Our Next Left Fielder...

Criteria for vacancy
1. Needs to be a free-agent
2. Needs to be a left fielder
3. Must possess a power bat
4. Must not be counted on to carry the franchise
5. Must be better than Rocco Baldelli

Hmmmm. This sounds like someone familiar.

Seriously folks, why did we trade Adam Dunn? The Reds now realize that it’s kind of hard to replace a 40 HR-100 RBI guy with a career .381 OBP. Sure, he’s a defensive liability. Sure, he hits for low average. Sure, his large, bumbly frame makes it look like he’s not trying very hard. But we unfairly counted on him to lead a below-average franchise and we never surrounded him with serious talent. If the Big Donkey’s numbers stayed the same and the Reds won 90 games annually, we would be on our knees for some Donkey Dick. Unfortunately, as the losing continued, Donk, our most visible player, shouldered most of the blame.

And now, here are the Reds, scrambling to find a left field power bat. The remaining options are--not including Manny--Rocco Baldelli, Garrett Anderson, Moises Alou, Luis Gonzalez, Jacque Jones, Jay Payton, Emil Brown and…Adam Dunn!!! Holy shit!!!


Would you take a second chance on him? I would.

Walt Jocketty would rather not get into it

The Reds missed the boat on Pat Burrell today. The official propaganda machine for the Reds, reds.com, tried to spin this into a positive, but it does nothing to pass the smell detector test. Simply put, the Reds botched it.

Pat the Bat signed a two-year contract worth $16 million with the Tampa Bay Rays. Considering Pat is coming off a steady 33 HR year with a World Series ring, the price was considerably lower than any team expected, especially the Reds.

"I'd rather not get into it," said Reds GM Walt Jocketty.

The Anatomy of a Loser a.k.a. "getting into it"
1. The Rays do not resign Rocco Baldelli because he is mediocre.
2. Committed to winning, the Rays go out and find a better replacement--Burrell.
3. The Reds, with a huge hole in left field and the middle of the order, never show a serious commitment to Burrell, one of a few free agents who will properly fill that hole.
4. After their worst dreams are realized and Burrell is gobbled up cheap, they decide to go after the lesser player to save their ass--Rocco Baldelli. Let's watch the desperation unfold in the next few weeks.

It's nice to know our management is patching up the holes--Oooo, spin for desert.