No, I'm 'Little Pedro'

Welcome late, ESPN, to the "name a Reds pitcher 'Little Pedro' party." Maybe you reserved this story until now for the fact that sometimes it's better to be the last one dishing out a nickname than it is to be the early bird eating the wrong worm. Johnny Cueto is that worm. He started off hot in spring training and then again in his first start against Arizona, but as the worm turns so did Cueto, and now he's stuggling to keep runs off the board (2-4, 5.91).

Edinson Volquez inherits Cueto's status as "The Next Pedro Martinez," according to ESPN. Coming off a less-than-impressive 2007 with the Texas Rangers, Volquez was dealt to Cincinnati for Josh Hamilton. Considered a top prospect who now carried baggage, some wondered whether Volquez would be able to turn things around at the Major League Level. Cueto's record was flawless because he'd never pitched a game in the big leagues before. That, coupled with Cueto's dominant spring left many to believe he was suddenly the better pitcher, let alone prospect. Things have changed. Now, through one-quarter of the year, Volquez inherits the monicker "staff ace." He enters tonight's game with Washington as the far better Reds pitching phenom, posting a 5-1 record with a 1.06 ERA. Volquez is striking out well over a batter an inning and has served up just one home run while Cueto's coughed up nine.

ESPN, which typically jumps the gun with its "Next" campaign, actually waited on this one. Now they're taking Cueto's nickname and pasting it on Volquez. While everyone else was diving in to relate one diminutive Dominican to his idol, ESPN waited back and delivered a change-up for a clean single through the box. Johnny C is no Eddie V. Not right now, anyway.