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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 1:28 AM Wednesday, June 3, 2009

ST. LOUIS — Manager Dusty Baker called it the best news one can get out of bad news when he heard about pitcher Edinson Volquez going on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right elbow.

"It's the best news it could be for bad news because there is nothing structurally wrong, nothing in the joint," said Baker. Volquez won't touch a baseball for seven to 10 days and then will be examined again.

It saved Jared Burton a trip to Louisville. Although he was optioned out Monday, with the injury to Volquez he can stay on the roster. But the Reds will need a starting pitcher Saturday night against the Chicago Cubs.

"We have an idea who it will be, but we have to wait, just in case something happens," said Baker. "Whoever it is, you don't want that person thinking about it for four or five days." Most likely, it will be another Saturday Night Live performance by Homer Bailey, who was called up two Saturdays ago to face the Cleveland Indians, then was optioned right back to Louisville.

"We're a bit fearful of the workload he had pitching winter ball (eight innings) and the World Baseball Classic, getting ready for it so fast," Baker said about Volquez. "We were very apprehensive about the whole thing."

Lecture for Bruce

Jay Bruce batted second for the first time this year, ostensibly to get him some fastballs to swing at, but Baker planned a chat with his 22-year-old right fielder who was 1-for-16 with eight strikeouts for the first four games.

"It's a matter of Jay having a better pitch selection," said Baker. "You can tell he is getting frustrated and I have to talk to him about getting upset after at-bats. I'd rather have him expend that energy and time on focus and concentration rather than frustration. They're teasing him out of the zone with fastballs, then throwing him a lot of breaking stuff. It's like a disease. You know you have it but you have to shake it."

Nix displays 'D'

Laynce Nix made an incredible catch Monday night after losing the ball in the lights and running five or six steps before finding it at the last instant and snatching it out of the air.

Nix, in fact, has played exemplary defense.

"I saw it off the bat and thought I had a bead on it, then I lost it," Nix said of his Monday catch. "That's a crazy feeling, not knowing if it is going to come out of the lights.

"I've always prided my defense," he said. "You know the pitcher is on the mound working his tail off, so it is our job to be on our toes and snag whatever you can."

Nix nearly lost his career with a wrecked shoulder when he played in Texas and ran into a wall, but that doesn't stop him now and he said, "You pick your spots on when to be aggressive, but when the ball is in the air you have to go get it. I won't be out there playing scared."

Rehab for E.E.

Edwin Encarnacion took live batting practice for the first time Monday and was rained out Tuesday, but believes he is ready for a minor-league rehab assignment.

"Just a matter of seeing where they want me to play," said Edwin. "No timetable. I just have to go play and get ready and make sure I'm ready to help my team win games."

Jerry Hairston Jr. missed his second straight start after missing Monday with flu-like symptoms and Baker said Tuesday, "He's feeling better. I'll just wait until (today) to play him."

Quote(s) of the day

"Jay Bruce in the two-hole? You kidding me? Enjoy those fastballs, dog, when Willy Taveras gets on base." — Brandon Phillips on Bruce batting second.

"My heart got quiet but my underwear didn't." — St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa when Albert Pujols jammed his ankle Monday on a half-slide into second base.

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cathy
10:48 AM, 6/4/2009

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Why would a pitcher throw fastballs to Jay Bruce when he swings at balls in the dirt and lays off of the fastball away. He needs to stay back and try to go the opposite way. When your going bad you can't pull everything. What is he working on in BP?

rick
5:01 PM, 6/3/2009

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