Some things about the Reds.

Lets get this straight: I do not like the Cincinnati Reds, especially this year. They are probably going to win the central division for the first time since '95, and if they beat the Cards two out of three this weekend, the Cards will most likely be done (the Cards have won the Central in 96, 00, 01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 09).

But there are several things I like about the Reds. For starters they have two 

aging ex Cards, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds.

These two players along with Albert Pujols were part of the MV3 in the mid part of the last decade...when the Cardinals had three players on their team that could have easily taken home the MVP. So there is a soft spot there. Also, from my post early in April, you know that I like aging baseball players, and Edmonds is right up there: 40yrs old, but can still play centerfield, didn't even play last year, and has had a pretty successful comeback this year. Unfortunately, injuries have kept him on the DL a good chunk of the season. Rolen looked old and injured when he left St. Louis after '07, but has regained his old form, which will probably earn him a gold glove this year....and if he can have a few more good seasons late in his career (he's 35), he may make it into the Hall of Fame.

Also, 38 year old Jason Isringhausen is playing for the AAA affiliate Louisville Bats. I hope he gets a call in September and gets on the Reds roster.

 

The other reason I like the Reds: Dusty Baker.

Cubs fans puzzle the shit out of me sometimes. Their criticisms either don't make sense to me or borders on racism (I said it). 

Cubs fans loath Dusty Baker. In fact, they blame him for theBartmen game in '03. Most feel he left Prior in too long. (this is bullshit).

In 2003, Dusty Baker got the Cubs closer to the World Series then they've been since '84. And in 2004, the Cubs had a better record, unfortunately, the Cardinals were 105-57 that year. From 2004-06, Prior and Wood were consistently on the DL...it was a waiting game. Now Wood, the once fierce starter, is a middle-of-the-road set up man for the Yankees, and Prior is out of baseball. After 2006, Baker was fired, Pinella was hired. JIm Hendry, the Cubs GM, I'm guessing found a bunch of money behind a filing cabinet or something, because suddenly he started spending money. Ted Lilly and Alfonzo Soriano to name a few.

Im paraphrasing, but Dusty Baker said of the spending spree, "If I was so bad, then why did they spend so much money to rebuild the team?"

If the Cardinals don't make the playoffs, if the Reds make it to the World Series, if the Reds win the World Series, I will be happy for Rolen, Edmonds, Izzy, and Dusty Baker. I'll also look

 forward to hearing Cubs fans reactions of a Champagne soaked Baker. 

Sorry this blog post isn't a rip on all Cubs fans in a Cardinal-fan-style way, I think it's just a little puzzling why fans can't stand Dusty Baker the way they do.

Cardinal fans like Joe Torre, and he was the coach through some of the worst times in Cardinal history,1990-95.