I’m not sure whether the newly renamed Bellyitcher is going to drop by, but either way, we can say smackish things about the Cardinals.

Of course, the Cardinals failure to get the memo on their own suckitude is hardly the story of today. Not only is the home crowd welcoming back their 600 home run hero (which means he can be traded to Seattle now, right?), but it’s also Joe Nuxhall night. The Hall of Fame broadcaster and youngest player in the modern era passed away during the off-season. To celebrate his contribution to the Reds and the Cincinnati culture in general, the city has actually changed the address of the stadium to 100 Joe Nuxhall Way.

Pretty cool.

In other news, this guy is the fellas the Cardinals are running out on the mound.

Tee hee.

Holy crap, did Arroyo really get his first win last night? It’s like we slipped into an alternate dimension or something.

Wait, this is supposed to be smack talk about the Cardinals. Allow me to start over:

Holy crap, are the Cardinals really trying to pass of Chris Duncan as an outfielder? What would the ghost of Jim Edmonds say?

Your Cincinnati Reds
Corey Patterson
Jeff Keppinger
Ken Griffey, Jr
Brandon Phillips
Adam Dunn
Edwin Encarnacion
Joey Votto
Paul Bako
Johnny Cueto

Their St. Louis Cardinals
Schumaker
Kenney
Pujols
Ankiel
Glaus
Duncan
Molina
Pineiro
Izturis

Is there a better day in the season than the first game between the Reds and the Cardinals.

Well, yeah, maybe. But I’m just feeling very enthusiastic today. 😀

Here’s the line-ups:

Da Reds
Corey Patterson, CF
Jeff Keppinger, SS
Ken Griffey Jr, RF
Brandon Phillips, 2B
Adam Dunn, LF
Edwin Encarnaci&oactue;n, 3B
Joey Votto, 1B
Paul Bako, C
Bronson Arroyo, RHP

Da Cards
Ryan Ludwick, RF
Rick Ankiel, CF
Alber Pujols, 1B
Chris Duncan, LF
Troy Glaus, 3B
Yadi Molina, C
Adam Kennedy, 2B
Todd Wellemeyer, P
Cesar Izturis, SS

It does my heart good to see that someone continues trying to hit the pitcher in the 8 hole. Of course, since they’re going up against Arroyo, it’ll probably work.

Mark my words: beating the Cardinals will be the springboard that finally launches the talent-heavy Reds to the top of the division to sniff the postseason for the first time, well, ever as long as I've been a fan. You'll see. You'll see!

Javy catches Arroyo tonight. Let's see them keep their perfect record.

Your Cincinnati Reds
Josh Hamilton CF
Alex Gonzalez SS
Ken Griffey, Jr RF
Brandon Phillips 2B
Adam Dunn LF
Edwin Encarnación 3B
Joey Votto 1B
Javier Valentín C
Bronson Arroyo P

So, the Cardinals think they're going to make a run of it, huh? Well we'll just see about that. If they want to get to the top of the division, they're going to have to get through us first. Not in a standings kind of a way, of course. The Cards already have six games on our boys. But we can screw 'em up trying to get those three games that the Brewers and Cubs have on them. You'll see!

But even if we don't, the Cubs got 'em beat. We're used to it in Cincinnati, but it must be a fun new experience for Card fans to be looking up at the Cubs. Fun fun fun.

Go Reds!