Reds News

Cards rescued by ... what else? Pujols power
Comment
July 4
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Mark DeRosa has been with the Cardinals less than a week, but he already knows he's seen it all. "He's from another planet," said DeRosa, limited to watching and not playing right now because of injury. The "he" in question is Albert Pujols and, as they say, maybe he really can do it all. His eighth-inning grand slam Friday night merely broke Stan Musial's club records for most slams in a season (Pujols has four) and for a career (Pujols has 10). It was Pujols' sixth hit in seven at-bats with the bases loaded this season, and he's knocked in an astounding 20 runs in bases-filled spots this year. But, after Pujols had erased a 3-0 Reds lead in the eighth, Pujols turned instructor with the ..."
Pujols slams Reds
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July 4
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
 
"Maybe, as they say, Albert Pujols really can do it all. We know what he can accomplish with the bases loaded. His eighth-inning grand slam Friday night merely broke two of Stan Musial's club records for most slams in a season and for a career. It was his sixth hit in seven at-bats with the bases loaded this season, four of them grand slams, and he's knocked in an astounding 20 runs in bases-filled spots this year. But, after the Cincinnati Reds had tied the game at 4-4 in their half of the eighth after Pujols had erased a 3-0 Reds lead, Pujols turned instructor. With rookie Jarrett Hoffpauir, who had walked on four pitches in his major league debut ahead of Pujols' slam, at bat himself ..."
Grand Pujols slams Reds
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July 4
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"It appeared the Reds would end Friday one game out of first place in the National League, with some momentum and a lot of confidence. Instead, they find themselves three games out, in fourth place and dealing with the sting of a 7-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. That's what happens when you mess with Albert Pujols. Pujols' grand slam off David Weathers in the eighth inning felt like a knockout blow. It gave the Cardinals a 4-3 lead. The Reds, however, got off the mat and tied it in the bottom of the inning. But the Cardinals scored three unearned runs in the ninth to reseal the victory, and Pujols drove in one of those, too. "He beat us by himself," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He ..."
Reds Call Up INF Sutton, Demote RH Burton
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July 3
KYPost.com
 
"The Reds added depth to their depleted infield, recalling Drew Sutton from Triple-A Louisville. To make room for Sutton, Cincinnati optioned right-hander Jared Burton to Louisville on Wednesday before the Reds played Arizona. Sutton started at all four infield positions for Louisville, batting .254 in 38 games with five homers and 19 RBIs. Burton made 29 appearances and had no record with a 4.81 ERA. The Reds are short-handed in the infield with third baseman Edwin Encarnacion sidelined by a broken wrist and shortstop Alex Gonzalez recovering from elbow surgery. Infielder Wilkin Castillo had surgery Wednesday to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, sustained when he slid headfirst on ..."
Cueto Quiets the Diamondbacks
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July 3
KYPost.com
 
"Johnny Cueto settled down after two erratic innings Wednesday night and pitched the Cincinnati Reds to a 1-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cueto lasted six innings and gave up only one hit, an infield single. The bullpen permitted only a bunt single. The Reds only run came in the sixth inning when Joey Votto flared a single into shallow center field allowing Chris Dickerson to score from second."
Reds Rookie Success League Teaches Life Lessons
Comment
July 3
KYPost.com
 
