FanHouse ElmerDessens

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* "In 21 months, or just 324 regular-season games from now, Derek Jeter's contract expires. At that point, the Yankees have to decide what to do with Jeter and Jeter has to decide what to do with the Yankees. [...] By 2011, the Yanks could have either Jeter or just his future plaque at Monument Park play short; they will have about the same range." -- Joel Sherman, New York Post

* "Sorry Punxsutawney Phil and your six-more-weeks-of-winter prediction, but if you live in New England and are a fan of Red Sox, a sure sign of spring has arrived -- Truck Day!" -- Steve Silva, Boston Globe

I wonder how long the Reds and Brewers are going to battle for first place at the top of the NL Central this year. My gut tells me "not long," but watching this division play so far... I don't know. This could get to be a regular thing. The Reds staked their claim to the top of the division tonight with a convincing 11-5 win over the Brew Crew, scoring nine runs in the seventh and eighth innings to erase a one run deficit.

It was quite hard finding just one Red star from the night to be honored with the nice always present picture in the top right corner. I mean, Ryan Freel went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, but he's already got his picture up there once today. Josh Hamilton was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, Ken Griffey Jr. ripped two doubles and had two RBIs and Brandon Phillips had two hits (including a triple) and drove in three runs. That's some production from the top of the lineup right there (Adam Dunn was the lone exception at the top, going 1-for-5 with three strikeouts). I think Phillips is the winner tonight, for no reason except that his RBI triple in the eighth to bring home the Reds' 11th run brought the following reaction from Cincy Post beat writer C. Trent Rosecrans in his liveblog of the game:

Brandon Phillips' triple scores Griffey. 11-5. If Phillips was hustling, he would've had an inside-the-park homer. Wonder if he'll get benched.

Do not call out the wrath of Jerry Narron, C. Trent.

For the Brewers, Brian Shouse, Greg Aquino, and Elmer Dessens are the goats in this one, as they did most of the lead-blowing. At the plate, Bill Hall stayed hot with three hits and two runs scored and, well Dave Bush drove in two of the team's five runs on the evening, so clearly things could've been better at the plate for the Brewers.

With this being goofy schedule week, the two teams were only playing a two game series and they're each moving on to another two game series with divisional opponents with the Brewers going home to host the Pirates and the Reds going to Houston to face the Astros.

Previously at the Fanhouse
Jerry Narron Will Not Tolerate the Reds' Slacking

Fourth outfielder Jason Repko's injury sustained the same day Rafael Furcal hurt his ankle has turned out to be much worse than originally anticipated. Tony Jackson's Inside the Dodgers blog says Repko will undergo surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday...

to reattached two tendons in his left hamstring that he tore from the pelvis (there are three such tendons, he tore two of them). Trainer Stan Conte said the recovery time is a minimum of five months, which means, in Conte's words, "Essentially, he will miss the season."

Ewww, gross. Sounds a lot like Nomar's groin injury a few years ago where the muscle came off the bone. As a result, the Dodgers traded pitcher Elmer Dessens to the Brewers for OF Brady Clark.

Clark will most likely become the fourth outfielder that Repko was supposed to be, and the Brewers will pay the Dodgers $2.1 million in cash, which is the disparity between Clark and Dessen's contract.

The Brewers receive an experienced pitcher who can fill-in as a spot-starter or long reliever, whom the Dodgers were most likely going to cut anyways.

Previously at FanHouse:
Rafael Furcal Carted Off Field With Leg Injury