Loading ...It’s Independence Day Eve!
Okay, that’s not really worth celebrating, but the Reds have been freed from the Jerry Narron era — whether that’s good or bad, I’ll let you decide. The Pete Mackanin era begins tonight against Barry Bonds and the visiting San Francisco Giants.
It’s a good matchup to begin the series:
The Reds, who have lost six consecutive three-game series, are set to open another three-game set when they host the Giants on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park.
The series will give Reds fans a chance to see Giants outfielder Barry Bonds, who is five home runs away from tying Hank Aaron’s all-time career home run record of 755.
Bonds and Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., who hit his 22nd home run of the season on Sunday against the Cardinals, will bring a combined total of more than 1,330 home runs into the series.
Reds ace Aaron Harang, who did not make the National League All-Star team despite an 8-2 record and 100 strikeouts, is scheduled to start on Tuesday against Giants lefty Barry Zito.
I’d like to be there tonight to see Bonds and Zito…oh yeah, and the Reds, too. I’ll be watching on television instead. Let’s discuss it here.
UPDATE: And while you’re at it, check out David Weathers’ comments on the Narron firing over at Jeff Wallner’s blog.
Forget Bonds and Zito…what about Rich Aurilia?
Did anyone see the ominous Homer Bailey footnote in Will Carroll’s BP column today?
No. What did it say?
Lineups…
For the Giants:
Roberts CF
Winn RF
Durham 2B
Bonds LF
Klesko 1B
Molina C
Feliz 3B
Vizquel SS
Zito P
Reds:
Freel CF (Welcome back, little guy!)
Phillips 2B
Griffey RF
Conine 1B
Dunn LF
Encarnacion 3B
Gonzalez SS
Ross C
Harang P
What about Dunn at first to get Hamilton AND Freel in the lineup occasionally? Just a thought.
I’ll try to add a post for this after the game but Will Carroll said:
“Anyone that believes that Homer Bailey and his control problems are just the result of a mechanical flaw probably hasn’t read this far down. They’re not. Sell now.”
I like that idea, JJ. Seems the Dunn at 1B experiment is over, though.
Harang K’s the leadoff hitter.
Looking over this Giants roster, I’m not very impressed. They’re either old or not very good. With a couple of notable exceptions.
Two batters, two strikeouts.
Another K.
Now a walk to bring Barry Bonds to the plate.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Perhaps my boo will ring just as loud as the one in the stands for Bonds!
Half boos, half cheers for Bonds.
Wonder if he’s been booed in any other ballpark.
THROW IT BACK!!!!!!
HR for Bonds. Surprise, surprise.
Harang made Bonds look silly on the first two pitches.
Bonds made Harang look silly on the third.
Man, I like Barry Bonds.
Posting again:
I’ll try to add a post for this after the game but Will Carroll said:
“Anyone that believes that Homer Bailey and his control problems are just the result of a mechanical flaw probably hasn’t read this far down. They’re not. Sell now.”
Don’t you have a man crush on Bonds?
Me too, Chad. For all the crap he’s gotten by everyone, I wish he had spent his career as a Red.
Think Bonds will pass Aaron tonight?
Good for one of my Scoresheet teams. Bad for the Reds.
Anyone else play Scoresheet baseball?
I’ll set the over-under of Bonds homers against the Reds in this series at 3.5 (assuming he plays all 3 games)
2.5 if he plays 2 games.
Well, now Junior has to match Bonds.
Freel swings at the first pitch and pops it up to deep short.
I remember now why I was so frustrated by Freel before he got injured.
C’mon, Junior.
Has Junior lost weight? Looks like it.
Griffey hit it well, but just got under it a bit. Three quick outs. Down 2-0 after 1.
Eric–
What does that Will Carroll quote about Homer mean? Very cryptic.
-Jimmy-
I don’t know. I know Will a bit and will fire off an Email to him when I get home.
Knowing Will, he either sees something to make him think there’s an injury or he’s heard something to make him think that.
That’s just my speculation on his innuendo, though.
Better inning by Harang!
chad, check your email!
We know Chad Moeller won’t be pinch hitting tonight. Will Juan Castro?
Yep, that’s what Carroll’s quote sounded like to me, too.
The answer is no, Chris W.
