The first month of baseball is almost gone and the Reds stand just a half game out of first place. Tonight they face the defending NL champions and notorious Reds killer Roy Oswalt. And it is neither of the Reds' stand-out pitchers taking the mound tonight. It is The Pickle. He of the 1-2 record. He of the 6.75 ERA. He of the unrealized promise to last into the seventh inning.

I have a little bit of dread going into this game.

But I had dread going into the game against the Cards and Carpenter, and look how that worked out. I had dread going into the game with the Marlins and Willis, and look how that worked out. I had dread going into the third game against the Nationals, when I thought it would just be perfect irony for Williams and the Lizard to win and Arroyo to get rocked, but look how that worked out too.

I have a little bit of dread going into this game. Cross your fingers that it works out as well as the others.

Go Reds!