Junior hits #600

Ken Griffey Jr. aka “the kid” hit his 600th homerun on Monday, June 9, 2008, becoming only the sixth player in history to reach the milestone. Reds beat the Marlins 9-4. The other five players to reach 600 are Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa.

“Griffey was the youngest player in the majors — still only 19 — on April 10, 1989, when he homered off the Chicago White Sox‘s Eric King on the first pitch he saw at Seattle’s Kingdome.

Homer No. 36 was one of his most satisfying. It came one batter after his father, Ken Sr., homered off California’s Kirk McCaskill on Sept. 14, 1990, an unprecedented father-and-son moment in the majors.” ESPN.com

The sweetest swing in baseball.

Congratulations Junior!

Start of a new era for the Reds

His name, Jay Bruce. He makes his major league debut today. The Reds promoted him from the Triple-A Louisville Bats. The 21 year old has been rated the best prospect in the minors. Griffey and Dunn call him “The Future.”  Fans call him “Bruuuuuuuce.”

“No, he’s not the savior,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “We just want him to be himself. Just let him play and be himself. Don’t put any labels on him. No comparisons. Just let him play. You can’t help what people put on you or what people say. The only thing you can control is how you play. He’s a confident young man. He’s a bright young man and a competitive young man.” – mlb.com

“The Future” is here and it is about time.  He went 3-3 in his debut, with 2 rbis and 2 runs and he reached base in all 5 plate appearances.

But hey, according to Hitler, doing well in Triple-A does not translate into success in the Big Leagues. “Triple-A! Schmiple A! That don’t mean squat!” Hitler was obviously no fan of Matt Belisle.

This is what Hitler believes cursed the Reds. I would have to agree. What a debacle.

And this one belongs to the Reds

I attended my first Cincinnati Reds game of the year. They were riding a 4 game win streak after sweeping the Marlins and now taking on the Cleveland Indians in the Battle of Ohio. As I stood among the 42,022 fans (11th largest at Great American Ballpark) with Mr. Brandon Phillips (30/30) bobblehead in hand, I watched Adam Dunn foul off 2 bunt attempts. “What is he doing?!?” I exclaimed. (The Reds had a man on first and second and I later discovered Dunn is actually an excellent bunter)

Dunn finally took a mighty cut and blasted the ball 449 feet! It nearly went out of the ballpark landing in the last row of seats in right field. The 3 run walk-off home-run lifted the Reds over the Indians in dramatic fashion. The fans went crazy!

Dunn also made a nifty catch on a foul ball earlier in the game.

Cincinnati Enquirer Article

Below are a few pictures I took at the game.

Great American Ballpark

Cincinnati Reds EST. 1869