Sam LeCure is auctioning off a pair of autographed pink Mother's Day Under Amour spikes (Photo courtesy of the Cincinnati Reds)
To honor his mom and raise a little dough for the Reds Community Fund, Sam LeCure graciously donated a lovely pair of pink Under Amour Mother’s Day edition spikes to Reds Authentics for auction. They’re also nicely autographed by Sam on each toe. You’re able to bid on Sam’s cleats right now on MLB Auctions. Get your bids in soon, the auction ends at noon on June 17th.
Btw, we were told that sexy-ass t-shirt is NOT included.
A very shiny Sam LeCure by Cincinnati artist Shawn Voelker
In The Gap Shirts and Reds fan blog Big Red Redemption have teamed up with Cincinnati artist Shawn Voelker to help a little by raffling off this killer Sam LeCure painting. In The Gap Shirts is looking to raise some dough to help fund their effort to obtain 501c3 status and get them on the path to raising more funds for their charities. You can purchase your raffle tickets this weekend at the Midwest Baseball Trade Show and Seminar in Dayton, OH. Raffle tickets are priced at 1 for $5, 3 for $10 and 7 for $20. If you’re unable to attend, email inthegapshirts@yahoo.com to purchase.
Reds farmhand and 2011 Minor League Gold Glover Tucker Barnhart will be chillin’ at their booth on Sunday from 1-4pm, so make sure you stop by and say howdy.
In addition to the LeCure painting, In The Gap has other prizes including several signed baseballs and a signed bat from Tucker, signed 8x10s from Cincinnati Bengal players AJ Green, Jerome Simpson, Jermaine Gresham and Rey Maualuga as well as a custom action figure signed by Adam Jones.
Dontaions for the raffle have coming from numerous businesses including Natitown.com, ShawnVoelker.com, Heirloom Framing, Steven Gross and Stoneys Customs.
A little more information about In The Gap Shirts:
“In The Gap Shirts” was launched on May 17th with one simple idea, “make a difference.” In making a difference we want to impact lives in a positive way. We aim to bring you unique T-shirts that when purchased help raise money that at four points in the year we give to charitable organizations. The donation months are January, April, July and October. We are not affiliated with any specific charities nor are we a charity ourselves. We know how important trust is in instances like these so we will always be as transparent as we can be. The main motivation in the life of “In The Gap Shirts” is to honor the life Donna Neale, who passed away June 5th after battling cancer and other ailments. Her life was met with many struggles and pain but through it all she would give to those that she could to give them a better life. Her life left a great impression on those who knew exactly what she had been through. It has only been a short time since her passing but her effects will be felt for many years.
In The Gap aims to remain flexible with the charities they will make charitable contributions to. They have supported Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in the past and are looking to donate to Nationwide Children’s in Columbus, Ohio next.
Of course, you can help by purchasing a raffle ticket or by picking a t-shirt or two at inthegap.spreadshirt.com.
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Speaking of Sam LeCure and charity, he’s growing out his ‘stache again for Charity. Check out his Movember page and throw a few bucks towards the cause. Go Sam!
Sam LeCure… #63 in your programs, #5 in the the heart suit of your 2011 Reds playing card deck. mrLeCure posted a preview of this Saturday’s promo. Be one of the first 20,000 fans through the turnstiles (“Turnstyles” would be so much cooler, ya know?) and you’ll be set for a winter chock-full of solitaire and 52-pick-up. Given that a set of playing cards contains 52 cards, we’re wondering how extensive the illustrations will be. The entire roster is probably there, and we’d bet a few Hall of Famers (Reds HOF and Baseball HOF) and other notibles will be in there as well.
Any guesses as to the jokers? Hmmm… Wonder if Junior might make an appearance… he was quite the clubhouse pranksta back in the day.
The illustrations in this set looks very similar to the Cincinnati Baseball Heros set that was released a few years ago. Did the same company produce these as well?
Quality giveaway from the Reds, looking forward to this one.
UPDATE!
The Reds let us know that 26 current players will be featured in the set – each player getting two cards in the deck. Also, Hero Decks, the folks that produced the Cincinnati Baseball Heroes set, produced the deck to be given away Saturday night. So, there ya go.
