BREAKING NEWS: #VOTEREDS LUNCHEON RETURNING TO GABP!
After a one year hiatus, I’m happy to report that the Vote Reds Luncheon at Great American Ball Park will return this year on Thursday, June 27!
Our friends at La Rosa’s have graciously “elected” to sponsor this popular event. Free pizza and Coca Cola soft drinks will be served that day in the GABP Champions Club from 11am to 2pm!
You all are invited, so please bring your appetite and your laptops/smart phones/tablets to Vote Reds at the ballpark on the 27th!
We’ll provide the food as long as you provide the votes!
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Congratulations to @GarbsML87 for being randomly chosen as this week’s #VoteReds Twitter Lunch winner!
Here’s the roll call of today’s #VoteReds Twitter Lunch…
@Jamieblog today’s noon time culinary delight is a pizza sub with a side of #VoteReds.
— Sarah Counts (@scounts22) June 19, 2013
What are you doing for lunch? Go to #VOTEREDS and let us and @Jamieblog know!
http://t.co/kUgODPndjf
…— Jamie Bee (@TheJamieBee) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog #VOTEREDS just added 35 more votes! Will be coming from Virginia to GABP for tomorrow’s game!
— Clara and Chloe (@ClaraandChloe) June 19, 2013
@lisabraun @Jamieblog I’m going with peanut butter and jelly for the #VoteReds lunch.
— Lindsay Patterson (@lindzpatterson) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog 25 votes down, lots to go. #voteredslunch #voteredsbreakfast #votereds pic.twitter.com/ZAIt6ByJpw
— RobLaing (@RobLaing) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog #VoteReds Done. Completed. Forgot to take pics. Doh. 😁
— alison brice (@sassy_bearcat06) June 19, 2013
#VoteReds @Reds @proudlycincy pic.twitter.com/qaIjzN1baK
— Jacob (@JaNick513) June 19, 2013
@Reds I got my 25 #VoteReds in during lunch today #redsbaseball
— Kevin Alexander (@Kalexander2007) June 19, 2013
— Amy Bryant (@joewill4) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog #VOTEREDS 35 times. Had pasta and Golden Oreos for lunch
— Cody Marsee (@cmarsee3) June 19, 2013
— Teresa (@T_is_confused) June 19, 2013
I just woke up an hour ago so my #VoteReds twitter lunch is a cup of hot java while watching Quick Pitch @Jamieblog pic.twitter.com/BxY6fPVWeb
— Ben Wietmarschen (@benwietmarschen) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog AND ALSO, I’ve voted 35 times online and a dozen hand ballots. #VoteReds
— Ben Wietmarschen (@benwietmarschen) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog 35 votes for the good guys! No lunch yet, just bar exam prep. #VoteReds pic.twitter.com/3LBbIpLbTj
— Matt Brandabur (@Brandabur) June 19, 2013
Lunchtime! #votereds
— Angela E (@notsodumbgirl) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog voted 25 times and had a sandwich pic.twitter.com/ZRW6E9TEhA
— Hunter Lowe (@hunch4osu) June 19, 2013
25 votes in! Did it while waiting on my daughter’s lessons. #VoteReds
— Chad Reno (@CJR13) June 19, 2013
Lunch date with the Cincinnati Reds #votereds — Amie Ricketts (@rickettsgirl3) June 19, 2013
I think I’ll do the most important thing in society today. #VOTEREDS!!!! — #VoteReds (@DatDudeBR) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog #VoteReds twenty five times a Reds voter! Hortons Tuscan chicken panini on multi grain bread. Yummy @mousetalk1on1
— John Ober (@photoman452) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog #VoteReds. Lunch and voting Reds. pic.twitter.com/Eyp0lcpLuC
— Darrell Record (@Stubb1966) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog I’m doing #VoteReds now whilst enjoying a turkey and Swiss on wheat sandwich. — Jason (@Abd4253) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog 35 votes and some soup #votereds — Bryan Murray (@Beamer1117) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog just voted 50 times! #VoteReds #whiff @Reds
