Welcome to the Big Leagues Mr. Chapman!

In case you missed it tonight... well first off what the h*ll are you thinking?... but Aroldis Chapman made his major league debut tonight and was absolutely sick. That is the only way to describe him. Don't believe me? See below.



If you almost wet yourself, no problem, you're not alone. If you're planning what days to take off in October in order to see some playoff games well you're probably not alone there either. As veteran leader Scott Rolen says, lets just take it one day at a time, but how can you not be excited!?!?! 7 game lead? Check! Most exciting player addition? Check! Best player in the National League? Check! Best August record in all of baseball? CHECK!

GO REDS!!!!!

4.5 Games Baby!!!!!!

Unbelievable. Do me a favor.. don't read the last post. This Reds team has a wonderful way about them of making a$$es out of their doubters. While I still think they have their issues there is no way you can't be excited about their recovery from the St. Louis series. For those of you living in a cave they're up 4.5 games in the Central and are on a 7 game winning streak. Meanwhile St. Louis is falling off the cliff and has lost 5 in a row. Of course now that I've written this, the Reds will suck the rest of their road trip, St. Louis will find their bats and we'll be tied by mid next week. Hopefully not though.

Our little team from Cincinnati is starting to get some national publicity as well. Check out the links below:
- ESPN's Buster Olney says that Joey Votto is currently the front runner for NL MVP. I agree.
- Someone named Michael Robinson from somewhere called Donbest highlights the Reds run and how its coming at a great time as they had previously lost 12 straight over 4 seasons in LA.
- Digital Sports Daily takes a quick look into how the Reds are getting it done.
- Curious about what the San Bernardino County Sun thinks about the Reds extension offer to Baker? Of course you are!
- Yahoo's Big League Stew, which is actually pretty well written takes a look at the Reds' willingness to use the suicide squeeze and Cabrera's ability to make the best out of a bad situation on the DL.

Save those for Monday and allow your work productivity to drop.

As for the Baker extension here are my thoughts: He sucks at in game management, but clearly his players love him. Would it be nice if we could have both? Of course, but given the other options that would be willing to come to Cincy, and the job Baker has done this season the extension offer was the correct move, and I hope he accepts. Please don't remind me I said this next time Baker uses Leake to pinch hit over Nix, Janish, Heisey, and Hannigan.

Well that was unfortunate.

So there really is no point in running through all the stats. Basically the Reds were over-matched, out-hustled, out-played, and out-classed over the past three games. We talked the talk, but they did all the walking. Did the Reds learn anything from this absolute beat down? I have no idea. As a fan though, I learned plenty.

The Reds are listening to the hype. And they shouldn't be. Reality check Cincinnati. This team hasn't won sh*t. Not this season. Not last season. Not since 1995. That is 16 years. I like the Cardinals about as much as Prince Fielder likes salad, so I know where you're coming from B Phil. But you don't just go pop off at the mouth at the team that has completely owned you and then not back it up. You wanted to start a fight, and you did. It resulted in a sweep and likely suspension. Well done.

The Reds are not good enough to make the playoffs on talent alone. They don't have the horses at the top of the rotation. They don't have the batting numbers from the corner outfielders, and their closer is shaky at best. The Reds have gotten to where they are by playing solid fundamental hustling baseball. They were tops in the NL in fielding percentage until about a week ago, and also lead the league in going 1st to 3rd on base hits. What did we see in this series? Fielders misplaying balls, both in the air and on the ground... AND THEN JOGGING AFTER THEM!! I'm looking at you Chris Heisey and Ramon Hernandez. Physical mistakes happen, but mental and effort mistakes are inexcusable.

