Wrigleyville on the Ohio
Radio listeners know how I feel about "Cubbie'' fans... bad enough over the decades to put up with them in Chicago. Today, I'm watching at Great American Small Park while A. Soriano plays catch before innings w/fans in left field... and hear the thunderous cheers when Soriano hits a leadoff, 1st-inning homer... and hear Let's Go Cubbies every damned inning... how fun was it for Reds employees to clean up the visitors clubhouse after the beery celebration of 2 nights ago?another reason Reds ownership needs to be embarrassed enough to make an offseason run at Average. Because Average would have kept them in contention in this Triple A division... and Average is something the Reds havent been since 2000... it's sad when the motto is Lets Play Like Average Today. But that's where we are.
Memo to BC.. Pay up, measure up, live up to what you've promised. Hire a manager w/cred... bring in a 3rd and 4th starting pitcher (D. Willis would be nice)... fill the bullpen w/people younger than 40 who can actually get people out. Make it so next year, we don't to listen to CubsFan in left field, drowning out the local customers, whose loyalty has been rewarded with 71 wins this year and an average of 75 since 2000.
posted by Paul Daugherty at 1:42 PM
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Post a Comment*With respect to the Bengals game on Monday night - in 2002 when the Bengals played on MNF (for the first time in a decade)against the Broncos - you wrote a story entitled "Please Bengals don't embarrass us!" Please write the same story again - maybe it will work the same magic!
Have you seen Wilis's stats? We would have to trade somthing to get him, probably somthing important. His ERA is over 5, his WHIP is 1.58, and has jumped a lot of his 2005 WHIP of 1.13. His BB/9 is 3.81. It was 2.09 two years ago. His hit/9 is 10.56 which has shot up from 8 somthing two years ago. All stats are pointing towards a lose of effectivness. Belise had better perhipals, then Willis. You put Willis with those periphals in Cincinnati a hitters part, not the pitching friendly park he pitches in now, I bet his ERA shoots over 6. You can't afford to walk hitters in Cincinnati. You can't afford to give up 10 hits/9 innings. Lets see what Bailey and Cueto do, before the Red's waste money on an "average" starting pitcher.
I hope the Cubs stay strong over the next few years and that they play here often. Cubs fans are the great for Downtown. They like the city, they drink, they eat, they stay out late - they make this town look like a real city.
Agreed on Willis. He lost it in a hurry and would be a huge gamble in our tiny ballpark (although he might hit 5th in the lineup). After the game, Marty, Jeff, and Thom all agreed that the Reds need another veteran starter but the only name they suggested was Jason Marquis (or someone like him). That's no solution. Maybe Brian Fuentes will be available to strengthen the back end of the bullpen and we can trade for some magic potion to help Bailey and Cueto develop quickly.
I agree Doc. I was at the game Saturday afternoon and it was totally humiliating. I've been to something like 50 Reds games since they opened the new ballpark, and that was the loudest I had ever heard it.
As a 22 year old, I have no memory of the Big Red Machine to cling to, and only a faint memory of the World Series in 1990. I have always loved my hometown teams, but I'm not sure if I can spend anymore money on them only to have my heart repeatedly broken in return.
It doesn't matter what the Reds do until baseball handles the revenue sharing issue.
Regarding your comment on Soriano playing catch w/ fans between innings >> what's so hard about that??? Would Grif or Dunn throw their arms out doing that? Hop is probably afraid to do that, cause it wouldn't be "cool".
Couldn't this, at least, be fun??
FUN! - Chicago is - we ain't.
As a primary Cubs fan and Reds fan when not conflicting with them, I would actually like to see the day (for the sake of the Reds and Cincinnati baseball fans) when I'm in cubs attire and am not only outnumbered, but am resented! I've only been resented on opening days when everyone is still innocent. LaRussa for manager!
Oh, and go Cubbies!
Doc, thanks for writing this, as well as your column this morning. I was called a "fair-weather fan" by someone on Fay's blog for saying, not that I didn't attend games (I live 150 miles away and went to four this season), but that the Reds organization deserves what it got this weekend. Cubs fans taking over GABP this weekend did NOT reflect poorly on the Reds fan base. Name me another city (other than Chicago) that would have packed the place for the last weekend of the regular season to see a 90-loss team. You can't.
