Well what now!

Well, Now that the 2009 edition of the Cincinnati Reds has stunk up the place and is now hotly contending with the triple A Pirates for worst of the worst in the NL Central, let’s assess the damage and see where we go from here.

Ryan Hanigan seems to provide steady leadership behind the plate. He hits for average, very little power, but has a rocket arm and good defensive skills. Frankly, the Reds could do worse.

Craig Tatum is batting .150; this is unacceptable and he needs to be sent down. I realize that he is only holding Ramon Hernandez’s spot, but certainly someone else could/should be tried.

Frankly, the Reds need Ramon next year. He has provides steady leadership and surprising versatility.

The position of Shortstop, long a bastion of Reds fielding prowess, has become a major joke. The disinterested and ineffective Alex Gonzalez needs to be released after yesterdays screw up. Here is another Red batting less than .200. This no longer can be tolerated.

Dusty Baker seems to have so little faith in Paul Janish that he will not play him in front of a guy who clearly does not want to play baseball, so why is he still here? Trade him away, do it now!

The Reds acquired classy veteran Scott Rolen for the inconsistent and petulant Edwin Encarnacion. It was clear from Encarnacion’s reaction to the trade that he wanted out of Cincinnati. Frankly, not too many Reds fans (or Reds pitchers if you could get them to fess up) are sad to see him go.

The Reds have Rolen for the rest of the year and next, this should buy them some time to shore up 3rd base long term.

Second base is the domain of gold glove winner Brandon Phillips who along with Joey Votto are the only Reds delivering as promised. Both seem very frustrated, and why shouldn’t they? Dusty Baker has done a good job of managing Phillips, who needs it.

Joey Votto should be the first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds for a very long time. The inner ear problem is of some concern however. Hopefully this goes away and does not come back.

Right field seems like it will be occupied by slugger Johnny Gomes. This was a great move by the Reds front office and one of the few nice surprises in a season chock full of unfortunate minefield explosions. Gomes is never going to be a great fielder, he just does not move very well, but he’s not Adam Dunn bad either. He is the right handed power bat that the Reds need.

Left field is Jay Bruce’s position for the next 10 years. Hopefully he rebounds from his wrist injury and a sub par opening campaign. His defense is excellent and his cannon arm is a major deterrent to taking liberties on the base paths.

Center field is another hole in the Reds defense. Willy Taveras is a back up player, nothing more. I had wished that the Reds had completed the trade for Juan Pierre with the Dodgers. Chris Dickerson seems to be a nice player but I remain unconvinced he is a stellar centerfielder.

In all the Reds have some big holes at short and center, not good places to have them. The Reds have some guys that need to go, namely Alex Gonzalez and Willy Taveras (you can add David Weathers to this bunch).

Chris Welsh, the Reds long time color commentator, stated that hitting coach Brook Jacoby is preaching the same gospel as other hitting coaches and it seems that the Reds players are not listening. If this is true, and I believe that it is, this is an indictment of the head coach.

Frankly, these Reds are an embarrassment to the city they represent and the storied history of the franchise. Frankly, Dusty Baker, after yesterdays performance, should have made them line up on the right field line and run gassers. If they are going to make high school team mistakes, then they should take high school team punishment.

Big D