The Reds offense is struggling right now from top to bottom, but few are struggling as bad as 37-year old Scott Rolen.

Through 16 games Rolen is batting just .170 with .226 SLG and a .228 OBP. His bat speed is noticeably slower and his power has disappeared. He’s yet to hit a HR this season and has just five long balls in 81 games dating back to Opening Day 2011.

While he did play a key role, at least early in the season, during the team’s 2010 divisional title run, the veteran has been a non-factor since.

Even his defense is on the decline as he’s already committed two errors this season.

The problem is two-fold. For starters he’s making $8.1 million this year, the final year of his current contract. Secondly, the team has few options to replace.  Veteran Miguel Cairo (hamstring) is on the 15-day DL and Todd Frazier is unproven.

To make matters worse the two hot corners the Reds pushed aside in favor of Rolen, Edwin Encarnacion (traded to Toronto for Rolen) and Juan Francisco are tearing it up right now:

JUAN FRANCISCO
.286 BA, .714 SLG, .310 OBP (3 HR, 7 RBI in 28 at bats)

EDWIN ENCARNACION
.323 BA, .613 SLG, .368 OBP (4 HR, 13 RBI in 65 at bats)

Clearly the Reds and Walt Jocketty’s plan at the position has backfired a bit and now the team is left with a huge gap in both the batting order and on the left side of the infield. The question now becomes how much longer will Dusty Baker continue to run Rolen out there or better yet how much longer before Rolen does what he should’ve done before the season, retire?

Fantasy Baseball, MLB cincinnati reds, scott rolen, juan francisco, edwin encarnacion

It was pathetic, yet predictable, that we recently heard the Cincinnati Reds blame their awful season on injuries.  This excuse is flat out wrong.  This season's fate was very predictable well before the injury bug appeared.  It was easy to foresee doom after many, many poor decisions made by the Front Office over the last three years.  Here are the Top Ten Worst Front Office Decisions that led to this Reds debacle that we currently have.  But before that... the gloating:  there is no hindsight/ 20-20  judgement on any of these moves- every one of these moves was criticized by yours truly WHEN THEY HAPPENED.  On with the list...

10.  Signing Alex Gonzalez to a three- year, $14.5 million dollar contract:  Quit complaining that he never played.  When he did play, he was awful.  He was hitting .207/ .254/ .295 this year.  He contributed more last year by NOT playing at all.

9.  Trading Edwin Encarnancion, Josh Roenicke, and Zach Stewart to Toronto for 3B Scott Rolen:  Sure Rolen is a major upgrade over Encarnacion, but he is in his mid- 30s, injury- prone, expensive, and only signed for one more year.  Giving up two of the five prospects for Rolen was a steal for the Blue Jays and a ditch digger for the Reds.

8.  Signing Corey Patterson to a one- year deal to play CF in 2008:  Dusty Baker campaigned to get Patterson and he stubbornly gave him 344 at bats to hit .207/ .254/ .295 and drag the Reds down.  And Baker wondered why people thought Patterson was dating his daughter.

 7.  Signing Edwin Encarnacion to a two- year contract worth $7.6 million dollars:  This led to GM Walt Jocketty having to throw in Roenicke and Stewart to get the Blue Jays to take Encarnacion off of the Reds' hands.  If the Reds decline him arbitration, he is a free agent, the Reds still have Roenicke and Stewart, the Reds are still in 5th place, but they have a brighter future.

6.  Drafting Yonder Alonso instead of Gordon Beckham in the first round of the 2008 Draft:  One of the Reds' biggest holes to fill this off- season is shortstop.  There is no capable shortstop on the roster or in their minor leagues (except present second baseman Brandon Phillips).  That would not be a problem if they would have taken Beckham, who was scooped up immediately with the next pick by the White Sox.  Beckham is presently hitting .299/ .373/ .470 at the Major League level.  Instead, the Reds have a guy pushing Joey Votto, one of their few indepensible players.

