The Cincinnati Reds roster currently has three spots being taken by guys impersonating a catcher.  The anemic trio of David Ross, Javier Valentin and Paul Bako just aren't getting it done.  How about these "crappy" number from the eight hole.

Paul Bako (since April 29th)
18 for 106 (.169 BA, 35 K & 10 BB)

David Ross (since May 30th)
5 for 32 (.156 BA, 9 K 5 BB & 1 RS)

Javier Valentin (since May 24th)
2 for 16 (.125 BA, 3 K, 1 BB &1 RS)

That comes out to a combined average of .162 with a .241 OBP, 129 non-productive outs in all and a strikeout in 37% of their at bats.  Talk about going through the motions!  This lack of effort shortens the game to seven hitters.  The Reds need to scour the league for a trade but there isn't much available plus Cincinnati doesn't have much to offer. 

When Corey Patterson and Ken Griffey Jr. are in the lineup that puts the Reds down to just five capable hitters (hahaha).  That's a post for a different day.

Though much of the talk leading up to the Reds-Blue Jays' series starting Tuesday night in Toronto revolves around Reds' OF Adam Dunn and Blue Jays' GM J.P. Ricciardi, the better story is the return home for Reds' rookie first baseman Joey Votto.

Votto, a Toronto-area native, will be playing in front of family, friends and fans on Tuesday, when the Reds make their first visit to Rogers Centre to face the Blue Jays for a three-game Interleague series.

"It's nice to be playing against my hometown team in front of my family and friends," Votto told the Reds.com.

Overall, Votto has been one of the Reds' most productive hitters. In 73 games, he's batting .293 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs, and he's ranked tops among rookies in several offensive categories.

WHERE VOTTO RANKS AMONGST MLB ROOKIES
BA: .293 (2nd)
HR: 12 (tied 1st)
RBI: 37 (2nd)
Joey is on pace for .293-26-80 with 32 doubles.

STAT OF THE DAY, Lance McAlister (The LotD)
--The last Reds' 1B to hit 30+ HR's in a season was Lee May in 1971 with 39. That is currently the second longest drought for a franchise with a 30+ HR hitting first baseman. Arizona ('98) and Washington/Montreal ('69)have never had a 1B hit 30 HR's.

Shaquille O'Neal disses Kobe Bryant in rap form:

Let's take a look a few different mock drafts for Thursday's NBA showcase:

ESPN.com - Chad Ford
1.) Chicago - Derrick Rose
2.) Miami - Michael Beasley
3.) Minnesota - O.J. Mayo
4.) Seattle - Russell Westbrook
5.) Memphis - Eric  Gordon 

NBA.com - Consensus Mock Draft
1.) Chicago - Derrick Rose
2.) Miami - Michael Beasley
3.) Minnesota - O.J. Mayo
4.) Seattle - Jerryd Bayless
5.) Memphis - Brook Lopez

The Sports XChange - Kerry Eggers
1.) Chicago - Derrick Rose
2.) Miami - Michael Beasley
3.) Minnesota - O.J. Mayo
4.) Seattle - Jerryd Bayless
5.) Memphis - Kevin Love

The USA no longer dominates globally in basketball as it once did, as evident by their bronze medal they landed in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.  It has been 16 years since the original Dream Team was created to kick foreign butt and as special as that team was, there hasn't been anything close since.  America's 2008 version headed for Beijing has promise though.

The team, to be coach by Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, was announced on Monday and includes the following players: Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Tayshaun Prince, Michael Redd, Dwyane Wade, and Deron Williams.

The team was selected without a tryout. It will have a minicamp this week in Las Vegas and meet there July 20-25 to train and play an exhibition against Canada before heading overseas. The Americans open Olympic play against China on Aug. 10.

"It's really the world's game. We think we're the best at playing that game," Krzyzewski said, warning that "unless we show the respect to the rest of the world that it is the world's game" there will be no gold medal. 

It is no longer a show up and win a gold. If Team USA is going to come out on top, they are going to have to play hard and as a team.

"I take great pride in being given the opportunity to represent my country, and I strongly believe that with the team that has been assembled, the United States will be represented well," Prince said.