Sick of losing to the Pirates.  Need I say more?

Sick of being in last place.  The PIRATES are ahead of us!!!

Sick of not getting runs in with runners on third and less than two outs.  This is just stupid.

Sick of David Weathers.  Is there a bigger gas can on the staff right now?

Sick of Corey Patterson.  HE’S HITTING .188!!!!!

Sick of Edwin Encarnacion’s inconsistency.  Think the kid has a ton of potential, but this is his fourth year and he’s still not showing it everyday.

Sick of Gary Majewski’s mullet and facial hair.  The guy is actually pitching better…but that cheese has to GO!!!

Sick of George Grande.  (….speaking of cheese)

Sick of Bronson Arroyo’s ERA. 

Sick of “Together Agaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiin”

Sick of Paul Bako.  The guy hasn’t made contact since he hit 2 HRs in one game at Florida.

Sick of Dick Pole.  (isn’t that some sort of disease?) 

Sick of Brook Jacoby.  Please tell me what impact he’s had.

I’m sick of this crap!!!!!!!!! 

Where: GABP

TV: FSN Ohio all four games (Fri, Sat, and Sun in HD)

Radio: 700 WLW

Records: Reds 39-47 (back in the basement of the N.L. Central); Nationals 34-52 (where else would you expect a Jim Bowden team to be?  yep, dead last)

Pitching Matchups:

• Thursday-Reds RHP Johnny Cueto (6-8, 4.68) vs. Nationals LHP John Lannan (4-9, 3.54)
• Friday-Reds RHP Bronson Arroyo (5-7, 6.19) vs. Nationals RHP Jason Bergmann (1-5, 4.26)
• Saturday-Reds RHP Aaron Harang (3-10, 4.47) vs. Nationals RHP Tim Redding (6-3, 4.21)
• Sunday-Reds RHP Edinson Volquez (10-3, 2.24) vs. Nationals RHP Collin Balester (1-0, 1.80)

Happy 4th of July Weekend!!!!!!!

• I was very fearful Dusty would overthink and put the lefty Bako in for Ross last night to face Capps.  Thankfully, he didn’t.  I have SO much more confidence in Ross than I do in Bako. 
• Javy Valentin does not get cheated in his cuts.  I’ve never seen anyone take a hard swing consistently like he does.
• George Grande said “get em on, get em over, get em in” 3,409 times last night.
• Edwin Encarnacion is an engima, but he makes some damn fine plays.  I will not be cool with Kepp or Hairston taking over at third. 
• I am not, nor will I EVER, be in favor of pitchers pinch running.  I don’t care how fast Darryl Thompson is.  I don’t care how fast Bronson Arroyo is.  They are not experienced base runners.  Anyone remember Tom Browning tearing his ACL sliding into home?  How about Chien-Ming Wang running the bases a few weeks ago?  (one caveat-and you know this was coming-I’d be fine with them pinch running for Freel)
• The Reds got schooled by the Pirates on basic fundamentals last night.  They are extremely lucky to win despite not being able to bunt, hit to the right side, or get the ball into the outfield for a sac fly.  After watching that debacle, I know why the Redlegs are in last (well, tied for last).
• Is there anything prettier than a Ken Griffey Jr home run?  Answer: yes, when it’s a walk-off HR
• Jim Day is a dork.  So is Jeff Piecoro.  Nice tag-team interview, boys.

Bronson was stellar yesterday.  Well, as stellar as a yo yo can be.  So, before he gets beaten around by the Nationals, of all teams, it’s time to trade him while he has some value. 

Please please please get out of that contract!!!! 

