(Getty Images)

In defense of indefensible contracts
Grantland
Is it practically inevitable that Votto and Phillips will be overpaid at the end of their deals? Yes. But will the Reds come to regret either contract? I say no. Because despite featuring the exchange of $297.5 million, the deals are not about the money.
In the 30-plus years since the Big Red Machine stopped functioning properly, the Reds have made the postseason just three times. And though a lot of decent players have passed through Southwest Ohio during these years, with the exception of hometown heroes Barry Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr., no big name players went out of their way to become a Red.

Oh Billy, Billy, Billy

Reds minor league SS Billy Hamilton is tearing it up at High-A Bakersfield.
He has five straight multiple hit games. He's 11 for his last 22 and hitting .396 in the first 14 games of the season. He has 12 stolen bases.

Reds may get more TV green
Steve Watkins, Cincinnati Business Courier
The Cincinnati Reds    could double revenue from local TV rights if the team can renegotiate its current deal, according to industry experts.
That would put an extra $30 million a year or more in the coffers of a team saddled with Major League Baseball’s smallest TV market.

One win away
From the Reds
The Reds franchise is one win shy of 10,000.
Senior clubhouse and equipment manager Bernie Stowe, who joined the club in 1947 as a clubhouse boy, has been around for 5,269 of them.

9,9990 wins
9,719 losses
.507

Most wins by franchise
10,528 Giants
10,314 Cubs
10,227 Dodgers
10,204 Cardinals
10,042 Braves
 9,999  Reds

Complete list on Baseball-Reference.com

Reds
Thursday was a glimpse of what this team might be, could be, and what many thought they would be.
ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted during the game "It's only 2 wks in, but this feels like a big game for Reds"
A loss would have meant a sweep and a six game deficit....instead it was a salvage job and they are four back.
John Fay tweeted that he got 17 tweets right after game questioning Dusty moves, despite win the win
I got 12 tweets ripping Dusty for letting Arroyo bat
Can the Reds gain traction from it? They have yet to win back to back games all season.
If momentum is the next day's starting pitcher that is Homer Bailey today
Bronson was dealing: 8 innings, 5 H, 5 K, 3 ER, 0 BB
Bronson for the season: 3 starts, 21.2 innings, 1 BB, 1 HR
He was pitch efficient: 8-14-11-13-9-16-12-7
Stubbs showed why he can be so maddening: He made contact in first and beat out a routine grounder to SS. Later he homered. 5 game hit streak: 7 for 17
BP: Gimpy hammy and all was 2 for 5 with a HR
Reds got 3 2-out RBI hits: Votto, Phillips and Stubbs
Ludwick had a 2-run  HR....he's driven in 8 of their last 20 runs
Frazier 0 for 4 and he airmailed a throw to Votto
They did need the HR to score again....4 of 6 coming on HR's
K/pace for season: Votto 14 (174), Bruce 14 (174) Stubbs 15 (187)

Burwell: Cards doing delicate dance around age, injury

Chicago Tribune: Cubs stumbling start would be blessing in disguise