National League central

This seems to be one of the best divisons in baseball. With the cardinals starting off with a absoulty great season and the cubs power hiting offense along with the brewers. I would say if the reds were in any other divison i think they would do alot better. By playing in this division it only makes us better. When we get to compete against some the best pitchers in the league and some of the most best hitting teams its ridicilous. Along with being one of the better divisions in baseball, we have the most amout of teams in hte division. Some divisons only have 4 teams to compete with which i think it a bunch of bullcrap because its easier for them to win the it is for us. If we dont win the conference we have to compete for a wild crad. I think we should be about to get 2 teams out of our division. Its tough to not have 2 teams in hte playoffs from our division. Its like the NCAA. The best teams should be in the playoffs. THis means more teams from one conference then another. If the reds contuine to pick up there hitting i think by te end of the year we will be in a close race for the top positon and for once in mylifetime i will be able to root for my home team coming down the stretch.

Bruce

I think he can hit 40 but I don't want him to change his approach to do it. I'm sure he'll have some 40 HR years in his career.As long as he's healthy, he'll hit 40. He won't have to change his game to do it either. Power is his game despite his youth. If he tries to hard then no. If he continues to swing the way he is right now then yes. He showed yesterday that he has enough power to hit it out to LF and also crush one to RC. If he takes the approach of driving the ball to LC, like Votto does, then Bruce will likely be in the 40 HR range. If he starts the Edwin pull everything then he will likely be a 30 HR guy. Bruce is a guy that i would be tempted to bat in the 4 hole. Votto and Bruce back to back on righty days? How can that be a better duo. I can see them being split up on days where leftys pitch but when you have a righty on hte mound why not have taveras, phillips, votto, bruce. Talk about a frekin heck of a starting linup. Phillips has always batter up in the linup to even the 1 hole. Hes just now starting to get his bat back why not change things up and put him back into the roation where he belngs.

Owings as a pinch hitter?

Question...when is the appropriate use of Owings going to be?? 1st PH off bench, to avoid burning a position player??...late game power??...specialized use??I ask for I was desperately hoping to get to the 1-hole in the 9th inning last night so Owings could PH against K-Rod...yet Hanigan was on deck when the game ended. With so many hitter on the bench i dont think owings gets enough swings as a regualr everyday player. Why not pinch hit hanigan? Hes s right weith just as much power and owings and i think hes a little bit better at hitting. Owings should stick to hit pitching role and contuine that. Hes struggling right now on hte mound so why take your best role and try to do things at one. Try to get better and get as good at you can at one thing and not medoker at two things. With the rest of the season someing up i still think that they will mak ea trade through the middle of the season to get a power hitting left fielder or a 3rd baseman. This would possibly send edwin to the pinch hitting hole and leave a extra riht handed batter o nthe bench so he could ive certin infirlders the day off of maybe if he could hit certian pitchers better.

Lincoln

i suspect he can't be sent to AAA without his permission. why not pull him aside and say 'lets get you down to AAA & work on whatever the problem might be'. right now nobody is going to give you a major league spot. we have to pay you whether you pitch in Cincinnati or in Louisville. lets see if we can get you pitching better then we'll call you back up.

8.1 IP
14 hits
2 homers allowed
10 walks
3 KOs
whip 2.9
ERA 15.1

Those are not very strong stats what so ever. I still think with weather and rhodes and burton what is the point on us keeping lincon. Why not bring up baily and put him i nthe middel roation. Alot of pitchers start in the middle roation then go the starting role. I just think were wasting talent in the minor leaugue of a player that should not be on the team. If we could bring up baily this would give us possibly a 6 starter if one of our startes is stuggling.

Cueto

I can't say enough great things about Johnny Cueto's start last night. How impressive was that? Seven shutout innings against one of the toughest offenses in baseball and it was on the road. On top of his great pitching, he was 2-for-2 at the plate. That bunt single he dropped down was a thing of beauty. Kid is a great athlete. I'd say Cueto is one of the five fastest players on the team. I've been tracking Cueto since 2006 and I've always thought he was going to be something special. I think the sky is the limit with this kid. All he's lacking at this point is experience. I think he'll improve this season but he'll still have some ups and downs. With another year of experience under his belt, I expect 2010 to be his breakout season.When he's "on," he amazes and when he's "off" or loses his temper, he's horrid. Maturity will come eventually. I still belive that this year he will be a very good assest to this team. If edison could have half the year he had last yr and cueto have a better year. I still belive its one of the best pitching rotatons in the MLB.

Lance Nix.

Anyone else think Laynce Nix should start every day vs RHP, at least until he cools off? If he does. After tonight, Nix is hitting .310/.355/.621 - .976 with six extra-base hits in 29 atbats. He's always had the ability, but injuries have held him back. Who knows, maybe he's the next Ryan Ludwick or Nelson Cruz. I'm a big Dickerson fan, but Nix should get the bulk of the starts in left field vs right handers. Dickerson becomes the 4th outfielder and gets some starts in CF. Also, it's time for the Reds to find another right handed bat to platoon in left field. Jerry Hairston Jr. just isn't getting it done. Jonny Gomes and Wes Bankston are probably the best in house options at this point.One other thing, if Adam Rosales plays well at third base for the next three weeks, I'd start having EdE work out in left field. I really like what Rosales brings to the team. This is a guy that wants to be here. He shows entheusm everytime he gets a basehit or makes a good play. I really like what he brings to the field. Hes a player that not very many people know about hes hes a player that resembles ryan freel in the hustle aspect part of the game. He always wants to be there and play hte best he can.

Bonds?

The Reds have a severe offensive void in LF.Barry Bonds refuses to retire, and will reportedly sign for the league minimum. I belive thes two statements have any relevance to each other. If the reds would sign Barry Bonds you are on the verge of something big and another power bat might help push you over the top. There are about 2-3 teams in MLB where I think that move would make sense. i'm not a barry fan, but if you want this team to instantly become better, it'd be hard to argue signing him (for league minimum). he's not a long term answer, but for now? he would help give the reds a BETTER chance. The only problem with signing bonds would be because hes another lefty. I dont think the reds would want 3 lefties batting i nthe top of the linup. This would be a big killer when you get a lefty picther. we can alrleady see then when team thorw lefties we struggle big time. Its just a matter of time when we trade one of our young bucks for a big right handed hitting left fielder. Not only is left field an issuse i think the reds should ytrade for a better hitting and fieldering 3rd baseman. Bonds has been out of the game for a while and with his steroiids crap i just dont think he would be on top of his game. This is like brining back a sammy sosa. He would be a better bench player for the younger genteration then an on the field player.