This is nuts! Sam LeCure sporting the stirrups - Uni Watch will be proud
OMGreds favorite, Sam LeCure, was spotted rockin’ the ‘rup Monday night against the Mets. While Sam didn’t get a chance to flash the new hosiery on the mound, he was keepin’ it real out in the bullpen. Said Sam on Twitter about the socks:
#unity, indeed
All we can say is, “Keep it up, dood.” While the everyday stirrup would be a welcome sight for us nerds, Sam’s little nod to that night’s starting pitcher is nice twist. Also, did you know that he has a mustache? Well, he does.
The OMGreds team was cordially invited to take in batting practice and sit in the Budweiser “Thirst Row” Monday night when the Reds took on the Yankees in interleague play. The Reds lost the game, but OMGreds had a blast. Rather than bore you with our giddiness over watching Joey take practice cuts or seeing Sam LeCure’s mustache up-close, we’ll let our photos do the talking…
Created by Nadia Dajani of Caught Off Base with Nadia, the Golden Groomer Award is a monthly prize given to the ballplayer with the fanciest, bushiest, Rolliest and goldenest facial grooming. All MLB and MiLB players are eligible for this prestigious award.
Competition for this month’s Golden Groomer will be heating up soon. Our man, Mr. LeCure, along with a few other mustached big leaguers will certainly be running neck and neck (or lip and lip… eww!) for for the next award.
OMGreds caught up with Nadia and got the down low on whole Golden Groomer Award for ya.
OMGreds: So, how did the whole Golden Groomer Award come about?
Nadia Dajani: The idea was all Sam’s actually. I can’t remember if we were chatting or texting but, as much as my Diet Coke-laced memory serves, Sam was saying he had reached out to John Axford via Twitter, giving him the ‘NL Player-with-best-stache award’ that week. So Sam and I were talking and he told me that he was thinking of making it a weekly award. My only contribution was the name – Golden Groomer Award – that was mine. Sam was gonna give the award once he saw the stache’s up close, with players from opposing teams coming through town. He said I could help ‘judge’. Then I realized that it would make a great episode for my show “Caught Off Base with Nadia” so I asked Sam if I could film it and he thought that was a great idea. He eventually thought it’d be best if I took over the whole thing, makes it easier for him to be eligible.
OMG: You dig facial hair?
Nadia: Ha! I guess sometimes I do. I thought I was going to grow up and marry Ron Guidry so I guess I was into a nice stache at a young age :)
OMG:What fellas were in the running for the first award?
Nadia: All players, in both leagues, were in the running and still are.
OMG:Our man, Corky Miller won the first award. His fu manchu is practically flawless. You can’t even look directly at it without your face melting. Did he win by a landslide?
Nadia: He won by a landslide. That stache should really have its own award though, the Golden Groomer doesn’t really do it justice.
OMG: When is the next round of Golden Groomer to judged and awarded?
Nadia: The award is given on the 1st of every month through October of this year.
Corky Miller - #staching
OMG: You designed and created the Golden Groomer Award, which Corky Miller is proudly wearing in the photo on the right. Can you describe your creative inspiration? Was a blow torch involved in any way?
Nadia: Ha! No blow torch. I originally sent Sam a pic of a gold razor I found on the interwebs, and we both thought that was pretty funny. But I wanted to be super goofy and creative (when I’m bored on set in between takes this is what amuses me). Here’s the story and y’all are the first ones to hear it: I found a Canadian company online that had these funny little mustache pins, only they were sold out and no longer for sale. I wrote to the company and asked if they’d consider making more as I needed 5 total. A woman wrote back right away and said she’d do it, then I had to ask that they be made without the pins on back, she said yes. With the mustaches being made in Canada, I went on a search for custom medals that were big enough and with a flat/smooth back. I found a company that would put a different month on each award (normally they want all the medals to be the same in such a small order). Both packages arrived a day apart and now I was on the hunt for gold nail polish that had to be JUST RIGHT. I found some and then painstakingly painted each award myself. With some Krazy Glue it was all ready! I’m so happy with how the award came out, very proud.
OMG: We’re rooting for Sam LeCure to bring home the next Golden Groomer. Do you have any tips for him? What will put his grooming over-the-top?
Nadia: I have no tips as each stache has its own flair. Sam’s is growing in very nicely and I’ll need him to send me a pic of it a few days before July 1st so I can see how its grown. Points are given for lots of different things but I love creativity and humor! I won’t say who but a certain player who was very close to winning, decided to take his stache in a different direction a few days before June 1st. It was still in the growing-out phase and therefore fell out of the running (he knows who he is).
