Showing posts with label 12 Days of Christmas by the Numbers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 12 Days of Christmas by the Numbers. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 05, 2010

And a partridge in a pear tree

Final day of 12 Days of Christmas by the Numbers. Tomorrow is the Epiphany, when the baseball writers will or will not have an epiphany about Barry Larkin.

The only Red to wear number 1 was Fred Hutchinson MGR (1959-1964). It was retired in 1964 when Hutch died of cancer. Hutch's brother, a doctor, founded the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, located in Seattle, where the family is from.

One is the number of World Series the Reds have won in my lifetime.

One day is the next time the Reds will win the World Series.

"...and this one belongs to the Reds!" will forever be played in the stereo of our hearts.

One is the loneliest number.

Monday, January 04, 2010

Deuces

Today's 12 Days of Christmas by the Numbers is 2:

Some Reds who've worn 2: Cot Deal CH (1960), Jim Bragan CH (1969), Alex Grammas CH (1973), Russ Nixon CH (1978-1981), Gary Redus (1983-1986) Scott Breeden CH (1987), Sam Perlozzo CH (1990), Darren Lewis (1995), Jason LaRue (2000), Deion Sanders (2001)

Derek Jeter, who was still available for the Reds to take in the draft, wears number 2.

Two is the number of ends to each of Bronson Arroyo's hairs.

Two is the toughest position on the diamond.

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Triples

Continuing with 12 Days of Christmas by the Numbers, we get to 3:

Some Reds who've worn number 3: Wall Moses CH (1960), John McNamara MGR (1979-1981), George Scherger CH (1973,1976,1978,1983-1984, 1986), Larry Rothschild CH (1990), Ken Griffey, Jr. (2007-2008), Willy Taveras (2008-hopefully no more).

Three is the number of children Ken Griffey, Jr. has.

Three is the position of my current favorite Red.

Three bases is the hardest hit to get.

This is the third year of Dusty Baker's three year contract. Hopefully, it is the last.

Three is how old the average Chub$ fan acts at a ballgame.

There are three more months until our Holy Opening Day.

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Grand Salami

Today's 12 Days of Christmas by the Numbers is brought to you by the number 4.

Red's who've worn number 4: Ed Bailey (1957-1958,1960), Johnny Edwards (1963), Woody Woodward (1969), Bob Barton (1973), Jeff Sovern (1976), Alex Grammas CH (1978), Bill Fischer CH (1979-1981,1983), Bo Diaz (1987), Ron Gant (1995), Brandon Phillips (2006-present).

The number of Reds broadcasters who SHOULD be in the Hall of Fame is 4.

There are four bases. Adam Dunn hits all of them with one swing quite often, but the Reds, well...

Both Pete and Rose have 4 letters in them. I'm sure there were plenty of fours on his betting slips.

Four is the month our Holy Day in the Baseball Religion usually occurs.

The Reds have 4 mascots now. They should do a live mascot race every game.

You get 4 RBI when you hit a grand slam. Best grand slam ever was the one Dunner hit in the bottom of the ninth against Cleveland in 2007 when the Reds were down by three to win the game. That is one of my all-time favorite Reds memories.

Friday, January 01, 2010

Happy New Year! HALLELUJAH THE REDS DECADE FROM HELL IS OFFICIALLY OVER!

Continuing with 12 Days of Christmas by the Numbers, I present you with number 5.

The Reds have won 5 World Series, which is the fifth highest for any team in Major League Baseball (not counting the Bankee$. They don't count. They just don't, ok?) I am convinced they would have won it in '81 and '94 if strikes hadn't screwed them.

Only two Reds have worn 5: Whitey Lockman (1960), Johnny Bench (1968-1983). That's according to a website I have since lost, so maybe they're wrong. (If so, let me know.)

Bench's 5 is retired by the Reds.

Five is the position played by Grandpa Rolen for the next three years.

Five is the number I wore as a catcher in high school. The reason is obvious.

Five is the number of pitchers in a starting rotation, regardless of how often Bronson Arroyo thinks he can pitch.

Five is the place in the rotation most of the Reds starting pitchers of this decade would have pitched in if they had played for other teams.

Five is the number of fingers most players have on their hands, the notable exception being Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown, who actually played for the Reds during the 1913 season. (He has his own website!) Antonio Alfonseca, who last pitched in MLB in 2007, has six fingers on each hand and foot, a condition known as polydactyly.

There are five games in a division series. It better remain that way.

Our Holy Day in the baseball religion will occur on the 5th of April this year.

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Six six six

Reds who've worn number 6: Ed Bailey (1957-1958,1960), Johnny Edwards (1963), Woody Woodward (1969), Bob Barton (1973), Jeff Sovern (1976), Alex Grammas CH (1978), Bill Fischer CH (1979-1981,1983), Bo Diaz (1987), Ron Gant (1995), Ryan Freel (2000-2008), Drew Stubbs (2009-present)

The number of television and radio broadcasters the Reds apparently feel they need is 6.

The number of years the Reds had to go as "Redlegs" due to political paranoia was 6. (1954-1959)

The number of times in the seventies the Reds finished with a season record above .600 is 6. (1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976). Just think about that. This Reds decade has seen only one team finish over .500 and the Machine finished over .600 six times!!!

