The Perfect Night

     September 28th, 2010.  For the rest of my life, I will associate this date with the most amazing feeling that I could have imagined while watching a sporting event.  While I longed to be at Great American Ballpark for the 7:10 start, I knew that if things went as planned, I would have no motivation to return to Lexington for class the next morning.  But, I had a seat on the couch with some of my closest buddies, wearing my red Jay Bruce jersey, watching for the inevitable result that I had waited my whole life to celebrate.
     The game played out just as any other.  Edinson Volquez had great stuff, giving up two earned runs and striking out eight in six innings.  After only getting one run out of a bases loaded, no out scenario in the 7th inning, the game was tied entering the 8th inning. Nick Masset and Aroldis Chapman pitched a smooth 8th and 9th, respectively.  That set the picture. Jay Bruce leading off in a tie game, bottom of the 9th, with a chance to set the city of Cincinnati ablaze.  One pitch.  One swing.  Pandemonium.  All of Cincinnati was suddenly in sheer and utter joy.  With one sweet swing from the Reds young, yet inconsistent slugger, 15 years of turmoil were erased.
     The things running through my head in the moments after that are hard to explain.  It was as if every emotion that I had ever invested into the Reds organization was pouring out.  I mean, think about.  For the past 15 years, we, as Reds fans, have endured a wide array of emotion.  We have welcomed Ken Griffey Jr. back to town, only to watch him never reach his full potential.  We've seen 10 different Opening Day starters.  Every April, we've told anyone who would listen that "this is the year."  We've spent hundreds of dollars a year on bleacher seats, $1 hot dogs, and souvenirs.  We've cursed up a storm every time Francisco Cordero entered the game, loaded the bases, and then struck out the side to preserve the victory.  But, it was all worth it.  Every disheartening trip to the ballpark was forgotten.  Every minute of ups and downs and wins and losses became a distant memory when Jay Bruce's home run slammed into the batter's eye in center field.  That is why this feeling is so indescribable.  My entire life as a Cincinnati Reds fan culminated with one swing.  And boy, was it sweet.        
     When I was walking home that night, I really couldn't describe my feelings.  I talked to some people who experienced the same thing I did, and others who couldn't understand what the big deal was.  But I slipped my Jay Bruce jersey back on the next morning and walked out of my room like I was on top of the world.  I didn't have any complaints.  I wasn't already looking to next year.  I wasn't questioning the front office, the managing, or the bullpen.  Everything was right.  September 28th, 2010: a great day to be a fan of the Cincinnati Reds.

One More Day

The Cardinals beat the Pirates tonight, 6-4, to keep their miniscule postseason hopes alive.  That means that the Reds will take the field at Great American Ballpark tomorrow night with an opportunity to clinch the National League Central Division title for the first time since 1995.  Edinson Volquez will get the start for Cincinnati, opposing Houston Astros' left-hander Wandy Rodriguez.  First pitch is at 7:10.

Reds Have Their Eyes on October

        The city of Cincinnati is abuzz with excitement.  Aroldis Chapman is striking out big league hitters with 103 MPH fastballs, Joey Votto is a legitimate MVP and Triple Crown candidate, and for the first time in 15 years, it looks as though the hometown Reds may make the postseason.
        At 79-59, the Reds hold a 6-game lead in the National League Central Division over the Cardinals.  While the head-to-head series between the two teams atop the division is mainly one sided (St. Louis has won 12 of 18), the division thus far has been decided outside of the two cities.  In what is largely an easy schedule in the final two months of the season, Cincinnati has beaten the teams they are supposed to while St. Louis, who have an almost equally elementary schedule, has stumbled over mediocre teams like Arizona, Milwaukee, and Washington.  As of this past weekend, if the Reds were to finish the rest of the season with a .500 record, St. Louis would need to finish 24-7 just to TIE.  

        Personally, I cannot contain my excitement.  The last time my hometown team even sniffed the playoffs this late was in 1999, when Al Leiter thew a complete game to shut down the Reds hopes in a one game playoff with the New York Mets.  Before that, Cincinnati was swept by the Atlanta Braves in the 1995 NLCS...when I was three years old!  So, I've never really seen the oldest franchise in professional baseball play a postseason series.  And as much as any big market team may dispute it, Cincinnati has the best and most knowledgeable baseball fans in the country.  The past ten years have been a struggle watching a team with a lackluster record, but every year there is a full house on Opening Day.  

        And this year has been different.  I was in the right field seats for the Civil Rights Game on May 15th against the Cardinals.  As Orlando Cabrera's relay throw gunned down Skip Schumaker at home plate for the final out to win 4-3, I looked around (after frantically screaming with the rest of the 41,326 fans).  I couldn't help but just smile and clap.  There was an indescribable hope and joy in the stadium.  It was something I had never seen before at a sporting event.  That's what makes this year different.  When the Reds are good, the city is different.  This is a baseball town, and will always be a baseball town.  And as long as the Reds are winning, the nation will see that.