Todd Frazier catch leaves Keyvius Sampson in awkward position (VIDEO)

During the bottom of the fourth inning of Tuesday night's Cardinals-Reds game, Cincinnati third baseman Todd Frazier went a long way to catch a foul pop-up off the bat of St. Louis first baseman Matt Adams. Frazier went over the railing of the camera well to make the sensational catch and ended up having to hold on for dear life.

Luckily for him, his pitcher Keyvius Sampson  had his back, his legs and whatever else he could grab.

Sampson's quick reflexes managed to keep Frazier from falling onto a 400mm lens, but in doing so, left himself in an awkward position.

Hello? Is that you Todd?

Joey Votto goes off on ump, has to be held back (VIDEO)

All that losing in Cincinnati seems to have caught up with Joey Votto. And the Reds first baseman took all of his frustration out on home plate umpire Bill Welke during an at-bat in the eighth-inning of Wednesday night's game against the Pirates.

Facing Tony Watson while Cincinnati trailed, 5-3, with runners on first and second base, Votto took a 1-1 pitch for a called strike by Welke. Votto appeared to call timeout from the batter's box, and Welke did not grant it. When Votto turned to the Reds' dugout to complain that he couldn't get a timeout, the umpire tossed him.

An enraged Votto immediately spiked his helmet and went nose-to-nose with Welke before he was pulled away by coaches

Votto blew more than his top and a chance to be a hero and the Reds went on to a 5-4 loss.

Reds minor leaguer plays all nine positions in one game (VIDEO)

When the Pensacola Blue Wahoos — Cincinnati's Double-A affiliate — clinched their division with one game to go, there was a pretty good chance that some players would get a rest. But instead of taking the day off, shortstop Ray Chang took the opportunity to play all nine positions, a different one each inning.

It all started when Chang walked into the locker room and was given a choice by his manager, Pat Kelly: Take the day off or be a jack of all trades. Chang's decision to play led to a stint at first base, and then, like running the bases around the diamond, next came second base, then short, then third, then the outfield. Check out the boxscore:

The only problem arose when Chang was called in to catch Pensacola closer Zack Weiss — the league leader in saves and the owner of a mid-90s fastball.

"Catching [was the hardest] by far," Chang said after the game. "The hardest part about it is when the ball's in the strike zone, you know that guy's going to swing, but you have to keep focused on the ball and not the bat coming through the zone."

Chang made it through OK, though, and even tossed a clean ninth inning:

Oh yeah. Chang also went 3-for-4 at the plate and scored a run.

Take that Will Ferrell.

Reds fan's dog uninterested in game, just wants owner's hot dog (VIDEO)

Wednesday was National Dog Day around the country and what better way to celebrate than by bringing your best friend to a baseball game — namely your pooch.

One lucky pup ended up at Wednesday night's Dodgers-Reds game but seemed way more interested in this hot dog than the game or anything else his owner was yakking about:

Here's just a few of the other canine fans who showed up for Bark in the Park night at Great American Ball Park.

Mets' Steven Matz has sandwich named after him, but doesn't order it

Mets rookie Steven Matz had an amazing debut at Citi Field on Sunday — both with the bat and on the mound. It was so good, the Long Island delicatessen Matz frequents was overrun by customers ordering the hero sandwich named after the Mets phenom.

Matz frequented the SE-Port Deli on Long Island so much — always ordering the same thing — the deli just started to call his order "The Matz."

So less than 24 hours after the impressive outing, in which he allowed two runs in 7-2/3 innings and went 3-for-3 with four RBIs in a 7-2 win over Cincinnati, Matz showed up for lunch.

According to Newsday:

Owner Wisam Dakwar was behind his East Setauket counter making a Matz Monday afternoon when he heard a commotion and turned to look at the line of customers. Matz and teammate Jacob deGrom had walked in.

"We had an off day today so I called Jacob to see what he was doing," Matz said. "We came out to Long Island, figured I'd show him the town a little bit."

So what did the Mets new star order?

Matz went with the Boone, which has chicken cutlet, melted American cheese, bacon and Russian dressing on a roll.

"That's the most standard one, so that's what I went with," said Matz, who also ordered his usual cup of Se-Port iced tea. "But it's cool to have my own hero. It's been up there for a while."

The Matz specialty sandwich includes chicken cutlet, melted jack and cheddar cheeses, crispy bacon, lettuce and tomato topped with pepper house dressing on a toasted garlic hero and it's what Matz ordered long before the sandwich was given his name.

Dakwar said Matz has been a customer since he was a student at nearby Ward Melville High School. He named the hero after Matz when he was signed by the Mets in 2009.

