Not a bad past eleven games for the Reds:  a  7-4 record against some of the best teams in the National League.  Cincinnati is taking the slumping Brewers out to the woodshed tonight.  They played the Dodgers tough, played well against San Diego and LA and broke the hearts of the Cubs a few times earlier this week.  All this with a young crew and with interim manager Pete Mackanin at the helm.

It is not a lock that Pete will return, however.  I’ve heard rumors about Cincinnati interest in Bob Brenly and Joe Girardi.  It might be nice to have a big name back on the bench but it’s moot unless this team gets some bullpen depth.  Mackanin wouldn’t be too shabby either – as long as he doesn’t tick off Griffey again by pulling him in a double switch late in a close game.

• A lot of young Reds talent on display lately – Jeff Keppinger has been a nice bat and a competent defensive infielder.  I saw catcher Ryan Jorgensen for the first time against the Cubs.  He had four or five Victor Santos bouncer specials nail him in the chest protector. Then they showed his face up close behind the plate and he didn’t even look mad – probably because it was only his fifth-ever big league game. 
• Elizardo Ramirez, one of my favorite hard luck pitchers besides Arroyo, will get the ball tomorrow night against the Brew crew.  Keep the ball down and you’ll be great, ‘zardo.  I hope you can put your stuff together and keep away from the big inning.  My golf game and your pitching career have startling parallels. (Par, Bogey, Par, Birdie, 9,…)
• Alex Gonzalez is on bereavement leave again to be with his 10 month old son.  I can only imagine how hard it is to focus on your job when your kid is that sick.
• Reds free agents next year:  Jeff Conine (retiring), Eric Milton (I’m assuming retiring and lighting cigars with his Reds money), Scott Hatteberg (they’d better re-sign him – he’s effective and cheap), Javier Valentin (pretty great pinch hitter – the Lenny Harris of his time), and Eddie Guardado (if he’s healthy, we know he can pitch well without overpowering stuff and he’s relatively cheap bullpen help)

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