"The Reds Community Fund's Rookie Success League has grown to serve 1,500 underprivileged kids in five locations. This is week three at the camp and the young athletes are learning much more than baseball. The players are bused in from all over the city; from Cincinnati Recreation centers, YMCA's, Boys and Girls clubs. This league gives the kids a chance to learn baseball and life skills from the Reds coaches and staff. "Once you break down the simple movements, and find a way to relate and connect, a lot of the kids picked it up just like that," said Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson. "The goal of this program is to use baseball as a hook to get them in, and then to really teach them a ..."
Votto gives Reds win
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July 3
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"One of the Dusty Baker's messages at the team meeting this week was to finish the game emotionally and physically spent. His players took that to heart Thursday, specifically Baker's heart. "I told (coach) Mark Berry: 'They're going to kill the old skipper,'?" Baker said It was a 3-hour, 26-minute ride on the emotional roller coaster, but the Reds beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 in 10 innings on Joey Votto's two-out, bases-loaded single that went through shortstop Augie Ojeda. • Photos: Reds 3, Diamondbacks 2 • Game summary, statistics "That would have been a back breaker," Baker said. "They've kept fighting and kept plugging. Pressure busts the pipe. We kept the ..."
Reds rookie Sutton delivers
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July 3
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Reds manager Dusty Baker made a special trip to Drew Sutton's clubhouse stall after Thursday's 3-2 victory. Baker shook hands with Sutton, and presented his lineup card to the infielder as a souvenir. Sutton's first major league at-bat, an RBI fielder's choice grounder, tied the game 2-2 in the ninth inning. "Other than hitting a home run in your first at-bat, which doesn't happen a whole lot, just being able to contribute in a situation like that is pretty awesome," Sutton said. Sutton, who turned 26 on Tuesday, was called up from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. Sutton was acquired from Houston in April to complete the Jeff Keppinger trade. • Photos: Reds 3, Diamondbacks 2 • Game ..."
Cueto brilliant as Reds win
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July 2
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Reds needed a win in the worst way Wednesday night, and with the bats quiet, it all pretty much came down to how well Johnny Cueto would pitch. And he pitched very well, indeed. Cueto, stiff back and all, threw six innings of one-hit, shutout ball. The Reds rode it to a 1-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks before a crowd of 20,374 at Great American Ball Park. "I felt like Johnny single-handedly beat them," Joey Votto said. The win put the Reds back at .500 and within three games of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central. Votto drove in the game's only run. "Frankly, looking at the scoreboard, it was nice to have gotten it, but I don't care," Votto said. ..."
Reds should make winning more important
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July 2
Dayton Daily News
 
"By the time Doug Dascenzo made it to the Chicago Cubs in 1989, he had already participated on winning teams in low Class A, high Class A, Class AA and Class AAA. "We stayed together as a group," said Dascenzo, now manager of the Midwest League Fort Wayne TinCaps. "And when we got to Chicago in 1989, we won the division." Then Dascenzo began "perfect world" talk, and it was obvious he wasn't going to put a stamp on a right way and a wrong way. Observe this, though. The San Diego Padres, proud parents of the TinCaps, moved up four players only after Fort Wayne won the first-half Eastern Division championship last week. What do you think the Cincinnati Reds would have done with similar ..."
Baker calls rare team meeting
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July 2
Dayton Daily News
 
"Dusty Baker called a meeting for early Wednesday afternoon, a cozy affair inside his office, attendance required, no neck-tie necessary. All 25 Cincinnati Reds were at the 20-minute meeting, a focus group after the Reds slept-walk through a 6-2 defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday. Baker's office isn't that big and he smiled and said, "Sometimes a crowded room breeds togetherness. Anybody who comes from a big family knows how a crowded room is. We were just talking. That's all." Baker hasn't had many team meetings and said, "Maybe a couple of times. You can't have too many because then they lose their effectiveness. How do I know when I need to have one? Just a feeling." Asked how ..."
Cueto, bullpen shut out Diamondbacks
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July 2
Dayton Daily News
 
"Johnny Cueto gave up one hit in six innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, but winning this one was as difficult as pitching with a sore back. Pass the pain pills. Why? Cueto had a sore back - a back so sore manager Dusty Baker and trainer Steve Baumann rushed to the mound in the second inning to check his health and well-being. And Cueto went to the clubhouse after the second inning so that strength coordinator Matt Kruase could stretch Cueto's back. After that, clearing sailing - almost. Because of the stiff back, the Cincinnati Reds righthander walked four in the first two innings and needed 82 pitches to get through four innings. And his teammates thought offense was something ..."
D-Backs pitchers batting relatively well
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July 2
Arizona Republic
 
"Dan Haren's home run Tuesday night gave him bragging rights, but the rest of the Diamondbacks' pitchers haven't swung the bats bad, either. Diamondbacks pitchers entered Wednesday with the highest batting average (.169) of any staff in the National League, and the pitchers say they've drawn extra motivation out of a rotation-wide statistical competition - with money on the line, of course. "I think we've done a great job with the bat this year," Haren said. "(Max) Scherzer's been outstanding. Dougie (Doug Davis) is having a career year with the bat. Anything that can motivate us a little more - you know, putting balls in play, getting bunts down especially, but then the hits have come, ..."
Cueto Quiets the Diamondbacks
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July 2
KYPost.com
 
