Kings of Spring '09

Spring Training. I'll probably lose interest in baseball the closer football season approaches, but I always look forward to Spring Training. Maybe it's the memories. Glory days!

Baseball fever... catch it.



More pics at boston.com's Big Shots.

Still pining for the return of Josh Hamilton. Jay Bruce, we're looking at you. Volquez Power. Cueto Power.

More Josh Hamilton Love

It doesn't get any easier to deal with the loss of Josh Hamilton when stories like this keeping popping out of Rangers spring training. Question: if I keep posting pictures of him in a Reds uniform, will it make it so?

NL-Only League Exception?

CBSSports.com offers a glowing piece on former Reds / present Rangers up-and-coming OF (and TINWA personal fav) Josh Hamilton. Nice to know he is mashing balls all over the field, running like the wind around the bases and in the field and exhibiting his rifle of an arm that made him a can't-miss prospect for the Reds... only now he's doing it in Flagstaff this spring for the Rangers. Hindsight is 20/20 and the Reds needed pitching, plus who's to say Crusty Baker would actually play Hamilton on the regular, but regardless, nice going Krvisky!!

Add to that superstud Jay Bruce will likely start the year back in the minors. Oh well, we have Norris Hopper, Ken Griffey, Jr., Corey Patterson and Adam Dunn patrolling the outfield this year!

Ugh.

Kings of Spring 2K8 Preview aka Reds Players I Like

The Kings of Spring are back in action! They kicked off things Tuesday by losing to les Sillies, but yesterday they got back on track by throttling the Twins. Things are looking up for the Redlegs in 2K8, with some baseball analysts speculating "darkhorse" candidacy. But in the NL Central, who isn't?? Okay, the Pirates. Anyway, even after dealing Josh Hamilton in the off-season (still bitter), the 'Nati has a solid nucleus of young talent fronted by an even better Josh Hamilton, Jay Bruce. Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips are also expected to be cornerstones.

On the mound, Harang and Arroyo are back with Homer Bailey v.2 in the fold, as well as Johnny Cueto. The bullpen is improved with a healthy Majewski, the emurgence of set-up man Jared Burton, and the signing of closer Francisco Cordero. The semblance of a solid pitching staff? Nice!

The Reds are clearly on the right path. But why, when thinking about the prospects of Cincy's 2008 season, do I suddenly experience a sinking feeling? That would be due to one "Crusty" Baker, new manager of your Cincinnati Reds. I just have the feeling that things like this possibly all-to-true satire will be occuring on the regular under Crusty's watch. Say it ain't so, Wayne Krvisky!

Also, please trade Adam Dunn.

+ I know at least one person that doesn't like Gregg Doyel. Or, more accurately, his writing. Says it's too negative. That's okay. But gg's latest column on Kentucky hoops coach Billy Gillispie's humanity is a poignant, positive and touching piece.

Gillispie must be some super guy. He also recently called a radio show to offer help to a woman trying to attend her father's funeral. [via Doyel's Dribbles]

+ Hey, Elite XC (mixed martial arts) inked a deal with CBS, marking the first time MMA will be broadcast on network television. Internet legend Kimbo Slice is slated to headline the first event. That'll be enough for me to tune in.

Spring Training Only ? Days Away

Hey, Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports: Your ideas are intriguing and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter. This Reds hot stove talk actually gives me some hope for next year.

I would deal Dunn and Griffey. I've called for a Dunn trade for years, and Griffey, although he hit a game-tying, two-run blast for me last night in MLB Power Pros, is oft-injured and has seen his better days (like...Seattle). Both players could deliver some solid prospects, and the Reds could remain competitive in the short-term with their core group of young players.

Play Hamilton and Votto full-time. The Reds should have played Hamilton full-time last year (when he was healthy). Get Freel/Farney healthy, lock up Phillips and call up Bruce. Encarnacion should also be a year improved.

On the mound, Harang is a pretty legit #1 and Arroyo is a solid #2. Call up Homer and Cueto, and make Jared Burton your regular set-up man. He's good, effective and reliable. I guess Weathers can close again.

Overall, the recipe for 162-0. Book it!

Footnote: Oooh, Arizona looking to woo Reds to new spring training home? I know someone who lives in Arizona...

