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I can?t believe the Cincinnati Reds have no interest in keeping Jonny Gomes . I know Gomes is not the best player on the team; however, with a close look at the statistics, he wasn?t that far from it.

With his departure, the Reds look weak, very weak.

So, who will be playing left field in 2010?* Chris Dickerson, Wladimir Balentein, Chris Heisey, or Todd Frazier? That list makes me so nervous, I have to walk around the room for a moment.

I am back and not feeling any better.

I don?t know if Jonny was trying to hijack the squad for multi-millions or what. Surely his agent knows that he is not on anyone?s ?A? list. My allegiance to Gomes is not so deluded as to believe he is better than he is. He is a power hitter with problems facing southpaws.

I believe he was a good clubhouse presence. I know we would want him on our side when a brawl starts. The man is a bad ass. Ask Coco Crisp, if you don?t believe me.

Gomes came to camp last Spring, and after showing some positive things, he failed to make the trip north with the team. He started the year with the Louisville Bats , and after 36 games he had nine home runs. The Reds called him up on May 22 and he did not disappoint.

In six seasons with Tampa Bay, his average season based on 162 games is 26 HR, 72 RBI, .235 BA, with an OPS of 105.

I don?t know what the management was thinking when we acquired him in the offseason. Using the same formula, he would have hit 33 HR, 84 RBI, .267 BA and an OPS of 127.

I could understand their reasoning had his contribution to the team been bleak, but it wasn?t?it was better than he had produced in the past. What can I say?

I was in high hopes we would pick up a decent shortstop, but I had no idea we were trying to cut excess fat (not to say Gomes was excess fat, by any means). What are you thinking Walt? Do you have an ex-Cardinal left-fielder up your sleeve?

The money spenders in the Queen City are causing me concern, Sir. They re-sign Ramon Hernandez to pour more money in the Ohio River, on top of the $8 million we?ve already wasted. How can you expect to compete like that?* Give me B.S. for $200 please, Alex.

Other teams are out trying to improve and we sit on the rock growing moss.

Come on brain trust (Walt Jockety, Dusty Baker) … we can do better than this.

*

Cliff Eastham is a Featured Columnist at BR for the Cincinnati Reds.

Please visit my website where this arrticle was first published.

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