The closest the #Reds got to home plate...

...was Aquino Clumsily surging in that direction...in an embarrassing botched double steal. Ugggg. 

 I want THAT other feeling again, the feeling Of anticipation going into game 1, knowing Bauer was on the mound, then Sonny Gray and then Castillo.  If you told me that there would be no runs scored and we wouldn’t see Gray at all,  I would’ve run for the hills not wanting to experience THAT vibe!  I want that feeling back, that feeling of watching Bauer mow them down with complete confidence, knowing that we would knock a few out of the park to help him out, right? RIGHT. Here we are 48 hours later and we still haven’t scored a run...I’m tired and trying to find a some baseball ⚾️ positives. I’ll go to bed thinking of a road trip to Goodyear Arizona in 2021 if were all not Covid zombies 🧟‍♂️  🧟‍♀️,  Or something....go reds...meh:

https://twitter.comr/CincyGy/status/1312063731082293249?s=20

Grit? The Reds finally have him, in the name of

@BauerOutage. And now he gets the chance to prove he’s got it under the scrutiny of the playoffs, as a Red. I have stated on this blog, that has been a hole in this clubhouse, since Scott Rolen was here,  the last player with grit, albeit the speak softly and carry a big bat type.  Votto? In the words of the Chad Johnson, aka: Ocho Cinco "Child Please". Votto couldn't carry Mother Theresas' Jock. I will always appreciate Joey but he has to get all these stats with rings to be validated, sorry not sorry. Winning is all that matters.  Votto will however nightmare you to death: beware! 👻

So Trevor is the chose one, the grinder the one who stares down other teams, shouts them back to their dugouts as he throws swerling bb's.  So he 'HAS' to be the one. We all, damn well know Scotty Roland (the last Red with 'true grit'), Chris Sabo (goggle Grit), Paul O’Neil (strong quiet grit), and Pete Rose (ultimate grit), Ain’t walking through that door! So Bauer, the self proclaimed and well-deserved-should-be Cy Young winner: 

 IT'S ALL YOURS: SIR OF THE GRIT  

This incident in the clubhouse this year reminds me of when Kirk and Gibson went off on his Dodgers: 

https://www.mlb.com/news/joey-votto-on-trevor-bauer-dugout-incident

So let’s embrace the rage, welcome the 🔥,  and see if it’s enough to propel these boys to somewhere we have not been in quite some time:

 Enjoy mañana compadres ! Speaking of the Pads......

ps. Lived in San Diego 20 (Navy) years: Go Pads, Just not against my nATi #Reds! #TonyGwynn #RodCarew and Mr Peter Edward Rose: #PeteRose #HitKing:

The three top Contact hitters of all time ? Go...

The Hottest Team in the 2020 MLB Tourney? That would be...

...would be Your 2020 kick-the-Covid-in-the-Arse ‘nATi RedLegs ! 

This was the first year since 2014 that I expected our Cincinnati Reds to compete, be above .500 and possibly make the playoffs. 10 out of 12 and the Red Hot #Reds are The hottest team in the MLB 🔥! Peaking

 at the right time, heading into the tournament, could  take the them where they haven’t been in quite some time: a playoff series win ! We usually save that sentimenr for the NCAA basketball tourney teams that get hot. Since this was a sprint, the description:  ‘tournament‘ seems apropos to this crazy, expedited 60 game regular season.  We have the pitching and now we have the nicest guy in baseball dropping F bombs, how can we go wrong! 😂

 

Listen to the bomb smack here: https://twitter.com/reds/status/1309722108604407808?s=21 Via @Reds

I appreciate Joey Votto’s apologetic cockiness, but I have to be honest: I don’t think anybody ‘Fears’  us, sure they might respect the pitching but we have to earn that respect, that means competing hard out of the eighth seed. So if we’re in the other teams dreams that’s good, let’s just hope it’s as a nightmare and not something Votto kinky 😂,  I don’t even want to know what that is.

Let’s Gooooooooooooooo #Reds

Finish This! Here’s a few tweets after the clincher last night enjoy the rest of the weekend let’s sweep these Twinkies! 

The 2020 Quick 60 Game Reds Machine welcome To The Hunt for a successful #Reds October !

#Reds #SneakOnIn the playoffs, No Thank You ! TAKE it!

 #SneakOnIn the playoffs ? Not when you have arguably the Top Three Arms, In the #MLB, on your rotation. I have much respect for @dotsonc but that attitude #SneakOnIn is sooooo Apologetically Joey-Votto of you Chad. When you have this pitching, (top 5 lowest ERA) and the hitting you’re ‘supposed‘ to have you don’t apologize and sneak in the playoffs: you earn and expect it! 

