I'll start off saying I don't really care about weed.

I don't smoke weed, never have and in my 30's I probably never will.

But if my job happen to come across that I was smoking weed, and then I was drug tested to prove it.  THEN I admited I was a pot head.  Guess what would happen to me?  I would be fired.  I believe that's what would happen to most of us.  I haven't worked at too many jobs where the handbook wasn't pretty clear on this.  Now in most cases you'd never get caught and your job would never find out so that's why millions of potheads still have jobs I imagine.

Yet if your a pro ball player that's not what happens, and I guess it is employers perrogative on what happens. 

Now in the normal world as you raise up the ladder, you get paid more, and you have a more public face you are expected to hold a higher moral code.(mostly because you want to make sure you protect all that money)

So now I'm confused.  I know the answer is simple, but I hate the situation it puts me in.  I tell my son that baseball is great, honest and good.  That baseball players and baseball helps many that are in need and you should use them as a goal to strive to.

But when he asks me how Lincecum is a pot head and if pot is ok, then I of course say "No!"  My son looks at me and says "But Dad Lincecum is a pot head" and I look at everyone else's response is "eh, it's only weed.  or he's a ball player what do you expect?"  how do I explain this?  Only some baseball players are good and you won't know who isn't till they screw up?

He apologized today during his Cy Young acceptance speech. 

Sorry doesn't cut it with me, you didn't back into my car.  You knowingly used something you shouldn't have and got caught.

Going back to my other notation...

If I'm paid more than I would ever get paid in the regular job market and one of my responsibilities is to be a role model for kids (because it's what the MLB throws out there all the time to promote itself) then guess what you should be fired.  If anything for being dumb.

We didn't do that today, as a matter of fact we went and gave him an award and a pat on the back, and that is wrong. (Cy Young must be proud)

It's not really a matter of being pro weed or not.  It's about the rules not being what they should be, and what they should be is what most of us have to live up to and then 5% better.  You're lucky enough to be selected out of hundreds of players (mind you forget the thousands that try in lower leagues) to make it to the bigs. Your job is to play a game, and get paid millions for it, you have associations (which is just a union) to protect and assure you get millions for it, and you don't have the common sense to follow the rules!?!  That's cool, then give the guy next in line a try, because you're not worth it.

I listened to an interview with Jay Bruce today and he can't even recognize a nationally recognized strip club and that's legal.  You can hear it in his voice he avoids going out drinking in public for chance something might not go right.  Booze is legal, but he's making sure he doesn't give the man any reason to come after him.  That's the right answer.

Will this change?  Odds are no, but this fan knows that someone has to say it so that people more important than him realize that the fan base thinks about it too, and maybe that's a start.  Because if it's not going to ever change then why bother with the other rules too.

The off season is getting ready for full swing, and after reading the articles and twitter the stove is hot asking questions about these three guys.

Jonny Gomes: What's not to like he's rough, he hits ok, he had a good HR year with 20 and  he's not a bad left fielder (okay he's not great, but he is good) ok so maybe there are a few things not to like.  But how much better do we really have?  Arbitraition?  Hmmm...don't know what do you think?

Willy Taveras: What's to like? The Reds will drop 4 million (one of the highest paid players on the team) and thus far we haven't gotten what we've paid for from last years investment.  I know it's not the MLB way, but we you have the season Willy did I really think the player should want to drop his salary down into the basement to assure his spot in the lineup so that he can fix his image and his stats.  Mark Sheldon says "He's rather one dimensional in that he only plays center field, has no power for any quick offensive boost, doesn't bunt well, doesn't play great defense and he doesn't excel at getting on base. Although Taveras is certainly a good person, I also can't see him being a happy clubhouse presence as a reserve player"  What I hope for is that he comes in and blows our socks off, but most are telling me not to hold my breath.

Laynce Nix: Everyone is pointing toward the fact that he's the closest to the door, not saying he's out it yet but almost.  He's one I really actually want us to keep.  I think 29 is a bit old for our rebuilding idea, but I just feel he is the power that we're missing.

It's a circle,

We don't have a huge payroll, because we don't bring in the money.

We don't bring in the money because we don't win.

We don't win because we don't have the talent, drive, and well money that other teams do.

Which brings us back around to we don't have a huge payroll.

So going off of my normal rant for a moment that the money is mismanaged (and it is, but let's be honest what multimillion dollar company doesn't mismanage it most of the time)

What can we do about it?  Well we can get the fans to the ball park.  Gee Cob, really is that all we have to do?  We've been doing this for a while and we already knew that, our question is how do we get people to the games and then more importantly get them to come back again.  How do we eventually turn regular 3 to 5 game fans to season ticket holders?

