Jay Bruce is headed to Cincy!

Finally, the Reds management has awaken and Jay Bruce is heading from Loserville to meet up with the Reds Tuesday night. Luckily for me, I picked him up last week! Bruce finished up his AAA career batting around .380 this season for the Louisville Bats.

Who Not To Pick Up

I know this is a site to help you make some good fantasy decisions and maybe not picking up someone could be help as well.....or maybe I just love to vent.

Corey Patterson is just so bad...how can you go 0-for-8 in one game. Yes it was the first time in over twenty years that a Red looked that bad in a span of one game. Hell he has sucked so bad all year, after a modest first week or two he has made me scream and cuss Dusty Baker so much. Dusty can't seem to admit he made a mistake by getting the Reds to sign him and leave Jay Bruce in AAA Louisville. Patterson couldn't even draw a walk yesterday and has a grand total of one walk for the month of May, but let's not forget that he does have .183 batting average for May and oh yeah he also has one extra base hit. I am not sure who sucks more Dusty Baker as manager or Patterson at the plate. Patterson souldn't be anything but a defensive replacment in the ninth inning, hoping he don't have to bat.

FOR GOD'S SAKE BRING UP JAY BRUCE ALREADY......

Yesterday was probably the worse lineup I have seen this year for the Reds. Joey Votto was sitting while our third string catcher Javier Valentine played first.

Will someone in the front office tell me why we put lineups like this on the field and lose our ass while we have Al-stars in AAA and sitting on the bench. Don't tell me a young man like Votto needs rest already when they have today off!!!!!!

Ben Francisco-Pick him up!

I've been watching Ben Francisco closely since the beginning of the season, and I think it's time to pick him up. In limited action, Franscico is batting .365 with 2 homers and 10 doubles with over a .400 on-base percentage. Tonight, he was hitting clean up behind Mr. Travis Hafner. Before tonight, in the past 7 days, he was batting .391 with a homer and 4 doubles.

Rookie Catcher Comparison

In the spring, there was big talk of two young catchers: J.R. Towles of the Astros and Geovanny Soto of the Cubbies. So far, things have gone really well for one and not so well for the other.

*J.R. Towles-I got to see him in his first spring training at bat in lovely Winter Haven and he looked like he couldn't hit a beach ball. Right now, Towles is batting an ugly .155 with 4 homers and 12 RBI in 37 games for the Astros.

*Geovanny Soto-Soto has gotten off to a terrific start at .309/9/34 and 15 doubles. He's looking like the NL All-Star catcher right now. Soto might help the Cubs smash the curse in 2008. I'm sure the Cubs will find a way to blow it.

Continued Fantasy Disappointments

There's a couple guys I drafted this year that are really starting to get to me. Luckily I didn't draft them both in the same league. I'd love to punch them in the mouth right now. Maybe I could knock some pop into their bats.

*Nick Markakis-Luckily Markakis isn't playing tonight. At least he can't get me anymore negative points. He's sitting at -5.00 for the week in Fox Fantasy Baseball. Markakis is stinkin it up at .253/8/22 with 47 strikeouts. I think he's trying to out-suck Alex Rios. Markakis is coming off two up and coming years. In 2007, he went .300/23/112. He better start getting hot soon. I know the O's are brutally bad, but Tejada didn't give him that much protection in the lineup did he?

*Alex Rios-Alex, please strikeout again. Right now, Rios is sitting at .258/3/19 and 48 strikeouts. He's on his way to 150. Rios is coming off of a really good 2007 campaign in which he batting .297 with 24 dingers and 85 RBI to go along with 43 doubles and 17 steals.

A Great Day To Be A Reds Fan

After round one of the Buckeye Battle I wrote about on Friday night I was very happy to say the least. The Reds had just won their season high fourth straight game. I kinda slacked off yesterday as the Reds won the middle game of this three game set, beating the Indians 4-2. Aaron Harang was, well Aaron Harang which has been very good this year but the Reds just don't seem to score runs for him. Harang worked seven innings allowing only one run and left the game with the scored tied at one. Fausto Carmona got one out in the eighth before he also left the game with it tied, turning it over to the bullpen.