     So many fans are acting so excited and surprised at the Reds being in playoff contention,  not this fan.  I expected it and I Demand it when you’ve supported this team through thick and way too much thin. That should be the vibe from the team and the fans. No Grit, with a shrug of the shoulders and no winning attitude from the top down has been a cancerous part of the mindset of this organization and these Fans for almost 10 years. Go ahead and look up the attitude that Kurt Gibson brought to the LA Dodgers when they were a happy-happy go lucky team, and see how his demanding excellence and professionalism changed that team, we haven’t had it since Scotty Rolen, ironically Votto’s mentor. Too bad the nicest guy in baseballs Jock will never fill one like Scott Roland’s. As a Navy Chief if I would’ve told my sailors “hey let’s sneak in Because we’re not supposed to good enough to do this mission ’ Vice “let’s do this mission because we are winners, we are a damn good team,  and I expect us to win” which one do you think motivates men more: don’t apologize for winning, expect it ! 

So am I happy the Reds are in Playoff contention, of course. BTW: all of you rose colored glasses wearing fans that predicted us at .500 the last few years,  I was in total disagreement with you knowing the Reds would lose 90 to 100 games. This year I went in with .500 expectations and I’ll be darn,  what’s our record today?  So let’s stop all this sneaking In BS like we’re borrowing something that didn’t belong to us: let’s demand it and #LetsTakeThisS.....errrr: 💩 :) Go #Reds 

                           

                                   

Cincinnati Reds

@Reds

·

Sep 17

September 17, 1983: Johnny Bench slugs his 389th and final career home run on Johnny Bench Night at Riverfront Stadium. Because of course he did. #RedsVault

 Listen to the Ol Lefthander, Mr Joe Nuxhalls call right here, and watch the 🐐 #5 HOF'er 

https://twitter.com/i/status/1306579155249577985

 And Just like that: Boom! Your nATi Redleggs are in the Playoffs, well If they started today.

It seems like a-lot of fans are overly excited, i for one remain indifferent.  Ok, have all the fair weather fans departed, good. This was the 1st season since 2013, our inept playoff series loss to the Bucks, that I predicted at least a .500 record. So, they are almost at my expectations. And its all because of three Guys:

- Gray, Bauer, Castillo. Period, Exclamation point.

Our hitting: OMG, I see the 'nicest guy' in baseball starting to come through, as i always say: Mother Theresa was a nice guy also, but that does not equal baseball Grit, which is what we will need to survive in the playoffs, well,  and more of this: 

So what do all these teams have in common? Thats right playoff positions: 

PITCHING AND DEFENSE!

PITCHING AND DEFENSE! 

When, or If we make the playoffs, play goes under the microscope so that and TIMELY hitting win close ballgames. The guy with the most GRIT? Mr #WhoDey shoe wearing Bauer! Too bad he not swinging a Louisville slugger. Lord knows out team BA ain't where it needs to be, you will have your shot Mr Nice Guy, we will  see ;)

https://twitter.com/CincyGy/status/1298336925300924416

I took this pic at The Cuban Missiles final Louisville Bats (Reds AAA) outing at an Indianapolis Indians Game. Put my Nikon Coolpics lens through the backstop Screen on his last warmup pitch. Over the Next few days Aroldis Chapman would be called up and I was at GABP (Great American Small Park) a few nights later, when he made his 1st trot in from the bully and hit 105mph on the gun. 

Needless to see Cincy couldn't keep a superstar then and I presume as now: Sonny Gray?. No, please don't mention Votto, the nicest guy in baseball with his league "superstar low' .224 BA. Mother Theresa was a nice guy also, but I wouldn't trust her to have the grit to lead a MLB team 😁, more on that mañana ;) 

Hey Reds theres these things called Runs and not what you get after eating Skalinees. We could use more than last nights "0". 

Ok Reds fans its been a little bit, But guess what: I'm Back ! Why you ask? Hmmm lets Ponder that my Redleg Brethren: 

- 17 out of 20 of the last years have been losing ones, I became salty and utterly, we'll just plane tired of it.

- Go ahead call me fare-weather and then please realize I left as a United States Sailor from the nATi in 1984 spent 23 years as a proud F14 Electrician and then Navy Counselor, and have always worn my: Reds/Bengals?Bearcats(my Bearats) and thank God my later in life adopted BUCKEYES gear! Heck one could only take so much losing and non-championships from my Cincy squads. And I am by one credit (CCM Jazz band partnered with The OSU Jazz Band one summer) an Ohio State Alum also. So after 35 years on the West Coast all of my Cincinnati teams are still mine! I have a right to be disgruntled when i chose to, as  we all do. That being said, I've learned to "curb my enthusiasm" and lower my expectations, so i can survive the ongoing demise of our Redlegs.