A lot of people are called heroes these days, but how many can say they come with pepper house dressing?

Reds fans start 'light wave' around Great American Ball Park (VIDEO)

People have different opinions on the merits of the wave and where the fan participatory action originated. While some believe it's a fun ballpark tradition, others believe it's it's an annoying distraction from your hot dog and beer. 

During Thursday's s Indians-Reds game, fans at Great American Ball Park added a new twist to the customary arm swaying by adding light.

And you have to wonder: What took so long?

Nobody is quite sure where the original wave started back in the early eighties, but now we know who to blame for the iPhone light show the next time a mesmerized outfielder drops the ball because he thought he was at a Bon Jovi concert.

Reds' Phillips tries the old pull-the-foot-off-the-bag trick after Marte steal (VIDEO)

After Starling Marte legitimately stole second base, Brandon Phillips tried pulling one of the oldest tricks in the book to get the Pirates baserunner out — the old pull-the-foot-off-the-base gag.

While Phillips' prank play was pretty obvious, he still tried to sell it to veteran second-base umpire Jerry Lane who saw the whole thing go down.

All he got was some laughs from Marte and a finger-wag from Lane.

That's a no-no in any ump's book.

Reds Phillips Pirates MarteThat's ano-noPNC Parksecond base ump Jerry Lane

Carlos Gomez once again robs Joey Votto of a home run (VIDEO)

Carlos Gomez leaps up against the center-field wall and comes down with the baseball, robbing Joey Votto of a solo home run Thursday night.

For Gomez — who was himself robbed of a homer by Billy Hamilton in the top of the first inning — it was sweet revenge.

For Votto, it was deja vu.

You may remember Gomez robbing Votto of a potential game-winning homer to end a game last year. 

Joey sure does. And his reaction is priceless.

Billy Hamilton makes diving catch, leaves game with bruised knuckles (VIDEO)

Billy Hamilton lays out for this spectacular catch Thursday night, but was forced to leave after bruising his knuckles on the play.

The Reds center fielder injured the knuckles on his left hand while making the grab to open the game against the Milwaukee Brewers. He's expected to be sidelined a few games.

Most people would have black-and-blue bodies after that catch. Just saying.

Fan makes one-handed foul ball catch with son in other arm (VIDEO)

A quick-reacting father made a great one-handed catch on a line-drive foul ball all while holding his son in his other arm.

The fantastic bare-handed grab came during Wednesday night's Cubs-Reds game. 

Afterwards, the humble dad (and former college player) just shrugged and said it was nothing because his glove hand was free.

The kid in the throwing hand was left speechless but mom had a few things to say:

Ike Davis leads Mets to victory with pinch-hit grand slam (VIDEO)

Ike Davis belted a pinch-hit grand slam off J.J. Hoover in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Mets a 6-3 walk-off victory over the Reds Saturday.  The dramatic moment came just a day after manager Terry Collins announced Lucas Duda would start over him at first base.

“That’s basically going to be my role, so that’s going to be every game,” Davis said later of being ready to come off the bench. “I’m obviously not going to hit a home run every time, but I have to be ready for those big at-bats and hopefully I can take advantage of them.”

Deep down we all know what Davis was thinking — and he said it with his bat.

Eric Young robs Brandon Phillips of a home run with a great leaping catch (VIDEO)

The New York Mets needed something to get them started Friday night after three straight losses to open the season. Right away, in the top of the first,  Mets outfielder Eric Young did his part against the Cincinnati Reds.

Young robbed Brandon Phillips of a home run with a great leaping catch at the left-field fence and the Mets went on to their first victory of the season.

Overcast with temperatures hovering around 40-degrees at Citifield, the weather never cleared up and the grounds crew had to keep drying out the infield and mound. The announced attendance was 35,845, but empty seats were everywhere and it appeared fewer than 10,000 fans actually showed up.

So for all you Metsies who stayed away, here's Young's spectacular play.

Fan flips the bird to Cardinals' Matt Adams after winning battle for foul ball (VIDEO)

Players battle fans for foul balls in the stands every so often — usually without incident. So it was a little bizarre when the Cardinals Matt Adams and a Reds fan got into a little tiff Thursday night.

The Cardinals first baseman and the first-row Reds fan both had a right to Chris Heisey's foul pop during the third inning at Great American Ball Park but, ultimately, it was the fan made the grab despite Adams' all-out effort.

The first baseman wasn't too pleased and gave the fan a little shove to which the fan responded with a few choice words and the proverbial finger salute as Adams headed back to the infield.

