Reds Tidbits (2006 Season)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

5/24/06

REDS NOTEBOOK

Reds call up outfielder, send down relief pitcher

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


CINCINNATI — The Reds recalled outfielder Cody Ross from his minor-league rehabilitation assignment yesterday and optioned reliever Mike Burns to triple-A Louisville.

Burns, whose ERA was 8.71 in nine games, gave up three runs in one inning to Milwaukee in an unimpressive performance Monday night.

Manager Jerry Narron believes the bullpen can survive with six pitchers until Friday, when Kent Mercker (left elbow) is expected to come off the 15-day disabled list.

"Our bullpen is as rested as it could possibly be," Narron said. "We’ve got a day off Thursday, so it just gives us the luxury of being able to go two days with 11 pitchers. What happens on Friday, I don’t know."

To activate Mercker, the Reds will have to make a decision on another position player. That might be as simple as choosing between veteran outfielder Quenton McCracken and Ross. The Reds appear to want to continue carrying three catchers — Jason LaRue, David Ross and Javier Valentin.

After the Reds acquired him in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 24, Cody Ross was injured during his first plate appearance in Cincinnati when Houston’s Roy Oswalt hit him on the left pinky finger with a pitch. He was pleased to be recalled short of the 20-day limit.

"I had a couple of days left," Ross said. "I was actually packing my bags to go to Pawtucket for a couple of games. So it was definitely a surprise. I got the call last night and was excited to get back here."

He used the time to regain his batting stroke.

"I went down and got some work in and got some at-bats," Ross said. "It was nice to get down there, get into a little groove and to know that I was going to play every day."
M * A * S * H notes



Head trainer Mark Mann said Mercker would throw "live batting practice" today before the game. Pitcher Paul Wilson and his fatigued right shoulder remain in limbo. He long tossed in the outfield yesterday and will do so again Thursday. He is not cleared to throw off the mound. … Reliever Grant Balfour, an off-season acquisition, takes a major step today in his rehabilitation from shoulder and elbow surgery. "He’s going to throw 20 pitches in a live BP session," said Mann, who believes Balfour will pitch in Cincinnati this season.

"I think so," Mann said. "It will definitely be after the All-Star break. But I think he’ll be available to us."

Balfour, a native of Australia, was a highly regarded relief pitcher in the Minnesota Twins’ organization before suffering shoulder and elbow injuries. He missed the 2005 season.
[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

5/25/06

BREWERS 6 REDS 2

Brewers have their way with Reds’ Claussen

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>

</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Milwaukee’s Doug Davis avoids a tag by Cincinnati’s Jason LaRue in the second inning. Davis’ bunt drove in a run. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


