Cincinnati Reds think highly of the Florida Marlins

The Cincinnati Reds like the chances of the Florida Marlins to win the NL East .

After the Marlins scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning to send Wednesday's game into extra innings, Reds shortstop Jerry Hairston Jr. opened the bottom half of the inning with a walk. When he got to first base, he made a bold prediction to Marlins first baseman Wes Helms.

"He looked at me and said, 'That's why I think you guys will win the NL East,' '' Helms recalled. "I said 'What do you mean?' He goes, 'You all don't give up. We all talk about that in our clubhouse, how we can't take you lightly because you guys never give up whereas some teams do.' ''

There is another version of the quote :

When Cincinnati's Jerry Hairston Jr. walked in the bottom of the ninth, he turned to Helms and said: "That's why we think you'll win the NL East. You guys never give up."

Either Hairston or the Reds, or both are impressed with the Marlins.  Which is saying a lot since the last three games weren't our best effort but the team kept it close nonetheless.

Either way, it is nice to be noticed.