I was out of town this week setting up my move to Dallas so I was out of the loop regarding the latest Bengal debacle against New Orleans. On my return  I saw the photos of Carson battered and bleeding.  I heard the quote from Dave Lapham that no one was "doing a damn thing out there".  The remark that this team has no energy from backup Ryan Fitzpatrick. 

Funny how this collapse 2 weeks prior to the season coincides with the resigning of Chris Henry.  I may be way out of line in saying this, but any credibility Marvin Lewis regained with his "hard line stance" involving Henry and Thurman's release and the refusal to cave on Chad's trade demands has flown out the window along with any chance this team will contend for a playoff spot, as the resigning of Henry was all Mike Brown.  A coach with no control over his team has no respect from the players.  How can they take anything he says seriously when Mike Brown plays him like a puppet? 

Adding insult to Marvins fatal injury were reports this week that ownership is shopping Rudi Johnson as trade bait for another reciever, and again, Marvin was not in the know. He did not, however, categorically deny the rumor, stating management may be making the calls regarding such scenarios.

Either this is a case of Marvin separating himself from the disaster to come, or there is truly no communication ongoing with coach and owner.  Either way, it does not bode well for the future of Marvin Lewis as coach of the Bengals.  Nor does the losing stop.

  Sad to say, but only an ownership change will eliminate the culture of losing that has made Cincinnat a joke.Barring a Charles Dickens type " Christmas Carol" visit from Paul Brown himself , to show his son the mess he's created, the status quo will prevail.  Mikey will count his money and pretend he actually cares about winning, while Bengals suffer through  another 7-9 season,and hope for next year yet again.

Mixed feelings on Adam Dunn trade.  I go back and forth as to what his value was to this team.  Yes he strikes out ALOT.  Yes his defense is a liability.  The perception that he doesn't' hit well in the clutch is a little misleading.  Besides, 40 hrs, 100 rbi, 100 runs, 100 walks EVERY year is valued in ths the major leagues.  Despite the low batting average Dunn was 2nd in OBP in the Majors at the time of the trade.  Another note: if you look at Dunns HR totals for the previous 7 years prior to this years League leading pace, he had more HR's than Griffey Jr's 1st 7 years in the Majors.  Comparing his no's to A Rod's (if you include the 1st 2 years of A Rods career where he only played in 56 games and Dunn's 1st season also around 56 games} the numbers are nearly identical.  Granted, A Rod hits for a better average and doesn't have the high stikeouts but with Dunn's OBP, you get the picture.  That being said, someone will pay the 100 million plus he's reportedly seeking but it wasn't going to be the Reds.  I don't blame them.  As I stated after the Griffey trade, this team is headed in the right direction with the talented youth on their roster.  Freeing up the cash that would have been tied up in Griffey and Dunn, Jocketty has a chance to really build around the nucleus of this team.  Brandon Phillips can now step into the leadership position on this team.  Get a couple more pitchers fill out the starting roster around Volquez and Queto; Arroyo is pitching better, and hopefully the issues surrounding Harang's poor starts can be worked out.  He's not been the same since the extra inning relief stint.  Get rid of the dead weight on this team, such as Patterson and Bako.  This team can compete next year

Like everyone else in 2000, when the Reds traded for Jr.  I had sky high expectations.  Sadly, it never worked out for Griffey or the Reds.  I'm glad to see that Griffey will get to join a pennant contender, but more importantly, I'm glad  for the Reds that they are finally moving on.  This season has been a dissapointment for obvious reasons, but at the same time, the future for this club looks brighter than anytime in the last 9 years that Griffey was here.  It was time for both to move on.

Any fans of Trower out there? Here's a sampler