Once again, a handful of Reds bloggers got together this week to discuss matters of deep, deep importance. And, once again, it ended in me utterly failing to make the rest of the guys see the error of their ways.

Maybe one of these days I'll make them understand. In the meantime, enjoy part III. Links to the rest below.

RHM: Look, Freel can't handle 2B every day
sweaver: They were all untested at one time…until someone tests them
RHM: And Bergolla's not ready to do it all by himself, maybe not even half time
Blade: Then we keep Aurilia and only play him against righties, at home
Chad -- RN: Freel has twice as much range as Aurillia (though I'll concede his hands aren't as good)
RHM: But this infield is already carrying Encarnacion and Flopez
Blade: Someone could buy Narron Stratomatic or something
sweaver: No, Freel can't play everyday…..but if Aurilia is at second, Freel is pushing Encarnacion out
Joel: my thinking is that the Reds should do whatever they can to improve the defense up the middle
sweaver: Freel is good for about 120 games
sweaver: Defense would help a lot
Joel: and I don't think the Freel or Aurilia are the answer to improved defense
Chad -- RN: Aurilia doesn't improve the defense up the middle.
Blade: Who's available out on the market at second base this year
RHM: What makes Freel special is his versatility
sweaver: We need a Morgan-style trade
JDArney: whoa, whoa whoa, EdE and Felipe are both plus defenders
RHM: And both kids
Chad -- RN: Agree, JD!
Joel: you can get the defense cheap ($1.5-2 million)
JDArney: errors don't tell the whole story, or even much of the story
sweaver: Kids and defense go together…because of range
RHM: I didn't say their defense was bad
RHM: I'm saying they need role models
JDArney: you said the infield was “carrying” them
RHM: You're right. Poor choice of words. “Containing”
Joel: I think she meant that there was already a bunch of youth in the infield
Chad -- RN: Whining Aurilia is a role model? No thanks. I don't want Encarnacion emulating him.
RHM: Chad - What's wrong with Aurilia as a role model?
Chad -- RN: He did nothing but complain all year long.
JDArney: Aurilia complained quite a bit this past season about playing time
JDArney: Much of it while he was hitting under .200
RHM: He wanted to play
Chad -- RN: Good. Don't whine in the papers about it.
Joel: the only thing I would say to that RHM is that Felipe didn't complain once during April, even though he outplayed Aurilia in Spring Training
RHM: Complaining doesn't make a person a bad player or a bad person.
RHM: If it did, you'd all be in a lot of trouble 😛
Chad -- RN: I don't want EdE emulating him.
Joel: ouch
sweaver: No, but Aurilia is 35, and has little range. He is not the player the Reds need
JDArney: I don't mind complaining, and I give athletes a ton of leeway to act however they want, but when you're flat out sucking then it's probably a good idea to keep your mouth shut
RHM: 1) What's wrong with 35?
JDArney: 35 is on the down side of a career, Aurilia is more likely to decline from here on out than to improve
RHM: 2) Do you have numbers to back up this “range”?
RHM: 3) Who *does* the Reds need then?
Blade: What about Olmedo, what's the story on him
sweaver: For second base…Jorge Cantu from Tampa, Chris Burke from Houston,
RHM: I don't know those characters.
Chad -- RN: I don't mind Olmedo as a backup.
JDArney: im fine with giving Bergolla a shot
Blade: BP actually has Aurilia above average in the field in 2005
JDArney: he's not going to be terrific as a hitter, but he's going to be a solid fielder
JDArney: or olmedo, same story
Blade: FRAA of 2 at second base
Chad -- RN: Bergolla and Olmedo strike me as the same player, but Bergolla probably has a higher upside
sweaver: Aurilia had a low Zone Rating, and a low range factor especially for someone on a bad team
RHM: Don't get me wrong, I'd be open to someone else at 2B
sweaver: (long link)
RHM: But I would want to see someone who's not a rookie
RHM: Someone who's a better value for the money
RHM: Someone who's just a flexible
sweaver: “Not rookies” are not cheap
JDArney: what's wrong with rookies?
RHM: Exactly!
RHM: That's why I think Aurilia's not such a horrible choice.
sweaver: Marcus Giles would be too expensive
JDArney: as long as you only have one (or two if you count EdE) starting I don't think rookies are bad
sweaver: Dreamcasting: Reds sign Furcal to play SS, move Lopez to 2B.
sweaver: Never happen
JDArney: I'd rather they spend the money on pitching than Furcal
JDArney: Or Giles
Chad -- RN: Rookies are underrated.
JDArney: Yep, you want to spend your money on future performance, not past performance.
RHM: They need guidance

Part I on Red Reporter
Part II on Shawn's Cincinnati Reds Blog
Part IV on The Cutting Edge
Part V on Reds and Blues
Part VI on Redleg Nation