[merklaw]

Cincy's pitching staff, despite last night, is still good enough to win the division and make noise in playoffs. But the lineup is still not right even if everyone was healthy. We really need to get a LFer who can hit to protect Votto. I love Brandon Phillips, but he's a 1 or 2 hitter, not a 4.

Is there anybody out there who fits the bill on a non-contender? Yes....Carlos Quentin of the Padres. Not a great LFer, but can hit, and is adequate out there. Go get him, and pencil him in behind Votto. Move Phillips up where he belongs.

When Bray/Masset get back, we've got too many in the bullpen. I wonder if SD would take a shot on Heisey ever getting any kind of consistency, and 2 relievers, for Quentin??? Scott Rolen is deader than JFK; keep him in clubhouse but let him play a little 1B and fill in for Votto once every 40 days, and at 3B occasionally. Keep Frazier at 3rd. Go get Quentin.

That team can do some damage.....until we get one more decent stick in lineup, the first 3 weeks of June were just a mirage.

[citybuck]

The bullpen got roughed in game one and game two at Cleveland..they should have won those two.

[merklaw]

This is correct......also blew a couple others in past couple of weeks. That happens in course of a season. I think they went a month or so without allowing much of anything.

They should be fine. But give me that LF who can hit.....so many more pieces in the lineup fall into place if they can get a true 4 hitter. More guys can hit in better place for them in the lineup, and Votto would be - somehow - even better.

Dang, I love Votto.......

[82wolve82]

Quentin is no better than Ludwick. Ludwick is driving in runs and should bat 4 when he is in the lineup, which should be 5 or 6 of every 7 games.

[wisdome]

Thier clean-up hitter is in Toronto playing third base or playing outfield with the Rangers!

[14Red]

Really don't need to overpay for a washed up scrub, Quinton, Carlos Lee, Bobby Abreau would be terrible choices. I like Heisey as our everyday leftfielder when everyone gets healthy. I'd cut Ludwick and Rolen. Get some more flexible players who can play multiple positions. You may not like it, but Wilson Valdez is more valuable than Rolen.

[NC Rattlesnake]

Hope Dusty doesn't do any more stupid garbage later on after the break.

[citybuck]

The Reds really need to take care of the Twins, this is a big series...

[dorciepatrick]

Originally Posted by citybuck

The Reds really need to take care of the Twins, this is a big series...

I read this on here almost every time the Reds open a new series with someone. Sometimes the Reds sweep or win the series; sometimes they get swept or lose the series.
IMHO, the games against the Twins are, of course, important. However, is anyone going to look back at the end of the season at this particular series one that was more critical than any other?
I tend to think that we'll all have forgotten about this series when the season comes to an end. It's no more "big" than any other that the Reds play during the 162 game season.

[WGOU]

The best tweak the Reds could do is to wish Dusty his best in his future endeavors.

[citybuck]

Darcie, it's a pretty important series, sice the Pirates are right behind them and playnig well...every series is important, let's hope Cueto can shut the Twins down.

[dorciepatrick]

citybuck, We're probably both saying the same thing, but in different ways. I certainly hope the Reds take 2 out of 3 from the Twins, but the fact that the Reds won the series is unimportant to me. I tend to take things game by game instead of looking at the series as a whole.
The difference in views is pretty inconsequential.
Go Reds!

[14Red]

Let me be the first to eat my words. Rolen has come back very good so far. Wish he'd been that way earlier.
I do feel with Heisey's play and Frazier coming on, Ludwick has to be the odd man out.

[troy_boy73]

Rolen will back on the DL by Labor Day.

[NC Rattlesnake]

Big win today. But Cardinals got lucky and won too. That's the one team I'm worried about.

[bird]

Originally Posted by NC Rattlesnake

Big win today. But Cardinals got lucky and won too. That's the one team I'm worried about.

If the Reds play the way they can, they'll win the division. The Reds are not a great team, but they are pretty decent. They're certainly better than any other team in the division.

[wisdome]

Originally Posted by 14Red

Let me be the first to eat my words. Rolen has come back very good so far. Wish he'd been that way earlier.
I do feel with Heisey's play and Frazier coming on, Ludwick has to be the odd man out.

Sorry but have to disagree with Ludwick. He is much better than Heisey in almost every department. Heisey may have a better avg...but is OBP, Slugg and OPS he is far behind Ludwick. In fact in all the baseball stats available Ludwick is killing him.

[merklaw]

Heisey is a huge disappointment to me. I really thought that he'd make the most of his chances this year. Heck, he hit 18 HR in about 300 PA last year. But wisdome is right......Heisey has tossed out an epic fail. 2 HRs. Swings at first pitch routinely and hits shallow can of corn to RF. Pops up or whiffs. Vs. Twinkies over weekend, he came up in key situation, 1 out, sacks loaded, pinch-hitter for pitcher had just walked on 4 pitches. Dope hacks away at first pitch and, yes, out on fly to shallow right. Next hitter goes down too; 0 runs. He regularly does that kind of thing. It didn't seem to matter a couple innings later when Joey went deep to LC for 3-2 lead, but it would have been nice if in 9th we had 2 or more run lead. No guarantee if he'd worked the count a little bit things would have been different....but you don't hack at first pitch in that situation. Horrible disclipline.

But is Dudwick really the answer???

I still don't get what's wrong with trying to get Carlos Quentin as referenced above???? I got dogged on that....but he's not that old (30 maybe), and he's been crushing the ball since coming back from injury about a month or so ago. SD isn't going anywhere.....maybe they'll trade him????

We need a better answer in LF. Give this team that one more hitter, and so many pieces in the order fall into better shape........

[merklaw]

P.S. Quentin is only 29. Check out his numbers since coming back off DL. Plays LF. RHB. Much, much better than Dudwick/Lowsey combo.

[WGOU]

Originally Posted by merklaw

P.S. Quentin is only 29. Check out his numbers since coming back off DL. Plays LF. RHB. Much, much better than Dudwick/Lowsey combo.

Carlos Quentin has spent way too much time in his career on the DL. If he would play 140 games, he would overtake Stubbs in strikeouts. He has no range. I would rather see an outfield of Heisey, Stubbs, and Bruce. If Dusty won't move Rolen off third, Frazier should be given a regular shot in left.