Give Up After 2 Weeks

After a grueling 15 days without a pitching coach, the Cincinnati Reds took a page from the Nobel Peace Prize committee and hired someone earlier than necessary. Bryan Price, formerly of the Arizona Diamondbacks, will be the pitching coach for next year’s losing effort.

Many Reds fans had speculated that the Reds might pursue Dave Duncan, whose contract ends with the St. Louis Cardinals after this season. Of course, the Reds would have to, you know, interview people instead of hiring the first moron who they could lure into Cincinnati.

All I can figure is that with the Arizona Fall League stating, the Reds were going crazy with the idea of not having a pitching coach. I mean, how are the pitchers going know that they’re supposed to throw strikes instead of balls.

As if special-delivering a birthday present for me personally, the Chicago Tribune today reports on rumors of the Reds looking to significantly upgrade their coaching staff:

Dusty Baker may not be as safe in Cincinnati as the Reds’ strong finish would suggest. Owner Bob Castellini reportedly has his eye on the Cardinals tandem of manager Tony La Russa and pitching coach Dave Duncan.

Well, it’s no secret that many teams would have their eye on this pair, should they become available, and of course Castellini has always had the love for the St. Louis organization. George Grande might pull a Brett Favre if this were to go through.

And I make the birthday present comment because today does actually happen to be my birthday, not because firing the heckuva-guy-but-terrible-manager whose hiring drove me away from the team for a solid season is actually a gift. In fact, it’s more like stopping a wet willy.

The NLC’s only representation in the post season was just swept tonight. I had heard some say that the Cards were the team to beat in the NL and others say that the Cards were confident going in to the series. Behind Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright, I guess that’s understandable, but watching them in that last series again the Reds, I didn’t have high hopes. They went 2 for their last 10 for crying out loud.

It makes me wonder: if the Cubs hadn’t faded in September and the Cards hadn’t clinched so early, would they have been a better team going in to the post-season? Or would they not have gone at all?

Oh well, there’s always next year. Ought to be interesting to see how they do if their “pitcher whisperer” does indeed fly the coop as is being rumored. I wouldn’t hate to see him replacing Dick Pole.

George Grande, the squeaky-clean, impeccably tanned play-by-play guy for the Cincinnati Reds has called it quits:

“I wanted to spend more time at home, basically,” Grande said before Sunday’s game. “I love the Reds, what I do and I love my job. I just need to be home on a regular basis, not just four or five days a month, to keep up on things.”

I’m just glad he got a chance to see the Cardinals win it all before retiring.

In George’s honor, tonight we revisit the Georginator 6000 XL.

You may need to upgrade Flash to play the Georginator 6000 XL. Get the latest version here. Countless thanks to my crack technical staff, who created the Georginator 6000 XL essentially all by himself.

Use the Georginator 6000 XL.

Here’s a panoramic shot of Wrigley Field during its final game of the 2009 baseball season. Check out those blocked sight-lines! Click to embiggen.