April 2011
JAY BRUCE AND RYAN HANIGAN TEAM UP WITH NICK LACHEY AND FROSTEE RUCKER
From my colleague Michael Anderson, the 1987 World Champion of Duck-Duck-Goose….
Earlier today, Jay Bruce and Ryan Hanigan were joined by Nick Lachey and Bengals defensive end Frostee Rucker at the PNC/Players for the Planet E-Waste Recycling Drive at the PNC Bank in Hyde Park Plaza.
Over 400 cars donated enough e-waste to fill a entire 53-foot semi trailer.
All fans who brought old electronics received two free tickets to the Monday, May 30 Reds vs. Brewers game.
Sponsors who made this event possible were PNC Bank, CBTS, Duke Energy, Rumpke, Best Buy, Global Environmental Services and Greener Stock.
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PREGAME PHOTOS: 4/30
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REDS FARM REPORT: 4/30
Click on the PDF file to view standings, proble pitchers and series information.
REDS MINOR LEAGUE NEWS
DAYTON ROLLS
The Dayton Dragons last night won their fifth consecutive game and their eighth straight home game…last night’s victory was their 11th in 12 games…Dayton pitchers have allowed 2 runs or less in 8 of their last 11 games and 3 runs or less in 10 of 11 games…Dragons starters have given up just 7 earned runs over their last 10 games…Dayton is currently in third place, a game and a half out of first place…they began the season 2-8.
COSTANZO HEATING UP
1b Mike Costanzo (Carolina) has hit safely in 11 of his last 12 games (15-for-44, .341, 10r) to lift his batting average up over .300 (.301)…Costanzo is currently working on a 13-game on-base streak and ranks 3rd in the Southern League with 12 extra-base hits and 5th in slugging pct. (.630)
Mmm…Mmm…Good
3B Eric Campbell (Bakersfield) ranks among California League leaders in most offensive categories and leads the league in on-base pct. (.545), extra-base hits (16) slugging pct. (.744) runs (30), total bases (58) and doubles (12).
GAME REPORTS
DURHAM (RAYS) 3, LOUISVILLE 2: RHP Chad Reineke started for Louisville and allowed 2 runs on 9 hits in 5.0 innings (3bb, 2k, 1hr)…RHP Kyle McCulloch (0-1) suffered the loss in relief (1.1ip, 3h, 1r)…the Bats scored 2 runs on 5 hits (0-for-7 w/RISP)…DH Fred Lewis (rehabbing strained right oblique) went 1-for-4 with a triple…3b Todd Frazier had 2 singles.
CAROLINA 6, TENNESSEE (CUBS) 10: RHP Daryl Thompson started for Carolina and gave up 3 runs on 7 hits in 5.0 innings (2bb, 2k, 1hr)…RHP Justin Freeman (0-1) gave up 4 runs in relief to take the loss…the Mudcats rang the bell 6 times on 9 hits…1b Mike Costanzo went 2-for-5 with a 2-run homer and 2 runs scored.
BAKERSFIELD 3, STOCKTON (A’S) 8: RHP Pedro Villareal (4-1) started and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits in 4.0 innings (2bb, 4k, 1hr)…he issued his first walk in nearly 22 innings….the Blaze scored 3 times on 6 hits…3b Eric Campbell blasted his 3rd home run.
FORT WAYNE (PADRES) 0, DAYTON 4: The Dragons won their fifth consecutive game and their eighth straight at home…yesterday’s victory was their 11th in 12 games…RHP Josh Smith (2-1) started and was brilliant in his 6.0 scoreless innings, scattering 4 hits with 2 walks and 12 strikeouts…Dayton crossed the plate 4 times on 6 hits…LF Juan Duran (2r, 2bb) belted his 3rd home run of the season…SS Billy Hamilton singled and swiped 2 bags (18sb)…RF Jaren Matthews went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
QUOTE BOAT
“I didn’t see this coming. He had good stuff out of the bullpen last year, but I didn’t think he’d get acclimated to starting so quickly.” Dragons manager Delino DeShields on Dayton starter (and former reliever) Josh Smith (Dayton Daily News)
FLYING PIG TRAFFIC ALERT
Please click on the PDF file to view helpful traffic/parking information for this weekend’s Reds games and Flying Pig Marathon events.
