Series Preview: Cincinnati Reds @ Seattle Mariners

Seattle: 25-41
Cincinnati: 37-30

To be honest, this past week has seen me pay as little attention to baseball as I can recall in recent memory. A combination of heavy workload, moving and the World Cup schedule aided by the futility exhibited by the Mariners on a nightly basis has led me to feel nary a pang of guilt over taking a break from baseball. A side effect though is that I have little new to write here other than this very explanation. Sorry.

However bad and frustrating the Mariners' 2010 season has been, I believe this mini break will aid me in getting back into the team. Sometimes it takes avoiding baseball for a few days to remember how much I do love the game deep down. It can be difficult to appreciate during the season with games running nearly everyday. Baseball was my first love and it will always have that place in my heart. It's just going to take a back seat to soccer for the next couple weeks.

Fri Jun 18, 17:10: Cliff Lee* vs. Johnny Cueto

Sat Jun 19, 17:10: Felix Hernandez vs. Sam LeCure

Sun Jun 20, 13:10: Ryan Rowland-Smith* vs. Aaron Harang

I can issue another reminder to enjoy Cliff Lee while you can. Stories are being written about Jack Z getting phone calls about Lee which, well duh, but once those stories reach the news media it always feels like an inevitable conclusion is near at hand. Three righties for the Reds could hopefully mean some more stats for Michael Saunders in left field which is neat to watch. They also mean a diminished chance of seeing any Matt Tuiasosopo this series which is so relieving it should be some sort of nationally declared holiday.