The Cincinnati Enquirer

Adam Dunn hitting leadoff has e-mailers in a major tizzy.

Read on:

Question, from Justin in Anderson: Why in the world is Bob Boone not even trying Aaron, his son, or Jose Guillen at leadoff?

At least Aaron has some speed and doesn't strike out as often as Adam Dunn does. I love Dunn, but not as a leadoff hitter. Why not try Guillen at leadoff one or two games, especially since he's getting some playing time? He has the best average on the team (.333 through Friday).

Answer: I'd go with Guillen. He doesn't walk much, but his aggressiveness would work against pitchers trying to throw strikes early.

Q, from Frank in Huntsville, Texas: At what point does a manager send a guy hitting about .200 to the bench? I don't believe other contributions to the team, including home runs, offset an awful batting average, especially at or near the top of the order.

There are other outfielders on the squad whose batting average and fielding give the team a chance to win.

A: Obviously, putting Dunn in the leadoff spot hasn't helped him overcome his slump, although he's drawing more walks. You can't discount his home runs (a major league-leading 21 through Friday), but it's hard to justify keeping Guillen on the bench when Dunn is struggling the way he is.

Q, from the Rev from Cincinnati: Do the Reds have no one who can qualify as an actual leadoff hitter? Someone with a batting average in the high .200s to mid-.300s with speed and a high on-base percentage?

A: The closest thing the Reds have to such a leadoff hitter is Barry Larkin. In the brief time he has been healthy, Larkin's on-base percentage is .390-plus. But in his first game back from the DL, Boone batted him second.

Q, from Ted in Scottsdale, Ariz.: What's the deal with Brandon Larson? I know he just came off the disabled list for the Louisville Bats, but it certainly appears that his stats warrant bringing him back and moving Felipe Lopez back to Triple-A for some much-needed seasoning.

A: I could see Larson returning as an extra man. His defense is what's holding him back.

Q, from Jeff: How much longer will we have to endure the absolute Double-A starting pitching of John Riedling? It is clear to me and probably to everyone outside of career sub-.500 manager Bob Boone that Riedling doesn't have the endurance to be a starter.

Perhaps we should look at International League Pitcher of the Week Seth Etherton, who had eight scoreless innings in a recent start, or Jimmy Anderson.

A: The Reds answered the Riedling question by putting him on the disabled list. Who will replace him wasn't immediately clear. Anderson and Etherton are candidates.

Q, from Dave in Cincinnati: I like Jose Guillen. He is not the hothead he has been portrayed to be lately. He has heart and is the only player on the team willing to stand up to the laughable efforts of upper management to make fans happy with what we have. Take note of Jose's stats, John Allen and Jim Bowden. (Sorry, Bob Boone, your opinion doesn't count, as you are the lowly middleman.)

A: I don't believe the conspiracy theories. If Bowden were tinkering with the lineup, that would mean at least two people think it's a good idea to bat Dunn leadoff. Based on my e-mail, that's unlikely.

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E-mail jfay@enquirer.com