Reds shortstop Barry Larkin watched with interest as the Cardinals acquired Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Scott Rolen for the stretch run. He says the addition of Rolen makes the Cards a considerably better team.

Aaron Boone, who homered Tuesday night, might been caught between third and short if the Reds had gotten Scott Rolen. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        “I think he wanted to be here,” Larkin said.

        But the Reds are still on their break-even budget, which left no room to acquire the high-priced Rolen. Larkin wasn't critical of that fact; he just noted it as reality.

        The Reds can't get into trying to match the Cards move for move, Larkin said.

        “We don't function like that,” Larkin said. “It's not like the Yankees and the Mets. You know, "Who can get the bigger headline?' We do what we can do. (Reds general manager Jim Bowden) has been trying.

        “I like the guys we've got. You look at the list of the guys we could have gotten - Bartolo Colon, (Chuck) Finley; he made a run at everybody. I don't know what kind of a run we made at Rolen.”

        If Rolen had come here, might that have meant moving Boone to shortstop, thereby cutting into Larkin's time there?

        “I don't know how it would have (worked out),” Larkin said. “No one said anything to me about moving. So I don't know how it would have gone down if he came here.”

        Would Larkin have liked to find out?

        “I would love to have a Scott Rolen on our team - definitely,” Larkin said.

        Larkin, who didn't play in the weekend games in New York because of tightness in his right lower calf, returned to action Tuesday. He walked three times and scored two runs.

        CASEY AT THE BAT: Sean Casey, who went on the 15-day disabled list July 23 with a shoulder injury, said he probably will resume taking batting practice Thursday or Friday. The first baseman will make the Reds' road trip to San Diego after Thursday's business day special.

        Casey said he figures he'll be ready for game action once he comes off the DL Aug. 8. But he'll have a better idea when he takes batting practice.

        “The hope is that, with the cortisone shot (given just before he went on the DL), that it would take out the inflammation and then I could rest it a little bit, do some exercises and really let it calm down,” Casey said.

        By the way, who leads the postgame dance in the Reds' clubhouse when they win on the road and Casey isn't around? Third baseman Aaron Boone.

        “We're going to get it going again here (at home),” Casey said.

        GABE FEELING GOOD: Left-handed reliever Gabe White said he is ready to go after testing his left foot (broken little toe) before Tuesday's game. But it appears he's going to be given at least another day off, to make absolutely sure.

        “I can overcome what's left of it (the injury),” White said. “I don't have the luxury to wait for it to be completely healed. I want to be out there. I've pitched with a lot of things that didn't feel just right, and I've always been able to get by. I can get around good enough to field my position.”

Reds 12, Dodgers 4 Reds Box, Runs Hamilton, Rijo yearn to start Reds Notebook: Rolen would have been welcomed Dodgers, Ishii fading fast Shuey still stunned as he joins Dodgers Strike date may be on horizon Expos trade Floyd to Red Sox Cardinals 5, Marlins 0 Indians 5, Athletics 4 Red Sox 6, Angels 0

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