My grandma thought I was crazy, and told me to calm down.

“I’ve never seen the Reds in the playoffs,” an 11-year old me responded.

Little did I know that I’d only see one more trip to the postseason out of my Redlegs before I turned 31.

Incidently, the CPA told me the same thing about jumping up and down last night. Whereas my grandma thought I might hit the ceiling fan, the CPA was concerned about our drop ceiling in the man cave.

The 1995 Reds were a great group of players who, were it not for the Braves, may have battled Cleveland in the true Battle of Ohio, but alas Reggie Sanders struck out 10 times in four games and the Reds were swept.

The 1999 team, as I’ve said before, will go down as my favorite squad to root for. They had a mix of young players, with a few veterans, that just never died.

That team lacked a lot more than this year’s team when it came to pitching. The ’99 Reds were super-glued and duct-taped together as a pitching staff, with Pete Harnisch being the poster-boy for guys with their arms falling off getting the job done.

That team didn’t make the playoffs, tying on the last day of the regular season with the Astros for the NL Central lead, but also finding itself squared away with the Mets for the wild card. MLB made the Reds fly from Milwaukee to Cincinnati, getting home at 6 a.m., only to have them play the Mets at 7 p.m. that night. Thanks a lot, Bud.

What a reward for a 96-win season!

Then, in 2000, with Ken Griffey Jr., the player of the 1990s in tow, the Reds won 85 games and were the disappointment by the river.

How these last nine years have taught Reds fans a lesson in contentment! We thought an 85-win season was a failure! Boy, did we find out what it really meant to stink!

The last decade wasn’t all bad. There were times when the Reds were in contention, only to have injuries or thin pitching be exposed, but there wasn’t a winning campaign to be had.

Until this year. Unlike Mark McGwire, I’ve talked about the past a lot here. That’s because I don’t really know what to say.

If memory serves, looking back at ’99, ’95 and ’90, unless a winning season is bought like in New York, there seems to be a need for several characters on a winning team.

The ’90 team certainly had that with the Nasty Boys. In ’95, there weren’t so much characters, as much as there was character, with Barry Larkin leading the way.

But the ’99 group had it in all areas of the clubhouse. Greg Vaughn bought new meaning to the idea of “carrying a big stick” and Dmitri Young and Pokey Reese both had flare the fans in Cincinnati hadn’t seen in a while. Larkin was still there, leading by example, but that pitching staff, the one held together by as many adhesives as possible, had a bullpen with players from all walks of life, including a guy nicknamed “Dirt” (Stan Belinda) and one affectionately called “Mud” (rookie Scott Williamson).

This team has the veteran, Scott Rolen, the silent assassin, Joey Votto, the flashy one, Brandon Phillips, the winner for best Pete Rose impersonation, Jonny Gomes, and so on and so on — Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs would have to be the up-and-comers.

The pitching staff is unlike any I’ve seen as a Reds fan. Depth and power arms adorn the roster, which is what it takes to get it done these days.

Here’s hoping we’re celebrating more than the birth of my son in the next month!

Toddler totals another win

She’s done it again, folks!

Lucy Cashew has dominated all of our so-called experts en route to another winning week. The pint-sized prognosticator dialed up a 12-win week, when few people were even in double figures.

Here’s yet another shot of the cutest little shark I’ve ever seen:

Lucy Cashew

I spoke with Lucy Cashew’s father, GatorBuckeye, about how a 23-month old girl can be so good.

“It was extra tough getting (the picks) out of her this week because she was sick,” he said. “After her nap is the best time.”

Results

Lucy Cashew 12 (plus 1) = 13
Brian I. 11
Kara 11
The CPA 10
Chjm70 10
Nora Peanut 10
Seth 9
Jeff W. 9
Grandpa 9
Jeff S. 9
Will Will 9
Teddy 9
Jessica 9
tgd 9
Mary the Nurse 9
GatorBuckeye 9
jmb 9
Amy 8
Miles 8
Big Game 8
Crazed Wolverine 8
Adman 8
Fulch 8
Jack Ten 7
The Trashman 7
Patrick F. 6
Jeremiah 6
tgm 6

Overall Standings

1. Lucy Cashew 38**
2. Chjm70 34*
3. Grandpa 30
3. Jeff W. 30
5. Seth 29
5. Jeff S. 29
5. GatorBuckeye 29
8. The CPA 28
8. Brian I. 28
8. Will Will 28
8. Kara 28
8. Nora Peanut 28
13. The Trashman 27
13. Miles 27
13. jmb 27
13. Adman 27
13. Jessica 27
13. Big Game 27
13. Mary the Nurse 27
20. Amy 26
20. tgd 26
20. Fulch 26
23. Jack Ten 22
23. Crazed Wolverine 22
23. Jeremiah 22
23. tgm 22
27. Patrick F. 21
28. Big ‘Un 20
29. Teddy 17

