RIP Joe Morgan, lost another HOF player. His trade to the Reds was a block buster to say the least and cemented the Big Red Machine. To this day the trade is considered an epoch-making deal for Cincinnati, although at the time many "experts" felt like the Astros got the better end of the deal.[5] Power-hitting Lee May, All-Star second baseman Tommy Helms, and outfielder/pinch hitter Jimmy Stewart went to the Astros. In addition to Morgan, included in the deal to the Reds were César Gerónimo (who became their regular right fielder and then center fielder), starting pitcher Jack Billingham, veteran infielder Denis Menke, and minor league outfielder Ed Armbrister. Morgan joined leadoff hitter Pete Rose as prolific catalysts at the top of the Reds' lineup. Morgan added home run power, not always displayed with the Astros in the cavernous Astrodome, outstanding speed and excellent defense. After joining The Big Red Machine, Morgan's career reached a new level. He made eight consecutive All-Star Game appearances (1972–79) to go along with his 1966 and 1970 appearances with Houston. Morgan, along with teammates Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Tony Pérez, and Dave Concepción, led the Reds to consecutive championships in the World Series. He drove in Ken Griffey for the winning run in Game 7 of the 1975 World Series. Morgan was also the National League MVP in 1975 and 1976. He was the first second baseman in the history of the National League to win the MVP back to back.[6] In Morgan's NL MVP years he combined for a .324 batting average, 44 home runs, 205 runs batted in, 246 bases on balls, and 127 stolen bases.[citation needed] Morgan was an extremely capable hitter—especially in clutch situations. While his lifetime average was only .271, he hit between .288 and .327 during his peak years with the Reds. Additionally, he drew many walks, resulting in an excellent .392 on-base percentage. He also hit 268 home runs to go with 449 doubles and 96 triples, excellent power for a middle infielder of his era, and was considered by some the finest base stealer of his generation (689 steals at greater than 80% success rate). Besides his prowess at the plate and on the bases, Morgan was an exceptional infielder, winning the Gold Glove Award in consecutive years from 1973 to 1977. Later career
Astros had their chances last night vs the Rays but left 10 men on base against the excellent Ray's pitching. That's likely to be the difference in this series, the Rays have a great staff and a deep and excellent bullpen while the Astros have guys you've never heard of before, and our Ace was #4/5 starter last year.
Re: Joe Morgan. I can still see his batting stance. Hands high. Bat straight vertical. Back (left) elbow twitching in anticipation of the pitch. Amazing power for a guy his size. A great player on a great team. The Big Red Machine! R.I.P.
Funny thing is that the reason the Astros mgr at the time, Harry Walker, wanted rid of Joe was because he wanted more power in the lineup, and they wanted the power hitting Lee May. Worked out great for the Reds as the change in ballparks helped Joe and Lee May is an asterisk in the Astros history. He was a solid player, but was gone after 3 years. He was never he power hitter at Houston that he was in Cincy.
Joe on the different types of curve balls. Norm Miller was doing the broadcast bit in the fourth inning when Joe Morgan came back to the dugout after missing a big curveball for strike three. "Joe, Joe Morgan, may I have a word with you?" "Sure, Norm, how's it going?" "Fine, Joe, fine. We wanted to ask you about that pitch you missed. What was it?" "Norm, that was a motherfucking curve." "Can you tell our listeners, Joe, what's the difference between a regular curve and a motherfucking curve?" "Well, Norm, your regular curve has a lot of spin on it and you can recognize it real early. It breaks down a little bit, and out. Now, your motherfucker, that's different. It comes in harder, looks like a fastball. Then all of a sudden it rolls off the top of the table and before you know it, it's motherfucking strike three." "Thank you very much, Joe Morgan."
