How Far Has Jay Bruce Fallen?

This far: Javier Valentin--quite possibly one of the twenty worst position players in all of baseball--was called on to pinch hit for Bruce in the eighth inning, with two outs, runners on first and second and the Reds trailing 3-2. Let's just say I didn't see that coming four weeks ago.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/30/08

Dear Dusty Baker...

While Bill Bray is capable of retiring left-handed hitters, he isn't your typical lefty-versus-lefty specialist; Brian Shouse, he is not. If anything, Bray should be used as a lefty-versus-righty specialist.

The facts: In 43 at-bats against Bray this season, lefties have an OPS of .888. In 49 at-bats, righties have an embarrassing OPS of .505.

This means that not only can you allow Bray to face the almighty Jamey Carroll (which you didn't Saturday), but it's the best possible decision you could make for the professional baseball team you currently manage.

You're welcome for the advice.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/30/08

For What It's Worth (Edinson Volquez Is Still Good)

If you considered murdering yourself with a knife or gun after Edinson Volquez's first dud as a Red, I found something on Buster Olney's blog that might buoy your spirits:

I e-mailed 25 players, scouts and executives this week asking for a response to one simple question: Who are the five most dominant starting pitchers in the game right now? I tabulated the number of times anyone was mentioned on a ballot (and counted the dimpled and hanging chads).

The results:


No. 5: Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds (eight votes) -- He mixes a mid-90s fastball with a changeup that seems to disappear. He has 110 strikeouts in 99.1 innings this year, with a 2.08 ERA.

No. 4: Rich Harden, Oakland Athletics (nine votes): In his start against the Phillies on Thursday, he consistently threw in the 93-94 mph range in all eight innings he worked, and Philadelphia seemed to have no chance when he used his changeup -- the off-speed pitch he prefers now, since ditching his splitter. A no-hitter seemed within the realm of possibility, writes Susan Slusser. Harden has 83 punchouts in 67 innings.

No. 3: Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox (11 votes): He has struck out 82 hitters in 72 2/3 postseason innings, and this year -- in which he has not necessarily been at his best -- he has 97 strikeouts in 94 innings.

No. 2: Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants (14 votes): He has been in the big leagues for about a year and has made an extraordinary first impression, racking up 103 strikeouts in 102.2 innings this season.

No. 1: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners (16 votes). He has pitched well this season and early in his career, but there is a still a sense that he has much more to offer as he gains consistency. He has 95 strikeouts in 107.2 innings, with a 2.83 ERA.

By the way, is anything more interesting than anonymous player polls? Sports Illustrated does there part but I still feel like this is a relatively untapped area. Have you ever not read an anonymous player poll?

New podcasts are on the way. In the meantime, check out the latest batch.)

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/29/08

NBA Draft: Not That You Care

This one is dedicated to one of my favorite people: Me.

It seems odd for me to return from the dead with an NBA post, but that's precisely what I'm doing. The way I see it, I have no choice.

Here's how it works: I started writing almost two years ago because I was rarely allowed on the air (at my radio job) and I needed an outlet. I basically wanted to make French Open predictions (not really) and remind people of the greatness of chaps like Barry Larkin and Nick Van Exel (really). I also wanted to tell nobody in particular that Edinson Volquez would be better than Johnny Cueto (which I did). Essentially I wanted to allow myself the opportunity to one day tell the world I TOLD YOU SO.

Which is why--after a week of infrequent posting, due to a move and a broken computer machine--I'm making an Ali-like return to the ring with...an NBA draft recap. Deal with it. In seven years you'll be telling strangers things like, "This one guy, Brad Spieser of www.TwinKilling.com, accurately predicted D.J. Augustin's place in history as a lottery bust." So you have that going for you, which is nice.

Anyway, my reactions to the things and stuff that happened last night (and the ban on bullet points is still in place)...

(One other thing: If you're not sure who went where, Draft Express has it covered.)

1. As previously stated, I think Michael Beasley is the best player in the draft. That said, Derrick Rose would be the toughest player to pass up, if that makes sense. With young point guards virtually taking over the league it would be impossible to skip over a shockingly-athletic true point like Rose. The prediction here is both Rose and Beasley become superstars.

2. The trade sending Todd's brother to the Grizzlies for (among other things) Kevin Love and Mike Miller made me happier than (insert lame joke here). Couple that with the draft-day trade to acquire Darrell Arthur and I'm loving what the Grizz have going for them. Plus, with the glut of talented point guards--Mike Conley (the obvious keeper), Kyle Lowry and Javaris Crittenton--they will almost certainly turn one of them (probably Lowry, but hopefully Crittendon) into a much-needed banger or shooter (the loss of Miller makes their current roster one of the weaker bunches from long range). Hell, as my buddy (and resident NBA expert) Cam points out, the Grizz could move both Lowry and Crittenton if they wanted, since Todd's brother is capable of playing some point guard.

My opinion is that getting rid of Lowry would be stupid. He's an A+ athlete/defender. He's got Lindsey Hunter's bulldog mentality, but unlike Hunter is a strong finisher at the hoop. You win championships with guys like Lowry coming off the bench.

Regardless, you're now talking about a team with a relentless up-tempo philosophy and pieces fitting that style. With Conley, Lowry or Crittenton (one will be playing elsewhere), Todd's brother, Rudy Gay, Hakim Warrick and Arthur, plus whoever they add, that's a roster of thoroughbreds. The Grizzlies will wreak havoc on plodding teams, sooner rather than later.

3. The Sonics shocked the world (relative term) by drafting Russell Westbrook higher than expected. Facts: He hasn't shown the passing skills of a pure point and he's a suspect shooter. You know what, though? I'm signing off on the pick. The Sonics needed athleticism, unselfishness and lockdown perimeter defense, and they got that with Westbrook. Kevin Durant is a gunner (meant positively in this case) and needs someone who won't be looking to get his own (perhaps that's why they didn't go after Jerryd Bayless). Durant is also weak defensively, but now he's flanked by Westbrook and Jeff Green. I really like this pick.

4. My thoughts on Eric Gordon, Joe Alexander and D.J. Augustin can be found here and here. In short, I think Augustin will be a bust; Alexander, a star when he refines his game; Gordon, a below average NBA player.

5. When Portland made the deal to acquire Jerryd Bayless I immediately received a phone call from Cam, and we slurped Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard. Bayless detractors say he's a shoot-first point guard. Hell, everyone says this. But Portland runs their offense through Brandon Roy, so Bayless basically just has to knock down open jumpers and penetrate when he sees fit. Great trade.

Which reminds me...

6. Why didn't Cleveland trade up to get Bayless? They need to improve their athleticism and outside shooting, which is what Bayless brings to the table. Instead the Cavs selected PF J.J. Hickson from NC State, who I didn't see enough of to form an opinion.

7. I think picks 21-23 were all smart ones. I believe Ryan Anderson, Courtney Lee and Kosta Koufos will be contributors for a long time - and that's all you can ask for in the bottom third of the first round.

8. I think Donte Greene slipping to No. 28 shows how far scouting has come in the last fifteen years. Had someone with Greene's exact skill set entered the draft in 1997 there is no doubt he would've heard his name called in the top five. For the record I think Greene is a great pick at No. 28.

