Game 9: Reds at Marlins - 7:10 p.m.

[redsfan28]

Reds Lineup:

1) Dickerson - CF
2) Janish - SS
3) Votto - 1B
4) Phillips - 2B
5) Rolen - 3B
6) Bruce - RF
7) Gomes - LF
8) Hernandez - C
9) Bailey - P

[DirtyKash]

Damn. Now is not the time to rest the O-Cab.

[Kingdom]

Whoa, redsfan out of hiding. Reds fans.. are.. slowly oozing back to take over the world. O_O

[missionhockey21]

Carroll is going to town on Reds pitching tonight.

Bailey once again is crushed by the long ball and 3-4-5, so far, are being huge bums. Even though those two walks from Brandon Phillips is refreshing to see.

[redsrbetter]

Damn. Now is not the time to rest the O-Cab.

Janish worked out nicely. But yes, I was surprised.

[redsrbetter]

Bailey concerns me at the beginning of the season I think. Is it just me? The Reds really don't have a good constructed lineup. Too many holes. We said it last year, but it is getting tougher to take. Yet I do like the bats better. One year more mature usually means better things. I just wish Dusty would take BP out of the cleanup spot and maybe bat him fifth or sixth. Janish worked out tonight, but having the SS as the designated 2 hole hitter no matter who it is, is simply a mistake. Same can be said for CF and leadoff. Stubbs would be better served in the 7th or 8th spot right now. Yet I don't know how much this would help.

Anyway, this wasn't even a fun game to watch. Although some leather was flashed for both teams and that was enjoyable. Simply put, I hope the bats wake up against worthy pitchers sometime this year.

[missionhockey21]

Problem with Phillips is that unless someone really steps up, it would be hard, with a temperament like Brandon's, to move him unless he was simply being outhit beyond question. Ideally Bruce would take that spot, but Bruce would first need to hit...

[redsfan28]

Rolen is the only person I'd stick in the 4 hole right now.

Homer is simply thinking too much right now. He's forgetting to get the ball down. We've seen it before. I know he had nothing more to prove down in triple A, but I still think they rushed him up too soon. If they keep this up, he will be Brian Reith with better stuff.

This team as it is currently constructed is no better than .500, plain and simple. They simply cannot hit enough to contend. 10 runs, right now, is the exception more than the rule. I worry about the bullpen. If we are in more 1 or 2 run ball games, this bullpen is going to burn out components quick.