THE BROO VIEW with Ken Broo

Good Monday Morning!

Anyway you look at it, you had a better weekend that Aaron Harang, who had his appendix burst on him in Pittsburgh.

I’ve been looking long and hard at the Reds this week. I see no way this team competes for a division title next season. I’ve done the math. I’ve crunched the roster. None of it adds up to a very good 2010 season.

I watched the Bengals play the Patriots this week. I love what I’m seeing from Ochocinco. I think the first team secondary looks really good. I like what the linebackers are doing. But honestly, I’m not seeing enough to make me believe that this team is eleven wins good this season. And it’s going to take eleven to get into the playoffs.

I’m trying real hard to find in the pile of pony dung today. Maybe you can help me. If you can, dial in now.

The Reds are such an easy target these days. I almost feel guilty sitting here and picking them apart. They’ve simply misplayed just about everything this season. They really haven’t done anything right since Spring Training 2008, when they signed Corey Patterson to about $2.99 million more than anyone else was going to pay him.

They’re everyday eight would have trouble competing in Triple-A. Their starting rotation is in shambles and their bullpen, well, does it even matter when you can only score two or three runs per night.

It would defy ridicule to say they’ll be a contending team in 2010. Here’s what this team is going to look like next season, particularly if they can’t unload Harang, Arroyo or Cordero. The outfield will be Chris Heisey in left, Drew Stubbs in center and Jay Bruce in right. From a dollars and cents stand point, not bad. You’ll get a starting outfield for under a million and a half.

Scott Rolen will eat a lot of money at third. But move Brandon Phillips to short, put Double-A phenom Todd Frazier at second and leave Joey Votto at first and you’ll get an infield for about $20 million.

They won’t pick up Ramon Hernandez and his $8.5 million option. Ryan Hanigan will cost them about $600,000. They go out and sign a free agent catcher (Henry Blanco, Greg Zaun, Johnny Estrada pick one). Catching shouldn’t set the Reds back more than $1 million in 2009.

We’re at $22.5 million. Not bad.

Now, pitching. OK, Harang, Arroyo and Cordero combined are scheduled to make $35 million. Dump Cordero and you’ve got $14 million off the books. Who’d want him? The Cubs need him right now. And the Yankees about ready to schedule Grecian Formula night for Mariano Rivera. I’d start with those two teams and see where it takes me.

Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez will both get somethwer in the neighborhood of $600,000 each, Volquez maybe a little less considering he won’t pitch before August. We’re now at about $46.5 million. The only other big dollar contracts in the bullpen belong to Arthur Rhodes, who’ll make $2 million next season, and, amazingly the $2.5 million Mike Lincoln is due.

All they need at this point is to find some unsuspecting sucker to fall in love with Willy Tavares and his $4 million dollar salary and the Reds are back in business. They’ve got their $70 million limit in sight.

But is it good enough? In a word, no. The Cubs will have new owners in 2010. They didn’t buy that team to watch it lose some more. The Cardinals have an ownership group that’s proven it will do just about anything to win. To a lesser degree, so have the suit who own the Astros.

The Reds won’t cut it, spending nickels and dimes. I’m not expecting much next season.

You watched the Bengals game Friday night. I did. Look before we all get giddy over what they did against the Patriots, this team still has only two touchdowns in two pre season games. Penalties and turnovers have stalled drives in both games. I’ve got some breaking news for you: if Carson Palmer isn’t in the line-up, this team isn’t going to be a whole lot better than it was last season. There’ll be too many three and outs on offense which means the defense gets fatigued from too much time on the field.

When you watch exhibition football games, you have to see what a player is accomplishing against what the other team is throwing at him. Bengals first teamers up against the other guys’ second teamers, or Bengals second teamers up against the other guys’ second teamers tells you little.

Coaches can evaluate how a player does invidually, whether he makes the cut at the right time, runs a crisp pass route, blocks with good technique. Evaluating those things doesn’t change, no matter who’s on the field.

But before we all start anointing Brian Leonard, or De De Dorsey or get caught up in how good Robert Geathers looks remember: it’s called exhibition football for a reason. These are the Bengals. They’ve gone 4-0 in pre-seasons and went onto lay a dozen eggs when the games matter.

And I wouldn’t read too much into Thursday nigh