DaytonDailyNews.com

CINCINNATI — Jay Bruce sat at his locker-room cubicle before the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, June 17, quietly downloading songs into his iPod.

"I like all hip-hop and I like country," he said.

The Cincinnati Reds' rookie sensation is not only proving to be versatile in his musical tastes, but also as an outfielder. He's been mostly a center fielder since his May 27 call-up, but he was in right field against the Dodgers with Ken Griffey Jr. sitting out with an illness.

"Right now, I prefer to play center, but I'll do whatever helps the ball team," he said. "Long term, I think they want me to play right field, but I feel I can play an effective center field, and the same with right.

"Wherever I am, I want to win. That's all I care about."

He's started 14 games in center, five in right and one in left this season.

Asked where he sees Bruce ultimately landing, Reds manager Dusty Baker said, "Probably in right, but he can play both. He gets a good jump on a ball. He can play center, but you prefer more of a burner out there. Right field keeps Jay's bat fresher longer and keeps his legs fresher longer. There's a lot of running in center field."

Reds prepare for the DH

The Reds will begin a nine-game road trip to American League parks Friday — hitting New York, Toronto and Cleveland — and Baker already has pondered his designated-hitter options.

He realizes it's not an easy job.

"It's like pinch hitting four times if you haven't been doing it," he said.

Baker mentioned Griffey and Adam Dunn as possibilities but also said Norris Hopper might get a crack at it. Hopper is currently rehabbing an elbow injury at Class AAA Louisville.

The Reds have a 72-91 all-time record in interleague play, including a 4-2 mark this season. They haven't produced a winning record against the AL since going 7-5 in 2003.

Day spent sightseeing

Baker wanted to sneak into his office at the stadium during his day off Monday, but he resisted the urge and instead took his family to Sawyer Point, a mile-long park along the Ohio riverfront, and stopped by Yeatmans Cove, the site of the founding of Cincinnati.

"I learned a lot about Cincinnati," he said. "There's some interesting stuff at Sawyer Point. I ain't lying, I was impressed.

"I'd say to my son, 'C'mon, dude,' because he kept lollygagging. And he'd say, 'Dad, I'm reading the stuff.' "

Tidbits

• Homer Bailey is scheduled to pitch Saturday against the Yankees, but Baker said the club hasn't decided yet whether the struggling right-hander (0-3, 8.76 ERA) will make that start.

• Going into Tuesday's game, Dunn led the majors in home-run ratio with one in every 11.7 official at-bats.

• Reds first baseman Joey Votto began the night tied with Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto for the National League lead in homers among rookies with 11.

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