4/29/2004 09:15:00 AM by Rob

Around the division

While I sit here and wonder whether or not taking yourself out of a game after the sixth inning due to "mental fatigue" is behavior befitting a man or a mouse (at least he didn't bitch about not getting the win), did you notice that there is some quality baseball being played throughout the division? From the most unexpected sources, even.

Milwaukee and Cincy have hooked up in a real barn-burner up in Beer Burg. Twice in a row, the Brew-ha's have walked off with a high-scoring win. Of course, we did the same thing with the Reds. The Pirates are playing inspired ball, for them. The Cardinals can't win at home, MUAHAHAHAHA! Every time I look up, the AssTrolls seem to be losing, but they must be sneaking off with enough wins to keep pace with us.

Injuries are starting to affect other teams, as well. Austin Kearns, Andy Pettitty, and outside the division, Richie Sexson, so we can't hide behind the "we don't have Mark Prior" curtain anymore.

The point is, I think this division is, at least in the early going, surprisingly tough. It may come to be no disgrace to split the season series with the Pirates or Reds. However, the Pirates seem paper-thin to me, and the Reds are just the obligatory Griffey injury away from obscurity. The St. Louis Slugs have to start winning more at home, I would think.

We really need all of our injured pitchers back. I still don't see the harm in having the Baker's Dozen. You know the pen will work 3 innings every day Maddux starts, at least that much every time Meat Tray goes out there, they will have to work for a while for Prior upon his return, a couple of innings when Zambrano pitches, and who knows for Clement? You might get the night off - or you might have to fill in seven. The only guy that provides any sort of break is Wood, and what if he somehow returns to his old form, where 2-3 times a year, he gets in a 3-4 game funk where he can't find the plate. We all would like to think that he has somehow grown PAST that, but no guarantees, right?

In the meantime, as I said yesterday, we are facing a potential disaster with Grud coming back on the team. You will then have two second basemen with an equal case for being the starter, and both men have the history of crying when things don't go their way. Wouldn't it be nice, if lefty and righty could live together, in perfect harmony?

Sorry. I don't see it happening. Now, will you excuse me? I need to go kick the dog, she keeps growling at nothing.

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