Q&A is back after a week's vacation. E-mailers don't like Adam Dunn as a leadoff man. The e-mail below was similar to six others I received:

From Jeff: You know there's a reason every summer over the last couple of years people want Bob Boone out of the dugout. However, the reason usually doesn't surface until June or July. Adam Dunn hitting leadoff? That is pure ignorance! I know it's not set in stone, but the thought of it does nothing more than show the baseball world how Cincinnati has the most incompetent manager in the game. How do you even consider this? A guy who has the potential to drive in 140 runs and hit 40-50 home runs in the cleanup spot is moved to leadoff? I don't care what his on-base percentage is, he is not a leadoff hitter. If Barry Larkin can't do it, then maybe Aaron Boone could. At least he's got speed! This team is expected to contend.

Response: Boone said he made the remark somewhat in jest. I'd be stunned if Dunn ever bats leadoff in a real game. They may toy with it in spring training, but if Larkin's healthy, he'll hit leadoff.

From Dude in Troy: A few weeks ago, I told a friend of mine that the Bengals had a better chance of winning the Super Bowl next year than the Reds do of winning the World Series. He disagreed. I pointed out that the Reds have a first baseman coming off an injury, a giant hole at either second or third depending on what they do with Aaron Boone, a 38-year-old shortstop who is injury-prone and hit .245 last year, a catcher who tries to pull everything into the upper-deck and allows too many passed balls, a center fielder who is coming off injury, and four No. 3 starters and no closer. The Bengals' chance to win has more to do with the league they are in than the team. But, if they can trade down, draft right, and add two interior lineman, one good corner, one good guard, and find someone to catch a punt, they can win.

R: If I were in Vegas, I'd put no more than $5 on either winning it all next year. But you're correct that the NFL is set up for parity. It's so much easier to turn it around in the NFL because of the player turnover. Still, I'd say the Reds' talent - barring injury - is good enough to compete for a playoff spot

From Fred from Osprey, Fla.: Since retiring in '96, I have been coming to Florida for spring training. I go to the Reds complex almost every day once things start to happen. One of the secrets of spring training is that while the big team is in the stadium playing, the kids are out on the back 40 playing as well. Often, guys from the big team are getting in work with the prospects. Many of the pitchers are candidates for the big club getting in innings. Often I have been the only fan among the wives and girlfriends watching these "free" games.

R: Thanks for tip. Fellow spring training attendees will find it useful.

E-mail jfay@enquirer.com

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