— Monica Garber (@GarbsML87) June 19, 2013
#votereds done my part everyone else vote vote vote @DatDudeBP pic.twitter.com/uk4A35coej
— Amie Ricketts (@rickettsgirl3) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog 35 votes while enjoying a peanut butter & strawberry jam sandwich! #VoteReds
— Laura (@lschmidt84) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog Another 50 votes for the Reds. #VoteReds
— Matt Stalker (@stalker_matt) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog Early voter. The max allotted — 35 times
— Barbara Bauer (@fanofCincyREDS) June 19, 2013
@FlavaFraz21 I thought I was the only person to eat ketchup with breakfast #breakfastofchampions #reds #votereds #whiff
— Rebecca Brummett (@BeckyBrummett) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog I voted on my phone, so much, that I now have a dent in my thumb-kind of like old school “Nintendo Thumb” pic.twitter.com/OZVbOXGFBo
— Erin Wesselman (@e_wesselman) June 19, 2013
#VoteReds voting done! Lunch done! Now enjoying a little dessert!! pic.twitter.com/rdFg1F5Abp
— Genny C. (@ennywithaG) June 19, 2013
Another week, another successful #VoteReds lunch pic.twitter.com/56I8ZXe2Ho
— Sarah Goddard (@Sarlizgd) June 19, 2013
Subway and 100 votes for our Reds. #VoteReds
— Lori Smith (@LoriS526) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog Having myself a little #VoteReds lunch in Lytle Park. pic.twitter.com/DwCJXVtGOf
— Mark Kylander (@markylander) June 19, 2013
#VoteReds, even if it breaks your heart. #JoeyVotto ⚾❤
— Cierra Hall⚓ (@CierraTaylor8) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog For the #VoteReds lunch, had bacon and cheddar pancakes. Only voted once, but I’ll fix that later.
— Chris Hicks (@Kaertos) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog Got a few more in before my lunch was over. 125 votes for the Reds today. Need to create more e-mails. #VoteReds
— Matt Stalker (@stalker_matt) June 19, 2013
Hope everyone is joining the #VoteReds team.@Reds fans need to show why we are the best fans in baseball!!
— Denise Luellen (@nesi66) June 19, 2013
@lisabraun I’m inspired!
#VoteReds
— Jennifer Mayes (@IamJennyLoraine) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog #votereds 35 times! #keepcalmanddrinkrootbeer @rootbeerstand #whiff @reds pic.twitter.com/F6DupC67h5
— 6buckeyes (@jbrutvan) June 19, 2013
Hope everyone is joining the #VoteReds team.@Reds fans need to show why we are the best fans in baseball!!
— Denise Luellen (@nesi66) June 19, 2013
@jamieblog Turkey sandwich, voting and watching afternoon interleague baseball.#VoteReds
— Lisa Braun (@lisabraun) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog Count me in for 35 more votes, using my wife’s email…while enjoying a lovely meatloaf sammy. #VoteReds
— Tom Niebuer (@tniebuer) June 19, 2013
No picture. No lunch. But I did vote 35 times! Counts for something. @Jamieblog #VoteReds
— Tess Witt (@TessWitt) June 19, 2013
For my #VoteReds lunch, I had Izzy’s! YUM! Also, I now have post-all-star-voting stress disorder.
— Andrea Thrasher (@andrealynn001) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog I voted once or twice today. Turning them in tonight! #VoteRedsLunch pic.twitter.com/N712W2dkCv
— LotETailgate (@bherzog2010) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog 35 votes with my quinoa salad and water (much tastier than that may sound)
— laurie (@laurie_PDX) June 19, 2013
Remember to #VoteReds. #Reds #ASG pic.twitter.com/p3Y1aFHOxB
— Gingersaurus Rex (@GingersaurusRe1) June 19, 2013
Belated #VoteReds @Jamieblog …turkey club and 25 votes!