9. D.J. White is a terrible basketball player.

I have no thoughts on foreign players or unknowns like Jason Thompson and George Hill...but...I know which second rounders will overcome the odds and stick in the league.

10. Joey Dorsey is a lock to stick. You know, assuming he stays out of the pen.

11. Mario Chalmers is another player Cleveland should have targeted. He brings something they believe in (defense) with something they need (outside shooting).

12. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Kyle Weaver offer too much defense and versatility not to make it in the NBA.

13. If memory serves, Sonny Weems is a knucklehead. But he's not without ability. He was an excellent second-round flier.

14. Chris Douglas-Roberts had the biggest chip on his shoulder before the draft - and then he slipped to 40th overall. I say his quirky offensive game (he plays like he's left-handed) will overcome his shaky athleticism - CDR is a rotation player within the next few years.

15. Patrick Ewing, Jr is an excellent selection at No. 43. He has no offensive game to speak of, but he's powerful enough to guard the new-age PF, and built perfectly to take a shot at Carmelo Anthony. He has the potential to be a stopper.

16. I could write 3,000 words about Bill Walker, or I could write 30. Not surprisingly, I'll stick with the latter. It's an outrage he wasn't a first rounder. An outrage, I tell ya. With his baggage (ACL injuries to both knees and now a torn meniscus, plus he's a temperamental and seems uncoachable at times), I understand the risk. But he has legitimate All Star potential, something very few in this draft can claim. How D.J. White gets taken in the first round while Walker waits it out is beyond me. The Wizards might have taken the steal of the draft with Walker. (Hey, teams once shied away from Anthony Munoz because of pre-existing knee injuries...)

17. Darnell Jackson, taken 52nd, will soon join Jason Maxiell, Reggie Evans, Chuck Hayes, et al, as effective undersized bangers who seem to love doing the grunt work.

That's about it, boys and girls.

I'm not into assessing draft grades, but I loved what Portland, Miami and Memphis did. Oh, and I forgot to mention that I'm a big Brandon Rush fan. He seems like the type of player who will contribute for a champion some day.

UPDATE: The Wizards sent Bill Walker to the Celtics for cash money. The opportunity to absorb tongue-lashings from Kevin Garnett increases Walker's chances of stardom by about 330%.)

(Go listen to the eleven new podcasts.)

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/27/08

Bronson Arroyo Plays Baseball In Cincinnati (For The Reds)

Facts:

1. I am a Bronson Arroyo apologist. And then some.

2. He's been dreadful this season.

Note the use of the words "this" and "season."

There seems to be a notion that Bronson Arroyo hasn't been able to get anyone out since the All Star break of 2006. In fact, that's precisely what Mr. Marty Brennaman said during Tuesday's debacle in Toronto (which is in Canada).

As much as it pains me to say it, my first broadcasting hero is just plain wrong. And so is everyone else who believes that nonsense. I've already been through this (read No. 13), but let me explain it again...

While Arroyo has been lousy this season, his 321 innings--spanning the '06 All Star break through the end of the '07 season--were pretty solid. And way above the league average. Over that time Arroyo had a 3.98 ERA with a WHIP in the respectable 1.35 range (Carlos Zambrano's WHIP this season is 1.33).

Again, I'm not defending anything that Arroyo has done on the mound this season; he's been awful. But the belief that the National League caught up to him in the summer of '06 is patently false. Something happened from last year to this, and I have no idea what.

(Note: The problem isn't his music "career." Can we stop assessing blame on Arroyo's guitar, and/or his time spent playing it?)

Now, as far as Arroyo's plummeting trade value, I have the solution: Don't trade him. You can't, anyway. He's highly paid and ineffective. What could the Reds possibly receive in a trade that would be worth it? I say stick Arroyo in long relief for the rest of the year and let him attempt to iron out the kinks - and move him next year if he does. I'm guessing he's not a washed-up bum at this point - while his walks and hits are way up, his K's/9 are at an all-time high.

Thoughts? Email me.

(Note: I'm either getting my computator back later today or sometime Thursday. Regardless, I'll give pre-NBA draft thoughts Thursday.)

(One other thing: The eleven new podcasts can be found here - the media player still isn't cooperating. Also, Craig and I will be recording new stuff in the next week or so.)

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/25/08

I Have A Famous Reader. Jealous?

Did you hear that noise? It was me patting myself on the back. And why?

Because Dusty Baker is a reader of this very fine website. It's true. I mean, how else do you explain this quote from Monday's Enquirer:

"Three well-pitched starts by three young men - real young men," Baker said. "Our future looks bright if they can keep developing."

I'm guessing he read this and changed his ways.

(Also, go listen to the eleven new podcasts I posted. I'm still having trouble with the media player. Start with "rockin robin hates the podcast" and scroll up.)

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/23/08

New Podcasts!

I hate your face (not Alan Cutler's face, pictured above, but your face). But...I'd still like you to listen to the podcasts. I posted eleven new ones today--scroll down to the podcast titled "rockin robin hates the podcast" and move up. Feel free to provide feedback.

(Blog note: I'm in the process of moving, and my computator is being repaired. Because of this, I'll be posting infrequently for the next week or so. In the meantime I strongly suggest checking out Joe Posnanski's take on the Adam Dunn-J.P. Ricciardi situation.)

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/19/08

Hi, Hello and Welcome: Part Thirteen

George Grande was at it again Wednesday:

"For Joey Votto and Jay Bruce today, kind of a special day--they had a chance to meet and greet and talk with Don Mattingly, the great first baseman. Outstanding hitter, .300 career hitter, and a guy who I think in both of our minds is a hall of famer. No, his numbers didn't warrant that simply because his career was cut short with back difficulties, but a hall of famer on the field, a hall of famer off the field, too."

Let me get this straight...

Don Mattingly doesn't have the numbers to get him to Cooperstown--everybody agrees with this--and yet Grande thinks he belongs in the Hall of Fame. I'm guessing this has something to do with Mattingly being a "hall of famer off the field." Okay.

(Also, do you think Jay Bruce has any idea who Don Mattingly is? Bruce was nine-years-old when Mattingly retired, and two-years-old when Mattingly last made an All Star team.)

Other Grande stuff...

Grande's pre-game interview with Mattingly saw him say "Donny Baseball" three times in less than two minutes.

He also called Gary Majewski "The Magic Man" and simply "Magic" about five seconds apart. Earvin Johnson has company.

George Grande, your Reds television announcer since 1993!

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/18/08

Me Want To Punch Faces

Ken Griffey Jr, in his pre-game "speech" Tuesday, brought up something we all know - something that makes me want to blow things up with dynamite.

This is the most talented Reds team in his nine years in Cincinnati.

In case you forgot, I wagered several American dollars on the Cincinnati Reds winning more than 78 games this season. I made said wager because they are loaded with talent.

The Redlegs are currently on pace for 74 wins.

