After 15 years of waiting, the Reds will return to the postseason for the first time since they lost to the Braves in the 1995 NLCS (I don't count the wild-card playoff game against the Mets in '99, and neither should you).  The Braves, of course, won Bobby Cox's only World Series title that season, so it was destiny that the Reds should get swept. But with the very real possibility of facing the Braves again this time around, a measure of revenge would be sweet.

Man, 15 years is a long time. When I think back to where I was the last time I watched a Reds playoff game, well, let's just say I was a bit younger, had quite a bit more hair, and stayed up a lot longer doing a lot more things that a young man can get away with. In many ways, it seems like a lifetime ago, but at the same time, no way it's been that long.

The fellow at the top of the post didn't do it all himself, of course. But when he stepped up to the plate to lead off the 9th inning and deposited a Tim Byrdak pitch over the center-field wall, that set off a scene similar to this one:


As the great Marty Brennaman said approximately 2.7 seconds later, "The National League Central division belongs to the Cincinnati Reds!"

I couldn't be happier.