NEWSBREAK: Via MLBTR, Jeremy Hermida was claimed off waivers earlier today by the Padres. It'll be a pretty big shock if his roster spot goes to anyone but Devin Mesoraco as early as tomorrow.
There's two whole games left to play against the Phillies. Why?
The hardest thing to figure though is not that the Reds would have a tough time beating quite possibly the best team in baseball while facing the three best starters in one of the best rotations ever assembled, it's that they seem to be approaching the last 1/6 of the season as though they were going to be right there in the playoffs with the Phillies. Sure, Yonder Alonso did make a start at 3B. But since Alonso was called up on July 26, he's made just 6 starts in 33 games. Frazier has had better luck, starting 20 games in 36 days. Depending on what you think of Dave Sappelt - and of Alonso and/or Frazier's ability to play 3B OR LF, this breakdown might make sense. I wouldn't expect them to be in the lineup together every night, especially before Alonso suddenly became a third basemen.
But at this point, your two recently top-ranked hitting prospects should be in the lineup every night. They're ready to play fulltime in the major leagues and may well be starting every day for a team next year - whether it be the Reds or someone the Reds make a deal with. Does Miguel Cairo need practice? Do we need to find out if he's a really good utility infielder? We do not, because he is. He looks like a bargain for '12. But is he a better hitter than Todd Frazier? Probably not right now. Almost certainly not next year. And the hesitation on Alonso just reads like unresolved internal conflict.
We need Willis' weltanschauung in the worst way.
LINEUP:
Phillips 2B
Sappelt LF
Votto 1B
Bruce RF
Cairo 3B
Stubbs CF
Hernandez C
Janish SS
Willis LHP
SBNation's Phillies blog is The Good Phight