- Going into 2020, 60 game sprint, I like others were sold on "Contention" with a rotation of: Gray / Bauer / Castillo. Gray has been amazing, Bauer with his recent meltdown has lacked late inning pitching support and like all: a weak Team BA. Castillo? You tell me, the dreads <SP? getting in the way of his once vaunted some of the "best stuff in the MBL" 

- Basically theres much to blabber about, and i truly appreciate your being here, Please comment. But thats not why im restarting the blog: I have time!

- Covid? YES ! Like millions I am: Work at Home, so in between work tasks,  I'm all over this. I will be putting weekly and daily content into each blog.

So lets see where this goes, hopefully we get back into this thing, if not. You wont have to suffer through the blabbering to much longer!

Thanks for supporting !

The Progressive Buckeye: http://theprogressivebuckeye.blogspot.com/

The Progressive Reds Machine: https://theprogressiveredsmachine.blogspot.com/

The Progressive Bearcat: http://theprogressiveucbearcat.blogspot.com/

Go Reds!

Pete Under Investigation again by MLB !!!

The cause of the laughter is Under investigation by MLB...knowing us silly Cincy boys,I think this effort by MLB to find a chink in Petes Armor may easily be explained by checking his choice of Skyline Chili last night. Probably a 5 way by as evidenced by the blurry eyes and Unbridled Laughter. Just sayin' ! :)

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/video?vid=542620227913#fb-root

Its Time #FreePete

First to my loyal Followers, all 5 of you, and no my moms not one  :)) Sorry about my 3 year Sabatical, FCC warning: I'm Back lol :) Missed you all :))) ok enough ! Let's talk Pete ;)

MLB now has ownership in Fan Duel, a legal Fantasy/Gambling site : For the Fantasy Sports peeps that also Gamble, proudly, I do neither. They (MLB) not only promote and advertise Fan Duel all over the stadiums they are also making money off your desires to gamble with your lineups you pick. Fan Duels claim: "Immediate Cash Payouts ($2B this year)" . From NBC Sports: "Depending on how (you define) gambling the NBA (& MLB) runs a sports book". *
So:
- MLB is promoting gambling on its Product
- MLB is making $$$ off of your desire to lose your $
- MLB has embraced this form of gambling directly from its product.
- Just recently an employee of Fan Duel has been indicted for insider winning, even hooking up family members. So your money is being swindled lol

Tell me how long it will be until (probably happening already):
- Vegas sneaks a piece
- A players wife wants some "action" and ask hubby pro ball player for advice etc etc: see the slippery slope ?

This blog is not about MLB or the  NBA becoming sports books, it's about MLB' hypocrisy:

MLB is keeping the all time Hit King on the permanently  ineligible list for gambling on baseball , which they are now vigorously promoting. Hold your horses Cincy haters, I'm not talking about Pete
being right for gambling on the Reds to win. Ok? He was and is wrong and has paid the price for 25
years.

Go ahead and promote gambling MLB, just be aware some of us who do not partake are SMH at your slippery hypocrisy ;)))

#FreePete

Mom (Carol) rest up we may have a trip to Cooperstown summer 2016 ;)

* http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2015/03/30/mlb-owns-a-stake-in-daily-fantasy-spo

Petes real side ;) fueled by Skyline Chili ? SBD ? Just sayin lol

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/video?vid=542620227913#fb-root

Nice to CYA 2012 'Nati Reds ;) Tweets & Thoughts from Spring opener

@Goodyear_BP                                                                            

At 12:02 pm PST 3/3/12 (Goodyear opener)
@CincyGy: Heard for the 1st time in 2012: "The #Reds Are On The Radio" and hopefully into November 2012!

Goodyear Ballpark ‏ @Goodyear_BP

• Close

Opening Day is underway!!! yfrog.com/h3wynulj

@CincyGy: sweet new graphics on @AtBat2012 as I tune in the the Dulcid Redneck tones of The Cowboy on @WLW #Reds on Radio http://t.co/wIgHa5iO


@CincyGy: As Marty B said 500 SO's between Heisey/Stubbs/Bruce "ain't gonna cut it" especially in GA Small Park, be disciplined or get benched! #Reds


@CincyGy: “@kelimepie: I know it's early, but seeing Stubbs doing this gives me hope. #Reds” I hear that! He's got to find some plate "smarts" ths yr!


