A quick survey of my e-mail shows the Dmitri Young trade was about as popular with Reds fans as the DH is at a meeting of the Baseball Traditionalist Society.

        It wasn't much more popular with the Reds braintrust. Cincinnati had to dump Young's salary, which was $3.5 million last season, in a difficult trade market. But Luis Pineda is the key — if he turns out to be a good pitcher, it's a good deal.

        The Reds keep stockpiling young talent, trying to get lucky. That doesn't please the ticket-buying public. Read on:

        From Jeff in Fort Wayne, Ind.: That has to be the worst trade in the history of this franchise!! This organization is an absolute joke!! I have no intention now whatsoever of attending any Reds games this year. We turn down Kevin Millwood for a troubled outfielder who will never make this team, for Dmitri Young???????? Now we have a battle for left field down at Triple-A. Will it be Juan Encarnacion or Ruben Mateo getting the start down there?????? Maybe next year, we can actually eclipse the 100-loss target.

        Answer: So how do you really feel, Jeff?????? Whoops, my question mark key is sticking, too. When we look back in 20 years, my guess is the Frank Robinson trade in 1965 still will rank as the Reds' worst, unless Young wins the Triple Crown and leads the Tigers to a World Series title. But others feel your pain.

        From Rich: I hate to say it, but this trade is horrible. Encarnacion had a .700 OPS (on-base-plus-slugging percentage) last season. This is absolutely terrible for an outfielder. Hopefully, the pitcher is going to be worth something down the road, or we really got our pockets picked on this one. Young is at least worth a third or fourth starter like Kevin Millwood. Jim (Bowden) needs to quit stockpiling outfielders who don't know how to reach base and get something useful for once.

        A: Don't think players when you think of trades. Think contracts. That's the way baseball works. The Reds traded a player who would have received $5 million or $6 million in arbitration in 2002 for two contracts that will add up to about $800,000. Yes, Young was worth Millwood — and the Reds would have made that trade if they could have afforded it.

        Q, from Sean in Columbus: Can you tell me why the Reds wanted to (and did) trade Young instead of Sean Casey? Dmitri is better in every statistical category, can play multiple positions at the major-league level and can play a better first base than Casey. Casey's power numbers have declined the last three years, and Young's have risen. That is called a trend. Ever since we traded for Casey, I've heard he will develop more power. When is this going to happen?

        A: Casey isn't a free agent until after 2003. Young becomes one after 2002. Despite his lack of home run pop, Casey is a good run producer. His career average is .349 with runners in scoring position, compared to Young's .297.

        Q, from Rich in parts unknown: Let's hope this (“Encarnacion could be in mix for leadoff spot”) is just senseless blabber from Bob Boone. However, he did do the unthinkable and lead off with Pokey Reese a few times, so nothing will surprise me. Would have liked to see some on-base percentages in that article, but the walks were a step above what anyone else in the area wrote.

        A: In a perfect world, the Reds would have gone out and gotten a leadoff hitter. But Boone's stuck trying to put a square peg into a round leadoff hole. Encarnacion's on-base percentage was .292, slightly better than Reese's .284. Todd Walker's was .355. Larkin's was .373, and he hit 43 points below his career average.

        Q, from Mark in Cincinnati: Was wondering what your opinion of the status of Bowden and Boone will be if the Reds fail to produce a winning team within the first two years of Great American Ball Park. It is my feeling that both would be let go if the Reds do not win. Bowden has been preaching that he is building a team for the future. If the team does not win, I feel that there is no choice but to make a change.

        A: I don't think they'll be back in 2004 if the team doesn't make a run in 2003.

        Q, from Bill in Oxford: Why, oh why, would you rehire Ray Knight as a coach? From all reports, he was a terrible, divisive presence in the clubhouse as manager, and they feel the need to bring him back with basically the same people still here? Why?

        A: When Bowden told me Knight was coming back as coach, all I could say was: “Really?” But after hearing what Knight had to say and what Larkin had to say, I don't think it will be a disaster. And Larkin and Scott Sullivan are the only holdovers from Knight's tenure.

        John Fay covers the Reds for the Enquirer. He can be reached at jfay@enquirer.com. Please include neighborhood or hometown. Read more questions and answers at Cincinnati.com.
       

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