Am I really looking at the Reds NOT losing in the bottom of the fourth inning? Thank you, Aaron Harang for festering in Cincinnati for us!

Josh Hamilton leads off the line-up tonight. At the Red Hot Mama house, we're not super-psyched about this. As the CTS pointed out earlier, unlike Adam Dunn, Hamilton 1) is not an on-base machine, and 2) actually hits with runners on. He's not the best choice for the one-slot. I expect Narron to be quoted saying that he was trying to mix things up or make the line-up lefty-heavy, and Heaven help us if it works. Actually, I don't think we'll see the same line-up two days in the row regardless of whether wacky construction works, so never mind.

Today I got an invitation in the mail from the Reds Community Fund to an event called “Day at the Diamond.” Here's the description:

This special evening at Great American Ball Park will include a roving feast in the Diamond Club, dugouts and FSN Ohio Club 4192 followed by dancing. Ticket price includes parking, dinner, drinks, dancing and a souvenir.

What is that ticket price, you might ask? Just a scant $400 per couple. If you're a “Host/Hostess” (I'm presuming they're not talking about the cream pies), it's $600 for you to get in. If you're a “Home Run Hitter,” it's going to cost you a cool grand to get through the door.

That's pretty steep, but I have to admit that my interest is piqued by this “Red Tie Optional” event. Just think: a roving feast in Club 4192! I might run into George Grande or Tom Browning! I could really make the CTS wear a red tie!

I'll have to look into it. You'll know if I go: I'll have to blog about it to count it as a business expense.

Meanwhile, am I really looking at the Reds NOT losing in the bottom of the fifth? w00t!!

Yowch. I guess the Reds aren't coming home with the sweep. However, they're in good position to turn the table on the Phillies by scoring fewer runs over three games but winning the series.

The Crack Technical Staff and I were a little snippy with each other tonight, which has nixed a few podcasts in the past, but we pushed through (and later edited out) our awkward silences to discuss what’s going on with the Reds lately. Which, in case you haven’t noticed, is all Ken Griffey, Jr.

• Mr. Griffey Goes to Seattle
• Mr. Griffey Wants to Retire a Mariner
• Mr. Griffey Second in National League All Star Voting
• Jerry Narron: Still Manager even now
• From the mouthes of babes: an interview with a 6-year old Reds fan
• Cardinals in Cincy this weekend (and us as well)
• Giants in Cincy after that (but we’ll have gone home by then)
• Around the Central

We also note a new podcast for the Pirates by Pat at WHYGAS? He’s only three episodes in and already skipping weeks because there’s nothing left to do but rehash what he’s already said. Welcome to baseball podcasting, Pat!

Episode 62: There’s Something About Griffey (23.4MB, 34:08)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

The Reds dropped yet another series today to the Mariners when they lost 2-3 in Seattle. As is a tradition with the Cincinnati club, they lose two of the three games, but outscored their opponent 19-13 over the series, thanks to the 16-1 drubbing they administered in the opening game on Friday.

Bronson Arroyo took the mound after a little more rest than usual, and he certainly did seem to hold up better than he has been. Still, it was he who allowed the three runs (earned) on 10 hits that were his undoing. Marcus McBeth pitched the eighth and didn't allow a run. Todd Coffey was constantly warming up in the bullpen but never saw the mound.

Ken Griffey, Jr. titillated the Seattle fans with two solo home runs that accounted for all of the Reds' runs. Griffey's tenure in Seattle was, by definition, before I started watching the sport--the Crack Technical Staff returned to the sport because Griffey came to Cincinnati--so I didn't know to expect the kind of reception that they gave him there. If there was any negativity at Safeco, it was drowned out by the standing ovations. Every time I see Griffey play, it seems like there's someone yelling at him about how he doesn't hustle or makes too much money or something. I know it's far from home, but I'd have to wonder if Junior doesn't have some nostalgia after this weekend's trip.

One more thing: there was finally room in the line-up for Javier Valentín tonight. He went 2-for-4 on the night. The CTS told me that he's more enraged about the way Javy's been mis-utilized than the way that the pitchers have. I'm not prepared to go quite that far, but he has a point. Javy is the best bat off the bench, so every time Juan Castro or Chad Moeller has been used to pinch hit is a sort of abuse of Javy.

You could also make an excellent point that debating which deficiency of the management is the worst isn't terribly useful. This loss brings their record to 29-47. They take tomorrow off to travel back east to Philly before coming home for the weekend series with the Phillies. It would seem that Narron needs to come back with a sweep to continue to keep his job (but then, I would have thought that a month back). Homer Bailey goes up against Kyle Kendrick.

Just got home from the movies to see the score. Ah, these are the Reds I know.