*Disclaimer: This blog post is coming a little late because of some technical difficulties with the site, but I still wanted to get it up and express my thoughts and opinions.* 

This past weekend in Pittsburgh the Reds returned to what fans here in Cincinnati hoped they were finally moving passed. They showed that they are, at least at this point, the same old Reds that can't get runners in when in scoring position. While this was a team epidemic this past weekend, there was one player that stood out above the rest, and not in a good way. That player would be starting third baseman, Edwin Encarnacion. Not only has EE been hurting any fantasy teams that chose to draft him to play their corner infield position or utility spot, he's been killing his real life team every time he steps up to the plate lately.

In the series against the Pirates, Encarnacion stepped up to the plate four times, yes four times, with the bases loaded. So how did he do? He went 0-for-4 and didn't drive in a single run. At the end of Sunday, Encarnacion's batting average had plummeted to .179 (7-for-39). Aside from the one game in the first week against the Milwaukee Brewers where he hit a walk-off homerun, he hasn't done much of anything that warrants him keeping his starting job right now. So what to do with the man on the hot seat playing the hot corner?

Unfortunately it might be a good time to send Encarnacion down to AAA Louisville so he can get his head on straight and get his mind right. Not only is he hurting the team as far as not being able to hit with runners in scoring position, not that he's the only one, but he's making it hard for Adam Dunn to see good pitches. Pitchers know that they can pitch around Dunn because Encarnacion is batting behind him and if they can't get Dunn out, EE will either get himself out or not come up with a hit to advance the runner. In order to get his game back to where most think it should and can be, a trip to Louisville in the early going might not be a bad idea. In his place the Reds could get more speed in the lineup and put Ryan Freel at third. He may not be the prototypical third baseman, but he's good defensively, something else that Encarnacion still has trouble with from time to time. And you can't move Jeff Keppinger over to third right now with Alex Gonzalez not returning to the lineup anytime soon.

Putting Freel in the everyday lineup would also allow CF Corey Patterson to move to the #2 spot in the lineup or maybe even down to the #6 spot behind Dunn to give him some protection when the Reds are facing right-handed pitching. Patterson, aside from Brandon Phillips, is the best hitter in the lineup right now, leading the team in homeruns right now. Moving him out of the leadoff spot might be a good idea right now if at all possible. If a move is made Dunn could even be considered as an option at the #2 spot in the lineup against right-handers. Dusty Baker should consider all his options before this weeks' important series against division rivals, the Chicago Cubs and the second go-round with the Brewers.

Sending Encarnacion down could be the first step in the right direction for this team right now. He has a ton of talent if he could just get his head into the game, or in this case, maybe he needs to think less and just go up focused and ready. It may feel a little too early to do anything drastic, but its better for Baker to do this now so he can get Encarnacion back producing at the level he's capable of sooner rather than later. While Encarnacion's psyche might take a hit, it will help him in the long run. If Baker is as smart as most think he is, he'll make this move now.