Reds learn not to poke a sleeping bear

The St. Louis Cardinals have no intention of letting their Nationally League Central Division title go easily.  Tuesday nights brawl in Cincinnati is a perfect indication of that and served notice that the pennant chase is firmly underway.

If the Reds thought they were going to take a firm grasp of the division lead this week, they didn’t come into the series with the intensity and professionalism necessary.  Brandon Phillips poor choice of words on Monday about his hate for the Cards did nothing more than fuel the fire of a Cards team that knows how to play when the pressure is on.

There’s an old song by the late Jim Croce that says you don’t tug on Superman’s cape.  The Cards may not be Superman, but St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina was more like a bear that Phillips chose to poke while hibernating when he tapped him with his bat and set off a pregame brawl.  Not a good idea.

The Reds are a team that hasn’t visited the playoffs since ’99 when they lost a one game playoff to the Mets for the wild card berth.  Manager Dusty Baker is a guy who understands what the months of August and September are like when you’re playing under the focus of a pennant chase.  He also understands when to pick your battles.  I don’t think he’s happy with the choice Phillips made against the Cards.

If the Reds are going to win the Central, they need to prove they can beat St. Louis.  There’s still a lot of time left in the season, but Cincinnati has stubbed their toe this week.

Tiger Should Just Say No

As the PGA Championship prepares to tee off this week at Whistling Straits, most of the discussion doesn’t center around who will win, but will and should Tiger Woods be on this year’s Ryder Cup squad.

Based on his 18 over par performance at the Firestone Country Club last week even Woods said he wouldn’t be a good candidate to help the team.  But the world’s number one ranked player also said there’s still time between now and the Ryder Cup for his game to turn around.

I’m in agreement with former 2-Time U.S. Open champ Curtis Strange when he said yesterday, there was little chance in that happening.  Even if you’re Tiger Woods, you don’t turn around your game enough to compete for the PGA Championship a week after playing like a duffer.  And with all of his personal problems still dangling over his head, it’s unlikely he’ll have the focus needed to return to good golf in the next two months.

Corey Pavin is in a tough situation as Ryder Cup captain.  How do you say no to having the number one ranked player in the world on your team?  Just looking at the way Woods carried himself last week is enough for me.  He looked like a man lost in a crowd.

Tiger needs to do what’s best for him and for the team and tell Pavin he doesn’t want to play this year.  There are more important things in his life.  I won’t hold it against him and no one else should either.