5.  Trading Adam Dunn:  Public pressure trumped logic and production and the Reds sent Dunn to Arizona for peanuts.  Now, Dunn plays first base for the Naitonals and is hitting .285/ .417/ .580 while the Reds roll out Lance Nix and Johnny Gomes into leftfield.  Gomes is a good backup for the Reds and Nix is... a good backup in Triple- A.

4.  Signing Willy Taveras to a two- year contract worth $6.25 million:  What made anyone think Taveras was a major leaguer?  His history, his statistics, and his past teams' transactions involving him should have kept Jocketty (and Baker- he lobbied for Taveras) away.  It kept every other MLB team away.  The Reds outbid themselves for a Triple- A speedster.  They must eat his contract for next year and let Drew Stubbs play center field every day.  Speaking of Stubbs...

3.  Drafting Drew Stubbs instead of SP Tim Lincecum:  Stubbs is an excellent defender who can steal a base and has a great baseball makeup.  He is not an impact player.  He may struggle to hit .280 or get on- base more than .340.  A huge upgrade over Taveras- absolutely, but he is not Lincecum.  Drafting Lincecum would have given the Reds a #1 starter the past three years and would have made a difference of 8 or 10 more wins in the standings.  He would have brought more fans to the park, which would, in turn, bring more money into the Front Office, which would mean more money to spend on payroll, international signings, etc.

2.  Signing Francisco Cordero to a four- year, $47 million contract:  If you are the Yankees, Mets or the Red Sox, you can pay your closer $12 million a year.  Almost every else realizes that closers grow on trees so this is a great area to save money.  Todd Coffey (if he were still here), Arthur Rhodes, Bill Bray (last year), Jared Burton (last year), and David Weathers (up until last week) would have produced almost the same results for a lot less money.  With this available cash, the Reds could have spent on Adam Dunn or a real center fielder like Tori Hunter.

1.  Hiring Dusty Baker:  The guy is an ace with the media and has many of them snowed, but he cannot fool all of us.  He is the absolute worst manager AT ANY LEVEL when it comes to making out a lineup.  He lobbied for Patterson (.238 OBP) and Taveras (.276 OBP and no power) and then played them more than anyone else would have while also batting them at the top of the lineup.  In the two- hole, he used Alex Gonzalez (.254 OBP) and more recenltly, Paul Janish (.291 OBP).  What we have here is stubborn idiocy.  Joey Votto is going to hit .315 with 25 home runs in about 500 at bats and only have 80 RBI because nobody was ever on base in front of him.

Honorable Mention:  Drafting Devon Mesoraco who is looking like a huge bust.

Do not let the Reds fool you.  They - not the injury bug- are responsible for another losing season.  Is it fixable?  Stay tuned... I have some ideas.

MLB cincinnati reds, alex gonzalez, edwin encarnacion, corey patterson, yonder alonso, adam dunn, willy taveras, drew stubbs, francisco cordero, dusty baker, devon mesoraco

Rick Broering and Greg Shoemaker break down the deadline deals, including the Reds' acquistion of Scott Rolen:

CHECK OUT MORE FROM - GETSPORTSRADIO.COM

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Also posted on BleacherReport.com:

The Cincinnati Reds have hovered around the .500 mark for most of the season and currently sit at 41-43.

In most years, it would seem that would be enough for the Reds to be sellers at the trade deadline. However, in this year’s extra weak NL Central they are still in the race.

One name that the Reds are surfacing as being interested in is Blue Jays’ third baseman Scott Rolen.

The Toronto Sun reports that the Reds have talked internally about obtaining Rolen from the Blue Jays.

Despite having a better record than Cincinnati, the Blue Jays are nine games back in the AL East and reportedly are ready to shop some of their high-priced stars, including former Cy Young winner Roy Halladay.

The Reds had a scout in St. Petersburg to watch Rolen this week as the Jays played the Tampa Bay Rays, according to the paper.

