There's always next decade...or the one after that.

A few years ago, well, several years now, I attended a game at Camden Yards commemorating the 20th anniversary of the 1983 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Baltimore Orioles. This World Series was the last one the Orioles appeared in, and I said aloud, “It’s so sad that a team has been so bad that the only thing it has to celebrate is the 20th anniversary of its last World Series appearance.”

At that time, the Reds were in the midst of only their third consecutive losing season, and we were certain that we were almost there – maybe next year. Though his arm had already fallen off for the season, we still couldn’t envision that Ken Griffey, Jr. in a Reds uniform would always be like that. We had the promise of the Dunnandkearns show. Everything was gonna be all right.

Still, I remember thinking “I sure hope the Reds never get to that point where they go 20 years between World Series appearances.”

So are you going to 1990 20th anniversary night next year?

Baseball will not be returning to the Olympics in 2016

I blame MLB for not getting its ass in gear and pushing for it and not figuring out some way to pause the season so the best in the world could compete.

People don't realize how much baseball not being in the Olympics HURTS the sport. Governments fund the Olympic teams. When a particular sport isn't played in the Olympics, the national team of that country gets no funding. When the team that plays a sport that is not very well known, that funding means everything, because what private sector organization is going to want to fund a niche sport? There's no profit in that!

European baseball was starting to make a name for itself. The European Cup will disappear and all of those leagues could disband. This directly affects the World Baseball Classic, too - where do you think the national teams come from?

Of course, whiners will rejoice at the death of international baseball, because they're pitchers "won't get hurt." (Despite there being no evidence of WBC hurting players.) But what it does is further push baseball into the oblivion of nostalgia and makes it become even more irrelevant than it already is these days. American children don't dream of being Major League Baseball players anymore. MLB needs players from other countries to sustain itself.

You watch. Twenty years from now, baseball is going to be screaming "What did we do wrong?"

Very, very disappointing news.

Your kids are not invincible

NY Times Magazine has an article about Little League pitch counts - or lack thereof - and the sharp increase in the number of kids having Tommy John surgery because coaches and parents refuse to limit the number of pitches their kids throw.

It's sad that kids have such competition these days that the adults tasked with taking care of them would risk their futures and the knife in order to win a meaningless middle school baseball game.

Hal was fired

Recent Reds developments make me wonder if I'll be able to get into Reds baseball next year. I already quit this year.

Hal McCoy was how us folks around Dayton got our news about the Reds in the pre-internet, pre-every game is televised days. Hal McCoy made Reds fans.

Our country is in a sorry state. And the Reds, well, I'm starting to think they'll never play October baseball again. Not with the income chasm in baseball these days. Just a symptom of a greater societal problem.

You know what would make me tune into the Reds again?

If Drew Stubbs, Chris Heisey, and others in the organization were called up to play out the season.

Smash the arbitration clocks. Get these guys up here to see what they can do and see what they can work on so that they can be good to go for next year (or 2011, if that's what we're looking at now with the loss of Volquez.)

I don't know what makes me sadder, the fact that the Reds have turned into the worst team in baseball or the fact that baseball has ceased to interest me.

Thanks Walt. Thanks Dusty. Thanks Bob.

The Rolen trade sux

That's all.

Yay! The Reds won!

All right, I'm off to Beirut tonight, won't be back until July 31. If you're interested in seeing my photos of Lebanon and reading about my trip, I'll be posting at http://travellingrox.blogspot.com.

I hope the Reds go on a ten game winning streak while I'm gone and climb back into this thing!

Didn't watch the home run derby

Not gonna watch the all-star game, though I would like to watch the president throw out the first pitch.

In the last decade, I think I've watched about half of the all-star games. All the pomp and circumstance is a real turn off. Plus with the Reds never getting more than one player (2004 exception noted), I just don't have the extra incentive.

But I haven't watched a Reds game in a week, and I don't feel the need to do so any time soon. Why? Two words.

Willy Taveras.