Wonder if Castro will pinch-hit for Griffey tonight.
EE draws a bases-loaded walk. 2-1 now.
now Gonzo walks to drive in another one. Tie game.
Break up the no-hitter, Dave!!
Freaky inning
Where has Harang’s control gone? 6 walks tonight in 4+ innings.
1 is an IBB but still. Ump must be stingy
no DP?????
Alex G almost made a sensational DP happen.
Harang has to swing at least:P
Phillips breaks up no hit bid.
If he can manage to get the Reds to have at least a six game winning streak, Pete Mackanin will be a god!!!
British Petroleum breaks up the no-hitter.
Drive in the run, Griffey.
He broke up Moyer’s bid last week too.
Come on Grif
Conine the Barbarian! Get a hit, big guy!
Conine get a hit please.
Is this working? I haven’t been able to comment for a week.
the brennamen family lovefest on the radio is outrageous. not bad mind you, just outrageous. nowhere else…
He hung that one over the plate.
Double!!!!
Who are they lovin’ tonight?
Dunn Homertime…now would be nice.
Get it Dunn, Adam!!!
3 generations of Brennamans on the radio tonight. Kids are cute, al – we’ll allow it. Heck, maybe it’s a goodluck charm like the Elvis statue used to be.
Wow Dunn building a good count…but now strike 3 what shock by Adam Dunn. Situational hitting 101 please.
How big would Dunn be if he did steroids? Paul Bunyan size?
Zito’s night will be done with a pinch hitter due up second me thinks
Does any announcer have it any more his way than Marty?
Bunyan like Dunn couldnt hit a baseball if life depended on it.
Speaking of love fests, the press conference yesterday sure sounded like one for the fired Narron. I haven’t heard as much for the departed Dent. Was Dent part of Narron’s downfall?
No love lost for Dent but I did like Narron
Harang looks good this inning so far
Does any announcer have it any more his way than Marty?
Vin Scully has quite the sweetheart deal.
Harang 6IP 108 pitches up 4th. I have been called to watch House see you after words.
Yeah DA, i ain’t sayin’ it’s bad, but, well… different.
i live up in boston and people wouldn’t stand for stuff like this on the radio, but, every once in a while they air the friday night games on the WB instead of the redsox network, and man, the announcers cut LOOSE.
It get’s pretty hillarious at times.
MARTY BRENNAMAN IS READING MONEYBALL.
109 pitches and they call it a night for Harang. Jerry’s gone.
Hurrah for Brandon Phillips! 1st grandslam of the year for Cincinnati?
Now Castellini’s on da rrrrradio.
Castellini was on TV earlier.
I freaked when I heard Marty was actually reading.
I should go for frozen custard more often during Reds games if grand salamis are the result.
If George Grande ran the Hall of Fame, how many players would be in it?
Seeing the Pontiac Transformers commercial reminded me of a Reds promotional idea I have. Give out Transformer versions of Reds players that you can turn into another more desirable player. For example, a Juan Castro transformer could be turned into A-Rod or Jeter.
Now the real test for Pete Mackanin, how does her respond after an Eddie error?
What a phantom DP that was!!!
More a test for coffey methinks.
and a DP is the right answer.
Jay Bruce just performed some heroics in Chattanooga – bottom of the 9th comeback there. Bruce was also 4-4 with three doubles and a walk.
Maybe next year there will be chants of BRUUUUCE at Great American!
I come back from watching house and teh Reds are up 7-3….I like that. Weathers is in.
Bonds is up next barring a Double Play. he just owns Weathers.
Wheathers v Bonds.
Who wins?
This one belongs to the Reds!
Sign this new manager to a contract extension!!!
Defensive substitution of Hopper for Dunn was big this inning.
Congrats, Pete Mackanin!
Bonds vs Weather. great.
Congrats Harang on going to 9 wins to 2 defeats!!
The bull pen did not blow it. Javaman did well not blowing up. The future starts now. Go Reds!!
The comeback begins tonight. Look out, Brewers!!!
We gained a game on the 15.5 down. we have a bunch of games against them too.
Harang’s 6 walks = a career high. Impressive.
Pete, Pete! He’s our man!
If he can’t do it!
Fire him and find someone who can!!
Didn’t Harang go 20 starts or something last year without walking more than 2? Or some such?