ANARCHY IN THE PA

Johnny "Rotten" Cueto started Tuesday's game for the Reds and walked away with the finest performance of his young career under his belt. Striking out eight batters and walking none, Cueto pitched a complete game shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates allowing only one hit on 102 pitches. Ronny Cedeno acquired the sole Bucco hit in the third inning and reached base once again after being plunked by Cueto in the sixth. Cedeno was the only Pirate to reach base. The last Reds' pitcher to throw a complete-game one-hitter was John Smiley on September 22, 1996. Ramon Hernandez caught Cueto's gem and had this to say:

"He was very strong with the fastball. His problem’s been he’s had a long pitch count in the fifth. That’s normally his problem. One of the ways you get out of that is to call a lot of fastballs and don’t move too much around home plate. We got ahead with that and got quick outs."

If it weren't for Cueto's dominance, most of Tuesday's headlines would be bearing the name of Chris "Vicious" Heisey. After a dismal 0-5 debut against the New York Mets on May 3rd, Heisey went 3-4 on Tuesday notching his first major league hit and homerun. Heisey led off the game with a single down the third base line and crushed a two run shot off Jeff Karstens in the eighth inning. The Reds beat the Pirates 9-0.



Reds' top prospect Juan Francisco was rushed to the hospital prior to Tuesday's game in Louisville. Francisco had emergency appendectomy surgery and is expected to miss four to six weeks. After a rough start to the season, Francisco hit .627 with three home runs and fourteen RBI in his last seven games with the Bats.

After being swept by Pittsburg last time they visited, the Reds will attempt redemption on Wednesday. Homer Bailey (0-2, 7.24) will face Zach Duke (2-3, 5.13) at 12:35pm.

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STICK THAT FLAG UP YOUR A$$

While attending the Reds game on Sunday I couldn't help but notice two things. Beyond the obvious annoyance caused by Cubs fans as they visited what they call "Wrigley South", there was an unusual abundance of "W" t-shirts and Ryne Sandberg jerseys being worn by Ryan Dempster lovers.

I understand the concept, but fail to comprehend the delivery of the Cubs' "W" obsession. After experiencing a 14-2 embarrassment at GABP the on Saturday, what would convince a Cub fan to don a t-shirt exclaiming victory the very next day? What does it feel like to optimistically sport your team's victory apparel after a humiliating loss, fail to win once again, and lose the series to the Reds? I wouldn't know..... I don't root for the Cubs.

As for the thriving Sandberg jerseys, I was also puzzled. Ryne Sandberg was a fine player and resides in Cooperstown, but as I watched the Reds on Sunday I failed to notice any other infatuation besides the one involving Ryne. Sandberg batted .285, hit 282 homeruns, and drove in 1061 runs during his sixteen year career. In no way am I underestimating Mr. Sandberg; I am only questioning the knowledge of Cubs fans. It seems that besides "Sandbergs" and "Ws", they recollect nothing but a billy goat. I mean c'mon guys...... Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Dennis Eckersly, Rich Gossage, Lou Brock, Ralph Kiner, Jimmie Fox, Dizzie Dean, etc...

GABP is full of throwbacks. Whether it's a classic Joe Morgan jersey or an exquisite Frank Robinson, Reds fans always represent correctly. I may be spoiled by fellow fans' knowledge of their team, but Cubs fans need some education. Out of all the Cubs fans surrounding me in section 428 at GABP on Sunday, the only non-current jersey I saw (besides about fifty Sandbergs) was a Sammy Sosa. Weak.

Mike "Godzilla" Leake pitched five perfect innings of baseball against the Cubs on Sunday. Rookie Starlin Castro notched the first Cubs' hit leading off the sixth. Brandon Phillips made a slick play behind second base, but pulled Joey Votto inches off the first base bag with a high throw. Behind the Reds 2-0 in the seventh inning with two outs, the Cubs managed to collect a double followed by an infield single. Leake then threw a wild pitch and allowed his first run of the game. Cubs' Tyler Colvin then homered into his own bullpen to put the Cubs ahead 3-2. The lead was short lived. Joey Votto blasted a three-run homer to the Sun/Moon Deck in the bottom of the seventh and after two scoreless inning by Reds' relievers, the Reds won 5-3.

WARNING: The video below is not safe for work, school, young children, your mother, and probably not you. The opinions expressed are not relevant to this article, instead they oppose mainstream politics, but the title of the second song in the video (Stick that f@#king flag, up your g@%dam a$$, you sonofab#%tch) is extremely fitting.



As the ballpark emptied I was expecting mounds of banter. I can only assume that after Friday's 14-7 loss to the Cubs, the visiting Chicagoans were running their mouths profusely. After a two straight victories by the Reds to finalize the series, instead of emphasizing the obvious and returning the trash talk, Reds' fans departed quietly. As hundreds of Ryne Sandbergs vanished from GABP to head back north, the defeat and honor could not have been laid on any thicker than it was with the Reds fans' civil silence. Happy Mother's Day.