Just two words sum up everything about why I have lost all interest. Willy Taveras is s symbol, a reincarnation of the problem this team's management has had for years. Last year, the avatar was Corey Patterson. Before that it was a host of others ranging from Royce Clayton, Eric Milton...stop. I don't want to bring the pain back to you.

A play in one act

A real life Facebook exchange:

Chris Dickerson All star break hooray!!!
3 hours ago · Comment · LikeUnlike
You like this.

Me at 11:11pm July 11
hopefully y'all play better after. cuz we're all a bit depressed these days, esp after bruce broke his wrist. seriously depressing.

good luck second half!

Chris Dickerson at 1:21am July 12
What would a simple comment about a three day break be without some fan criticism/comment? Geez

Me at 2:53am July 12
well, you're the ones playing like crap. we're the ones paying for your lifestyle.

look up the history of the Cincinnati Reds. i know players these days don't care about the history of baseball and only care about their paychecks, but you play for a storied franchise.

Still alive

Have decided NOT to go to NYC this weekend to see the Reds play at Shitty Field. It's just not worth the effort at this point (especially since I am going on a trip the next weekend for two weeks.)

See what you've done to me, Reds? See what you've done to me, Dusty Baker, with your Willy Taverases and your Adam Rosaleses?

Is that a plastic bottle in his hand?

http://twitpic.com/8ym7h

Dear Reds, I am done with you

Corky Miller for Norris Hopper while Willy Taveras remains on the team is the last straw.

Thank you all, blog readers, for continuing to come here, but this is it. I will no longer be paying attention to the Cincinnati Reds in 2009. (Unless, of course, Walt actually decides to address the problems. But he obviously has no intention of doing that.) I'm going to Lebanon next month for the first time. I'm going to concentrate on eating good food and enjoying my favorite body of water on the planet.

See you all on the flip side.

REDS FANS IN DC GATHERING TONIGHT

What: Reds fans in DC gathering to watch Joey and the Reds take on the Blue Jays.

Where: Momo's, 1334 U Street NW, Washington DC (green line Metro stop - U Street/Cardoza)

When: Tonight, 7pm.

If I lived in Billings, I would definitely do this.

"Host Families Needed

The Billings Mustangs are looking for people interested in participating in the Mustangs Host Family Program for the 2009 season.

Host families provide housing for the Mustangs players during the season which runs from mid June to mid September. It is a unique chance to become involved with Mustangs players from across the country.

"We greatly appreciate the sacrifice and support from our host families," General Manager Gary Roller said. "Year after year we see relationships built between players and the families that house them; relationships that often last for years to come."

Among the benefits host families receive are tickets for games so they may enjoy the action and watch their "adopted" family member's success. They are also invited to special player meet N' greet events and dinners.

Those interested in becoming a host family can apply or find out further information by contacting the Billings Mustangs at (406) 252-1241."

Don't forget to check out the film on the old Mustangs Home, Cobb Field: A Day at the Ballpark!
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Breaking News: Reds Team Eye Doctor Fired

Cincinnati, Ohio - The optometrist working for the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Club was fired this morning after it was discovered none of the Reds could see.

Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty launched a special investigation into the team's eyesight after weeks of not being able to hit the ball.

"I knew there was some reason the team wasn't hitting, but I knew it wasn't because of the personnel on the team. I mean, Adam Rosales was hitting over .300 in AAA. I knew he wasn't a Mendoza player."

The team was made to undergo eye examinations after Saturday night's loss to the Chicago White Sox.

"I didn't realize that sign on the outfield wall was for M&Ms," the .214 batting Jay Bruce said after being fitted with a pair of contacts.

The players were not the only ones affected by the incompetence of the team's optometrist.

"Whoa, this is really something," Reds Manager Dusty Baker said. "Here I thought I was leading off with Willie Mays every night and it turns out it was only Willy Taveras. What's he even doing on this team?"

The optometrist would not return our phone calls, but COB has learned that he is originally from St. Louis and is part of a cult that worships as their god St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols. The Reds have not decided whether they will pursue legal action.
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