Lineup provides confusion
Freel, Pena have replaced others with their hot bats

By John Fay
Enquirer staff writer

MIAMI - Dave Miley doesn't subscribe to the Ray Knight school of managerial pronouncements.

Knight once declared Eric Owens would be his everyday left fielder the rest of the season. Owens didn't make it through the rest of the week.

So Miley hasn't announced that Ryan Freel is his everyday second baseman. Just like he didn't announce that Wily Mo Pena had supplanted Austin Kearns in right field.

But Miley did say this: Freel will start at second base today.

That's how it started with Pena. A couple of starts, some production and Miley kept writing Pena's name on the lineup card as Pena kept hitting.

Freel made his fourth start in five games Saturday and he kept hitting (two singles and a double to extend his hitting streak to five games).

So the guess here is Miley will writing Freel's name on the lineup card.

Playing Freel every day is the only way to change the dynamic of the Reds' offense, which isn't very dynamic these days. Thirteen runs over five games is anemic.

One of baseball's catch phases these days is: "It is was it is."

In the Reds' case, they are what they are.
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