in over the wall. Reds go on to win game and NL Championship. Saved the game, series and possibly propelled the team to the sweep over the A's. Probably made it better since I was there, but it was incredible.

http://reds.enquirer.com/2002/09/08/red_cinergy_moments.html

by pudge on Aug 9, 2006 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions

Luke Hudson

4-0 for the Royals since being recalled. Anyone see that coming? Really?

by ohiobobcat on Aug 8, 2006 11:48 PM EDT reply actions

Parity?

Could there be a little parity in the NL?

I almost really liked today's lineup. It actually made sense (other than Clayton but 'least he was 8th.)

Freel.. Well, I keep saying - one of these days, he's going to kill himself out there. I love to see him play like that though. The other day when he dove a few feet from the foul wall and touched it kind of scared me. He said he didn't know how close he was. The run-down was awesome. Way to make lemonade from lemons. and how did he get that bunt down? Guess it was his night to shine. Dunn and Griffey's RBIs were overlooked.

Congrats to Hatti. 1000 hits. Whodathunk he'd be batting a Casey like .321 and cost 1/8th of what Casey did. I just hope the wife's "boycott" will be over soon. I think she was happy he went to Detroit.

Night all.

by snohio on Aug 8, 2006 11:48 PM EDT reply actions

Caleb

Is Tim Raines a first balloter, and when is he eligible?

One of my heroes as a younger lad.

by ohiobobcat on Aug 8, 2006 11:53 PM EDT reply actions

Freel highlight...

I missed the action tonight and can't turn on the TV to try to catch the Freel catch. Can someone direct me where to go to see it? Thanks. Sounded like a great win guys and gals! All i know is September games are going to be meaningful this year. That's exciting, and far more than we could have hoped for in March. No?

by Chris Sabo on Aug 8, 2006 11:59 PM EDT reply actions

Now that I've got most of the

HOLYCRAPTHATWASANAWESOMEGODDAMNPLAY out of my system, here's the rest:

Edwin. A couple of hits, a run scored, RBI. Jerry, dude, play him. Every damn day. Edwin should be "Everyday Eddie." (Yeah, I know, I know bad baserunning in the 5th, I'll still take him in the lineup.)

I was all set to make a point that every Red in the starting lineup had a hit today - including Milton! - except for McClayton, and then he had to go and get a hit in the 8th. Bastard. Still, way to K with the bases loaded in the 5th, buddy.

LaRussa manages his bullpen like his hair is on fire. Did that even make sense? You guys know what I'm getting at.

LaRussa had a lefty IBB Edwin (loaded the bases) to get to Dunn. Dunn, he who hits lefties at almost a .300 clip. The Cardinals fan behind me said "I don't think that was the best idea." I said "Yup. That was a bad idea," and put my headphones back on. And then Dunn hit a two-run single. :) I guess you've gotta play for the DP, though. Too bad it didn't work, Tony.

Ahhh. Good day. Go Go Harang tomorrow!

by Ash on Aug 9, 2006 12:02 AM EDT reply actions

Tonight's Game

I've been to a ton of games this year, and tonight by far was the best. It wasn't so much the score, it was the fans, this is what Reds ball could be like if we can get people to show up. Freel got tons of love and deserevedly so. I don't think there's one person in the park, except maybe Freel, that thought he'd make that play. It looked like a gap splitting double all the way, simply amazing.

It was also beautiful to win it in front of so many Cardinal fans. Cardinal fans don't blow like Cub fans, but still, this is OUR park, the ratio of Reds to out of town fans should be something like 100 to 1. Cincy needs to come and support this team.

Everyone needs to come out and give Harang the love Wednesday night. Let's get a 10 game win streak going and get the playoff tickets ready.

by JCH888 on Aug 9, 2006 1:08 AM EDT reply actions