Game 103 Thread: July 27 vs. Reds, 6p

Bronson Arroyo (9-7, 3.19) vs. Hyun-Jin Ryu (8-3, 3.25).

It's tough being Dusty Baker's Toothpick*. For one thing, Dusty doesn't floss all that often. And the halitosis: it's like a bad summer day trapped in the Lincoln Tunnel.

Gnawed upon all game, I'm the one who suffers when our team, the Reds, sits 12 games above .500 but five games back of the Cardinals, in third place in the NL Central. Heck, if our team was in the NL West, we'd be up on the Dodgers by four games and in first. But here in third place we sit; even behind the Pirates. Dusty may be chewing out some of his guys, but he's chewing on me.

Mat Latos did fine for us in the series opener, and Homer Bailey was good but not good enough last night. So that leaves tonight's game to Bronson Arroyo, who's coming off a shutout in SF but is not fond of Chavez Ravine (2-3 with a 4.82 ERA). And he's up against the new Dodger, Hyun-Jin Ryu, who is in contrast 4-1 with a 1.90 ERA at home.

Had we come into town in May or early June, when the Dodgers were injured and flopping around like a dying fish, this four-game series would fine. Now the Dodgers are 7-1 since the All-Star Break, 8-2 over their last 10, and 24-6 over their last 30. I certainly ain't gonna feel like a "splendid splinter" tonight, I tell you. Especially if my Reds get skewered.

Note (*): Not to be mixed up with the SoSG reader by the same handle.