Rolen, who is currently riding a 25-game hitting and third in the AL batting title race, is due $11 million this year and next.

COMPLETE ARTICLE

MLB cincinnati reds, reds, toronto blue jays, blue jays, scott rolen, edwin encarnacion

- Votto Returns - Votto will be where he wants to be tonight when the Reds' three-game series at Rogers Centre begins. After four rehab starts, Votto is in Toronto and could be activated for the opener. Votto has not played for Cincinnati since May 29 when he was placed on the disabled list with what the Reds called "stress-related issues."CONTINUE READING

- Arroyo on Trading Block? - One of the hot rumors among the scouting community is that the Reds are dangling one of their veteran pitchers in an effort to get younger and reduce payroll. Arroyo, whose name has come up in the past, is earning $9.5 million this season as part of a two-year, $25 million deal. CONTINUE READING

- Gonzalez Undergoes Surgery - Cincinnati Reds shortstop Alex Gonzalez has had surgery to remove four bone chips in his right elbow. Gonzalez is expected to miss four to five weeks. Gonzalez went on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, a day after he felt pain on a swing during batting practice. CONTINUE READING

- Hernandez to Third? - Hernandez had started one game at first base during his major-league career before taking over for Votto and he is playing it like Mandrake the Magician. Could he play third, too? Why not. Even Baker said on the day he started playing Hernandez at first, “I’ve always thought any good catcher could play both third base and first base without any problems.” CONTINUE READING

- Edwin Homers in Rehab Stint - Edwin Encarnacion said it would take 3-4 games until he's back to full speed. On Monday night the Cincinnati Reds' third baseman helped the Louisville Bats overpower Gwinnett. The Bats hit five home runs in a 11-5 victory at Louisville Slugger Field. Encarnacion's was a three-run blast to cap a four-run fourth. CONTINUE READING

- Homer Continues Domination - The offense was likely appreciated by Homer Bailey — not that he needed much run support. Bailey (8-5) continued to throw like the best pitcher in the International League, though he got off to a surprising start. CONTINUE READING

MLB cincinnati reds, homer bailey, edwin encarnacion, alex gonzalez, joey votto, bronson arroyo, ramon hernandez, ryan hanigan

No team in all of baseball enters Tuesday with a worst batting average than the Cincinnati Reds, who are hitting at .218 clip through 12 games. Yet the Reds find themselves two games above .500 (7-5) and in the midst of 5-2 road trip with three more games to go versus the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The team has mustered just 46 runs (tied for 27th in MLB) to this point.

So all of this begs the question, how in the world is this team winning games?

IMPROVED DEFENSE - The most drastic difference in this year's team early on to other teams in recent memory is their defensive ability, particularly in the outfield where more athletic outfielders such as Willy Taveras, Chris Dickerson, and Darnell McDonald are entering the mix. Regardless of what trio Dusty Baker has thrown out there it is a huge upgrade over last year. The departure of Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey may have left the line-up without power, but it has done wonders for the outfields ability to turn outs out what used to be doubles. In addition, the presence of Alex Gonzalez and Paul Janish at shortstop is a big upgrade over the Jeff Keppinger/Jerry Hairston stopgap the team counted on last year.

SMALL BALL - Kudos to Baker for showing he does have the ability to manage a young team. The manager has been nearly perfect in his implementation of hit and runs, double switches and pitching decisions. Coupled with the improved defense, the team's ability to get on base, run the bases, and hit for contact has been a factor in their early success.

TIMELY HITTING - The team has struggled overall at the plate, but they are getting enough clutch hitting to survive. Look no further than Monday night's series-clinching win over the Astros when Joey Votto and Edwin Encarnacion delivered two-run hits with runners in scoring position. They are getting a ton of runners on base, but they are not stranding many either. They have comeback to take to the lead in 5 of their 7 wins.

