Jerry Narron is officially the manager. A one year contract, with a mutual option for 2007.

How’s that for job security?

Red Hot Mama has outdone herself this time. Outstanding.

The Reds didn’t place anyone in Baseball Americas Florida State League Top Twenty List. But they did field a couple of questions regarding Reds prospects in the FSL Chat Wrap. Here’s what they had to say about the Red’s FSL prospects:

Q: Dave from CT asks:
What is your opinion of Reds Perez, Votto, Himes, and Moran in the field or Pelland, Shafer, Guevara, or Medlock on the mound? Any ML regulars in that group? Thanks for your time.

A: JJ Cooper: That’s a long list. The guy who was closest to making the list (although he wasn’t a 20-25 kinda guy) was Pelland. He showed a live arm although he needs to improve his breaking ball and his command. He has some work to do, but he has probably the best upside of the group. Perez wowed observers with his glove behind the plate, but he has some work to do at the plate to be a major league regular at catcher. Votto still has power, runs pretty well for his size and can handle first base but there are some concerns about his bat speed and his ability to handle the inside fastball.

Q: Jason from Cincinnati asks:
I know that Joey Votto didn’t have the year that he was expected to have, but why was he snubbed from the list?

A: JJ Cooper: Guys, a reminder, not making a top 20 list is not a snub, it just means they didn’t make the list. When you consider that two of our top 50 prospects in the game before the season (Dopirak and Humber) are No. 18 and No. 20, it’s a pretty clear sign that it’s a hard list to make. Votto has power potential, but there are concerns about his bat speed. He wasn’t right on the edge of making the list, but he’s still a prospect, especially as he’s one of the better power prospects in the Reds system.

Later,
Tom

Expect the “interim” label to be removed from Jerry Narron’s title soon.

It appears that Wily Mo was hurt tonight. I turned the station and missed the injury, but it sounds ugly.

Awhile ago we were tracking the Reds to see if they could end up with over 800 runs, while also making a run at both the home run and doubles record for the franchise, as well as the EBH record for the National League.

Currently the Reds sit at 553 in EBH, good enough for 15th all time, this list is very heavy with post strike teams, the only other teams come from the other 2 big hitting eras in the game. This current team is on pace for 574 as a total at the end of the season

RUNS vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria
OBA vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria

EXTRA BASE HITS               YEAR     EBH       R       OBA
1    Rockies                  2001      598      130     .014
2    Braves                   2003      587      130     .008
3    Giants                   2001      579       -8     .002
T4   Astros                   2000      574       86     .010
T4   Giants                   2000      574       84     .011
6    Cubs                     2004      572       -7    -.013
7    Cardinals                2003      570       84     .010
T8   Rockies                  1999      567       60    -.003
T8   Rockies                  2004      567       46     .004
10   Cardinals                1930      566       80     .002
11   Rockies                  2003      559       77     .004
12   Reds                     1999      558       10    -.010
13   Cardinals                2004      557       73     .003
14   Rockies                  1996      555      177     .015
15   Rockies                  1998      552       51     .008
16   Diamondbacks             1999      551       60    -.005
17   Astros                   2001      550       51     .007
T18  Cubs                     1930      548       64     .008
T18  Rockies                  1997      548      149     .015
T20  Expos                    1997      545      -93    -.026
T20  Cardinals                1998      545       21     .001   

T22  Dodgers                  1953      541      189     .021
T22  Phillies                 2004      541       44     .004
T24  Reds                     2000      538      -33    -.007
T24  Braves                   1998      538       63     .002  

With all these extra base hits comes runs (I bet you thought I was going to say strikeouts, just listen to the Brewers Fox guy for that POV… or just wait until a quiet day in November when someone brings it up here.)

Anyway, as of today the Reds are on target for 820 runs, they also have the pleasure of being the only team in the National League that is on pace to top 800 runs this season. The last time only one team topped 800 runs was in 2002 when only the Diamondbacks achieved the feat. For what it’s worth the last time the Reds topped 800 runs was in 2000 (7 other teams topped 800) and again in 1999 when 10 teams topped 800 runs scored in the NL. A nice feat, but diminished by the shear numbers of teams that did it as well.

