Reds Sweep So-Called Athletics, Reds 3-0

The Reds continued their unpredictability, getting swept by a bad team but then sweeping a slightly better but still bad team in Oakland. Cueto was pretty solid. He went 7 and two batters, turned things over to Masset who has undergone his tenth transformation of the season back to effective reliever. Masset immediately induced a double play and struck out the third out of the inning before giving way to Coco who was, for the second day in a row, competent. Good job bullpen. Didn't even have to use Arty Rhodes and his complete dominance.

The offense put some runners in scoring position and were able to focus long enough to drive in three of them. Ray Jay knocked in two with a single in the first and Jonny Gomes scored was responsible for the third with a double off the wall in right to score Votto. Phillips also contributed with a fine defensive play in the 5th. With the bases loaded and no one out, rather than fielding a soft liner, he let it bounce, fired home and Hernandez completed the double play with a throw to 3rd. Very wise B. Phill and a much quicker response than most would hope to make. I guess he does more out there than think about how cool that weave-cap looks under his hat. I'm pretty sure that's all I'd be thinking about. 'Damn B. Phill, this cap under my ball cap sure looks sweet."

The Reds get a travel day tomorrow before starting up with the Indians on Friday. That's the last real bad competition for a while. After the Savages, the Reds have three with the Phills at the GAB followed by an 11-game road trip with 4 in Chicago (who qualify as bad, even at home), 3 with the Mets and 4 with the Phills, again, then All-Star break. So, the upcoming schedule may demonstrate what sort of club the Cincinnatians have this year, though I'm pretty sure I already know the answer - the tops. Also, Volquez appears to be making above-average progress from his rehabilitation for sexual inadequacy. He hit 98 on the radar gun and minor league batters don't seem to know what to do with a pitcher that looks like a lion. Volquez's progression, coupled with the front office's potential interest in using Chapman out of the pen seems to indicate some options will be available to better the staff. Then of course there's Bailey who maintains that he's healthy but continues to rehab. The Reds, for some reason, seem to be in no hurry to get his 1 win in 9 starts back in the rotation. He has been quiet for about a week, so chances are he's saving up some quality quotes about the way he is being handled. Regardless, Reds remain relevant and enjoyable. Reds! Reds! Reds!