Pass me the Zippo.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/18/08

How Not To Treat A Living Legend

Why in the world would anyone think it's funny to show Nick Van Exel the 2 Girls 1 Cup video? This is an outrage. (Note: This is a PG video...no swearing, no breasts)

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/16/08

Dusty Baker, And His Challenge With The English Language

Will somebody please explain to Dusty Baker the difference between the words good and well?

From Monday's Enquirer:

"When you get a good-pitched game, we usually win them. When we don't get a good-pitched game, then we usually get killed - like we did today."

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/16/08

Tiger Woods Needs Our Help. Obviously.

There are times when I am the least original human being alive. The latest example: The Tiger Woods Experience.

When he was lining up his birdie on the 18th I considered getting on my knees to say a prayer for Mr. Woods. You know, because he needs my support...and His help.

Which is just bizarre behavior for me in every other walk of sporting life. My attitude before seemingly every game (or tournament) is simple: Unless I have specific rooting interest, I'm pulling for the underdog.

Rocco Mediate redefines underdog. And he's currently engaged in a battle with Eddie House for the title of Most Likable Mammal On Planet Earth. Mediate's story is a great one, too - he's a 45-year-old who had to qualify just to play in the U.S. Open.

So why was I in Tiger's corner Sunday? Why were you?

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/16/08

Quiet Riot Can Go To Hell!

Who performs the best version of "Cum on Feel the Noize?"

Oasis, of course:

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/15/08

Where Have I Been?

Searching for pictures of Kim Kardashian and her remarkable butt. Relax.



-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/13/08

Where Does Griffey Rank All Time?

Hours before Ken Griffey Jr belted home run No. 600, ESPN.com's Rob Neyer responded to a Wall Street Journal piece that had a "What might have been" theme. Neyer's response is eye opening for those of you who think Griffey is one of the five or ten best players of all time.

From Neyer's blog:

Barra never really argues that Griffey might have been the greatest player ever if he hadn't been injured. But he does allow for the possibility, which I think overstates the case just a little. Griffey was obviously a great player. But I was never convinced that he was a sublimely talented center fielder in the vein of Willie Mays and Andruw Jones, and his .380 on-base percentage before he got hurt was good but not fantastic (just 24th best among his peers with at least 5,000 plate appearances). Would Griffey have become one of the 15 or 20 greatest players ever if not for the injuries? Perhaps. But even considering just the center fielders, I don't see how he'd have caught up to Mays, Cobb, and Mantle.

Neyer was then asked a Griffey question in his chat Tuesday:

Willie (Portland, OR): Okay here's the SportsNation question of the day: Who is the best player in the 600 HR club? Hank, Barry, Babe, Griffey, or Mays?

Rob Neyer: I gotta go Babe, Mays, Bonds, Aaron, Griffey. But you can argue the first four from here to next Thursday.


Up next was Buster Olney. From his chat:

JP (Columbus, OH): Buster, how bout some Griffey love! Where do you rate a prime Griffey Jr. among all baseball players of all time in their prime?

Buster Olney: JP... Hmmmmmmm... Depends on how you evaluate it. He and Bonds were the best players of the '90s, for sure. I'd put him in the Top 50 players of all time... I wouldn't put him ahead of Mays, Aaron, Ruth, A-Rod or Williams - speaking off the top of my head.


Question: Was/is Griffey slightly overrated?

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/11/08

How Much Do I Care About Griffey's 600th HR?

Fact: There is a better than decent chance I care more about sports statistics than you. (This goes for all humans not named Tim Kurkijan and Howie Schwab.) I'm not trying to brag--or diminish what you have going on--but it's almost certainly true. As much as you care about stats, I probably care more.

It's not whether you win or lose, it's how sweet your baseball card looks at the end of the season.

So, armed with the information that (a.) Ken Griffey, Jr. jacked career dinger No. 600 tonight, and (b.) I care way too much about statistics, you would probably guess I'm about to put this monumental achievement in perspective, right?

Wrong.

Sort of.

As much as I was happy for Griffey, I didn't care about it nearly as much as...

Joey Votto booting a two-out, fifth inning grounder off the bat of Jeremy Hermida. I say "booting" because it was an error, no matter what the asshole (who is sometimes known as the official scorer) had to say. The ball, which was sharply hit, was headed straight for Votto's midsection. This is great news for every infielder on Planet Earth except, apparently, Votto. What Votto did was sidestep the ball and take a stab at the little white bastard with his Rawlings baseball glove. This is how David Booth tried to field the ball on my Knothole baseball team the day after he was hit in the mouth with a hard-hit grounder. That was acceptable behavior for a 10-year-old in 1990. It's not acceptable, however, when Edinson Volquez is trying to unseat Bob Gibson's astonishing 1.12 ERA from 1968 as the best in the modern era. (Volquez's ERA now stands at a disgusting 1.56)

The second the ball got past Votto, I knew it would be scored a hit. I screamed various four-letter words that presumably made my dead grandmothers upset. And more dead, somehow. Then George Grande opened his fat mouth and told me the play would be scored an error. It would be fair to say that I was elated upon hearing this news. Elation quickly turned to bitter hatred for Grande for misleading me.

Griffey's HR gave the Reds a 2-0 lead...nothing more, nothing less. Votto's matador defense ruined my night.

My grandmothers are really dead right now.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/9/08

Loud-Mouthed Weatherman Makes Me Laugh

I stash away funny YouTube videos for times like these, when I'm enduring a two-day hangover.

Ordinarily, I'm against wacky, schticky, over-the-top broadcasters, but Mark Mathis is an exception...most of the time. I'd say 80 percent of his antics are legitimately funny, but I'm too sleepy to get into it.

Just watch and enjoy. (Also, a new podcast has been posted - it's titled "chick fila breakfast--cheating on calculus test." I'll not be providing details. Go listen.)

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/8/08

Brian Scalabrine...A Chocolate Face?

This happened during ABC's Game 1 introductions:



-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/5/08

The Reds Draft A Powerful Cuban

Girls occasionally engage in tongue-kissing sessions with me. I'm telling you this because I watched the MLB draft today, which, technically, makes me a nerd. But anyway, when the Reds drafted something called Yonder Alonso, I was ecstatic, of course, because of his righteous name. And then ESPN showed a few clips of this mule. (Holy hell, this dude is slow and unathletic.)

I immediately scoured YouTube for a few videos of Alonso running up the first base line, and came up empty. One Alonso video does exist, however, and I have it for you.

It's a five-minute sit-down interview with Alonso, conducted by two youngish people working for a Miami, Fla., television station. The interview is mostly boring, but we find out two things about Alonso: (1.) He has no problem being interviewed with bedhead, and (2.) he has a Lloyd Christmas haircut (see above).

Without further ado, your first look at Yonder Alonso:

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/5/08

The Reds Draft Players Today. Me Excited! Sort Of.

About fourteen different times after the Reds signed Josh Foggstein this spring, I promised to tell you why I hated the deal. I never got around to it.

But a promise is a promise, so here goes:

Foggstein was never going to be a determining factor in the Reds' success this season - it just wasn't going to happen. His past had proven that he was, at best, an average Major League starter. But the Reds already had that in Belisle and Affeldt, both of whom would probably post numbers similar to Foggstein, with the only difference being upside; Belisle and Affeldt have it, Foggstein ain't never do.