PREGAME PHOTOS 4/29
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PLAYERS FOR THE PLANET
From my colleague Michael Anderson, who in 1983 collected 37,691 canned soup labels – shattering a Jim Neighbors Elementary School record….
Earlier today, Drew Stubbs and Paul Janish helped collect old electronics at the PNC/Players for the Planet E-Waste Recycling Drive at the PNC Bank in Deerfield Township.
On Saturday, there is another recycling drive at the PNC Bank at Hyde Park Plaza. All fans that bring old electronics for recycling will get two free View Level tickets to the Monday, May 30 Reds vs. Brewers game.
Jay Bruce and Ryan Hanigan will be greeting the recyclers from 11:30 am to 1 pm.
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REDS FARM REPORT: 4/29
Click on the PDF FILE to view probable pitchers, standings and series information.
REDS MINOR LEAGUE NEWS
FRAZIER GOES DEEP TWICE
IF/OF Todd Frazier (Louisville) homered in both games of last night’s doubleheader vs Durham…Frazier has hit safely in 7 of his last 8 games (9-for-30, .300, 3hr, 6r)…he’s played primarily 3B and LF.
BOXBERGER WITH CHEESE
RHP Brad Boxberger (Carolina) last night at Tennessee allowed his first run of the season…in 8 relief appearances, Boxberger is holding opponents to a .108 batting average and has fanned 19 batters in 11.2 innings (0.77era, 7bb).
DIAMOND DAVE
OF Dave Sappelt (Louisville) last night vs Durham collected his seventh multi-hit game of the season…In 21 games, Sappelt is batting .358 with 4hr, 11rbi, 12r, 7 doubles, .429obp and .617 slugging pct.
GAME REPORTS
DURHAM (RAYS) 2, LOUISVILLE 3
DURHAM 5, LOUISVILLE 11: Gm1: LHP Matt Maloney started and allowed a run on 3 hits in 4.0 innings (1bb, 2k)…Two rain delays cut his night short…RHP Jose Arredondo (rehabbing) earned the win in relief (2ip, 0h, 0r, 0bb, 2k, 35TP)…3b Todd Frazier and 1b Yonder Alonso both homered…Gm2: RHP Scott Carroll (1-0) started and gave up 3 runs on 7 hits in 6.0 innings (1bb, 4k, 1hr)…3b Todd Frazier belted another home run…CF Dave Sappelt went 2-for-4 with a 3-run homer…C Devin Mesoraco added a pair of hits…DH Fred Lewis (rehabbing strained right oblique) went 0-for-1 (1bb).
CAROLINA 5, TENNESSEE (CUBS) 8: LHP Travis Webb (0-3) started for Carolina and was reached for 7 runs on 9 hits in 4.1 innings (2bb, 7k)…the Mudcats plated 5 runs on 11 hits (2-for-15 w/RISP, 9 LOB)…C Chris McMurray went 2-for-4 with an RBI and 2 runs scored…RF Felix Perez had a pair of hits and scored a run.
VISALIA (D’BACKS) 4, BAKERSFIELD 1: RHP Josh Ravin (1-1) started for Bakersfield and gave up 4 runs (3er) on 5 hits in 4.1 innings (2bb, 8k)…RHP Tyree Hayes pitched 2.0 scoreless innings of relief (0h, 2bb, 3k)…the Blaze managed 1 run on 4 hits…RF Stephen Hunt led the offense with 2 hits and an RBI.
FORT WAYNE (PADRES) 2, DAYTON 6: The Dragons won their fourth straight game and their seventh consecutive home game…they’ve won 10 of their last 11…RHP Daniel Renken (1-2) started for Dayton and allowed a run on 2 hits in 6.0 innings (2bb, 10k)…RHP Chad Rogers fanned 4 in his 2.0 perfect innings of relief…Dayton scored 6 runs on 12 hits…3b David Vidal (2r, 2 doubles) and CF Yorman Rodriguez (1r, 2rbi, triple) had 3 hits apiece…C Tucker Barnhart went 2-for-2 with (1bb, 1rbi, 1r).