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UNDERACHIEVER?

From John Fays blog:

Brandon Phillips’ lack of hustle on the ball off the wall last night was addressed. Phillips ended up with a double, instead of a triple, likely costing the Reds a run.

“He’s been talked to about this,” Dusty Baker said. “We’ve talked to Brandon quite often.

“I guess he’s better than he used to be. We’re trying to get him to the point where he can be a big difference maker every day. He certainly has the skill and ability.”

Is it hard for Baker to watch?

“What’s tough as a manager is when you’ve got an A student who’s getting Bs,” Baker said.

I tried to talk to Phillips. He did not want to talk about it last night. He did give me one quote. However, I can’t use it here.

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NIX REACHES "TANK" STATUS

In episode four of HBO's "Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals", Roy Williams and Tank Johnson visited their friend Laynce Nix at Great American Ballpark. The trio became comrades when they spent time together in Texas. Nix was a Ranger from '03-'06, while Johnson and Williams are both former Cowboys. During his visit to GABP, Roy Williams wore the 2009 Civil Rights Game throwback Nix jersey.

Slamming into walls and blasting homers off the bench, Laynce Nix has officially reached "Tank" status. And no, we're not talking about the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky. Whack Reds is officially dubbing the Reds' outfielder as Laynce "Tank" Nix. Number seventeen's new moniker will be reminiscent of his defensive tackle acquaintance and the tracked, armoured fighting vehicles designed for front-line combat which combine operation mobility and tactical offensive and defensive capabilities. -Wikipedia

We believe Nix's new pet name is appropriate. Plus, we love emulating an explosion whenever we hear Nix's name being announced or when Tank Johnson flattens an opponent. Feel free to join in.

Mike "Godzilla" Leake looked superb on Monday against the Mets throwing exactly 100 pitches. He went six innings, allowed only one earned run on four hits, and struck out four. The Reds' bullpen (Herrera, Lincoln, Rhodes, Cordero, and Masset) combined for five scoreless innings after Leake's departure. The game was tied at two until Laynce Nix crushed a Manny Acosta curveball to right field for a homerun during the bottom of the eleventh inning. The Reds beat the Mets 3-2.

Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman had a very rough outing on Monday against AAA Buffalo. After pitching three scoreless innings, and receiving a 7-0 lead, Chapman fell apart during the fourth and allowed five Buffalo runs. Chapman left after five innings after allowing six earned runs on nine hits while striking out eight. Although Chapman struggled, the Bats offense was superior, scoring twenty runs against Buffalo. Chapman and the Bats both walked away with a win.

Reds' outfielder Chris Dickerson had surgery on his right wrist Monday. Dickerson will be expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

Bronson Arroyo (1-2, 6.37) will face John Maine (1-1, 7.15) at 7:10pm on Tuesday.

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DAMN IT! I HATE THAT ALBERT PUJOLS!

After a three game sweep of the Astros in Houston, the Reds boarded a plane destined for St. Louis, Missouri at 2:15 Friday morning. Facing the first-place Cardinals in less than eighteen hours, their flight landed in extreme turbulence.

“The roughest flight I’ve ever been on,” Dusty Baker said. “We knuckle-balled all over the place. I heard some tough guys in the back of plane squealing.”

The loathsome weather the Reds experienced on their way to St. Louis was just a innuendo of what they would have to swallow later that night.

After completing 6 1/2 innings, the Reds had to wait over 2 1/2 hours because of thunderstorms to defeat the Cardinals 3-2. Johnny Cueto pitched hardy before the hindrance going five innings, allowing two runs on five hits, and striking out three. Five relievers were used by the Reds (Lincoln, Herrera, Rhodes, Masset, and Cordero) once the game resumed and all five managed to hold the Cardinals scoreless. Jay Bruce had yet another impressive day at the dish going 3-4 with 2 RBI. Albert Pujols went 2-3 with a walk, but failed to score, or drive in a run.

In game two of the series on Saturday, Homer Bailey was searching for the Reds sixth straight win, and his first. Bailey threw 121 pitches over 6 2/3 innings. He allowed two earned runs (three total) and struck out six. Bailey's final pitch was a inside splitter that Albert Pujols slapped to left field for a RBI double. After Bailey departed, Carlos Fisher and Daniel Herrera followed, allowing three earned runs. The Cardinals never looked back defeating the Reds 6-3 as the Reds ended their five-game streak of victory. Albert Pujols went 1-3, with two walks, while driving in two.



After Saturday's game, Albert Pujols is hitting .344 with 7 homeruns and 21 RBI. The Cardinals three game lead over the Reds went right back to four after the loss. The headline writers at Cardinals.com called the Cards "persistent" and the Reds "pesky". Damn it! I hate that Albert Pujols!

Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson will have surgery to remove bone from his right hand. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Tim Kremchek and a diagnosis will be released after the surgery.

In a rematch of Opening Day 2010, Aaron Harang (1-3, 7.16) will face Chris Carpenter (3-0, 3.48) on Sunday at 2:15pm.

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