Once again the Crack Technical Staff and I turned on the ol’ digital recorder starting in the eighth inning of a Reds game we attended in Great American Ball Park. This episode, however, is even better than the last one, thanks to the addition of the Bellyscratcher and her Proxy–Cardinals fans who are slowly coming to appreciate the wonders of Reds Nation.

In addition to the play-by-play, we talk about:

• Our pre-game snack at The Machine Room Grille
• Our tour of the behind-the-scenes stuff (it was totally awesome (but don’t tell Rob Butcher I was there, since he’s the only one who truly knows how “uncontrollable” I am))
• Having a La Rosa’s pizza delivered to our seats
• Our post-game plans to hit the Hofbräuhaus after the game, and the Proxy’s deal to buy the first round for everyone if the Cardinals will just come back to win
• The Cardinals’ inability to come back to win

A fantastic time was had by all. I look forward to doing it again tomorrow.

Episode 64: The Eighth Inning Show (Versus Cardinals) (17.5MB, 25:30)

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Below are some of the numbers for Barry Bonds in his career versus the Reds. Bonds currently has 750 HRs and is on the march to break Henry Aarons all-time record of 755 HR in a career. Hopefully, the record tying or record breaking home run will not occur against the Reds when the Giants visit Cincinnati June 3-5.

Barry Bonds Breakdown
(2007 and vs. Reds SP)

All stats as of June 29, 2007

Bonds Needs 5 to tie all-time HR record, 6 to break it

71 Games played out of 78 total games on Giants' schedule
Last full day off: Wednesday, June 27
16 Home runs
191 At-Bats
2.69 AB per Game
1 Home run per 12 At-bats

2 games in Arizona = 5.38 ABs = 0 HRs
2 games in Arizona plus 3 games in Cincinnati = 5 games = 13.45 AB = 1 HR

63 Games vs. RHP
12 of 16 HR vs. RHP
5 of 16 HR on the road

History at Great American Ballpark:
1 HR in 2006 (to right field)
1 HR in 2003 (to right field)

Pitching Probables July 3-5

Tuesday vs. Aaron Harang (give up 9 HR this season)
1 HR, 1-4 in Great American Ballpark (2006)
1-4 in AT&T Park (2006)

Wednesday vs. Bronson Arroyo (given up 9 HR this season)
0-3, BB in Great American Ballpark (2006)

Thursday vs. Matt Belisle (given up 13 HR this season)
1-1 in AT&T Park (2006)
0-9 in Great American Ballpark (2004)
3-6, 2 HR in SBC Park (AT&T) in (2004)

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If these numbers hold out and depending on how many games Bonds sits out or does not record a pinch-hit home run, the record will come sometime between the 13th and 31st of July. It is also possible for him to have a multi-home run game at any time; most likely against the Chicago Cubs depending on what direction and how hard the wind is blowing at Wrigley Field. Of course, with the All-Star break in San Francisco and a subsequent three-game series at AT&T Park allows for Bonds to continue to play without any days off.

Jonny, Bellyscratcher, Proxy, and I are here in lovely Cincinnati. The weather is beautiful and the park will be opening in less than an hour. Life is good.

Go Reds!

As BubbaFan already noted, the Reds have designated for assignment Victor Santos after a horrible extra-inning loss to the Phillies. They called up, in his place, Ricky Stone. Apparently this guy has been around before or something. Sez the official site:

After pitching in 23 games for the Reds in 2005, his fourth Major League season since being selected by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft, Stone walked away from baseball in hopes of finding a routine as a business owner and family man.

Of course, I wish Stone and all the Reds the best of luck, though I do have that same sort of Groundhog Day feeling that smartelf was talking about.

We’re about to head off to Great American Ball Park with Bellyscratcher and Proxy but decided to record a quick podcast around the rectangular kitchen table.Join us for our echoing rambles about the Reds, the Cardinals, and the “crappy” National League Central.

Episode 63: Baseball Rectangle Table with Bellyscratcher and Proxy (19.8MB, 21:38)

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