— Melissa Ramsey (@MoneyMelRamsey) June 19, 2013
Added another 225 votes for the good guys! #VoteReds
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— Sara Middendorf (@semidden) June 19, 2013
@Jamieblog I participated in the lunch #votereds! Had my pizza rolls and voted 35 times!
— Allie W. (@Papoose_63) June 19, 2013
What are you doing for lunch? Take a few minutes to #VOTEREDS and let us and @Jamieblog know!
http://t.co/Gwti1nn15G
— rhinehausotr (@rhinehausotr) June 19, 2013
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEVIN MESORACO!
Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco today celebrates his 25th birthday.
Children at the Reds Rookie Success League this afternoon serenaded Devin with their version of “Happy Birthday.”
WEDNESDAY’S #REDS LINEUP: WHO’S YOUR ‘RED-TO-ROCK?’
Robinson is leading off, Choo is batting second. (Changed from previous lineup)
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From my pal @Bongreatness…
Tonight is the 5th annual “Zoo Night” at the ballpark, in partnership with the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. Thirteen animals from the Zoo are joining us at tonight’s game to meet fans in the Fan Zone from 5:40-6:20PM and 6:50 until the end of the 1st inning as well as participate in a pregame parade around the warning track. Some of the animals joining us include “Rose” the Screaming Hairy Armadillo, “Joey” the Potto and “Magnolia and Thatcher” the miniature Juliana pigs.
Also as part of Zoo Night, “Sam” the Bald Eagle will make his third ceremonial flight of the 2013 season, flying from the Cincinnati Bell Riverboat Deck to the pitcher’s mound. Sam’s next appearance after tonight is scheduled for July 3rd.
#VOTEREDS TWITTER LUNCH TODAY!
Beginning today at noon ET, we will have another #VoteReds Twitter Lunch for the 2013 All-Star election!
For those of you not familiar with Vote Reds Twitter lunch, it’s simply a fun way to engage fellow Reds fans to vote for our prospective Cincinnati All-Stars during the regular Wednesday lunch break.
Help us get our Reds into the 2013 All-Star Game by taking a few minutes during lunch today to cast your ballot!
All you need to do is:
- Treat yourself to a delicious lunch
- Log onto Reds.com/Vote and cast your ballot for the 2013 MLB All-Star Game (Vote Reds!)
- Tweet me using the hashtag #VoteReds to confirm you participated (photos are encouraged but aren’t necessary)
- That’s it!
I will post a “roll call” of those who participated right here on Better Off Red prior to tonight’s Reds/Pirates game.
For you west coast Reds fans, don’t worry – you most definitely are in on this, too. We eastern time zoners are going to give you ample time to participate, as well.
One lucky participant today will win a “sur-prize pack” featuring a few Reds goodies.
VOTE Appetit!
TUESDAY’S RUNDOWN
From my pal @Bongreatness…
Tonight is Police & Fire Appreciation Night at Great American Ball Park. Held annually for over 30 years, this event allows us to salute the men & women of our local Police, Fire & EMS Departments. Activities planned for tonight include:
• A simultaneous first pitch offered up by Cincinnati Police Officers Orlando Smith & Benjamin Schneider. Both of these officers were recently award with the CPD’s Medal of Valor for going above & beyond in the line of duty.
• A ceremonial first pitch by Cincinnati Fire Chief Richard A. Braun. Braun is the 16th Fire Chief in the 160 year history of the CFD.
• Honor Guards for tonight’s game will be provided by the Covington Police Department & Greenwood (IN) Fire Department. The singing of our National Anthem tonight will be done by Hamilton County Sherriff’s Deputy James Whitacre. And prior to the singing of our National Anthem we will pause for a Moment of Silence in honor of all fallen members of the police, fire & EMS departments.
• Tonight’s official game ball will be delivered to the mound by Cincinnati Police Officer Ronald Hale, a member of S.W.A.T. who also served in the Army during the Persian Gulf War.
