Adam Dunn

What does it mean to be a "slugger?" We all know the answer, don't we?

Being a slugger means gripping it and ripping it. It means hitting the crap out of the ball and not even waiting around to see where it falls.

It means pointing to a spot in center field and then hitting it there. It means putting dents in signs. It means splashing down in McCovey Cove.

The Yankees, Red Sox , and Rays have nearly come to a stand still in the fight for the AL East crown, and likely the best record in baseball.

So who is going to come out ahead?

Well, it is likely that the team that makes the best acquisitions is going to end up on top, making the month of July, more specifically the July 31st trade deadline, the deciding factor in this year's race in the East.

Here we are just a few days away from the month of July where the sun isn't the only thing that will be burning hot.

We've talked about a lot of rumors over the last few weeks but there could be a few new names added to the fire.

A month ago, the White Sox were clear sellers. After a sudden resurgence, they have become possible buyers.

On June 8 the White Sox were 24-33 and 9.5 games back of the Minnesota Twins. A reported yelling match between GM Kenny Williams and manager Ozzie Guillen occurred that same night.

The White Sox went on to win 15 of their next 16 games and currently sit two games back in the division behind the Detroit Tigers.

There is a great deal of consternation right now about the Washington Nationals and their offensive struggles.

On a day to thank mom for everything she has done, the Washington Nationals attempted to give all the mothers of National Nation a present. Looking for the Nats' sixth series win of the season, Livan Hernandez took to the hill at Nationals Park against the ever troublesome Florida Marlins.

Adam Dunn finally made a splash.  The Mets finally tried Jose Reyes hitting third.  Tim Lincecum proved again why he’s the best pitcher in the game. 

Let’s look at these stories and all the rest from yesterday’s games:

Hitters:

Listed below, are the points and counterpoints about whether Adam Dunn can be a competent defensive first baseman:

Point: Yes, he is athletic enough to make the transition.

Counterpoint: No, he hasn't shown the ability to play any position well and it isn't going to start now.

P: Well, he is a former major-college quarterback.

CP: The Texas Longhorns were in the process of moving him to tight end. He would have ended up on the defensive line when it was all said and done.

This is not a Top 10 list of home run hitters in Cincinnati history, nor is it a list of the RBI leaders.

I chose five categories to sort through to obtain the best power hitters in Reds history.

The categories used are based on 162 game season averages. To qualify, a player had to be with the Reds for a minimum of five years.

I selected HR, RBI, total bases, slugging pct., and OPS. Only numbers accrued while with the Reds are used.

Let's take a look at them now.

You look at Adam Dunn, and there’s one thing that comes to mind: home runs.  That’s it.  That’s really all you need to know about him, isn’t it?  Is he really that type of one-trick pony?

Before answering that question, we need to look at a few things:

2009 Statistics:
546 At Bats
.267 Batting Average (146 Hits)
38 Home Runs
105 RBI
81 Runs
0 Stolen Bases
.398 On Base Percentage
.529 Slugging Percentage
.324 Batting Average on Balls in Play

What You Need To Know: