Boxscore

If Cincinnati were Chicago, a W flag would have flown above the ballpark after last night’s game. It might have confused folks into thinking it was an ad for the upcoming Oliver Stone movie, which would seem especially strange coming from close personal Bush friend Bob Castellini. Like I said confusing, which is kind of what the game was.

Here the Reds are, coming off a sweep from the Nationals–a terrible, crappy team if ever there was one. I mean, their GM is Jim Bowden, a guy who wasn’t good enough for Cincinnati. And into town comes the Milwaukee Brewers, a team battling for first place in the division and the wild card spot.

So naturally the Reds win.

Bronson Arroyo had his better half show up, as he pitched 6 innings and allowed only 1 run while doubling in a couple for his side. The bullpen was adequate, as Magic Man and Stormy both gave up runs, but the lead still held for Francisco Cordero to get the “easy” save.

The Reds have shown serious motivation issues, beating good teams and getting spanked by sucky ones. If only there were a way to fix that, but obviously, that’s nothing management has anything to do with.

As for the Brewers, they missed a great opportunity to beat a bad team and gain a game on the losing Cubs. But Manny Parra imploded in the 5th, allowing 4 runs and leading to a shoving match with Prince Fielder. (Note to Parra: Run away. You won’t win.)

We’ll see if that fighting helps them going forward.

The Red Hot Household has been struck by the dreaded flu-like symptoms this week, knocking yours truly on her booty for about four days. The Crack Technical Staff literally had to call to get me out of bed long enough to post about Griffey being traded last week, and afterward I fell back to sleep. I mean, I missed work. Do you have any concept of the state I need to be in to miss work??

Finally, I am beginning to emerge from the Nyquil-stained sheets and enjoy the pleasures of the waking world. And, though I’m having almost no trouble keeping myself upright as I watch tonight’s Reds-Brewers game, and though the once-searing pain in my throat is now barely more than a nagging ache, I have not been able to shake this voice affliction that makes me sound like a lifetime smoker/nightclub singer. Maybe we’ll record a podcast so you all can enjoy it.

I’m enjoying watching the Reds win for a change. Even if Cordero eventually gives this one up, we got to see Bronson Arroyo not suck, Gary Majewski suck for only an inning, and David Weathers get out of his own jam. Oh, and Prince Fielder shoving a guy 1/10th his weight in the dugout.

The Crack Technical Staff was telling me that the Reds’ record against teams with records over .500 is very high, while their record against teams with records under .500 is very low. So, they rise to the challenge against the leaders, and manage to suck even worse than the suck teams. Seems strange, but it also seems like exactly the sort of pattern this team has kept up over the years, like scoring among the most runs in the majors but failing to actually contend and hiring Dusty Baker.

While I was out sick, a Cubs fan I work with sent me a taunting email about the Reds already giving up for the season, saying it was earlier than usual. He’s right, but I told him that at least they weren’t giving up on NEXT season yet, which is a nice change of pace.

I also told him that it’s not my problem anyway, seeing as I’m a White Sox fan now.

But apparently not really, since I hung around long enough to see Cordero finally get another save. Dude, it’s about damn time! And Arroyo is officially a 10-game winner. AND Jim Day has a fan club. It was totally worth getting out of bed today.

Just as AOL’s “partnership” with the scantily-clad-and-poor-cue-card-reading Fantasy Sports Girls was giving women sport bloggers a bad name, 15 women who don’t need a sleezeball pervert to write their suggestive commentary for them were launching Playing the Field.

Per their–our–about page:

Featured on this site are some of the best female sports bloggers on the net. These women are smart, sports savvy, and will kick your butt in fantasy ball. Consider this your hub for the best writing women in sports have to offer. You’ll find stuff that will make you laugh, make you think, and sometimes make you crazy. But that’s just like a woman, isn’t it? Throughout this site we will cover everything and anything about sports that deserves our attention. And probably a few things that don’t. But we promise to always entertain you and make you wonder why women don’t rule the sports blogging world. Yet.

Ideas for PTF content include everything from fantasy sports advice to our vision of what our favorite players’ blogs would say, (if they actually wrote them for themselves). Whatever the topic, you’re sure to find something interesting in each woman’s box.

Boxscore

The Cubs made quick work of that battle for first place with the Brewers. They won the second game easily and widened their lead to 3 games, which ensures they will have first all to their little beary lonesome no matter what happens in the final two games of the series.

Last night’s game was kind of a letdown. I’d hoped for another close one like the first one, and with Carlos Zambrano going against Ben Sheets it was certainly possible. But Sheets sucked and Zambrano didn’t. The Brewers offense consisted of an RBI from Mike Cameron. That’s not good enough most nights, let alone when your ace pitcher allows 6 in 5 1/3.

The Brewers have been outplayed these first two games of the series, and they were the team playing better baseball beforehand. It is making me rethink my assessment of the Brewers. We’ll see how they do in the final two games. Maybe without the big pitching guns, Milwaukee’s bats will wake up. I hope so; I’m getting bored.

Boxscore

The first game of the four-game battle for first between the Cubs and Brewers did not disappoint. Well, you could say that C.C. (yes, I’m still using periods) Sabathia didn’t pitch as well as expected after his last three complete games for Milwaukee, but that’s quibbling. He was still solid, allowing 3 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings.

No, the real disappointment was my out-of-the-blue 100 degree fever that had me asleep around the halfway point of the game. Stupid sick body wanting to heal. As if sleeping will help.

It looked like the game might go into extra frames when it was tied at 4 in the 9th, but Derrek Lee wanted to go home. He smacked a 2-run double off Salomon Torres, and the Brewers were unable to come back against Carlos Marmol.

Chicago now has a 2 game lead on Milwaukee, although I imagine the Brewers plan on doing something about that today.