"Johnny Cueto settled down after two erratic innings Wednesday night and pitched the Cincinnati Reds to a 1-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Cueto lasted six innings and gave up only one hit, an infield single. The bullpen permitted only a bunt single. The Reds only run came in the sixth inning when Joey Votto flared a single into shallow center field allowing Chris Dickerson to score from second."
Arroyo rocked again
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July 1
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"When the other pitcher is pitching like Dan Haren was Tuesday night, the Reds can't afford a lot of mistakes. Enter Bronson Arroyo, who made two mistakes on back-to-back pitches. Both went for home runs -- a two-run shot to Miguel Montero on an 0-2 pitch, and then Haren's first career home run. That turned a 3-0 game into a 6-0 game. With Haren pitching, that was a cue for disgruntled fans to go ahead and beat the traffic. The Reds showed some late life but still ended up losing 6-2 to the Diamondbacks before a crowd of 22,725 at Great American Ball Park in the opening game of a six-game homestand. • Photos: Diamondbacks 6, Reds 2 • Game summary, statistics "A pair of treys to Haren, ..."
Burton down, Sutton up for Reds
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July 1
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Reds announced Wednesday that Jared Burton had been option to Louisville and Drew Sutton had been called up from Louisville. Burton was 0-0 with a 4.81 ERA in 28 games. In his last nine appearances, he has a 2.19 ERA. The Reds had been carrying 13 pitches. Sutton is the player the Reds got in the Jeff Keppinger trade with Houston. Sutton was hitting .254/.388/.492 with five home runs and 19 RBI in 130 at-bats for the Louisville. He spent time on the DL with mono right after the Reds got him. He can play all four infield positions and he's a switch-hitter."
Volquez cleared to throw
Comment
July 1
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Reds starting pitcher Edinson Volquez got some good news. He was cleared to begin throwing. But he'll be starting virtually from scratch. "That's bad," he said. Volquez will start Friday by throwing from 60 feet off flat ground. He'll build up to 120 feet in long toss, then begin throwing off the mound. That will be followed by a couple of rehab starts in minors to build arm strength. Volquez said his arm feels good. He was examined Monday by Dr. Tim Kremchek. "I don't feel any pain," he said. "He stretched it, twisted it. He's going to check me every time I throw." Volquez was surprised when he was shut down again last week. "Yeah, because I didn't feel any pain," he said. "But the MRI ..."
Encarnacion gets rest in Louisville
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July 1
Dayton Daily News
 
"Edwin Encarnacion was not in the Louisville Bats lineup Tuesday and it caused a bit of a flap and a stir with the Cincinnati Reds. Nobody from Louisville called the Reds to say something was wrong with Encarnacion or gave a reason why he was not in the lineup on his rehab assignment. Manager Dusty Baker was in the dark on this one and said, "Maybe a day off to give his legs a rest? I don't know." What makes a day off seems strange is that the Bats are off today, so Encarnacion has a day off. Now he has two. A Reds official checked the Bats and was told, "Manager's decision (Rick Sweet)." The official said he had never heard anything like that before. Usually when a team sends a play to the ..."
Diamondbacks batter Arroyo
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July 1
Dayton Daily News
 