CINCINNATI — The Milwaukee Brewers treat Brandon Claussen the same way a pack of hungry Dobermans would 202 pounds of ground beef. Whenever the Reds left-hander is on the mound, the Brewers’ thoughts immediately turn to lunch.
Claussen made his 10 th appearance against Milwaukee last night in Great American Ball Park and Cincinnati wound up on the wrong end of the scoreboard for the ninth consecutive time. Ouch hardly paints the picture of Claussen’s history with the Brewers.
Before the crowd of 29,065 had settled in its seats in the first inning, Claussen (3-5) was behind 2-0. He later served up a two-run homer on a hanging change-up to Carlos Lee in the fifth that cinched a 6-2 win for the Brewers.
"I feel like sometimes like I’m my own worst enemy," Claussen said. "I go out there and try to be too fine. I really felt like this was a big start, but those first two innings I was pitching scared, to be honest with you. I was trying to be too fine with the ball, forcing it in there and when that happens, you leave the ball out over the middle of the plate. It was brutal, man."
Milwaukee starter Doug Davis, a seasoned Cincinnati killer, also pitched to form while dominating the Reds for seven innings. Austin Kearns touched him for a home run in the sixth but struck out with the bases loaded in the third to help deflate the only Cincinnati chance for a big inning.
"We don’t seem to hit Doug Davis well," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "I think it’s a rhythm thing. He works extremely slow. He throws a lot of pitches, and he’s got such a slow delivery. I think some of our guys get settled too early on him. There’s got to be something he’s doing. It seemed like the rhythm of the entire game was slow."
The out-of-sync feeling began immediately. Claussen opened the game by walking Rickie Weeks. Jeff Cirillo followed with a run-scoring double and the Brewers were on their way. Lee singled Cirillo to third and Prince Fielder drove him in with a sacrifice fly.
"I thought (Claussen) came out and wasn’t aggressive in the first inning," Narron said. "I would have liked to have seen him throw more strikes early in the game. He even admitted that he picked a little bit too much there in the first inning. We know he’s capable of giving us some good outings. We’re looking for it. We’re begging for it."
Claussen knows that the Reds are desperately seeking a third starter to complement Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang. So far, he hasn’t been able to cement his position in the rotation.
"I know they’re looking for consistency from me," Claussen said. "And trust me, I’m trying to be consistent. I’m not going out there wanting to do bad by any means."
Down 3-1, the Reds muffed their only chance at Davis in the third after loading the bases with no outs. Ken Griffey Jr. bounced into a fielder’s choice to score one run. But Davis rebounded to fan Kearns and retire Scott Hatteberg on a fly to Geoff Jenkins in right.
In the fifth, Claussen retired the first two Brewers before hitting Jenkins with a pitch. Lee put the game out of reach with his 16 th homer of the season.
"I really feel like I make bad pitches to certain hitters on that team," Claussen said. "I just can’t do that. I just really didn’t give my team a chance to win. But I’ll work on it."
[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

5/25/06

REDS NOTEBOOK

Griffey says criticism of his play unfair

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


CINCINNATI — Ken Griffey Jr. declined to speak to the media after hitting a home run and making a spectacular defensive play during the Reds’ win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.
Griffey, however, sat down in front of his locker to talk yesterday to explain why he was upset. He said a radio talk show and a columnist recently questioned his ability to play center field.
He thought the criticism was unfair because he spent a month on the disabled list because of a strained tendon behind his right knee before returning to the lineup May 11. He bristled at suggestions that he should move to first base.
"What you guys fail to realize is what you write or say doesn’t just stay in the clubhouse," Griffey said. "I have to live it. I have to go places. I have to do normal things like go to the grocery store and I hear it. I can’t do anything but hold my head up high and keep moving. I’m tired of hearing it."
Griffey said the radio talk show comments occurred about a week into his comeback.
"To be judged after eight games after I busted my (rear end) getting back (stinks)," he said. "It’s easy for people to criticize somebody and not be out there. You should have caught that ball. Well, it ain’t like I’m not trying."
Griffey indicated that the Reds have not suggested that he switch positions.
"If I felt I was hurting the team, don’t you think I’d say OK?" he asked. "You can get hurt anywhere. I play baseball at one speed. That’s the only way I know how to play."
In the first two games against Milwaukee, Griffey made three defensive catches that were among the top plays of the day on ESPN. He shrugged.
"If I can get to it, I can get to it," he said. "If I can’t, I can’t."
Lineup shuffle

Reds manager Jerry Narron did not start shortstop Felipe Lopez or left fielder Adam Dunn last night. Dunn was the only player on the team to start the first 46 games of the season. The team is off today, so the decision gave both players two days’ rest.
Short hop

Reliever Kent Mercker threw a bullpen session before the game and appears to be on schedule to come off the disabled list Friday for the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. "Hopefully, he’ll be ready Friday night," Narron said. "Arizona has a lot of left-handed hitters. It would be nice to have another left-hander in the bullpen."
[email protected]

 

[coastalbuck]

Link


I'm ok with the trade, just hate the Casey aspect. Nice deal, Bow Wowden!!

 

[bearonu]

"The 22-year-old right-hander was 8-1 with a 2.06 ERA last season for the Gulf Coast Mets before a promotion to Brooklyn. Overall, he struck out 54 with only four walks in 61 2/3 innings."


I know that these numbers were at a low level, but I certainly won't complain about them. It certainly fits in with Narron and Krivsky's "just throw strikes" mantra. I too am still upset that Williams was the best they could do for Casey, but at least they got something for Williams and don't have to continue to pay his salary.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Well at least we got something out of his sorry ass.

