The Cincinnati Reds won a game today, with excellent performances from the pitching staff. Homer Bailey kept the ball down and shut out the Chicago White Sox over four innings. The offense managed only one run, but with Bailey and the bullpen’s scoreless performances, that was enough.

And I was bored by it.

Spring Training has been going on for a month now, and I want it to be over. I can’t even begin to imagine how the players feel.

The good news is that we’re just 17 days away from Opening Day. Two and a half weeks from the Findlay Market Parade. And two and a half weeks from the first official pitch of the 2012 season from Johnny Cueto’s hand.

It cannot get here soon enough.

It’s been a month since Spring Training started, and the Cincinnati Reds finally got around to making their first round of cuts. In all, 16 players had to pack their bags and leave big league camp. None of the decisions were surprising.

IF Kristopher Negron, IF Neftali Soto, RHP Josh Judy; IF Didi Gregorius, IF Henry Rodriguez, RHP Pedro Villarreal; IF/OF Donald Lutz and RHP Kyle Lotzkar were optioned.

C Tucker Barnhart, RHP Nick Christiani, RHP Daniel Corcino, C Brian Esposito, RHP Sean Gallagher, LHP Donnie Joseph, RHP Chad Reineke and RHP Brett Tomko were re-assigned to the minor league camp.

Some of those guys are very likely to be contributing in the Major Leagues sooner than later. But this is not their year. The hardest decisions likely won’t be made until the last minute.

Remember how awesome it was when the Cincinnati Reds shocked the off-season baseball world by signing Ryan Madson as their closer? That was pretty cool. You know what would be even cooler? Having Madson actually pitch in a game.

Madson has made no appearances in games so far this Spring Training, thanks to pain he felt in his elbow during his first bullpen throwing session.

“It’s pretty close to 100 percent right now,” Madson said. “I never had any problems like that before, I don’t know what it was. Now we’ve gotten through it and it feels great. Just looking forward to getting in some games and getting my feet wet.”

That’s good news. And when might we get to see him pitch for the first time in a Reds uniform?

“I don’t feel anything right now, and I should be in games by the end of next week. That will give me plenty of time to be ready for the season.”

I look forward to that. Madson is an important part of the Reds’ improved 2012 bullpen.

There are so many stupid captions. Pick your favorite.

• What a fruit!
• Bronson Arroyo shows off his new cell phone.
• Look at the size of that banana!
• It’s yellower than I expected.
• Real grunge rockers need their potassium.