Paul Janish comes into the big leagues in his first game last night against the Marlins, and he put on a good show. His first at bat didnt produce much, but once he hit the field he had a few ground outs to him that the crowd loved every time. The Reds bullpen proceeded to blow a 6 run lead in the 9th inning though, but come the bottom of the 10th with two men on, Janish (Pronounced Yawn-ish) slapped a single down the first base line scoring the winning run. Every player can only wish to have his first major league hit be a game winner like Janish's. After the game Janish was mauled at first base, where he recieved a bloody nose from his teamates. Who bloodied it i dont know, but Freel was trying his hardest to karate kick Janish in the face.
The Griffey to Seattle rumors are heating up. With Seattle sending scouts to Reds games to watch Junior play, you would think that he might actually be moved this year. Every year you hear these rumors though so i wont believe them until i see it. If your the Reds though, do you move him asap or wait closer until the deadline to see where the team is at them? If you move him now, he has a little bit more trade value considering he still hasnt hit number 600 yet. On the flip side, hes been in a slump so that brings it right back down. I am a Griffey fan, he puts people in the seats, but at this point in time, he doesnt benefit the franchise. He is an icon in baseball and very renown, but the Reds have a youth movement going on, and a veteran outfield on the decline that doesnt offer much in the way of leadership doesnt fit in. Fitting a square peg into a round hole doesnt work, no matter how much you try and make it work.
Jay Bruce. Im sure you have heard the name before. By the end of the year, you will be hearing his name alot around the Cincinnati area. Bruce is the next best thing since sliced bread. Said to be the next coming of Ken Griffey Jr. He is the highest ranked prospect in all of the minor leagues by many publications. Bruce is batting over .300, and around the top of the league in Triples, Hits, RBI's, and Home Runs. Bruce is the jolt that the Reds lineup could use. Over the last few games the Reds have been doing fine, but you cant keep the kid in AAA much longer. He has nothing left to prove, and is just waiting for a roster spot to open up. Unfortunatley, unless we move some OF's via release or trade, that spot is a ways off. For once, Reds fans this year wont be horribly distrought if Griffey were to get hurt, cause it would mean the best chance for Bruce to come up. Bruce can conceivably play all OF positions, but the majority of his work has been in CF/RF. By the end of the year, every Cincinnati Reds fan will have a man-crush on Jay Bruce.
The Bengals have been quiet since the Draft. Nothing new on the Chad front, he's finally keeping his mouth shut for once. Two notable things happening at camp involve Chris Perry and Odell Thurman/Ahmad Brooks. Chris Perry has been looking good so far at camp. Word going around is that hes fluid in his movements, and his hands have been incredible catching passes out of the backfield. Should Perry become and stay healthy, he could become an all round back along the mold of Marshall Faulk. I know thats high praise for a guy that hasnt played in two years, but he has the movement and the hands to make it happen. On the defensive front it looks like the Bengals will be running a new scheme this year. Which is good because obviously last years sucked. In the new scheme though, Ahmad Brooks has been moved to the outside, signalling that the Bengals believe Odell can reclaim his spot in the middle. Thurman will have to shake off his rust, but if he can return to his old form lookout. Thurman was a serious rookie of the year candidate in his first season, but then legalities got in the way. With him healthy, and hopefully Brooks healthy and out of trouble, plus Keith Rivers, the LB c