Kevin Brewer of The Washington Times doesn't have much nice to say about Jim Bowden in his story Losing Face:

He is employed by the Washington Nationals only because Major League Baseball runs a fairly decent temp service.
MLB made Bud Selig interim commissioner when everyone else thought he was washed up, and now look at him: He speaks before Congress and stuff.
Here's the other thing: Bowden isn't very good at his job.
It took the Cincinnati Reds about 11 years to figure this out. It probably won't take the Nationals' new owner as long.

It's not a story that really has much to say, but since we're looking to sweep the Nats today (as led by Ramón Ortiz, of all people), it seemed like a nice little bit of smack talk to share. Plus, it sorta made me laugh.

The Reds slipped by the Nationals last night by a score of 6-5.

Dave Williams and his muttonchops took the mound for the Reds, looking to redeem himself after a couple really rough starts. He lasted five plus innings, giving up four runs (earned) on nine hits and a walk. It was a performance worthy to get him the win.

Todd Coffey took over in the sixth and let one of his inherited runner to score. He came back out for the seventh and allowed a run of his own to score in a performance that counts as shaky by Coffey's standards. He gave up one earned run on two hits and two walks. His ERA now stands at 0.75.

Kent Mercker and David Weathers each provided a hitless inning of relief. Weathers got the save.

Again the offense got off to a big start in the top of the first. After Ryan Freel lined out, Felipe Lopez and Rich Aurilia each singled. While the major shift was on for Adam Dunn (seriously--three infielders on the first-base side), Lopez and Aurilia pulled off the double steal. Dunn was then hit with a pitch to load up the bases. Austin Kearns drew a walk to bring in the first run, and Edwin Encarnación singled in two more. Brandon Phillips dropped a sac fly into right field before Jason LaRue lined out to end the threat. Score: 4-0.

The Nats got a couple runs back in the bottom of the second on a Ryan Zimmerman two-run home run with Nick Johnson on base. Score: 4-2.

The Reds added some insurance in the top of the fifth when Aurilia doubled and Dunn was intentionally walked. Two batters later and with two outs, Encarnación doubled the two of them in. Score: 6-2.

And it was a good thing he did, because the Nationals would come back to score a run in each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings. The run in the fifth was a solo shot by Alfonso Soriano. The run in the sixth came on a Daryle Ward single to bring in Nick Johnson. The run in the seventh came from a Jose Vidro single after Royce Clayton reached on a throwing error by Felipe Lopez. Final score: 6-5.

The win brings the Reds' record to 14-7 and ensure they win the series. The Reds go for the sweep this afternoon at 1:05 p.m. Bronson Arroyo takes the mound for the Reds to face former Red Ramón Ortiz for the Nationals.

The Reds defeated the Nationals yesterday by a score of 4-2 to provide young Elizardo Ramirez, freshly called up from Triple A Louisville to fill in for the injured Eric Milton, with his first win.

Ramirez pitched seven plus innings, allowing two runs (earned) on six hits. Brian Shackelford allowed no hits through a third of an inning, but did hit a guy. Todd Coffey sprinted out to hold the Nats scoreless for two-thirds of an inning. David Weathers walked the first batter he faced in the bottom of the ninth, but also prevented any hits to close the game out and get the save.

A few of us commented on the game as it happened, so you can get the nitty gritty there.

The win brings the Reds' record to an astounding 13-7. Tonight Dave Williams takes the mound for the Reds against Billy Traber for the Nationals. Game starts at 7:05.

If you look down the right-hand side of the page, you'll see a section “Most Read Posts.” Number one is Posters for the Unmotivated, which has been viewed over 9000 times since it was published in September of last year.

Amazingly (to me), April has now surpassed last September as Red Hot Mama's biggest month ever by page views. And there are still five days to go.

I'd like to take all the credit, but I'm going to have to call it an indication of the uptick in fan interest in the team this year. The team is 13-7 and looking strong. This is the good life.

Let's keep it going. I want to see May leave 'em all in the dust.

Go Reds!