Opinion

Sounds lame, but that's exactly what the Cincinnati Reds are doing right now until they can find some consistency. They aren't playing awful, but the aren't exactly playing the best baseball either.

In my last article I took a look back at the old guard of the New York Yankees: Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Andy Pettitte.

Then I realized that New York might have a new core four of players: Brett Gardner, Robinson Cano, Phil Hughes, and Joba Chamberlain.

All of them won their first World Series together last year and are shaping into quite a nice quartet of players.

Last week, I went to Trenton for my second trip to see the New York Yankees Double-A Minor League team, the Trenton Thunder.

It is always a pleasure to go to Trenton, as I get to talk baseball and strategy with the Thunder manager, Tony Franklin, one of the true good guys in the entire pro game. Interestingly, one player who Franklin played with in his second pro season was Yankee minor league pitching coordinator Nardi Contreras.

The Blue Jays, oh man.

I’m not sure how to feel right now.

The Jays have powered their way into a respectable start. Realistically, they have been playing a little above their heads. But who cares, they win from time to time and HRs are fun.

It’s expectations that are killing me as a fan. The Jays are exactly where I hoped they would be, and for that reason, I want more. However, maybe that’s selfish.

Pitcher Paul Maholm is a "veteran." So is Zach Duke. But only on the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Both of them are still arbitration eligible. Ross Ohlendorf (acquired from the Yankees in 2008) can be put into this group as well.

The same is somewhat true for recent acquisitions—shortstop Ronnie Cedeno, second baseman Akinori Iwamura, outfielder Ryan Church, and utility infielder Bobby Crosby.

Back when the Mets signed Jason Bay, I wrote an article titled "Bay Brings More Than Bat." I wrote about his character, the "grit" that he has, the grinder that he is. I wrote about his professionalism, work ethic, how he goes about his business, the type of team mate that he is, and how that will rub off on his fellow Mets.

If you just look at his numbers this season you will be disappointed. If you are a fan who just looks for highlights and doesn't really appreciate the small things, you could be disappointed in even watching him.

I feel bad writing this after a win (the White Sox won today, 7-6 over the Yankees), but there is indeed no rest for the wicked, and this is a question that needs to be answered.

Let me get things started with this: I'm not an Ozzie "fan."

I think he is one of the more overrated managers in baseball, still riding high from can't-miss pitching and power hitting in 2005.

His blowups in the media are infamous, ranging from derogatory terms used to describe hometown sportswriters to his now-tired, "blame me, fire me," routine.

It is much easier to write about the Reds when they are winning and things are going swell.

Unfortunately they are not, making the job of Reds sportswriters more tedious and less therapeutic.

In the last two games they have averaged one run, and you don't win many games 1-0.

Even the best percentage in baseball moving runners from first to third is useless if you leave them stranded at the hot corner.

The Philadelphia Phillies face off against the New York Yankees this week in Yankee Stadium, providing baseball fans in the northeastern United States with an opportunity to enjoy interleague play, cast their All-Star Ballots, and enjoy a potential World Series preview.

And in this sense, this week's Phillies-Yankees series presents yet another reminder that Major League Baseball is broken.

Here's how you fix it.

Problem 1: The Designated Hitter Rule

I am a new writer to the Pittsburgh Pirates page but not a new writer to this site. I have lived in Pittsburgh all my life and have only been a Pirate fan for three years.

I am 20 years old and soon to be 21 in August. As everyone knows about the losing streak, that means I don’t ever recall a good Pirates team.

I got hooked on the Pirates when I bought a 10 game pack and started to attend games in 2008. Funny enough I originally got the 10 game pack to make sure I would have a ticket to one of the Yankee games.