Baker wants better play within division

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 8:00 PM Sunday, May 10, 2009

One of the many things that were broken last season and that manager Dusty Baker wanted fixed for this year was the team’s record against fellow members of the National League Central.

Most of the division treated the Reds like a welcome rug — they wiped their feet all over them. The Reds were 31-47 last year against the NLC.

With the defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals Sunday, the Reds are 14-9 in the division.

“That’s one of the things we talked about — division games, road record (10-5), getaway day record (5-1) and in our division, because last year we got killed. As many games as you play in your division it is in your best interest to have the best in-the-division record you can.”

Now the Reds head west, their first trip of the year on the other side of the Mississippi, and they have as much trouble traveling west as the Donner Party.

Many a blossoming season has wilted on the Left Coast. The Reds open a three-game series tonight in Phoenix against the Diamondbacks and then visit San Diego for three.

Baker said he wants his team to climb above .500 as far as it can get, “And you want to stay in the rear view mirror so St. Louis can see us.”

Somebody mentioned that objects in a rear-view mirror appear may appear closer than they are. Baker laughed and said, “Yeah, that’s a good one. I like that.”

Votto returning

For the fourth straight day first baseman Joey Votto was absent from the lineup as the last remnants of the flu evacuate his body. He entered the game as part of a double-switch in the eighth inning and hit a home run.

“If we weren’t playing so well, he’d be in there starting for sure, but I figured this way he can get all his strength back,” said Baker.

“He is such a team guy that when I talked to him he said, ‘We’re going so good, winning three in a row, why change?

What if we win (Sunday)?’ I told him, ‘No matter, win or lose, you’re playing Monday.”

Alex and Edwin

Baker said Alex Gonzalez looked good during infield practice Saturday, but hadn’t seen him hit to determine if his sore side will enable him to play.

No decision has been made, and Baker said, “Things are going pretty good, so we might as well stretch it out as long as we can, as long as it isn’t hurting us.”

Encarnacion had the cast removed from his wrist last week and Baker said it will be stiff for a couple of days.

“He’s working hard and throwing balls across the field and running and working out,” said Baker. “He’ll probably be in better shape when he comes back than when he got hurt. He can’t hit or really field — just thrown and run and work out. He’s a ways away yet.”

Lohse’s flashback

St. Louis pitcher Kyle Lohse was 3-1 with a 3.22 ERA when he took the mound against the Reds Saturday, losing 8-3.

In 2007 Lohse was 6-12 with the Reds over 21 starts and some suspected he might have been hurt.

“No, I wasn’t,” said Lohse. “I just ran into a lot of tough luck and bad circumstances. I’ve changed my approach here, altered some things. But I had a flashback to Cincinnati Saturday, all those infield squibbers and bloopers.”

And Jay Bruce’s 411-foot home run squibber/blooper.

Quote of the day

“Confidence breeds confidence and from there you never know. And that comes from winning.” — manager Dusty Baker on the appearance of assuredness by his team.

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