Tonight, Dontrelle Willis again put in a better-than-out-to-be-required pitching performance only to have it given away by the bullpen. In his five starts with the team this season, Willis’ leads have been given up by three different bullpen members: Francisco Cordero, Bill Bray, and tonight, Nick Masset.

This time, Willis even contributed a solo shot himself, so intent was he on leaving the game with the lead. But alas, Dusty Baker–the only guy who could make the decision and the only guy who would think it was the right one to make–put the ballgame into the hands of Masset who faced five, retired zero, and eliminated Willis’ chance for the win.

On that topic, something must be wrong with Masset, right? More than just inflammation of the suckage gland. He was reliable in recent memory.

Unfortunately for the team and the fans, the team has now lost two in a row again. One night it’s the starting pitching, the next night it’s the offense, the next it’s the defense, the next it’s the pen, so it’s hard to know where to focus. Of course, it’s too late to do anything anyway. Maybe it’s time to throw in the towel and start planning for next year. Removing the pressure might even result in some more fun baseball to watch. I doubt Willis would be willing to do that, though. He’ll just take to take his 3.41 era and stretch it across a complete game if he wants to score that W.

The Cincinnati Reds announced today that their 3rd baseman Scott Rolen had arthroscopic shoulder surgery and will be out an additional 4-6 weeks. Rolen has been on the disabled list since July 22.

Cincinnati Enquirer beat reporter John Fay writes about the procedure.

The procedure was just to clean it up. Four to six weeks, which is projected to be out, still takes you to early to mid-September. I would not be shocked if he’s done for the year — depending where the Reds are in the standings when he’s ready.

If Rolen doesn’t return this season, he should be all the more healthy for 2012. And now Todd Frazier has a great opportunity to show what he can do, so long as Dusty Baker resists that urge to play veteran Miguel Cairo.

With the team finally avoiding losses in consecutive games, I find myself looking around to see what’s next to keep the winning going. And, though we’re on the wrong side of the non-waiver trade deadline, there’s still going to be some new additions to the roster in the near future as guys some off the DL.

First of all, Scott Rolen is eligible to come off the DL on Friday. Unfortunately, though, he probably won’t because that shoulder is not better yet. It sounds like the guy could undergo another surgery to clean up the shoulder. It sucks being 36.

Meanwhile, Zack Cozart is eligible to come off the DL on Monday after that grotesque hyper-extending of his elbow that still makes me shudder to think about. Reports are, though, that the inflammation isn’t down all the way, so he probably will take a few days longer than that to be back in proper bat-swinging form.

And finally, since the Rule of Three demands that I mention another player, Jared Burton pitched two scoreless rehab innings tonight. You can never have too much pitching.

Joey Votto showed why he should get a day off every two months this past week by demolishing the opposing pitchers. And he was awarded with the National League Player of the Week Award.

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto has been named National League Player of the Week for the period of July 25-31, 2011. The announcement was made earlier today on MLB Network.

In seven games last week, Votto hit .385 (10-for-26) and led the National League with 24 total bases. The reigning N.L. MVP tied for the league lead in home runs (4), RBI (9) and runs scored (7) for the week, and ranked second in slugging percentage (.923) while posting a .467 on-base percentage. Votto collected hits in every game that he started during the week after going 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter on Monday, July 25th. He had four multi-hit performances and three multi-RBI games during the week. The Canadian-born All-Star clubbed home runs in three straight games from July 26th-28th, marking the second time in his career that he has homered in three consecutive contests (previously September 3-5, 2008). Votto doubled and scored a run in Cincy’s 7-2 victory on Saturday, July 30th over the visiting Giants. In Sunday’s matchup, the 27-year-old homered, doubled twice and collected four RBI en route to a 9-0 victory that completed a three-game sweep of the defending World Champions. Votto currently leads the N.L. in walks (74) and on-base percentage (.428), and has the league’s fourth-best batting average (.319). This is his second career weekly award, having won previously for the week of September 21-27, 2009.

Other noteworthy performances last week included Votto’s Cincinnati teammate Johnny Cueto (1-1, 0.00 ERA, 14.0 IP, 11 SO); Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder (.450, 2 HR, .800 SLG) and John Axford (0.00 ERA, 4 SV, 6 SO, 7.1 IP); Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman (.500, 15 H, .529 OBP) and Brandon Beachy (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.1 IP, 6 SO); David Freese (.381, 3 HR, 7 RBI, .857 SLG) and Albert Pujols (.355, 2 HR, 11 H, 5 2B) of the Cardinals; San Diego’s Jesus Guzman (.429, 2 HR, 7 RBI, .857 SLG); Philadelphia’s Raul Ibañez (.296, 3 HR, 9 RBI); Matt Kemp (.417, 2 HR, 9 RBI) of the Dodgers; Arizona’s Justin Upton (.348, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, .957 SLG) and Joe Saunders (2-0, 1.62 ERA, 16.2 IP, 7 SO); David Wright (.467, 14 H, 6 RBI) of the Mets; and Florida’s Ricky Nolasco (2-0, 2.19 ERA, 12.1 IP, 8 SO).

In recognition of his National League Player of the Week Award, Joey Votto will be awarded a watch courtesy of Game Time, the leader in licensed sports watches, available at MLB.com.

Enjoy that watch, Joey!