Last Game
I don’t watch much TV, but there used to be something that I would turn on around dinner time most every night. What was that? The news? Adventure Time? Hoarders?

The Reds haven’t had a game start at the typical 7 p.m. hour since June 26. Ah, June 26: back when the FDA was approving lorcaserin for weight loss, “Call Me Maybe” was in its first week as Billboard’s #1 hit, and Aroldis Chapman celebrated the end of his blown-save streak with some poorly received acrobatics. Those were the good ol’ days.

Next Game
The Cardinals are coming to town tomorrow. In an earlier time (perhaps June 26) we would have expected this series to be the Battle for First, but as it stands right now, it’s the Skirmish for Second. If the Brewers can take a couple from the Pirates (who are currently in first), then maybe it’ll be a different story.

Nobody Watched the All-Star Game
The television rating for the All-Star Game came out yesterday, and it set a record low this year. It was seen in an average of 6.8% of American households, down from 6.9% last year. This is the third year in a row for the game to set an all-time low in television ratings.

I imagine that the facts that 1) most of the players are guys each individual fan doesn’t care about and 2) that the game was a blow-out from the first inning didn’t help matters. Still, I like to think that it’s Tony LaRussa’s fault.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Despite the awesomeness of his play, Joey Votto is dangerously close to becoming boring. Check out this story about Votto at the All-Star Game to learn:

• Not many reporters care to talk to him
• He doesn’t care to bring back much memorabilia
• He has no inner child

No one’s complaining about the performance, but you do have to wonder if this is what it would be like to watch robots play baseball. Even the characters on the Playstation showed more personality.

Last Game
The National League trounced the American League in last night’s All Star Game: final score NL 8, AL 0. Joey Votto continued his 0-for-ASG streak, though the NL has won all of the ASGs he’s been in. Jay Bruce also didn’t get any hits, but caught the last out of the game. Aroldis Chapman only put in 0.1 innings, but he was pitching for Tony LaRussa after all.

Next Game
The Reds have today and tomorrow off. They’re back in action against the Cardinals on Friday. In the meantime, you’ll just have to bust out Monopoly or something.

Home Field Advantage
Should the Reds make their way into the World Series this season, you’ll have one additional opportunity to catch a game in Cincinnati. Assuming they don’t clamp the door shut in 4 games, that is.

Well, a girl can dream. Let’s not forget that the Pirates are currently in possession of first place in the NLC, and look like they have a better chance of maintaining that hold than in recent years.

To provide a little contrast, the Pirates’ All-Star hitter (Andrew McCutchen) actually got a hit. Their reliever (Joel Hanrahan) didn’t allow any walks before he struck his one batter of the night out. Not that any of it means anything, but I wouldn’t mind having a little more to brag about my specific guys right now.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
The All Star Game has been held in Kansas City three times: 1960, 1973, and 2012. The National League won all three of those games.

Last Game
It’s not exactly a game, but the Home Run Derby was last night. Prince Fielder was the winner for the second time in his career: he also won the Derby in 2009.

Giancarlo Stanton had originally be named to the National League Home Run Derby team but was injured and so was replaced by the Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen isn’t exactly a home run hitter, but he didn’t do too badly representing the NLC. I mean, he didn’t get the worst score.

Next Game
The All Star Game is tonight in Kansas City. The Reds’ Joey Votto will be starting at first base and batting cleanup for the National League. First pitch is at 8 p.m. ET and you can watch it on FOX. Here are the line-ups:

National League

• 1. Gonzalez, Col
• 2. Cabrera, SF
• 3. Braun, Mil
• 4. Votto, Cin
• 5. Beltran, StL
• 6. Posey, SF
• 7. Sandoval, SF
• 8. Uggla, Atl
• 9. Furcal, StL
• SP. Cain, SF

American League

• 1. Jeter, NY
• 2. Cano, NY
• 3. Hamilton, Tex
• 4. Bautista, Tor
• 5. Fielder, Det
• 6. Beltre, Tex
• 7. Ortiz, Bos
• 8. Napoli, Tex
• 9. Granderson, NY
• SP. Verlander, Det

LaRussa’s Arrogance Is the Real All-Star
The latest All-Star snub Tony LaRussa has handed out is to R.A. Dickey. Dickey is a 37-year old knuckleballer who is having a phenomenal year with the New York Mets. He already has a 12-1 record, 3 complete games, and a 2.40 ERA. He is certainly the pitcher having the best year in the NL right now, and certainly the most interesting story.