OMG: We really dig what you’re doing with Caught off Base. Can you give our readers an insight into what you do, and where to catch you?
Nadia: Thanks so much! I’m an actor and starting this show made me very nervous as I’ve never addressed a camera before. I’ve been a baseball fan my whole life, even played Little League. I had the idea and knew a couple of players and asked if they’d be into it. I’ve basically gotten almost every interview because the player has so much fun doing it, they usually help me to get someone else. And now that the show has some traction, players are super into doing it. This past spring training, I sold a show kind of like it but for kids, to Disney. I reached out to a bunch of players who came and did goofy things with me like tap dancing and playing charades, it was nice that they trusted me so much, and most of us have remained friends. I’ve worked really hard in editing to make sure I never make a player look bad, I never ask anyone to do anything I’m not willing to do myself, and I don’t swear (total dork) so I think they’ve all realized that it’s more about the fans seeing them do things and answering questions you’d never hear them be asked at the ballpark. The show brings me so much joy, seriously is so fun for me, and I think they can pick up on that right away. There are 20 episodes so far and I try to put out one a month, they can be found at www.caughtoffbasewithnadia.com.
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Thanks to Nadia for being so gracious with her time and answering a few questions for us. Make sure you catch her on Twitter (@caughtoffbase) and of course, at www.caughtoffbasewithnadia.com.
Our guy Sam has his first official Rookie Card in the 2010 Topps Updates and Highlights set, ala Series 3. We’ve got one in hand with hopes of getting some ink on it at Redsfest. Though Sam gave everyone the heads up that he’ll be present at the annual Reds Carnival of Epicness, our local pro ball club made it official today. Color us LeStoked.
While we’ll *hopefully* be getting a baseball card signed by @MrLecure, you might want to pick this game-used bad boy up for a little siggy-siggy. Or, if your into grey, this one. We’ll be rummaging through the game-used flea market at Redsfest ourselves, looking for a compliment to our grey one.
If you’re into this kinda thing (and we KNOW you are) there are quite a few of pics of your favorite rookies dressed in drag yesterday for the the last roadie of the year.
WLWT.com has a photo gallery AND silent video of the young lads getting ready for their trip to Houston
Yonder Alonso – Baby
Chris Heisey – Sexy school girl?
Mike Leake – Not sure what is going on there
Sam LeCure – Purple dress lady? New Orleans Flapper?
Logan Ondrusek – Sexy school girl
Jordan Smith – Sexy cop
Chris Valakia – Sexy Santa
Travis Wood – Glitterpants Robin
What a half-hour that was from 10 to 10:30 p.m.! I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a half-hour of TV more. You had Chapman’s outstanding debut – an 8-pitch spectacle during which the 22-year-old phenom hit triple digits on the radar gun four times, topping out at 103 mph.
Then the top of the 9th included back-to-back filthy defensive plays by Joey Votto falling backwards on his throw for the 2nd out of the inning and by Scott Rolen backhanding the throw for the force out at second for the final out. (Tuesday’s Web Gem czar, former Red Aaron Boone, voted Votto’s play No. 1 and Rolen’s No. 2 on Baseball Tonight.)
We also found out during that half-hour that the Cardinals were shut out AGAIN by Houston – 3-0, just like last night. And I’m pretty sure we only saw three Honda Mr. Opportunity ads during the half-hour (the average half-hour on FSN Ohio during a Reds game features 6-10 Honda Mr. Opportunity ads, or at least it feels like it does).
• Triple Crown race update: Joey – aka Ducky V. – had 3 huge RBIs to increase his total to 97 and cruise past Pujols, who’s stuck on 95. (I like when the Cardinals get shut out because we don’t have to check the box score and see if Pujols homered or drove in any runs.) Votto’s batting average also improved to .327 with his two hits, and Carlos Gonzalez went 1-for-3 with a walk, so he’s holding at .326. Ducky V. still trails by 3 in home runs, but hopefully he’ll homer 3 times off Chris Carpenter on Sunday to make that race more interesting. (Oh, and Votto is also 4-for-5 with a home run against the Brewers’ scheduled starter for Wednesday, Chris Narveson.)
• NL MVP race update: Advantage Votto.