NFL Week Four

Cincinnati (2-1) at Cleveland (0-3)
San Francisco (0-3) at Atlanta (2-1)
NY Jets (2-1) at Buffalo (0-3)
Detroit (0-3) at Green Bay (2-1)
Denver (1-2) at Tennessee (2-1)
Seattle (2-1) at St. Louis (1-2)
Carolina (0-3) at New Orleans (2-1)
Baltimore (2-1) at Pittsburgh (3-0)
Houston (2-1) at Oakland (1-2)
Indianapolis (2-1) at Jacksonville (1-2)
Washington (1-2) at Philadelphia (2-1)
Arizona (2-1) at San Diego (1-2)
Chicago (3-0) at NY Giants (1-2)
New England (2-1) at Miami (2-1) Pts._____

Make your picks by using the “Comments” section under the headline.

Matt has followed the amazing journey of Aroldis Chapman and breaks down his game to this point, plus we talk about the Reds and what is to come.

Send comments or thought my way via the “Comments” section at the top of the page.

Scott Bacon, play-by-play voice of the Lynchburg Hillcats, the Cincinnati Reds’ High-A affiliate in the Carolina League, joins me to talk future Reds, specifically top 2007 pick Devin Mesoraco, who is a catcher with the Hillcats, and has hit quite well this year.

Bacon and I talk about the Reds’ current philosophy under general manager Walt Jocetty and the life of a minor league broadcaster.

I also added a home run call by Bacon and an interview he recorded with Mesoraco last week.

Send feedback or questions my way by clicking the “Comments” section.

Andrews was in Toledo Sunday to call the action of Chapman’s professional debut, a game in which he struck out nine batters in less than five innings.

It’s also a fine time to be a fan of the big league club, as another 22-year old hurler, Mike Leake, was excellent in his Reds debut — Leake completely skipped the minor leagues as he went straight from Arizona State to the big club.

It’s a fine time to be a fan of the Cincinnati Reds.

Let me know what you think by leaving a comment above the text.

With that said, it was time to turn a corner on the podcast, and to do so I turned to a baseball fan who may be as crazy about his team than I am of mine.

Steve Streicher, resident Tigers expert, joins me to talk Tigers and Reds. We break down the rosters as we near opening day and figure out which guy will get to host the World Series party first.

Final Ohio State hoops thought

I’m pretty tired of the grumblings going around that OSU was worn out at the end of the season.

Was it a really short bench? Yes, but the fact is that team played itself into a Big Ten title after starting 1-3, won three games in as many days to win the Big Ten Tournament, and played with a Tennessee team that ran 10-plus players at it.

The real answer, which would’ve also added to the depth, would’ve been to have a B.J. Mullens, or any other player with size, to throw at the Vols. But to say the Buckeyes got tired doesn’t fly with me. Length was an issue, not wind, and it would’ve come up again had they advanced to play West Virginia or Duke, or Kentucky had the Wildcats not laid an Elite Eight egg.

Leave your thoughts or comments by clicking on the “Comments” section at the top of the page.

Rosecrans is covering the Cincinnati Reds at spring training at Goodyear, AZ.

We talk about everything from the fifth starter spot, to left field to the bench, and even break down some of the best young players to break into the big leagues with the Reds in decades.

Joey Votto

Send feedback or questions by clicking the Comments section at the top of the page.

Rosecrans has worked as a beat writer, including time at the Cincinnati Post as the Reds, and prior to that UC’s, beat guy. That’s how I started following him, and he’s really grabbed onto the blogosphere, helping him transition from newspaper guy to new-age internet guy.

We talk about the business and what he hopes to get done with his new website, www.CNati.com and about college football — he’s a Georgia grad and I’m obviously a Buckeye, so some shots went across the bow, but unfortunately there are some things I can’t defend, like the Big Ten of late.

Check out his site. He does a great job covering sports and with fewer and fewer voices in locker rooms and clubhouses these days, it’d be nice if some reputable journalists can still get in the door!

Send any comments or suggestions about the podcast by clicking on the “Comments” section under the headline.

With the Reds’ recent demise I needed to look to the future, and there’s no better guy to talk to than the guy who sees the prospects play on a daily basis.

We shot the breeze on a pair of outfielders, Drew Stubbs and Chris Heisey, and two pitchers, Travis Wood and Zack Stewart, who could be in the Reds’ plans as soon as this September when the rosters expand, or as early as next spring on a full time basis if a few struggling veterans, cough cough Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Willy Taveras, get shipped off.

I end the show with the news of Cliff Lee’s trade from the Indians to Philly, where I think he’ll be a few notches lower in quality in that bandbox of a ballpark! Only time will tell on the prospects the Tribe got in return, but remember the names in the Bartolo Colon trade of 2002: Lee, Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips.

I’m not saying, I’m just saying.

