Did you assess that bizarre play in St. Louis as a heads-up play by Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina or a bonehead play by the Reds’ Eugenio Suarez? — DAVE, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek.

You are referring to the play where Suarez took third base on a walk and wandered off the bag and Molina picked him off. It depends upon your allegiance. If you are a Cardinals fan, it was just another cerebral play by Molina. If you are a Reds fan, it was unconscionable daydreaming by Suarez, who stood stunned afterward like the emperor with no clothes. He was standing there with no clothes and nobody told him, except the umpire who called him out.

Do you think it is wise for the Reds to draft Hunter Greene when he has made it clear he wants to only play in San Diego? — GEORGE, Knightdale, N.C.

Christian Hunter Greene, 17, is a senior at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif. He is almost mythical. He is a pitcher-shortstop, compared often to Noah Syndergaard and Alex Rodriguez. He throws 102 mph and hits 450-foot home runs. He loves yoga, speaks Korean, plays the violin, is an artist/painter and distributed 2,300 pairs of socks to the homeless in downtown Los Angeles. If he wants to sign out of high school, he has to go to the team that drafts him — Minnesota No. 1 or the Reds No. 2. If not, he could enroll at UCLA or Southern California and then re-enter the draft. But he still can’t choose his team. If this kid is for real, and not the figment of somebody’s imagination, if I’m the Reds and the Twins don’t take him, I draft him and offer him Carew Tower, Fountain Square and the Roebling Bridge to sign.

You said without Joey Votto the Reds might not win 50 games, but last place is last place whether a team wins 50 or 70, so what value is Votto? — RICHARD, Platt.

Who is to say they won’t win 81 games with Votto and finish .500. Or even better, nobody is establishing a stronghold on first place in the National League Central, not even the Chicago Cubs. With Votto and a healthy starting pitching staff, whenever that might happen, who knows what might happen? But there would be no chance without Votto, unless they trade him for Eric Thames.

Is it too early in the season to say the Reds are in trouble with their pitching staff, and do you think the front office will do something about it? — BRAD, Tampa, Fla.

With pitching, it is never too early. And it is getting later and later for Homer Bailey and Anthony DeSclafani as they keep pushing their return times back to almost midseason. The team is rebuilding, and winning a championship this year and next is not in the plans. So don’t look for them to seek out established pitchers. What you’ll see is a steady stream of young pitchers from their system, hoping somebody like Amir Garrett emerges and sticks.

After seeing Boston’s Dustin Pedroia spiked by Baltimore’s Manny Machado, I wonder why players still use metal spikes when all types of rubber/ plastic gripping soles are available? — GREG, Miamisburg.

It is a matter of personal preference, and old-schoolers like the metal spikes. What baseball should do, if it wants to keep high-priced shortstops and second baseman from being gashed at the bag, is to outlaw metal spikes. Makes sense to me. But when has baseball used common sense? Or maybe they should permit infielders to wear catcher’s shin guards.

Joey Votto is a great two-strike hitter. Who is the best you ever saw? — WALT, Dayton.

Votto, indeed, is one of the best, one of the few willing to choke up on the bat to make it easier to make contact. All great hitters have that ability, or they wouldn’t be great. Ted Williams seemed to revel in hitting with two strikes, many times taking two strikes before he swung. To me, he was the best.