The Boston Red Sox really wanted to find a veteran shortstop to add to their squad. On Friday, they landed a familiar face when they sent cash and a minor leaguer to the Cincinnati Reds for Alex Gonzalez. Gonzalez played in 111 games for the Red Sox in 2006.
This year, the 32-year-old native of Venezuela hasn’t been hitting the ball too well for the Reds. He has a .210 batting average, a .258 on-base percentage, three homers, 16 runs and 26 RBIs. In 2006 with the Red Sox, he had a .255 batting average to go along with nine homers, …read more

About a week ago, the Cincinnati Reds appeared to be within striking distance of the playoffs. However, a six-game losing streak later, things don’t look too good. On Monday, injury was added to the insult.
The Reds were forced to put both Micah Owings and Chris Dickerson on the injured list. Both players got hurt during Sunday’s contest against the Chicago Cubs.
Owings, a starting pitcher for the Reds, exited due to a stiff shoulder. On the season, the 26-year-old is 6-11 with a 5.35 ERA and a WHIP of 1.64.
Dickerson got hurt in the outfield when attempting to make a diving …read more

The Arizona Diamondbacks have watched the Los Angeles Dodgers acquire a couple of big name talents, including Manny Ramirez. Now the D’Backs have made their move by trading three minor leaguers to the Cincinnati Reds for slugger Adam Dunn.
Currently, Arizona only leads the Dodgers by 1.5 games in the National League West. The team’s bats, which were blazing earlier in the season, have cooled off considerably as of late. The infusion of Adam Dunn into the lineup should help tremendously.
Dunn is tied for the lead in home runs in the major leagues. His 32 homers are …read more

Carlos Lee of the Houston Astros might get an early jump on his offseason vacation. The native of Panama got hit by a pitch and broke his left pinky. In all likelihood, Lee will be forced to miss the rest of the season.
Lee, who was leading the National League with 100 RBIs, got hit by a pitch from Cincinnati Reds starter Bronson Arroyo. After immediately leaving the game, Lee had an X-Ray that revealed his left pinky is broken and that the injury will require surgery.
At 58-59, the Astros are a long shot to see postseason play. …read more

AL MVP – Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
Ian Kinsler and Milton Bradley are playing very well for the Rangers. However, I believe that it is Hamilton who is the backbone of that team’s lineup. Take him away and the Rangers wouldn’t be nearly as deadly.
NL MVP – Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
Sure, the Astros are a bad team and chances are slim that they will make the playoffs. That said, Berkman is having a career year and is the best hitter in the NL to date this season.
AL Cy Young – Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians
Mariano Rivera might be having …read more

Not too long ago, Josh Hamilton was out of baseball and addicted to drugs. Few wondered whether his baseball career would ever be resurrected, they just wondered if he’d live to see the next day.
Hamilton’s baseball journey started when he was the first overall pick of the 1999 baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. In 2001, Hamilton was in a car accident and at that point started experimenting with drugs. He played sparingly in 2001 due to injuries and drug use. Between 2002 and 2006, Hamilton didn’t play baseball at all. He failed …read more

While in a heated argument on the radio with a frustrated fan, Toronto Blue Jays general manager lashed out at Cincinnati outfielder Adam Dunn. The caller said that the Blue Jays should consider trading for Dunn, which set Ricciardi off.
Said Ricciardi: “Do you know the guy doesn’t really like baseball that much? Do you know the guy doesn’t have a passion to play the game that much? How much do you know about the player? There’s a reason why you’re attracted to some players and there’s a reason why you’re not attracted to some players. I don’t think you’d …read more

Albert Pujols suffered a calf injury while running out a ground ball in the seventh inning. Pujols, who is having another great season for the St. Louis Cardinals, had hit a two-run homer earlier in the game.
After the contest, which the Cardinals topped the Cincinnati Reds 7-2, Pujols was diagnosed with a strain calf. Further tests will be performed to determine how long Pujols will be out. Initial reports indicate that St. Louis fears that Pujols will miss a significant amount of games.
Pujols is currently hitting .347 and has 16 homers and 42 RBIs. It’d be …read more

On Monday, Ken Griffey, Jr. hit his 600th homer to become just the sixth player to reach that number. With 600 homers, Griffey now trails only Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Sammy Sosa. If Griffey can hit ten more homers this season, he will pass Sosa and move into fifth place.
Griffey’s long ball came off of Mark Hendrickson in the first inning. The Cincinnati Reds went on to beat the Florida Marlins 9-4. On the season, Griffey is now batting .260 with seven homers and 29 RBI.
Here is a video of Griffey’s …read more

Jay Bruce couldn’t have planned a much better debut. The rookie outfielder on the Cincinnati Reds was extremely impressive in his first game in the big leagues. Watch the Jay Bruce video below to get even more coverage of Bruce’s debut.
In his first game, Bruce went 3-for-3 with two walks, two runs and two RBIs. The Reds, riding Bruce’s hot bat, beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-6. Reds teammates and coaches said that was one of the best debut’s they have ever seen.
In Bruce’s second game, he was again impressive. In game number two of his …read more