Bottom 1 - Pirates at Reds

After Norris Hopper bounced out, Ryan Freel walks to the plate. Freel made some comments a few days ago about not feeling like he was part of the Reds plans anymore. He didn't ask to be traded, but he might as well have if he was quoted correctly. If he's available, I have to think there would be quite a bit of interest. Freel is far from an All-Star, but he has great versatility and good speed. He could certainly help a contending team that wouldn't mind taking on a contract that goes through 2009 and will pay him a fairly hefty 7 million dollars. On second thought, unless the Reds eat some of that contract, maybe he won't be highly sought after.
I wonder if the Rays might not be interested in him at the right price. He used to be in that organization, and he'd give the Rays a backup at every outfield position, plus third and second. That could really come in handy when Ben Zobrist is currently the guy they are counting on to do some of that stuff. Freel is like a poor-mans Chone Figgins, which Joe Maddon has tried in vein to turn Zobrist and others into for the Rays.
Paul Maholm works a scoreless first.

Reds 0, Pirates 0