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REDS NOTES
Patterson accepts demotion to minors
RELATED: Reds win 9th straight at home | Notes | Photos
BLOG: Bailey needs attitude adjustment
COMMENT: Should the Reds call up Bailey?
Thursday, May 29, 2008
CINCINNATI — Dusty Baker planned on meeting with Cincinnati Reds center fielder Corey Patterson on Tuesday night, May 27, to see if he'd agree to accept an assignment to Class AAA Louisville. Patterson — he of the .200 batting average and the .240 on-base percentage — beat Cincinnati's manager to the punch.
"It was a mutual decision," Baker said. "I was going to call Corey in to talk to me, and he came in before I could call him in. He said, 'Hey, I have to get my act together and change some things.' He knows and we know he's better than the way he's playing. He's got skill. He's got talent. He's only 28 years old. It's a good move to go down, stay awhile and get his stuff together."
Extras
With the Reds calling up Jay Bruce on Tuesday and immediately inserting him into the starting center-field position, it seemed an ideal time for Patterson to accept the Reds decision Wednesday to option him to Louisville. Patterson was replaced with infielder Andy Phillips.
The Reds also transferred shortstop Alex Gonzalez, who hasn't played this season because of a compression fracture in his left knee, to the 60-day disabled list.
Baker, though, isn't ready to write off Patterson. Baker sees too much talent in the outfielder.
"He's still one of the best runners in the game," Baker said. "He's got an outstanding throwing arm. He's an outstanding outfielder. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you can make a change. I'm not just going on whether I like or dislike somebody. No, I like the skill. I know skill when I see skill. I know talent when I see talent. If he was 35, it might be different."
Instead, the 31-year-old Phillips took his place Wednesday. He signed a minor-league contract in January and performed well for the Bats, hitting .315 with five home runs and 22 RBIs.
He's also got some versatility on defense. While at Louisville, Phillips played first base, third base and second base, and filled in as a designated hitter.
Antidote for pitchers
Lost in the shuffle of the Bruce-fest Tuesday was the fact that reliever Jared Burton also made his first major-league plate appearance. The results were less than impressive as he struck out looking while trying to lay down a sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning.
"If you're struggling as a pitcher, you should get in that box and see how much closer that mound looks," Burton said. "I had to ask Dusty if I was bunting either way, because I really wanted to get in there and get my hacks in. But that's how it goes."
Farm report
Right-hander Daryl Thompson was scheduled to make his Class AAA debut Wednesday night. He was promoted to Louisville from Class AA Chattanooga on Tuesday.
Also on Tuesday, right-hander Homer Bailey allowed just one run and five hits in six innings, but Reds reliever Kent Mercker — rehabbing a sore lower back — allowed a run in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss against Columbus.
Phillips, in his final game at Louisville before driving to Cincinnati, went 0-for-4 to snap his 27-game on-base streak.
