DaytonDailyNews.com

CHICAGO — Shortstop Alex Gonzalez is at home in Aragua, Venezuela with his hospitalized infant son, Johan, reportedly in critical condition.

Gonzalez won't be in Chicago at all this weekend and his return to the team is uncertain. During his absence, veteran Juan Castro will play shortstop.

"Juan is a pretty good defensive player, but Alex Gonzalez is the best shortstop in baseball," said manager Jerry Narron. Gonzalez also is hitting .313 and when the Reds were 4 for 25 with runners in scoring position during a three-game series in Arizona, Gonzalez had three of those hits.

Of Gonzalez, Narron said, "I haven't talked with him (Friday), but I know Thursday he was real anxious to get home with his wife and family. I don't know exact details, but let's hope the child is OK."

Cruz-ing along

Taking Gonzalez's spot on the roster is 25-year-old infield Enrique Cruz. Who? Exactly. Cruz was one of the minor-leaguers used as a fill-in player during exhibition games, wearing uniform No. 83 with no name on it.

By hitting .286 in eight spring games, Cruz cut his number nearly in half (48) and now has his name on a Reds jersey.

"It's a nice story for him and I hope he does well," said Narron. "Here is a guy who wasn't invited to major-league camp and now has a chance to get into some major-league games as an extra guy. I hope that gives hope to other guys in our organization that we're just not looking for No. 1 draft picks to come in and help us. We're looking for guys who can play a little bit and he showed us this spring that he could."

Asked if Cruz would be with the Reds right now without showing positive results this spring, Narron said, "He would not be here."

"He can play all over the infield for us and if we need somebody he can in the outfield, he can do that," said Narron.

Cruz has major-league experience because he was a Rule 5 pick by Milwaukee from the New York Mets in 2003. He played 68 games, hit .085 and hasn't appeared in a major-league game since. The Reds signed him as a free agent in November.

"Playing those spring training games really helped me — being my first year in Cincinnati," he said. "Narron hadn't seen me play, so I know that helped a lot."

Just 'Wade' in

Cubs pitcher Wade Miller won't face the Reds this weekend and Adam Dunn is ecstatic about that.

"Want to see total domination?" he said, peering at some matchup statistics. "I'm 1 for 24 for my career against Miller. He has an unbelievable cutter, an unbelievable slider, an unbelievable curve. The one hit? I did take him to the upper deck in old Cinergy Field."

Friday morning lights

Ken Griffey Jr. probably won't get any positive paragraphs in a book author Buzz Bissinger (Friday Night Lights) is writing about the Cubs.

Bissinger rudely interrupted a private conversation Griffey was holding Friday morning by saying, without preamble or introductions, "Talk to me. Now. I only have 20 minutes."

When Griffey rightfully upbraided Bissinger, the author walked away grumbling under his breath about disrespect and Griffey followed him to the clubhouse door and said, "No, YOU disrespected ME."

Grandma's cure-all

Bench coach Bucky Dent was drinking grapefruit juice in the clubhouse Friday morning, "To keep warm."

Grapefruit juice.

"Yeah, heated grapefruit juice," he said. "On cold days it's better than coffee. I drank gallons of it in Cincinnati last week. My grandma got me started on it."

Just a bit short

The Cubs reportedly will be sold after the season and former Cubs broadcaster Steve Stone said he has been asked several times if he is putting together a group to purchase the team.

"I hear it will cost about $800 million and right now I'm, oh, about $800 million short," he said.