All the additions, subtractions, and moving players up and down has killed the team chemistry. As I sit here writing this I am watching "Rocky Balboa" on FX. This movie is the 6th one in the Rocky series. Remember "Rocky Balboa?" Of course you don't! And if you do I'm sure we can agree it was one step below The Cable Guy. I promise I'm going somewhere with this so just keep up with me... Rocky 1: Classic. Rocky 2: Great sequel. Rocky 3 and 4: Awesomely entertaining dudefests at their very worst. Rocky 5 and 6: Crap on a stick. Why? Because it got watered down. They killed off too many important characters and tried to introduce new "interesting" ones that just didn't stick. We lost Mic, Apollo, and Adrienne, and they tried to replace them with Tommy "The Machine" Gun, Mason "The Line" Dixon, and Little Marie. Give me a break! You're not fooling anyone. Don't fix what isn't broken. Ya see where I'm going yet?

One thing the Reds had going for them all year is that they were a close nit group that believed in one another. I applaud the front office for doing what they can to help us win right now, but it looks like they've done subtraction by addition. Edmonds looked his age this weekend, and if you don't think it affected the psyche of Gomes, Bruce, Nix, Heisey, and Stubbs, you need to watch the games again. We're 115 games into the season and when pressed I couldn't name who our starting outfield is. And I've seen about 100 of the games... that is a problem. There's only 2 hours in a Rocky movie, and there can only be 9 men on a field at once.

A losing culture is almost impossible to shed. Ask Clipper fans. Ask Cubs fans. Ask Browns fans. When a team starts losing the franchise and city almost accept it as an inevitability. Despite how excited the entire city was about this series, most die hard fans would have told you they would have taken 1 out of 3 games and moved on. Sure a lot of that was due to the pitching match ups, but a lot of it was due to the fact that we're used to seeing our teams lose this type of series. Whether its the Bengals losing to a rookie QB on the road in the playoffs.... F*CK!!!!!!!!!!!... I HATE YOU SHANE GRAHAM!!!!!!.... AHHHHHHHHH.... or the Reds taking their playoff leave of absence for 15 years, the fans of Cincinnati have come to expect this sort of thing.

There is still a lot of game left in this team. They have fire, it just was used incorrectly over this series. If they get back to playing smart fundamental baseball they will have better than a puncher's chance (Rocky again. Yes!). Keep beating up on the crapfest that is the rest of the NL Central, and stop worrying about the Cardinals... for now.

Hey the good news is we get the Marlins and Josh Johnson's Cy Young campaign tomorrow.

The Biggest Series in Cincy since 1999

The hated Cards are in Cincy to face the Reds in a series that actually has meaning. That's right Reds fans... its August and our series with the Cardinals has playoff potential. Infact considering the pitching match ups this looks a lot like a playoff series. We kick off here in about a half hour with Carpenter vs. Leake. Garcia goes agasint Cueto, and Wainwright and Arroyo close out the series on Wednesday.

Some other important notes going into the week:
- The Reds traded Chris Dickerson to the Brewers for Jim "Older than most people, but younger than some buildings" Edmonds, who will start in centerfield tonight.
- To open up a roster spot for Edmonds, Travis Wood was optioned back to AAA. STOP! STOP! There is no need to throw your computer at the wall. He will be back up in 10 days and will only miss one start. Everything will be okay. Deep breaths.
- Joseph Votto vs. Albert Poo Holes for best player in the National League. Kick his ass Joe!

Check back throughout the week for series updates, recaps, and such.

Whats the difference between Pujols and a piece of sh*t in a bucket? The bucket.

Go Reds!

Thief in the Reds' Locker Room!!!

Breaking news!!! A white male in his mid twenties broke into the Reds' locker room today before their showdown with the Cubs in Chicago. The suspect is still at large and is being wanted on two accounts of identity theft, one account of trespassing.

It appears the suspect stole Drew Stubbs' jersey, then slipped past team personnel onto the field during today's game. He even managed to record 3 hits including a home run and a double, leading the Reds to a 4-3 victory.

If you have any information on this impostor please keep it to yourself.

The Paul Janish Hype: To Believe or Not To Believe

(The new golden hands.)

Lets play a fun game to get us started... Who is Paul Janish?
A) The drummer for the classic rock band The Who.
B) Testicular cancer survivor and star of upcoming Discovery Channel show "Paul's Balls."
C) Utility infielder for the Cincinnati Reds.

If you guessed A or B give yourself a pat on the back; we can now be friends.