"The last place Arizona Diamondbacks slinked in to town under the cover of darkness carrying the burden of a five-game losing streak and losses in eight of their previous nine games. For one night the D-Backs were able to pack up their troubles in an old kit bag and smile, smile, smile while facing the Cincinnati Reds and Bronson Arroyo. The D-Backs scorched Arroyo for six runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings while the Reds were a play thing for Diamondbacks pitcher Dan Haren during a 6-2 whip-lashing by Arizona. The Reds didn't have a hit until a two-out single by Jay Bruce in the fifth inning and they finished with four hits off Haren in his seven innings. For his career, before Tuesday, ..."
Jocketty: 'Definitely still looking' for a bat
Comment
June 30
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Reds went 3-3 on their just completed interleague road trip to Toronto and Cleveland. In the wacky National League Central Division, playing .500 baseball for a week allows teams to pick up games in the standings. The third-place Reds are 3 games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers and 2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals. Reds manager Dusty Baker talked about hanging around .500 - the Reds are 37-37 - and then making a move. The Reds, who have won three of four, would appear to be in good shape to make a move. To wit: • They open a three-game series tonight with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-backs have the second-worst record in the majors. • Third baseman Edwin ..."
Can Reds be bold?
Comment
June 30
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Reds chances of trading for Matt Holliday are slim and none, and slim just left for the church festival. That's assuming Cincinnati would be interested in paying the price for the big-hitting outfielder (dubious) and that the New York Mets would not be. That's borderline insanity. Holliday would cost the Reds precious prospects and some $7 million in salary for the rest of the year. The chances of him remaining a Red next year wouldn't be good. There aren't a lot of reasons even to contemplate it. Except this one: It's a bold move. Without boldness, the Reds will never catch the Cubs, Cards and Brewers. Maybe it's not realistic for the Reds to consider Holliday. It's not Holliday, per ..."
Reds in hunt despite ho-hum record
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June 30
Dayton Daily News
 
"Dusty Baker doesn't wear a hat that comes to a point at the top. He doesn't carry a crystal ball in his briefcase. But the Cincinnati Reds manager obviously can see a bit into the future. It was back in mid-April, the dawn of a new season, when he leaned back in his office swivel chair and said, "In this division, if you can hang around .500 for a long period of time until you make your run, you can win this division." Well, here we are, less than a day away from July, and the Reds are exactly at .500 - ?37-37 just seven games from the season's halfway point. And where are they? Just 2 1/2 games out of first place in the National League Central. Yes, the Reds are in third place, but first ..."
Can Reds be bold?
Comment
June 29
Cincinnati Enquirer
 columnist Paul Daugherty
"The Reds chances of trading for Matt Holliday are slim and none, and slim just left for the church festival. That's assuming Cincinnati would be interested in paying the price for the big-hitting outfielder (dubious) and that the New York Mets would not be. That's borderline insanity. Holliday would cost the Reds precious prospects and some $7 million in salary for the rest of the year. The chances of him remaining a Red next year wouldn't be good. There aren't a lot of reasons even to contemplate it. Except this one: It's a bold move. Without boldness, the Reds will never catch the Cubs, Cards and Brewers. Maybe it's not realistic for the Reds to consider Holliday. It's not Holliday, per ..."
Losing out on DeRosa has Reds looking elsewhere
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June 29
Foxsports.com
 
"Cubs fans aren't done lamenting the fact that onetime North Side favorite Mark DeRosa was traded from Cleveland to rival St. Louis on Saturday night. Here's my advice to them: Drop it. Another team in the National League Central had an even greater need for DeRosa — and I'm not talking about the Cardinals. The most disappointed team after the deal was probably in the visiting clubhouse during this weekend's Buckeye Series at Progressive Field. Yes, the Cincinnati Reds wanted Mark DeRosa in the worst way. And on Sunday, two industry sources said the Reds are still very much engaged in their search for right-handed hitting. The Reds have left-handed power, with young sluggers Joey Votto and ..."
Arroyo mulls offseason surgery
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June 29
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Bronson Arroyo said he might undergo offseason surgery for his carpal-tunnel syndrome, and not just for pitching purposes. The right-hander still is not able to resume his recreational passion of playing the guitar. "It's driving me crazy," Arroyo said Sunday. "Every single time I get to the hotel room or I'm at the house and it's 2 o'clock in the morning, I'm irritated because I can't play the guitar. I just can't do it, because it gets numb." As he spoke, Arroyo thumbed through a rock music magazine while seated in the Progressive Field visitors' clubhouse. Arroyo has been able to pitch, after getting a cortisone shot just before the season to quell numbness and tingling in his ..."
Reds rout Indians again
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June 29
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The 2009 Reds will never be the 1975-76 Big Red Machine, but they'll always have Cleveland. Actually, the Reds would like to always have Cleveland after pounding the Indians for a second straight day, 8-1 at Progressive Field. "It gets some air back in our sails," said Jonny Gomes, who hit a two-run homer. The Reds entered Saturday on a downer, having lost five of their previous six games. But, Cincinnati totaled 15 runs and 28 hits in routing Cleveland both Saturday and Sunday. The Reds got back to .500 (37-37) on the year and, entering Monday's off day, they are only 2½ games back in the NL Central Division. The Reds also captured the Ohio Cup for the second straight year. They won this ..."
Phillips' birthday gets happy boost from win over Indians
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June 29
Dayton Daily News
 
