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.

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!

You can call him Bob Steveson for short.

With the 27th pick in the first round of the 2011 amateur player draft, the Cincinnati Reds picked a high school starter, right hander Robert Stephenson from Alhambra High School in California.

Stephenson has a live arm with a fastball that’s allegedly touched 97 miles per hour. He’s also displayed good control, which is unusual for a young kid with such a powerful fastball. In 64 innings, he struck out 132 and walked just 23. High school numbers are ridiculous, but that kind of control is a very good sign.

One thing Reds fans may not be used to is a pick so late in the first round. I guess that’s what happens when you have a good team the year before. Enquirer reporter John Fay touched on that.

“We’re very excited,” scouting director Chris Buckley said. “He’s very outstanding high school projection pitcher. He’s got a live arm. We saw him as high as 98 this year. He’ll fill out and get strung. Curveball, slider, change-up. Very polished high school pitcher who still has good projection.”

The Reds, picking 27th overall, decided they could wait for Stephenson to develop. They are pretty well stocked in the upper minors.

That last bit is a benefit of having competent talent evaluators for several years. I hope they’ve picked a good one. I imagine that in 3-4 years, the Reds might need some pitching.

It’s happened again. The Cincinnati Reds have sent Edinson Volquez back to the minors.

Last year, after returning from Tommy John surgery, Volquez struggled with his command and was eventually sent down to the minors to sort things out. This year is very similar to last year, although this year’s frustrations seem to be isolated primarily to the first inning. And while I prefer my idea of just having a reliever pitch the first inning and having Volquez “relieve” in the second, I guess sending him down to AAA Louisville might help, too.

The Reds made some other moves, too.

Today the Reds recalled from Louisville IF/OF Todd Frazier (#21) and LHP Matt Maloney (#56) and optioned to Louisville RHP Jordan Smith and RHP Edinson Volquez.

Frazier will be making his major league debut when he first makes an appearance.

How did Volquez take his demotion after failing to get through 3 innings in his last start?

“He took it like a man,” Baker said. “[H]e needs to go down there and get himself right. That’s why we’re doing it. It’s going to be hard to go all the way and win, if we don’t have him, a sharp Volquez. This is a temporary setback. Sometimes in this game or life period, you’ve got to take a step back to go two or three steps forward. It’s tough to take that step back. The time is now. You still got 3 1/2 months when he comes back. There are a lot of ballgames left.

There is a lot of time left, and the Reds do need their number one pitcher. But with this move and the way they’ve played recently, my confidence in their ability to repeat as NL Central champs is shaken. They’re making the road harder for themselves.