Baker calls rare team meeting

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 12:59 AM Thursday, July 2, 2009

CINCINNATI — Dusty Baker called a meeting for early Wednesday afternoon, a cozy affair inside his office, attendance required, no neck-tie necessary.

All 25 Cincinnati Reds were at the 20-minute meeting, a focus group after the Reds slept-walk through a 6-2 defeat to the Arizona Diamondbacks Tuesday.

Baker's office isn't that big and he smiled and said, "Sometimes a crowded room breeds togetherness. Anybody who comes from a big family knows how a crowded room is. We were just talking. That's all."

Baker hasn't had many team meetings and said, "Maybe a couple of times. You can't have too many because then they lose their effectiveness. How do I know when I need to have one? Just a feeling."

Asked how the team took it, Baker said, "As long as you look and listen with your eyes — at least fool me that you're paying attention. That's all. And sometimes you need to use your office more than for just to chastise."

An unhappy camper

Pitcher Jared Burton was optioned to Class AAA Louisville before the game and was not pleased. When approached, he said quietly, "I have nothing to say. I'm not trying to be rude. I'm just not happy right now. Go ask Dusty about it, if you want."

Said Baker, "I told him I didn't want him to be happy. I don't expect him to be happy. If he is mad at me, Dick (pitching coach Dick Pole) or Walt (general manager Walt Jocketty), pitch like it. If he's happy about it, he doesn't belong here. And he belongs here. He'll be back. This is a temporary booster shot.

"I told him he was getting close to the Jared Burton that we know," Baker added. "We need him to come all the way back. He is throwing better. The good thing about this is we have 12 days before the All-Star break, then we have the three days of the break and we'll make another decision at that time."

Sutton called up

Infielder-possible outfielder Drew Sutton was called up from Louisville and when he plays he'll make his major-league debut. Sutton, a switch-hitter, was obtained the last week of spring training from Houston in exchange for infielder Jeff Keppinger.

"I have to see him first," said Baker. "I talked to Jose Cruz (Astros coach) and some Astros guys and they liked what they had in him. I'm going to take a couple of days for Chris Speier (infield coach) to look at him at different infield positions and for Billy Hatcher (outfield coach) to look at him and work with him at the corner outfield spots. We'll see.

"This is his first taste of the big leagues - another one for us," Baker added. "And he gives us a switch-hitter with some speed."

Sutton, 26, finished a six-hour bus ride from outside Atlanta back to Louisville at 1 a.m. Wednesday morning when he was told he was going to The Show.

"Not much sleep and a quick turnaround," said Sutton. "When I left big-league camp this spring, Houston told me I was going down to play second base. When I was traded Walt Jocketty told me the Reds were going to move me around, second base, third base, first base, maybe some outfield. I thought that was a better opportunity, gave me more options."

Asked what he preferred, he said second base, "But Dusty told me they have a Gold Glover (Brandon Phillips) here, so I wouldn't have much opportunity to play there."

Quote of the day

"This isn't a locker, this is a revolving door. D-Mac (Darnell McDonald), Wilkin Castillo and now Drew Sutton have used it." — Jonny Gomes, pointing to the locker next to his.

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Frazier can hit. Problem is his Def; where will he play in ML? Seems like a AL / DH type guy? His swing was much shorter in May; he's moving much more @ the plate and taking bigger / longer swings. Hope he doesn't digress. Talk about Sutton, Richar?, Rosales, EE ect... all U want (none have hit very long in Minors or ML); I'll take Keppinger any day over all of them. Kepp is a ML hitter and plays the game right; does all the little things right even if he is down a little at the plate right now.

MAC
4:50 PM, 7/2/2009

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Did you notice that Todd Frazier just hit his 30th double for Carolina?

dmcgee
8:00 AM, 7/2/2009

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