The Indians got a run in the eighth from Ben Franciso as he went yard for the first time this season. It stayed this way until the bottom of the ninth when Adam Dunn, after failing to get a sacrifice bunt down, hits a monster walk off home run to win it for "MY REDS"

This win sent the Reds home kind of cocky and looking for the sweep of the series if they could pull off another win on Sunday.

Sundays match up was one for the ages. I am sure the NL and AL ERA leaders have squared off before in the regular season, but I just can't remember it. Anyway Edinson Volquez went up against the Indians Cliff Lee for the much anticipated match up. Needless to say that Volquez got the best of this match up going six innings and just giving up two runs as the Reds hit Lee pretty good getting to him for ten hits and six runs to sweep the series and extend the Reds current winning streak to six games.

Fantasy Note: If you didn't have Adam Dunn in your lineup it might be time to get him in. He has only hit a home run in the last four games, he just might be heating up like I predicted on Friday night. He will get his 40 HR's, 100 RBI's and 100 walks.....you might have to eat a few K's but year after year he is a top ten scorer of the fantasy outfielders.

YES IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A REDS FAN.......KEEP THE ROLL GOING AS YOU HEAD OUT WEST GUYS AND LET'S GET BACK IN THIS RACE

On Fire-Ryan Ludwick

Ryan Ludwick is officially on fire. For the season, he's batting .336/11/29 and slugging .739. He has to improve his SO/BB ratio which is at 35/17 right now. He's batting .397 vs right handed pitching. In the last two weeks, he's batting .400 with 6 homers,13 RBI, and slugging an outrageous .925 going into today. Guess what? He homered yet again today. Yep, I picked the Cards to finish dead last in the NL Central. Ludwick continues to help them swim well above .500.

The Battle of Ohio.....Round 1

The eyes of major league baseball are defintely on the Buckeye state this weekend as the suddenly hot Cincinnati Reds take on the white hot pitching staff of the Cleveland Indians. The Reds come into this series with a modest three game winning streak and Cleveland comes into this fresh off a six game home winning streak where their starters ERA was less than 1.00, yes I said less than 1.00

The marquee match up for the weekend includes both the NL and Al league leaders in ERA squaring off on Sunday afternoon at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. Edinson Volquez, with a 6-1 record and an ERA of 1.12 with 57 K's will battle Cliff Lee, the most suprising pitcher in baseball so far. Lee's stats are also off the charts with a 6-0 record, along with 44 K's and the aformentioned ERA of 0.67
If you own either of these guys in your league you gotta be in the money right now.

Friday night, (round 1) went to the good guys with the Reds winning 4-3. The game was as exciting a game as I have watched this season. Johnny Cueto started for the Reds and struck out the side in the fifth ininng to keep his no hitter intact. After Brandon Phillips hit a two run shot against his former team to give my Reds a 2-0 lead, Adam Dunn added a solo shot in the bottom of the second inning to make it 3-0 after two. The game stayed this way until the the top of the sixth when the Indians got their only three hits off of Cueto, he also had 7 K's. The bad thing about it was all three hits were home runs and that tied it 3-3 and it stayed that way until Adam Dunn walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning, sending it to the ninth where Francisco Cordero finished the Indians off by striking out the side to earn his eighth save of the year. The bullpen was one of the weak spots in the Reds armor this time last year but I do believe they have a top five closer in Cordero and as a fan you feel so much better seeing the game in the bullpens hand with a late inning lead. The Reds still are having problems scoring runs with runners in scoring position with less than two outs. But I think Dunn and Jr. Griffey will heat up as the tempature does, so if you have either keep the faith. Dunn still has time to hit his 40 home runs and get his 100 RBI's, Griffey needs to get his 600th HR soon so he can stop thinking about it and get his game where it should be.

On Saturday afternoon on Fox Round 2 kicks off with a match up close to what we might expect on Sunday. Aaron Harang, the most under rated pitcher in the NL with an unwarranted 2-5 record to go with his very nice 3.32 ERA will go for the Reds. Harang has had no run support at all this season and his ERA proves his record should be better. Don't even consider trading this guy because he will win!!!!
The Indians will counter with Fausto Carmona and his 4-2 record to go with an ERA of 2.40, I love this guy and just hope he isn't on his game on Saturday.