"The Cincinnati Reds completed the interleague portion of their 2009 schedule by rocking the Cleveland Indians (Cleveland doesn't rock on the baseball field), 8-1, in Progressive Field. Despite that crescendo finish to interleague play, Reds manager Dusty Baker is happy to have it over with and if they would do away with interleague play forever Baker would applaud until his palms bled. The Reds were 6-9 against the American League, 3-6 on the road, where the designated hitter is used. Said Baker, when asked if he would miss interleague play, "No. I'm glad it's over. You enjoy going to other ballparks and different cities. "But I knew when it started that interleague play would have a big ..."
Dickerson works his way back in lineup
Comment
June 29
Dayton Daily News
 
"After sitting for a spell, gathering his thoughts, Chris Dickerson is playing every day - either in left field or center field, either leadoff in place of Willy Taveras or ninth in interleague games when Taveras played. Dickerson was 7-for-9 in spot duty or pinch-hitting before manager Dusty Baker put him back in the lineup. And he has kept on hitting. "It's weird because I asked myself, 'How am I going to continue to go up there and getting one at bat every two or three days, how am I ever going to get confidence?' It was a time for reflection, paying attention to the game, studying the game, having extra time to take more batting practice," said Dickerson. "And all the time it just ..."
Indians lose weekend series to Reds
Comment
June 29
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Indians played Sunday afternoon like they had a Mark DeRosa hangover. Brandon Phillips played like a man celebrating his 28th birthday. The end result left the Indians with bloodshot eyes, a headache and an 8-1 loss to the Reds at Progressive Field. Tribe manager Eric Wedge always talks about a player's heartbeat in critical situations. The Indians didn't appear to have one of any kind in losing the interleague series finale to the Reds. They scored one run in the first inning and retired, ice bag on head, glass of Alka-Seltzer in hand, for the day. Saturday night, the Indians traded the popular DeRosa to the Cardinals. They still hadn't recovered by Sunday's first or last pitch. ..."
Reds pound Indians, 8-1
Comment
June 28
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Who needs Mark DeRosa? The Indians can lose just fine without him. Less than 24 hours after DeRosa was granted freedom from the dungeon via trade, his former team went quietly into thy beautiful afternoon. Brandon Phillips and the Reds thumped the Tribe, 8-1, today at Progressive Field. Cincinnati (37-37) lost the opener of the three-game series, 9-2, Friday before winning, 7-3, Saturday. The Reds prevailed in the season series, 4-2. The Tribe (31-46) has lost 10 of 12. Phillips, a former Indian, went 3-for-5 with three RBI, three runs and one steal. Ramon Hernandez and former Indians farmhand Willy Taveras also had three hits for the Reds, who finished with 15."
Arroyo may have surgery
Comment
June 28
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Bronson Arroyo said Sunday he is considering having offseason surgery for his carpal-tunnel syndrome, and not just for pitching purposes. The right-hander still is not able to pursue his recreational passion of playing the guitar. "It's driving me crazy," Arroyo said. "Every single time I get to the hotel room or I'm at the house and it's 2 o'clock in the morning, I'm irritated because I can't play the guitar. I just can't do it, because it gets numb." As he spoke, Arroyo thumbed through a rock music magazine while seated in the Progressive Field visitors' clubhouse. Arroyo has been able to pitch after getting a cortisone shot right before the season to quell the numbness and tingling in ..."
Bailey 'terrible' but gets victory
Comment
June 28
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Meet the new Homer. Same as the old Homer, but Bailey and the Reds still won here Saturday night. Right-hander Bailey, called up Saturday from Triple-A, was wild but beat Cleveland 7-3 before 28,646 fans at Progressive Field. Bailey (1-0) walked a career-high seven batters in five innings. Bailey had walked a career-high six in a previous cameo start this year, May 23 against Cleveland. Bailey was asked to rate his performance. "Terrible," he said. "But we got a win, who cares? The guys picked me up." • Photos: Reds 7, Indians 3 • Box scores and statistics Nick Masset, Arthur Rhodes, David Weathers and Francisco Cordero each threw an inning of scoreless relief to preserve Bailey's first ..."
Demotion hardly surprises Rosales
Comment
June 28
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Rosales had hit just .197 since joining the Reds in late April, with two homers and 13 RBI. Rosales was called up when third baseman Edwin Encarnacion went down with his broken wrist. "Sorry I didn't perform better," Rosales said, speaking to reporters in the dugout before Saturday's game. "(Manager) Dusty (Baker) said to go back, get your mind right." Then, smiling: "Like Yogi Berra said, 90 percent of the game is half mental." Rosales stuck around for batting practice and infield Saurday, after learning about 90 minutes before gametime that he had been sent down. He is expected to join the Bats today when they play the Gwinnett Braves in Lawrenceville, Ga. Rosales in his last 18 games ..."
Hitting struggles have plagued Reds
Comment
June 28
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"With July fast approaching, the Reds have been struggling more than they have all year. And yet, Cincinnati remains in the NL Central race. The Reds have entered a 36-37 record but stand stood fourth in the NL Central, just 3½ games out of first place. Before Saturday's 7-3 victory over the Indians here, Cincinnati had lost five of its previous six games and 10 of 14. For the fourth time, the Reds had stood a season-worst two games under .500. "The key is if you can stick around .500, you've got action," manager Dusty Baker said. "It's like I've been saying all along. Get as far away from .500 as you can ... Then you can make your move." But now, the team's hitting deficiencies are ..."
Bailey shaky, but wins first since 2007
Comment
June 28
Dayton Daily News
 