Paul Janish came into this winter looking to be the starting shortstop for the Reds. General Manager Wayne Krivsky decided to sign free agent Orlando Cabrera instead in order to insert some leadership and stability into the lineup. While most agree that Cabrera is past his best years, the risk has more than paid off as he has filled the holes at the top of the lineup and provided solid defense at SS. Still though, as Cabrera started to show his age over the past month or so, more and more fans have been calling for Janish to get a shot. One awkward swing, and veteran to the DL later and Janish has that shot.

This is Janish's 3rd season with the Reds. Last year he played in 90 games, recording 256 at bats, but only posting an average of .211. Reports surfaced in the off season about all of the work he was putting into his offensive game, and the signs of his improvement were there. This season through 40 games and 67 at bats, his average is at .269. which really says something since his chances at the plate are more spaced out than Michael Strahan's front teeth.

Janish's defense has never been questioned, and his remarkable fielding ability and versatility (he can play 2nd, SS and 3rd, is listed as the 3rd catcher, and has even made a pitching appearance) has kept him in the big leagues despite his sub par batting numbers. If he manages to slap a .275 average on those defensive tools the Reds will have their shortstop for the future.

In his first two starts since Orlando went on the DL Janish is 4-7 with 1 HR, and 4 RBIs. So while it's easy to see he is off to a good start lets let him get a couple weeks under his belt before we crown him King of Cincinnati. That title still belongs to Pete Rose. Put Pete in the hall.

It will be interesting to see how Baker manages this situation if Janish is able to post solid offensive numbers. I actually have faith in his player management decisions and think he has done a great job with a lot of sticky situations (not a Pitino joke) this season. Yes, this is the exact opposite of what I would say about his in-game management which is about as good as Michael Scott's.

Regardless Reds fans should feel somewhat relaxed knowing that the backup is more than capable. His insertion (also not a Pitino joke) into the lineup only strengthens the defense and the future appears very bright. Just remember to keep things in perspective and know that he will cool off. He's not Barry Larkin.... yet.

B "My friend Matt is friends with Janish so that makes me cool." Reinhart

Guess Who's Back!?!?!?

Welcome back Cintuckians! After a much needed month-long hiatus the Cintucky Zone is back in action!

The dog days of summer have their ways of getting to anyone and we here were no different and needed a nice long break. So lets bring you up to speed shall we:

The Bengals are in training camp, have signed TO (more on this later), and have a quiet confidence coming from their camp unlike anything seen in the past. Rookie TE Gresham is finally practicing and will look to fill the Karen Sypheresque gaping hole at tight end. Cedric Benson has stopped assaulting people in night clubs to prepare for another insane workload, and Palmer appears to have the weapons he needs to get back to a Pro Bowl Level. It should be pointed out that our projected starting WR's both have VH1 reality shows. You can't make this sh*t up.

TO. TO. TO. Please check back in a couple days for my complete thoughts on the "OchoUno" signing.

Pitinogate is in progress and it has provided more highlights than LeBron (minus The Decision of course). Things we've learned: Sypher is fond of "oral pleasures" and has "blown" more "men" than Coco Cordero has saves. Sticky Ricky "shoots" half way through the shot clock. The man himself testified the encounter lasted about 15 seconds. Perjury be damned... lie son. What will come of all this? Sypher will probably go to jail and all Louisville fans will lose any argument ever for at least 5 years. Sorry guys, its the rules.

Now lets get to what's really important. The Cincinnati Reds, after what feels like 11 years (oh wait.. it actually was 11 years? Huh.) are back in the playoff race! Shooting for their first playoff appearance since 1995, the Reds are boosting a young aggressive rotation, an MVP contending first baseman, and the best bullpen in the NL since the All-Star break. In honor of this once a decade occurrence, we will be providing game recaps, coaching opinions, and everything else related to the Reds from here on out. And really who could better provide this information than a couple engineers that weren't even good enough to play in high school?

So be sure to check back early and often as we prepare for the start of the Bengals season and ride the Reds wave into the fall.

Go Cintucky!

B "feels good to be back" Reinhart