BACK-END OF BULLPEN - Not only has Francisco Cordero gone 5 for 5 in his save opportunites, but Arthur Rhodes has yet to allow a run as he has emerged as not only a left-handed specialst, but as legitmate 8th-inning man. Baker opted to keep him even against righties Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence on Monday and Rhodes once again wiggled out of a jam.

VETERANS IN ROTATION - While the young pitchers on the staff have struggled to find their grove, veterans Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo have provided consistency. The duo have combined to post a 4-2 record with a 3.43 ERA. Harang may only have one win to his credit, but he looks more like the Harang of old rather than last year's version. Arroyo is once again consistent.

MLB reds, dusty baker, willy taveras, chris dickerson, darnell mcdonald, alex gonzalez, paul janish, joey votto, edwin encarnacion, francisco cordero, arthur rhodes, aaron harang, bronson arroyo

With the Reds' season starting on Monday, it's time for my annual overs/unders. My partner Greg Shoemaker and myself came up with these props...

--Team: Total Wins = 82 (My Bet - Over)
It's been 8+ straight losing seasons for the Reds and while I don't expect them to keep up with the Cubs, I am officially on the record with a 84-78 record which would end the streak.

--Volquez: Total Strikeouts = 208 (Over)
He struckout 206 last year and while I think he may be hard-pressed to match his 17 wins, I expect very similar strikeout production.

--Harang: Total Wins = 15 (Under)
After winning 16 games in back-to-back seasons, Harang posted a career-worst 6-17 mark in '08. He'll get back to the winning side of the ledger, but fall just short of 15 wins.

--Bailey: Games Started = 17 (Over)
I can't picture a scenario where Homer Bailey is with the big league club at least for half of the season. He's pitched good enough in the spring to own it.

--Cueto: Innings Pitched = 186 (Under)
He nearly got here last season and an expected jump is unreasonable. He's still young though and the Reds will probably not push him to hard.

--Arroyo: ERA = 4.03 (Under)
The back of the baseball card does not lie. Arroyo's career ERA is 4.31. Only once did he go under this total as Red, but after the strong finish last season I am optimistic.

--Cordero: Total Saves = 35 (Over)
The only thing that stops him from getting here is his health (there have been concerns). He's making too much not to get the ball.

--Bruce: Total HR’s = 25 (Under)
He's definitely of capable of crushing this number, but I'm not banking on this season. I say he finishes with about 22-24 long balls.

--Phillips: Total RBI’s = 90 (Over)
Firmly entrenched in the No. 4 spot in the lineup, BP will be counted on to drive in runs. He'll make a run at 100 RBI's if the people in front of him do their jobs.

--Votto: Batting Average = .290 (Under)
I am looking for him to deliver the power numbers, especially with the protection of Phillips batting behind him. Still, his average is likely to fall somewhere in the .280's.

--Gonzalez: Games Played = 81 (Over)
This might be my biggest stretch on here considering his track record as a Red, but if he can't play half of the games he needs to hang it up after this year.

--Taveras: Total Runs = 86 (Under)
One of my keys for the Reds this year will be the number of runs scored by the team's new leadoff hitter. I hope I'm wrong here, but 80ish is more like it.

--Encarnacion: Errors = 20 (Under)
This number is way too high. Edwin is making strides at third and while he will have his share of booted balls, he won't eclipse this mark.

reds, aaron harang, edinson volquez, johnny cueto, homer bailey, bronson arroyo, micah owings, jay bruce, brandon phillps, joey votto, alex gonzalez, willy taveras, edwin encarnacion

It's my annual reminder that spring is right around the corner, the first day of Spring Training.  The Reds kicked of the final year of Grapefruit League  by beating the defending AL Champions, the Tampa Rays, 7-0 (box score).

Standings mean nothing in exhibition games, but anytime you can hear Reds' Hall of Fame annoucner Marty Brennenman rattle out his classic line - "this one belongs to the Reds!" - it is a good thing.

