By Thaq Diesel 

The Reds took three of four from the Brew crew and in the process exchanged a couple yin-yang 11-0 butt kickings.

A quote from the AP story about Sunday’s game:
“Brandon Phillips has had an outstanding week,” Narron said. “I don’t know how many guys are going to have 17 RBI in a week.”

As a way to ensure 17 RBI doesn’t happen again, Narron has decided to sit Phillips for a few games to work the platoon system at 2nd base as originally designed.  Okay, that was a cheap shot.  Still, I found myself thinking while mowing the lawn today that Narron would most certainly pull “The Freel Manuever” and sit down a hot player.  Nay, Phillips looks like he’s actually realizing the potential the Expos saw in him when he was first drafted.  Barring a crushing slump of 15 or 20 games, let him stay in place at 2nd.  (I’m sure many of you thought the “Freel Manuever” was either to chug a 12-pack on the drive home or to swing a pool stick at someone.  Good guess, but no.)

Aaron Harang’s start today has me grateful that the Reds now have two bona-fide starting pitchers on this staff (Arroyo clearly the other).  Both have been a pleasant surprise.  Other than Todd Coffey and David Weathers, the rest of the staff has been poor as expected with the middle relief being unbelievably bad.  Perhaps a couple more pitchers can settle down and give the Reds offense a chance to muscle out some more games.  We will see tomorrow what Elizardo Ramirez (up from AAA Louisville) can do.  He’ll be starting now that Eric Milton ($9.8 million in 2006 salary, BTW) is giving up home run balls only on his PS2 for the next couple weeks as he deals with a knee injury and disabled list stint.  Despite the rough pitching start to the year, the complete game gem pitched by Harang today against the Brewers (as well as the shut out work on 4/14 at St. Louis) is something to be savored. 

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