• Overshadowed by Chapmania: Our main man Sam LeCure picks up the win with two very impressive innings of relief.
• Also overshadowed by Chapmania: Chris Valaika’s golden sombrero. I think it also helped that Valaika singled in the first and scored on a Votto double. Made it not as noticeable. This begs a question I need help with actually: Isn’t it a golden sombrero if a player strikes out four times in one game, regardless of how many at-bats? In other words, 1-for-5 with four strikeouts is still a golden sombrero, right? I read in a couple of different places that a golden sombrero is 0-for-4 with 4 strikeouts … that’s not right, is it?
• Does anyone else love names like Gallardo that – if pronounced deliberately the way both Jim Kelch and Thom do – have a first syllable that could be a first name? They very rarely say his full name during the inning, so it sounds like they’re talking about someone named Guy Ardo. Same deal with Wayne Wright. And my favorite actually is Vic Torino. No? Thanks for humoring me anyway.
• Is anyone else in total disbelief/amazement that since the Reds got swept by the Cardinals they’ve gone 13-4, and the Cardinals have gone 5-12? Geez. With the exception of that series sweep, the Cards have really stunk on the road. If we take two of three in St. Louis like we might, we could be scoreboard-watching Carlos Gonzalez for the rest of the season more than the lowly Cardinals. Aaaaand … I just jinxed us … great. Way to go, dumas.
• Last time the Reds had a 7-game lead: 1995. A season which 700 WLW’s Scott Sloan would tell you was part of a 20-year stretch during which the Reds have been REALLY bad.
The fellas over at Whack Reds had us on their latest episode of Whack Reds Radio talking Reds baseball, the impending trade deadline, 1990, bobbleheads and of course, our man, Sam LeCure. Take a listen:
A big thanks to the Whack for having us on. We’re big fans. Make sure you check ‘em out and follow on Twitter. They have mad ups.
Three starts, a grand total of six earned runs allowed for our main man Sam LeCure (and did you see his first Major League hit … a fifth-inning double!). It turns our stomachs that he’s only got a 1-2 record to accompany his 3.12 ERA but that’s another story. Homer struggled in his Triple-A start Tuesday night, allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings. Don’t get us wrong … we’re looking forward to Homer’s return when he’s ready, but we’d love to see Sam get at least another start against the Royals on Sunday. And when Sam throws his first career complete-game shutout, Homer can replace Harang in the rotation.
Sam LeCure gets the business from Dickerson, Arroyo and Gomes
Sam LeCure wrapped up his MLB debut with a W and a fatty shaving cream facial courtesy of Bronson Arroyo and Chris Dickerson followed by a bucket of water from Jonny Gomes. We all knew it was coming, but it’s still a joy to witness. Great shots of the post-game LeDamage and the rest of the game over at CNATI.com and Better off Red.
The celebration continued in the locker room:
They made me sit down in the shower in my uniform and they poured beer all over me,” said LeCure, who left tickets for 30 members of his family. “I got quite a bit of Pert Plus in my eyes. But it’s pretty cool. Any time that you’re able to not just get to the big leagues, but get a win, and it’s against the team in your division, it’s a big night for everybody.
The Jersey
Sported the #63 Sam LeCure jersey last night that I picked up in the Reds Team Shop Wednesday afternoon. After begrudgingly passing on one of the two LeCure jerseys at last year’s Redsfest, I had to pick it up. Last week there were two at the shop, one home and one away. The home jersey had already been sold, so I picked up the one that was left. While at GABP last night the OMGreds crew wondered if we would in fact see the other LeCure jersey. It didn’t take long and we spotted our long-lost fraternal twin around the Moon Deck area during the third inning. It was destiny! It was LeCute! Plus, we’re glad we didn’t need the services of one Mr. Troy Dunn.
Six-three was worn with pride last night. We’re happy that Sam finally got his shot and made it count. I was asked a few times if I was family or knew Sam. Just had to say “Nope, just a big fan.” Folks all around the ballpark were happy for our guy Sam.
Because we’re complete nerds, we’ve single-handedly fueled the #LeManiapandemic on Twitter this afternoon in anticipation of Sam LeCure’s big league debut against the Astros tonight at GABP. We’re hoping that all of Reds Nation will be jumping on the bandwagon tonight while welcoming Sam to the Bigs.