Was that an actual on-air interview? Whoa! One note re: Joe Morgan. I had long since forgotten that Geronimo and Billingham had been included in that trade. Both were every bit as instrumental in the 2 World Series wins as the top hitters in the order. I also remember that May were popular members of the Reds and excellent ball players. While I was sorry to see them go, I (and most baseball fans) knew were getting a good players in return. We just didn't know how good Morgan, Billingham, and Geronimo would turn out to be.
Funny. I read Ball Four roughly 45 years ago. Obviously, I completely forgot about that fictional conversation. All I remember is that it was a funny book with some great baseball stories. I'm thinking I should read it again. It'll be like reading a new book.
Astros strand 11 more runners last night and a critical error by Altuve and we have what we have a 2-0 Tampa Bay lead in the ALCS. From today's Houston Chronicle The absence of clutch hitting has wasted two terrific starts. Framber Valdez spun seven stellar innings in a Game 1 loss. McCullers was magnificent for seven more Monday, delivering the most dominant start of his 2020 comeback season. McCullers struck out 11 Rays and required 100 pitches. He afforded the Astros length they sorely needed and kept the game within striking distance after Altuve’s error. Tampa swung and missed 20 times against him. After Altuve’s second error started the third, McCullers retired 15 of the final 17 hitters he saw. Nine punched out. Altuve misplay an E-vite to disaster for Astros
I used to go to the Reds games a lot. When they hosted the Dodgers in the 70s it was a WS atmosphere. Both teams were loaded with talent, had flamboyant managers and did not like each other. Both teams had some combative players; for the Reds it was Ray Knight, Pete Rose and and Pedro Borbon. Joe never git caught up in any of that but he was deadly hitting from the 2 hole and you could not pitch around him with Perez, Bench, Foster and Griffey Sr hitting next. Joe was the big inning guy, the spark plug. As Jim said, he was brutal on the Dodgers. He just missed an upper decker right where I was sitting at one Dodger game. Great, great ball player.
Don't really follow the NL very much so I don't know if the Braves are a real threat to the Dodgers. But they got the best of them last night that's for sure.
I was watching the game. Although the error justifiably was charged to Altuve, what's left unsaid is that the RH 1B should have made that catch. A lefty would have made the play.
Joe finished his career with Frisco just to torture us. One year he hit a HR in the final game to keep us out of the playoffs...
Braves young pitchers are amazing. They gave up nothing to Cincinnati and Miami. Now they gave up one to Kike on a hanging slider......one. Let's see if Kershaw can put a stop to this. Braves pitching has me worried.
Rats. After scratch, Kershaw eyes Game 4 return Kershaw has recurring back spasms that cost him starts. It's just my opinion, But I don't approve of all the weightlifting that he does at age 32. The starter tonight will be Tony Gonsolin. He was an outfielder at St. Mary's of California who has emerged as a very effective starting pitcher. So effective at age 26, that the team traded away three starting pitchers in the off-season to make way for him and Dustin May. His greatest test will be tonight.
Defense is doing in the Astros, the Rays defense is spectacular. Hard hit balls are being caught, hard hit balls into gaps are being caught by Ray's players laying out and making spectacular catches. Jose Altuve is doing his best imitation of Steve Sax in the meantime. He's hitting well in the post season but has been uncharacteristically flawed in the field. Credit though to the Rays they are playing well and have earned their 3-0 lead. Dodgers/Braves, raise your hand if you thought the Braves would be up 2-0 on the Dodgers...that's what I thought no hands up! I watched the 9th inning of the game last night and the Dodgers did finally come alive and nearly pulled out that game, so I imagine that a different Dodger team will be out today, it'll still be a shock if they don't win in 7.
Nothing has changed for me. I still have no idea who the Tampa players are, even though I've seen them several times now. I know they have a Korean 1st baseman; that's about it... The Dodgers are being strangled by Atlanta pitching, just as the Reds and Marlins were before them. Lets give credit where it's due. The Braves have some pitchers, both starters and relievers, who have not been scored upon through three rounds of playoffs. Give credit also to Freddie Freeman. He looks like the NL MVP to me.