This would fire-up the Hot Stove League!

Talk of Cincinnati Reds GM Walt Jocketty heading to Chicago to take over the Cubs is expected.  Jocketty is regarded as one of the better general managers in the game.  He has a knack of taking teams with lower payrolls and fielding contenders (St. Louis, Cincinnati).

Just for a second image him in charge of rebuilding the big-market-deep-pocket Chicago Cubs. In a word...scary (if you are a fan of a team other than the Cubs).  It might not happen overnight but I don't think the wait for a perennial contender at Wrigley Field would be a long.

According to a Chicago Sun Times article a Cubs team run by Jocketty might entice the likes of manager Tony LaRussa and the games best hitter Albert Pujols.

I think the Cubs / Cardinals rivalry has flamed out a little the past couple of years, replaced by bitterness with Cincinnati & Milwaukee, but a Jocketty-LaRussa-Pujols move to the Windy City would blow the rivalry into an inferno.

www.suntimes.com

Cardinals eliminated from postseason

For only the fourth time this decade the St. Louis Cardinals will not win or share the the NL Central Division title.  Chicago won in 2003, 2007 & 2008 and this year Cincinnati claimed it's first division Championship since of the decade and first since the shortened season of 1995.

The '95 season (which was limited to 144 games) began April 25th after the players strike ended.  The strike began August 11th 1994 and lasted 232 days.  

Please allow me to be excited... As a life long Reds fans it's been tough remaining interested and excited about my team for the entire season.  The Reds are usually an afterthought around the All-Star break, so for them to play meaningful baseball the second half of the season is a bit foreign to me (and Reds Nation).

At least for the next couple of weeks I get a little taste of what it's like to be a Cardinals fan....My team with a chance to go to the World Series!

To quote Cincinnati Reds veteran play-by-play announce Marty Brennaman, "And this one belongs to the Reds."

Brawlin' at the ballpark

Ok.... Disclaimer "Chad Fryman is a huge Cincinnati Reds fan"

With that said I loved the bench clearing tussle between the Cardinals and Reds Tuesday night. By no stretch of the imagination do I condone violence. I just like to see emotion and some old-school style rivalry back in the game.

The way the game is today with free agency, huge contracts and players becoming "hired guns" rivalries have softened.

I think Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto should be suspended or at least heavily fined for his part in the scuffle (kicking a Cardinals player).

Jump forward to early October...wouldn't it be must-see-tv if the Reds and Cardinals meet in the playoffs!

If the two teams did face off in the post season it would be in the NLCS. A division winner will not play the Wild Card team in the first round if both are in the same division.

The final 50 games of the regular season should be interesting.

Sent from my iPhone

Former Cardinal could haunt Redbirds

I make no apology...I'm a huge Cincinnati Reds fan. This doesn't fly to well living in the heart of Cardinals country. I grew up in Dayton, Oh just 40 minutes from downtown Cincinnati and live, eat, sleep and breathe Reds baseball.

Since winning the World Series in 1990 the Reds have only made the postseason once (1995) and came within a game in 1999. Obviously life has been really tough as a Cincy fan the past 20 years

2010 looks to be the year the organization makes a return to the playoffs and many believe it could be a lengthy stay. A trip to the post season would be great, but to be completely honest I'm just thrilled the Reds are playing meaningful baseball games in August.

For the first time in a long time my attention has not completely switched to football. As a Reds fan I hope the yearly tradition of forgetting baseball once the "Back to School" commercials begin to air will finally end.

Today my dream of seeing "my team" climb back into being relevant got a major push with the acquisition of veteran outfielder Jim Edmonds. The best part of the deal is the Reds did not have to give up much to get him. They sent OF Chris Dickerson to Milwaukee for Edmonds.

Talking with Cardinals fans today most did not like the move. It has nothing to do with their like or dislike for Edmonds, they just don't like the fact Cincinnati just got stronger as they battle the Cardinals for the NL Central lead.

Heading into tonights opening game of a three game series the Cardinals trail first place Cincinnati by two games. The two teams have six head-to-head games remaining this season (Aug. 9-11 in Cincinnati and Sept. 3-5 in St. Louis).

This season in 73 games with the Milwaukee Brewers Edmonds has hit .286 with eight homers and 20 R.B.I.