Fun Cards: 2019 Reds, 1987 Topps football style: Sonny Gray

Sonny Gray‘s tenure with the Reds so far has been more gray than sunny. No wins and four losses in eight starts with a 4.15 ERA. I expected better, but really he hasn’t been very good since 2015. He will take the hill Wednesday night against the Cubbies in what will likely be the Reds third straight loss.

Advertisements

Fun Cards: 2019 ex-Reds, 1987 Topps football style: Mike Leake

Mike Leake‘s career started pretty well with the Reds. He won his first five major league decisions, and in his first six seasons he put up a 62-47 record with a 3.87 ERA. He was not quite as successful in San Francisco or St. Louis, and was traded near the end of the 2017 season to Seattle. So far in 2019, he is 2-3 with a 4.91 ERA. He did not get a decision in his most recent start as the Mariners lost in Cleveland on Star Wars day.

Fun Cards: 2019 Reds, 1987 Topps football style: Josh VanMeter “Super Rookie” (1911 throwback variation)

The league leader in home runs, RBI, total bases, slugging percentage, and OPS is none other than Josh VanMeter.

Josh VanWho? Did I forget to mention he’s the league leader of the International League? The Reds called him up this weekend and VanMeter promptly responded with a walk and a stolen base after pinch hitting for Luis Castillo in the bottom of the 7th yesterday.

All eyes are on phenom Nick Senzel, but VanMeter might just be the spark the Reds need to turn this thing around.

Fun Cards: 2019 Reds, 1987 Topps football style: Derek Dietrich (1911 throwback variation)

I don’t want to talk about the score.

I want to talk about these glorious uniforms. I want to talk about Derek Dietrich‘s artful “moustache.” I want to talk about home runs on three straight pitches by Eugenio Suarez, Jesse Winker, and Dietrich. I want to talk about anything but the actual score.

This has happened before. It feels like it happens every year. When the pitching is on, the offense doesn’t show up. When the offense scores enough in one game to win three, the pitching gives up more.

I still love Luis Castillo and Amir Garrett. Everyone has an off day. Let’s just schedule those off days to coincide with the hitters’ off days, m’kay?

Fun Cards: 2019 Reds, 1987 Topps football style: Jose Peraza

How awesome were those throwback uniforms last night? The Reds actually looked like ballplayers, wearing 1902-style duds. I wish the visiting teams got into the spirit of the throwbacks. How cool would it have looked for the Giants to wear 1902 New York Giants uniforms?

The team will have an interesting dilemma when Scooter Gennett returns from the disabled list. Derek Dietrich is hitting the cover off the ball, but Scooter was an All-Star last year. Will they bench Jose Peraza in favor of Gennett and Dietrich?

Fun Cards: 2019 Reds, 1987 Topps football style: Nick Senzel “Super Rookie”

Man, this has been a rough season so far. So much potential, such high expectations, such frustrating results. Friday’s game was an absolute disaster, losing 12-11 in extra innings after taking an early 8-run lead. It was the debut of phenom Nick Senzel, who is under a great deal of pressure to get the offense back on track. He walked twice, scored a run, and got an infield hit. Not the worst debut in history, but it would have been nice if the team had won the game.

They did hold on Saturday night in a 9-2 nailbiter, and Senzel launched his first home run of his career, a 379-foot solo shot off Dereck Rodriguez. It was his only hit of the night. But hey, it was a hit…and the team won!

The Reds are playing .500 ball with Senzel in the lineup. They have scored 20 runs since his call-up. I would say that’s a good start.

Fun Cards: 2019 Reds, 1987 Topps football style: Joey Votto

The Reds finally won their second game after eight straight losses. It may have come against the Marlins, but it still counts. Joey Votto hit a double and scored twice, while five of his teammates went yard. Luis Castillo has had three fantastic starts so far, and I would like to remind everyone that I predicted a Cy Young season for Mr. Castillo. I’m looking forward to seeing continued dominance from this young man.

Fun Cards: 2019 Reds, 1987 Topps football style: Mr. Redlegs

While I prefer the mustacheless “running man” logo used from 1968 into the 1990s, I have grown to love Mr. Redlegs in recent years.

Fun Cards: 2019 Reds, 1987 Topps football style: Johnny Bench

One of the greatest players ever, Johnny Bench is rightly and forever will be known as a legend in Cincinnati.

Fun Cards: 2019 Reds, 1987 Topps football style: David Bell

Managers get cards in my sets. David Bell is the descendant of Cincinnati royalty; both grandfather Gus Bell and father Buddy Bell were popular players for the Reds. His little brother Mike Bell also played for the Reds, but that didn’t go quite as well. I’m hoping for the best for David. I was excited when they named him manager, and I expect him to continue the Bell tradition of excellence in the Queen City.