The number one thing the Reds need is a level 10 magical healing spell for Rolen. As we noticed last year when he was out and when he returned, as well as the stints he's been out of the lineup this year, he is the one player Cincy can't do without for a long stretch. While Votto's numbers are fantastic this year, Rolen is my pick for NL MVP at the break. Rolen is the straw that stirs the drink for this club.

 

Absolutely no doubt... The Reds win with him; they lose without him. Just check the numbers since he joined the club.

Bautista would be intriguing, although I'm not sure how you relagate the ML HR leader to a platoon/utility role...

Bautista would be intriguing, although I'm not sure how you relagate the ML HR leader to a platoon/utility role...

 

Well, it would certainly cost someone like Jay Bruce a lot of ABs against lefties. Then again, every year we see situations where a team in contention picks up a closer from a team that's out of it and uses him as their 7th or 8th-inning guy.

Well, it would certainly cost someone like Jay Bruce a lot of ABs against lefties. Then again, every year we see situations where a team in contention picks up a closer from a team that's out of it and uses him as their 7th or 8th-inning guy.

 

I know it's been done in the past, but I wonder what kind of message that would send to Bruce, who is having his best overall season in the bigs, if he starts losing ABs down the stretch. Do you use him in RF against lefties, to spell Rolen at 3B, and platoon him with Gomes in LF? I just don't necessarily see the benefit of adding a .237 power hitter to a lineup that already leads the NL in HRs as being a big improvement.

I know it's been done in the past, but I wonder what kind of message that would send to Bruce, who is having his best overall season in the bigs, if he starts losing ABs down the stretch. Do you use him in RF against lefties, to spell Rolen at 3B, and platoon him with Gomes in LF? I just don't necessarily see the benefit of adding a .237 power hitter to a lineup that already leads the NL in HRs as being a big improvement.

 

I would suggest that Bruce do the same thing Bautista would be doing in this hypothetical situation: Do what's best for the team, rather than the individual, in the quest for the postseason.

Although Bautista's ability to play multiple positions is intriguing, I don't think Bautista is the answer. As one of the HR Leaders, Toronto will probably want too much in return for him. I'd be more inclined to pick up somebody like Hank Blalock (recently released), Ty Wiggington, Garret Atkins (recently released) or someone else at a much cheaper price.

Although Bautista's ability to play multiple positions is intriguing, I don't think Bautista is the answer. As one of the HR Leaders, Toronto will probably want too much in return for him. I'd be more inclined to pick up somebody like Hank Blalock (recently released), Ty Wiggington, Garret Atkins (recently released) or someone else at a much cheaper price.

 

Atkins' and Blalock's respective declines in production look very suspicious to me, timing-wise. I don't think either will ever again remotely approach their mid-'90s peak form. Especially Atkins, who figures also to have benefited greatly from playing in Denver. I want no part of either.

 

Wigginton is intriguing because of the versatility aspect (1B/2B/3B), but he makes $1.1 mil more than Bautista ($3.5m - $2.4m). I can't help but wonder if Bautista's performance this year is a fluke more than anything, since he's never done in a whole season what he's done through the first half of this year. I don't know that Toronto would be as demanding as you think.

Atkins' and Blalock's respective declines in production look very suspicious to me, timing-wise. I don't think either will ever again remotely approach their mid-'90s peak form. Especially Atkins, who figures also to have benefited greatly from playing in Denver. I want no part of either.

 

Wigginton is intriguing because of the versatility aspect (1B/2B/3B), but he makes $1.1 mil more than Bautista ($3.5m - $2.4m). I can't help but wonder if Bautista's performance this year is a fluke more than anything, since he's never done in a whole season what he's done through the first half of this year. I don't know that Toronto would be as demanding as you think.

 

You're right about Blalock & Atkins. What I meant was to bring them in on a minor league deal & see what they can do there, similar to Gary Matthews Jr. If it works out, great. If not, so be it.

 

After quickly perusing Bautista's numbers, you're right (again). I don't know what Toronto would be asking, but I feel confident that it'd be more than I was willing to give up for him. He's a career .238 hitter with more than 25% of his career HR coming this season...

I do like the most recent deal we made with Toronto-acquiring Rolen and giving up power hitting Edwin Encarnacion.

Bruce needs to have blinders put on him so he does not see the runners on base. When no one is on base, he looks like a completely different hitter.