Seventeen-game winner Edinson Volquez started for the Reds and was a bit wild at first, but settled to pitch three solid innings as he allowed a pair of hits, walked a batter, and struck out three. Johnny Cueto relieved him and tossed three scoreless, no-hit innings, picking up the win while fanninig three Rays' hitters. 

Homer Bailey, who is battling for the team's No. 5 spot,  struck out two of three batters he faced. Journeyman Aaron Fultz and Jared Burton finsihed out the shutout by each tossing scoreless forms.

Offensively, it was the long ball that provided most of the fireworks as Jerry Hairston Jr. hit a grand slam and minor Adam Rosales added a two-run shot in the ninth inning.

Manager Dusty Baker likely tipped his hat on what the Opening Day line-up looks like as of today, with his first line-up card of the Spring:

CF Taveras
SS Hairston
1B Votto
2B Phillips
RF Bruce
3B Encarnacion
LF Dickerson
C Hernandez
P Volquez

MLB reds, spring training, grapefruit league, rays, marty brenneman, edinson volquez, johnny cueto, homer bailey, aaron fultz, jared burton, dusty baker, jerry hairston jr, adam rosales, willy taveras, joey votto, brandon phillips, jay bruce, edwin encarnacion, chris dickerson, ramon hernandez

The Reds are likely to make a move or two before Spring Training starts, but beat writer John Fay says these are move they won't make:

• The Reds won't move Edwin Encarnacion to left field.
• The Reds aren't going to trade for or sign a veteran shortstop
• The Reds aren't going to trade Joey Votto
• The Reds aren't going to move Micah Owings to left field.
• The Reds aren't going to sign a veteran outfielder to a long-term deal. 
• The Redsaren't going to bring back Ken Griffey Jr. or Adam Dunn.  

MLB reds, edwin encarnacion, joey votto, micah owings, ken griffey, adam dunn

So many Reds insights, so little time...

THE GOOD

• RHP Ramon Ramirez has been a pleasant surprise... to some.  To others, mainly the sabermeticians, this is no surprise.  Stat wizards have long discounted E.R.A. as a primary measure of a pitcher's worth since E.R.A. depends so much on defense and the bullpen, forces outside a pitcher's control.  Instead, they look at strikeouts per nine innings, walks per nine innings, and home runs allowed.  Ramirez could be their poster boy for this argument.  His combined minor league E.R.A. was a decent, but not eye- catching, 3.70 in 2007 and 3.59 in 2008.  His other minor league numbers in 2008 of 9K/ 9 IP, 3.5 BB/ 9 IP, and 0.9 HR/ 9 are eye- popping and tell us that this kid is a major leaguer.  In his three appearances so far with the Reds, he has 16 IP, 12 K, 6 BB, and 2 HRA- right in line with his minor league numbers.  Ramirez throws a fastball in the low 90s, a below average slider, and a low 80s changeup.  Oddly enough, it is his changeup that he throws the most (58% of the time so far with the Reds) because he throws it for strikes much more often than the other pitches.  Its not all good news though.  His current BABIP (batting average of balls put into play) is a tiny .108, which means that when batters are making contact, they are hitting the ball right at people.  This rate cannot continue- its impossible.  Also, very few starters in the major leagues can make it with just two good pitches.  My prediction?  He develops into a solid mid reliever or setup reliever.
  
  
• Even George Grande can figure out that the Reds need a big bat in the lineup for 2009 or contention seems unrealistic already.  The 2008 free agent slugger list is not an impressive one:  Pat Burrell, Adam Dunn, and Mark Teixeira head the list.  Dunn is not a possibility and Burrell and Teixeira may cost over $20 million a year on a multi-year deal.  That leaves the Reds with just one option- trades.  The Rockies' Matt Holliday has been mentioned as a target and he is a availible this winter because Holliday is a free agent after next year, the Rockies feel like he is already demanding too much for an extention, and the Rockies can get more value for him before the 2009 season.  The Reds could roll the dice and trade multiple young players (Homer Bailey, Chris Valaika, and Chris Dickerson?) for one year of Matt Holliday and then they could maybe win 82 to 85 games if they get a lot brakes.

