Just when you think it wasn't possible for Jim Bowden to find yet another ex-Red to bring into the Washington Nationals' fold, he steps up his game and brings in someone you didn't even think was still playing baseball.

And in this situation, you'd have been right.  Because the Nationals have signed former Reds 1st round pick Calvin "Pokey" Reese to a minor league deal, even though the Pokester hasn't played in the majors since 2004.  According to Bowden, Reese is being signed to bolster their depth at Triple-A Columbus, which has been weakened by callups to the big club as a result of major league injuries, as well as the retirement of ex-Red Bret Boone.

What's curious to me is that Bowden is willing to let Reese be an influence on the Nationals top prospects at Triple-A.  Pokey's last attempted stint with an MLB squad was in 2006, when he signed with the Marlins, but had his contract terminated when he left the club in spring training and had no contact with anyone associated with the club.  And even with that, Bowden is desperate enough to take the chance that Pokey's attitude might rub off on these players, just to have another body on hand.

So, this signing adds to the lengthy collection of former Reds that have gotten jobs under the Bowden regime in Washington.  Here's the list of players/employees that I've been able to put together.  Am I missing anyone?

• Hector Carrasco
• C.J. Nitkowski
• Jeffrey Hammonds
• Kenny Kelly
• Jose Guillen
• Felipe Lopez
• Austin Kearns
• Damian Jackson
• Ryan Wagner
• Dmitri Young
• Wily Mo Pena
• D'Angelo Jimenez
• Chris Booker
• Aaron Boone
• Bret Boone
• Barry Larkin (consultant)
• Jose Rijo (coach)
• Bob Boone (consultant)

Today is a great day for Bob Castellini and Walt Jocketty to blow things up and they need to begin with the Reds' bench. There is too much dead weight on this team.  They are getting no production from various washed up veterans.  It is time to replace them with more youthful talent which should also rid them of this losing atttude. 

We have seen what the kids (Votto, Volquez, Janish, Cueto) have done when given the opportunity. They play with passion and heart, like they actually care about winning.  The Reds need more of that and with a core group of younger players the time to start rebuilding the attitude of this team is now.  So today Mr. Castellini and Mr. Jocketty suck it up, eat some payroll, and bring up some fresh faces for Tuesday's game against the Pirates - COMMIT!

SEND 'EM PACKING
Corey Patterson - After Sunday's 0-8 performance (in the lead-off spot) he is hitting .201.  The only complimentary thing the team's announcers can say about him is that "he has got a great arm".  Let him use it to hitch a ride out of town to Mendozaville.  Replace him with Jay Bruce it's time.

Scott Hatteberg - Votto has proven he can hit lefties and play everyday.  Hattie is done.  Batting .173, he can't contribute coming off the bench.  This team needs a RH bench bat. Why not bring up Jolbert Cabrera? He is just a better fit for this team.

Matt Belisle - He never could put together two quality starts in a row. At 1-4, a 7.28 ERA and WHIP just under 2.00 ERA, it is time to part ways.  Bring up LHP Matt Maloney and start him. Maloney is 3-0 w/ a 1.32 ERA in his last four starts.  Friday is his rotation day.

Josh Fogg - Fogg is just too much of a liabilty and his 9.00 ERA can't help anymore.  Bring up Daryl Thompson and start him Thursday.  Thompson has been senstional at AA Chatanooga (3-2, 1.76 ERA) and was recently promoted to Triple A Louisville.

That's four fresh faces on Tuesday that will be a good place to start.

As of today, May 26, the two teams with the best record in baseball have one additional feature in common.  The Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays joined the league together in 1998.  Ten years later, they're the only two teams presently posting .600 winning percentages.

Now, this isn't too surprising for the D'backs.  After all, they've won a World Series, reached 100 victories in only their second season of existence, and generally have been competitive throughout their brief history, with a .508 winning percentage overall.

The Rays, on the other hand, have - to put it bluntly - sucked.  They've won just 40.5% of their games, have lost 100 contests in a campaign three times, and have just managed to eke out 70 victories one single time.  So to see them leading the same division they share with the Yankees and Red Sox is quite a shocker.  However, it appears that the team's long- (LOONNGG) term plan is finally paying off.  Of course, having the first pick in the draft year after year should greatly assist that effort.

So kudos to the Rays for actually having a strong plan and executing it to the point that they're finally able to stand toe-to-toe with the Beasts of the AL East.  After all, is there anyone outside of New York or Boston who doesn't want someone other than the Yanks or Sox to win that division for a change?  Go, Rays!