This is the time of baseball year where, if your favorite team is out of the running (or in my case has been for a long time), your senses become numb.  Usually a Reds win makes my day and a loss puts me in a funk (particularly if the bullpen has blown a lead, which NEVER happens…).  Now that any chances of playoffs this season are deep-sixed, I still go through the motions of watching games, checking out box scores & baseball news, etc…  But the feelings are not as intense.

Yet, if you play a road game against a team that is in the thick of a late-season playoff chase (to wit:  The Cubs this year), it’s hard to not get swept up in their enthusiasm.  Tonight’s game was a barn burner and Cincinnati did everything except let the Cubs tie the game.  The Wrigley faithful were going absolutely ape and I was riveted to my couch, wondering why Jared Burton was still in the game in such a critical situa - wait.  It’s not so critical for the Reds (this year anyway).  Why not let Burton develop in a pressure situation when the stakes are low?  For a minute, I felt like Cincy was in the postseason with everything riding on this 3-2 pitch – and it felt pretty good. I could almost hear Tim McCarver talking about my team telling me that if you don’t lay the bat down you won’t be able to bunt…  But, alas, it was only a night for the Reds to play spoiler.

If the Reds keep playing them tough, they’ll be reminding the Cubs of what they’re missing, too.  I kinda want the Cubs to make the playoffs in this division if it can’t be the Reds, but oh well. 

Finally, welcome back Josh Hamilton; it was a great night from you and I’m really hoping you get Rookie of the Year honors. 

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