Don't trade Arroyo, and Dunn for AA players. All of you "experts" that think you're going to get future stars for them are delusional. They couldn't trade Dunn last year for top prospects. And Toronto GM Ricciardi  said what many fans and probably GMs  thought about Dunn. Hits homers, but strikes out a lot, low batting average and displays little "passion" for winning baseball games. Oh, and he forgot to say, Dunn is horrible batting with runners in scoring position.  Oops, he also forgot to say Dunn is a liability in the outfield.  Don't take this is an anti-Dunn rant, I'm just saying he's not going to get you another team's top prosepect. (Here's Doc's column arguing that we should sell now.  Note he doesn't extend a caveat that if you are only offered junk, the Reds should stand pat..)

     Speaking of top prospects, remember Drew Hensen, Brandon Claussen, and Wily Mo Pena?  All were former Yankeee farmhands. Top prospects too.  And at one time, they were property of the Reds.  Hensen is out of baseball and flinging footballs. Last time I looked ,Claussen was in the Nationals' farm system.  Pena is hurt but never reached the superstar status that a five tool player is exepected to.  So what is the point?  Relying on prospects is a crapshoot.  Because even the best prospects don't pan out.  If you get only AA players for Dunn or Arroyo do you really think the  Reds will have quality players for the major league club?   You don't know.  Even if you got a quality AA player, he won't be ready next year, and maybe not the next. After our  failed trades with the Yankkes, do you really want to trade Dunn to them for junk?  And, Reds' Nation how are the Pirates doing and how have they done?   

    Paul Daugherty told me, dealing Dunn and Arroyo is not waving the white flag.  HUH?  So, does he think that if you trade those two, the Reds have a better chance to win this year? Of course not, so you're giving up on 2008.  Wow, Doc and Shotgun sound like Reds' management in 1998, 2003 and 2007 etc. "We're building for the future." And if the future never comes?  Oh, by the way, who plays for Dunn and Arroyo if they're gone?  A Lookout, a Dragon? 

    I agree with both that the Reds' chances of making the playoffs this year are not looking good. They are too inconsistent to get there. But this team has more talent than last year's team and  more than the one in 2006 when the Reds looked like they had a chance. If you're not going to get top prospects, I say let's go with what we have for this year.  I say to Doc and Shotgun, don't fear success. HOPE IS NOT A DIRTY WORD.  REMEMBER THE 1973 REDS. As they said in the movie, "Major League",  I hope the Reds win the whole bleeping thing and make the "experts" eat a bleepburger.     

      (Drew Hensen, 3b.  At least he looks good with a bat.)

A wild fight broke out between the Dragons and Cubs affliate Peoria. After a Peoria player was hit by a pitch, Juiio Castillo retaliated big time. He hit two Dragons,one in the head and a fan in the stands.  While the news indicates that Casillo was aiming at the Dragons' dugout, he missed and struck the fan. The fan was taken to the hospital. What started the fight was Peoria manager shoving Dragons' skipper Donnie Scott. Fifteen players and the two managers were ejected.  (Here's the Yahoo story.)

    Gee, you wonder where the Cubs' fans get their training in becoming a bunch of jerks..

(Dayton Daily News, photo by Dave Munch)

Here's the link to the video provided by the Dayton Daily News. Check out Castillo throwing something towards the stands. That looks like Dragons' outfielder Brandon Menchaca tackling Castillio after he makes the throw.  Way to go Brandon!  Defend your team and your fans.

There's nothing wrong with having hope about the remainder of this Reds' season. Hope gives the team, and the fans the encouragement to fight on. It's not a false emotion with this team. I don't believe in giving up until the season is over. However, the 2008 Reds can have good starting pitching, offense and bullpen. They've shown that they can beat good teams. It's just they're inconsistent and that's why they're not winning.  They're not out of it yet.

    I've written about the 1973 Reds but I want to remind you that team was almost out of it in July.  It was on July 1, in game one of a doubleheader aganst the hated Dodgers, our rival back then. In danger of falling behind by 12 games to them,  Hal King slammed a three run homer to win the game. That ignited the Reds and they caught the Dodgers and won the division. (NL West)  The Reds list the homer as the number eight moment of all time at Riverfront Stadium.  (Here's the cite.)  

     So is it still possible to get in the playoffs?  Based on the 1973 season, yes.  Also note last year, the Rockies won 14 out of their last 15 games, finishing 20-8 in September to make the playoffs. (They won a one game playoff against the Padres. Here's a wikipedia article on them.)

 Hal King, C.

According to Yahoo, Ichiro has given a profanity laced pep talk to A.L. stars since 2001.  And it works according to David Ortiz. Wait a minute Ichiro speaks english? Why that son of bleep, he was fooling us. (Here's the Yahoo article.)

     I've written that the Reds need a Greg Vaughn like leader. But for this team who gives the pep talk? Brandon Phillips?  Dusty Baker? It's definitely a consideration for next year if the Reds look to free agency to plug holes.

     But for this year, somebody needs to make the speech that losing is not acceptable and that we don't quit.  Someone needs to say, "Bleep those Cub b......ds.  Bleep their whining about 100 years without a title.  Bleep their fans.  They're a bunch of bleeping body orifices.  Bleep the Cards. Bleep the Brewers. I'm sick of hearing about the bleeping Brewers.  Bleep the Mets. Bleep the Phillies.  Bleep the bleeping Red Sox . Bleep the Yankees' bleeping money. "

     Got it Reds?  Let's go and win the whole bleeping thing.

 (Vaughn hits 3 homers against the Cubs. Reds win 10-3, 9-7--99; Cin. Enquirer/AP photo)