QUOTE BOAT
“We’re having a blast. A lot of our success is coming from just having a good time.” Dragons C Tucker Barnhart on Dayton’s winning ways (Dayton Daily News)
“They’re young and they’re going to make mistakes. But their pitching will carry them.” – Reds minor league filed coordinator Freddie Benavides on the Dayton Dragons (Dayton Daily News)
VOTTO TO BE AWARDED TIP O’NEILL AWARD SATURDAY
From the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame…
April 28, 2010
Votto to be awarded Tip O’Neill Award Saturday night in Cinci
Ceremony slated prior to Reds game on Joey Votto MVP Bobblehead Night
Cincinnati – While the first 30,000 fans at Great American Ball Park will receive a Joey Votto Bobblehead, the Canadian slugger will be awarded his 2010 Tip O’Neill Award in a brief pre-game ceremony prior to Saturday night’s game at Great American Ball Park (First Pitch 7:10pm) when his Cincinnati Reds host the Florida Marlins.
This is the first Tip Award for the reigning National League MVP, an honour presented annually by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the player judged to have excelled in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball’s highest ideals.
Larry Walker won the award a record nine times, with 2009 winner Jason Bay being next with a total of three. Justin Morneau and Eric Gagné, with two each, are the only other multiple winners.
“Nobody at the Hall believes that this will be the only time we’ll be honouring Joey,” said president & CEO Tom Valcke, who will present the award along with Director of Operations Scott Crawford.
“He’s a rare specimen, but yet a typical Canadian in his work ethic, wholesome values and pride in his nationality. He won’t be talking about this award after Saturday, because for Joey Votto, it’s all about the next game.”
The Etobicoke, Ontario native is already en route to back-to-back Tips, with a terrific start in the 2011 campaign, compiling a team-leading .379 batting average, five homeruns and 16 RBI so far in April. The left-handed hitting first baseman’s .509 on-base percentage and .655 slugging percentage are also among the league leaders.
In a landslide vote for the 2010 Tip, Votto led the Reds to the NL’s Central Division Championship while batting .324, hitting 37 homeruns and driving in 113 runs. In addition to compiling an incredible league-leading .424 on-base percentage and .600 slugging percentage for the 2010 season, the 27-year-old All-Star racked up 31 of 32 first place votes in winning the National League’s MVP award. He also won the Hank Aaron Award.
In the Hall’s internet and Facebook poll, more than 80% of respondents chose Votto.
The award is named after Woodstock, Ontario native James ‘Tip’ O’Neill was one of Major League baseball’s first legitimate stars. With the St. Louis Browns in 1887, O’Neill batted 492, SLG-.691, Hits-225, Doubles-52, Triples-19, Homeruns-14, Total Bases-357, Runs-167 (4th all-time for a single season), RBI-123. The outfielder set major league records in hits, doubles, slugging percentage, and total bases that season while compiling his astounding .492 batting average. Bases on balls were included as hits in 1887, but if O’Neill’s average was calculated by today’s standard, it was .435, the second highest in major league history to Hugh Duffy (.438).
Past winners of the James “Tip” O’Neill Award:
| 1984 | TERRY PUHL |
| 1985 | DAVE SHIPANOFF |
| 1986 | ROB DUCEY |
| 1987 | LARRY WALKER |
| 1988 | KEVIN REIMER |
| 1989 | STEVE WILSON |
| 1990 | LARRY WALKER |
| 1991 | DANIEL BRABANT |
| 1992 | LARRY WALKER |
| 1993 | ROB BUTLER |
| 1994 | LARRY WALKER |
| 1995 | LARRY WALKER |
| 1996 | JASON DICKSON |
| 1997 | LARRY WALKER |
| 1998 | LARRY WALKER |
| 1999 | JEFF ZIMMERMAN |
| 2000 | RYAN DEMPSTER |
| 2001 | LARRY WALKER (tie) |
| 2001 | COREY KOSKIE (tie) |
| 2002 | LARRY WALKER (tie) |
| 2002 | ERIC GAGNÉ (tie) |
| 2003 | ERIC GAGNÉ |
| 2004 | JASON BAY |
| 2005 | JASON BAY |
| 2006 | JUSTIN MORNEAU |
| 2007 | RUSSELL MARTIN |
| 2008 | JUSTIN MORNEAU |
| 2009 | JASON BAY |
| 2010 | JOEY VOTTO |
<< Please Note: The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame will induct Tom Henke, Allan Simpson and George Wood on Saturday, June 18, 2011 on the Ceremonial Grounds in St. Marys, Ontario. >>
Jamie Ramsey
Lisa Braun