 

[Bestbuck36]

FANTASTIC! I would have been happy just getting rid of him. A minor league prospect to boot?! Shoot! Feels like we just landed a big recruit.

On another note, shortly after the bashing of Brandon Phillips, mostly on redzone, he starts to light it up and moved up in the order continues to produce. If we can get Dunn going and maybe get some help by dealing that 3rd catcher, preferably not Ross, we should be right in there come the All-Star break.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Cincy

5/26/06

Leaving them wanting more

Adam Dunn puts on a show with the longball, but does he aspire to be more than a slugger?

BY PAUL DAUGHERTY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->What do you want from Adam Dunn?

There is a problem with being 6 feet 6, weighing 275 pounds and being a good enough athlete that the University of Texas signed you to play quarterback. It is this:

People are always going to want more.

You hit 40 homers? Great. How many were solo?

You drove in 100 runs? What was your batting average with runners in scoring position?

And by the way: Could you mix in some defense?

Is it fair? Beats me.

If history holds, Dunn will hit at least 40 home runs, drive in 100 runs and score 100 more this season, for the third year in a row. He'll walk at least 100 times. His on-base percentage will be near the 10 best in the National League. He's all of 26 years old.

If that's all there is, OK. As Reds manager Jerry Narron said Wednesday, "That ain't bad."

No, it ain't.

What do you want from Adam Dunn?

It's the $23.5 million question. That's what the Reds would owe Dunn for next season and 2008. That is a lot of money for a pitching-needy, small-revenue club to pay a power hitter.

We've had these discussions for four years, or about as long as Dunn has been a Red. Maybe we should stop. Because for everyone who thinks Dunn has the skills to be a great player, there are as many who think being great isn't what drives him. Often, it's the same people offering both arguments.

Unless you are blessed with supernatural skills, greatness is a mindset. You respect your talent by using all of it. What you lack in skill, you make up for with effort. If being the best drives you, nothing is as important.

Until Narron rested him Wednesday, Dunn was the only Red to play in every game this season. The last several days, he took early batting practice.

You never hear a peep from him about switching positions. He doesn't say much when allegedly ill-informed media people crack on his game.

Yet he affects an air of indifference. Dunn has said the worst advice he ever got came from former Reds general manager Jim Bowden, who told him he should pull the ball more. Yet some opponents are shifting all four infielders between first base and second base when the left-handed-hitting Dunn appears at the plate.

He has worked with Reds hitting coach Chris Chambliss, who has urged Dunn to use more of the field and to adjust his plate approach depending on the count he's facing. But when he has fallen behind no balls and two strikes this season, Dunn is 0-for-10 with nine strikeouts.

Yeah, but ...

Dunn leads the Reds in homers. He's tied for the team lead in RBI and second in runs. What more do you want?

If he took pitches to left field ... if he were more aggressive at the plate ... if he put in more time working on his defense ...

I wanted to ask Dunn about all that. He didn't want to talk, at least not to me. Maybe especially not to me. Fair enough. I'm not exactly the president of the Dunner Fan Club. Regardless, the temptation is to suggest Dunn is OK with who he is, and we should be, too.

Dunn is, to most, a genial good ol' boy from a small town 40 miles north of Houston, where everybody knows everybody and where generations of his family have lived. He has that laconic, laid back air familiar to Texans. If the burden of talent and potential bugs him, you'd never know. If ever anyone was born to fish for bass in a pond, it's Adam Dunn.

If Dunn were older, it would be easier to say he was following the career path blazed by Dave Kingman. If he were 36 instead of 26, we all would be urging him to write "designated hitter" on his tax returns. We'd be looking at that size and athleticism and wondering, "Is that all there is?" even as he approaches 500 homers.

But he's only arriving at his best. What he chooses to do with it is anyone's guess.

E-mail [email protected]

<!-- BEGIN: Article Tools -->

 

[Bestbuck36]

Nice timing.

I would be happy with Dunn if he would only do one of two things:

1) Improve defensively and find a niche.