Six was Barry Larkin's position. He'll know if he goes into the Hall this year on the 6th of January. That's the Epiphany, and the Baseball Writers better have one of those when they're voting.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 600th homer in a Reds uni. There were 6 people in the stands in Miami that day.

Leatherpants, Bud Selig, Don Fehr, and Scott Boras all have three sixes marked on their foreheads.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Lucky number seven

This 12 Days of Christmas by the Numbers is lame. Seven just isn't significant.

The number of NL West titles the Reds have won is 7.

Reds who've worn 7: Pat Corrales (1969), Hector Cruz (1979-1980), Don Werner (1976,1978-1979), Rafael Landestoy (1982), Russ Nixon MGR (1983), Billy DeMars CH (1986-1987), Lenny Harris (1989), Mariano Duncan (1990-1991), Al Newman (1992), Rick Wrona (1992), Kevin Mitchell (1993-1994, 1997), Curtis Goodwin (1996), Alex Ochoa (2000-2001).

Seven is a position with a gigantic question mark over it for the Reds. Of course, if they had JUST SIGNED DUNN then we'd be set.

Seven is, of course, Mickey Mantle's number always and forever. Speaking of Mantle, his history of injuries didn't keep him out of the Hall - why is this an issue for Larkin?

The best World Series and LCS go to 7 games. Unless the Reds are in it. I don't need that heart attack.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Eight

Eight White Sox were kicked out of baseball for the Black Sox Scandal. The Reds could have won anyway.

Reds who've worn number 8: Frank House (1960), Don Pavletich (1967), Rafael Landestoy (1983), Joe Sparks CH (1984), Bo Diaz (1986), Terry McGriff (1987-1990), Juan Samuel (1993), Joe Morgan (1972-1979).

Number 8 is retired by the Reds. Duh.

The number of African-Americans playing Major League Baseball is only 8%.

Cal Ripken's giant 8 statue was stolen from outside Camden Yards this year.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Niner niner niner

Continuing with the 12 Days of Christmas by the Numbers series, today's number is 9.

Of course, the most obvious 9 in baseball is the number of men on the field.

The Reds have won 9 NL Pennants.

Reds who've worn 9: Dutch Dottier (1959-1960), Hal Bevan (1960), Hal Smith CH (1969), Bill Plummer (1973-1974,1976-1978), Vic Correll (1979-1980), Mike O'Berry (1981-1982), Dann Bilardello (1983), Vern Rapp MGR (1984), Max Venable (1986-1987), Luis Quinones (1988), Joe Oliver (1989-1994), Eric Anthony (1995)

The Reds have retired 9 numbers.

Ted Williams is the best player to have worn number 9.

The Reds have had 9 consecutive losing seasons.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Ten

Next in our 12 Days of Christmas in Numbers series is the number 10.

Reds who have worn 10: Eddie Kasko (1960), Vern Benson CH (1969), Sparky Anderson MGR (1970-1978), Tom Foley (1983-1985), Luis Quinones (1989-1991), Bip Roberts (1992-1993), Eddie Taubensee (1994-2000).

Ten, of course, has been retired by the Reds and Sparky Anderson is in the Hall of Fame.

Ten is the number of pennants the Reds have won, although one of those was with the American Association.

In each of his 10 MLB seasons, Jason Marquis' team has gone to the post season.

There are 10 starters in American League baseball. There should only be 9.

Ten is the next year the Reds go to the playoffs!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

On the Larkinth Day of Christmas

Continuing with the 12 Days of Christmas by the Numbers series, today we reach 11, which, of course, is Barry Larkin's number always and forever more (the Reds will put it up on the wall one day soon.)

Other Reds who have worn number 11: Roy McMillan (1957-1958,1960), Hal McRae (1972), Denis Menke (1973), Bob Bailey (1976), Ron Plaza CH (1978-1981,1983), Dann Bilardello (1984-1986), Kurt Stillwell (1986-1987), Barry Larkin (1988-2001)

Ryan Zimmerman is the best player now wearing number 11.

Eleven is the number of pitchers a team should have on its roster. Unfortunately, that's never the case.

The chain 7/11 pays money to have games start at 7:11pm on occasion.

The longest losing streak the Reds have had was the 11 losing seasons in a row from 1945-1956.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas!

Fa la la la lalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalalala...

This is the first day of Christmas. For the next twelve days, I will be posting about each day's number and its significance to baseball. So here we go: 12.

The Reds have made 12 playoff appearances in their history.

Did you know that when the Bankees$ originally began to wear uniform numbers that 12 was used by starting pitchers?

Reds players who have worn number 12 are: Smoky Burgess (1955), Darrel Chaney (1972-1974), Dave Revering (1978), Harry Spilman (1980-1981), German Barranca (1982), Wayne Krenchicki (1983), Nick Esasky (1983-1988), Joel Youngblood (1989), Paul Noce (1990), Freddie Benavides (1992), Willie Greene (1992-1998), Deion Sanders (1994), Dusty Baker (too long).

You can buy packs of a dozen baseballs at your local sporting goods store.

Twelve players tested positive for stimulants during 2009.

Roberto Alomar, who is up for the Hall of Fame with Barry Larkin, wore number 12 during his career.

There are 108 stitches on a Major League Baseball, which is divisible by 12, equally 9, which is the number of players on the field. This, of course, means absolutely nothing.

In 1912, Redland Field opened in Cincinnati. Redland, of course, was later renamed Crosley Field.