• Tonight’s Honorary Captains of the game will be Parker & Hunter Ellis, the children of Bardstown (KY) Police Officer James Ellis. Officer Ellis paid the ultimate sacrifice when he was killed in the line of duty on May 25th. Officer Ellis was a graduate of Glen Este High School & played for one season in the Reds minor league system with the Billings Mustangs. A member of the Ellis family TBD will also offer up our final ceremonial first pitch of the evening.
• Tonight’s Hometown Hero is Ludlow (KY) police officer James Seibert, a member of the Army National Guard who served in Afghanistan.
• During the middle of the 7th inning break tonight we will pause for a special singing of God Bless America, performed tonight by retired Cincinnati Firefighter Bennyce Hamilton.
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From our friends at Elias Sports Bureau…
Reds score all four runs on solo homers
Zack Cozart, Todd Frazier, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce hit home runs in the Reds’ 4-1 win over the Pirates. One other major-league team scored four (or more) runs in a game this season, with solo homers accounting for all of their runs: the Phillies, in a 4-3 win against the Red Sox on May 29.
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I really like what Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said last night about Mike Leake…
“He’s been doing this for three months now and building up to this,” Hurdle said. “He’s a good pitcher. When you look at that young man, he’s drafted in the first round, the [eighth] pick in the nation [in 2009]. That’s not projecting a frame, that’s not getting a 6-4, 220-pound guy that’s going to be a horse. That’s a guy that can pitch, and that’s what he’s evolved into, and that’s what he does.
“He keeps the ball out of the middle of the plate, he changes speeds extremely well. And he actually, from his perspective with his skill, he controls the barrel. He gets you out front, he beats with you fastballs. He’s pitching as well as I’ve ever seen him.”
(courtesy of MLB.com)
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More in a bit.
Jamie
GROUP WEDDING AT GABP ON AUGUST 2
Couples Wanted for Group Wedding at Great American Ball Park – Aug. 2
CINCINNATI — Whether you’re saying “I do” for the first time or renewing your vows, join the Reds for “I Do’s On The Diamond,” the first ever mass wedding at Great American Ball Park on Friday, Aug. 2.
The Reds are offering the opportunity for couples to exchange vows on the field prior to the Reds vs. Cardinals game at 7:10 p.m.
After the ceremony, couples will join 10 of their closest family and friends for an exclusive reception in the luxurious Riverfront Club, including an upscale dinner and open bar.
As a part of the mass wedding, the “I Do’s On The Diamond” package will also include a congratulatory scoreboard message, one-of-a-kind Cincinnati Reds favors and décor, special photo opportunities and more; capped off with unparalleled views of the postgame fireworks show.
For complete details, please contact the Special Events Department at (513) 765-7065 or events@reds.com.
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MONDAY’S RUNDOWN
From my pal @Bongreatness…
Tonight is the 2nd annual Reds Racing Night at GABP, presented by Kroger. NASCAR displays and car simulators will be present throughout the Kroger Fan Zone tonight for fans to enjoy and we’ll welcome NASCAR drivers Bobby Labonte & Kevin Harvick, who will offer up a simultaneous first pitch during pregame ceremonies tonight.
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Best Records in Baseball Over Last 162 Games
1. Oakland (102-59, .634)
2. Cincinnati (100-62, .613)
3. Atlanta (98-64, .605)
4. St. Louis (97-65, .599)
5. Baltimore (93-69, .574)
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From our friends at Elias Sports Bureau…
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The Reds and Pirates begin a big NL Central 4-game series tonight at GABP. For the series, the Pirates have arranged a left-right-left-right pitching rotation: LHP Francisco Liriano (tonight), RHP Charlie Morton (tomorrow), LHP Jeff Locke (Wednesday) and RHP Brandon Cumpton (Thursday).
Of the 4, only Locke has given up a home run this season; he’s allowed 5 homers – none to left-handed hitters.
Here’s hoping the boys in red put several over the wall during this 4-game showdown!
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I’ll have more in a bit.
Expect good news
Jamie


















