Sabel's Haus

-The Reds took 2-of-3 from the Indians and have won 4-of-6 from them on the year. I could care less though about this “Battle of Ohio” thing though. It was a huge series for the Reds but the rivalry just isn’t there. Every team in the Central division is a bigger rival for Cincy than the Indians are. It’s different in football when the Browns come to town but even in the NFL, the Steelers are a bigger rival than the Browns.

Still a big series and with every other team in the Central losing Sunday, the Reds are now 2.5 games back going into series’ against the Diamondbacks and the Cardinals this week. St. Louis is in a tie for first place with the Brewers right now but they just made the first big move of the year when they acquired Mark DeRosa from the Indians. That has to put St. Louis in the driver’s seat to win the N.L. Central. I have to think the Reds will try to make a deal before the all-star break to try to get a right-handed third baseman. What about a guy like Scott Rolen from the Blue Jays? Not sure if Toronto is willing to give him up but Cincy could give them a solid starter for his services.

-Bottom line is they have to make a move if they want to catch St. Louis for Milwaukee. They just designated Adam Rosales for assignment to Louisville. Milwaukee is also looking for a starting pitcher so look for them to make a move soon as well. If the Reds had a six-man rotation they would be: Edinson Volquez, Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto, Micah Owings and Homer Bailey. My guess would be that one of those names will no longer be with the Reds within the next couple weeks.

-Here is some guys list of the best and worst free-agent pickups this year. Ken Griffey Jr. is one of the worst pickups. He’s batting something like .220 with nine homers. I could have told the Mariners he’d do that. Junior was 0-for-4 today.

-USA lost 3-2 today to Brazil in some soccer tournament. Do you care? A talk-show host in Cincy said that soccer is for guys who couldn’t play football, baseball or basketball. I disagree but still, the game just doesn’t interest me that much. I will still watch it when the US is on just to root for America but other than that, England or wherever the game started can keep soccer.

-I’m excited about this.



OTHER STUFF

-The king of infomercials passed away today. I remember watching the Oxi-Clean commercials when I was in eighth grade in 2001. A lot of celebs have passed away in the past week including Michael Jackson in case you haven’t heard. I could really do without the jokes about all of it though. You know the Facebook and Twitter posts I’m talking about. And like Michael Jackson or not, this is incredible-



-I umpired my first ever baseball game today for who I think were 16 year olds with more facial hair then I could ever dream of having. These kids were pretty good and I did alright aside from being smoked with a liner and yelling “OUT” but signaling safe on a routine play at first base. At least this didn’t happen-



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