Glad you asked.

Great American Ball Park is an awesome place, it's not the stadiums fault.  It's beautiful, it's got pleanty of seats at all the price ranges to make it open for everyone.  The food is not bad, sure we could do a little more here, but really it's not bad.

So what are we missing?

1. The baseball experience.

    A. I go to Chicago and there are obvious places around the stadium to hang out before the game and after to be around baseball fans.  Wrigleyville is a mecca of baseball.  Cincy doesn't have even a percentage of it.  I've been going for years and I drive in and out.  I go to Hooters across the river and it's not bad, but it's across the river.

I've been to inbetween and I'm not in awe.

We need those parking lots that are perfect tailgating spots to be a place of community!  We need them to rally!  We need to get street vendors not selling just water and peanuts but be able to setup tents and be able to get people to gather.  Sure we need family friendly areas too, but we also need areas that pull the 21+ crowd together.  

   B. Open the freaking ball park or do something in the plaza in front of the ball park to get the fans in gear.  I've sat in front of the ball park hours before the game hoping that you would start having batting practice outside.  Nope...  Hoping that you might send some guys out to sign autographs...Nope...Do some sort of pep rally..Nada.

Now don't get me wrong you do the basics, and really you might be the best in the tri state about the basics. (cheerleaders, Big Screen games, mascots, shopping, HOF)  but come on, let's be honest.  I have to travel to another ball park to talk baseball and get ribbed or high fived for wearing my jersey.  Why because our fans don't care, and most of the are just visiting.  Why?  Because that's what we've cultivated.  This is the place you visit and leave, we hope you spend money too while your here.  Which from what I can tell we do, but obviously not enough.

These are things that the Reds can fix with the right people doing the right things and some of that million dollar budget going to getting the fans involved.  Which goes to my next point.

2. Get us involved!

    A. We're in a new era of fandom, become a leader in it.  A high tech leader (We don't just show all those commercials about Cincy Bell because we think there great right?) Give me a place to bring my laptop/netbook (*cough* Dell sells netbooks with Cincinnati Reds logos all over them for less than $400)  or give me a place that has wifi, Free wifi  bloggers are long term fans, geeks are long term fans.  Think about it, a place that can go a few ways.  It supports geekdom, geeks like math, math is stats, stats is baseball.  It's a place for the teens.  Teens like twitter and facebook, like their phones and their photos and updates, this takes bandwidth.  Business men like getting out of the office, small business men love being able to work from places other than their house, the ball park is perfect.  The pace of the game is slow enough that they can write an email and watch the game at the same time all while getting some fresh air and a hot dog.  Local schools (both College and Grade schools) can have days at the park showing how sports and education go together.  I can go on and on.

   B. More chances to get balls from the field, BP more often outside.  Make it the standard when the 3rd out happens it gets thrown to a fan.  I've been going for years hoping to get a game ball, and the only one I've got is one I bought off ebay.

   C. Twenty minutes after the game is over have players spend time with the fans like they do before the game.

   D. Fan days, come to the ball park to watch road games on the big screens with fans during the warmer months.  Make it even more special by having seats cheaper than game days and some awesome seats (for a price) on the field.  Have special guests to watch the game with them (former Reds, insiders, etc)

   E. Use Redsfest as a huge comment card and idea generator.  I'm just one guy, can you guess what the fest could bring?

So in summary.

1. More baseball experience

2. Get us involved, start building long term fans like you build a long term team.

Thank you,

Cob

I'm Happy..

I'm Sad....

                                                                                                                                    I'm confused

I really don't know what to think.  I fully believe we need a veteran catcher (hence the happy), but I'm not sure Hernandez is that guy even at 3 million dollars (hence the sad) and we were willing to do it even though we have some good talent who's proven themselves already. (hence the confusion)

So what I'm gathering from all of this is we are praying that Hernandez stays healthy for a full season and catches for all?  The majority?  Half?  the season?  (I don't know you tell me..)

What I'm happy to see for our money strapped team is that we trimmed the budget by 5+ million so that should help pad us some from trading some our our other key players. 

So what do you think?

So during this off season it's a great time to review and rethink decisions made.

Bud has done some thinking.

Steroid users in the Hall of Fame...eh if it happens oh well...."Not my call, not my problem"

Inflated stats and people who don't deserve titles...."well that will happen."

Protect MLB's money..."You bet!"

