The Mendoza Line is .200, named after former infield Mario Mendoza, whose lifetime average was .215. Maybe they should rename it the Brandon Larson Line. In four years with the Reds, the No. 1 draft pick hit .179.
"I feel right and I feel great," said Encarnacion. "The first two games back from rehab in Louisville I had my timing back but I tried to do too much, which I why I didn't come through. I was too excited.
"Then I slowed it down and tried to be patient and not try to do too much," he added. "That's what I've been doing. When you try to do too much, it is not good for the team and it is not good for you."
Asked about the Mendoza Line, he laughed and said, "I know I'm going to be over it. I know good things are going to come to me and the team, too."
Said manager Dusty Baker, "He's getting there. The wrist injury was worse than a lot of people thought. It will still bother him from time to time. He tried to play through it early, which is difficult to do. Let's hope he can make progress and not re-injure it sliding or checking his swing."
Then came the game and Encarnacion spurted right past Mendoza. He had four hits and now has seven in a row and his batting average is up to .227.
The toughest job
Baker hates doing it, but it is part of the job description and he has to tell players they are being sent back to the minors — as he had to tell pitcher Josh Roenicke Friday to make room for recalled infielder Drew Sutton.
"Tough sending him back," said Baker. "We want him to get some back-to-back game action. "We had a (plan for) him to go every other day because he was new to pitching every day. It is disappointing to have to send him back, but he'll be back because he has the stuff.
"It is not easy to send anybody down, especially young players," Baker added. "My son (Darren) saw me today and said, 'What's wrong, dad?' He knew I was sad."
Surgery for Lincoln
Relief pitcher Mike Lincoln most likely is done for the season. He is scheduled for disc replacement surgery Monday in St. Louis. He has been on the disabled list since June 17 with a bulging disc in his neck.
"His troubles, too, were more serious than people thought," said Baker. "As much as he's been on the DL (out of baseball three years) the last thing he wanted was to go on the DL. They found it and I'm glad we can take care of it and have him ready next year."
Gonzalez close
After hearing about the way disabled shortstop Alex Gonzalez field ground balls and throw them across the diamond, then take batting practice, Baker said, "Looked good today. He might be ready to go out and play (on rehab) pretty sooon, which is pretty awesome."
Cameron clipped
Milwaukee's Mike Cameron slid head-first into second base Friday night and wishes he hadn't. It cost him a cut lip and chipped tooth.
"I've pretty much quit sliding head-first, but I did it this time and paid," he said. "Brandon Phillips made a sweep tag and hit me flush in the face, missed my helmet completely. And it wasn't hlis glove, it was flesh and bone."
Cameron played for the Reds one year, 1999 — their last good season when they lost a playoff game to the New York Mets for the National League wild card. Then Cameron was part of the package the Reds sent to Seattle for Ken Griffey Jr.
Quote of the day
"Everybody is going to have injuries and everybody does. But you never believe you are going to have them at this magnitude. You just have to keep pushing and keep playing." — Baker on his team's injuries
About the Author