Sitting Elly De La Cruz vs. Cubs is baffling decision by Reds manager David Bell

What are the Cincinnati Reds doing? Not only has the club drug their feet at the MLB trade deadline and are looking as if they'll just stand pat and do nothing as usual, but now their best player won't even be in the lineup on Monday night versus the Chicago Cubs. Elly De La Cruz will not start according to Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

This comes on the heels of an early-morning game on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays, so it's not as if the Reds were wrapping up a West Coast trip in which De La Cruz started 10 games in 11 days.

To make matters worse, the Reds are facing a right-handed pitcher tonight. De La Cruz is hitting .276/.355/.536 against right-handers this season, and .237/.346/.397 against lefties. In case you were curious, yes the Chicago Cubs will send a left-hander to the mound on Tuesday.

Sitting Elly De La Cruz vs. Cubs is baffling decision by Reds manager David Bell

This is just a downright baffling and indefensible decision on the part of Reds manager David Bell. It also comes just one day after Bell's horrendous lineup cost Cincinnati a chance to rack up some hits against the Rays during Sunday's series finale. During that same game, a questionable substitution in the eighth inning also allowed the winning run to cross the plate. Is Bell trying to lose his job?

This isn't to suggest that De La Cruz isn't deserving of a day off. But Bell gave his shortstop a day off before the All-Star break — which was less than two weeks ago — and the Reds have an off day on Thursday. Furthermore, we're not talking about a 35-year-old veteran who could use a few extra days to ice his knees. De La Cruz is 22 years old, in peak physical shape, and is the Reds best player. Oh, by the way, Cincinnati is clinging to life in the chase for the NL Wild Card as well.

The Reds lack of urgency, both in the front office and in the dugout, is driving fans up a wall. The MLB trade deadline is about 24 hours away, and the fanbase has no clue which direction Bell, Nick Krall, or the Reds organization as a whole is going.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors