Published: June 29, 2008 11:09 pm            

Let the revolution begin in Cincinnati

Let me, first of all, say that I was absolutely wrong in saying that the Cincinnati Reds would win the National League Central Division as I wrote at the beginning of the season.

Pending some astounding maniacal miracle, the Reds will be lucky to finish the season better than last place.

Okay, so I may be exaggerating a bit or just blowing off a little steam, but it is frustrating to see the same thing happen year in and year out.

On Friday night, I was in Cleveland for the series opener against the Indians. Cleveland ace C.C. Sabathia straight up dominated Reds’ hitters, striking out 11 and giving up four hits in eight innings.

The game marked the halfway point of the season and the Reds were just sitting at 36 wins. The math is pretty simple. That means, based on the first half performance, Cincinnati is on pace to win 72 games.

Seventy-two wins? Any other season, I would understand, but look at this team on paper. The talent-level is at least capable of a .500 season, and I think much more.

As I sat there in my seat twenty rows back from the left field line, the pessimistic thoughts just kept compiling in my head.

I looked around the field, wondering what was missing.

Change. That’s what is missing. Even though the pieces are nearly all there.

Let me rephrase the term, “change,” though. I’ll call it a “revolution.”

The self-proposed Reds Revolution includes seven items of adjustment:

1) The revolutionized Reds shall not include Ken Griffey, Jr.

I have defended the 38-year-old all-star ever since he dawned his first Reds uniform in 2000, but it’s time. Dusty Baker seems to insist on keeping his veterans happy, and while he keeps Junior in the No. 3 hole in the lineup, which is supposed to be the best hitter’s slot, it is taken up by a .235 batter. Griffey should not be kept away from his family, who lives in Orlando, Fla., any longer. The Reds should do the future Hall-of-Famer a favor and send him to Tampa.

2) The revolutionized Reds shall start Ryan Freel in center field every day, when healthy.

With Freel’s all-out style of play, he will inevitably make frequent trips to the disabled list. But when he’s healthy, he should be in the leadoff spot and play center field every day. Freel stole a total of 110 bases from 2004-2006 and had hit .298 in 48 games this season. However, when he is on the DL, a role player such as Jerry Hairston, Jr., is a sufficient replacement.

3) The revolutionized Reds shall not bat Adam Dunn second.

Reds radio broadcaster Marty Brennaman talked on the air at the beginning of the season how the No. 2 hitter should be your best contact hitter. I agree, and Dunn is anything but a contact hitter. The left-handed slugger fogged my mind too, when he took a first-inning pitch from Sabathia into deep center field on Friday night, but Grady Sizemore’s stupendous catch against the wall knocked me back into my seat and back into reality. Dunn should hit in the sixth spot. Which brings me to another point — there should be no talk of trading Dunn. Forty home runs, 100 walks, 100 RBIs and 100 runs do not just happen for anybody.

4) The revolutionized Reds shall also keep Brandon Phillips. Reds GM Walt Jocketty made a statement a couple weeks ago on a radio show, according to mlb.com, that there were five “untouchables” on the team, meaning that five current players would not be traded.

Those five are Jay Bruce, Edwin Encarnacion, Joey Votto, Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto.

And I almost completely agree.

I would, without a doubt, much rather have Brandon Phillips than Encarnacion. Phillips is 27 years old, just two years older than Encarnacion, and handles a much steadier stick. Since 2006, Phillips has hit .281 with 60 home runs and has stolen 81 bases. In the same span, Encarnacion has hit .274 with 43 home runs and has swiped only 15 bases.

Both play with an outstanding amount of passion, which is evident on the field, but Phillips seems like more of an energetic leader than Encarnacion.

However, I am, for the most part, on the same page as Jocketty. Honestly, if the Reds could keep both on the team, it would be for the better.

5) The revolutionized Reds need to let their hair go. That would be Bronson Arroyo’s hair. To depend on such a mediocre pitcher is damaging to a team that wants to win. I am guilty of jumping on the Bronson bandwagon in 2006, but since then, he has shown everyone how middle-of-the-road and inconsistent he actually is. Get rid of him while he still has the least bit of value.

6) The revolutionized Reds will have to be patient with Aaron Harang. Harang had been a consistent and reliable pitcher up until this season, and while the reason for his downfall is unclear, he will rebound and lead this rotation until Volquez or Cueto takes over as the ace.

7) The revolutionized Reds need a dependable catcher. So far, each of the Reds’ three catchers has been inconsistent. David Ross has not found his bat that he had in 2006, Javier Valentin does better in a pinch hitter’s role and Paul Bako has cooled down severely since April. But I’m not just talking about offense. Cincinnati needs a solid leader behind the plate that knows the game and knows his pitchers. Catcher is arguably the most important position on the field.

I picked the Reds to win their division at the beginning of the season because I saw loads of potential. The problem is that the potential has yet to blossom into victories. The ball club continues to go in the right direction on paper, but there is something that has not shown up on the diamond.

I would bet on one thing, though, and that is if and when these young players get some W’s under their belts, I think they will form something Reds fans will remember.

AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.com

        

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