Send any comments or suggestions about the podcast by clicking on the “Comments” section under the headline.

Dan does a daily show and has found a niche, having talked to guests like Tony Kornheiser, Rich Eisen, Ernie Johnson and, tomorrow, Kenny Mayne.

I was very interested in picking Dan’s brain about putting together a quality show, how to attract listeners and where the podcast medium is going.

Send any comments or suggestions about the podcast by clicking on the “Comments” section under the headline.

I’ll put the Kibosh on talking about the Reds successes

It’s been brought to my attention that when the Reds shot into first place a few weeks ago, and I wrote a blog about it on this site, they immediately went down the tubes, losing the next four games.

I emailed some friends a few weeks back, detailing the fact that Jay Bruce had played around 155 games in the big leagues and, in that time, had put together pretty solid numbers, including 35 homers. Not bad considering he’s still the third or fourth youngest player in the league.

But he hasn’t hit one since.

The team is doing OK, especially if you consider its leader, Joey Votto, isn’t around because of a strange trip to the disabled list, last year’s top starting pitcher, Edinson Volquez, is on his second DL stint with just one one-inning start in between, and several other players have either landed on the DL or simply on the dreaded “day-to-day” list.

So, treading water, and staying within three or so games of first place, isn’t that bad, is it?

I don’t know, but if they pick it up again I’ll hold off on writing about it, OK? And if you sense a turnaround from this fun team, send me a note to remind me about my promise!

Jeff, whom I’ve known since my student radio days in the late 1990s, is on top of the Ohio State men’s basketball scene as well as anyone. He gives us a taste of what we can expect from the much-heralded class of 2010, which includes Northland’s Jared Sullinger.

Rapp and I also rap about our memories of Buckeyes seasons past, like the time we watched in horror as OSU lost to Utah State in the first round of the 2001 NCAA tournament, or the time he and I were mere feet away from some of the greatest plays in Ohio State football history, at the 2002 BCS title game against Miami.

Check out Jeff’s stuff at www.bucknuts.com.

Tom is in the midst of one of the more interesting cross-continental lives I have ever been associated with! He makes his home in Central Ohio, but only for football season, during which he broadcasts DeSales football locally at www.pouringpurple.com.

Tom and his crew also put out a DVD complete with video and audio from the season, which in 2008 ended one step away from the state finals.

Tom and I talk about his trans-continental adventures, including his current post as PA announcer for UCLA and Long Beach State baseball, and the Manny Ramirez news.

Send any comments or suggestions about the podcast by clicking on the “Comments” section under the headline.

How ’bout those Redlegs!

I haven’t written much on this site aside from updating my podcasts. I’ve been going in a little bit of a different direction with the site, but I can’t resist commenting on my favorite baseball team.

The Reds are younger. They don’t have big bashers who either thrill with long balls, or baffle with taken third strikes. The Reds don’t have much veteran leadership behind a handful of pitchers.

But what they do have is “it”. Nobody knows what “it” is, but they know it when they see it. You can’t just look at a roster and say, “There ‘it’ is!”

In fact, why wouldn’t a team — the one from the better part of the past decade — with at least one sure hall of famer, a Bunyan-esque power hitter and other intangible parts at least have some semblance of “it”?

I don’t know.

I loved Adam Dunn when he came up. He, along with Austin Kearns and several other young players, was a source of hope, especially considering how young they all were from 2002-06, but the team never won with that collection of talent, partially because of pitching, or a lake thereof.

This team hasn’t won anything yet, either. I know that, but it does have “it”. The Reds have a group of players hanging on the protective fence of the dugout, hoping to see what’s going to happen next. The previous teams seemed to have assigned seats up against the wall of the dugout!

It’s amazing to see the recent offensive explosion by this team. I can’t explain why, during a week-long stretch when Joey Votto misses all or part of six games, Brandon Phillips misses three and the entire starting left side of the infield at the start of the season is hurt, the team wins six of seven contests.

But I’m enjoying every moment. The last time the Reds won a sweep at Arizona was 1999. That squad was referred to as “The Big Road Machine” by hall of fame beat writer Hal McCoy, and that team also went 7-0 on that same trip that included the sweep of Arizona and a four-game sweep of Houston.

On May 15, that fateful ’99 season, the Reds were a season-long seven games out of first place. They open today’s off day, May 14, tied with St. Louis and Milwaukee for first (20-14).

There are a lot of similarities between that team and this one. Youth is the biggest one, but that team had a pitching staff cobbled together by spit and bubble gum. This team seemingly has the ability to stop any losing streak with any one of its top four starters — Aaron Harang, Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto and Bronson Arroyo.

Fifth starter Micah Owings hasn’t been stellar overall on the mound, but he’s made up for that with a potent bat, hitting pinch hit doubles and even a homer along the way.

I’m ready to party like it’s 1999, but this time I hope it includes a playoff berth, if not this season, maybe next.