That's known as flipping the bird in more than one sense.

"I was just trying to stop from falling in there," said Adams after the game. "They had some pretty good fans on that side. He caught that one and then the other guy caught the hot shot behind the dugout."

"I heard the whole section was flipping me off," he added. " But I can't let that bother me."

Asked about the incident postgame, manager Mike Matheny said he was unaware of any incidental contact.

"Pushed the fan? He was going after the ball," Matheny said. "He was going into the stands. [He] probably [pushed] trying to keep from going tail over tea kettle into the first row. You don't want to be going into the stands. You have to do what you have to do."

FYI regarding fan interference, Rule 3.16 in the Major League Baseball rulebook states:

No interference shall be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk. However, should a spectator reach out on the playing field side of such fence, railing or rope, and plainly prevent the fielder from catching the ball, then the batsman should be called out for the spectators interference.

Apparently Adams did so at his own risk, but didn't deserve the fan's single-finger gesture.

Reds to enact a Yankees-like facial hair policy in 2014: Report

Taking a page from the New York Yankees playbook, the Cincinnati Reds will institute a stricter facial hair policy for players beginning this season.

Although not as severe as George Steinbrenner's famous edict regarding beards, sideburns and moustaches, new Reds manager Bryan Price likes the idea of "tame" facial growth.

Jamie Ramsey, the Assistant Director of Media Relations for the Reds, tweeted this Friday:

...there's a facial hair policy for the Cincinnati #Reds in 2014. Beards and moustaches are permitted but must be tame. "No Duck Dynasty"
— Jamie Ramsey (@Jamieblog) February 14, 2014

The Yankees are well-known around the league for their rather stringent policies on grooming. Johnny Damon and Kevin Youkilis are just two of baseball’s more hirsute players who had to pick up some razors after signing with the Bombers.

Ramsey added that he believes the new policy isn’t meant to be hard on the players; rather, it is Price wanting to construct a team-first atmosphere.

I guess he didn't see that page from the 2013 Red Sox championship season playbook.

Wife of Reds Mat Latos reportedly attacked by Pirate fans outside PNC Park

The wife of a Cincinnati Reds player is claiming she was attacked by a group of Pittsburgh Pirates fans and punched in the head before Tuesday night's NL wild-card playoff game — while police and security guards virtually ignored her.

Dallas Latos, who is married to Reds starting pitcher Mat Latos, tweeted out that she was punched three times and grabbed by the hair by an angry female fan at a sports bar outside Pittsburgh's PNC Park.

The Reds-Pirates game was Pittsburgh's first appearance in the playoffs since 1992 — and the end of 20 straight losing seasons.

Mrs Latos tweeted: "Look. Check the police report. I was ambushed in the Budweiser bar, grabbed by the hair, drug down & punched in the head multiple times."

A Pittsburgh police desk officer could not confirm whether Mrs Latos had filed a report of an assault on Tuesday night. 

"Got punched in the head at least 3 times by a pirates fan so this has been cool," Latos tweeted.

Got punched in the head at least 3 times by a pirates fan so this has been cool.
— Dallas Latos (@DallasLatos) October 2, 2013

She claims she was threatened by the boyfriend of the woman who attacked her. Latos, who married her husband in 2010, says she was appalled by how poorly the security at PNC Park and Pittsburgh police handled the alleged attack.

"Every opportunity was given to pirates security to deal with this before it happened. Unbelievable," she said.

"Only said something bc I’m shocked by how s****y that was handled by PNC security. Beyond," she added.

Mat Latos did not play in Tuesday night's Wildcard playoff game. The Reds lost 6-2, moving Pittsburgh into the NL Divisional Series against St. Louis — while Cincinnati's season is over.

Puig's walkoff homer with bat toss and slide at plate a little too much? (VIDEO)

Los Angeles Dodgers rookie phenom Yasiel Puig is in the headlines again, this time after a walkoff homer in the 11th inning to top the Reds Sunday — meaning the Dodgers have won nine of 10 and continue to surge ahead in the NL West.

The home run is getting extra attention due to Puig's cocky bat flip and then slide into home plate. Lately, there seems to be a burgeoning movement of Puig haters out there.

 Here's the video, you be the judge.

Reds fan sports crazy 'do and colors at Great American Ball Park

A Cincinnati Reds fan sported a wild 'do and team colors while attending the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at the Great American Ball Park on Sunday.

The Jesse Ventura lookalike with the red Mohawk even had white shoulder hair and 'stache to complete the whole Reds color scheme.

If for some reason you don't like it — I have a feeling this guy really wouldn't care.