"Homer Bailey and his new split-fingered fastball won a split decision against the Cleveland Indians in Progressive Field Saturday night. Bailey and the Cincinnati Reds won the game, 7-3, but Bailey's performance was familiar - a big ol' walk in the park that was filled with peril and pratfalls. Pitchers who walk seven batters in five innings usually are in the showers lathering up and wondering if their team will be able to overcome the deficit the pitcher left. Bailey, who walked seven in his five innings, was handed a 4-0 lead in the second inning and he gave up only three hits to do an admirable job of damage control. Well, control is a bad word to use in this context. The seven walks ..."
Indians belt Harang, Reds
Comment
June 27
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Aaron Harang stood at his clubhouse stall, sipped a sports drink and tried not to be angry. Harang had just endured a poor outing and the Reds' offense had one of its subpar nights, in a 9-2 loss to Cleveland here Friday night. Harang (5-8) spoke to reporters in his customarily calm manner. But, the frustration was evident when Harang was asked about pitching without much run support. "I've been pressing a lot," Harang said. "I'm going out there trying to be perfect. I'm trying not to think about it, but after a while it eventually gets to you." "I've been pressing a lot," Harang said. "I'm going out there trying to be perfect. I'm trying not to think about it, but after a while it ..."
Bailey to unveil split-finger against Tribe
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June 27
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The sixth coming of Homer Bailey could last a while. So hope the Reds. Bailey and his new friend, the split-finger fastball, will face the Indians Saturday night. Since adding the split-finger earlier this month, Bailey has gone 4-0 with an 0.47 ERA at Triple-A Louisville. Bailey was the Reds' No. 1 draftee in June 2004. In five stints with the Reds since 2007, Bailey is 4-8 with a 7.01 ERA. That includes a cameo start vs. Cleveland in May, when Bailey allowed six runs (and six walks) in 4 1/3 innings. Manager Dusty Baker first wants Bailey to consistently locate his fastball, which sometimes tops 95 mph. "You've got to control your fastball first, before you get a split-finger or any ..."
Indians belt Harang, Reds
Comment
June 27
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Aaron Harang stood at his clubhouse stall, sipped a sports drink and tried not to be angry. Harang had just endured a poor outing and the Reds' offense had one of its subpar nights, in a 9-2 loss to Cleveland here Friday night. Harang (5-8) spoke to reporters in his customarily calm manner. But, the frustration was evident when Harang was asked about pitching without much run support. "I've been pressing a lot," Harang said. "I'm going out there trying to be perfect. I'm trying not to think about it, but after a while it eventually gets to you." "I've been pressing a lot," Harang said. "I'm going out there trying to be perfect. I'm trying not to think about it, but after a while it ..."
Reds ideal tonic for slumping foe
Comment
June 27
Dayton Daily News
 