2) Hit a pitch to left once in a while. It could be a grounder, fly ball, bloop, homer, whatever. Until he can do that the defenses will not give him anything to the right side and that average will stay low.

 

[buckeyefool]

Thereal question is how did the reds convince the mets that dave williams was worth a minor league player? :)

 

[Jaxbuck]

"The 22-year-old right-hander was 8-1 with a 2.06 ERA last season for the Gulf Coast Mets before a promotion to Brooklyn. Overall, he struck out 54 with only four walks in 61 2/3 innings."


I know that these numbers were at a low level, but I certainly won't complain about them. It certainly fits in with Narron and Krivsky's "just throw strikes" mantra. I too am still upset that Williams was the best they could do for Casey, but at least they got something for Williams and don't have to continue to pay his salary.

22 years old in rookie/low A ball. This guy is a career minor leaguer, don't get excited.

The good news is that we are rid of Williams and most of his contract. The Casey trade was the right idea but vintage Dan O in its execution.

As far as the Dunn article and people who actually think that way I'm pretty much to the point of leaving them to wallow in their own ignorance. Its a complete and utter waste of time to talk about any meaningful stats when all people want to do is judge one of the premier run producers in all of MLB by his fucking batting average.

If Dan Marino played his career in Cincy, Daugherty/these fans would have been bitching about his lack of mobility.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

5/27/06

DIAMONDBACK 3 REDS 0

Webb shows his stuff

Diamondbacks ace overshadows Milton’s strong performance

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Jim Massie
COLUMBUS DISPATCH

<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>

</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>AL BEHRMAN </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>ASSOCIATED PRESS </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Austin Kearns of the Reds is tagged out at the plate by Johnny Estrada of the Diamondbacks in the fifth inning. </TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle>

</IMG> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


CINCINNATI — Eric Milton brought his good stuff to work last night in Great American Ball Park. Sadly, what should have been welcome news for the Reds didn’t matter because the best of Milton wasn’t good enough to beat the National League West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks and their ground-ball machine, Brandon Webb.
As is his custom, Webb (8-0) smothered the Cincinnati offense with a trademark sinking fastball that produced 18 groundouts during a 3-0 complete-game victory.
Making his second start since coming off the disabled list, Milton (2-2) realized early in the evening that Webb would force the Reds to execute to win. They couldn’t, so they didn’t.
"He’s been on a roll," Milton said. "First of all, you’ve got to score to win, and you’ve got to be perfect on the mound and on defense. I felt good; Webb was a little better. We just couldn’t push across a run tonight. We had some opportunities, but he was tough. We had to be perfect, and we weren’t."
Milton was nearly as tough through the eight innings he pitched. The one run he allowed came in the second inning. With Luis Gonzalez on third, third baseman Edwin Encarnacion charged a Johnny Estrada ground ball with thoughts of throwing home. He dropped the ball taking it out of his glove for an error, and Webb had the only run he needed.
"I tried to go to my left side because (Gonzalez) was on my right side," Encarnacion said. "I tried to catch the ball and go to my left side to throw to the plate."
The Reds had three excellent chances to tie the score. But three times with runners on third base and less than two outs, nobody could hit the ball out of the infield.
"Brandon Webb did a great job," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "He gets great late movement. He’s got a great sinker. He doesn’t give into hitters. When you get that kind of late movement, he’s got an outstanding chance to get ground balls."
In the fifth, the Reds came close to scoring with Austin Kearns at third. Encarnacion tapped a grounder to the left of shortstop Craig Counsell, who did a complete turn before throwing out Kearns at the plate. Webb also produced big pitches to strand runners at third in the seventh and eighth.
"He’s a very smart pitcher," Encarnacion said. "He throws the sinker inside with the runner in scoring position to make you hit a ground ball. The hitter has to be patient because he’s not going to put nothing in the strike zone in a certain situation.
"That’s a bad thing that happened for us today. We were too aggressive with runners on third base."
The Reds tried to stay close. Center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. robbed Estrada of a home run in the seventh. But in the ninth, Shawn Green put the game away with a two-run homer off Todd Coffey.
Even with the loss, the Reds were happy with what they saw from Milton.
"He made the pitch when he needed it," catcher Javier Valentin said. "He changed speeds a lot, his location was outstanding. The way Eric pitched was a positive. I think he’s 100 percent ready."
Milton thinks that he is 100 percent after surgery to remove loose cartilage from his left knee.
"I’ve been working on trying to get stamina, and my velocity was up a bit," he said. "It seemed like I was strike one (on hitters) a lot of the time."
[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