… a 1992 hit by The Cure. And this Friday, We’re in Love – with the Reds – if it is, in fact, as reds.com has confirmed that our main man Sam LeCure who gets the call to make his Major League debut!
That’s just terrible, we realize, but you’ll have to pardon us. We’re having a hard time containing our enthusiasm here at OMGReds.com. As a result of our failed 2009 campaign to get Sam LeCure the Fans Choice Bobblehead – which ultimately went instead to Edinson Volquez (more on that later) – LeCure emerged as head and shoulders our favorite Reds minor leaguer. Mostly because he and his family were coolashell about the whole thing. So when he tossed a complete game, one-hit shutout on Saturday against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (to continue his current scoreless streak to 16+ innings), we noticed. When Homer went down and our main man Sam stood 5-2 with a 2.55 ERA, our hearts started racing a little bit. And a couple of us might have made a trip to the GABP ticket office to purchase tickets to Friday’s game in hopes of seeing big Sam’s big league debut live.
Drafted by the Reds out of the University of Texas in the 4th round of the 2005 June Amateur Draft, LeCure was an All-American (sporting a 2.34 ERA) and teammate of Drew Stubbs on the 2004 Texas squad that went 58-15 and reached the College World Series championship series that year. LeCure currently leads the Bats in wins and innings pitched and has the best ERA of any Bats starter. He celebrated his 26th birthday earlier this month.
Our prediction: A pair of former Longhorns propel us to victory against none other than the Houston Astros. LeCure goes 6, maybe 7 innings and only allows a run (2 tops) while striking out 6 and Stubbs homers to lift the Reds.
And even though we couldn’t get our main man Sam the Fans Choice Bobblehead last year and he wasn’t one of the eight candidates to choose from in this year’s voting, in the back of our minds we’re wondering if it isn’t such a bad thing. We are fans of Volquez and look forward to his return, but the injury that caused him to miss the rest of 2009 and (it looks like) at least half of 2010 has sparked much discussion about whether there exists a Fans Choice Bobblehead jinx. (The 2010 Fans Choice Bobblehead selection hasn’t been revealed yet as far as we know.) We sure hope not, but we wonder if Sam would be a day away from making his Major League debut as he is if such a FCB jinx does exist.
By the way, we didn’t even really have time to endorse anyone for the 2010 Fans Choice Bobblehead because voting ended April 30 (I guess that was last year’s deadline too but did we just not have our act together as well this year?). Really? Couldn’t give us May too to see how guys are performing and rock the vote? Do you have to order the FCB three months in advance so you don’t run the risk of the Votto Figurine debacle? (Too soon?) :D
Obviously none of the current major- and minor-league players and coaches on the list are surprises … would have liked to see Sam LeCure on there, of course, but doesn’t look like that’ll happen. We will get Cozart, Frazier, Heisey, Maloney, Ondrusek, Valaika and Wood.
Former players scheduled to attend (who no longer have an official role with the team): Sabo (Friday only), Jack Billingham, Pedro Borbon (whose status somehow went from unable-to-locate to attending RedsFest in a matter of weeks), Tom Browning, Leo Cardenas, Clay Carroll, Eric Davis, Chuck Harmon, Tommy Helms, Jerry Lynch, Lee May, Hal Morris, Jim O’Toole, Ron Oester, Joe Oliver, Jeff Reed, Scott Scudder and Herm Winningham.
Get your cards ready! (and balls too, I guess, just didn’t want to say get your balls ready)
From Reds assistant director of media relations Jamie Ramsey’s minor-league report:
RHP Sam LeCure struck out a season-high 11 batters as he collected his 9th victory and 10th quality start (6ip, 8h, 2bb, 1hr) in Louisville’s 8-4 win against Charlotte.
Believe us, Ditty would want you to vote Sam LeCure as the Reds 2009 Fans Choice Bobblehead. Todays’ you last day to throw your vote down for Sam. Let’s rally and get this man a bobble!
UPDATE: Voting has ended. Thanks so much for the support, folks. We can only wait and see now.
UPDATE #2: Your 2009 Fans Choice Bobblehead is Edinson Volquez. Hey, that’s kick ass. Thanks for playing along and voting for Sam. He’ll have a bobblehead soon enough. Here’s hoping for 2010! But, for right now, we’re looking forward to July 18th.