The bottom line: The Reds weren't going to do a damn thing this season unless they received significant contributions from the Cueto-Volquez-Bailey-Votto-Bruce group. It's as simple as that. Three (or more) of those players have outstanding seasons, and the Reds have a chance. Anything less and the Reds will be drafting in the top 10 in 2009. Again.

Even if Foggstein were to throw up his customary 10-10, 4.92 ERA, it wouldn't matter. It's just $1.5 million wasted, which doesn't sound like much, but it is.

Consider: The MLB draft is today, and the Reds won't be taking the best player at No. 7. Nope, they'll be taking the best player at No. 7...who they'll be able to sign. There's a difference. Every year, stud prospects fall in the draft because small-to-mid-market teams (i.e., the teams routinely picking in the top 10) refuse to pony up the extra cash to lock down a potential savior. It's often a matter of $1 million or less, but these teams are on budget and can't justify spending the extra money on a high school pitcher. Which is stupid, considering they routinely throw that kind of money at washed-up bums like Foggstein.

Even when things are going great for a small-market team (think Tampa and Florida and Oakland), the future has to be considered with every decision. That means staying away from dumb contacts, trading All Stars away before or during their peak (but never after), and pumping more money into scouting than everybody else.

Here's a chunk of an email I sent my buddy Wess on April 22, illustrating my frustration towards the Foggstein situation:

And would they consider eating Fogg's contract? The reason I didn't like the move is because $1.5 mil is significant to the Reds, and it's money they could spend on a power-armed Boras client in the draft. Rick Porcello slipped to the mid-20's last year because teams didn't want to spend the extra money on him, which was stupid. Who would you rather have, Devin Mesaraco or Porcello? And it isn't just Fogg; it's Stanton and Cormier and Patterson, too. The money adds up, and the farm system gets neglected. It's shortsighted. And dumb.

That is all.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/5/08

Is Homer Bailey...A Bum?

Something called Dugout Central had this to say about Homer Bailey:


Fresh off the heels of Jay Bruce's long anticipated and much heralded debut, the Reds are calling up Homer Bailey to start against the Phillies on Thursday. This is a grave error in judgment by General Manager Walt Jocketty and whoever else was involved in this decision.

Yes, he's only 22, but I don't care what Baseball America says, the guy's a bum. He proved it last year when he was called up, and he's proving it again this year by pitching poorly with Louisville. How can a guy pitching at AAA with a 1.40 WHIP be expected to compete at a Major League level?

Trade him! And do it while you can still get something good for him. Get a third baseman, another starter, more bullpen help...anything. The kid will not amount to squat.

Additionally, according to Hal McCoy, who has been covering the Reds for 36 years, he's a jerk. I'll take McCoy's word any day over anyone in the Reds' organization. Here's what McCoy said:

"Two of his teammates, both in the rotation, took him to task for a 'big-league attitude' this spring and one said, 'What he needs is for somebody to take him water skiing, without the skis.' Somebody brought up Steve Carlton. No, he didn't communicate with the media, but he did with his teammates and his teammates loved him."

Down on the farm in AAA, the Reds have two guys I'd bring up before Bailey: Matt Maloney and Daryl Thompson. Doing that, however, would show the Reds' hand and make teams wonder why they didn't bring up Bailey.

What would I do before a trade? Move Jeremy Affeldt into the rotation and call up another reliever. Then pray that a deal could be made pronto.

There's no doubt in my mind that the sole reason for the recalling of Bailey is directly attributed to the current Bruce-love buzz in Cincinnati. I hope the kid proves me wrong, but I seriously doubt it.

Maybe he will. Maybe he's improved his attitude. But a 1.40 WHIP in Louisville - that will take a miracle.


Rob Neyer responded to this in his blog:


Bailey's probably not a bum, and it probably won't take a miracle for him to pitch effectively in the majors.

I do agree, though, that a simple reading of the evidence suggests this move is premature.

In the minors this spring, Bailey's walked 31 hitters in 69 innings and that problem's getting worse rather than better; in his last four starts he's walked 17 in 19 innings. Going back one more start, Bailey walked only two batters, but struck out just one. And that was in four innings. I'm a big believer in players earning their way to the next level, and statistically all Bailey's earned lately is another few weeks in the International League.

That said, baseball people sometimes will talk about young players who are bored, and actually benefit from the challenge of a promotion to the next level. I don't have any idea if the Reds front office suspects the same of Bailey, but it's a possibility.

Whatever the Reds may believe, though, I don't think Bailey's ready. His first four starts? Phillies, Cardinals, Red Sox, Yankees. Good luck with that.


My take (minus the italics):


I suspect Bailey will become a better-than-average starter, but I could be wrong. He's only 22, and up until last year, he'd done nothing but dominate since he was playing Knothole. That has to count for something, right? So he hasn't faced adversity well, and he appears to be a world-class frontrunner (and maybe even a jerk), but that doesn't mean he's without talent. And he's certainly not a bum, as Dugout Central wrongly pointed out. Check out his nine starts from last season; they're actually better than I remember. Sure, he had two stinkbombs, but he also threw one legitimate gem (7 IP, 2H, 1ER), as well as four other starts where he went at least 5 innings while giving up two runs or less.

Let's not forget, Bailey was just 21-years-old last year when he threw 45 innings and compiled a not-terrible-for-21 1.566 WHIP. Perspective: Our Lord and Savior, Edinson Volquez, didn't make his Major League debut until he was 22-years-old, and when he did, he was horrendous, posting a WHIP in the 2.200 range over his first two seasons...spanning 46 innings.

Just saying.

Bum or not, I'm excited for Homer Bailey: Part Deux

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/5/08

"I Could Stop Karl Malone In The Post."

Paula Cole once sang about unnamed cowboys and their whereabouts. We, the curious public, really wanted to know and never received a satisfying answer.

And you peoples continue to ask of podcasts and their disappearing act. I'm sure my answers never satisfied, which why I'll just say I'm sorry.

But anyway, the real reason for the delay has to do with Project Playlist, and their burning desire to keep me (and this very decent website) down. For whatever reason, I haven't been able to add new tracks to the media player. I've tried various tricks (not really) and consulted countless smart people (my busy cousin), and still, no luck. I'm sure there's an easy answer to all this, but Plan B will have to suffice until then.

What's Plan B? Clicking this link to listen to the newest podcast, "i could stop karl malone in the post."

But wait, don't you want to know what this podcast is about?

Brief podcast summary: How much do you hate "I could hit him" guy? You know the guy who watches a crappy pitcher like Matt Belisle and announces to everyone in the room that he could take Belisle deep? Well, Craig and I can't stand those people. And we have a 3-minute podcast to prove it. Listen. Tell friends.

(Note: I really do know someone--a 5'9 white guy--who claimed he could stop Karl Malone in the post.)

Which reminds me of the greatest Sportscenter commercial of all time:

Did you listen to the podcast? Did you listen to the podcast? Did you listen to the podcast? We podcasted! Craig and I are podcasting legends! We podcast. This is what's called a link.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/3/08

The Lakers, The Celtics, The Memories...