@CincyGy: "The #Reds are (#Winning) on (My IPhone) the Radio!"


@CincyGy: "6430 show up for tonights........? " #Reds Marty B


@CincyGy: “@cincywxpro: @CincyGy Welcome back Marty Brennaman lol” and u know this! Thoughts and prayers to all those back home #Tornadoes


@CincyGy: "6430 show up for tonights Titanic Struggle" #Reds Welcome back Marty B and the 2012 Playoff Bound? ;) #Reds!


@CincyGy: The Cowboy (aka Capt Obvious) on Soto: "I'm Gowin B Watchin Dat Guy" me 2 Mr Brantley me 2 #Reds ;)


@CincyGy: "That Ball was Ca-Rushed" haha Cowboy #Reds Frazier yard shot! Tied!




Quote of the game: “Soto hit 30 home runs last year and missed a month. That’s why we could afford to trade (Yonder) Alonso. I’ve seen Soto in the weight room. He’s very strong. He works hard. He plays a very good first base.” –Reds manager Dusty Baker (@CincyGy: Dusty makin excuses (aka Soto's 30 HR's etc) why we traded 72 players for a "Good Arm" pitcher yap yap Dusty Latos best b somethin ;) #Reds)


Game 1 in the books, What we learned:


- The Boys will hit., Capt Rolen, Votto, Bruce are focused, BP: Glove will continue to rule....(Nice shot by Frazier)
- Heisey's gun is loaded
- The Cowboy is in true Right-Down-Broadway mid season good ol boy flavor..
- Marty B laughing, the sound of summer to come!


CU in 20 Days Goodyear!
- 

'Nati Reds in Flux?

As the world series closes, (if red a... errr butt LaRussa can get his bullpen phone to work, right Tony) its time to ponder 2011/2012 Red Machine.

Whats left? Votto being traded? Child Please, SMH, Chappy headed for the Rotation; CHILD, PLEASE!

I'm not sure what else we have to look forward to folks, many Cincinnatians are indifferent and almost accepting of our current team, I will never accept anything short of a championship from my teams, and in that effort we lack the talent to rise to those lofty heights. I knew last year going into the playoffs we didn't have a chance, (ask any who knows me here how I was berated for doubting we ever had the pitching) NO ACE gets you NO WHERE, As we were swept by superior pitching in the Phils. Our only hope this year was one of youngsters stepping up: Volquez/Cueto have the talent but not the maturity, Homer? pffft, never....Wood/Leake, would love to say they could have IT, but they seem more fragile than Capt Scotty Rolens back (hate to say it but the Gold Glover may be finito)

As far as the hitting/defense, since we wont be getting the vaunted "Home Boy" discount from At That Dude BP (aka @DatDudeBP) in the future we will be swinging with Votto(2 more yrs?)/Bruce and the young pups. Young and wild, the free swingers will have to reign in that power and find some smarts if they want to stick, that's you Mr's Alonso/Cozart/Fransisco and of course Mr Strikeout King and once budding lead-off man: Stubbs. There's just way to much immaturity on this squad, so we wait for them to grow up? That was our plan last off-season as we stood by and watched the Brewers Bolster their pitching and where did it get them folks? ;)

I know many of you who will read this (like all 3) wont like my realistic take, but in the infamous words of.......somebody: It is what it is, and we aint what we aint: Contenders.... unless our management steps up, opens the wallet and competes to get that ace (unless The Cuban Missile launches) we will not prosper my friends, all that being said...If Cubs fans can hold on for 100 yrs w/out whats another 2-20 for Cincy?

Welcome to Day 1 Game 1 of the Spring: Reds Vs Tribe Goodyear Az Feb 27

Reds Opening Day GoodYear Az Feb27th John Fay Cinci Enq

                                                
The Reds are Healthy and seemingly Hungry, as Reds Star Outfielder Jay Bruce stated recently to Brad Johansen, of WKRC:

Jay Bruce on label "frauds or fluke": "Talk is cheap. Say what you want. We had to prove it last year. We'll have to prove it again" 


And prove it they must: after their NL Central Championship Run last year, andf oh what a year it was, lets not relish in the past. It's time to take a hard look, grip some ash, and try to get find out if we have that missing link from the Reds last year: PITCHING! Well that and proving we can beat contenders!

