Joey Votto's Injury Leaves Cincinnati Reds Without a .300 Hitter

It is difficult to imagine a team winning a pennant, or even a division without having an active .300 hitter who is not a pitcher.

That is the hand the Reds were dealt when former MVP Joey Votto was scheduled for surgery. A conservative estimate is that he will miss three or four weeks.

Rookie Todd Frazier filled in for the first game of Votto's hiatus on Monday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which the Reds lost 5-3.

Not only are the Reds without a .300 hitter, they now have only one left-handed bat (Jay Bruce) on the active roster.

We shall see what kind of mettle the Reds are made of. Many teams have lost their star player and had to scramble to fill the hole.

At least now there is no debate on whether Frazier or Scott Rolen should occupy the "hot" corner.

Now there is a serious need for a good leadoff hitter with a left-handed bat. Enter Juan Pierre?

Pierre is a solid slap hitter. He gets on base, and when he is there something usually happens. He is currently sixth in the NL in stolen bases with 21, and his current line is .316/.354/.385.

Where would he play? In my view, he should play centerfield and Drew Stubbs should go somewhere and learn how to hit.

I realize Pierre isn't what he use to be, but who is? His throwing arm is just about one hair above Scott Podsednik's but he still moves around gracefully.

Without a potent bat in the lineup the Reds are sure to be dead in the water. I don't believe they have the wherewithal to wait until the trade deadline of July 31.

Can Dontrelle Willis play first base?