“Better than nothing.” It’s a phrase I’ve been saying entirely too much lately. Offense can’t score but the starter put in a good showing? Better than nothing! The Reds can’t beat the Orioles, but at least the Cards lost, too? Better than nothing! I have to listen to The Cowboy, but George is in the booth with him? Better than nothing!

Argh! I’d like to stop comparing the experience of watching my team, even if favorably, to the utter void. Where the hell is Jocketty? Shouldn’t he be doing something?

Rumors are bouncing around the internet tubes that the Cincinnati Reds will be calling up shortstop Zach Cozart from Louisville before Friday’s game.

Who’s the source of such wild speculation? None other than Cincinnati Enquirer Reds beat writer John Fay.

I think you could see Zack Cozart in a Reds uniform by the time the club gets to Baltimore. I don’t know that for sure, but I get that sense.

The club is struggling so badly offensively that it needs some sort of spark. Cozart could provide it. He’s hitting .320 with 25 doubles, seven home runs and 29 RBI at Triple- A Louisville.

If this is true, then the Reds have reached the “point” that general manager Walt Jocketty referred to.

It also means that the Reds would have to free up a spot on the 25-man. Cozart is already on the 40-man, so no move is needed there. The most likely person on the 25-man roster to make room for Cozart would seem to be Edgar Renteria, who really hasn’t produced this year. Of course, the Reds would have to DFA him, unlike Paul Janish, who has options.

I hope a move is made. This team keeps plodding along. It feels like a spark is all that’s needed to get them going. And an eager, young guy might just be what’s needed.

Lots of stems of thoughts today, but no time to actually think any of them through, so I’ll leverage the lazy blogger’s favorite page layout device, the bullet:

• Chris Heisey is a helluva pinch hitter, especially when he’s leading off.
• I love how optimistic salvaging one game in the series with the Yankees makes the broadcasters. These guys have waited so long for a team to be optimistic about.
• Jack McKeon is 80. 80 years old. He can bench, yell, and bench. He’s 80.
• Hell-to-the-yeah, Johnny Cueto.
• Have you done your All-Star voting yet? Just because Pujols broke his arm and may not be able to start anyway is no reason to let him win.

Enjoy the off-day tomorrow, everyone. Fingers and toes crossed for a Cardinals loss and Brewers failure to prepare adequately for Friday.

Cincinnati Reds backup shortstop Edgar Renteria has not had what you would call a good 2011. His batting average is .219, he gets on only 30% of the time, and his slugging is at .246. Between him and starter Paul Janish, the Reds are sporting one of the worst shortstop tandems in all of baseball.

The Internets have a solution, though: Free Zach Cozart.

Cozart plays shortstop for the AAA Louisville Bats, and he’s been doing well. In contrast to Renteria and Janish, Cozart seems to be able to actually hit. So far this year, he’s batting .318, getting on base 36% of the time, and has a slugging percentage of .496. His defense seems solid, too.

These facts have people clamoring for the release of Renteria and the call-up of Cozart. And it does make a certain amount of sense. The team has been getting no offense from the shortstop. In my opinion, great defense is an excuse for no offense at that position, but when there’s an alternative, there is logic in trying it.

Reds beat writer John Fay talked to general manager Walt Jocketty about it.

I asked Walt Jocketty Saturday if Cozart’s play was about to force the issue. “We’re not at that point yet,” he said.

Jocketty has always been a patient GM. But with the .500 ball the Reds have been playing all year–in no small part to a hit or miss offense–I hope he doesn’t miss “that point” before it’s too late.

The St. Louis Cardinals lost another player today.

Before the season even started, they lost their best starter, Adam Wainwright, to Tommy John surgery. And now, they’ve lost Albert Pujols for 4-6 weeks due to a fractured left forearm.

Pujols was hurt on a play at first base in the sixth inning. He was fielding a long throw and Kansas City’s Wilson Betemit collided with his glove hand as Pujols was pulled toward home.
The Cards’ three-time MVP went down to the ground in pain.

Obviously, this greatly weakens the Cardinals. Sure, Pujols was having the worst year of his career, but even that’s still quite above average. Plus, he’s been warming up.

But there is one silver lining I can think of. Now manager Tony LaRussa the opportunity to meddle with the lineup on a daily basis. It’s been years since he got to play around with that third spot!