Ochoa

        The Reds' right fielder is either solidifying his position with the Reds or rapidly becoming an attractive trade alternative.

        Ochoa has hit .368 (42-for-110) in June with 11 doubles, four homers and 14 RBI.

        He has three three-hit games, two four-hit games and one five-hit game in the month.

Remember when

        It seems the only news on Barry Larkin has been bad. The injuries, the defensive struggles, the Joe Nuxhall comment, the possible position switch.

        How about remembering some positives?

        He's an eight-time All-Star. He hit .353 in his World Series appearance, .317 in two National League Championship Series and .383 in a division series.

        He's a career .299 hitter — he was .300 entering this season — who has won nine Silver Slugger Awards and three Gold Gloves.

“Hmmmmmmm ...” Dept.

        Seems Larkin has a 1.000 fielding percentage in his career at second base. (We won't mention it's in only three games.)

Lacking stars

        It looks as though the Reds will have only one All-Star representative for only the third time in the past 17 seasons.

        And it looks as if it will be Sean Casey.

        Casey entered Friday batting .337 with 10 homers and 57 RBI.

        Colorado's Todd Helton leads the All-Star balloting, and with Jeff Bagwell's down year and Mark McGwire's injury, Casey should get the nod for his second All-Star appearance.

        Larkin was the Reds' lone representative in both 1996 and '97.

Heavy hitter

        If Casey would finish the season at .337, it would be the highest average by a Red since Pete Rose hit .338 in 1973, the last batting title by a Red.
Down on the farm

        Dustin Moseley, the second of the Reds' two first-round picks in 2000, had perhaps his best performance as a pro Thursday.

        Moseley, 19, struck out nine and allowed only two hits in six shutout innings.

        He is 6-4 with a 4.40 ERA in 16 starts.

SULLIVAN: Lindner-Larkin deal all-time Reds blunder DAUGHERTY: Reds are paying for sideshows, not good players Reds 7, Cubs 1 Reds trade Wohlers to Yankees Reds see Rijo in Aramboles Nuxhall knows controversy No excuses for Larkin Fan's-eye view of the Reds Gookie still part of Reds' future Reds minor-league report Reds box, runs

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