I took in a Reds-Diamondbacks game one steamy August evening from the sumptuous - and air conditioned - setting of the Riverfront Club. In the photo above, the Reds and D-backs go through pre-game warm-ups. I stuffed my face with Montgomery Inn pulled pork barbecue slider-sized sammiches. In-between trips through the all-you-can-shovel buffet, I snapped yet another photo of the venerable Roebling Suspension Bridge:
I know. How many photos can one guy take of a bridge? Right? The Riverfront Club affords one of the best views of this historic Ohio River span from the Cincinnati side.
The game progressed at an American League pace [read: grindingly slow]. By the 8th inning, I was the last man standing in the Riverfront Club:
This allowed me to enjoy a few dozen bite-sized Mr Redlegs red velvet cupcakes (topped off with an edible, candied Mr Redlegs moustache) in relative silence:
Flanking my cupcake are two grilled s'mores sammiches.
The Reds had the lead going into the 9th inning and so manager Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker initiated launch control for the Cuban Missile:
3 outs, in quick succession, and - to coin a phrase - this one belonged to the Reds. Thus, I rounded the buffet and headed for home.
August is also National Mike Birthday Month, and this year Jungle Jim's threw together a smashingly tasty white sheet cake. See if you can discern the cake's thematic decoration:
On Tuesday, The Incomparable Joe Wilhelm was the guest of honor in my luxury box seats for the Reds-Cardinals game. Even being the guest of honor he had to pay for his ticket. We arrived early enough to watch the dastardly Redbirds take batting practice:
I tried to get Joe-Joe to pose for a photograph at the ballpark's "Sweet Spot" candy shoppe and in front of the Frisch's Big Boy concession stand, but The Rocky of Rookwood refused. Surreptitiously, I snapped his photograph from across the ball orchard:
Can you see him? Allow me to assist you:
It was a great night, weather-wise, for a ballgame. Cloudless sky, no humidity, game time temperature in the lower 70's. Joe and I each opted for ice cold Coca-Colas, mine of the $10 Joey Votto souvenir holographic variety, Joey's of the $1 kids-sized:
That night, and that night only, my close personal friend Robert (he let's me call him Bob) Castellini gave his approval for one free refill of the $10 Joey Votto souvenir-sized holographic drinks. This effectively halved my per unit cost. Nothing says quality fan experience like "halved per unit cost."
We were graced by a visit from one of my sources deep within the Reds organization, code named BOSS. Alas, there exists no photographic proof. BOSS was informative and entertaining, as usual. After he left, Joe and I marveled upon the ease at which BOSS exudes his unique brand smooth professionalism. The same goes for my other source deep within the Reds organization, code named CAMPBELL, who has been more than generous to me with his time, information and rarefied realm of Riverboat of access. And, naturally, I do not say these things in the expectation of future considerations. Ahem.
Moving right along.....
It is virtually guaranteed that when Joe and I go to a Reds game together that something historic will occur. We were there in 1995 (with Lou) for the only post-season pinch hit grand slam in Major League history when Hamilton, Ohio native Mark Lewis jacked one in the decisive game 3 sweep of the hated Dodgers in that season's NLDS. We were there in 2007 for the Major League debut of Homer Bailey when he went 5 innings and earned the victory over the in-state rival Indians of Cleveland. We were there 2003 when P.E.D.-Slamming Sammy Sosa of the toothless Cubbies blasted his 500th career performance-enhanced, corked bat home run. We were there, sometime in the 1990s, when Lenny "E-4" Harris collected his 500th career hit. And, among so many other historic baseball events which we have witnessed and which cannot be further recounted here due to space limitations, we were there for the Major League debut of Reds' prospect Billy Hamilton. The speedy Hamilton was sent in to pinch run for Reds left fielder Ryan "Brass Monkey" Ludwick in a 0-0 tie. Billy Hamilton is pictured below leading off first base:
Billy Hamilton promptly swiped second base off Redbirds' catcher Yadi Molina and then scored what eventually proved to be the winning run when "The Toddfather" Todd Frazier drove Hamilton in. Viewing the game from his remote mountaintop retreat in North Carolina, the Paleo Rider suggests the possibility that Hamilton scored from second base before any dastardly Redbird laid leather upon the old horsehide. Replays are inconclusive. I accept the word of the Paleo Rider as solid, petrified fact.