Our Boys still do not have a solid, team recognized shutdown #1, the opener has been given to Volquez, will he rise to the occasion? (Well as of today he cant even pitch in the Bigs: Visa issues) Physically and mentally he should be fine, but a #1? The same question can be asked of any of our young guns, who will lead this staff: Leak, Wood, Cueto, Bailey? Sorry ladies Arroyos hair and #2, #3 stuff is consistent but not #1 stuff. Yes the Missile is to be reckoned with, but as we see in the Pen, even the Reds do not count him as a team leader or #1. Still will be fun to watch! Cordero: slimmer, trimmer, but consistent? soon to see! As you see our bigegst Question ? Is still here folks! But as evidenced in early performances last year: Leakes amazing start, followed by Woods arrival, and now props shown to 'Quez, we could have a quick answer ;) !

All year folks said the Reds would wake up in the playoffs, and all year these pages of the PRM cautioned them and realistically noted we DIDNT beat contenders( a well publicized sub .500 record Vs winning teams). For those of you who said it didn't matter, I hope Phillys sweep + no-hitting our boys proved our point and rather quickly.

The largest cliche thrown out that proved our point: Good Pitching beats good Hitting! As the sweet swinging Reds bats were cooled, and our pitchers showed up proudly we were still no match against the Phillies. So what must happen: Pitching!

As MVP Joey Votto notes here thats the elixir for the Reds: http://atmlb.com/gGyaTX

The sticks will be here, as Joey sais our boys are older, hitting their prime, lets hope the maturity in our Pitchers, arms, minds, and hearts are ready, for I can confirm Reds fans nations wide are Ready!

But let us dwell on the positives now as in spring: Hope Springs Eternal, and as heard across the Computer "Airwaves" this morning the 27th of February: "The Reds are on the Radio!'

p.s. In game update: Reds first hit of the spring via: The Captain Scotty Rolen! Leadoff single, and from the voice of the Reds one HOF'er Marty Brennamen: "And here comes Jay Bruce"...Gotta Go! Play ball!

Its Here!

Spoken on Feb 14 Vtine day!: 


It's Here! (No I'm not talkin VD!) Welcome back My Love ;) Pitchers and Catchers: Report!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

VOTTO !!!!!!!!

AP

  

“@CincinnatiReds: Votto overwhelmingly wins MVP with 31 of 32 first-place votes.”

HOT STOVE WINTER TWEETS ARE HERE!

PHOTO: MLB.COM

(Cue Music) " The Reds are on "Your Winter Hot Stove" Radio!" reports link with Marty B(w/Jr filling in) Cure those winter blahs! :) http://bit.ly/9ttvzq (< Clict there for Webcast from first 2 Nov broadcasts)

NL GOLD GLOVE TIME!

His 8th Gold Glove by Captain Scotty Rolen! Third all time behind (HOF'S) Mike Schmidt's 10, second to Brooks Robinson's 16!
2nd By BP 
1ST for Bronson


Reds multiple Gold Glove winners Rolen/BP/Arroyo for the first time since the mid '70's when Bench/Concepcion/Morgan/Geronimo 1974-77 were cleaning up! 


Oct/Nov Tweets:


@CincinnatiReds Corky Miller cleared waivers, refused outright, elected free agency and then was re-signed to minor league contract with ST invite.


@johnfayman   
#Reds added IF Zack Cozart, IF/OF Todd Frazier, IF Kris Negron and RHP Daryl Thompson to the 40-man roster. (Nice Protection~ SS)


@CincinnatiReds OF Wladimir Balentien (116g, .282, 25hr, 78rbi, 12sb) has been named to Topps’ Triple-A All-Star team.


@CincinnatiReds "We'll miss you, Sparky!" banner just went up on the Crosley Terrace gates of GABP http://plixi.com/p/54986923


@CincinnatiReds a Sparky tribute page with highlights of the HOF manager's career & more - http://ow.ly/34Ipv #Reds #Tiger


@MLBpeeps  
Reds agree with C Hernandez on 1-year deal http://FANpeeps.com/-bBUD (Via @REDSpeeps) #mlb #reds


@CincinnatiReds Anderson's statue in the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum. He was inducted into the Reds HOF in 2000. http://plixi.com/p/54944874


@CincinnatiReds Reds today exercised the 2011 contract options for Arroyo and Gomes but did not exercise contract options for Harang and Cabrera (Nov 3) Best of luck (Aaron/Ocab)~SS


@CincinnatiReds to Joey Votto for being named today to Sporting News NL All-Star team in voting by @MLB players, managers & GMs. #Reds


@CincinnatiReds   
Great to see Jay Bruce's walk-off homer to clinch the division for the #Reds was #1 on @MLBNetwork Capital One Plays of the Year! 


Well be back after Dec25 with more Winter Highlights! (oh yea except for huuuuge MVP tweets! Hopefully on Monday Nov22)