Cincinnati: Prospecting for Prospects

Cincinnati tends to get that string of bad luck right around mid season where injuries pile up and lineup mainstays are replaced by rookies & journeymen from their farm system. Then there's the phase when executives realize the season is obviously lost and begin trading the leftovers from the Reds' opening day starting nine to teams in contention for unproven prospects. This has taken place each of the past, it seems like, ten years.This means Cincinnati plays out the rest of the season with a makeshift lineup of guys whose names you vaguely recognize or have never heard of. Those guys who made an appearance in last night's game (Sept. 9) who fall into this category include: Kevin Barker, Drew Stubbs, Wladimir Balentien, Corky Miller, Darnell McDonald and Paul Janish. Yes, I have heard of most of these guys. No, I'm not saying they didn't deserve to be called up or have not proven they deserve a chance to play baseball at the top level. What is amazing to me is the number of Red...