LOL - It's in JD's contract. Funny.

I'll give you Tracy not managing his staff very well, but if you've ever listened to some of his logic in strategy on the field, its right on the money. It's pretty amazing.

And he did get them to the Playoffs last year despite all the crap they went through.

CHOI does suck. But the guy isn't given an every day assignment to get in the groove. I'm still on Valentin's side. Solid ballplayer but definately not comparable to Beltre's defense. If Beltre were having a bad year here this year and we paid all that money, can you imagine how the fans would have gotten on his case. Poor guy.

Right now I love Kent at 1st. BUt I also like trying out Phillips on 1st. He does hit the ball. People don't realize it but Phillips is a really good utility player. Seeing Navarro behind the plate and having him back up Bako next year would be simply awesome.

If I were to make up the team before Midnight July 31st I would have wanted something like this:

C Navarro
1B AUBREY HUFF
2B Kent
SS Izturis
3B Valentin

LF Werth
CF KEN GRIFFEY JR
RF Bradley

CLOSER: DANYS BAEZ

All were possible. Get rid of Edwin Jackson! Keep Brazoban as a setup man.

Imagine if GRIFFEY (yes, big contract that Reds want out of) and/or ADAM DUNN were in the lineup and how that would help both Valentin and possibly get Kent more hits than he's aleady getting.

If only they got a closer, it would shorten up the game so much! You can't have the mindset that you had with Gagne because his setup guy is now closing. There's no setup man!!! It lengthens the game big time.

Imagine getting Brazoban in at the 8th with any middle reliever to go in the 6th if needed and 7th.

Having BAEZ or any legit closer would have made this team so much better.

All along I've been saying ONE STARTER AND A CLOSER. Need it to get into the playoffs, and need it IN the playoffs.

Offense ain't gonna get us through the playoffs. Pitching does.

Mute point now. Unless there's some Waiver things that go on. Still hope... But little.