DaytonDailyNews.com

LOS ANGELES — Is something afloat or on the horizon or in the works?

Before the Cincinnati Reds embarked on this three-city, nine-game trip, General Manager Wayne Krivsky said he would not be with the team, that he would be in Dayton and other minor-league venues.

But he flew to Los Angeles with the club and also will be in San Diego. Trying to play it off with humor, Krivsky said, "Do you think I'm nuts? Miss Los Angeles and San Diego?"

Then he turned serious and said, "With the way the team is going lately (2-8 before Saturday's game), I thought it best to be with them. If we won 10 straight, I'd be home with my wife. Don't read anything more into it."

Asked if manager Jerry Narron was on a slippery slope, he said, "No. That's not why I'm here. Not even close."

Who knows if it means anything, but last June 28 owner Bob Castellini extended manager Jerry Narron's contract through 2008 and picked up the 2008 option on Krivsky's contract, calling each of them "a 10."

At the time the Reds were 41-36 (.532) and in second place, 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis. Since then they are 54-67 (.446), and as of Saturday were in last place, 9 1/2 games out of first.

Freel reeling

Ryan Freel missed his second straight start Saturday and said, "I came to the park Friday feeling wonderful. When I went to take batting practice I felt nauseated, like I was going to pass out.

"I took (batting practice) anyway and felt light-headed and achy all over. Then I slept on the training table in the clubhouse most of the game and slept all day (Saturday). I feel better, but not enough to even take BP."

Bray getting close

Pitcher Bill Bray, out all year with a broken right ring finger and sore shoulder, pitched his first inning of the season Saturday — 24 pitches (17 strikes) at extended spring training in Sarasota.

"He gave up three hits and a run, but threw 89 to 91 and said the finger and shoulder felt good, and he'll throw another inning Monday," said Krivsky.

Whatever happened to Elizardo Ramirez, who hasn't pitched since spring training due to an ouchy shoulder?

"On again, off again," said Krivsky. "He has thrown some off the mound, but has discomfort when he does, then goes back to flat ground. Very frustrating."

Author, author

Josh Hamilton doesn't like to talk about it, but he is working on a book about his return from the near-dead of cocaine abuse. The author is talented writer Tim Keown of ESPN The Magazine.

"I have no clue what the title will be, and I'm not worried about it," said Hamilton. "I've known Tim for about seven years, and he's a good guy."

Reds think pink

Every position player on the Reds with the exceptions of outfielder Norris Hopper and infielder Jeff Keppinger will use pink bats today in recognition of breast cancer research.

And, no, Hopper and Keppinger aren't against the research.

"I ordered the bats for every position player on the roster, but those two weren't with us then," said equipment manager Rick Stowe.

Third base theme

Maybe third base is cursed this year and it wasn't all Edwin Encarnacion's fault that he had only one home run and hit .217 before his demotion to Louisville on Sunday.

Third basemen are struggling throughout the game. Ryan Zimmerman (Washington) has one home run; Garret Atkins (Colorado) and Scott Rolen (St. Louis) have two home runs; Joe Crede (Chicago White Sox), Casey Blake (Cleveland) and David Wright (New York Mets) have three home runs. None is batting higher than .255.

The weak division

If there was doubt about the water-thin National League Central, consider that on Friday night all six teams lost and scored a total of eight runs, four by Milwaukee. Cincinnati and St. Louis were shut out, Pittsburgh and Houston scored one, and Chicago scored two.

Quote(s) of the day

Some thought Dodgers catcher Russell Martin slid too wide and too hard into third base Friday night, deliberately upending third baseman Juan Castro on a force play. That isn't what Narron thought: "From where I was, it didn't look like a dirty play. It was just a hard baseball slide, and he was not trying to hurt anybody. He was playing all-out."

Said Castro, "I would have done it that way, too. He could have hurt me, but he didn't. He just clipped my heels trying to stop me from throwing to first base. I respect people who play the game right."

Today's game

Who: Reds (Livingston 0-0) at Dodgers (Hendrickson 2-0)

When: 4:10 p.m.

TV: FSN Ohio

Radio: 700-AM (WLW); 980-AM (WONE)