In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

What began as a thunderous roar, ended with whimper Thursday.  The Reds closed out its seven-game home stand with back-to-back losses to the bottom-feeding Pittsburgh Pirates.  While the Reds went 5-2 during the week at home, the defeat coupled with the Cardinals victory over Houston means the Reds are back to where they started-- in second place!

Now the real test begins.  Starting Friday Cincinnati begins a ten-game, ten-day road trip against Cleveland, Philadelphia and Atlanta.  For those of you scoring at home (or even if you're alone) that's two division leaders and a third place team that's just two-and-a-half out of first.  I defy anyone to show me a team that has a more difficult road trip.  Even with a lot of baseball to play, this ten-day excursion may very well make or break the Reds season.  Cincinnati was not good a season ago versus teams with winning records.  They're about to get their fill.

Meanwhile the Cardinals hit the road as well for a nine-game, ten-day trip against an improved but fading Royals squad then head West to take on the last place Padres before finishing in Colorado versus the first place Rockies.

How quickly the euphoria of sweeping the Cardinals last weekend is washed away by the reality of 162-game season.