Thus far in 2012, the Reds have only used a cabal of five pitchers to start their games: Cueto, Arroyo, Bailey, And Latos; Leake. Meanwhile, today's starter for the Chicago Cubs, Brooks Raley, is the tenth starter used by the boys of Wrigley and the fifteenth rookie in 2012. Does this youthful inexperience mean that the Cubs are bad? Well, no, because the Reds have remained in first place due mainly to efforts of rookies Zack "Beaux Arts" Cozart, Todd Frazier, and Devin Mesoraco. Rather, the Cubs are a bad team simply because they are the Cubs. There will always be an England. The sun will always rise in east and set in the west. The Cubs will always be terrible.
Sometimes actresses get slapped. Sometimes you lose to bad team. The Reds lost to a bad team on Thursday, but came back to win two-thirds of the weekend-end of the series. Today, the Red Legs look to take another road series in wake of the news that Joey Votto's return will be delayed one more week. Sweeping the Cubs is great. Winning three of four is expected. Winning two of four is a disappointment. Winning one of four means you're probably the Astros.
Cincinnati CABaL_L Captain Cueto will take the mound this afternoon for the Reds. A win this afternoon will tie him for the National League in wins (clearly, he was not All Star material) and put him in a proverbial driver's seat for the NL Cy Young (unless he's passed by someone else going 105 miles per hour on the road). Cueto's run support will likely come from a righty dominated lineup due to injuries, slumpiness and a bad bench the left-handed nature of the opposition. Will it be enough to get Cueto another win and get the Reds one win closer to clinching the NL Central Division? If not, we'll be spending early Sunday evening quietly weeping somewhere.
Go Reds! They're my favorite team!