DaytonDailyNews.com

PHOENIX — Dusty Baker wanted to see what Danny Richar and Wilkin Castillo might do as a double-play combination when he started Richar at shortstop and Castillo at second base Friday night, Sept 12.

Well, they looked mighty nice in their road grays and their distinctive red and black Cincinnati Reds hats.

How else?

Baker laughed and said, "They had one play all night. One play. Can you believe that?"

Richar had one grounder in the fourth inning and threw to Castillo for a force at second. Castillo's relay to first was not in time for a double play. They had no other plays all night.

Richar came to the Reds from the Chicago White Sox in the Ken Griffey Jr. trade and Castillo came to the Reds from Arizona in the Adam Dunn trade.

"I like Richar's skills and reaction," Baker said. "He is aggressive, swings the ball well, stays out of the air. I like his hand action, love his hands. I like him and Castillo both, although Richar might be a little more advanced at this stage because he had some experience with the White Sox last year."

With left-handed Randy Johnson on the mound Saturday (Richar bats left-handed) Baker had Adam Rosales at second base and Jeff Keppinger at short in a lineup loaded with right-handers.

"Same guy we started against CC Sabathia, so we'll see if they learned anything and can rise to this challenge," Baker said.

Praise for Jocketty

Reggie Sanders knows a thing or three about playing for good teams and for postseason teams, so when he praises Cincinnati Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty, one tends to listen.

"He's the right guy for the Reds job," Sanders said. "If anybody can get it done, he is the guy. Great guy, great general manager — the best I ever played for."

Sanders began his career with eight years in Cincinnati, then played for San Diego, Atlanta, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. He participated in the postseason for the Reds, Padres, Braves, Giants and Cardinals — six division series, five league championship series and three World Series.

Sanders spent his last two seasons in Kansas City and retired after last season, doing TV work in the Phoenix area these days.

Riding Trojans' horse

Chris Dickerson, a friend to former Southern California quarterback Matt Leinert, showed up in the clubhouse Saturday wearing everything but a helmet — USC jacket, USC T-shirt.

"What's the spread?" he asked. Told USC was favored by 11 he said, "That's good. That's what I'm giving (Reds equipment manager Rick Stowe). I just want to see him on the next homestand wearing USC gear for a week. That's the bet."

Quote of the day

"Do they test for Dunkin' Donuts? Because if they do I will so fail." — Dickerson, when told Saturday he had been selected by MLB for a random drug test.