Promoted from the Diaries. Love ya, HMZ.

TIME OUT!

The Reds signed Scott Hatteberg to a one-year, $1.65 million contract extension with a club option for 2008.

The official site says the terms of the contract were not disclosed; the terms that I've posted came from an article posted to rotoworld.com an hour ago:

Reds sign 1B Hatteberg for 2007

According to the linked article, Hatteberg will earn $1.5 million next year; the option for 2008 is worth $1.85 million and includes a $150,000 buyout; and the 2008 club option iincreases to a $2 million base salary with a $175,000 buyout if he has 500 plate appearances next season. It also says that he will earn an additional fifty grand 500, 550 and 600 plate appearances each season.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled coverage of the Reds' quest for a 2006 playoff berth, already in progress.

PLAY BALL!

It's zero outs in the bottom of the fifth, and the Astros have already scored more runs this inning than they have the entirety of the rest of the season.

Narron has just now gotten action going in the bullpen.

Who else wants to gag?

Before this game, I told my Crack Technical Staff that the Reds were facing the Astros and Clemens. “Easy,” he said. “They'll only need to score one.”

And he was right, though the Reds piled on a second run in this shutout that got Aaron Harang his eleventh win.

Harang pitched eight innings allowing zero runs on four hits and one walk. Todd Coffey came in in the ninth, prompting me to ask, half asleep on the couch, “where the hell is Guardado?” In fact, Eddie Guardado was unavailable with forearm stiffness. So when Coffey got himself in trouble two-thirds of the way through the ninth, it was Bill Bray who got the last out and his first major league save.

The Reds scored both of their runs off Clemens, which is just nice. Scott Hatteberg knocked in Adam Dunn in the first inning as part of his 3-for-4 night. Harang brought in the other run with a sacrifice bunt when he plated Brandon Phillips in the seventh inning. Harang was 1-for-2 on the night to bring his average to .178. Still .024 higher than Dewayne Wise who pinch-ran for Hatteberg in the ninth. Poor Wise. He has not found his stroke yet.

Anyway, the win brings the Reds' record to 53-47. They're attempting to take the series even as I type this, sending the sideshow that is Bronson Arroyo out to face Andy Pettitte.

According to the story Sellers' Rank Still Thin on courant.com, the Padres may be interested in Rich Aurilia to bolster third base. Boy-oh-boy is that unlikely! Unless they're willing to hand over a solid starting pitcher, I just don't see Jerry Narron giving Richie up. I mean, then who would play third?

The story also says they might be interested in the Pirates' Joe Randa. And here I thought I was being so clever when I said this two days ago.

As you will all recall, RHM and JD are putting together a little get together at the Reds game on September 23rd versus the Cubs. They have asked me to coordinate the ticket purchase for that day, and given that this past Saturday's game featuring the pitching matchup of Joe Mays vs. David Bush had sold out, I think it makes sense to get organized now for a game on the last Saturday of the season against the Cubs.

The plan right now is to start gathering together around lunch time or so. We can grab a bite together and get to know each other before we head over to the Hall of Fame for a jaunt through Reds history. After that, we can head into the park to catch some BP, buy souvenir tee shirts, and hassle the last-place Cubs fans (they'll be in last place by then). Thirty minutes before game time is the Mascot Whiffle Ball game, an event that you will regret missing. Game time is 6:10pm, where we'll watch and cheer the Reds to a dominating victory, I'm sure. Afterwards, we'll find a place to drink some beers and listen to some great local music.

In order to encourage more people to join in, we will be buying $9 bleacher seats, but if Eric Milton is pitching we should have plenty opportunity for catching a home run. If you would like to add your name to the list, please do so in this thread. We'll be gathering names over the next week (until 7/31) and then I'm going to head down to the park to pick up the tickets. After we get a complete list of names, either RHM or myself will send you an email with details about how to get your tickets if you can't make it to the pregame activities and how we can exchange payment. I'd prefer to receive money before the game, if you don't mind.

I hope to see you all there!

Even the offensive power of Brandon Phillips was not enough to beat the Brewers today as the Reds fell 4-1.

Eric Milton took the loss as he allowed four runs (earned) on five hits and four walks through six and two-thirds innings. I think it's worth mentioning, though, that Gary Majewski was the one to actually allow half of those runs to score. Convenient for him they were inherited runners. At the end of the night, his line shows zero runs on three hits through an inning and a third.

Todd Coffey rounded out the show, allowing zero runs on one hit in the ninth.

The Reds' lone run came on a solo shot by Brandon Phillips in the eighth inning. The Reds had only five hits all day; they would have had to have scored on all of them to win this game.

Edwin Encarnación was again out of the line-up today for no concrete reason, but the crime of “being young” seems like a likely candidate. In his place was Rich Aurilia, whom Narron seems to have forgotten can play in places other than the corners. Juan Castro at short went 0-fer and Phillips hasn't had a day off in recent memory.

The loss brings the Reds' record to 52-47. The Cardinals won, so the Reds stand five games back of first. They stand five games ahead of the third-place Houston Astros, whom they go to visit on Tuesday. Aaron Harang takes on Roger Clemens.

Ryan Freel's two home runs plus a bunch of other offense was enough to overcome the pitching on Saturday as the Reds beat the Brewers 7-8.

Joe Mays got the start after 16 days with no action. But don't worry, the time off didn't make him rusty: he was just as good at giving up runs on Saturday as he ever was. He lasted three and two-thirds innings allowing five runs (earned) on five hits and three walks.

The suddenly solid Jason Standridge finished off the four and worked the fifth without allowing a hit. I guess they made the right choice in designating Esteban Yan after all.

David Weathers allowed two runs (earned) on one hit and two walks in the sixth inning for the blown save. Bill Bray worked an inning and a third allowing zero hits on one walk. Todd Coffey finished off the seventh without a hit for the win. Eddie Guardado allowed zero runs on one hit in the eighth for the save.

Whew! You go through a lot of relievers when your starter lasts less than four innings.

Freel led the offense with a 3-for-4 night that included two home runs and three RBI. Homer number six (really number seven) led off the game. Home number seven (really number eight) was another solo shot in the eighth inning that was the last run the Reds would score and the margin of victory.

Scott Hatteberg, who also went 3-for-4 with three RBI, hit a two-run home run in the first inning. Damn that guy is hot! So, of course, Jerry Narron pinch-hit for him in the eighth inning.

Edwin Encarnación got to start. Yay! He was 2-for-5 with a run scored; therefore, he would not start the next day.

The win brought the Reds' record to 52-46. They would go for the sweep of the series on Sunday, sending out Eric Milton to face Tomo Ohka.

This week on the podcast, enough time has finally passed for me to be able to talk about The Trade with my Crack Technical Staff. Before it was just too soon. I'm very sensitive, you know.

We also discuss the market for middle relief, the awesomeness that is Ryan Freel, Joe Mays last night, and prospects for the rest of the season.

Episode 19: The Trade (8.17 MB, 11:54)

Quoting the AP

“The San Diego Padres found the bullpen help they were seeking, acquiring right-hander Scott Williamson on Saturday from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for two minor league pitchers.

The Cubs received Class-A pitchers Fabian Jimenez and Joel Santo in the deal. The Padres are still looking for a third baseman before the trading deadline. ”

I thought you needed to trade starters to get bull pen help……