Jersey native Todd Frazier honors Gandolfini by walking to plate using 'The Sopranos' theme song

The sudden passing of actor and New Jersey icon James Gandolfini touched a lot of people's hearts and the outpouring of sympathy for the family's loss has been overwhelming — especially in the Garden State.

Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier, another Jersey guy by way of Rutgers as well, decided to honor Gandolfini by playing "The Sopranos" theme song as he stepped up to the plate on Thursday.



It was a nice way for the Toms River native to pay tribute to a fellow Rutgers alum inside the Great American Ball Park.

That's the Jersey way.

In honor of james gandolfini (tony soprano)who suddenly passed away Illbe using his song at bat during game 2morrow #jerseyboy #rutgers #rip
— Todd Frazier (@FlavaFraz21) June 20, 2013

Angels' Ryan Madson in favor of players using HGH while rehabbing

It's been 14 months into recovery from Tommy John surgery and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Ryan Madson has finally reached the point where he is willing to try anything to get back on the baseball diamond — even Human Growth Hormone.

"If HGH were legal, just in the process of healing, under a doctor's recommendation, in the right dosage, while you're on the (disabled list), I don't think that's such a bad idea," Madson told MLB.com. 

"As long as it doesn't have any lasting side effects, negative side effects."

The FDA has approved the use of Human Growth Hormone under certain medical conditions, but it is currently on MLB's list of banned substances.

After exhausting all legal medical options, Madson now believes that sports-related injuries should also be included in the short list of HGH-allowed therapies.

"Even if I get healthy without that," Madson said, "it should be legal, in the right dosage, under supervision, with doctors, for the only purposes to help heal and get players back in the Major Leagues."

But while MLB and all other pro sport leagues catagorize all PEDs in the same category, Madson insists he would never take his rehab therapy beyond HGH.

"Not steroids," he said. "Not steroids. No."

Madson, who signed with the Angels this year after blowing out his right elbow in spring training with the Reds last season, added that he'd only use HGH if given an okay by the medical community.

"If a doctor would say, 'No, this wouldn't help the situation,' I wouldn't take it," he said.

One such doctor would be MLB medical director Dr. Gary Green.

"There are no studies — zero studies — showing any benefit from using growth hormone by itself to aid in recovery or post-surgical or post-injury type thing," Green told MLB.com.

"I've taken care of a lot of athletes, and I understand that they're frustrated and they want to get back to play. That's why we have the field of sports medicine."

That's of little consolation to Madson, who at age 32 is facing the autumn of his baseball career.

"I have a lot left — my body, my age, mentality," he said. "And I just can't get there."

Pete Rose raking in $1 million a year signing autographs in Las Vegas

Former Major League Baseball legend and sometime pariah Pete Rose — banned from the sport since 1989 — is still a star on the memorabilia circuit and has revealed he now earns more than $1million a year signing autographs in Las Vegas.

Rose has always made a buck throughout his career selling his signature to fans looking for a piece of Charlie Hustle, but since 2005 he has been a regular fixture signing at the Mirage Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, when he now has his own memorabilia shop.

Since 2005, Rose claims to have spent several hours a day, for 15 to 25 days per month, 12 months of the year signing his name for money. Rose says he is happy to sign and pose for photos with anyone, provided they buy some of the memorabilia he and his business partners sell, including baseballs and photos ranging from $75 to $800. 

"I must say that what I do, and I don't mean to sound arrogant about this, but what I do, I think I'm the best at it," he told The Wall Street Journal.

Rose was a popular player for his hometown Cincinnati Reds from 1963 to 1986. He also managed the team from 1984 to 1989.

He is the all-time Major League leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at-bats (14,053) and outs (10,328).

He won three World Series rings, three batting titles, one Most Valuable Player Award, two Gold Gloves, the Rookie of the Year Award, and also made 17 All-Star appearances at an unequaled five different positions.

Then in August 1989, three years after he retired as an active player, Rose agreed to permanent ineligibility from baseball amidst accusations that he gambled on baseball games while playing for and managing the Reds, including claims that he bet on his own team.

After years of public denial, Rose admitted in 2004 to betting on baseball and on, but not against, the Reds. 

The still admired 71-year-old remains hopeful that one day he will be re-instated, but his election to the Hall of Fame remains a contentious one throughout baseball.

Rose's foray into reality TV wasn't a hit after his TLC series, Pete Rose: Hits and Mrs. — a show he co-starred with his much younger former-Playboy model wife Kiana Kim and her two kids — ground out and was recently cancelled.

Still, it sounds like baseball is very good to Rose.