Like you and everyone else, I hope he proves us wrong and turns this around.

But I'm not optimistic and I was honestly dreading his return.

Frazier has not had a hit since the Rolen return. Is he feeling the pressure? Strange chemestry on this team.

Rolen certainly added something to a lackluster team when he arrived on the scene a few years ago but he just doesn't have it anymore. He pretty much admits it himself and says he just wants to try to meet his obligations and give the team whatever he has got left in the tank.

That is certainly admirable but it has been 'painful' to watch.

Meanwhile, EE has launched 20 home runs to date north of the border.

What doesn't concern me as much as Frazier not having a hit since Rolen's return is that the Reds have not had a WIN since Rolen's return.

The Reds played 16-15 ball before Rolen went on the DL in May ... just over .500.

The Reds played 22-12 ball while Rolen was on the DL ... nearly .650 ball.

The Reds are now 0-3 since Rolen's return ... 'painful' to watch indeed!

I believe that EE plays mostly DH. He would never play 3B for the Reds.

Can't say I didn't tell ya. I couldn't figure out why so many... cough... Welsh.... cough, were so happy to get Scott back. It was subtraction by addition. Hitting is bad enough, but I don't want to hear any more about all those Gold Gloves. That's ancient history. Right now Rolen is no better fielding his position than Frazier. There's no way he will be cut, they NEVER eat a contract, much less one for $7 M. Not that there's anyone else to plug in anyway. Problem is, with no DH now, will Baker plug him into the starting line up everyday except gettaway days? Magic 8 Ball sez, "It is decidedly so."

As for Frazier, he needs to learn at least to foul off a curve ball, or not swing at them, or his time in the 'show' will be mostly spent watching. He's a rookie. It's a learning curve that requires patience. Can we win starting two rookies in the IF and one sometimes behind the plate?
"Ask again later."

Getting blown out last night was almost a relief, it's those one run games that drive me crazy and lends themselves to second guessing. It tied right in to my theory too, that you want to play a team on a roll, rather than one in a slump. Cleveland was set up to overachieve losing 5 of their last 6, while we were 'fat and happy' on a long win streak. Let's hope Minnesota can beat the Pirates again tonight for that and other obvious reasons.

I agree it is time to play Frazier and let Rolen become the bench player. Rolen is not himself these days and it shows. We can still use his leadership on the team.

Right now Rolen is no better fielding his position than Frazier.
============================================================
maybe the most ridiculous statement you've EVER made, and thats saying something.

I just keep shaking my head that people are upset that Rolen has rejoined the team and that now Baker has to find playing time for Frazier, or that Stubbs is going to return to the lineup.

You can rip me if I am wrong here, but wasn't the biggest flaw in our team a few weeks ago the fact that we had a very thin bench? If one of our starting position players went down we were going to be up a creek without a paddle? There isn't anybody in the minors right now that would be able to come up and help. The guys we did call up.... well we all watched in horror when Castanzo (or however you spell it) would get a start.

We should be happy we are getting Scotty and Drew back. We should be happy we have a guy like Frazier that can help us as a starter or as a bat off the bench. We should be happy that we don't have to fill those spots with AA talent.

Thank You for your time.

Not knocking you, but what good is a bat off the bench that doesn't have the pop it once did? As in any sport, guys lose a step, Rolen has lost his bat speed and his confidence in my opinion. As for Frazier, I really like this kid and all he brings to the team. Apparently he's the one who keeps everyone loose in the locker room, and all the players love him. He's going to be a very productive MLB player for many years, I just hope it's with the reds. By the way, Frazier doubled last night.

The question is the wrong way around. It should read why are we planning to keep Stubbs. Put Rolen on the bench.

Centerfielders are at a premium right now, and you could get a good return for Stubbs since he is good defensively, and other teams won't use him as a top of the order guy like the Reds insanely do.

Think about it - a LH bat for the bench and a AAA reserve starter would go a long way to helping things around here.

Since Rolen has been back, Rolen is 2-11 and Frazier is 1-10 with 1BB. I don't know if Rolen will be able to make it back or not, but I don't think can say after 3 games. Who's to say if Frazier will ever be able to lay off pitches high and away or hit a breaking ball? I like the kid a lot, but he has a long way to go to prove that he can hit ML pitching consistently.

In the next couple of weeks, we should have a better idea if Rolen is going to help the club or not like frasier did "WITH HIS BAT". The more frasier plays, I believe his pitch regonition will improve alot. All I hear about frasier is he'll never be a major league player, just a Triple A guy "SUB". From what I see, he is a dangerous bat in the line-up that we will definately need. We can definately win with his glove out there. Just hope we can keep the same chemistry we had.

Agree with you on this one. Good point on weakest link.

The truth is, the reds we're rolling without Rollen. Todd Frazier was a big reason this team got to where they were. I really hate when a team starts messing with chemistry, like the reds did. I love B. Larkin and always will, but all these guys who say a starter shouldn't lose his job to injury? I understand that when we're talking about a productive player, but let's face it, we weren't even sure if Rolen would be back this year, and he certainly hasn't been productive for quite sometime now. I just hope this team realizes this before it's too late. Would I like to see Rolen go on a tear and hit 10 HR's in the next two weeks? Sure I would, but I'm not sure he can get 5 hits the next two weeks.

Good point. I really feel that Frasier "WILL" adjust.

Dream on! Remember after Frazier's hot Spring Training, Dusty still put an Totally Inept Willies Harris on the team roster? He dumped Todd for automatic-out Willie. There's no Rational Justification for that.

Now, Dusty strikes again. He again put oldie Willie on the roster;even made him DH over
Todd or Rolen, or even Valdez. What is the Rational explanation for this affinity of Dusty for Willie? Maybe Dusty "feels Willie's pain":he remembers being a "washed up" player in his own career, like Willie. He may think it's Justice to give Willie another chance--to FAIL. Sort of payback for what happened to oldie Dusty in his day.

Just a hypothesis. But does anyone have a better explantion for this Dusty Insanity?

About Rolen. I've watched him carefully at 3rd base. He no longer dives for the ball--to his right or left(as Frazier does). His greatest asset, in addition to his "presence" on the bench, is his gold glove caliber defense. Looks like that's gone too. I understand. The man has to protect that
shoulder--no more diving crashes into the ground. But that makes Rolen less proficient at 3rd base than Frazier--or Valdez, or even Miguelito.

Sad to see Rolen look like this. I really think the Best option for him is simple:make Rolen the Player-Manager--FIRE DUMBO DUSTY(and his pet Willie).

More important, Reds have to deal with their SP woes: we are down to 2.5 Reliable SPs:Jonny,Homer, and Mike(he's my half SP). Latos stinks. So does Bronson.

Perhaps it's time to do what the Majority of MLB teams/managers are doing:a SIX man SP rotation:plug in El Magnifico(aka el Fuego). Let Logan and Mike do a tandem(RH/LH)closer.

Of course, I forget. I have too Few posts to be taken seriously by the "Elders" on this Board.
So I address this post to all the "Non-Elders" who wish to talk Substance, not hurl sanctimonious abuse at those with whom they disagree.