Where: GABP

TV: FSN Ohio all three games (Mon and Wed in HD)

Radio: 700 WLW

Records: Reds 38-45 (last place N.L. Central); Pirates 38-43 (5th place N.L. Central)

Pitching Matchups:

• Monday-Reds RHP Aaron Harang (3-10, 4.51) vs. Pirates LHP Paul Maholm (5-5, 4.41)
• Tuesday-Reds RHP Edinson Volquez (10-3, 2.08) vs. Pirates LHP Zach Duke (4-5, 3.99)
• Wednesday-Reds RHP Darryl Thompson (0-1, 3.60) vs. Pirates RHP John Van Benschoten (1-2, 8.31)

Notes, etc.:

• If the Reds are serious about passing some teams like, say, the Pirates, this would be a great time to start.  The Reds seem to have a huge letdown against the so-called “teams they should beat”.  With the Pirates and Nationals in town this week, now’s as good of a time as any.
• Is this the start Aaron Harang starts his bounce back?  Let’s hope!
• Any chance the Reds can trade Arroyo before his next start that could ruin his trade value…again?
• Although the Pirates list Wednesday’s starter as TBA, it’s highly likely Milford HS grad John Van Benschoten will be making his Pirates debut.  Van Benschoten hasn’t been very good in the majors so far in his career (2-12, 8.73 in 22 games) but has pitched somewhat effectively in AAA this year. 
• Who plays SS now?  Keppinger?  Hairston?  How do you get the other in the lineup?  (And don’t say 3B)

Where: Jacobs Field-Cleveland (yeah, I know it’s now Progressive Field, but really, it’s the Jake)

TV: FSN Ohio all three games (NONE in HD?!?!)

Radio: 700 WLW

Records: Reds 36-44 (DEAD last N.L. Central); Indians 36-43 (tied for DEAD last A.L. Central)

Pitching Matchups:

• Friday-Reds RHP Darryl Thompson (0-0, 0.00) vs. Indians LHP C.C. Sabathia (5-8, 4.06)
• Saturday-Reds RHP Johnny Cueto (5-8, 5.01) vs. Indians RHP Paul Byrd (3-8, 5.21)
• Sunday-Reds RHP Bronson Arroyo (4-7, 6.52) vs. Indians LHP Aaron Laffey (4-4, 2.83)

Questions/sarcasm:

• Shouldn’t the Reds pitcher or Sunday be nicknamed “Laffey” with his performance this year? 
• Which Johnny Cueto will show up?  Hopefully the one who pitched last Sunday in Yankee Stadium.
• Will Darryl Thompson repeat his stellar debut?
• Will the Reds capture the all-important Ohio Cup????  With a 3-0 lead, they’re “dormie” (golf term).  All they have to do is win one game and the CUP IS OURS!!!!  Exciting, isn’t it?
• Now that Javier Valentin (not VALENTINE, Chris Welsh!!) is a “shut down” third baseman, where do the Reds move EE?
• After interleague play concludes, will Corey Patterson ever see the green grass ever again?  Does he deserve to?
• Are you like me and SICK AND TIRED of playing the Indians six times every stinking year????
• Is it Friday yet?  It is?  Thank God!!!
• Have I annoyed you? 

Apparently, signing Arroyo to that extension is going to be his worst.  Extending Ross was fine.  Even the Todd Coffey extension won’t kill the payroll long-term.  Cormier, Stanton, Patterson, etc. were shorter term and for less money.  But, the Reds are going to owe Bronson Arroyo a TON of money over the next few years ($9 mil in ‘09, $11 mil in ‘10)…and they’re not going to get much return on that money. 

Where’s the guy we traded Wily Mo Pena for?  Since starting 9-3 in his first year, and earning an All-Star Game appearance, Arroyo has gone a whopping 18-30 with an ERA around Bill Gates’ net worth. 

With all the arms in the organization like Cueto, Volquez, Harang (who will bounce back), Thompson, Maloney, Lecure, and (if he gets his head, not his fastball, straight) Homer Bailey, Bronson Arroyo, who at one time seemed like a legit No. 2 starter, seems to be the odd man out. 

This is not just a knee-jerk reaction to one bad outing.  If you recall, Arroyo lasted all of 1.1 innings on May 4 when he gave up seven earned runs on seven hits to the Braves in Atlanta. 

Isn’t this a guy who prides himself on pitching 200 innings a year?  Well, as of right now, he’s pitched over 6 innings a grand total of TWICE.  With 78 games now played, the Reds will pass the midway point of the schedule before Arroyo’s next start.  Therefore, Arroyo is on pace to pitch 174 innings.  Not what I’d call a good year.

I can only hope Walt Jocketty can find a way out of this mess.  Good luck to the suckers who take Arroyo off our hands!!  (Please, someone take him off our hands!!!!!)

Where: Rogers Centre-Toronto

TV: FSN Ohio all three games (Thursday in HD)

Radio: 700 WLW

Records: Reds 35-42 (Last place N.L. Central); Blue Jays 36-41 (Last place A.L. East)

Pitching Matchups:

• Tuesday-Reds RHP Bronson Arroyo (4-6, 5.55) vs. Blue Jays RHP A.J. Burnett (6-7, 5.42)
• Wednesday-Reds RHP Aaron Harang (3-10, 4.33) vs. Blue Jays RHP Roy Halladay (8-6, 2.90)
• Thursday-Reds RHP Edinson Volquez (10-2, 1.71) vs. Blue Jays RHP Jesse Litsch (7-4, 4.06)

Notes, etc.:

• The Reds look to extend their winning ways in Interleague Play this year.  So far, through three series, the Reds are 6-3 with six games remaining.
• Pop Quiz: name the Blue Jays’ manager.
• It appears as if Roy Halladay will make his scheduled start Wednesday.  After being hit in the head with a line drive in his last start, Halladay seems to be fine.  If you saw the shot, first you’ll be amazed at how hard it hit him, and you’ll also be amazed that the ball caromed to Scott Rolen, who caught the ball in the air for the out. 
• It remains to be seen if Edwin Encarnacion will be returning to the lineup after leaving Sunday’s game early.  Speculation was that EE would be fine, but don’t be surprised if he’s given another day off.  Although, with them being very thin in the infield right now, Edwin could very well be right back in there.
• If the Reds were hoping to go into Toronto and beat up on a last place team, they’re going to have to do it against some pretty good pitching.  Burnett and Halladay are two very formidable pitchers despite their records.  Hopefully the boys have their bats out and ready to hit.
• Could Tuesday night’s outing against the Blue Jays be a showcase for Bronson Arroyo? (Let’s hope!)
• Quiz answer: Cito Gaston.  Yes, the same Cito Gaston the Blue Jays fired just a few years after winning back-to-back World Series Championships.  I believe it’s a page out of Marge Schott’s book.  (Note: Lou should STILL be manager here in Cincinnati)

His big moment came in the second, when he loaded the bases with no one out. Dusty Baker was quick to calm him down on the mound, and then Thompson got back to work. He first struck out Jorge Posada. Then he got Robinson Cano to pop out to Paul Bako on the first pitch, and then he struck out Melky Cabrera on three pitches, pumped his fist, and ran back to the dugout, surprising the soldout Yankee Stadium. Thompson would leave after five scoreless innings, and would not get the decision. The score broke in the seventh, Edwin Encarnacion sliced a two-RBI single between third and short. Corey Patterson then homered to deep right to make it 4-0. Brandon Phillips added a two-RBI single, to make it a 6-0 final.

Thompson went five scoreless innings, giving up just four hits, walking four, and striking out two. Edwin Encarnacion, Corey Patterson, and Brandon Phillips each had two RBI. The Reds will go for the sweep today at 1:05. Johnny Cueto will take the hill, fresh off a solid start against St. Louis. He will face Andy Pettitte.

First off, let me make the case for Edinson. Volquez is 10-2, with a league leading 1.71 ERA, and a league leading 110 strikeouts. To make it even more impressive, he pitches in the launching pad that is Great American Ballpark. His numbers there? Simply astounding, 5-0 with a 1.83 ERA. His win total is second behind Webb’s eleven, so besides the fact he pitches for a last place team, how can you deny him the spot?

Webb has his numbers, but flaws to. His record of 11-3 is solid, but an ERA of 3.27 is not starter worthy when you have guys with sub two ERAs. Yes, he pitches for a first place team, but in a very weak division supported by a great offense. Tim Lincecum is another guy who has had a tremendous season for a terrible team. He is 8-1 with a 2.21 ERA for the San Francisco Giants. He has 95 strikeouts, and a 1.23 WHIP (Volquez has a 1.17 WHIP). Again, a great candidate pitching for a bad team.

With those candidates I named, how can the MLB brass deny him the spot? I know he pitches for a last place team, but come on, what more does Volquez have to achieve? Do you guys agree with my pleading for Volquez to be the All-Star starter, or do you have someone else in mind?