Pujols impressed with Reds' Bailey

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 6:23 PM Saturday, July 4, 2009

CINCINNATI — Homer Bailey was pumped up and humbled at the same time when somebody e-mailed him what Albert Pujols said about him.

Said Pujols, "Bailey threw an unbelievable game (Friday). He has electric stuff. He's sgoing to be around a long time."

Bailey smiled and said, "Somebody e-mailed that to me. Usually they only e-mail bad stuff said about me. Coming from a guy of his stature, that hits pretty deep. That guy is arguably the best hitter in the game and what he said is something you don't get every day."

Bailey started Friday's game by giving up a hit and walk, forcing him to face Pujols with two on and no outs. He struck him out swith a split-fingered fastball.

"I had the jitters the first two batters, then Pujols came up and I said, 'All right, let's get after it. There is nothing else you can do. From I took it one pitch at a time and slowly as the game went on I get a better feel for my splitter."

Bailey settled in, only two hits and one walk in the first seven innings, then he gave up a single and a walk to open the eighth and manager Dusty Baker came to get him.

"I didn't want to come out and I said, 'I can finish it,'" said Bailey. "But I can understand his reasoning and I can't even begin to question his judgement. With Arthur Rhodes and David Weathers coming in, there are not two other guys in baseball I'd rather have follow me because their track record speaks for itself. The rest of the game was baseball."

Rhodes issued a four-pitch walk and Weathers issued a grand slam to Pujols and Bailey's 3-0 win was gone, a 4-3 deficit.

Still learning

Baker's pregame assessment Saturday on what the Reds need to improve on:

"What we have to learn is, well, we're still in the process of learning how to win. The two areas: comeback victories and also how to get that killer instinct, put your foot on the throat when you have 'em down," he said.

"When you have three runs, you want four. When you have four you want five," he added. "No matter what the score is, to keep them from coming back — which was evident in a couple of interleague games when we had 5-0 leads and lost. We're in a process. We're young. We're learning. We're close. That's what makes it tough, when you see how close we are."

Willy's on a roll

Lost in all the demands by fans to put Willy Taveras in a crate and ship him to Bangladesh is the fact that, with three hits Satuday, he is hitting .372 over his last 10 games (16 for 43).

And on Friday he drew a walk — a big deal because it was his first walk in 97 at bats over 23 games.

Taveras, a leadoff hitter most of the season, is now batting second, but Baker said, "I prefer him at leadoff, but I also prefer wherver he is being productive and No. 2 is where he is productive right now."

Quote of the day

"I know Hank Aaron and Willie Mays were great righthanded hitters, but I can't imagine a better righthanded hitter than Albert Pujols." — Reds infielder Jerry Hairston Jr.

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I bet Pujols will never say that about Micah Owings. Another example of why Homer should be taking Micah Owing's spot in the rotation!

J.Mark
3:59 AM, 7/6/2009

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Listen to yourself for once Dusty; leave Willie T. where he's at (2nd) and being productive...dittos for Dickerson. Likewise, please don't forget about Nix and Gomes and finding a way to get Hannigan in the game more. Last but not least, please don't stay w/ EE too long as he struggles to make it back.

MAC
2:45 AM, 7/5/2009

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