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Fear and Loathing in Cincinnati

August 9th, 2007 | Thaq Diesel

If there was any worry that Harang was dinged up, last night he showed it was not the case. That gem of a pitching performance led to this chat today with my friend and die-hard Reds fan Charlie (brknlegz):

[09:35] brknlegz: Here’s how beat down I am as a Reds fan. I can’t enjoy watching Haring dominate a team as much as I should because I feel guilty having him.
[09:35] brknlegz:
[09:35] brknlegz: We don’t deserve top tier pitchers…
[09:35] brknlegz: He should go pitch for a contender…
[09:36] brknlegz: I’m sure someone has a minor leager they’ll trade for him, straight up.
[10:56] thaqzilla: No way
[10:57] thaqzilla: he’s the cornerstone
[10:57] thaqzilla: You build around him
[10:57] thaqzilla: You can’t replace him
[10:57] thaqzilla: and if Bizarro Arroyo goes away and the good Arroyo comes back after this year, you’ve got two pitchers you can use as your foundation and lock in for 15 or so wins each a year
[10:58] brknlegz: I agree, but how do you tell a guy that good to hang on while the rest of the team tries to stop sucking?
[10:58] brknlegz: I guess you pay him.
[10:58] thaqzilla: I assume he likes cincinnati
[10:58] thaqzilla: It’s kinda hard to tell, but he usually gets his wins so I’d think he’s happy
[10:58] brknlegz: He’s 12-3.
[10:59] thaqzilla: right - they can handle a 1-0 lead with him on the mound
[10:59] brknlegz: You wonder, though, if he thinks he could be that much better on a bigger stage.
[10:59] thaqzilla: if Arroyo was pitching, they’d still be playing a 0-0 tie with about 35 strikeouts
[10:59] thaqzilla: I just dont’ get that vibe from him. if he’s getting the salary, he’d stay
[10:59] brknlegz: I hope so.
[10:59] thaqzilla: but who knows. Maybe it’s because I see him on all the Fox Sports commercials
[10:59] brknlegz:
[11:00] thaqzilla: as the face of the Franchise
[11:00] brknlegz: Why do the faces of the franchise always have goatees?
[11:00] brknlegz: a la Rick Nash?
[11:00] brknlegz: What would Marge Schott say?
[11:01] thaqzilla: “Well you know, honey, as I said to Schottzie 2, sometimes you’ve got to shave off that fur.”
[11:02] brknlegz: LOL

Although I didn’t agree with Charlie about Harang’s possible longing to be elsewhere, I understood why he felt that way. I have to wonder at what point did Reds fans begin to feel they weren’t worthy? That has to stop soon. We absolutely deserve the best players.

In other news, it has been a pretty good run by the Reds of late, despite letting one get away from them today in extras against the Dodgers. The Reds are 18-14 since July 3rd, best in their (pretty horrible) division.
I’m holding my breath that Griffey can play a full season without getting injured. I’m hoping he hits 600 home runs before year’s end, but it’s dicey given his track record of freak injuries.
With 21 homers and 21 stolen bags, Brandon Phillips is a 20/20 guy this year (HR/SB), the first Reds player to do that since Joe Morgan. This further cements Brandon as my favorite Reds player and probably further dooms him to become the next Bip Roberts / Pokey Reese Cincinnati second baseman I love that flies the coop.