900: Career games for righthander David Weathers after he pitched for the Reds on Tuesday. He's the 20th pitcher to reach that milestone.
Up next
The Padres, widely expected to finish dead last in the NL West, have a winning record coming into this weekend's series against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
"I really couldn't tell you if we're for real or not," general manager Kevin Towers told the San Diego Union-Tribune. "I'd like to think so. I think we felt if we got off to a good start and these kids got some confidence, maybe they'll start believing. If we get off to a rough start, it could make for a really ugly season.
"That could still happen. I'm hoping not."
WEEKLINGS:
Quote of the week
Rays outfielder Gabe Kapler, on striking out against Yankees utility man Nick Swisher, who came in to save the bullpen in a blowout on Monday: "I've always been lost when a reporter asks me what my most embarrassing moment was, because I never knew what to say. Now I have my most embarrassing moment."
Hubris of the week
The Reds haven't finished with a winning record since 2000, but that didn't deter second baseman Brandon Phillips from declaring the 10-game trip to Milwaukee, Houston and Chicago that began Monday as Cincinnati Awareness Time.
"[Sunday's win against Pittsburgh is] just the beginning," he declared. "There's more to come from the Cincinnati Reds. We are going to show the people of Cincinnati. We are going to show the world that this is our year."
The Reds took two of three from the Brewers, but we'll see. It's still April, after all.
Real estate note of the week
CC Sabathia, who signed that $161 million free-agent deal with the Yankees, reportedly paid cash for a $14.9 million, 2-acre compound in Alpine, N.J. Among his neighbors: Stevie Wonder, Chris Rock, Sean Combs and Britney Spears.
Deep philosophical question of the week
Nationals lefthander Scott Olsen, who was traded from Florida during the offseason, told the Miami Herald that Marlins players always wondered what happened to the reported $25 million in revenue-sharing money that the front office received. "We're not stupid," he said. "They got more money than their $22 million payroll last year and didn't put it into the team. Trading for Manny Ramirez might have pushed us into the playoffs last year. It's sad."
Finally
Pal Chip Maylie points out an eerie coincidence. The Phillies are saluting the late Harry Kalas at Citizens Bank Park tomorrow. It was exactly 22 years earlier, on April 18, 1987, that Kalas made one of his most famous calls on a sunny but chilly afternoon at Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium.
"Swing and a long drive, there it is, number 500! The career 500th home run for Michael Jack Schmidt . . . "
