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I know you're bumming because our boys haven't been showing up and have a four-game losing streak, but I guarantee that this video will make your day. It's a video for the Screaming Mimes song, Three Cheers Cincinnati.
If you like the song, you can buy the CD at the Reds Community Fund on-line shop.
ByThe Reds brought their losing streak to four on Monday when they lost their second game to the Milwaukee Brewers by a score of 6-5.
Aaron Harang's outing was uncharacteristically weak, but hardly 2005-Milton-esque. He allowed four runs (earned) on six hits and three walks through five innings.
Joe Mays held the Brewers hitless through two innings. Alas, Kent Mercker gave up two runs (earned) on two hits through two-thirds of an inning. Todd Coffey allowed zero runs on a hit through the remainder of the eighth, and Chris Hammond allowed no hits in the ninth.
Adam Dunn hit a solo home run in the second inning. David Ross hit a two-run job in the fifth and another solo shot in the seventh. Thanks to a generous donation to the BLAH from an anonymous benefactor who identified himself only as Sweet Jerry, Jason LaRue hit a homer in the fifth.
Too bad four long balls would be one too few this time around.
The loss brings the Reds' record to 36-28. They try to avoid losing a series and end all this crazy streakiness tonight when they send Bronson Arroyo out to face Doug Davis.
ByThe Reds utterly failed to split the four-game series with the Cubs on Sunday when they lost their third in a row, 9-3.
Eric Milton wasn't the problem with his four runs allowed (three earned) on six hits and one walk through seven innings. David Weathers didn't help matters with his three runs (earned) on three hits in zero innings. Chris Hammond coughed up two runs (earned) on three hits through one.
Rick White was the only pitcher to hold the Cubs scoreless on zero hits through the ninth. Though, by that time, the Cubs might have just been embarrassed to score any more.
Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns, Scott Hatteberg, Brandon Phillips, and David Ross had one hit apiece. And that's it. Dunn, Philips, and Ross were the ones to knock in the three runners.
And all this against a brand-new rookie starter and the Cubs' bullpen. Ugh.
The loss brought the Reds' record to 36-27. They would continue the bleeding on Monday when they sent Aaron Harang out to face the Brewers' brand-new rookie starter Zach Jackson.
ByYesterday, I took the family down to Victory Field in Indianapolis, Indiana to watch the Louisville Bats defeat the Indians 9-6.
Round about the eighth inning, the Crack Technical Staff and I recorded this week's podcast. In this episode we discuss the Bats game we're looking at, the recent Reds' winning streak, the even-more-recent Reds' losing streak, and the finer points of harrassing relief pitchers as they warm up in the bullpen.
We close out the program with a snippet of Score by Jen Hillard, one of the tracks available on Clutch Hits, the album that benefits the Reds Community Fund. It's available online at the Reds Community Fund Online Shop for $15.
Episode 15: Live from Victory Field. (8.11 MB, 11:48)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
ByCincinnati Clutch Hits
Buddy Roger's Music
To benefit the Reds Community Fund
Available online at the Reds Community Fund Online Shop for $15.
Cincinnati Clutch Hits is a collection of musical tributes to baseball in general and the Reds specifically by Cincinnati-area musical artists as well as nationally known names. Clutch Hits runs the gamut of musical stylings which often defy description, but the variety does provide a little something for everyone.
Marty Brennaman starts the album by introducing each performer or group as if they were in a defensive line-up. It's cutsie and something you'll probably skip over after the first dozen listens or so. My favorite part is that he has Raquel Aurilia coming out of the bullpen. Maybe the Reds should consider it.
And Andy performs Wire to Wire, an upbeat little number about a guy finding his dream girl on the Reds' jumbo-tron. It makes use of tons of references to Reds' pop culture that you're sure to appreciate.
Freekbass contributes Reds Fan. From the website, it looks like Freekbass would be called funk, but we're well outside of my realm of musical experience with this piece. I liked it well enough. Crack technical staff can't stand it.
Under the Lights is a guitar-led country-style ballad by Noah Hunt about becoming a Reds' fan. The experience of a four-year-old spending time with his father at the stadium is a story many fans will identify with.
Screaming Mimes, with their college band name, had me thinking I'd be hearing some harsh, ranty tunes, but I couldn't have been more off-base. Think Barenaked Ladies meets an entire history of the Reds organization from 1869 for Three Cheers, Cincinnati. They reprise their cheerful sound later in the album with The Big Show. In both cases, these are the most likely songs to be stuck in my head for hours after listening.
Score by Jen Hillard has an innocent-sounding beat that belies the incredibly suggestive lyrics. Seriously, enough to make the Red Hot Mama blush. (“It might be a sin, but I keep thinking about first base with him.”) You've got to have an appreciation for a song that can do that.
Blessid Union of Souls provides Play Ball and Me, Marty, Joe, Ted & Louise, a couple tunes you'll probably recognize. I believe they were released on a previous album, but I was unable to maneuver their web site to confirm that. In any event, they're solid tracks.
Jake Speed and the Freddies contribute Old Man Joe, a folk piece about the career of Joe Nuxhall. It's awesome and I love every bit of it. In their photo in the liner notes, there's a banjo, an accordian, a fiddle--the only things missing are the wash board and the jug with XXX on the side.
Heart of a Hero is an original piece by one of our favorites here at RHM, Raquel Aurilia. It took me a few days to figure out what this song was reminiscent of. It's kind of dark and severe. In fact, it was the Crack Technical Staff that finally came through with the info: The Stroke by Billy Squier. Message of this song is much different, of course.
Ryan Adcock, in The Cul-de-sac League, gives a startlingly acute trip down memory lane with his description of playing baseball in the street as a kid. When he mentions the ghost man on third, you just want to double-over with the poignantness of it all.
psychodots give us Gimmetheball, a song that repeats its own title several dozen times with some very interesting progressions. I'm a little concerned about what it says about my mental state that I like this song so well.
Hall of Fame by Greg Mahan is entirely over my head. It seems to tell a story of a pitcher, but I must not be solid enough in my baseball knowledge to get it. Still, it's got interesting and unusual rhythms and a cool overall sound.
Chalkie features Blessid Union on the song Lost in the Lights, perhaps the only slapstick song I'm familiar with. It's a light rockish piece about an outfielder getting an easy fly ball that will win his team the World Series, but losing it in the lights. It's OK, though, because after he falls down, the ball lands between his legs for an out. That one, if it actually happened, would be sure to appear on Sportscenter for all of eternity.
Kinsey Rose gives us Daddy's Glove, a sentimental acoustic tune about realizing what's important in life while looking at her father's old baseball glove. Super-sweet bordering on schmaltzy: this song will be your mother's absolute favorite. You should buy her the album just for this track.
Peter Frampton wraps up the album with his talkbox rendition of Take Me Out to the Ball Game. I just don't like the song. I've never liked the talkbox effect, he messes up the lyrics a couple times, and he doesn't say “Redlegs” instead of “home team.” Sorry, Mr. Frampton. I give you full props for being involved with the project, though, and for lending the power of your name to the album.
Reds Community Fund Concert June 15
Don't forget that two of the artists featured on Clutch Hits will be performing live and in person this Thursday, June 15 at the Madison Theatre in Covington.