But, as you know, LaRussa knows all and sees all, and has instead chosen the Giants’ Matt Cain to start for the National League. Cain’s having a good year and (unlike Dickey) he’ll be a familiar presence to the starting catcher from the Giants, Buster Posey.

To me, all that is well and good. Not what people were expecting, but at least there was rational basis for it (unlike when he snubbed Johnny Cueto). The thing that makes it a classless move is that TLR didn’t even bother to call Dickey to tell him first. Dickey heard about it when someone texted him the news.

I know you’re not supposed to talk ill of the retired, but baseball will be better off finally seeing the back of Tony LaRussa.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Prince Fielder is only the second player ever to win multiple Home Run Derby titles. The first was Ken Griffey Jr, who won 3.

Last Game
The Reds escaped San Diego with a win in their final game of the series, of the west coast road trip, of the first half. They roll into the All Star Break with a 47-38 record and in second place in the NLC behind the Pirates.

Johnny Cueto started out strong in last night’s game but didn’t end up lasting very long, pitching just 5.2 innings. He still got the win, though, which was his tenth of the season. Aroldis Chapman got the save with an excellent hitless ninth that featured 2 Ks.

Next Game
It’s the All Star Break, and finishing off the first-half with an 11-game road trip in California must make the team feel like they’ve really earned it. I feel like I’ve earned it as a fan after a couple weeks of having to stay up until 1:30 a.m. if you want to see the end of the game.

The Reds won’t play as a team again until Friday when they host the Cardinals at a decent hour: 7:10 p.m.

Home Run Derby tonight
The Home Run Derby is tonight at 8 p.m. Representing the AL will be:

• Robinson Cano
• Prince Fielder
• Jose Bautista
• Mark Trumbo

For the NL, it will be

• Matt Kemp
• Carlos Gonzalez
• Carlos Beltran
• Andrew McCutchen

Keep an eye on the #HRDerby hashtag on Twitter. MLB is encouraging participants in the derby to tweet it out.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Joey Votto is the first Red elected to start an All-Star Game since Ken Griffey, Jr. in 2007. The Reds haven’t had a participant in the Home Run Derby since Ken Griffey, Jr. in 2000.

Last Game
Last night Mat Latos went out against Edinson Volquez in an obvious opportunity to evaluate whether the Reds or the Padres got the better of the trade for the two pitchers.

As you can see, they were too similar to call (though I’d point out that Volquez wasn’t the only piece the Reds gave up in that particular trade). Unfortunately for the Reds, Volquez won out in the “who has the better bullpen” category when Sean Marshall blew the save and Logan Ondrusek gave up the winning run. Final score: Reds 1, Padres 2.

Next Game
The Reds continue the 4-game series against the Padres tonight. Bronson Arroyo (3-5, 4.06 ERA) will take on Kip Wells (1-1, 1.50 ERA). First pitch at 10:05 p.m.

Winning One for the Kipper
In his last start, Kip Wells notched his first win since 2009: he was with the Reds that year and not another major league team in the meantime. The 35-year old has been bouncing around the minors since then, and though he wasn’t actually doing all that well with the Padres AAA-affiliate, he got the call.

It’s certainly true that 1.50 ERA is influenced by the very small sample size, but his last start was pretty remarkable, all things considered. He put in 7.0 innings of work, allowing 0 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks.

At first blush, it looks like the Reds ought to have an easy time of it tomorrow, but that’s what the Rockies thought, too, when they faced Wells in his last outing.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Drew Stubb’s 0-for-28 non-hitting streak is the longest in his career.