Jon Heyman of Newsday.com suggests that the Yankees might find Ken Griffey, Jr. their best option to fill in for Gary Sheffield, who has suffered a potentially season-ending wrist injury.

In his article Griffey Could Be Most Likely Big Name for Yanks, dated tomorrow, he says:

Griffey's whopping salary ($37 million through 2009) means the Yankees wouldn't have to give up anything of note to get him. The Reds' previous ownership rejected the Yankees' bid for Griffey last year, but the Reds have a new owner, Bob Castellini, and a new GM, Wayne Krivsky, who isn't afraid to deal if they fall out of the race.

Number one, the Yankees went after Griffey last year?

Number two, what is it with people who act like the entire league is just the Yankees' ice cream shop where they can sample any flavor that they please? You know, just because Griffey might suit the Yankees' needs doesn't mean the Yankees' can meet the Reds' needs.

Number three, isn't it a little premature to be talking about the Reds falling out of the race? Right now they're second in the NLC, a game and a half closer to first than to third. Especially now that the Cardinals have lost two in a row to the Cubs with Jim Edmonds and Albert Pujols both injured, I'm liking their chances of sticking with the race beyond the time that Griffey would be irrelevant to the Yankees.

In fact, I think he's already irrelevant to the Yankees. If they're interested in a high-priced catcher, on the other hand, we might be able to give them a taste spoon.

Roy Oswalt was scheduled to start this game. In fact, he was supposed to start yesterday's game, but the Astros juggled the rotation to give him a little extra time to rest the hamstring that's been bothering him.

But apparently that day wasn't enough and Oswalt has been scratched. The FSN guys said something about a back problem, probably a result of that hamstring issue.

In his place we'll see Fernando Nieve. It's a match-up that appears to favor the Reds, but isn't this just exactly the kind of situation where a kid rises up? This is the sort of thing that the Lizard himself would have done last season and shone.

On the other hand, the Reds have to be looking to make this an above-500 road trip. We'll see soon enough I guess. Freel's already flied out to get it going.

The Reds broke their string of lost series yesterday when they won their second consecutive game over the Houston Astros by a score of 7-5.

Bronson Arroyo took the mound and allowed two runs (zero earned) on eight hits and one walk through six innings for the win. Chris Hammond worked the seventh and allowed one run (earned) on one hit and one walk. David Weathers allowed zero hits through the eighth.

Todd Coffey had his first bad outing when he worked the ninth. He allowed two runs (earned) on three hits, and it took a solid play by Austin Kearns in right and a heroic play by Ryan Freel in center to help him escape. Coffey's ERA has “skyrocketed” to a stunning 1.74.

Arroyo himself was the offensive star of the game, going 3-for-3 with four RBI. Arroyo's RBI for the season (6) now outnumber his hits for the season (5), though he still hits a massive .156, so it's hard to deem him a slugger yet.

The win brings the Reds' record to 31-24 and three games out of first place in the division. They go for the sweep this afternoon at 2:05 p.m. when Elizardo Ramirez takes the mound against Roy Oswalt.