"Your team can't win? Your team has lost eight of nine? In the span of 11 games your team has blown leads of five runs twice and seven runs once? Who ya gonnaa call? Slumpbusters. Or 1-800-REDS. That's what the Cincinnati Reds did for the Kansas City Royals and that's what the Reds did for the last place Cleveland Indians Friday night in Progressive Field, losing to the Tribe, 9-2 - the team that had lost eight of nine and blew all those big, fat leads. Slumpbusters. Or 1-800-REDS. Oh, yeah. The Reds had one hit in six innings off lefthanded bean bag thrower Jeremy Sowers, 1-5 with a 5.25 earned run average when the night began. Remember Sowers? He was the kid who told every baseball team ..."
Bailey has new strikeout pitch
Comment
June 27
Dayton Daily News
 
"Homer Bailey is coming to town, and he is coming with a new weapon in his holster, a split-fingered fastball that he'll aim at the Cleveland Indians. Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Josh Roenicke, a recent call-up, was in Louisville when Bailey came up with the pitch, a gift from teammate Justin Lehr. "It's really good," said Roenicke. "It's real hard, in the mid-90s and it not only goes straight down, it goes right or left. Never straight. It looks like a fastball coming out of his hand, and I saw a lot of bad swings at it." Roenicke said Bailey learned the pitch from Lehr, who pitched for Louisville, left for Japan, then came returned to the Bats. "It was weird because one day they were ..."
Cleveland Indians crush Reds behind Sowers' pitching
Comment
June 27
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The numbers did not favor Jeremy Sowers entering Friday night's game against Cincinnati at Progressive Field. He was 0-5 with a 6.82 ERA in seven starts this season, including 0-2, 8.68, in two interleague outings. He was averaging fewer than five innings per start. In four career starts against the Reds, he was 0-2, 8.55. His team had lost eight of nine to fall deeper into last place. The numbers meant nothing by the time the gates closed Friday night. Sowers gave up two runs on six hits in seven-plus innings as the Indians rolled to a 9-2 victory in front of 28,114. The left-hander exited to a standing ovation after allowing back-to-back doubles to begin the eighth. Jensen Lewis ..."
Online balloting to decide '09 All-Stars
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June 26
MLB.com
 
"We, the people, are deciding who goes to the 80th All-Star Game July 14 in St. Louis.We are ready for the mad rush.We are entering that Validation Key over and over, submitting our 25 allotted votes in the 2009 All-Star Game Sprint Online Ballot at MLB.com.We punched those Walt Disney Pictures G-Force All-Star Game paper ballots and left those little chads all over ballparks, and now those last paper ballots are being collected tonight at Pittsburgh and Houston as it goes online-only for the homestretch.We know it's the final week to decide starters. Our deadline as empowered fans is 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, and we know that only because we have been staring at this javascript voting app ..."
Mother's Day bats now up for auction
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June 26
MLB.com
 
"It has been a big first half of baseball for current American League All-Star first baseman vote front-runner Mark Teixeira, and that included that memorable Mother's Day game back in his hometown of Baltimore, where he crushed a two-run homer for the Yankees.He was swinging a pink bat."It's obviously huge -- I think that's the first home run I've hit with a pink bat, so I'm going to go bring that to Mom right now," Teixeira said on May 9, referring to Margy, a breast cancer survivor who had been diagnosed when he was a freshman at Baltimore's St. Joseph's High School. "As soon as I hit it, I thought about it. It's pretty special to me."Margy may have gotten that pink bat, but another one ..."
Homeboy hammers Jays
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June 26
Toronto Sun
 
"With apologies to Julius Caesar, last night was a case of Votto, Vini, Vidi, Vici. Joey Votto, Toronto's native son, who is staging a comeback of his own from the demons of anxiety and depression, put a dagger in the Blue Jays comeback hopes with a four-hit, three-RBI performance that lifted the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-5 victory. Like Caesar, he came, he saw, he conquered. "I always want to play well, but it's extra special in front of your family and friends," Votto said. ROLEN'S HOT In doing so, the Reds salvaged one win in the three-game series and spoiled a terrific night for Jays third baseman Scott Rolen. In the early innings, the Jays PR staff handed out sheets listing the ..."
Close but no cigar as rally gets wasted
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June 26
Toronto Star
 
