"What, me worry?"

The Cubs beat the Reds today, 7-3. (I almost typed 4 because Freelie homered in the 9th, but the umpires didn't agree with me...)

Am I surprised? Not really. Scroll down and look at the comments I made about the upcoming series against the Cubs. Or stay right here, and I'll rehash: This really could go either way - the Reds are throwing the "bottom" of the rotation out there, while we face Wood, Maddux, and Zambrano. Both teams are prone to errors and "extra outs." The Cubs, not playing so well, the Reds, under .500 in May. Both teams have questionable, streaky bullpens. I expressed some fears that this could be the series that "springboards the Cubs out of HeII." Sitting here right now I realize that even if the Cubs take one or both of the remaining games, it doesn't necessarily mean that it will ignite the Cubs to some sort of winning record, and neither does it follow that the Reds would all of a sudden collapse due to a couple of losses to the Cubs. I still want to win, though. Don't get that wrong.

The bottom line is that what will cause this team to collapse is a combination of continued bipolar pitching performances - great starts, terrible relief, and vice versa - and this depressing lack of offense.

The Reds, despite a lukewarm May, are still over .500, and they are still very much a threat to contend in this division.

We need a good start from Claussen tomorrow. I know he has one in him somewhere, and tomorrow would be the perfect time to pull one out. Honestly, I'm not worried about Eric Milton - I think he's turned the proverbial corner, and his first great stretch as a Red is here. Do I think he's going to do nothing but pitch like he did this past Friday - 8IP, 1ER, 9K, 0BB, 0HR? No, I'm not insane. But he's not going to run out there and be a punching bag start after start like he was last season. If the Reds have anything going for them in terms of pitching, a potential resurgence of Eric Milton is it - no one expects it, and if he can do what I think he can, the Reds have a solid 1-2-3 punch, and a decent 4 starter in Ramirez. If Claussen could pull himself together and have some decent starts... this might not be the sad rotation that everyone seems to envision when they think of the Cincinnati Reds.

Somehow this went from me doing a recap of today's game to me spelling out why I think this team still has a shot to surprise everyone before the season is out. ::shrug:: I needed to do that, I think. It was cathartic. You all might think I'm absolutely crazy, but I'm just trying to be optimistic.

Now, how about scoring some runs tomorrow?

As ever, go Reds.