Reds Send Trio to the Desert for Midsummer Classic

Bad Bronson showed up Friday night.
The Enquirer/Joseph Fuqua II

Alright, I'm going to attempt to keep my ranting on the Reds to one paragraph. I think I can do that, because if you need to know how I feel about this team, you can go to some older posts. Despite today's sudden outburst against the Cleveland Indians, to quote Bob Brenly, former Diamondbacks manager and current Cubs announcer, "This is a dead-ass team." Now, he was referring to the Cubs of last year, as well as their current team. Obviously, I'm referring to the Reds. Where's the energy? Brandon Phillips was playing like the only guy who didn't know what the score was on Friday night, as the Tribe blasted the Reds 8-2. Then, Cincinnati stranded 12 men in Saturday's 3-1 loss, where they were seemingly just one hit away. That hit never came. Quite frankly, outside of Ramon's homer on Opening Day, that big hit hasn't come very often this year. Now, today was a little different. Suddenly the Reds could score some runs, and they looked like a team that could win the division. Mike Leake pitched much better than his 6 inning 4 run line indicated. He struck out 8, earning his 8th win of the year, but he often made the Indian's lineup look silly. His start, combined with Homer's solid outing from Saturday, and the ace-like pitching of Johnny Cueto gives this team a ray of hope. That, along with Arroyo's career 53-38 mark in the second half (to go along with his 3.66 ERA). Today, the Reds were fueled by Leake and the Reds' backups. Miguel Cairo, Edgar Renteria, Chris Heisey, and Fred Lewis energized the team to a win. Renteria hit the first homer by a Reds' shortstop this year (thank God). They each had 2 hits. They are scrappy players. Scrappy players that took extra bases defined this team last year. They cleared the way for Votto, Bruce, Rolen, and Phillips to do their thing. But if Bruce and Votto don't hit, this team is done. They will hit. But they aren't right now, and are a combined 17 for their last 90. This team is so close to clicking all the way. Until they do, the energy isn't there. The enthusiasm is lost. The Reds are letting the game come to them, instead of taking it to the game. They set tones last year. The only tone that is being set this year is that of mediocrity.

No way the Captain should be an All Star, let alone starting.

Now, on to the All Star Game rosters. For the first time in awhile, I think the fans got the starters mostly right. Starting with the American League, obviously Derek Jeter has no business playing in this game, and it should have gone to Asdrubal Cabrera. A-Rod is another questionable pick, but it's passable, as he is having a decent year at a weak position. Josh Hamilton, though he is my favorite player, also has no business being in the game, having missed so much time due to injury. Jacoby Ellsbury deserved the start. As for snubs, I was very surprised that CC Sabathia and Paul Konerko didn't make the roster. Jhonny Peralta has also been listed as a snub, but I honestly had to look up his numbers to know that he was having a good year. Looking now, yes he should probably be an All Star. But he just isn't recognizable, which is why he was left off. Alex Gordon from Kansas City also probably deserved a nod, but could get voted in via the final vote, like Konerko.

Good to see the MVP an All Star again.
AP Photo/Al Behrman

As for the National League, I think the fans nailed it, other than Placido Polanco at third. It has been a weak position in the NL, too, but I think Chipper Jones deserved it a little more than Polanco. And even as a Reds fan, I believe that Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks should be starting over Votto and Phillips. Fielder is the MVP of the league right now, and Weeks has been consistent from the start of the year, while Phillips has been a little up and down. I think Brandon and Joey are better overall players, and Phillips is far superior defensively, though no voter looks at defense. The Jay Bruce selection was mainly chosen purely on his month of May. Is it right? Probably not. But I'm happy to see him there, and I do think he is fairly deserving. Also, look at it this way, would you rather have Bruce or Andrew McCutchen (who was certainly snubbed) of the Pirates come off the bench late in the clutch? Despite Bruce's ups and downs, he's more of a threat than McCutchen is. Lastly, it comes down to star power, which Bruce has much more of. My true beef with the National League is Bruce Bochy's picks as manager. He took three of his five starters from his rotation in San Francisco. Lincecum? Fine. Cain? Fine. Ryan Vogelsong? No. He only has 84.1 innings this year, and Tommy Hanson (9-4) from the Braves would have been a much better selection. Vogelsong is having a fine year, but he shouldn't be on the team. Neither should the Giants' closer, Brian Wilson, who primarily made it because of his famous beard. He's having an average season, and Craig Kimbrel of the Atlanta Braves, who has struck out 67 in 42 innings deserved it more. He might be the best closer in the NL right now, and shouldn't have been denied. Even the Reds' Francisco Cordero deserved it more than Wilson, as he has a better WHIP (0.85) than all of the NL relievers, and a better ERA (1.49) than all but one reliever. Unfortunately, his lack of saves probably hurt him.

Lastly, I have to go off a little on the Cleveland fan that was sitting behind me on Saturday's game. After the Indian's starter, Fausto Carmona fell running down the first base line, and had to leave the game, the fan had this to say, "Who wants to watch pitchers run the bases and hit? I hate the National League." Later, he would say, "No one wants to watch guys pitch around the 8th hitter to get to the pitcher, and that's all that happens in this league. It's stupid." Of course, if you know me, I am not a fan of the American League, in the slightest bit. That is putting it quite lightly in fact. I believe that the nine who take the field should be the nine that bat. I'm not a fan of the designated hitter. It takes the strategy out of the game, which I find enjoyable. It makes the game more difficult having to deal with a pitcher in the lineup, and needing to double switch every now and then. I just feel there is less strategy in the American League. If your pitcher is so un-athletic that he cannot run 90 feet without tripping over his own feet, then that is his own fault. And you know what, I enjoy it when an opponent pitches around the 8th hitter, and then gets burned when the pitcher bangs a base hit. Mike Leake and Travis Wood are two phenomenal athletes, and I enjoy seeing them hit and run the bases, because they're good. I'll take that over watching David Ortiz move station to station if he doesn't hit a home run. Plus, you know you love it when Bronson Arroyo would slug one out. And who could forget Micah Owings? It's part of the fun of the game. I'd rather see guys who are paid to be total baseball players, instead of just hitters.

Well, I couldn't help but put in a pair of highlights of Reds' pitchers hitting homers off of Cardinals' pitching. I've got another one, too. Why? Because it's Reds vs. Cardinals from St. Louis starting tomorrow night at 6:15. Johnny Cueto vs. Chris Carpenter. Can't wait to hear the Cardinals' fans reactions. It should be a good one. Gotta love kickin' it with Johnny Cueto.