With round 1 in the books and the Reds now with a four game winning streak, it's shaping up as a great weekend to be a Reds fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fantasy Bums-wk 7 update

*Gary Matthews Jr. (Angels) .227/5/24 and 37 strikeouts

*Ryan Howard (Phils) .185/9/22 and 58 strikeouts

*Robinson Cano (Yanks) .207/4/12 zero steals and 3 CS

*Gary Sheffield (Tigers) .196/2/8 and slugging .314

Indian's Starting Pitching!

The Tribe's starting pitching continues a torrid streak of mowing people down. Aaron Laffey continued the dominance tonight getting a W over the As going 7 strong and zero earned runs. Tonight's game lowered Laffey's ERA to 1.35 for the season. The Indian's starting pitching just ran their streak of unearned runs to 51 1/3 after tonight. That is re-cock-ulous. Last night, big fat C.C. Sabathia pitched an 11 strikeout complete game shutout. That's a fantasy owner's best friend for sure. I'm not sure what's going on with Cliff Lee, but he's down right unhittable right now. I saw him in spring training and he was brutally bad. I didn't even think he would make the roster at that point. All of the sudden, he's 6-0 with a .067 ERA and the Cy Young winner if the season ended today. Of the Tribe's rotation, Sabathia is the only one with an ERA above 3.61 and he's starting to really heat up. Unbelievable.

Jay Bruce Already!!!!!!

I know some people probably get sick of seeing me and RoseFan talk so much about the Reds but they are my favorite team and I like to let off some steam because their management sucks. Jay Bruce needs to be in Cincy. Living right outside of Loserville, Kentucky, it's nice seeing him in triple A but enough is enough. Over the past 10 games, Bruce is batting .611 with three homers and 12 RBI. Dusty Baker's boy Mr. Cory Patterson is struggling and Keppinger just went out of the lineup for a good period of time with a knee cap so the Reds need someone in the lineup that can hit the baseball. Adam Dunn can't play a lick of D and he swings and misses more than anyone I've seen in my lifetime. Griffey will soon be off to check out the Space Needle in rainy Seattle. Note to Reds sorry management....................BRING HIM UP BEFORE MARTY SLAPS YOU UPSIDE THE HEAD!

Notes

Does anyone remember the Oakland A's pitching staff just a couple of years ago. Once considered one of the top staffs in baseball, Billy Beane just ripped them apart and sold them off like cattle are being sold because of todays grain market. Did he have insight into what Barry Zito, seven straight losses to start the year, was about to become or was he actually smart enough to know this young staff they have today is going to be as good as yesteryear's A's.

Take a look at Justin Duchscherer, he might be the last link to this staff that makes it again one of the best in baseball. Billy is a deal maker for sure and might have out did hisself this time. As tight as the A's are with contracts, well Beane is showing us why he can be this frugal. Their team ERA is less then half of Barry Zito's. Their whole starting pitching staff is not making much more than Zito is making by hinself across the bay in a Gaints uniform.

Duchscherer is recording about 7.5 K's per nine innings with an ERA of 2.42 as of tonight. Take at look at this guy if you need some back end of the rotation help.

Hey I also want to give a little love to my son-in-law for coaching the North Bullitt Freshman Eagles baseball team to the District Chanpionship this past weekend. I would say his coaching career is off to a great start..... This is his blog and I just add a few nuggets every now and then......Congratulations GJ....

Red Hot-Dan Uggla

Dan Uggla has been red hot as of late. In his last 10 games, he's raised his batting average from .245 to .271 and has hit 7 homers to give him 11 on the season. He's also sitting on 11 doubles. This dude doesn't get cheated at the plate. He's struck out 39 times in 136 at bats this season and 167 times last season. The Loserville Kentucky native is only hitting .213 at home and .361 on the road on the year. That's a big fantasy note to think about when you're setting your lineup.

National League Honors

Five weeks into the season, the NL MVP and Cy Young are easy choices:

NL MVP-Chase Utley (Phils) .345/13/28

NL Cy Young-Brandon Webb (D-Backs and Ex-Wildcat!) 8-0 2.41 ERA

NL Rookie of the Year-Edison Volquez (Reds) 5-1 1.06 ERA

By the way, Volquez is the #1 fantasy pitcher without a doubt at this point. It's not even close. I lucked out and draft him with the final pick of our draft. My knucklehead son snagged him up in our other league.