Here’s where the Reds stand with six games to go in attaining these offensive milestones

Homeruns - 214 Current - 220 Projected

HOMERUNS                      YEAR     HR
1    Reds                     1956      221
2    Reds                     1999      209
3    Reds                     2000      200
4    Reds                     2004      194
5    Reds                     1987      192
T6   Reds                     1970      191
T6   Reds                     1996      191
8    Reds                     1957      187
9    Reds                     1965      183
10   Reds                     2003      182
============================================
Doubles 324 Current - 336 Projected

DOUBLES                       YEAR     2B
1    Reds                     1999      312
2    Reds                     2001      304
3    Reds                     2000      302
4    Reds                     1998      298
5    Reds                     2002      297
6    Reds                     2004      287
7    Reds                     1990      284
T8   Reds                     1992      281
T8   Reds                     1968      281
10   Reds                     1975      278
=============================================
EBH 553 Current - 574 Projected

EXTRA BASE HITS               YEAR     EBH
1    Reds                     1999      558
2    Reds                     2000      538
3    Reds                     1965      512
4    Reds                     2004      509
5    Reds                     2001      502
6    Reds                     1977      492
7    Reds                     1970      489
8    Reds                     2002      487
9    Reds                     1996      486
10   Reds                     1987      483
=============================================
.339 Current 

OBA                           YEAR     OBA
1    Reds                     1976     .357
2    Reds                     1922     .353
3    Reds                     1975     .353
4    Reds                     1994     .350
5    Reds                     1926     .349
6    Reds                     1903     .346
7    Reds                     1977     .345
8    Reds                     1923     .344
9    Reds                     2000     .343
10   Reds                     1939     .343
============================================
.448 Current

SLG                           YEAR     SLG
1    Reds                     1999     .451
2    Reds                     1994     .449
3    Reds                     2000     .447
4    Reds                     1956     .441
5    Reds                     1995     .440
6    Reds                     1965     .439
7    Reds                     1977     .436
8    Reds                     1970     .436
9    Reds                     1957     .432
10   Reds                     1987     .427
============================================
.787 Current

OPS                           YEAR     OPS
1    Reds                     1994     .799
2    Reds                     1999     .792
3    Reds                     2000     .790
4    Reds                     1995     .782
5    Reds                     1977     .781
6    Reds                     1976     .781
7    Reds                     1965     .778
8    Reds                     1956     .777
9    Reds                     1970     .772
10   Reds                     1957     .770
============================================
790 Current - 820 Projected

RUNS                          YEAR      R
1    Reds                     1999      865
2    Reds                     1976      857
3    Reds                     1975      840
T4   Reds                     2000      825
T4   Reds                     1965      825
T6   Reds                     1962      802
T6   Reds                     1977      802
8    Reds                     1969      798
9    Reds                     1987      783
10   Reds                     1996      778

As mentioned earlier in the season the Reds had a chance to be an anomoly and be a team that finished 100 runs above the league and still have a sub .500 record.

Now that would be something to tell the grandkids about!!

Runs vs the League Current +90
RUNS                          YEAR     DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE      R       OBA
1    Reds                     1976      178      857      679      178     .028
2    Reds                     1975      147      840      693      147     .016
3    Reds                     1965      138      825      687      138     .018
4    Reds                     1969      102      798      696      102     .005
5    Reds                     1968       93      690      597       93     .009
6    Reds                     1956       83      775      692       83     .005
7    Reds                     1974       75      776      701       75     .008
8    Reds                     1903       74      764      690       74     .006
9    Reds                     1972       73      707      634       73     .005
10   Reds                     1905       68      736      668       68     .005

A historic Reds offense that doesn’t even have the pleasure of hitting against its equally historically bad pitching, a subject that deserves its own forensics.

Here’s a game thread, if anyone cares.

I’ll be watching, for what it’s worth.

