Jeepers, I'm about ready for bed and the Reds are just about to get started. I see that it's Thom and Chris on FSNO tonight. It's a homecoming of sorts for Thom, except that his return to Cincinnati was also a homecoming. I think this homecoming is more like the kind you had in college, when maybe your parents come out for a visit to see how you're doing and fail to mask their disgust at the state of your dorm room.

Yeah, I'm tired.

Don't know how long I'll be able to stay awake/use the computer before the CTS has to work on the taxes, but I'll ramble in the comments as long as I can.

I'd say that it's like the division turned upside-down to have the Pirates in first and the Cardinals and Astros bringing up the rear, but I don't like what that would mean about the Reds at all. Our boys can start setting things straight tonight.

C. Trent's got the line-ups:

The Buccos
Chris Duffy CF
Jack Wilson SS
Jason Bay LF
Adam LaRoche 1B
Ronny Paulino C
Xavier Nady RF
Jose Bautista 3B
Jose Castillo 2B
Paul Maholm P

Your Cincinnati Reds
Ryan Freel CF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Adam Dunn LF
Edwin Encarnación 3B
Ken Griffey Jr. RF
Jeff Conine 1B
Alex Gonzalez SS
David Ross C
Matt Belisle P

Maholm doesn't exactly suck and Belisle is pretty untested; this could be a tough one. The sub-freezing temperatures won't help: a frozen ball can't absorb as much energy from a bat. But they've been boning up on their small ball, so it should be all good, right?