What are you waiting for? Reds must put Jonathan India on the IL

Just do it, already! Jonathan India injured his right hamstring hustling down the first-base line last Thursday night in Los Angeles. India has missed the Cincinnati Reds last four games and manager David Bell does not foresee the reigning NL Rookie of the Year taking the field until at least Friday.

In effect, Bell is purposefully choosing to run his bench incredibly thin. Nick Senzel just returned from the IL on Monday after a bout with the stomach flu, and the only reason he rejoined the club was because Tyler Naquin hit the IL with an undisclosed injury/ illness. It was intitially reported that Senzel was not expected back until Tuesday.

Furthermore, Mike Moustakas was a late-scratch from Monday's contest versus the San Diego Padres with an arm injury. Moose is expected to be back in the lineup on Tuesday night at Petco Park.

Reds need to put Jonathan India on the IL.

The concept is simple; place Jonathan India on the Injured List retroactive to Sunday and he can return by the middle of next week. Three days is the maximum number of days players can be retroactively placed on the IL, so Cincinnati has already screwed up by not making this move sooner.

With India out, Moustakas scratched, and Senzel just returning to the lineup, David Bell was forced to start Colin Moran at third base and Alejo Lopez at second on Monday night. Brandon Drury acted as the team's designated hitter and Aristides Aquino miraculously got another start in the outfield.

The Reds bench was essentially Aramís García and, well, that's it. That is no way to operate a team or construct a roster. The Cincinnati Reds have an off day on Thursday and I hope the team uses it to make some meaningful transactions before the upcoming homestand against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Alejo Lopez and Brandon Drury can handle duties at second base until Jonathan India is fully recovered from his hamstring injury. If India returns to the lineup too soon and re-aggravates that injury, David Bell and Nick Krall will never hear the end of it.