"Jays rookie lefty Brett Cecil was beaten. Apparently, the Jays offence wasn't. There was a smattering of the Vernon Wells of old, and more of the wonderful hitting and fielding wizardry shown by Scott Rolen over the past month, as the Jays bounced back from a 5-1 deficit last night against the Cincinnati Reds, but ultimately lost 7-5. There was no heroic ending – Toronto's Joey Votto coming up a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, and some brilliantly executed smallball saw to that – as the visitors claimed victory to avoid being swept in the three-game series. Votto, the slugging native of Etobicoke, drove in three runs, including a seventh-inning homer that stood up as the winner. An ..."
Bailey gets call-up, looking good with split-fingered heat
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June 26
Dayton Daily News
 
"Call it Operation No. 6. For the sixth time since he was the No. 1 draft pick in 2004, Homer Bailey is getting the call to come on down. Or up. The Cincinnati Reds made it official Thursday - Bailey is starting Saturday in Cleveland, his second call-up this season and his second start against the Indians. Armed with a new split-fingered fastball, Bailey has won his last four decisions, five of six, and is 8-5 with a 2.71 ERA. His major-league record lacks the gloss of his minor-league accomplishments. In 18 starts with the Reds he is 4-8 with a 7.01 earned run average. Bailey was summoned from Louisville on May 23 to face the Indians in Cincinnati and while he gave up only three hits ..."
Votto helps Reds avoid sweep against Jays
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June 26
Dayton Daily News
 
"The Cincinnati Reds came back from Canada with more than a pocket full of loonies and toonies they forgot to exchange for U.S. $1 bills. They came back with something much more precious of Canadian value - a happy, functioning, fire-breathing Joey Votto, the Canadian-born first baseman who just came off the disabled list. On a muggy Ontario night, Votto stroked hits his first four times and drove in three runs, breaking a tie in the seventh inning with a home run that lifted the Reds to a 7-5 victory. What made it all the more refreshing for the Reds as they zipped through customs en route to Cleveland was: They snapped a four-game losing streak. They gained a game on all three teams ..."
Votto helps Reds stop losing streak
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June 26
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"Joey Votto went from not being sure he could make it through nine innings to carrying the Reds to victory, all in the space of 72 hours. Votto, playing in his third game since spending three weeks on the disabled list, went 4-for-5 with a homer, double and three RBI. It added up to a 7-5 Reds' victory over the Toronto Blue Jays before at Rogers Centre. "The beautiful thing about baseball is there's always a new day, always a game," he said. "It kind of parallels life. It was nice feeling good without thinking about the problems I've been having. I felt like yesterday was a good step and today was even a better step." Votto put more significance in the win than his big night. "I would have ..."
Another chance for Bailey
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June 26
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The Reds officially named right-hander Homer Bailey the starter for Saturday's game in Cleveland. Bailey likely is to get a long look because Edinson Volquez isn't expected to return until after the All-Star Break. Bailey's opportunity comes at a time when he's pitching extremely well. Bailey started one game for the Reds this year - against the Indians also. He allowed six runs in 4 1/3 innings but got no decision. Since returning to Louisville, Bailey is 5-0 with a 0.81 ERA. After his first start back, Bailey learned to throw the split-finger fastball. He's 4-0 with 0.47 ERA since. He's allowed 30 hits, seven walks and struck out 38 in 38 1/3 innings in that span. Bailey, 23, went 4-2 ..."
Blue Jays hammer Arroyo
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June 25
Toronto Star
 
"The Blue Jays hit more home runs in the first inning last night than three players in the Cincinnati Reds lineup have managed individually this season. In other words, this wasn't much of a baseball wrestling match. It was more like a body slam. On a hot but not-so-muggy night that made the Rogers Centre a great place for long balls, the Jays launched three of them in the first during an 8-2 win over the Reds. There was a sense of déjà vu about the whole thing, too. The Jays faced Reds starter Bronson Arroyo last night, a year to the day from the game in which they waxed Arroyo here for 10 first-inning runs. That one made Arroyo just the sixth pitcher in major-league history to give up 10 ..."