News
Reds not rushing to call up Rosales
Infielder hot at plate, but Baker wants him to improve overall
Adam Rosales just missed out on a backup infielder job with the Reds out of Spring Training. (AP)
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
04/19/09 1:54 PM ET
HOUSTON -- It was a valid question. The Reds aren't hitting, so would the offense benefit from bringing up a guy who is really tearing it up at Triple-A Louisville in infielder Adam Rosales? Reds manager Dusty Baker responded on Sunday morning with an equally valid point. "It depends if he's playing, but where's he going to play?" Baker said. The Reds entered Sunday's action ranked 30th out of 30 Major League teams with a .208 team batting average, and 28th in runs scored with 38. Meanwhile, Rosales was hitting .387 (12-for-31) with four home runs, 10 RBIs, 10 runs scored and an .806 slugging percentage. He was 2-for-4 with a homer and two runs scored in a win on Saturday vs. Indianapolis. "Plus, he's down there not only to hit, but to improve his game," Baker said. "Hitting is only part of the game. There are so many phases of this game, if you're going to be a Major League ballplayer, that you have to try to improve. We just look at hitting sometimes. There's a lot more to this game to play winning baseball than just hitting. Hitting is the part you notice the most." Rosales had a nice spring, but was one of the final players cut before the regular season opened when Paul Janish claimed the backup infielder spot. "He's doing what we think is best for him, being down there and playing every day," Baker said of Rosales. "He will be here eventually. I told him that when he went down there."Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