Magic versus Bird, blah blah blah...McHale taking out Rambis, blah blah blah...and so on. And so on.

Don't get me wrong, I can't get enough of this crap. But the best Celtics-Lakers moment didn't take place in the 1980's. Nope, it took place in 1995, which was one of the middle years of the 1990's.

Boys and girls, I present to you video from the last game the Lakers ever played at the Boston Garden:

(Note: You people are lucky I didn't know what a blog was between the years of 1992-2003, because I would have written about Nick Van Exel the way I write about Jay Bruce, multiplied by 81,000,080.)

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/3/08

Jay Bruce Is A Professional Athlete

I've spent entirely too much time over the last seven days thinking about the following two things:

1. Could the Reds have traded for Edinson Volquez with a Homer Bailey/Joey Votto package?

2. I'd feel a lot better about the Bengals' chances of becoming a perennial playoff team if Carson Palmer had Jay Bruce's charisma.

(Quick Reds note: Daryl Thompson went 7 innings Monday night, allowing one earned run with no walks. He struck out six. He'll be a Cincinnati Red before September.)

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/3/08

Jay Bruce Will Never Slump. Ever.

Under normal circumstances, it would be my job to remind everyone that this isn't going to last forever. By "this," I mean Jay Bruce's otherworldly behavior on Planet Earth.

These are not normal circumstances.

Jay Bruce is that good.

Am I suggesting he will hit .591 this season? Obviously not. .391? Probably not. But it wouldn't shock me one bit if he threw up .355/20/80 in the 100 games or so he'll play this season.

Now, to put up those numbers, he'll have to avoid a prolonged slump - one of those 0-27 jobs Justin Upton found himself in recently.

And I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I'm an idiot, and that I'm bonging the Jay Bruce Kool-Aid to the point where it's more than a little embarrassing. While I can't argue that, it doesn't mean I'm wrong. And I can tell you one thing I know for sure: There is no rule stating Jay Bruce must struggle in the early stages of his Major League career.

In fact, Ryan Braun is in the early stages of his career and he's yet to struggle. That's actually an understatement. He's 167 games into his career and he's hit 49 HRs and driven in 139 runs. He was an '05 draftee, like Bruce, and he's done nothing but murder the ball since being called up in the final week of last May. Sound familiar? Check out his '07 and '08 game logs. Do those stats indicate in any way that Braun is still a young guy? The answer, of course, is NO.

It isn't a reach to call Ryan Braun one of the five best right-handed hitters in the game. And if Bruce does throw up a .355/20/80 by season's end, it might not be absurd to suggest he's one of the ten or fifteen best players in the game.

Bartender! Another round of Mountain Berry Punch!

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/2/08

No Joke: Jennifer Love Hewitt Is My Friend!

It's official...I'm a published author!

Like most other low rent bloggers, I Google my name every now and again. I guess I do this with the hope that I've been discussed on message boards at one time or another. And I know it's the height of narcissism, but whatever, at least I'm honest. To the best of my knowledge I've only been the subject of one thread outside of Cincinnati, and, oddly enough, it was on an Atlanta Falcons message board. The details of that discussion aren't important, for they took place over 18 months ago.

What is important, however, is today's revelation: Jennifer Love Hewitt knows who I am.

And I've called her the C word. Kind of.

Let's revisit history...

Remember when unflattering pictures were taken of JLH (and her giant butt) on some beach with some dude? Of course you do. (In case you were wondering, this happened in November, 2007.)

We soon found out Ms. Hewitt was outraged by this, and she took her anger to MySpace. Here was the last line on her blog: "To all girls with butts, boobs, hips and a waist, put on a bikini - put it on and stay strong."

Talk about outrage! I was so disgusted with her encouraging words directed towards the up-and-coming beasts that I had to give her a piece of my mind. So I added her as a MySpace friend, with hopes of subtly calling her the C word in the comments section of her blog.

After she accepted my request for online friendship, I immediately went to her blog post and commented. But I had to await her approval - Jennifer Love Hewitt won't let a potentially filthy comment pollute her wholesomeness.

A few days passed and I checked her page to see if I'd made the cut. No dice. Either she knew I was up to no good or she hadn't been on MySpace since I left my comment.

Shockingly, I forgot to check her page again. Which is where the "Googling myself" thing comes into play.

I just Googled myself and one of the results led me towards Jennifer Love Hewitt's MySpace page. "Jackpot!" I shouted. I went ahead and clicked the link, and sure enough, I accomplished my goal: I called Jennifer Love Hewitt a C word (Scroll down, my comment is fifth from the bottom)!

For the confused...explanation of See You Next Tuesday.

Also, I don't have a daughter. Or any children for that matter.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/1/08

The Quest to Give Jay Bruce A Nickname

Everywhere I look people are trying to give Jay Bruce a nickname. I've already heard "The Boss," "Bruce Almighty," and "The Crown Prince of Cinc...innati" as possible monikers for the 21-year-old phenom.

But I can do you one better.

Jay Bruce.

Really, what's wrong with that name? Nothing, I say. Nothing. It's the perfect name. Wait, let me try something: Jay Bruce. Yep, it's perfect.

Stop trying to be Grantland Rice, dammit.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/1/08

People Not Named Me Also Think Jay Bruce Is Good

Said Dusty Baker, MLB veteran of forty years, referring to Jay Bruce:

"Everybody said he was good. Sometimes guys get over-hyped. Most times you're disappointed at first. This hype is real."

From Buster Olney's blog: An AL talent evaluator remembers taking his first real look at Jay Bruce: "Last spring I saw him face Curt Schilling in a minor league game. He took two fastballs about two inches off the black away and then hit the third one, on the black, way out to left. It comes so naturally to him...like he was born with a firm knowledge of the strike zone and the ability to do damage on anything in the zone. Joey Votto actually has a lot of the same traits. Those two are going to be pretty fearsome from the left side in a division without a lot of [left-handed] power."

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
6/1/08

Here's How I Know Jay Bruce Is Better Than Decent

Definitive proof that Jay Bruce is a big deal: It's roughly thirty minutes after his first career home run, and his Wikipedia page has already been updated.

And yet another way to prove that Jay Bruce is a big deal: I checked his Wikipedia page thirty minutes after his first career home run.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/31/08

Sex, Drugs and Drugs

Some 21-year-old pitcher from Georgia Tech died of a heroin overdose about six weeks ago. I didn't hear about this until today, when I read the medical examiner's report on ESPN.com. It got me thinking, though...

1. Why would a 21-year-old college athlete mess around with H? Not to make light of the situation, but isn't college a pretty good time for a Div. 1 athlete? Aren't weed and beer and 19-year-old white girls enough?

2. The terms pothead and cokehead have been part of our lexicon for many many decades, but why doesn't it apply to other drugs? For instance, you'll never hear anyone say, "Oh, that Andy, he's just one of those heroinheads."

Enjoy your weekend.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/30/08

Hi, Hello and Welcome: Part Twelve (A Reminder)

Other stuffs that annoy me about George Grande:

1. According to Grande, every ball not hit on the ground is either (a.) blooped, or (b.) hit pretty good.

2. Grande has said "get 'em on, get 'em over, get 'em in" roughly 65 times per game for the last fifteen years. This makes him a strategist of sorts.

