Hi all. Wanted to say whatup after my prolonged absense, I've just returned from a few weeks in Japan visiting my brother. It was a great trip, but it's nice to be home. I think i've caught up on everything reds related by scanning all the threads i missed, good to see that we're still winning more than not.
I went to one baseball game in Japan, and watched the home town yokohama bay stars win a nail biter 3-1 on an 8th inning two run homer. Both starters were filthy, though they topped out at 88-90. they both had devestating breaking stuff and threw back up two seem fastballs around 85-86 that moved as much as wagner's slider.
it was fun to see. they hand out a song page as you enter the stadium that has a song for each player that everyone sings when that player comes to bat. and i'm not talking about toby keith songs that the players like, i'm talking about songs actually written about the players. imagine singing "austin kearns is know as ears, his mighty swing makes many fears," its like that.
the fans really get into it in a way that fans here don't, but it's not better, just different. i think fans in the states are more analytical, always thinking about what the team should do and things like that. japanese fans are really just all about rooting their team on.
anyhow, i'm looking forward to the rest of the reds season, even though it's a little heartbreaking to see them playing well now that they're out of it. vote griffey!