If the Reds want to compete in 2009, they should sign Mark Teixeira. He will be expensive. But if you're thinking about resigning Dunn, you obviously have money for an everyday player. So instead of resigning Dunn, pony up the extra money and sign Teixeira instead. He also gives you the loss of Dunn's production numbers in home runs and RBIi's. He averages over thirty HRs and one hundred RBIs.

     What can Teixeira do over Dunn?  Well,  you play him at first. Move Joey Votto to left field. He's played there before. Votto may not be better than Dunn but he can't possibly be worse than Dunn, who is s a liablility out there.  Second,  Teixeira hits with RISP, something the Reds badly need. It's a whopping .323.  (Check it out with Baseball Reference.com)   He won't be old at 29 when the season starts either. Even though youth for this team is not a problem.

     It's really worrisome when the GM says the free agent market is "not real strong." (Cin. Enquirer, 8-10-08, col. 2, pg. C-9)  That's always a sign that the team is not going to step up to the bar when it comes to obtaining quality players in free agency. If Bob Castellini is tired of losing then he should pony up the cash.  Otherwise, he should sell the team to an owner who will.  We need an owner who is committed to winning even if it means annoying Bill Cunningham by letting a guy like George Soros  buy the team.  If a guy like Soros cares that much about political causes that don't make money, and he's an immigrant, it's logical that he will have a chip on his shoulder. He'll want to win. (Here's the wikipedia article about his interest in buying the Nationals.) Heck, I'll take Rupert Murdoch if he wants to win. Assuming he doesn't buy the Cubs, what about Mark Cuban?

                                     I love the color of Teixeira's jersey. (photo Chris Nelson)

WLW's Doc Rodgers and John Fay indicate that it's not about 2009 but 2010 or 2011. Daugherty says it's about 2009. Do you see the problem here? Nobody knows when the Reds will win. And they can't. If you depend on building from within, it could take two to three years and it may never happen.

     It's almost as if these guys work for the Reds. I mean this is the same stuff we heard in the late nineties and 2003. By the way, how's that firesale of 2003 looking? Is the big part of the trade, Brandon Claussen,  anchoring our rotation?  The last I looked Claussen is in the Nationals farm system. While Aaron Harang seems to have worked out, Matt Belisle and Phil Dumatrait have not. See, building with young talent does not always work. And let's not forget, the Reds are not old. Among the starting nine and excluding Corey Patterson who probably won't be on this team, Adam Dunn is now the old man at twenty eight.

     So how do you make a quick turnaround? If it's about 2009, then you've got  to spend money. Doc Rodgers emphasizes that the Tigers did if from within  Well, kind of. After a terrible 2003 year, they signed Pudge Rodriguez. In 2006, they added Kenny Rogers and Todd Jones. They went to the World Series that year. The Cubs are the better example. They took risks and added Soriano, Lilly and Marquis. They went from 66 wins to division champs in one year.

     If the Reds build from within, who knows when it will happen,  2009, 2010 2011, etc. You're better off hoping for a Super Bowl from the Bengals.  

How about Creation Museum Book Burning Night? Fans can bring in science books and there could be a bonfire on the playground. A lucky child can light the fire. I mean kids love those dinosaurs at the musuem and it's all about indoctrinating them with fundamentalist beliefs, like people and dinsoaurs existed together; the earth is only 6000 years old etc. Prepare to unlearn.

    In the spirit of yesterday's "Ladies Night" here are other promotions to get fans in the stands and generate excitement.

2.  Fan Humiliation Day- Sponsered by the Cubs. When the Cubs come to town, a "lucky" fan will be publicly spanked by a Cubs fan with a one of those fraternity pledge paddles Don't worry, only three butt slaps. The lucky Reds fan must yell with each slap, "Thank you sir, may I have another" just like  "Animal House." Hey, they play that Belushi "It ain't over" clip all the time.

3.  Big Donkey Baseball -  Adam Dunn must play the outfield riding a donkey. I know this will improve his range but if an opposing team complains, just remind them the Reds don't win anyway.

4.   Get More Hits than Corey Patterson Night-  Major League Baseball allows the Reds to use a designated hitter with a fan.  A fan for the special night will be given a chance to get more hits than Corey, and the prize is a year's supply of toothpicks.

5.  Diehard Day- I got this from "Major League." Any Reds' fan alive during the 1940 World Championship season gets half price admission. Any fan alive during the 1919 Championship season gets a free ticket and a hot dog.

6.  Reds' Survivor- The fan who attends the most consecutive season games gets a special prize from Bob Castellini; a yearlong supply of vegetables.

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With Jr. gone, I feel sad when I see him in a White Sox picture. I also care less about this year's team. I really enjoyed watching one of the greatest players in a Reds uniform. Yes, he was not having a "Jr." year. But there was entertainment in seeing greatness on the field. And if the pitcher made a mistake, Jr. could still make him pay for it with a home run.

     For eight years, the familiarity of seeing his smiling face and joy in playing baseball was a comfort. I wonder how the players are taking it.  The talk of leadership on the club heated up after Jr. left. Yet he wasn't a leader. But maybe it was losing a friend. We know Adam Dunn liked Jr and hated the trade. Jay Bruce idolized him. He made Josh Fogg and the city laugh when he paid him  in thousands of pennies as a joke.  

    What I miss the most is the sacrifice he took to come here. He didn't ask for ARod type money. He wanted to play for his hometown team, our team, the Cincinnati Reds. He deferred his salary to bring pitching that never came. He did the big charitable things and he did the small ones. When a New York  family who had lost the father because he was firefighter  responding to the 9-11 attacks contacted Jr., Jr. befriended them. Then there was the boy whose grandfather died at a game, and Jr. took the child under his wing. Recently,  after belting a home run, he gave a batting helmet to a young fan.

      He didn't gripe when management did not build a team around him. He didn't make a ruckus when the Reds were wheeling out guys like Jimmy Anderson, Jimmy Haynes, Paul Wilson, Dave Williams or Eric Milton.

     I think years from now when we look back, we'll say we were privileged to see Jr. play. Right now we're left with the memories.

How do the Reds win in 2009? Sorry Bob Castellini,  you've got to spend money. Look at the Cubs. They went from 66 wins in 2006 to winning the division. They took big risks in signing ptichers like Lilly, and Marquis. They threw a lot dough at Soriano. They also added Lou Piniella. Look at the Detroit Tigers, no not this year but what happend in 2003.  They went from a disastrous 43 win season and spent money on payroll. They won 73 wins in 2004 and in 2006 they went to the World Series. They sent a message to the fans when they signed Pudge Rodriquez in 2004. If you don't spend money, tommorrow is at least two years away,  if ever.

    The funny thing is that the Reds actually have an outfielder problem. Griffey is gone. Do you sign Dunn?  What about bringing a player with leadership qualities? That leaves Jay Bruce. Jerry Hairston? Look at Jerry's baseball card. Doesn't leave you much to be confident about, does it?  Mark Kotsay, anyone?  (Here's the 2009 free agent list from MLB Trade Rumors. Have fun.)

    In sunday's Enquirer, Paul Daugherty who usually makes sense, had a brain fart.  He suggests the team can learn to win by getting rid of the couch in the clubhouse.  The freaking couch!? I'm not kidding.  I didn't know that the couch pitches and hits. (Here's his column.)  

   Meanwhile, top 2006 pick, Drew Stubbs is in Chattanooga (AA).  Hey, he's hitting .303 with 66 AB. He's probably two years away.

   Drew Stubbs