Rumors are bouncing around the internet tubes that the Cincinnati Reds will be calling up shortstop Zach Cozart from Louisville before Friday’s game.

Who’s the source of such wild speculation? None other than Cincinnati Enquirer Reds beat writer John Fay.

I think you could see Zack Cozart in a Reds uniform by the time the club gets to Baltimore. I don’t know that for sure, but I get that sense.

The club is struggling so badly offensively that it needs some sort of spark. Cozart could provide it. He’s hitting .320 with 25 doubles, seven home runs and 29 RBI at Triple- A Louisville.

If this is true, then the Reds have reached the “point” that general manager Walt Jocketty referred to.

It also means that the Reds would have to free up a spot on the 25-man. Cozart is already on the 40-man, so no move is needed there. The most likely person on the 25-man roster to make room for Cozart would seem to be Edgar Renteria, who really hasn’t produced this year. Of course, the Reds would have to DFA him, unlike Paul Janish, who has options.

I hope a move is made. This team keeps plodding along. It feels like a spark is all that’s needed to get them going. And an eager, young guy might just be what’s needed.

Cincinnati Reds backup shortstop Edgar Renteria has not had what you would call a good 2011. His batting average is .219, he gets on only 30% of the time, and his slugging is at .246. Between him and starter Paul Janish, the Reds are sporting one of the worst shortstop tandems in all of baseball.

The Internets have a solution, though: Free Zach Cozart.

Cozart plays shortstop for the AAA Louisville Bats, and he’s been doing well. In contrast to Renteria and Janish, Cozart seems to be able to actually hit. So far this year, he’s batting .318, getting on base 36% of the time, and has a slugging percentage of .496. His defense seems solid, too.

These facts have people clamoring for the release of Renteria and the call-up of Cozart. And it does make a certain amount of sense. The team has been getting no offense from the shortstop. In my opinion, great defense is an excuse for no offense at that position, but when there’s an alternative, there is logic in trying it.

Reds beat writer John Fay talked to general manager Walt Jocketty about it.

I asked Walt Jocketty Saturday if Cozart’s play was about to force the issue. “We’re not at that point yet,” he said.

Jocketty has always been a patient GM. But with the .500 ball the Reds have been playing all year–in no small part to a hit or miss offense–I hope he doesn’t miss “that point” before it’s too late.

Boxscore

At long last, an interleague win.

The Cincinnati Reds won their first game against an American League opponent in 2011, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 2-1. That makes the Reds 1-5 on the season, having been swept previously by the Cleveland Indians.

They narrowly escaped being swept by the Blue Jays, though, thanks to Bronson Arroyo’s best pitching performance of the season. He went 8 innings, striking out 5 and allowing one run on 5 hits and a walk. He also evened his record to 6-6.

The offense continued to have problems pushing runners across the plate. The team managed the bare minimum required for a victory, and it was all thanks to the bat of Miguel Cairo. After Joey Votto got a hit in the 6th, Cairo hit a two-run homer to give the Reds the lead.

Francisco Cordero closed the game out with a perfect 9th for his 15th save.

With two weeks remaining of All-Star voting, only he of the spectacular plays and active Twitter life, Brandon Phillips is leading the voting in his position. Now, while Phillips is all manner of spectacular, but this line-up ought to be loaded with deserving Reds starters. Consider Joey Votto; consider Jay Bruce; hell, consider Paul Janish. Credit where credit is due.

Of course, there is the part of me that wants Pujols to win to drive up his price for whatever sucker team signs him next season, especially since that will probably be the Cardinals.

But that’s consolation prize talk. There are still 2 weeks of voting to send our boys to the game properly. So get out there and vote! Your 25 ballots per email address do make a difference.

Boxscore

West Coast Sweep?

The Cincinnati Reds swept the Los Angeles Dodgers. On the road.

That’s right, the Reds traveled to the west coast–the coast that has derailed so many seasons in the past–and may just have re-railed their season.

Travis Wood started today, pitching 6 innings of 1-run baseball. He allowed 5 hits and walked one, but was good/lucky enough to keep the Dodgers from ever scoring more than once. I’d say that’s the power of good defense, right there.

The bullpen was more than up to the challenge after that, with Jose Arredondo, Bill Bray, and Nick Massett never letting the Dodgers creep closer.

The offense was represented primarily by something that’s been missing most of the season: Scott Rolen’s bat. Rolen went 3-5 and drove in 3 of the Reds’ 7 runs. Fred Lewis and Ryan Hanigan each drove in a pair, as well. Hopefully, manager Dusty Baker can keep Rolen healthy and sharp for the rest of the season.

And a defensive gold star has to be given to Jonny Gomes, who had his best defensive game of the season. You can view his impressive magic trick of turning a double into an out here.