If we could just get the pitching on the same page...

Well, I hate to say it, but I think regardless of what moves the Reds make, the Playoffs in 2008 are a foregone conclusion. With that in mind, here's what I think they should do to try and work towards the Playoffs in '09:

1. Trade Ken Griffey to an AL contender where he can DH and play some OF from time to time...someone like the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays are absolutely loaded with minor league talent. Maybe they could lure away someone like Reid Brignac to be the future SS in Cincy. Or maybe package Griffey with Arroyo to snag one of their young arms (McGee or Davis) along with Brignac.

2. Trade Adam Dunn to anyone willing to overpay for him. I would call the Astros and the Rangers, maybe the Rangers first after working out that gem of a deal for Volquez. Offer Dunn for catching prospect, Max Ramirez, or try and snag their other catching prospects...Taylor Teagarden or Jarod Saltalamacchia. You may even be able to get a pitching prospect with Ramirez since he's a bit lower (AA) than the other 2 guys..and tearing up at a .360 clip right now, with 15 HR's and 45 RBI's. A guy named Thomas Diamond...a former top prospect of the Rangers might be a "reclamation project" they could snag along with one of the catching prospects. The Rangers have a lot more higher level prospects than the Astros do, thanks to the Miguel Tejada deal, so I'd certainly lean the direction.

After that, I think I'd see if I could work out a similar extension for Jay Bruce, that Evan Longoria got...solid money for a young player, but not crazy money that will hamstring your organization for 10 years. And, then, I'd see if there's solid interest in Aaron Harang for some top-flight pitching prospects. The Cubs could be very interested in him, and probably willing to trade away some of their prized pitching prospects (Veal, Gallagher, etc.) to get him.

For me, if I'm the Reds..the attendance already sucks, so I just do what the Giants did, and go as young as you can...let the kinds play, and see what happens.

Make both of those deals, and you've got a potentially great nucleus "up the middle" with Max Ramirez/Saltalamacchia/Teagarden at Catcher, Reid Brignac at SS, an already dominant Brandon Phillips at 2B, and the icing on the cake...Jay Bruce in centerfield. Plus, if you can get one of the young arms from the Rays (Davis, McGee, etc.) along with a lower level prospect from the Rangers, you've got a lot of young talent that can start to contribute along with Bruce, Votto, and Encarnacion.

Hey, I like some of your ideas. Definitely. If I were upper management, I'd be more than happy to deal Arroyo for just about whatever decent prospect(s) I could get. Harang, while I have much faith in his ability to turn it around, and feel a need for a veteran presence on the pitching staff, would still deal him if the pot was right.

As far as who to put with him, that's where I tend to disagree. Being from Cincy, I know that Junior puts butts in the seats. I also know that as long as he's around my young players, they have plenty to learn and a teacher. (Who better to learn from, huh?) As for Dunn, I'm thinking loyalty here. The guy doesn't hit less than 40 HR, keeps an OBP of .380 - .400, earns an avg. of 100 walks, and drives in 90-100 runs. I know he strikes out a ton. But he stays healthy and plays hard. Not to mention that with every season we keep him he produces more records (team) and gets closer to putting up some MLB numbers. (I personally believe every team can afford to keep one veteran for pinch hitting/platoon/EXPERIENCE AND PRESENCE, such as Griffey, and one veteran everyday starter such as Dunn. It's for the fans, attendance, experience, teaching, and money. These all come into play.)

With that said, I'd also like to add that we probably won't ever see the Reds strike up too many deals with any NL Central team such as the Cubbies or Houston. It just doesn't happen. Especially for a guy we'd have to face so many times who can, when hitting, do SO MUCH damage.)

I really see a great future for my boys with Volquez and Cueto on the pitching staff, and Bruce, Votto, and Phillips in the lineup. We've got a great set of platoon guys with Hairston and Keppinger and Freel at SS, but I totally agree, we need to get a hold of a good young SS lke Reid Brignac. And I DEFINITELY would like to see one good catcher instead of the day in day out Bako/Ross/Valentin tossup.

Overall I'd love to see my dudes pull something off. I'm just not willing to part with Junior or Dunn.

Also, I think there is PLENTY of time to turn this season around.

There is plenty of time to turn things around, but honestly, I just don't see the Reds being able to turn it around. Outside of Volquez, their starting pitching has been terrible. Arroyo should be ashamed of how he's pitched the past 2 seasons, and the fact that Cueto, at age 22, has the 2nd most wins on the team speaks not only of how good he can be, but how bad the rest of the staff has been so far. I agree that Harang will still turn things around, so if it were me, I'd try and deal someone else instead.

And, in regards to Junior...sure, it's nice to have some veteran guys around, but I'm not sure how many games you've been to this season, but I'm afraid Junior and Dunn, and anyone else for that matter haven't been doing a great job of putting butts in the seats. Which, honestly, I kind of enjoy, because it makes it really easy to get great seats on short notice for teams I want to see down here.

In regards to Dunn, I like him as a player, but as far as I know, he's in the final year of his contract, and will more than likely want $12-15 million per season...at least, and I know I would not be willing to pay that kind of money. Same thing with Griffey. At some point, the Reds need to start treating their front office like a front office of a small market team, instead of the Midwest Giants from years past, where their payroll is tied up in 1-2 players. I also believe Griffey is in the final year of his contract. I'm sorry, but I'd deal both guys and get something while I can, because you can pretty much guarantee they're going to whomever offers the most $..and we both know, if that's the case, it won't be the Reds they're coming back to.

Just something else to think about...but, with their pitching staff as bad as it is, you're not going to win many games when your leading hitter(s) (Votto/Phillips) are batting .269. And, the funny thing is...Adam Dunn is hitting a "robust" .229, and is the 5th leading hitter on this team. (Of course, with 200+ at-bats with all these hitting stats...otherwise, the Godsend himself, Jay Bruce would be leading the way, and probably will lead the team in many categories for some time to come.)

I called this at the beginning of the season when everyone was saying "watch out for the Reds" this season...they could be a Cinderella in the Central -- I told everyone who said that, "There are too many question marks, and too many if's". If Cueto & Volquez produce and stay in the rotation all season, if the bullpen can actually get the ball to Cordero with a lead, and the list went on and on. It's especially difficult with Dusty being in love with his veterans. Sure, Votto had a tough spring, but there's no reason he shouldn't have been starting at 1B from day 1 this season.