Sighted in the stands that same night was a rarely seen - these days - Reds jersey:
A sleeveless #3 road jersey of former second baseman Pokey Reese. Pokey, as no doubt all of you will recall, was about as slick fielding a second baseman as you could find being that Pokey was, as Brandon Phillips is today, a converted shortstop. Which brings us back, full circle, to Joe Morgan. All the rage today is that Dat Dude BP is the greatest second baseman in the long and storied history of Cincinnati baseball. Greater credence is given - in certain quarters - to this assertion now that, as of last night's 5-4 loss to St Louis in 16 Innings, Dat Dude Fan Favorite joined Joe Morgan as the only two Reds' 2Bs with 100 or more RBI in a season. There is very little to be critical of BP's on-field abilities (the way he wears his uniform is simply a reflection of the broader trend among his teammates and League-wide to look like, as Hall of Famer Marty Brennaman once described the style, "an unmade bed"). Phillips is the best second baseman in the NL today. Yet before we permit ourselves to be caught up in the narcissism of now, let's review a few, basic facts that will remind us all of just how great was Little Joe and, also, as to exactly what degree we may consider Morgan to be superior to Dat Dude Hissy Fit.
Not including the current 2013 season, BP has been awarded through his first 11 Major League seasons (only 7 full seasons, to be fair):
3 All-Star honors
3 Gold Gloves
1 Silver Slugger
Voted as high as 13th and 22nd in NL MVP balloting.
In 2007 BP achieved the 30/30 mark of 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in a season and in 2008 and '09 he was 20/20. In 2011 Phillips batted .300, his career-best (so far). As noted above, in 2013 Brandon has driven in 100 RBI (and counting), his most to date.
To date, Dat Dude has not led the National League in any significant offensive statistical category.
Through his first 7 full seasons [having at least 500 plate appearances per season as qualification], Little Joe was awarded:
3 All-Star honors
Voted 2nd in Rookie of the Year balloting (1965)
Voted as high as 4th in NL MVP balloting.
Morgan never achieved the 30/30 mark at any point in his career nor was Morgan ever 20/20 during his first 7 (full) Major League seasons. However, during those first 7 big league seasons, Joe Morgan led the NL in runs scored (122 in 1972), triples (11 in 1971), bases on balls (97 in 1965, 115 in 1972), and on-base percentage (.417 in 1972).
However, it is when one looks at the totality of Morgan's Hall of Fame career that we begin to understand the clear delineation between the two.
During his lifetime Morgan was a consecutive NL MVP award winner in 1975 and 1976. A 10-time All-Star. 5-time Gold Glove. 4 times was 20/20. Joe led the League in bases on balls 4 times, OBP 4 times, and once each in runs scored, triples, slugging percentage and sacrifices. For those of you who accept Al Gore levels of junk science, Morgan also twice led the NL in OPS.
Seven times Morgan stole 49 or more bases in a season (twice stealing as many as 67). BP's career mark, so far, is 32.
Twice Morgan has hit .320 or higher in a season. In six other seasons Little Joe hit .285 or better (for a cumulative total of 8 seasons of .285 or better). Only twice, so far in his career, has Phillips hit .285 or better.
Four times Morgan slugged .490+ (slugging .508 in 1975, .576 in 1976). BP has yet to slug .490 (slugging .485 during his 30-homer season).
Morgan averaged 62 strikeouts per season for his career. BP is averaging 97 per season, to date. Nine times Morgan struck out fewer than 53 times in a season in which he had 500+ plate appearances, BP hasn't ever struck out fewer than 75 times in a 500+ plate appearance season.
Morgan grounded into double plays an average of 6 times per season for his 22-year career. Thus far, Phillips is grounding into double plays at an average clip of 19 per season. [Adam Dunn is averaging 8 GIDPs to date for his 13-year career.]
Baseball-reference.com has Morgan ranked 68th all-time among batters. Phillips is ranked, 11 years into his career and with a long way yet to go, at 457th.
BP is the best second baseman in the National League today. Phillips has the opportunity to be the greatest second baseman in Reds history. This isn't about how good Brandon Phillips is now or about how great he may someday become.
Joe Morgan remains, as of 2013, the greatest second baseman in Reds history.
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