3. When was the last time he went an inning without describing someone as "special?"

4. Enough with the Ponderosa jokes already.

5. Stop mentioning (FSN producer) Jesse Jackson's name and laughing. If you're not going to incorporate his voice into the broadcast, we won't think it's funny (not that it would be funny anyway). You can't just say, "Jesse, you'll be there, right? Ha Ha Ha!" That isn't funny. Nor will it ever be.

--I will cease piling on George Grande until Monday. Probably.--

Two Quick Reds Thoughts, using the letters A and B...

a. Does Joey Votto know how to throw overhand? The Reds corner infielders give me a heart attack every time they touch the ball.

b. With David Weathers proving--with each outing--to be the (below) average pitcher we knew he was last year--doesn't it bother you that he wasn't moved at the '07 trade deadline, when his value was at or near an all-time high?

And before you say, "Yeah, but they wouldn't have received anything in return for him," consider the following transactions that took place in my lifetime:

August, 1990: Astros send 37-year-old reliever Larry Andersen to the Red Sox for prospect Jeff Bagwell. One year later, Bagwell was named NL ROY.

November, 1998: Indians acquire lefty "specialist" Ricardo Rincon from the Pirates in exchange for surefire stud Brian Giles. Giles averaged well over 100 RBI over the next five seasons in Pittsburgh.

First, let me say that Weathers in '07 was not as good as Andersen in 1990 (although their WHIPs were nearly identical). And he's ten years older than Rincon was in '98. So, I'm not suggesting the Reds would have received something in return for Weathers as valuable as Bagwell or Giles. Then again, you never know. Okay, I do know. But there's a chance they could have picked up a young arm ranked somewhere ahead of Matt Maloney and behind Daryl Thompson. I ask you: Would you rather have Old Man Weathers scaring the hell out of you in inning No. 8 for another year, or would you rather have a 21-year-old flamethrower to monitor while he shoots up the farm system?

Wayne Krivsky screwed the pooch.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/30/08

I Know Jayson Stark Better Than Jayson Stark Knows Jayson Stark

It was only five American days ago when I wrote about the Reds' disastrous 18-inning loss to the Padres. Within that post I told you to check Jayson Stark's blog on Monday for more information on the game, for it was right up his alley.

Come Monday, no dice. And I took a fair amount of crap for this. First, because Stark didn't write anything. Second, because it was Insider Only.

But alas, redemption has come my way. Jayson Stark finally wrote about Sunday's game. From his blog:

STRIKE TWO -- EXTRA-EXTRA DEPT.: Sunday in San Diego, the Reds and Padres played a baseball game that wouldn't end. Not for 18 innings. Or 5 hours, 57 minutes, anyway.

And when you play baseball that long, stuff happens. Lots of stuff. Lots of weird stuff. So let's peruse the highlights:

--First off, it wouldn't quite be accurate to say the Padres do this all the time. But they've now played a 22-inning game this year (April 17 against the Rockies) and an 18-inning game. Last team to play a 22-inning game and another game of at least 18 innings in the same season, according to Elias: the 1989 Dodgers (who played two 22-inning games).

--The Reds used four members of their starting rotation in this game -- Matt Belisle (who started), Edinson Volquez (who pitched the 17th and 18th innings and took the loss), Bronson Arroyo (who got a pinch hit in the 13th) and Aaron Harang (who spun four spectacular innings in relief).

--Speaking of Harang, he struck out seven Padres in a row at one point -- and nine altogether in four innings. That's A) more strikeouts in his one relief outing than he's racked up in any of his 11 starts this year, B) the most whiffs by any reliever in extra innings since Jim Kaat fanned 10 A's on Sept. 6, 1969, C) the most strikeouts by a Reds reliever in four innings or less since Joe Nuxhall punched out nine Phillies on May 14, 1960, and D) the first time any relief pitcher had whiffed seven hitters in a row at any point since noted short man Randy Johnson did it on July 19, 2001. (That was the famous game in San Diego which actually started on the 18th, with Curt Schilling on the mound, but had to be suspended because of a power failure.)

--Also doing eye-popping relief work in this game was the Padres' Josh Banks, who pitched the 13th through 18th and got the win. As loyal reader Eric Orns reports, that made Banks the first man to pitch six extra innings in relief and get a win out of it since the unforgettable Bronswell Patrick, on June 10, 1998.

--As Dayton Daily News Hall of Famer Hal McCoy couldn't help but point out, the Reds blew more saves just between the eighth and 11th innings of this game (three) than they'd blown all season before that (two).

--Were there enough names in this box score? The Reds used 24 players. The Padres used 21. The Reds used 10 pitchers (and it wasn't even September). And the Padres had a different pitcher on the mound to start every darned inning between the sixth and 11th.

--There wasn't a zero to be found in the box-score lines of any of the Padres' first six hitters (who all had at least one run, hit and RBI). But Reds leadoff man Corey Patterson supplied enough zeroes for all of them -- by becoming the first Red to go 0 for 8 in any game since Eddie Milner did it in 1983.

--And the Reds managed to do something they hadn't done in almost 60 years -- get 21 hits in one game and lose. Last time they did that: June 8, 1949.

STRIKE THREE -- LOTS OF TROTS DEPT.: OK, there was one more awesome development in that 18-inning game that we saved for this, the weird-homer-feat portion of Three Strikes. Here come the two most riveting home-run feats of the week:

--Adrian Gonzalez hit a three-run 18th-inning walkoff homer in that Padres-Reds game. And gang, you just don't see many of them. There hasn't been an 18th-inning walkoff in any National League game since Aug. 6, 1989, when Jeff King hit one for the Pirates. And the Sultan of Swat Stats, SABR's David Vincent, reports there had never been a three-run 18th-inning home run (or slam) in the history of baseball before that one. There have been three of them after the 18th, however -- by Ben Ogilvie (in the 21st inning on May 8, 1984), Merv Rettenmund (also in the 21st, on May 21, 1977) and Hi Myers (in the 19th, on April 30, 1919).

Apologize, dammit.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/30/08

Two White Guys Discussing Jay Bruce!

In case you forgot, Craig once met Steve Phillips (and his suntan), and that encounter was the subject of a podcast. Hint: Listen.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/29/08

Hi, Hello and Welcome: Part Eleven (Leftover Edition)

Since Jay Bruce was only good enough to hit .333 in his second career game, meaning he obviously stinks, let me move on to more important matters. Like George Grande.

He went overboard during the weekend series in San Diego, but an 18-inning game and Bruce's promotion kept me from getting around to it. Anyway, in case you missed it...

He called Padres manager Bud Black "Buddy Black" somewhere in the neighborhood of 3,000 times in a four-game series.

Listen, Bud Black was playing a little over a decade ago, and he was a semi-prominent player in his day. Since then, he's been a fairly well known coach (and now manager). We've heard his name said a billion times and never once was it anything other than Bud.

Bud is already the man's nickname, George. If his parents wanted to call him Buddy, they would have nicknamed him Buddy.

