DO THE REDS NEED ANOTHER BAT?
At the beginning of the season, you just knew that some aspect of the Reds' pitching staff would prove to be problematical.
It was a given, it was preordained.
It was just a matter of where the breakdown would occur.
And sure enough, the middle relief has shown itself to be sorely lacking and bordering on clueless. Yet, that development really comes as no surprise.
But it seemed the one thing that Cincinnati could count on was its' offense.
The Reds' strength was the firepower in their lineup. Pounding opposing pitchers and scoring bushels of runs wasn't suppose to be an issue.
Cincy's pitching may have had holes but by gosh, that potent lineup would make up for it and crush you into oblivion. The bats would make more noise than an Ohio thunderstorm.
Well, guess what? The expected hasn't happened. The predictions have fallen flat. The hype hasn't materialized.
Far from being a towering source of strength, the Reds' lineup has suffered from frustrating hiccups and spasms. Inconsistency has reigned. What was thought to be a decided advantage has morphed into a bit of an unknown.
Their recent efforts against Kansas City and Cleveland notwithstanding, doubt is creeping in as to whether the Reds, as currently constructed, can be reliable enough at the plate to make a post season push.
Who'd have ever envisioned that? Kreskin maybe but that's about it.
Now, G. M. Wayne Krivsky is facing another potential dilemma. Already burdened by the knowledge he must quickly fortify his shaky middle relief, Krivsky must soon decide if he can afford to stand pat with a sometimes erratic and underachieving lineup.
It may sound like heresy, it may strike some as going beyond the pale but a startling truth must be confronted. As implausible as it sounds, Cincy may not be good enough with the lumber to get the job done.
And that rates as an absolute shocker.
Perceived to be an offensive juggernaut, the Reds have too often shot blanks and been blanked. Their hitting has been missing in action with surprising frequency. Like a mysterious wind, their strokes come and go.
That's not exactly a formula for success.
And so the question must be asked. Do the Reds need to bolster their attack? Is a new stick required to possibly save the season?
One look at the stat sheet clearly reflects that collectively, the Reds' hitters haven't been quite up to snuff. It could be said that they haven't been as good as advertised. Nor have they lived up to their billing.
Now that's not to imply that the batsmen, on balance, haven't been passable or moderately successful. Virtually all of the regulars have had their moments but most of them really haven't reached expectations.
Only three players, catcher David Ross (.308, 10 homers), Brandon Phillips (.320, 44 RBI, 15 steals) and the multi-dimensional Ryan Freel (.294, 18 steals) are having what could be considered standout years. Everyone else falls short of that level.
And therein lies the problem. To win a divisional title or secure a wild card berth, it's almost a must that you have anywhere from four to six regulars mashing with great effect. Right now, the Reds are nowhere that number.
So what to do? Staying with the status quo isn't really such a bad option because based on past history, some of the Reds figure to perk up and possibly take off. Guys like Ken Griffey, Adam Dunn, Felipe Lopez and Rich Aurila have shown they can get on a roll and single-handedly lift a team.
There's also hope that youngsters Austin Kearns and Edwin Encarnacion (when he returns from a rehab stint) will begin to heat up and elevate their averages from where they currently reside.
But the fact that the All-Star break is rapidly approaching and the lineup as a whole still hasn't hit its stride is worrisome. It makes one wonder if Cincy is ever going to get it together as a unit.
Their very future is dependent on whether they can find a balance and rhythm throughout their lineup that has thus far eluded them.
Believing that the current roster has the goods and eventually will bust out is understandable but there's no guarantee that's going to happen. While making no changes would be understandable, a bold stroke may be needed to put the Reds over the top.
Another educated bat might be just what the doctor ordered.
But only the shrewd Krivsky, along with input from skipper Jerry Narron, can make that determination. If the Reds' exec should decide that he indeed needs some more punch, the smart money says that he'll find a way to procure another hitter.
Who that may be and when he might come aboard we'll leave to Krivsky. But time's a wasting. The season is reaching critical mass. The moment of truth is here.
So do the Reds need another bat.? Would the addition of one more stick make the ultimate difference?
It's strictly Krivsky's call. The Reds' fans hope he gets it right.