Derek Jeter is voted man of the Century

I got in my truck after school today on the way to baseball practice and turned on sports radio like usual. I turned to three sports channels and a news channel within the first 5 minutes b/c I don't listen to commercials. I love channel flippin. In those 5 mintues, I heard four different discussions of Maxim Magazine's Hot 100 and how Derek Jeter had dated 6 of this list. Since Jeter is my favorite player by himself now that I've discovered that Clemens is a child molesting Roid Head, I thought we'd review...........................

Scarlett Johanson-She's disgusting to me. She's almost opaque white.
Mariah Carey-Crazy Spoon Head. She's so crazy she has a spoon on her head.
Gabrielle Union-probably the most attractive black woman ever.
Jessica Alba-Yes, in that movie Deep Blue.
Jessica Biel-Yes, no doubt.
Vanessa Minillo-Is that the girl Nick Lache is marrying??? If so, Yes

Rich dude in New York. He can get pretty much any woman on earth. My wife would probably leave me for him in about 2 seconds. If you read this baby, I'm just kidding. You're way hotter that the two Jessicas. My wife is a beautiful princess.

By the way, after today, Jeter is batting .298 with zero homers and 16 RBIs. Two numbers that are really scary is that he's only walked four times and has ZERO steals and 1 CS. His OBP is the lowest it's been in 13 years. His lady percentage is high, but his fantasy value is dropping like a rock.

The Sad State Of My Reds

As I drove home from work tonight I was listening WLW 700 AM, the flagship station of the Cincinnati Reds and as usual they were on the short end of the score. This as you know isn't news, but I did hear some news that just didn't sit well with me. First I do love my Reds and although my favorite years come from the "Big Red Machine" years I am still a baseball fan and the Reds are still my team. Back to the news, I heard a sound bite of Ken Griffey Jr. talking about finishing his career back in Seattle. Ok, is this the right time to be jumping ship and is this way you want to leave your hometown team. Griffey will be a Hall of Famer and he will probably wear a Mariner hat on his plaque. But he is in Cincinnati right now for goodness sakes. I really think Jr. thinks there is nothing to play for here and I understand he wants a ring before he retires, but right now with all the young guys on this team he needs to just shut up and play. If Griffey throws in the towel the first week of May how does that look to the young guys looking up to him. Griffey did give the Reds a hometown discount to come here in 2000 as a lot of his money is deferred and isn't even included in this years payroll. I think the Reds promised to build a team around him and we all know how that has worked out. But tell me why I should pay $40 for tickets, $15 for parking, and $7.50 for beer,.....yeah watching them does make you want to drink sometime. But again why do I want to spend a small fortune to see these guys when the person that should be the Captain of the team wants out of town.

I have said it before and I say it again "the Reds have no leadership and the manager seems totally lost as to what the next move should be. I know what my next move should be and that is to go to Louisville if I want to see guys working their asses off to make it to the show. Right now I say you can see as good a baseball game at Louisville Slugger Field watching the AAA team of the Reds, the Louisville Bats, as you are getting from the Reds right now.

How do you pay someone $13 million a year to be nothing more than a pretty good DH. If this was New York he might be worth it, but the Reds could do a lot more with this money. I think Dunn is receiving 18% of the Reds payroll this year and does anyone think he is putting up 18% of the production for this team. Is it time to panic, well who knows, Dusty sure don't. Maybe we ship Griffey back "HOME" and try to trade Dunn's big contract to to the Yankees or the Red Sox and call up Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey from Louisville. If this does happen take a chance on either one of these guys because you can bet your ass that they will give it their all when they step on the field.

Come on Reds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Johnny Cueto

Dear Johnny Cueto,

It's time to come back strong tonight versus the Cubbies. Your Reds are sucking unmercifully right now. Time to put a halt to this five game losing streak by the Redlegs and get your 5.40 ERA back down to earth. Your 1.09 WHIP is still looking good. I hope your hitting and D backs you up tonight so I don't have to drop you!

Thanks in advance for your W,

GMo

Big Time injury news............

**The Brave's John Smoltz who is currently on the DL announced today he'd be a reliever for the rest of the season when he came back from the DL. WOW.

**Yank Phil Hughes will be out until around the all-star break with a fractured rib.

**Colorado SS Troy Tulowitzki will be out until at least the all-star break with a torn tendon.

**Sadly, I can't even wear my Roger Clemens jersey around kids anymore.

**In other news, Bud Selig still sucks.