The Reds ended their five-game losing streak yesterday, but it sounds like some kind of shakeup is imminent, anyway. Josh Fogg may be moving to the pen, or released, and a pitcher from Louisville called up. It's also likely that either Jerry Hairston or Jolbert Cabrera will be called up - a right-handed power bat. Both are hitting very well. Hairston is hitting better, and he's got an option that allows him to sign with another team if he's not called up, so my money's on him. (Too bad Andy hasn't had a chance to make a case for himself. He's not on the DL, but he's not playing, either, due to hamstring soreness.)
But that's not the earthquake I'm talking about. CNN is reporting that there was an actual earthquake in the midwest this morning. The epicenter appears to be somewhere in Illinois, but it was felt as far away as Michigan and Georgia.
CNN is showing video of broken bricks all over a road, supposedly from a college building in downtown Louisville. I assume Louisville Slugger Field is all right; it's a new stadium. Seems to be the older buildings that suffered damage.
Reminds me of an article I read a long time ago. I thought it was in Discover magazine, but I couldn't find it in their archives. There's an article that touches on many of the same points here.
Basically, it argues that while earthquakes may be rarer in the eastern part of the country than in the west, when they do happen, they can be far more devastating. The rock is different in the east. It's harder, and so the vibrations from the earthquakes travel farther. So the earthquakes in New Madrid, Missouri in 1811 and 1812 caused damage as far away as Boston. Some scientists also think the New Madrid seismic zone is overdue for another big one...and unlike in California, building codes in the eastern US are not designed with earthquakes in mind.
In other news...Paul Janish hit his first home run of the season last night. Judging from the radio broadcast, it was a monster shot. It wasn't enough, though; the Bats fell to the Tides in eleven innings.
