Boxscore

The Astros beat off both the Cubs and the rain yesterday, as 4 pitchers combined to blank Chicago.

That bizarre trade for Latrell Hawkins is looking golden now. He pitched one-third of an inning for the save! One-third! That’s a whole out.

The game had two different rain delays. The first one lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes right after the 5th inning was completed. The second delay was in the bottom of the eighth and lasted only 39 minutes before the game was called.

The Astros have now won 4 in a row, while the Cubs modest 2-game winning streak was broken.

Boxscore

If Cincinnati were Chicago, a W flag would have flown above the ballpark after last night’s game. It might have confused folks into thinking it was an ad for the upcoming Oliver Stone movie, which would seem especially strange coming from close personal Bush friend Bob Castellini. Like I said confusing, which is kind of what the game was.

Here the Reds are, coming off a sweep from the Nationals–a terrible, crappy team if ever there was one. I mean, their GM is Jim Bowden, a guy who wasn’t good enough for Cincinnati. And into town comes the Milwaukee Brewers, a team battling for first place in the division and the wild card spot.

So naturally the Reds win.

Bronson Arroyo had his better half show up, as he pitched 6 innings and allowed only 1 run while doubling in a couple for his side. The bullpen was adequate, as Magic Man and Stormy both gave up runs, but the lead still held for Francisco Cordero to get the “easy” save.

The Reds have shown serious motivation issues, beating good teams and getting spanked by sucky ones. If only there were a way to fix that, but obviously, that’s nothing management has anything to do with.

As for the Brewers, they missed a great opportunity to beat a bad team and gain a game on the losing Cubs. But Manny Parra imploded in the 5th, allowing 4 runs and leading to a shoving match with Prince Fielder. (Note to Parra: Run away. You won’t win.)

We’ll see if that fighting helps them going forward.

The Red Hot Household has been struck by the dreaded flu-like symptoms this week, knocking yours truly on her booty for about four days. The Crack Technical Staff literally had to call to get me out of bed long enough to post about Griffey being traded last week, and afterward I fell back to sleep. I mean, I missed work. Do you have any concept of the state I need to be in to miss work??

Finally, I am beginning to emerge from the Nyquil-stained sheets and enjoy the pleasures of the waking world. And, though I’m having almost no trouble keeping myself upright as I watch tonight’s Reds-Brewers game, and though the once-searing pain in my throat is now barely more than a nagging ache, I have not been able to shake this voice affliction that makes me sound like a lifetime smoker/nightclub singer. Maybe we’ll record a podcast so you all can enjoy it.

I’m enjoying watching the Reds win for a change. Even if Cordero eventually gives this one up, we got to see Bronson Arroyo not suck, Gary Majewski suck for only an inning, and David Weathers get out of his own jam. Oh, and Prince Fielder shoving a guy 1/10th his weight in the dugout.

The Crack Technical Staff was telling me that the Reds’ record against teams with records over .500 is very high, while their record against teams with records under .500 is very low. So, they rise to the challenge against the leaders, and manage to suck even worse than the suck teams. Seems strange, but it also seems like exactly the sort of pattern this team has kept up over the years, like scoring among the most runs in the majors but failing to actually contend and hiring Dusty Baker.

While I was out sick, a Cubs fan I work with sent me a taunting email about the Reds already giving up for the season, saying it was earlier than usual. He’s right, but I told him that at least they weren’t giving up on NEXT season yet, which is a nice change of pace.

I also told him that it’s not my problem anyway, seeing as I’m a White Sox fan now.

But apparently not really, since I hung around long enough to see Cordero finally get another save. Dude, it’s about damn time! And Arroyo is officially a 10-game winner. AND Jim Day has a fan club. It was totally worth getting out of bed today.

Boxscore

The Reds were swept by the ex-Reds yesterday, losing in the final game of the 3-game series. The futility of the team has reached its lowest point of the season, exemplified by the team being 10 games under for the first time all year and by being 16 games out of first.

Your last place Cincinnati Reds, ladies and gentlemen. And just think, the team has two more years of this unfocused mess of baseball left, unless they fire manager Dusty Baker before another rebuilding effort has to start.

Johnny Cueto got the loss yesterday, thanks to 4 runs (3 earned) in the first. After that, he settled down and ended up pitching 6 innings. A decent outing from a rookie. The offense provided no help, though, against Collin Balester. That’s right, Collin Balester. The Reds were doomed before the first pitch.

In the other blockbuster trade yesterday, the Pirates had some fun in a ménage à trois with the Red Sox and the Dodgers. For the first time in a very long time, I don’t even think they’ll be sore and regretful in the morning.

Manny Ramirez went to the Dodgers, Jason Bay went to the Red Sox, while Andy LaRoche, Bryan Morris, Brandon Moss, and Craig Hansen went to the Pirates. LaRoche gives the Pirates the complete set of LaRoche brothers in the Majors, so that’s worth something. I mean, look at how well the Reds did when they had both Boone brothers.

Andy LaRoche was one of the Dodgers best prospects, and every other player obtained is young and more talented than about anyone else in the entire Pirates farm system. So it looks like a competent move to secure the team’s future. Painful? Sure. Bay was good. But I think it’s something that’s been long overdue from the Pirates. Neal Huntington has earned a gold star for his work leading up to the deadline.

Pirates bloggers have mixed opinions.

• Pat at WHYGAS? likes the trade quite a bit and goes so far as to Fire Joe Morgan a Post-Gazette reporter’s opinion on the matter.
• Bucco Blog has the most negative reaction to the trade that I’ve seen, feeling it’s more of the same and that nothing has changed.
• Finally, the Pittsburgh Lumber Company rates the trade as very good, finding it much better than expected. When you’re a Pirates fan, better than expected is a huge win.