My soul hurts.

Lot of interesting tidbits pertaining to Reds prospects.

Q: Deywane from Memphis asks:
Joey Votto is having quite a year in AA: 18hr's, 55rbi's, OPS'ing .980, and he is only 22. Do you think he has a chance to be on the Top 50 or 100 prospect list?
A: Chris Kline: Dewayne, I see Votto as a top 100 guy, certainly. He's crushing, and I'm really looking forward to seeing a show in BP at the Futures Game on Sunday.

Q: Charles Berg from Houston, Texas asks:
Early Top 5 to watch for the minor league player of the year award?
A: Chris Kline: Berg-Piece, Wow. Good question, even though it's not early. We start tracking players for our minor league POY watch as camp breaks. Right now I'll go with Jay Bruce, Alex Gordon, Chuck Lofgren, Yovani Gallardo and Homer Bailey.

Q: Charles Berg from Houston, Texas asks:
Is Jay Bruce as good as the numbers indicate?
A: Chris Kline: I'll give you guys a little preview of a scout's view on Bruce that I actually got this morning . . . “Bruce is the best hitter in the league--period. He's a right fielder who's going to hit for a high average with plus power production. He's an above-average outfielder with plus instincts. I known people are going to mention Larry Walker as a guy he could be like. Jay Bruce is going to be a special player.” I think that says an awful lot.

Those three are the only ones directly pertaining to the Reds, but you have to get pretty excited about some of those.

Link: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/261884.html

Thanks to our buddy over at Rain Delay for bringing to my attention the fact that the Reds have traded Travis Chick to the Mariners for left-handed pitcher Eddie Guardado and cash.

Chick was the more loudly touted of the pitching prospects that we got in exchange for Joe Randa in July last season. The other player gotten in that trade Justin Germano is currently rocking a 4.20 ERA with the AAA Louisville Bats.

There was so much hype about Chick; I'm sorry I won't get to see him in action. What's up with this Guardado character? Is he the answer to our prayers or Krivsky's revenge against Shackelford for embarrassing the organization so?

The official site has a little more to say on the matter:

“I know him well,” Krivsky said from Sarasota, Fla, where he was watching the club's Class A team. “We've got a really good relationship. I feel he's got a lot left. We feel that he can go into the closer's role and we're excited to have him.”

In 28 relief appearances this season, Guardado was 1-3 with a 5.48 ERA and five saves. Earlier this season, he lost his closer's job to J.J. Putz and was unhappy in a setup role.

Much as I like Todd Coffey, he hasn't been putting it together as our closer lately. I don't know if it's the pressure of being the only decent one in the bullpen or what, but he might benefit from a little time in the setup role.

Even more interestingly:

According to a source with knowledge of the deal, the Commissioner's office had to approve the trade because Seattle is picking up a majority of Guardado's remaining $6.25 million salary for 2006. He signed a three-year, $17 million deal with the Mariners in December 2003 after spending 1993-2003 with the Twins.

You go, Krivsky.

Short a left-handed reliever, what with Brian Shackelford apparently still being held without charges in Milwaukee on suspicion of sexual assault, the Reds optioned Shack to Louisville and brough up LHP Michael Gosling.

If Gosling makes this work, he'll have quite a story to tell the grandkids.

UPDATE 6:58 p.m. According to Marc Shack is a free man, no charges having been filed. He has 72 hours to report to Louisville.

The Reds designated for assignment Quinton McCracken today in a move I prognosticated back when he was first signed. Looks like his salary is $600,000, so even if they can't convince the Cubs to take him, the Reds won't be on the hook for too much.

In his place, they've brought up Dewayne Wise. You may remember Wise as being the annual spring training phenom who sprained his ankle just before he managed to start the team in the bigs. You can hear me talk about his injury as it happened in Episode 6 of the podcast, which I was recording live during the game. You can also read about the time I chatted with him in person. That was before he was hurt, as you can probably tell from the adorably cocky demeanor he was still carrying then.

Lots of stuff going on today. Ought to be fun to try to find different sources for all the different tidbits.

According to the official site:

Reds' moves: After Wednesday's loss, the Reds optioned RHP Elizardo Ramirez to Class A Dayton. The Reds will most likely recall Encarnacion for the four-game series against Atlanta. Encarnacion has been on the disabled list with an injured left ankle, and Narron has said for the past few days that it was possible Encarnacion could rejoin the team in Atlanta.

The Reds have, indeed, activated Mr. Encarnación to take the place of The Lizard.

I understand what's going on here: they've optioned Elizardo to give him some exercise while all the big kids are relaxing during the All-Star Break. But damn--Dayton? He's been their third-best starter!

In any event, he ought to be back promptly, hopefully still rollling and with the benefit of a rejuvenated bullpen behind him.

Brian Shackelford was arrested after last night's game on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault.

According to a story from the AP:

The 29-year-old player was arrested shortly after midnight at Miller Park, where the Reds played the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night, police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz said. She declined to provide details on the arrest other than to say it involved a woman Monday.

That's about it as far as details. Nice of the police to specify that it was a woman.

It's hard to make much of a judgement without knowing more, but it makes calling him Brian “Love” Shackelford sort of ominous.

The Reds challenged me to come up with yet another way to start a wrap of a losing effort last night. They were outlasted by the Brewers and fell 5-6.

Elizardo Ramirez worked six innings and probably should have been left in there another one. He allowed three runs (earned) on seven hits and one walk and threw 92 pitches.

David Weathers squirmed his way out of a bases loaded situation for a scoreless seventh, thanks to a catchable throw home by Rich Aurilia and a relay by Jason LaRue that didn't go fifteen fit over Scott Hatteberg's head. All-in-all, a notable inning. Weathers looked like he was ready to kiss someone after that. I could just imagine the conversation in the dugout between innings:

Weathers: Didja see that? Didja see that? I got an out!
Freel: Yeah, David, I saw.
Weathers: I got THREE outs!
Freel: Yeah, good job.
Weathers: BEFORE anyone scored!

Kent Mercker took over in the eighth and didn't allow a hit. Todd Coffey had a chance to take the game home after the Reds pulled ahead in the top of the 10th, but allowed the tying run on a solo shot to Geoff Jenkins. It was the only run he allowed on two hits in his two innings of work.

It was Esteban Yan's turn in the eleventh. He allowed no runs on two hits through his inning and a third. Brian Shackelford played the LOOGY role and got his one out in the middle of the 12th. Jason Standridge got the last out of the 12th and, unfortunately, none in the 13th before giving up two runs (earned) for the walk-off loss.

Gotta give some credit to the offense last night; they certainly kept battling back. That being said, Scott Hatteberg was the only Red with more than one hit, going 2-for-3 before being pinch hit for by Brandon Phillips. Adam Dunn had the only home run of the night. Austin Kearns both successfully stole a base and was caught stealing when Jason LaRue couldn't deliver the sac bunt on the suicide squeeze.

All-in-all, it was a weird, disheartening game that found the Reds at the sad end of a five game losing streak. It's been time for Wayne Krivsky to do something about the bullpen for a good long time now, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who's sick of waiting.

The loss brings the Reds' record to 44-41. They head to Atlanta today to face Tim Hudson and the Braves. Good news: the Braves are but a shadow of their former greatness this year. Bad news: they just took 2-of-3 from the Cardinals. Good news: maybe they're all tired from scoring 10 off Jeff Suppan. Bad news: they might not need much energy to score off Joe Mays. Good news: Edwin Encarnación should be back for tonight's game. Maybe he can pitch.