Plotting the Post-Season Roster

The season is winding down. After tonight, the Reds have a mere 10 games left. And if we are to assume that they are going to be able to make the post-season, one question still looks like it might need some answering. Who is going to be on the post-season roster?

The obvious choices are set in stone.

Barring injury setbacks, these are your starting pitchers: Cueto, Latos, Arroyo, Bailey, Leake

Your regular fielders are: Votto, Phillips, Cozart, Frazier, Bruce, Choo, Ludwick, Hanigan

The bullpen choices I see making it are: Chapman, Hoover, LeCure, Simon, Marshall

Bench players I think will definitely be there October 1st: Mesoraco, Heisey

That's 20 players. The final 5 roster spots are what give me some pause. Which players will be most effective in helping the Reds navigate the playoffs?

The remaining pool consists of these players. I'd remove these September call-up guys immediately:

Paul, Izturis, Hamilton, H. Rodriguez, Soto, Robinson, Hannahan, Miller, Christiani, Cingrani, Duke, Ondrusek, Parra, Partch, and Reynolds.

That leaves us 9 players for 5 spots.

Because there are currently no back-up infielders, I see Izturis and Hannahan both on the team. I think Parra has also earned his spot.

So that leaves us with Paul, Hamilton, Robinson, Cingrani, Ondrusek and Reynolds for 2 spots.

With a couple of short series to start, and extra starters there, Reynolds is not needed.

If you only take one more pitcher, I imagine it's Cingrani...unless he's not healthy.

So who's the last player? Each player has their positives and shortcomings.

Hamilton is the hype choice with his super-speed in pinch-running situations. He's also a decent fielder, but you're wary of him having to bat.

Paul provides more pop with his bat than the other two. He's also put in the work for the whole season. Is there a loyalty factor involved?

Robinson also provides decent speed on the basepaths and in the field. His special advantage is that he can switch-hit.

Unless they choose to carry less pitchers and use starters for relief purposes, I think this is going to be a really tough decision. I could see any these guys being the 25th man and even being rotated between each series, depending on which teams they play and what their strengths are. If they take 2 of the 3 and leave a pitcher, I think Cingrani is off and they take Paul and Hamilton.

As I write, Jay Bruce just hit a grand slam...I'm thinking his spot is pretty safe. These other guys? Well, it's gonna be an interesting week and a half.