The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Reds notes

Balentien joins Reds, is thankful for opportunity

Preview: UD women vs. Texas Christian
3:31 a.m.
Ohio State outlasts UC Santa Barbara
3:11 a.m.
Being best has become a way of life at Alter
3/20/10
Boyd weighs options after Wright State coach firing
3/20/10
Reds hit 4 HRs in defeat of Mariners
3/20/10
> More sports headlines

By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 6:41 PM Thursday, July 30, 2009

CINCINNATI — Wladimir Balentien says there is no difference whether his first name starts with 'W' or the more accepted 'V,' they both stand for the same thing — either a win or a victory.

It isn't likely, though, that the 25-year-old outfielder is enough to pull the Reds out of their downward spiral, even if he did hop a 10 p.m. flight out of Seattle on Wednesday night to arrive in Cincinnati at 8 a.m.

That might have been him sleeping in the dugout during Thursday's game.

Before the Reds acquired him in a trade Wednesday for pitcher Robert Manuel, the Mariners had designated him for assignment.

"He hasn't hit in a week," said manager Dusty Baker. "He has worked out, but didn't have a place to hit. So we'll get him some at-bats (today) when Edinson Volquez pitches his simulated game."

Balentien hit .213 in 56 games for the Mariners this season with four homers and 13 RBIs after hitting .202 in 71 games last year with seven homers and 24 RBIs.

"I'm happy to get another chance and thank the Cincinnati organization for giving me another opportunity," said Balentien, a native of the Netherlands Antilles.

Baltentien did not play for the surprisingly good Netherlands World Baseball Classic team, "Because I wanted to be in spring training to make the Mariners team.

"The last couple of years I've worked hard to have success at this level to be consistent and do the same things I have the last couple of years to have success," he said.

"He looks like a very strong young man," said Baker of the 6-foot-2, 218-pound right-handed hitter. He has hit 132 home runs in 678 minor-league games.

Lehr to start

Justin Lehr will turn 32 on Aug. 3 and has never started a major-league, but that will change tonight when his contract is purchased from Class AAA Louisville.

Lehr will be matched against Colorado right-hander Aaron Cook, a Hamilton native who is 10-3 with a 3.87 earned run average for the Rockies.

To make room, the Reds most likely will move a player from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list, probably pitcher Mike Lincoln.

Lehr has pitched in the majors, but only in relief for Oakland and Milwaukee, and his last appearance was with the Brewers in 2006.

A family affair

This isn't to say that David Weathers is old, but — Weathers faced both Max Venable and his son, Will Venable, one time and struck them both out.

The younger Venable, though, had four hits and drove in four runs Thursday, without facing Weathers. How ironic that on the day they had the annual Father-Sons/Daughters game that the son of a former Reds player would get a career-best four hits against the Reds.

Weathers did not remember Max Venable, who played for the Reds from 1985 through 1987, but when told he struck out both father and son, he said, "I own that family."

Weathers also has faced both Tony Gwynn and Tony Gwynn Jr.

Quote(s) of the day

— "Walt Jocketty is manning the phone today big-time. I haven't seen him all morning." — Manager Dusty Baker, talking about GM Walt Jocketty trying to make a trade.

— "Another scratch in our lineup? Why not? Everyone else is doing it." — Jonny Gomes after seeing that Willy Taveras was scratched from Thursday's lineup with a sore right wrist.

Share this article

ADD COMMENT

Comments feed

1-9 in the last 10 games. I campaign for a change in the manager. Dusty is simply not doing his job. Poor execution and sloppy base running are the responsibilities of the coaching team and wrong timing and selection of relief pitchers coming into the game is definitely Dusty's problems. He did not help win any games. He helped to lose games. We should bring Sparky back. Time to let Dusty go and make a change.

Richard L
10:14 PM, 7/31/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Just what I said when the reds signed him to a minor league contract Jonny Gomes is a gamer,he will be the 1st one out of the dugout if needed.We need more of his type we are soft.

Greg Tampa Fl.
4:48 PM, 7/31/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Finally! The Right-handed hitter we needed to round out this team....I have already put in my request for playoff tickets. . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
psych! I would have been embarrassed to have had to make this announcement....and even more to have to report on it...

donb51
12:48 PM, 7/31/2009

REPORT ABUSE

Ha!!! OHDave, I am still "rolling" on the floor at your quote....Great lines!! You're right, this horse has pulled up lame......I checked in the OBITS and the Reds are still not listed....I guess it's still a viewing and memorial service and not a full blown funeral. It would probably be like the Reds caravan where most of the starting lineup wouldn't show up anyway..Always have time to pick up their checks, but no time for the fams!!! Except Brandon "no hustle" Phillips

goadster
12:05 PM, 7/31/2009

REPORT ABUSE

I also would not mind seeing Rolen around. This team is in serious lack of leadership. No that you ever reach the point where you don't need prospects, but our team is already very young, I would rather them trade for someone who will lead these youngsters the right way. We need a veteran on the rotation that is a battler (like Micah, but good) and a no nonsense everyday player like we had in Vaughn a decade ago.

Indy
9:32 AM, 7/31/2009

REPORT ABUSE

There are 9 additional comments

SHOW ALL

We welcome your comments. Please remember this is a public forum and behave appropriately. Your comments must conform to our visitor's agreement.