So the Cincinnati Reds lost today and are no longer in first place because the cursed St. Louis Cardinals came back from behind and won. Well, let’s look back to happier times, all the way back to Saturday when the Reds were on the top of the world.

We decided to go to the game in an impromptu fashion, after our previous plans for the day were cancelled when the event we wanted to attend became a sell-out. So of course, we heard on the drive to Cincinnati that the game was a sell-out. We continued, assuming we’d grab standing-room only “seats”. Of course, thos sold out, too, which left us to fend for ourselves in the shady scalped ticket market. The transaction was a success.

Joey Votto seems to be a much less patient hitter since the All Star Break, but he did manage to get on base. Here he is on second.

In case you hadn’t noticed, Jonny Gomes fidgets with his helmet. A lot.

After a great game all around, the Reds high-five each other in the infield. Here, Brandon Phillips plays the “Up high, Down low” game with manager Dusty Baker.

The scoreboard, showing the success of Edinson Volquez’s first outing after a year away from the game. If he can pitch 7 innings of ball like he did last night for the rest of the year, the Reds will be in good shape.

Of course, after this game, the Reds were hoping for a sweep which didn’t happen despite another great pitching performance from Travis Wood. Maybe next time the team will score any runs for him. Still, it is weird to be disappointed that the Reds didn’t sweep the series. They did take 2 of 3, after all. Slightly unhappy with series wins, sell-out baseball games. I tell you what, I’m not used to this winning stuff. It certainly makes spur-of-the-moment trips to the ballpark trickier.

Right about now, I’m bored with not seeing the Cincinnati Reds playing every night. The All Star game was, for the first time in decades, an interesting baseball game again, which makes the absence of anything baseball-related the day after that much worse. And to rub salt into the wound, the Reds have an off day today.

What’s a guy supposed to do? Engage with his family? Work on the to-do list around the house? Gah! being productive is for losers.

Instead, I’ll round up some recent Reds news.

• Joey Votto gave us some entertainment yesterday with a quote about the Cubs. Reds fans seem for it; Cubs fans are against. Betcha you couldn’t have seen that one coming.
• Also in All-Joey-All-the-Time news, Votto was voted the first-half National League Most Valuable Player by a survey of players. Arthur Rhodes also picked up the top reliever honors. Hopefully, they don’t let it go to their heads. I’d love for them to keep performing as they have.
• In some non-Joey news, the Reds missed out on trading for super-awesome pitcher of the year Cliff Lee to those dastardly Texas Rangers. Still, the team does have an ace of sorts to add in the second half. Edinson Volquez has been rehabbing in the minors for the last month and is finally ready. He’s throwing harder than he ever has before, and he was dominant in his final start in AAA, throwing 7 innings of shutout, 1-hit ball. I know it’s the minors, but that’s how I’d expect a healthy, Cy Young-caliber pitcher to treat minor leaguers. As awesome as a major acquisition would be, Volquez should do nothing to hurt the already solid starting rotation.
• Unlike Volquez, lefty Cuban phenom Aroldis Chapman is unlikely to make the move to the Bigs soon. I’m okay with this. Outside of Francisco Cordero, the bullpen has been solid lately, and Chapman’s use in the bullpen in Louisville has not been perfect by any stretch. Chapman is wild still, and only lots of practice and repetition in the minors will improve that. Besides, I wouldn’t feel any more comfortable with Chapman closing out games than Cordero. I do reserve the right to change my opinion regarding that at any point, though, especially after CoCo blows another one.
• Lastly, there’s a new documentary in town. This time, it’s just about Pete Rose the baseball player, not Pete Rose the lying, cheating scumbag who deserves the expulsion from baseball and the Hall of Fame. Rose was an excellent player, certainly the best hitter ever, and I would be interested in seeing a film that showcases that. It’s easy to lose sight of his baseball skills when constantly being confronted with what he’s become.

Thankfully, there’s just one more day of inactivity for the Reds. At least the Cardinals play tonight. It’s always fun to root against them, but even more so this year.

It’s Wednesday morning, and, as it turns out, the NL winning the All-Star game for once was not a dream. Today is the one day that I and my NL fan coworkers are on the same side, banding together to harass and annoy the local White Sox fans.

That’s right, it’s the one day when I commune with the Cards fans and even Cubs fans to…wait, what did Joey Votto say according to the Chicago Cubs blog on ESPN?

I don’t like the Cubs,” Votto said. “And I’m not going to pat anybody with a Cubs uniform on the back. But because he made that really cool play, it turned out to be a really cool experience. I’m really glad we got the win today.

Ha! Well said. I almost take back what I said about thinking Votto would be a boring conversationalist, what with all his “Manuel was just looking out for his own guy,” and “I’m just grateful to get the opportunity” nicey-nice stuff.

I almost get the feeling there could be a real justified-in-being-arrogant guy buried deep down in that mild-mannered, work-ethic, too-shy-to-want-to-be-famous, Canadian-Mountie exterior. Letting the guy out right after seeing all of two pitches in two All-Star ABs might be a touch premauture, but it’s certainly not boring.

For the first time since Joey Votto was 12 years old–6th grade (or whatever they call it in Canada)–the National League has won the All-Star game.

Scott Rolen went 1-for-2 with a run scored. Brandon Phillips got a key out. Votto saved some for the sequel. Arthur Rhodes rested. All-in-all, I give Reds almost all of the credit for this win. Hopefully they’ll get all the benefit from it.

Go NL, and Go Reds!