Bring up somebody…anybody

By Hal McCoy | Wednesday, April 16, 2008, 09:02 PM

General Manager Wayne Krivsky doesn’t have to scan his Louisville roster sheet, doesn’t have to make a call on his cellphone to Louisville Bats manager Rick Sweet to ask any questions, doesn’t have to see anything in person.

Matt Belise or Homer Bailey? Homer Bailey or Matt Belisle. Or maybe even Justin Lehr. Or how about Daryl Thompson?

Anybody but Josh Fogg. Puh-leeze?

What the Cincinnati Reds didn’t need Wednesday night was Fogg trying to stop a four-game losing streak. Anybody but Fogg.

And it was awful. In just three innings, the Reds looked as if they had been run over by the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line, down 10-1 and definitely out. Fogg was a mere whisp of a glimpse to the Wrigley Field fans, only two-plus innings. But the Cubs saw him as clearly as crystal chandeliers.

Ahem, clear your breath, and inhale this - two-plus innings, nine runs, seven hits, two walks, a hit batsman, a home run, four doubles and several maids a-milkin.’

They can’t possible think about sending Fogg to the fore again, can they? Stick him in the bullpen and send Todd Coffey to Louiville for some polish and varnish.

And bring somebody up.

Bailey is 2-1 in three Louisville starts with a 1.42 ERA, losing a 1-0 game on a hme run that bounced on top of the fence and over.

Belisle, pitching on rehab in three games at Class A Sarasota, Class AA Chattanooga and Class AAA Louisville is 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA. On Tuesday he pitched Louisville to a 4-1 win over Pawtucket, giving up one run and eight hits over seven innings with one walk and six strikeouts.

Heck, even Lehr. What’dya mean, EVEN Lehr? He was 2-0 last week at Louisville with a 0.60 ERA and was International League Pitcher of the Week.

Thomspon? Yeah, he’s only at Chattanooga, but he is burning down the bridges - 2-0 with a 0.51 ERA and Southern League Pitcher of the Week award in his portfolio.

And if that doesn’t happen, bring back Tom Browning.