Grande is so obsessed with nicknaming every player that he makes up nicknames for players who already have nicknames.

This would be like calling Babe Ruth "Babe-ster," because simply calling him "Babe" wouldn't be conversational enough.

George Grande, your Reds television announcer since 1993!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/29/08

Hi, Hello and Welcome: Part Ten (Miss Me?)

It's been over a month since I last goofed on George Grande. For that, I apologize. There's actually a good reason for such neglect: The NBA playoffs. I TiVo both at the same time and since I can't fast-forward basketball and get a feel for the game, baseball becomes a casualty. I still watch every pitch, I just miss all the dumb crap Grande spews on a nightly basis while I'm fast-forwarding between pitches.

Anyway, the Celtics-Pistons game hasn't started, so my full attention is with Grande. And he just dropped a beauty. Here's what he had to say about Adam Dunn passing Ted Kluszewski for most HRs by a Reds lefty:

"252 HRs as a Red left-hand hitter. That's number one all time, one better than the great Ted Kluszewski. And it's not lost on Adam Dunn. Dunn, since he put on a Reds uniform, has marvelled at Big Klu's numbers. Not just the home runs, but the few strikeouts in his career and the kind of player he was, and leader he was, for the Reds."

Idiot's Guide To What George Grande Just Said...

Since the day Adam Dunn came to the Reds he's marvelled at Ted Kluszewski's HR totals, his ability to avoid strikeouts and at the type of leader Big Klu was.

Important fact: Ted Kluszewski's last year in Cincinnati was 1957.

Stating the obvious: George Grande is out of control.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/28/08

Here's Why Jay Bruce Is Good (Video)

My inner nerd always appears when it comes to breaking down tape. Which is why I'm a slave to Driveline Mechanics. You wouldn't think a fifteen minute video of one Jay Bruce swing would be interesting, and yet it is. I feel like I learned a lot from this video: without revealing too much, I'll just tell you that the guys at Driveline Mechanics debunk myths about arm extension and the importance of a hitter's back foot remaining on the ground when bat meets ball.

I can't embed the video, so you'll have to check out their site. (Note: Try to hang with it through the first five minutes; the last ten are relatively riveting.)

(Thanks to reader Hiram for directing me toward this video...)

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/28/08

Jay Bruce Is Everywhere

If you're familiar with Jim Callis' ESPN.com chats you're well aware of the Lightning Round. For those who aren't, it's simple: Either/or question, definitive answer. Callis, Baseball America's managing editor (I think that's his title), answered two Jay Bruce questions in his Wednesday afternoon lightning round that I found interesting:

Brett (Lexington, KY): Bruce or Hamilton?

Jim Callis: Bruce.

Phil (Grand Rapids): (Dodgers pitching phenom Clayton) Kershaw or Bruce if you are starting a team?

Jim Callis: Bruce.

For anyone who thinks this is crazy, just know that he's in the business of projecting young baseball players. And the more he's wrong, the less credibility he'll have.

Just saying.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/28/08

Jay Bruce Is The Name Of A Person

ESPN people discuss Jay Bruce.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/28/08

Jay Bruce, Savior (Like Jesus 'N' Stuff)

Sad fact: I am no longer a daily bettor. But if I was...

I'd bet on the Reds every day for the next two weeks or so. The Reds are ready to win ten or eleven of the next twelve games. This isn't a hunch, either (even though it is). But really, can't you just feel it coming on? Because I can. I can definitely feel it. Are you with me? Can you feel it?

(Question: Do you think Jay Bruce has a chance to win the Rookie of the Month Award for May?)

Anyway, we learned a few things about Jay Bruce on Tuesday:

1. He's one of the thirty greatest players in the history of American baseball (possible exaggeration).

2. He wasn't scared of the moment. This happens when you're better than everybody else.

3. He's genuinely liked by his teammates. There's no way to fake that, either. This might mean something, it might mean nothing. But I want to believe this crap matters, so leave me alone.

4. Tomorrow is Taco day at lunch!

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/28/08

Jose Canseco's Punching Fight Doesn't Excite Me

Jose Canseco and former Cardinals and Eagles return specialist Vai Sikahema are going to punch each other on national television in the coming months. I will not be watching.

Now, had Sikahema agreed to battle ex-Colts and Falcons return man extraordinaire Clarence Verdin in the ring...well, I'd be in the front row.

Sadly, no video of the "Verdance" exists on YouTube, but here's one of Vai Sikahema beating up a goal post after a returning a punt for touchdown.

The Ickey Shuffle was grossly overrated.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/26/08

Jay Bruce Will Save The Reds...This Year

One of my favorite baseball teams of recent past, the 2003 Florida Marlins, opened the season with a record of 20-30. Then their young players caught fire, and one in particular, Dontrelle Willis, gave them a boost that lasted all the way through October. The Marlins beat the Yankees in six games to win the World Series, and it didn't feel like an upset, at least not to me. Youth doesn't equal untalented.

I think you know where I'm going with this.

And before you think I'm silly, let me just say NO. As in, NO, I do not think the Reds will win the World Series, nor do I think they have the talent to do so. I do think, however, despite the fairly awful brand of baseball they've displayed thus far, that they can put together a winning season.

The reason, of course, is Jay Bruce. I think he can provide a Dontrelle Willis-like boost and propel the Reds out of the cellar, past mediocrity, and into NL Central contention. I think you'll see pretty soon (like, beginning tonight) that Jay Bruce is the best player on the team. Add that to the fact that the Reds have been talented underachievers in '08...this could be the perfect storm for a turnaround.

In fact, I'll go out on a mini-limb: The Reds will be over .500 by the All Star break, and breathing down Chicago's neck by August.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/27/08

Jay Bruce Is Finally Coming To Town! (Exclamation Point)

Since learning of Jay Bruce's call-up to Cincinnati, I've been procrastinating like never before. "What exactly should I write about this watershed moment?" I asked myself. Six hours later, it hit me: Nothing. There is nothing I can add to this. Jay Bruce is coming to Cincinnati, I'm horny, end of story. I'll be able to put this monumental occasion in perspective after game one.

I suppose the two things I'm most interested in seeing--aside from Bruce's awesomeness--is the affect he has on attendance and where he bats in the lineup. And I guess I want to see if he comes across as nervous, or if he seems like the coolest guy in the stadium. (Note: I probably put way too much stock into body language.)

Other things (because I don't want to make another post)...

You may have seen Reds pitching prospect Daryl Thompson promoted from AA Chattanooga to AAA Louisville. My not-so-wild prediction: Thompson gets called up to the bigs before Homer Bailey. Regardless, I expect to see both in a Reds uniform before September.

For more on Thompson, here's a fairly lengthy Q & A he did with Baseball America two weeks ago. Count how many times he uses the word "stuff." Not just referring to his pitching repertoire (fastball, curveball, etc.), but as a crutch phrase ("A lot of guys that do all their shoulder stuff, (but) stuff still happens to them. I was doing shoulder stuff, but I wasn't doing enough at the time. So that's why that stuff happened."). Perhaps stuff is the knew you know...

--End of Reds talk--

Two important things learned Monday...

