Nice Bounce Back, Nice Grit

That's the way you put a devastating, or potentially devastating loss behind you. But that's the way it's been happening all season.
The Reds, once again, showed some serious toughness by putting Friday night in a lock-box, tossing it over the right field moon-deck, and into the Ohio River.
The signs of that toughness actually came during Friday night's loss. The Pujols granny was a killer. But the Reds tied it in the bottom of the eighth. After allowing 3 runs in the top of the ninth, the Reds at least put themselves in a position to come back. Once again, no quit, no giving in.
Then comes Saturday and Micah Owings giving the Reds a steel-tough start on the mound. A game the Reds had to have, and Micah delivers big-time. Not to mention he belted another home run. Then there's Jay Bruce going hard into second base to try and avoid a double play, Jerry Hairston grabbing a ball on the bag at second with Pujols bearing down on him. Just all kinds of hustle, grit, and mental toughness that seemed to be lacking in years past.
David Weathers said he didn't see why people would classify Friday night's loss as devastating. In the grand scheme of the season, he may be right. But the Reds had to bounce back today to keep Weathers from looking like an ostrich with its head in the sand. Instead, his head was right in the middle of a clubhouse of players who seem to have a little mental magic. This team is far from great, but the Reds are the last to admit it. They take the field thinking they are Bench, Perez, Morgan, Concepcion, Rose, Foster, Griffey, Geronimo, and company. It's almost amusing, and certainly refreshing.

By the way, can you believe way the Reds' starting pitching has cranked it up again? It's going to have to keep cranking because the Reds face "Cruisin'" Chris Carpenter Sunday. He is certainly cruising this season, and last faced the Reds June 4. It was a complete-game three-hit victory for Chris and the Cardinals. Sunday it is up to Bronson Arroyo to keep this game close. It's time for Bronson to give the Reds what Owings did Saturday, what Bailey did Friday, what Harang did Thursday, and what Cueto did Wednesday.