The Louisville Bats, who are looking to make 2011 the fourth consecutive year they have brought home a division championship, will start a ten-game home stand on Thursday evening at Louisville Slugger Field. Fans, or just random Louisvillians who want to take in a game at Slugger Field, have eight strait days to catch the Bats at home with several solid promotions littering the docket.

Here are the details.

Thursday, May 26 – Louisville Bats vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, 6:35 pm
• Budweiser Game Time Happy Hour: $1 Bud & Bud Light from 5:30 to 7:00. Live music by “Thirty Spokes”.
• LHP Aroldis Chapman scheduled to pitch on rehab.

Friday, May 27 – Louisville Bats vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, 6:35 pm
• Louisville Bats Hat Giveaway – First 2,000 fans in attendance will receive a complimentary Louisville Bats hat courtesy of WHAS-11.
• NO FIREWORKS – Fireworks will instead be shot on Sunday, May 29 (Memorial Day Eve)

Saturday, May 28 – Louisville Bats vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, 6:05 pm
• Specialty Beer Happy Hour: $2 Shock Top, AmberBock, & Bud Light Lime from 5:00 to 6:30. Live music by “Johnny Berry and the Outliners”.
• Appearance by “Birdzerk”
• RHP Edinson Volquez scheduled to start.

Sunday, May 29 – Louisville Bats vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, 6:05 pm
• Post-Game Memorial Day Fireworks: sponsored by LG&E.
• Kids Inflatable FunZone: Kid’s Inflatable Play Area will be set up in the Hall of Fame Pavilion from 5:00 until 8:00 PM.
• LHP Aroldis Chapman scheduled to pitch on rehab.

Monday, May 30 – Louisville Bats vs. Syracuse Chiefs, 4:05 pm
• Military Appreciation Day – FREE admission for all current/retired Military with proper Military ID.
• Post-Game Kids Run the Bases: Following the game all children 12-and-under will be allowed to run the bases.

Tuesday, May 31 – Louisville Bats vs. Syracuse Chiefs, 6:35 pm
• $1 Hot Dogs and Pepsi Products
• Kraft Singles Discount Ticket Promotion: Buy one get one FREE field reserved tickets when fans present a Kraft Singles Cheese package wrapper.

Wednesday, June 1 – Louisville Bats vs. Syracuse Chiefs, 7:05 pm
• Dog Day #1: $3 admission for dogs and $6 admission for owners. $3 dog ticket benefits the KY Humane Society. For information contact Curtis Cunningham at ccunningham@batsbaseball.com.
• Sun Tan City Ladies Night – Half price field reserved tickets for all ladies 13 and over.

Thursday, June 2 – Louisville Bats vs. Syracuse Chiefs, 7:05 pm
• Budweiser Game Time Happy Hour: $1 Bud & Bud Light from 5:30 to 7:00. Live music by “Sub-Urban Situation”.

Friday, June 3 – Louisville Bats vs. Columbus Clippers, 7:05 pm• Louisville Bats Drawstring Bag Giveaway – All fans in attendance will receive a complimentary Louisville Bats drawstring bag courtesy of The Shane Company.
• Post-Game Fireworks: sponsored by Stryker Orthopedics.

Saturday, June 4 – Louisville Bats vs. Columbus Clippers, 6:05 pm• Pre-Game “Kids Clinic with Louisville Bats players” – clinic will run on the field from 4:40 to 5:25 and is sponsored by Kosair Children’s Hospital.
• Specialty Beer Happy Hour: $2 Shock Top, AmberBock, & Bud Light Lime from 5:00 to 6:30. Live music by “Broadfield Marchers”.
• Appearance by “The Quebec Russian Bar Trio”

Tickets are available at the Louisville Slugger Field Box office, on-line at www.batsbaseball.com/singlegametickets or by calling the Bats ticket office directly at (855) 228-8497. Regular hours at the Louisville Slugger Field box office and for ordering tickets by phone are Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Be sure to check out the official blog of the Bats at www.thebatssignal.com, follow the Bats on Facebook at facebook.com/louisville bats and catch us on Twitter at twitter.com/louisvillebats.

Come out, drink some deliciousness, listen to some awesomeness and watch some playoff baseball!

Also go buy both Timmy & Sharfe’s solo albums on iTunes. Click the links below to get ‘em real quick.

Drink a Song or Two by Jeremy Sharfe – Download Drink a Song or Two on iTunes

A Life Like My Own by Tim Lickteig – Download A Life Like My Own on iTunes

Chapman was signed by the Reds to a 6-year contract through the 2015 season back on January 11th of this year. He made his American professional debut with Louisville on April 11th at Toledo, and has pitched in 39 games with the Bats this season, starting the first 13 and compiling a 9-6 record with eight saves (in nine chances) and a 3.57 ERA in 95.2 innings pitched. Chapman has struck out 125 batters for Louisville while walking just 52 and allowing only seven YAKEMs!. Opponents have batted just .218 against the Cuban southpaw, just .156 against him in relief.

Chapman hasn’t allowed a hit in his last eight appearances, and in his last 20 games he has posted an 0.83 ERA in 21.2 innings. In Chapman’s last 13 appearances, opposing batters went just 4-for-48 (.083) as Aroldis chalked up 25 strikeouts against just four walks.

In his final appearance for the Bats, on Friday night vs Columbus, Chapman hit 105mph on the radar gun.

“That’s the first time we’ve seen 105 on the gun,” Louisville manager Rick Sweet said. “We’ve had scouts tell us they’ve gotten 105, but that’s the first time we’ve seen it.”

On his time in Louisville Chapman had the following to say through interpreter, and Bats trainer, Tomas Vera: “I’ve learned a lot being here. I’m really proud, and happy, of all the things they’ve been teaching me and all the things I’ve learned through this year here with this team.”

“The only dream I have right now is to play in the big leagues. I feel like I’m ready to play in the big leagues and that’s the only goal I have right now. I feel like I’m ready to.”

Photo courtesy of Pat Pfister (Pfoto)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Cincinnati Reds management and fans didn’t really know what they were getting when they inked hard throwing, left-handed phenom Aroldis Chapman to a six-year, 30-million dollar deal in January. While it still remains to be seen how effective of a career Chapman will have, it seems that the rest of his 2010 campaign will be spent pitching out of the bullpen, a task he has taken to nicely since switching over from starting duties in late June.

Chapman, who has spent the entire season with the Louisville Bats, began the year as a starter, going 5-5 with a 4.11 ERA in 13 starts. After exploding on the scene in April with a dynamite debut month in which he posted a 1.29 ERA, Chapman regressed during May and June. Although Chapman was striking out batters at a high rate and consistently hitting over 100 on the radar gun, he struggled with his control and saw his ERA balloon to over five in each month.

With the Reds already stacked with several capable starting pitchers but needing some help out of the bullpen, the team’s brass decided to move Chapman to a relief role at midseason, and he has responded with outstanding play. Whether the 22-year-old Chapman’s success can be attributed to the change in routine, or just his continued acclimation to American professional baseball, there’s no denying his production during the Bats’ recent surge in the standings.

Through the team’s 22-6 July run, Chapman was 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 12 innings. Since the calendar has turned to August, Chapman has been instrumental in the Bats catapulting to the top of the wild card standings, earning five saves and posting a 1.93 ERA, while registering 16 strikeouts in 9.1 innings.

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Courtesy of Batsbaseball.com

That million dollar smile from Aroldis Chapman isn't just because he's filthy rich: The Bats have also won 11 in a row.

When the month of July started, most of the Louisville Bats players were probably already planning their fall getaways. After setting a new franchise record with 22 wins in the month, however, the mood has changed from offseason to postseason.

Drew Stubbs and Brandon Phillips helped Cincy pounce on the Rockies Friday night. Will they get any new teammates over the next few weeks?

Despite taking two of three from the Colorado Rockies this weekend, the Cincinnati Reds find themselves a half-game back of the Cardinals in the NL Central standings, thanks to the Redbirds current five-game winning streak. It looks like we may have a bona fide slugfest on our hands for the division title, as neither team has been able to take a decisive advantage in the race.

With less than two weeks remaining before major league baseball’s trade deadline, Reds fans are wondering whether the team will try and acquire some more ammo for a postseason run, or simply go to war with the artillery they already have on hand. While bullpen help seems to be the most glaring need on the team, some are also hoping for another outfielder, or an extra infielder to bolster depth. After Edinson Volquez’s solid 2010 big-league debut on Saturday, the hope is that the club has further fortified a midseason team strength by acquring another starting pitcher with a proven track record.

Thus far, it appears mad scientist/General Manager Walt Jocketty is taking a low-key approach, as over the past month, he has only acquired a few veteran players who may have graduated high school about the same time as Brett Favre. 35-year-old outfielder Gary Matthews Jr, who was an all-star with the Rangers in 2006, was signed last month and is currently lighting it up hitting leadoff for the Louisville Bats. Ageless wonder/Relief pitcher Russ Springer was also signed this past week, and he is also getting back into game shape with the Bats. Springer, a right-hander, last pitched competitively last season, when he played for the Rays and A’s, registering an ERA near four with both clubs. Reports today have also mentioned that former Cardinal Jason Isringhausen may throw for Reds officials this week.

So what do you think? Should the Reds go all out and try to make a splash before the end of the month? Or is their club solid enough to compete all season long with the roster they currently have on hand?

Follow Zero-Star Recruit on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ZeroStarRecruit

So come on down to Slugger Field, enjoy some cheap beer, sweet music, great baseball and explosions.

Volquez is growing tired of toying with these mere mortals in the minors.

Less than 11 months off Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow, Reds starting pitcher Edinson Volquez is back pitching competively again, befuddling hitters at the minor-league level in an attempt to get back with Cincinnati before the all-star break.

In two starts with the Lynchburg Hillcats, which is the Reds’ single-A affiliate, Volquez showed the youngsters in Appalachia what’s up, throwing eight shutout innings, allowing just three hits while fanning eight. Volquez was then bumped up to Louisville on June 18th, where he has continued his road to recovery in impressive fashion.

On June 23rd against the Mud Hens, Volquez went five innings and allowed just one earned run and three hits in leading the Bats to victory. Last night against Durham, Volquez had his longest outing thus far in 2010, working six innings, ringing up seven punch outs, while allowing two earned runs. The hard throwing right-hander also registered his first two walks of the year, proving that he may, in fact, be human.

In my uneducated, amateur opinion, I would say Volquez will make one or two more starts here in Louisville before Walt Jocketty and Company consider putting him in a Reds’ uniform. Look for Bats manager Rick Sweet to increase Volquez’s pitch count over his next few starts to see how his elbow responds to a full workload. In an interview I had with Volquez last week, he seemed to be on the same wave length.

If Volquez continues to show no ill effects, it will be interesting to see how the Reds handle having another capable starting pitcher on hand. Much like having 16 hoes wanting to suck 10 toes, this is a good problem to have. The plot will thicken, however, when Volquez and Homer Bailey both get healthy and are ready to get back in the rotation. Alhtough Bailey still appears to be some time away from pitching again for Cincy, it’s going to be tough to keep Volquez out of Great American Ball Park much longer.

Here’s to seeing Volquez and the Reds in the midst of the playoff chase as the season enters its second half.

It’s Baseball! It’s Music! It’s Beer! It’s Beautiful Weather! Get out to the Park!

You can now buy both Timmy & Sharfe’s solo albums on iTunes. Click the links below to buy them real quick.

Drink a Song or Two by Jeremy Sharfe – Download Drink a Song or Two on iTunes

A Life Like My Own by Tim Lickteig – Download A Life Like My Own on iTunes

Chapman made his American professional baseball debut on Sunday afternoon (4/11) at Toledo and did not disappoint. The Bats downed the Mud Hens 2-1 and in 4.2 innings of work, Chapman allowed five hits and one unearned run, while striking out nine. He threw 85 pitches, 55 for strikes, and it was reported that five of his pitches reached 100-plus on the radar gun. Both ESPN and the MLB Network provided their viewers with in-game updates of his debut performance.

The Reds signed Chapman to a six-year, $30.25 million contract on January 11. Generating plenty of buzz heading into Spring Training, the 22-year-old posted a 1.69 ERA in five games in Goodyear, Arizona. In 12.2 innings, he walked seven and struck out 15.

Tickets for tonight’s game are going fast but are still available at the Louisville Slugger Field box office. Tickets range from $7-$11. The first 1,500 children (12-under) through the gates on Friday will receive a Buddy Bat Bobblehead courtesy of Kosair Children’s Hospital.

BUY TICKETS NOW! – Friday, April 16 at 7:05 PM (Indianapolis at Louisville)

Chapman hit 100-plus five times in his first start (Vickie Schmucker)