1. Jason Maxiell's hobby is building model cars. Nerd.

2. Andruw Jones' Baseball-Reference.com page lists his weight at 170 lbs. (Have you seen this fatty lately? He hasn't seen 170 lbs. since the eighth grade.)

(UPDATE: I just thought of something: Jay Bruce = Rex Manning, which, I guess, makes me Liv Tyler. You know at the start of Empire Records, when the young employees are hyped up because an aging pop star (Manning) is coming to the store for an autograph session? That's like my current anticipation level for the Jay Bruce Experience, multiplied by 85,000.)

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/27/08

Son Of A Bitch, He Stole My Line

Rob Neyer took the words right out of my mouth this morning on his blog:

"Yesterday in the Reds' 18-inning loss, Corey Patterson went 0-for-8, his slash stats dropping to .201/.242/.354. Mind you, we're talking about their leadoff man who's earning $3 million this season. Meanwhile, Louisville Bats center fielder Jay Bruce, widely considered the No. 1 prospect in the minor leagues this spring, is currently batting .364/.393/.630. Has there ever been a more obvious call-up in the history of the sport?"

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/26/08

Padres 12, Reds 9, 355 Innings; Dusty Baker Is Opposite Of Smart

11th inning, Reds up, 9 points to 7 points...

With two relievers remaining, Josh Foggstein (the designated "long guy" on the team) and Bill Bray (more or less a one inning pitcher), Dusty Baker elects to roll with Foggstein. At the time, I'm thinking, "Okay, this stinks, because Foggstein is one of the worst pitchers in the history of pitchers, but whatever...all he needs is to record three outs without giving up two runs and the Reds win their third in a row. It's too bad Bray isn't available, though, because he is obviously better suited to close out games."

Fast forward a bit...

Two outs and one run later, Foggstein is out of the game in favor of Bray, who was left a runner on second base. In case you missed what I just said: BILL BRAY WAS AVAILABLE! ARRRGH!

So now I'm thinking, "I really hope Bray can clean up Foggstein's mess. Either way, Dusty Baker is going to take a beating on sports talk radio tomorrow."

What happens? Base hit, tied game. Of course. Bray gets the third out and we head to the 12th. (Me throw remote control at wall. It don't work no more. Me drink chocolate malt. Because fat girls consume chocolate when stressed.)

A big deal was made out of Baker's lineup card fiasco a few weeks back--to me, this is a billion times worse (I was thinking a trillion but didn't want to go overboard). How shortsighted can one man be? Apparently the answer is, um, very. Baker can be (and is) very shortsighted. Why not roll with Bray for an inning, maybe two, and sink or swim with Foggstein until game's end? Isn't that why Alexander Graham Bell invented the long reliever?

Dusty Baker butchered this game, plain and simple.

What I won't take him to task for, however, is his use of Edinson Volquez in the 17th and 18th, even though he started Friday's game. Johnny Cueto pitches Tuesday--after Monday's much needed off day--and it was clear that Baker would only use Cueto if he truly was out of options. My guess is Baker would have used a position player to pitch instead of Cueto. Who knows?

(By the way, of all the times I've wished to have Josh Hamilton back on the roster, Sunday's game took things to a different level. It would have been the height of awesomeness to see him on the mound, throwing 95 MPH.)

But anyway, we (and I count myself as part of we) need to stop considering Volquez a kid. Sure, he's The Future, I get that. But he's also a non-boyish 25-years-old, and he hasn't been worked to death in the past (he never exceeded 180 innings--minor and major league combined--in any one season with Texas). So the guy pitched two innings of relief on very short rest...big deal. The chances of it ever happening again are beyond slim (think Nicole Richie on an Adderall binge).

How about this: Greg Maddux threw 263 innings at age 25; Roger Clemens, 281; Andy Pettite, 240. Steroid jokes aside, those guys have been remarkably durable.

Throwing 200-plus innings isn't always a big deal at age 25. It can be a big deal for younger guys, though. Dontrelle Willis, by the age of 23--and this doesn't count anything that happened in his minor league career--logged over 600 innings in his first three years in Florida. His velocity and control haven't been the same since.

That might explain the caution with Cueto (age 22), who was easily the freshest of the available pitchers once the 17th rolled around. It's possible, though, that Baker simply forgot Johnny Cueto was even on the roster. Again, who knows? It appears anything is possible with Baker at this point.

That's all for now, boys and girls. I gots to get me some sleep, as I have a long day at the office Monday. But I would suggest checking out Jayson Stark's blog for more information on this epic battle between the Padres of California and the Reds of Ohio. I could be wrong, but I can almost guarantee he'll have something on this game. His stuff is always nerdy, but usually interesting. (Note: I like Stark because he's keenly aware of Barry Larkin's greatness.)

Also, I'm still having trouble with the podcast player. I have tons of goodness just waiting to be unleashed. As Ray Pruitt (and Wilson Phillips!) once said, "Hold on."

(One other thing: Manu Ginobili's 2nd Qtr performance was spectacular. 19 points in ten minutes, with an injured shooting hand and a bum ankle...are you kidding me? He's one of my ten favorite players of all time. One of those special athletes who would have excelled at any sport he wanted. Imagine Ginobili, at 6'5, outleaping defenders in the endzone on jump balls, or contorting his body to make one-handed catches...)

Goodnight.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/26/08

Statistical Research; We Used To Be Very Dumb

Batting average: .267

OPS: .655

HR: 1

RBI: 40

Strikeouts: 115

BB: 50

Caught Stealing 25

Those are--at best--below average numbers. They belong to Vince Coleman, 1985. That is, Vince Coleman, 11th in NL MVP voting, 1985.

Remember when the TV told us Vince Coleman was a star?

1985 wasn't that long ago, but in baseball terms, it was centuries ago. Now, the part of the story I didn't tell you was that Coleman stole 110 bases and scored 107 runs. Those numbers are somewhat impressive, I suppose, but not compared to the rest of the damage he did to his team that season. Compare Coleman's 1985 stats to Juan Pierre's in '07. They're damn near identical. The only difference, aside from Pierre's stats being slightly better, is seemingly every Dodger fan was ready to run Pierre out of town in the offseason.

Does anyone still want to criticize Bill James (and the like) for emphasizing the correct statistics?

(Note No. 1: Don't ask me why I was looking up Vince Coleman's statistics in my free time.)

(Note No. 2: I found this beauty of a quote from Vince Coleman's Wikipedia page..."I don't know nothing about no Jackie Robinson.")

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/23/08

A White Displays Athleticism; The Media Celebrates

In Wednesday's Orioles-Sombodies game, RF Nick Markakis (a white) and CF Adam Jones (a black) went after the same ball in right field and Markakis made a not-too-difficult catch on the warning track.

Here's how Baseball Tonight's Steve Berthiaume described the highlight:

"Somehow Markakis outleaps Adam Jones here at the wall."

Somehow!

This came on the heels of Chris Welsh describing Matt Kemp as "deceptively quick" during the Reds-Dodgers series earlier this week.

Thank God Steve Berthiaume restored order to my universe.

-Brad Spieser (Brad@TwinKilling.com)
5/23/08