The next problems the Reds will face are enviable.

        As many as five Reds — shortstop Barry Larkin, third baseman Aaron Boone, right-hander Pete Harnisch, left-hander Dennys Reyes and center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. — could be activated from the disabled list in the next two weeks.

STAYING OR GOING

The impending return of Aaron Boone, Barry Larkin, Ken Griffey Jr., Pete Harnisch and Dennys Reyes will force the Reds to demote players to Triple-A Louisville. No big deal, except some of the players who appeared the most vulnerable have done fairly well lately. Here's a quick look at which Reds could be affected:   LIKELY FOR LOUISVILLE   OF Brady Clark: Outfield surplus hurts his chances to stay.   RHP Chris Nichting: May have paved way for a return to Reds, though.   ON THE BUBBLE   OF Deion Sanders: Out of chances? He has started just 1 of last 5 games.   INF-OF Bill Selby: Manager Boone likes his plate approach, versatility.   PH-1B D.T. Cromer: One of few Reds who can hit off bench.   RHP Scott Winchester: Sullivan's achy back increases his role.   WILL PROBABLY STAY, BUT ...   RHP Jim Brower: Key "swing' man who can pitch in long relief or start.   LHP Hector Mercado: Not quite as effective vs. lefties as Reyes, but OK.   INF-OF Donnie Sadler: Provides everything but offense (.210).

        This will prompt corresponding demotions of players, including several who have sparked the team to four victories in its last five games entering tonight's interleague series opener against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park.

        “Some decisions,” said Reds general manager Jim Bowden, “will be easier than others.”

        Any club in any sport would prefer to be in the Reds' position, however. Trimming decent players reflects roster depth. Suddenly, with outfielder Brady Clark (.333), pinch hitter-first baseman D.T. Cromer (.278) and utilityman Bill Selby (4-for-10 in the Cleveland series) stepping forward, the Reds' reserves are playing a little better than they had previously.

        “They make (roster deci sions) harder but better,” manager Bob Boone said. “It's not just automatic, a given — "Hey, let's do this.' They're making it tough on us.”

        But the return of Larkin, Aaron Boone and Griffey could spell the departure of Clark, Cromer and Selby. Bob Boone already has hinted that outfielder Deion Sanders, who hasn't been as productive as the aforementioned trio (.181), could be in danger of losing his job.

        The comebacks of Harnisch and Reyes might force aside Chris Nichting, the Elder High graduate who has a 1.42 ERA and one save in five appearances, or Scott Winchester, who owns a 3.79 ERA while serving as a valuable innings-eater.

        At the very least, Reds management knows these players can help the team in the future if they're sent to Triple-A Louisville.

        Besides, one or two of them might remain Reds.

        Asked if that was possible, Boone replied, “Sure. Absolutely.”

        That couldn't happen without some sort of surprise, such as:

        • A fresh injury sending yet another player to the disabled list or a current disabled player aggravating his injury.

        • A trade brings the Reds minor-league players and clears roster space.

        • Unexpected demotions of other less-prominent but still-useful players. For example, utilitymen Juan Castro and Donnie Sadler appear safe, but the Reds braintrust might decide that Selby can help more than either of them, or that Cromer's bat off the bench is essential. Pitchers who are likely, but not completely certain, to stay include Jim Brower, a valuable long reliever, and Hector Mercado, who has filled in nicely for Reyes as a situational lefty.

        If any of these Reds has a chance to stick around, it's Selby, whose ability to play multiple positions meshes with Boone's penchant for frequent substitutions.

        “He gives us a good at-bat every time,” Boone said of Selby, who's hitting .255 with one homer and four RBI. “Maybe he can play a little bit more than we thought he could ... That translates into wins.”

        Nichting also has impressed Boone.

        “He has kind of moved up in the hierarchy. He's been waiting 30 years,” Boone said, referring to Nichting's age (35).

        Though all this leaves the affected players in a sort of limbo, they claim to be tension-free, mainly because they understand the situation.

        “I've been up so many times. I try not to worry about that,” said Cromer, who has served three stints with Cincinnati in each of the last two years. “The hardest part is figuring out what I'm going to do with my family (in South Carolina). For me, I can deal with it. It's out of my control. I hope I can stay here all year, but if I don't, I'll go back (to Louisville) and try to get back up here.”

        Said Selby: “I don't even think about (roster moves). I'm a man of faith. My walk, my whole life, has been mapped out beforehand. I trust God. I'm following His will and it's going to work out just like it's supposed to. I've always hoped that with the little time I've got here, I at least make the decision hard.”

        ETC.: Louisville outfielder Adam Dunn continued his seemingly inevitable ascent to Cincinnati by winning the International League Batter of the Week award for June 4-10. Dunn, who claimed the same honor for the May 21-27 period, hit .393 (11-for-28) with three homers and nine RBI in seven games.

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