5/27/06

REDS NOTEBOOK

Team goes to bat for Ross with trade

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


CINCINNATI — No matter how he did the math, Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky couldn’t calculate a way that reserve outfielder Cody Ross wouldn’t be the out man as soon as the team activated pitcher Kent Mercker last night from the 15-day disabled list.
Rather than put Ross in limbo by designating him for assignment, Krivsky picked up the telephone and began calling other clubs to see if any had an interest in him. The Florida Marlins wanted Ross, so Krivsky pulled the trigger on a trade for a player to be named or cash.
The Reds acquired Ross from the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 24 under similar circumstances. He was out of options and the Dodgers had no room for him on the 25-man roster.
"I was thinking about Cody Ross a little bit," Krivsky said. "They talk about baseball being a cutthroat business. This is a move I wanted to do for the player from the standpoint that he had been designated (for assignment) one time before this year."
Ross never got a chance to show the Reds how he might contribute. He was hit on the left hand by a fastball from Houston’s Roy Oswalt in his first at-bat with Cincinnati. He went to triple-A Louisville on May 5 on a rehabilitation assignment. He returned Tuesday and had one hit in four at-bats.
"We were faced with a decision," Krivsky said. "What were we going to do with Mercker coming off the DL? We’re thrilled to have Kent back, and no other injuries occurred in the meantime. I wasn’t looking so much for (getting trade value for Ross) as I was keeping a player in the major leagues."
Ross was thrilled by the news.
"It’s a great opportunity for me," he said. "Hopefully, it will jumpstart my career. I’ve been with teams that are trying to win now for the last couple of years. (Florida) is a young team. A lot of guys are young and are playing hard and trying to solidify (their careers). Hopefully, I can fit right in there and get some playing time. I want to thank Wayne."
Short hops

Reds manager Jerry Narron was pleased to get Mercker back in the late-innings bullpen mix along with David Weathers, Todd Coffey and Chris Hammond."It will be nice to have Merck back," Narron said. "Chris Hammond has really pitched well the last few times out. That’s really been a great help for us. But just having Merck back makes me feel a lot better." … Right-hander Johnny Cueto continues to shine with the Class A Dayton Dragons. Cueto pitched seven shutout innings against South Bend on Thursday and upped his scoreless-innings streak to 19. He has allowed two hits and struck out 22 in that stretch.
[email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

