All Right, Maybe It's Time To Panic

OK, we have clearly attempted to keep our wits about us during this whole Albert Pujols injury situation ... but we're officially out on the ledge now.

Last night the Reds trounced Sidney Ponson (of all people!) and the Cardinals 7-4 to move into a tie with the St. Louis for first place in the National League Central. The Astros, soon to be injected with Clemens Growth Hormone, are 6 1/2 games back of both teams.

Many of our non-Cardinals fan brethren have little sympathy with us in our plight, which is completely understandable; they say that the Cardinals have been due for an old-fashioned pennant race for a while, after a few years of running away with the division. We understand this, and we agree. But we're dealing with a team that starts Aaron Miles, So Taguchi, Yadier Molina and Scott Spezio here. Frankly, we'd TAKE a pennant race at this point.

We've been accused of being too alarmist about the Cardinals before, and we certainly hope that we're wrong. But yeah: We're kind of freaking out right now.

Reds Sweep Cardinals, Move Into First [St. Louis Post-Dispatch] Pan Fried [Viva El Birdos] In The Oblique Wake ... [Deadspin]