I believe I speak for lots of Reds fans when I say that seven straight losing seasons is beyond unacceptable - it's testing the patience of all of us. Fix it, Bob.
(While you're at it, charge double for ticket orders to Cubs games that come from outside metro Cincinnati. If Cubs fans are going to take over GABP, at least gouge them in the process).
Adam Wire
Gas City, IN
Paul, you have never said it any better than that. If you and I share anything in common besides sports writing, it's our distaste for the Cubs fans.
Being one of the loyal Reds fans you mentioned, it made me sick to watch on Sunday as our cheers were drowned out by "let's go Cubs" and footage from FSN repeatedly showing the awkward quote on many Cubs fans shirts, "It's Gonna Happen". Sickening.
I am tired of losing, I am tired of only being in a spoiler role (which we also failed to play) for other teams in contention, and I am tired of looking at a roster with only 2 or 3 guys that were every-day players at the end of the year. Enough is enough.
Maybe this offseason, our free agent aquisition will be a step up from Alex Gonzalez?
I guess it's not worth mentioning, but hell, I was pulling for the Brewers...
Baseball is a business and business is supply and demand. As long as we keep demanding mediocrity we'll keep getting mediocrity, or worse. Quit buying tickets and merchandise, send a message. I guarantee you the Reds will get that message!
remember when the Steelers would over take PBS when they played the Bungles...its happening again at GABP....
GO Cubs and Steelers
Reds mgmt. didn't mind the barrage of Cubs fans over the weekend. They may wear blue, but they spend green...
This town, this team & everyone associated with it needs to stop thinking so small when it comes to improving the club. Marty keeps talking about a couple of relievers, beat writers are talking about a 3rd or 4th starter. For goodness sakes, dare to be great. If the Reds of the 2000s have anything in common with the Bengals of the '90's its the dumbing down of fan expectations. Why is Big Bob is now selling the idea of competing instead of winning? Because the fans will happily support a .500 team.
The Reds need to do something bold. Trade for Johan Santana & get him signed long term. They do that & there will be excitement in Cincinnati for baseball that we haven't seen since Junior arrived. The increased attendance will pay for most of his salary. Santana, Harang, Arroyo, Bailey & whoever will be the best rotation in the NL. The Reds will be playing next October. We'd have to give up several young players, but there is enough depth on offense to part with Encarnacion, Hamilton, etc.
The opportunity is there for the Reds to do something big. Lets see how big their aspirations are.
John Burroughs
Hyde Park
Paul,
As we've discussed in private email before I agree and disagree with you on this.
First I need to apologize for not making it to the game Saturday which I had tickets, though I did not sell it to anyone, especially a cubs fan.
Secondly, ownership at least to season ticket holders has stated they hate the sea of blue that occurs when the Cubs are in town. That said with a meaningless series it would be tough to get Reds fans to the park.
As far as the memo to BC for the offseason here are my comments.
1. Don't care who the manager is. Pete got these guys to respond, though if there is someone better, hire him but not at the expense of other needs.
2. A 3rd and 4th starting pitcher is definitely needed. You may be able to get by with just a third if Homer, Shearn, Livingston, Belilse can put together a consitently good season, but getting a 3rd and a 4th with a good 5th out of those 4 and some backup in case of injury would be great.
3. Bullpen, don't care what he age is but get a bullpen that can get people out.
4. I am, despite my wife's protestations, renewing my 20 game package for next year.
Paul,
I totally agree with you but I really don't think Reds ownership cares. They talk a good game but will end up spending less money and putting the same mess on the field.
A sportswriter complaining about fans? That's funny. Guys who go to the game for free, get free food, don't stand in line for beer or the john, guys who have good seats complaining about what happens out amongst the slobs who pay for their stuff?
Funny.
I was there Friday. Most of the Cubs fans were fine. Some were jerks but if you think there's not a huge number Reds fans that are jerks, you're wrong.
What a great weekend for the Cubs. Now that I think about it, that will probably be the only time GABP gets to celebrate a Central Division championship.
And to wrap up this blog entry...Cubs lose! Cubs lose! Cubs lose! Swept in 3 games by Arizona, but is anyone really surprised?
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