SAN FRANCISCO — Reds general manager Jim Bowden has plenty of tough decisions coming up, but he hasn't made them — or at least he's not talking about it if he has.

        John Riedling and Lance Davis are in the minors and getting close to being ready. Jose Silva will pitch to hitters Monday with Reds manager Bob Boone watching. All three are close to being ready to join the active roster.

        If any of the three is added to the roster, someone has to go. All 11 pitchers have been effective in their roles. Jim Brower has a 5.51 ERA, but as the long-relief man, he hasn't gotten work on a consistent basis.

        So who goes?

        “The pitchers decide that,” Bowden said. “Their performance on this level and the performance of the rehabilitation pitchers will decide that. All Bob and I and the organization are trying to do is win baseball games.

        “Competition is a good thing.”

        Bowden said he wouldn't make a trade merely to relieve the roster logjam, although the Reds have been getting calls about players.

        “You make deals to try to make the team better,” he said. “We like the numbers. I don't think you ever have too much talent. We all know we go through a lot of players every year to win. There are always injuries.”

        The Reds also face a decision when Ken Griffey Jr. is ready. Today is four weeks since his knee injury, and Bowden stuck Saturday to the original three-to-six-week prediction for Griffey's return.

        As for what happens when Griffey does return, it's looking more and more like rookie Austin Kearns stays.

        “If you have three outfield positions and first base,” Bowden said, “I think you can have five players at those four positions and all five can get enough at-bats to make it work.”

        Again, Bowden will make the Kearns decision when the time comes.

        “Right now, he's an everyday player for us,” Bowden said. “What we have right now, we're very happy with. We've got Ruben Mateo hitting over .300 and he's sitting on the bench.”

        Another decision will have to be made when catcher Kelly Stinnett is ready to come off the DL. Corky Miller, who was brought up to take Stinnett's spot, is challenging Jason LaRue for the starting job.

        “That's going to be a very difficult decision,” Bowden said. “That's a good thing. You want difficult decisions. We're starting to get quality depth.”

        FUTURE STARTERS? With the Reds constantly trying to develop top-notch starters, has any consideration been given to converting reliever Luis Pineda?

        “I think right now Pineda and (Scott) Williamson may not be pitching as much as they like,” Bowden said. “But that's because Scott Sullivan, Gabe White and Danny Graves have pitched so well. But (Pineda) has been good in a lot of his outings. Both (Pineda and Williamson) have 95-plus fastballs that miss bats. Sometimes the best way to develop a young pitcher is to pitch him out of the bullpen. Because he's pitching out of the bullpen doesn't mean down the road he can't be a starter.”

        CASEY AT BAT: Sean Casey isn't concerned, but he has noticed.

        “You look up at the scoreboard and see you've got a 100 at-bats and no home runs, and you notice,” Casey said.

        Actually, Casey has only 95 at-bats this season without a home run. But the streak goes back further than that. Casey did not homer in the last 22 games of last year.

        “They'll come,” Casey said. “I'll hit one, then maybe I'll hit another the next game. That's the way it goes.”

        LARKIN OFF: Barry Larkin was out of the lineup Saturday. Boone plans to rest Larkin in day games after night games.

        “Probably,” Boone said. “It depends on the schedule.”

        Larkin is in a prolonged slump. He has four hits in his last 34 at-bats (.118).

        “He's scuffling,” Boone said. “He's searching for the feel. We're just letting it play out.”

        Gookie Dawkins started for Larkin Saturday, but Dawkins is struggling worse than Larkin. Dawkins is hitless in his last 10 at-bats and is hitting .111 overall.

        Ideally, Dawkins would be playing every day at Triple-A Louisville. The Reds have considered sending him down and bringing up someone else to spell Larkin. That would give Dawkins at-bats, which he needs.

        “We've looked at all those things,” Bowden said. “Gookie's learning a lot, even though he's not playing much. This will be a good experience for him. We'd be concerned if he was in this role all year.”

        The other factor is when Juan Castro comes off the disabled list, Dawkins will be sent out.

        The Reds sent Castro to Sarasota to continue his rehabilitation.

        UP NEXT: The Reds wrap up their three-game series with the Giants today at 4:05 p.m. (Fox Sports Net). Right-hander Chris Reitsma (1-0, 3.22 ERA) faces right-hander Livan Hernandez (4-2, 2.30).

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