PITTSBURGH — Thursday was “Rap Day” for the Reds, as Bob Boone put it. No, Ice-T and Jay-Z weren't playing on the stereo before the game. Boone had three players in for extended talks — rapping, as it were — before Thursday night's game with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

        Ryan Dempster, Barry Larkin and Sean Casey took turns in the chair.

        Dempster, acquired last week from Florida, has struggled in his two starts as a Red. Larkin and Casey have had trouble at the plate much of the season and were out of the lineup Thursday.

        “We were just chatting,” Boone said.

        None of the conversations was short. “Once Bob gets talking ...” Casey said.

        Here's what Boone discussed in each case:

        • With Dempster: Boone, pitching coach Don Gullett and Tom Hume talked to Dempster about some mechanical issues. But they realize the changes will be difficult to implement in the middle of a pennant race.

        “We've identified some things to do,” Boone said. “They seem minor from my standpoint. But any time you start messing with a pitcher's mechanics, it's major because it's all feel. We're not going to try to do too much.”

        • With Larkin: Boone talked more about mental aspects of the game.

        “I can relate to Barry, because I played until I was old,” Boone said. “What happens is you start questioning yourself. "Am I struggling because I'm old? Or is it the same old stuff?' A lot of times, watching it from where I sit helps, because it looks easy from there.”

        • With Casey: Again, the discussion was about trusting his ability.

        “Hitting is all reaction,” Boone said. “But when you get a bunch of things in your coconut, it keeps you from reacting.”

Reds 7, Pirates 5 Reds Box, Runs Boone hopes chats change struggling players Reds Notebook: Larson on the spot Pirates give Reds credit Reds-Mets Series Preview Rose: 'I'm dead to baseball' Rochester 8, Louisville 6 Cardinals 5, Giants 1 Padres 4, Dodgers 1 Athletics 2, Angels 0 Mariners 5, Rangers 3

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