Spoilers of the Fall

Back in the spring, when hope sprang eternal and the Reds were world-beaters, I correctly annointed them as the Kings of Spring. 120 or so real games later, with a inferior and unreliable pitching staff exposed, substantial time lost due to injuries/personal reasons by Freel, Hamilton and Gonzalez, and not trading Adam Dunn, the Reds season lies ruin. Well, at least they were able to take 3 out of 4 from the Atlanta Braves! Thusly, I annoint them the Legends Spoilers of the Fall!



+ The Millersville University girls lacrosse team wisely shot pictures of a recent initiation/hazing. Smart.

+ LRH's alma mater will be quite popular on ESPN this season. (Salina!). Too bad Huggins isn't coaching them. Any word on the 'Neers? Big Monday, I guess.

+ After being introduced by a co-worker a few weeks ago, Radio 104.5 has been bringing me back to 9th or 10th grade musical stylings on the semi-regular. But don't believe the hype regarding the station's "independent" play - it's a Clear Channel property.

+ Heard the "new" Britney Spears joke-of-a-song this morning. Somehow, listening to the song has transmorphed into Spears' "Slave 4 U" running on a continous loop in my head.

+ If a trainwreck like America's Got Talent (misnomer) can score over 14 million viewers in the summer, NBC might be onto something with its decision to revive American Gladiators.

Hunt for a Red October

CBS Sportsline's Clay Travis wrote the Cincinnati Reds preview on Deadspin today. Of course I read it. Seems like he and I had similar tastes growing up.

1. Wristbands with a picture on them. I had these for a time in youth baseball - Barry Larkin, actually - but I didn't like playing with wristbands.

2. I didn't have a gold chain with a Cincinnati Reds pendant like Eric Davis (my idol growing up) or Clay (I didn't like jewelry, either), but I did (and still do) have a red Eric Davis #44 BP jersey. It's pretty sweet.

3. High top cleats: check. I wore red or black high top spikes from youth baseball through high school. The only reason I stopped in college was because my college coach mandated us wearing low top Ponys.

4. I had a red Cincinnati Reds turtleneck for awhile, through middle school. I wore it fairly often, most notably with my black Los Angeles Kings sweatpants. Yeah, I had it going on in middle school.

5. I also had a number of those MLB caricature shirts. Eric Davis, The Nasty Boys and The Hunt for a Red October, specifically. Some more middle school-era gear.

Those were the good old days. Clay's preview brought back a lot of solid memories.

Looks like the "Kings" are back on track after a brief two-game losing skid. They've since won two in-a-row, including today's triumph over Toronto. All hail the "Kings". Reds rule.

Done Right

I first heard this song during Doc B's 5:00 mix on Power 99. Doc rarely reveals what songs he's playing, and I didn't recognize it. I heard a dope beat and chorus of, "Freeze! You know who it is...it's me, snitches!" and I was immediately intrigued. Snitches? I'm there. I tried to look it up via the Internets, but no initial success. That is, until this evening when I heard it on Philly's 100.3 the Beat. They said it was the hottest track on the streets, and I could believe it. So I looked on the Internets again. Success! I hit iTunes and quickly purchased Swizz Beatz's "It's Me Snitches!". If you do the same, make sure you hit up the clean version. Otherwise, instead of "snitches" you get the b-word. The clean, snitch-filled version is fiya.

+ NBC blessed us tonight with an epic Comedy Night Done Right...even if most of the shows were repeats. Two eps of The Office, a new Scrubs and two 30 Rock eps. That's nice!

+ The "Kings" took their first loss of the spring today, being outslugged by the Tigers 9-7. They still gotta be leading the NL by at least 3 or 4 games.

Kings of Spring

Barely a week into the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, I think it's safe to declare my Cincinnati Reds the "kings of spring". The 'Nati is currently undefeated (after today's comeback W over le Sillies) and sweeping split-squad games left and right!


Arroyo, Harang and Belisle comprise a decent pitching staff with a pretty full compliment of quality middle relievers. The Reds also bring some pop on offense with Encarnacion (sadly not Juan), Dunn (who I do not like), Junior (who I have little confidence in) and the epic power of Ryan Freel. It is the spring and hope springs eternal. Bow down to the Cincinnati Reds - the unquestionable "kings of spring".

+ Look who's back in the game: The McJunkins Blog. Clutch!

+ Work time-killer: play The Office Finish the Quote game. Good luck!