Bud, let the people be heard, and better yet use your own logic, it's not you who decides who gets into the hall, it's the Association.  Frankly I'm tired of having this beef with you, let me go pick on them for a few years if anything.

Let Pete Rose make his way onto the ballad for the Hall Of Fame....Not a chance

Well Bud, that's just great.You're first hard decision in the big seat obviously is the thing that will be your legacy.  Steroids will be long since forgiven before Rose.

And that's just wrong.

I don't get it. Walt can you help me?

    I just need some clarification when you say we're dropping a couple million...million in player payroll for the 2010 season.  I read this leak this morning and just about drove to Chicago to see you about it.  We've gone through this before, and if you recall  (or at least loyal readers recall..) you never like it when we actually talk in person. (disclaimer: Walt doesn't even know my name, much less worried about me, but I think it adds something doesn't it?)  So what's the deal? Fanhouse has got you on record saying that we're trimming intstead of adding.  Didn't we do that last year? 

Look I understand we have attendence issues, thus meaning we have cash flow issues.  If that means we got to trim I get it.  But why are you going about it this way? I mean let's look at things.

You're putting in new grass in the infield that couldn't have been cheap.

You're building a new facility for spring training.  I get that it was needed, but looking at the photos you really didn't cut corners here either.

But hey you're the man.  You know what's needed to bring us back to the top.

What's that Walt?  We might have to trade a few of our higher caliber players to free up payroll?  You're saying Brandon's on the list? Our gold glove 4th best in the league infielder, proably the best catch we have...We don't have the payroll to keep him?  Hmmm.

Walt...you there?  Nope he hung up...guess he realized that his phone bill was getting to big too and decided to get rid of it too.... Yeah that's it.

So here we are.

The end of a season, the begining of the search for next season.  The quest for the next story or bit of info that puts the spark back into us that this is the year for our respective teams.

But before we go there...

Let's swallow our pride and spend some time looking over last year's season (yes it's now that...sorry the honeymoon is over) Let's start at the most recent past and work our way back.

So we start with our Champs...The New York "Freaking" Yankees

Where to start, well no better place than to start with it's MVP

Hideki "I can't believe I'm going to say it but, Godzilla!" Matsui.  Short run down for those who don't know him.

Born in Neagari, Ishikawa, Japan.

Played a decade of Japanese pro ball before coming to the Yankees.  Where he did really well, has a few MVP trophies.  The stuff you would expect...

2003 he came to the states where most of you know him, signed on for a modest 52 million. *cough*

Became the first Japanese player to hit 100 home runs, which I don't know why that's important, it's not like ethnic background makes it easier or harder to hit homers, but some may find it interresting.

And that brings us to where we are now.  He's the MVP. 

I could go into a lot more detail, but really that's all you honestly need.  He's exactly what a DH should be.  Sure I wish he could speak English or at least try, but hey good luck teaching me Japanese so I guess I can't really throw stones.

 How does Cob feel about the Yankees as a whole?  I'll admit their marketing campaign has worked on me.  I love to hate them.  I honestly watched the begining of the World Series with an open mind and heart.  I wanted, get that wanted to be a  Yankees fan, but as I watched and listened, and learned about the Yankees I just couldn't keep it up.  Do I believe there should be a salary cap in baseball...no.  Do I think that some of the smaller market teams should get a little more of the overall baseball revenue than they do.  You bet.

So congrats to the MVP and Yankees for a great run, but if you're a fan of reading the news you already know that it's time to think about tomorrow.

It you could be told with certainty that your team could have a clutch home run hitter like Manny would you do it knowing he'd also be as much of a controversal player?

I know my Reds need someone to show some attitude and some gall.  We are a team of talent and passion for the game, but when it comes to handling the clutch we fold. 

I'm just not sure, I bash the Reds a lot, and with twenty years of love and passion for the team I think I've earned that right.  The one thing though we have is a moral high ground. (yes except for Pete, but I have four letter words for any of you that actually want to use him as an example in this article....got it?  Even the announcers tonight have envoiked his name at least once talking about his drive and strength under pressure) I don't know if I want to give that up to get a home run hitting, game winning, never say die bad *** that wiill surely get you in trouble.  

As you can imagine I'm wating the National series game, and if they win tonight it's because of Manny. 

Dear loyal readers,

I'm learning from my mistakes of last night.  Here is what I've learned

1. Save often

2. Only write when necessary, going inning to inning isn't worth it.  You guys aren't reading it or commenting on it, so frankly why write it?

