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No indication when Votto might return

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 1:02 AM Sunday, June 7, 2009

CINCINNATI — Joey Votto is eligible to come off the disabled list a week from today, but he won’t. Those are the sad words spoken by manager Dusty Baker.

Asked point blank if Votto would be ready when DL time expires June 14, Baker said, “Probably not. We’re not there yet, but we’ll probably send him out on rehab when he does come back because he hasn’t hit in a while. I know he’s ‘The Natural,’ but he ain’t that natural.”

The manager and the disabled first baseman (stress) chatted Friday as Votto watched batting practice in civilian clothes, and Baker said he was encouraged. Baker also said, though, that he had no indication when Votto might start doing baseball stuff.

I have nothing more to tell you. I wish I did, but I don’t.”

Going with 13

After the next four games, the Reds will play 12 of their next 15 against the American League, nine on the road where the designated hitter will be used.

So Baker and general manager Walt Jocketty decided to keep 13 pitchers, which is why infielder Wilkin Castillo was optioned back to Class AAA Louisville Saturday instead of pitcher Jared Burton. The move was to make room for starting pitcher Matt Maloney.

“In interleague you don’t use as many position players because you don’t have to double switch or pinch-hit as much,” said Baker. “Just trying to figure out a way to make it better and win games.”

This was the second time Castillo was called up and sent back quickly with little playing time and Baker said, “The kid needs to play. We weren’t using him much here and we have another bat in Micah Owings when he is not pitching.”

Encarnacion sore

Edwin Encarnacion (cracked wrist) showed up sore all over after Friday’s strenuous workout, “So I hope he didn’t do too much,” said Baker. “I know how hard he is working trying to get back.”

Center fielder Willy Taveras was still sidelined Saturday and Baker said, “He’s better, can probably double switch and pinch-hit, but I doubt if he can steal a base.”

Burton reprieved

Jarerd Burton got another reprieve. After he was optioned to Louisville last Monday to make room for Edinson Volquez’s return from the DL, Volquez went back on the DL with tendinitis in the elbow and went back on the DL. Burton was reinstated.

Then when another spot was needed and it looked as if Burton was odd man out again, the Reds decided to keep 13 pitchers and optioned Castillo instead.

“I’m getting there, getting close to where I was last year,” said Burton. “It’s repetition and confidence and I’m getting both. Every day, closer and closer. The other night when I warmed up and was ready to come into the game, it was like a switch flipped on. I was ready.”

Whiffleball, anybody?

Anybody out there playing Whiffleball? The subject was brought up in Baker’s office Saturday and he said, “Whiffleball means a lot to me. After the strike of 1981 I had the highest batting average in the league the rest of the season. I attributed it to all the Whiffleball I played during the strike.”

Is that an idea for Jay Bruce?

Quote of the day

“Man, even our trainer is on the DL. Our trainer has a broken foot. — Baker on trainer Mark Mann, who slipped on the dugout steps and fractured his right foot, but is still working and not really on the disabled list.

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If he was out with a broken leg or a stress fracture or gooned up on the juice -- I don't think nobodiesfool or Josh or Boxter wouldn't be making these sorts of assinine comments. Just because you can't see an injury doesn't mean it's not there . . it has nothing to do with being a man or money . . . . I'm sure this concept is hard to grasp when you've already had a brainetchomy

Carol
2:44 PM, 6/12/2009

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it must be very stressfull dealing with all that money,,wonder how he would feel if he had to make it on unemployment

nobodies fool
11:22 AM, 6/10/2009

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There's no crying in baseball and no "h" in wiffle ball (2 words by the way)... Pete Rose and other Reds had their pictures on wiffle ball boxes over the years.

Bart B.
4:33 PM, 6/9/2009

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So Hal can you confirm that this has to do with the death of Votto's father last year? And the fact that he did'nt grieve? It sounds like Votto needs to man up and deal with everything like the rest of us do. He has quit on his teammates. Maybe this is why we drafted Yonder Alonso.....makes sense. Report the story Hal....thats your job.

Josh
10:49 PM, 6/8/2009

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Not kidding at all Phil. We'll never hear it but I'll bet there are team mates that are not happy with Votto. His team mates will have more class than Votto and be PC. Votto should be playing. This guy cleaned his locker OUT. He didn't just go away, he took everything out of his locker. This is not a guy that gives a **** about anything but himself. He needs to go.

boxter
5:46 PM, 6/8/2009

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