Cincinnati made a poor attempt at pursuing the Wild Card this season, which compounded with their injury problems has left them a day or two away from statistical elimination from the postseason. The Reds placed Gabe White on the disabled list in late August with a strained groin. He's only now almost recovered and would like to return before the quickly approaching end of the season.

Austin Kearns pulled his left hamstring while running the bases in late August, leading to a DL trip. As his recovery is progressing slowly and the Reds have no compelling need for his services, he likely won't return this year. However while hamstring injuries set a bad precedent, Kearns should be healthy well before next season.

Sean Casey developed soreness in his left shoulder beginning in late June. He received several cortisone injections over the course of the season and underwent a number of tests to determine the cause of the shoulder pain. Eventually, an MRI revealed a small tear, which the doctors thought would heal after extended rest. However, Casey didn't want to take the time for that when the Reds still thought they could reach the postseason, so he continued to play through the pain, spending only 17 days on the DL. Casey re-evaluated the situation at the beginning of September as the Reds' playoff chances disintegrated, and he went on the disabled list again. Despite early predictions that surgery would not be needed, doctors changed their mind when re-examining him. The first baseman had shoulder surgery September 12th, after which doctors announced that not only was his rotator cuff torn, but he also had a tear in his labrum and an inflamed bursa. Jeff Bagwell's shoulder surgery occurred two months later than Casey's last season, but Bagwell reportedly only had a torn labrum. Casey has the advantage of the extra months of recovery time and youth, but next season he could still suffer some of the same lingering effects that hindered Bagwell in the first half of this year.

The Reds first promoted Brandon Larson in mid-July. He was with the team for a month before Randy Johnson hit him with a pitch, breaking his toe and causing him to spend 15 days on the DL. Cincinnati activated Larson on August 31st to fill the roster spot opened by Gabe White's trip to the DL. However, he returned to the DL within a week after a freak accident. According to the AP, "Larson was in the dugout when he was hit in the head by a foul ball by Todd Walker in the fourth inning. The ball smacked Larson in the right ear as he was leaning against protection netting at the top of the dugout. Larson fell when he was hit and broke his hand." He won't rejoin the Reds this year, although the organization does expect him to play in the instructional league, where they want him to work out at second base.

Cincinnati drafted Larson out of Louisiana State University with the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 1997 draft. The Reds' moved him through the minors at a steady pace except for skipping him from A-ball to AA without anytime in A+. Larson reached AAA at the end of 2000 and has remained there aside from his time in the majors. While with AAA Louisville in the International League this season, Larson hit .340 with a .393 OBP and .667 SLG on 101 H, 20 2B, 1 3B, and 25 HR with a 24:70 BB:K and 1/2 SB% in 297 AB. His plate discipline still needs improvement, though he made considerable strides this season. He offers promising power skills and is well-liked as a defender at third base. I expect the Reds asked him to work out at second more to develop his positional flexibility rather than with a permanent move in mind. Larson was a shortstop in college.

Luis Pineda, on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis, underwent surgery in mid-August to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff, so he likely won't be able to return to the majors before next season's All-Star break.

Cincinnati has expanded their roster this September to include IF-R Gookie Dawkins, RHP Jared Fernandez, RHP Brian Moehler, OF-R Wily Mo Pena, RHP John Riedling, and RHP Jose Silva. Fernandez's earlier stint in the majors ended in a late August demotion after he was pulled from the rotation so that the Reds could add Chris Reitsma to the roster. Cincinnati likes many of their other pitchers more as starters, so Fernandez's knuckleball skills likely leave him stuck in the bullpen. He'll work long relief this month.

Moehler went on the disabled list at the end of August with weakness and inflammation in his surgically repaired shoulder. He returned from the DL this week to get in some extra innings before the end of the season, but he will work only out of the bullpen and not as a starter. Conditioning over the winter should prevent him from similar problems next season.

Riedling suffered a groin injury in mid-August that led to a trip to the DL. He's healthy now and has resumed relieving. The Reds also waited until September to activate Jose Silva from the disabled list after he missed two months with shoulder tendinitis. He'll work a few innings this month and then play winter ball to build up his arm strength following another year mostly spent on the DL.

Despite spending time in the majors in both 1999 and 2000 as well as this year, Dawkins advanced to AAA for the first time this season. However, he will be out of options next spring, so the Reds will need to keep him on the roster or risk inevitably losing him if they attempt to send him to the minors through waivers. The shortstop possesses acceptable plate discipline with moderate power and speed but no outstanding offensive skills. At this point, the 23-year-old doesn't look like more than a good defensive infielder for the bench, but he could surprise if he receives more regular playing time after a season or two as a reserve. This month he'll catch a few at-bats when Barry Larkin rests.

Pena spent the season at AA Chattanooga in the Southern League. In 388 AB, he hit .255 with a .330 OBP and .405 SLG on 99 H, 23 2B, 1 3B, and 11 HR with a 36:126 BB:K and 8/8 SB%. Unfortunately, while his plate discipline indicates he should return to AA for at least the first half of next season, he's signed to a major league deal and out of options, so he'll need to be in the majors. Hopefully the Reds will find some creative excuse to have him spend most of the season on a rehab assignment in AAA similar to a Rule 5 pick. If forced into the majors next season, he won't deserve more regular playing time than a fifth outfielder and his skill development will likely stagnate. He's up now to gather a little experience and should receive a few pinch-hit at-bats while playing a few games in the outfield.