Why did Randy Keisler get the remaining four starts left in the rotation spot left after Luke Hudson was removed? I can think of nine pitchers I’d have rather seen get those four starts.

Matt Belisle
Justin Germano
Elizardo Ramirez
Josh Hancock
Jim Serrano
Ben Kozlowski
Josh Hall
Phil Dumatrait
Bobby Basham

We’d already seen Keisler out of the pen for a while and know he’s not going to be a factor on the staff, other than possibly a LH long man. I’d have liked to have seen one of these other arms have gotten those four starts. I’d think the fans would have liked to have seen Germano to see what we got in return from the Randa deal.

Later,
Tom

Homer Bailey was the only member of the Reds Class A division Dayton Dragons to make the BBA Midwest League Top Twenty list. Can Bailey avoid the knife and develop the command he is lacking to become the head of the Reds rotation in 2009? Only time will tell. Here’s what BBA had to say about him:

2. HOMER BAILEY, rhp, Dayton Dragons (Reds)
Age: 19 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 190 B-T: R-R Drafted/Signed: Reds ‘04 (1)

Bailey and Burlington’s Luis Cota had the most electric arms in the league, but there was no comparison between them as pitchers. While Cota relies mainly on sheer arm strength, Bailey shows more aptitude and consistency. He has a legitimate chance to become a No. 1 starter in the majors.

He has a lean but strong frame and an arm stroke that almost looks too easy to be delivering one 92-94 mph fastball after another to the bottom of the strike zone. When he stays on top of his curveball, it’s a dynamic 12-to-6 breaking ball. Like most teenagers, he’s still refining his changeup and his command.

The Reds haven’t been able to keep their top pitching prospects healthy, so they’ve turned to a tandem-starter system in the lower minors. They exercised extreme care with Bailey, who worked just 104 innings and was allowed to go as many as five innings in just six outings—earning victories in each.

G GS W L SV ERA IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG
28 21 8 4 0 4.43 103.2 89 64 51 5 62 125 .232

It was also interesting to note their top ten prospects from the Midwest League five years ago:

FIVE YEARS AGO
1. *Josh Beckett, rhp, Kane County (Marlins)
2. *Juan Cruz, rhp, Lansing (Cubs)
3. *Chris Snelling, of, Wisconsin (Mariners)
4. *Austin Kearns, of, Dayton (Reds)
5. *Albert Pujols, 3b, Peoria (Cardinals)
6. *Ramon Santiago, ss, West Michigan (Tigers)
7. *Jacob Peavy, rhp, Fort Wayne (Padres)
8. *Adam Dunn, of, Dayton (Reds)
9. Gerik Baxter, rhp, Fort Wayne (Padres)
10. Mike Nannini, rhp, Michigan (Astros))
*Has played in major leagues

Later,
Tom

During last night’s radio broadcast, Marty Brenneman delivered this gem:

“If Billy Beane were the GM of the Reds, the first thing he would do is trade Adam Dunn.”

Marty is out of his mind. The first thing Beane would do is sign Dunn to a long-term contract.

I’m posting this game thread from the University of Virginia’s Scott Stadium, using my Blackberry device. Virginia is up big on Duke. Let’s hope the Reds have similar success.

I’m posting this game thread from the University of Virginia’s Scott Stadium, using my Blackberry device. Virginia is up big on Duke. Let’s hope the Reds have similar success.

Well, that just about sums up the season.

I’ve watched 95% of this year’s games, very faithfully. I’m finally sick of them. I wish the season were over. This team is a complete joke.

Here’s a game thread for tonight’s game, as the Reds continue their march back to first place!

From this AM’s Enquirer:

The Reds Hall of Fame will present “Sweep! A Salute to the 1990 Champion Reds,” an exhibit dedicated to the ‘90 World Series winners, Oct. 15.

More than 100 items from that team will be on display.

If you live in the area and haven’t visited the Reds HOF and Museum, it’s well worth the trip. The couple of hours it’s open before the game really isn’t enough time to do it justice.