5/28/06

DIAMONDBACKS 7 REDS 0

Reds fall victim to Cruz control

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>

</IMG> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


CINCINNATI — Jethro Bodine, that monumental sixthgrade scholar of a certain Beverly Hills Clampett family, knew his numbers well enough to say with certainty that "naught times naught equals naught."
And even a lesser mathematician wouldn’t need a flip card to realize that a Reds team that couldn’t score a run in consecutive games didn’t win either.
The National League Westleading Arizona Diamondbacks hung a second straight shutout on Cincinnati last night in Great American Ball Park and didn’t need their ace, Brandon Webb, to turn the trick. Juan Cruz, a sometimes reliever, and the bullpen combined to beat the Reds 7-0 before a crowd of 36,884 that had little to reason to cheer.
In losing three games in a row, Cincinnati has scored two runs in 27 innings and none over the past 21. The slump includes an 0-for-14 stretch with runners in scoring position in the back-to-back shutouts.
"We haven’t been scoring runs," shortstop Felipe Lopez said. "It always seems to be like that. We’ve just got to try to find some way to be on the same page all of the time."
The Reds had to be happy to have Aaron Harang on the mound. The big right-hander was coming off an outstanding if frustrating performance in Detroit. He checked the Tigers on five hits and struck out nine in eight innings only to lose 1-0.
Harang wasn’t as sharp last night, but he still had a strong outing. The Diamondbacks took advantage of errors by left fielder Adam Dunn and catcher Jason LaRue to score two unearned runs.
"Aaron Harang pitched well enough where we could have won that game," Reds manager Jerry Narron said. "It just seems right now if we make any mistakes it’s coming back to haunt us. It’s no secret right now that we’re not swinging the bats very well."
Even before the errors were committed, Harang trailed 1-0 and the Reds were doing nothing against Cruz. The Diamondbacks scored the only run they needed in the fourth inning. Craig Counsell doubled and scored when Eric Byrnes bounced a single between Harang’s legs. The lack of run support drew a shrug.
"What can you do?" Harang said. "It can happen to anybody. Hopefully we can get out of the rut we’re in right now and get back on track."
In the fifth, Dunn made a long run for a fly hit by Orlando Hudson. He reached the ball, but it popped out of his glove for a two-base error. Chris Snyder followed with a single, and Arizona led 2-0.
The sloppy play continued in the sixth. Byrnes walked, stole second base and went to third on LaRue’s throwing error. Shawn Green drove him in with a single off the glove of second baseman Brandon Phillips.
Arizona stretched its advantage to 4-0 in the sixth. Hudson and Snyder singled, and Damian Easley moved them up with a bunt. Counsell delivered again with an RBI single.
The Reds had no success against Cruz, who took the mound with a three-game losing streak. He allowed five hits over six shutout innings.
"We’ve had some guys in scoring position and our guys just have not done anything," Narron said. "I know our hitters are better than that. The bright spot in all this if we can continue to pitch we can definitely turn it around and get back on a roll. We know at some point we’re going to score runs." [email protected]

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

5/28/06

Late-day sun could play havoc with outfielders

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Jim Massie
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


CINCINNATI — Somebody asked Reds manager Jerry Narron yesterday how his outfielders could best deal with the sun during the early innings of the game against Arizona because of the team’s new 6:10 p.m. starting time.
"It might be to get a welder’s mask," Narron deadpanned. "One thing is, they’ve got to just stay after it. If the ball does get into the sun, they’ve got to stay with it."
The Reds moved the Saturday games up an hour to allow fans to get home earlier. Narron heard about the change during the winter.
"I mentioned then that it might be tough (to see)," he said. "The ballpark in Texas is configured much the same way and left field there is very difficult to play early in the game with the sun. It will be interesting."
On a sunny day during a normal 7:10 p.m. start, left fielder Adam Dunn and center fielder Ken Griffey said that they have trouble picking up the ball while the sun is visible over the top of the stadium to the first base side of home plate.
"It’s usually the third or fourth inning before you can see (the ball)," Dunn said. "It’s going to be really bad."
Griffey noted that the Scripps-Howard Building in downtown Cincinnati adds to the adventure.
"Even when the sun goes down, you can still see the sun off that mirrored building behind the ballpark," he said. "Certain days it gets bright orange. That looks like playing in the Metrodome (in Minneapolis). The old ballpark (Cinergy Field) was much taller, so it didn’t affect you. Here everything is more compact and shorter."
He cited a second-inning single that Arizona’s Shawn Green hit to right Friday night.
"I never even saw it," Griffey said. "I never even moved."
Naturally the first two balls of the game were hit to Dunn and Griffey, respectively. Each made the catch.
Balls and strikes

In his 24 th relief appearance of the season Friday night, Todd Coffey surrendered his first home run of 2006. The two-run shot by Arizona’s Shawn Green jumped Coffey’s ERA from 0.65 to 1.26. Heading into last night’s game with the Diamondbacks, he continued to lead all National League relievers with a minimum of 20 innings pitched in ERA. ... Ryan Freel will make his first start of the homestand in the final game at 1:15 p.m. today. Narron wasn’t sure what position Freel would play. "I like seeing him out there," Narron said. "But our outfield is pretty well set. Brandon Phillips has been playing really well at second base. I’m sure something’s going to happen here with Freely’s playing time. It will go up at some point." [email protected]