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12 May 2010
A
re you in shock? I am.
Three days ago I was stewing on some post ideas thinking about what I had to say about the Reds. I was going to say how nice it was to see them hovering around .500 and how it would be a welcome change to have a team in the race at the All-Star break. I wanted to tell you how their run differential indicated a much worse team. I wanted to tell you how they had managed to win the type close of games that would inevitably get away from them as the season dragged on.
And then, the baseball gods mercifully sent the team a round trip ticket to Pittsburgh and blessed the arms of Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto and the enigma that is Homer Bailey. Combined pitching numbers over the three days: 25 IP, 1R, 10 H, including complete game shut outs from Cueto and Bailey. How either pitcher - both of whom have struggled to get into the 6th inning - was able to go the full nine boggles the mind. Not to mention Cueto's outing being a one-hitter. Unbelievable.
Well, maybe "boggles the mind" is a bit too strong. They were playing the Pirates, after all. The one MLB franchise that Reds fans could point at and laugh for the past two decades really came through for us this series. Thanks Pittsburgh! Between this, Ben "the Big Indictment" and the Penguins collapse tonight it's truly becoming Golden Age for Pittsburgh haters.
Meanwhile, the Reds in three days improved their run differential from -21 to -6 (yes, still minus) and are a single game behind St. Louis with the Dirty Cards coming to town this weekend and a chance to make some noise. Hope springs eternal!
(Note to potential commenters: Yes, I know it's only May. Just give me this, alright?)
