Fans 55, Narron 0

That's comment count on the posting on the Reds' 5-3 loss to the A's Wednesday. Jerry Narron's decision to pinch-hit Juan Castro for Josh Hamilton caused as much rancor as any move he's made by my measure.

Fifty-five of you checked in. If anyone said, "I can see why he did what he did," I missed it. It's the kind of move that helps get a manager fired. It didn't cost the Reds the game. Josh Hamilton or Rod Carew could have hit, and the Reds still likely lose the game.

But it looked like a desperate move. Narron said he did what he did to get the right-left matchup (which I think is overrated, but that's another post) and because Castro was 1-for-1 off Alan Embree. You could argue that Castro got his one hit, so he's due to go 0-for-7 before he gets another one.

The pop psychologist in me says two things were behind the move: a) Narron is so frustrated he feels like he has to do something; b) he was subconsciously highlighting the shortcomings of the roster.

I didn't talk to Wayne Krivsky or Bob Castellini today, but I'm fairly certain they would have said what they said all along: No move is coming in the immediate future.

But the fans are obviously angry. Fifteen games remain before the All-Star break. My guess -- and it's just that -- is the Reds have to show some signs of life, some improvement or something gives at the break.