I was so proud of the Reds for walking Pujols when it counted yesterday. I thought that--as an organization--they'd finally learned something.

But then tonight. Even after Arroyo gives up a homer to who-the-hell-is Ryan Ludwick, even after he surrenders a single to Eckstein, even though it's clear that he's absolutely at the end of his effectiveness, they give Pujols the opportunity to hit a homer.

Walk the man, I say. I don't care that you just did it last night. Hell, it worked last night. I don't care that the crowd will boo. All the better to irritate Cards fans, I say.

On second though, don't walk him. Hit the guy. Let's see what LaRussa would have to say to that.

Bellyscratcher and her proxy will both be at the games, live and in person, tonight and tomorrow, but I bet I can still come up with a few smart alecky things to say about the Cardinals. Let's see who's going to be playing for our boys:

Scott Hatteberg 1B
Brandon Phillips 2B
Ken Griffey, Jr. RF
Adam Dunn LF
Edwin Encarnación 3B
Josh Hamilton CF
David Ross C
Juan Castro SS
Bronson Arroyo P

I'm pleased to see Castro batting eighth (though I do wonder whether ninth might not be more appropriate). I'm also interested to see how young Brad Thompson does starting a game. If Arroyo's pattern the last three games holds, and the rest of the team's pattern the last two months holds, Thompson is going to look like a stud.