THE BAD

• Even if the Reds do win 85 games next year with Matt Holliday, that total can no longer win the NL Central or NL Wild Card.  A few years ago, 85 wins would surely mean the playoffs, but with the drastic improvements of the Cubs, the Brewers, the Phillies, and the Mets over the last year, 85 wins gets you a seat on the couch in October.  Yes, the Brewers may lose both C.C. Sabathia and Ben Sheets to free agency and the Mets are an old team, but the Brewers' farm system is loaded and the Mets' financial resources usually put them in contention.  The bottom line?... there is too big of a gap to close between the Reds and playoffs for the Reds to gamble on Matt Holliday.  I would trade away Brandon Phillips, Aaron Harang, and Bronson Arroyo for a ton of young talent that can help in two or three years.  The Oakland A's subscribed to this theory this past year as they traded away Dan Haren, Rich Harden, Nick Swisher and Joe Blanton for loads for top minor league talent because they figured they could not catch the Angels this year.  Now the A's have realistic hope that they may catch the Angels in 2009 or 2010.


• The Reds did not dump the city of Sarasota in its bid for a better Spring Training complex.  The city of Sarasota dumped the Reds.  Sarasota voted to not expand and update their baseball facilities for the Reds, thus forcing the Reds to Arizona.  They are, however, going to vote to expand and update their facilities if the Boston Red Sox commit to moving to their city.  Sarasota figures that the Red Sox will bring in a lot more fans (and that means more money) than the Reds ever will.  How sad is that?

THE UGLY

• The local media, which has been mostly kind and patient with Dusty Baker, has started to show some dissatisfaction with Baker in that he did not live up to their expectations.  I, on the other hand, am very satisfied that Baker lived up to my expectations.  The difference here is that I expected Baker to be the worst manager in the Major Leagues and he did not disappoint.  And continues to not disappoint... 1.)  On August 30th, Ramon Ramirez went seven innings, giving up three earned runs against the Giants, while striking out six and allowing seven baserunners.  The rookie's reward?  Baker sent him to the bullpen in favor of Josh Fogg.  Luckily, Fogg, who will never pitch for the Reds again, hurt himself in his next start and now Baker is forced to take a look at Ramirez as a starter.  2.)  Why is Baker playing anyone will not be with the Reds next year?  Corey Patterson, Andy Phillips, Paul Bako and Javier Valentin should never see the field so we can evaluate Wilikin Castillo (he's terrible), Danny Herrera, Ryan Hannigan, Paul Janish (put Jeff Keppinger at third and Edwin Encarnacion in left field), Adam Rosales, and Drew Stubbs (why is he at home?).  Baker wants to play the veterans to "(keep) the integrity of the races and the game".  What?  Who is that helping?  The Cubs?  The Phillies?  The Brewers?  It sure is not helping the future of the Reds.
  
  
• When Baker puts a lineup on the field that includes Patterson, Bako, and any pitcher, he is giving away eight to twelve at bats to the opposition before the game even starts.
  
  
• Another reason why I would trade the veteran stars on this team over the winter and stockpile young talent is because I believe the Reds have no hope for contention while they have a stubborn, uniformed, misdirected manager who has never, ever, learned from his mistakes.  Start building for the post- Dusty era.

MLB reds, ramon ramirez, pat burrell, adam dunn, mark teixeira, homer bailey, chris vala ika, chris dickerson, dan haren, rich harden, nick swisher, joe blanton, dan haren, rich harden, nick swisher, joe blanton, brandon phillips, aaron harang, bronson arroyo, dusty bake, corey patterson, andy phillips, paul bako, javier valentin, wilikin castillo, danny herrera, ryan hannigan, paul janish, edwin encarnacion, jeff keppinger