3. I need to get the word out that this blog is alive again

So with that I will do other things (like my homework, housework, and looking for a job..) while watching the game and I'll summarize my feelings for the game in a couple places.  This may be just at the begining and end, maybe it'll be in the middle, who really knows.  You'll know when I do got it...good.

Random Thoughts During The Game

1. Security at a Phillies game has got to be easy, I just saw a lady who may weigh 100lbs in the behind home plate area as security.  She really looked the part of a woman who couldn't hurt a fly much less handle a drunken fan.  Then again the drunken fans we're talking about in this area are politicans and CEO's.  Maybe a sexy woman is the best choice...wrong maybe...but true.

Game Summary

This was a pitching duel all the way through.  The pitching was whee the game was won and lost.  There wasn't a big offensive or defensive run in my opinion as it always seemed like if the pitcher did what everyone wanted him to do then it was good, when as soon as they deviated from the plan then the ball was in play.  Unlike last night this game seemed much more down to earth.  Not nearly as many loose plays and rookie or nervous mistakes.  This will make the game in Colorado that much more interesting as this shows the shock is over and now both teams are ready to play.  I can't believe I'm going to say this but it may be worthy to note the weather may play an issue as it's only in the low 50's/high 40's in Colorado.  It really should be a sight to see.

Game MVP

 Pitching staffs, both sides.

It's only fitting I get to move over to this game and start watching when Manny comes up to bat.

Kemp just hit a homer just seconds before to pull the Dodgers 2 to 1.

I don't know who I'm rooting for this game.  Dodgers or Cardinals.  What I have seen from the 3 post season games thus far is everyone is playing real loose.  Fielders are missing catches, pitchers are throwing everywhere including the strike zone.

Chris Carpenter is giving the Dodgers pleanty of room to catdh up that's for sure.

  DeRosa takes out the Dodger first baseman with a head first slide.  You don't see to much contact in baseball anymore.  The days of Pete Rose running over catchers really doesn't happen anymore.  Which I guess is good and bad.  I'm always looking for ways to close the gap between baseball fans and football fans.

The annoucers are talking about Manny's BP, I have to admit I didn't know Don Mattingly was the Dodger's hitting coach.  Man what a place to retire, well from playing that is.  You go in teach rookies how to hit, and then sit on the beach.

Bottom of the 3rd with runners at the corners.

Going back to what I was talking about before about being too loose De Rossa just threw a ball straight to the right fielder...not good. Amazingly they are not counting that as an error.  Someone will have to explain that to me someday, but it allowed the Dodgers to score.

The annoucers are commenting on the crowd, I have to admit I'd love to live in a real baseball town.  One where you can actually find bars named after your team and you don't have to look far for a fan.  Indy doesn't have it, barely has it for the Colts which is the pride of the city.

Bringing ourselves to the top of the 4th..

I don't think I have seen the word BUNT...I'm Going to BUNT...REALLY from Chris Carpenter.  But he does his job and advances a runner, I guess that's what pitchers do when they bat.

So what is the time allotment for a mound visit?  Is it up to the ump?

Beach balls at a baseball game really?  I know they have Dodger beach out there, but isn't that kind of silly?

I know my thoughts are going random here, so off to twitter I'll go.

Watching threads go by on Twitter (you can follow me at www.twitter.com/cobf Brendan Ryan does have the 70's porn stache of all time.  How does someone let him out of the house with that?

Dodger have now managed to load up the bases with a lucky bounce to the pitcher to close out this part of the inning.

I'm watching Manny warm up, he's not had a rough game thus far so how does his helmet already have dirt, mud,dents,etc on it?  Is that that something he just wants?  With one swing he crushes it down the third base line lining the Dodgers up to score again with runners at 2nd and 3rd.  They have been talking about what type of player was Manny going to be in this series.  The leader or the whimp, so far I'd still say it's undecided, but looking better.

Bases are loaded...and I hear Nickleback playing

   So you would think this must end with the Dodgers scoring, but it doesn't.

Stranded.

Stranded.

Stranded

Top  of 5

and well with no real hit support and a dumb move to let the pitcher hit when there really isn't a reason to as they'll be pulling him this next inning (predicting this now) to only strike out.

The Cards are sticking with Carpenter with only one out and guys on 2nd and 3rd, for the love of this game I have no idea why La Russa is sticking with him.  He's throwing the ball everywhere but in the strike zone again.  98 pitches thus far, which isn't a lot, but he's not in this game.  Which has caused him now to lose another run 4-2.

Ok I had the rest of the game blogged out, but it went on so long that MLB blogs actually timed out...so forget it.

wow.