Javier Valentí­n is the Reds’ switch-hitting back-up catcher. He’ll put in occasional time at first base, which isn’t ideal because his profile generously lists him at 5′ 10″, and the Reds infield really needs a bigger target than that. I’ve read that Javy has also put in the odd appearance at third, which just sounds amusing to me.

Of course, all of that is secondary to Javy’s most important role of “Latin Love Machine.” “LLM” for short. Which he is.

The LLM is a solid little hitter, especially left-handed, with way more power than you’d expect from a guy his size. Against Colorado, he once hit a grand-slam left-handed and a three-run home run right-handed in the same game. He was the first Red to hit a home run from each side of the plate since Pete Rose did it in 1967 and the first Red with seven RBI in a game since Robin Jennings did it in 2001. Look for the bat he used in the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

Javy got so hot in 2005 that he essentially shook the back-up tag and worked his way into a platoon. He then combined with Jason LaRue to become the best offensive catching tandem in the majors. Together they hit .268 with 28 home runs and 110 RBI.

Even with Jason LaRue out the first couple weeks of 2006, no one was concerned that the catching position wouldn’t be well-manned the majority of the time while he was gone. Behind the plate, Javy is an adequate catcher who holds his own calling games and managing the pitchers. He doesn’t let a particularly high number of pitches go past him and he’s perfectly capable of throwing out an errant runner.

As a base runner, the LLM is among the slower Reds you’ll see, but he’s a smart all-around player and probably won’t disappoint you with his running ability.

You can check out the actual statistics on Javy at JinAZ’s site.

Javier Valentín is the Reds' switch-hitting back-up catcher. He'll put in occasional time at first base, which isn't ideal because his profile generously lists him at 5' 10″, and the Reds infield really needs a bigger target than that. I've read that Javy has also put in the odd appearance at third, which just sounds amusing to me.

Of course, all of that is secondary to Javy's most important role of “Latin Love Machine.” “LLM” for short. Which he is.

The LLM is a solid little hitter, especially left-handed, with way more power than you'd expect from a guy his size. Against Colorado, he once hit a grand-slam left-handed and a three-run home run right-handed in the same game. He was the first Red to hit a home run from each side of the plate since Pete Rose did it in 1967 and the first Red with seven RBI in a game since Robin Jennings did it in 2001. Look for the bat he used in the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum.

Javy got so hot in 2005 that he essentially shook the back-up tag and worked his way into a platoon. He then combined with Jason LaRue to become the best offensive catching tandem in the majors. Together they hit .268 with 28 home runs and 110 RBI.

Even with Jason LaRue out the first couple weeks of 2006, no one was concerned that the catching position wouldn't be well-manned the majority of the time while he was gone. Behind the plate, Javy is an adequate catcher who holds his own calling games and managing the pitchers. He doesn't let a particularly high number of pitches go past him and he's perfectly capable of throwing out an errant runner.

As a base runner, the LLM is among the slower Reds you'll see, but he's a smart all-around player and probably won't disappoint you with his running ability.

You can check out the actual statistics on Javy at JinAZ's site.

With Ken Griffey, Jr. currently on the DL with a bruised *cough*ego*cough* knee, it seems like now might be the best time to ask him to move to first. The Reds continue to be able to score runs without Griffey's presence in the lineup, but as RHM commented, his absence leaves a hole in the third spot that no one else on the team but him can really fill.

Unfortunately, Griffey's return will remove the defensive upgrade that Freel provides in center. Griffey's defense has really fallen off since his leg injuries. There was a rolling catch that Freel made during the St. Louis series that I know Griffey would have let bounce one or more times in front of him. Instead, Freel caught it, saving extra bases and more runs from being scored. Besides, I like having an outfield with two good defenders instead of one good one and two terrible ones.

My ideal defensive outfield would have Freel in left, Heartthrob in center, and Kearns in right. That's not going to happen anytime soon, but there's no reason to accept terrible outfield defense. Do something about one of the positions while you still can.

Ask Griffey to suck up his mammoth-sized ego and move to first. It will help both him and the team. What's the worst that happens? He demands a trade? Big deal. The Reds have no problems finding outfielders.

MIAMI, FL -- Washington Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol while his team visited the Florida Marlins last weekend.

Bowden was pulled over at 2:22 a.m. Monday when he ran a stop sign, according to an officer. The officer noticed the smell of alcohol, but Bowden refused to take a breathalyzer test. Bowden failed other sobriety tests and was arrested.

“To be fair,” said the officer, “I'd probably drink too if I were in charge of the Nationals.”

“I deeply regret any embarrassment that my arrest may cause the Washington Nationals and Major League Baseball,” Bowden said in a statement to the press on Tuesday. Fans of the Nationals and Major League Baseball agree that Bowden has owed them an apology for the embarrassment for a long, long time.

The Reds paid for their derisive attitude toward the no-name Marlins with a massive 12-6 loss on Tuesday night.

Eric Milton's Evil Twin was back in full effect on Tuesday. He gave up a home run to his first batter, Hanley Ramirez. He gave Ramirez another home run in the second. He gave a home run to a man by the name of Dan Uggla. All-in-all, Milton would go four and a third innings, allowing nine runs (all earned) on eight hits and three walks.

Matt Belisle took over in the fifth and failed to keep Milton's runners from scoring. He pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed a run of his own on three hits. Mike Burns gave up another two runs (earned) on six hits in his two innings of work. Rick White was the only Reds pitcher not to allow a run. He allowed just a hit in his two innings.

The three Reds who hit home runs tonight were the ones with the RBI. Rich Aurilia had one RBI, David Ross had two, and Edwin Encarnación had three.

The rest of the game sucked too much to go into any more detail. The loss brings the Reds' record to 8-6. Tomorrow Aaron Harang faces off against Dontrelle Willis for the Marlins at 12:35 in the least likely game for the Reds to win. And if they don't, they'll have lost a series to Florida. Yikes.