The Milwaukee Brewers have won 6 straight games (2 sweeps), have a commanding 7-game lead in the division, are 14 games above .500, and recently completed an awesome 9-1 homestand. The Cincinnati Reds are 3-7 in May, have sunk to last place in the division, are at the bottom of the NL in bullpen ERA, and recently completed a dismal 2-5 homestand.That pretty much sums it up. These two teams were picked by many to be in the top half of the division this year, but nobody I'm sure would have suspected that they would ever be at first and last in the division at the same time.
The Brewers are running on all cylinders. They have the best 8-9 combination in the Majors, Cordero is 15 for 15 in saves (including saves in 5 straight games, tied for ML record) with a sub-1 ERA, they have two starters with 5 wins already not to mention the Crew's undefeated record when Vargas takes the hill, and they have 4 to 5 everyday players hitting above .300. The Prince and J. J. Hardy are finally looking to make this their breakout season, and Hall seems to be adjusting better to centerfield. Estrada, Mench, and Suppan are looking to be great acquisitions more and more every day.
The Reds, on the other hand, can't do anything right. The only prospect is that their worst starter, Eric Milton, is probably going on the DL, which may clear the way for phenom Homer Bailey to get to the Big 
Show. Encarnacion has recently been optioned down to AAA, who was a stud last year, and one of the best lefty middle relievers in the game, Rheal Cormier, has been dumped as well. This just goes to show that everyone is struggling. Fans still come to the games to see Dunn hit balls out of the stadium, Griffey assult the record books while simultaneously avoiding injury, and to see Freel try and turn bloop singles into triples and dive 8 rows into the stands on every foul ball. Aside from these players and possibly also Josh Hamilton, there really isn't much going on for this team. Both the rotation AND the bullpen are at the bottom in the NL, and there is no sign of improvement. It is clear that Jerry Narron only trusts Harang, Arroyo, and Weathers at this point. I went to 3 games on the homestand, and although I got to see both of the wins coincidentally, the Reds certainly made it entertaining by blowing huge leads in both. Whether it's a trade, a free agent, or calling up some minor leaguers, something needs to be done here, and soon.
Show. Encarnacion has recently been optioned down to AAA, who was a stud last year, and one of the best lefty middle relievers in the game, Rheal Cormier, has been dumped as well. This just goes to show that everyone is struggling. Fans still come to the games to see Dunn hit balls out of the stadium, Griffey assult the record books while simultaneously avoiding injury, and to see Freel try and turn bloop singles into triples and dive 8 rows into the stands on every foul ball. Aside from these players and possibly also Josh Hamilton, there really isn't much going on for this team. Both the rotation AND the bullpen are at the bottom in the NL, and there is no sign of improvement. It is clear that Jerry Narron only trusts Harang, Arroyo, and Weathers at this point. I went to 3 games on the homestand, and although I got to see both of the wins coincidentally, the Reds certainly made it entertaining by blowing huge leads in both. Whether it's a trade, a free agent, or calling up some minor leaguers, something needs to be done here, and soon.YESTERDAY'S RESULTS:
Twins L (17-17)
Brewers off
Reds W (15-20)
touch with baseball when his childhood heroes Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, and Jim Gantner retired but the Great Home Run Chase of 1998 reignited his passion. As a student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Erik became involved with the campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity. With this group Erik traveled to Portland, OR and Baltimore, MD to work on construction projects and help the group raise $25,000 to partially sponsor a house in Milwaukee. Also at UWM, Erik met Peter Nagel. The two attended their first Brewers game together during Opening Weekend 2003. Despite their failure to ignite the coals at their first tailgate, the two had a blast and were soon making weekly trips to the ballpark. Erik has gone on to several colleges and changed careers several times, and has moved all the way out to New Hampshire, but has always stayed true to his baseball roots by holding part-time stadium usher jobs. To this day he looks back fondly on his incredible cross-country journey.
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