Sean Casey was sent on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. The first baseman will play in the Bats' road series with the Columbus Clippers today and Thursday.

        Casey is eligible to come off the disabled list today. He has been rehabbing a slightly torn muscle in his shoulder and just started taking batting practice Saturday.

        Depending on how Casey feels, he could rejoin the Reds on Friday, when they open a three-game series against the San Diego Padres at Cinergy Field.

        MORE TRANSACTIONS: The Reds reclaimed Brian Reith off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies and sent the right-hander to Louisville.

        The Phillies claimed Reith off waivers from the Reds on July11. He went 0-4 with a 7.00 ERA for Triple-A Scranton.

        Reith, 24, made eight starts for the Reds last year and was 0-7 with a 7.81 ERA.

        Also, right-hander Carlos Almanzar was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. He went 0-1 with a 2.31 ERA in eight games for the Reds before suffering a fractured right ring finger while trying to field an Alex Rodriguez comebacker June10.

        COORS NIGHT: Coors Field, the site of Tuesday night's game with the Colorado Rockies, is one of the last ballparks the Reds will visit this year. Arizona's Bank One Ballpark and Montreal's Olympic Stadium are the only others they haven't visited yet.

        But no other stadium in baseball has the novelty of Coors Field, with its hitter-friendly, mile-high air.

        Many Reds are playing at Coors Field for the first time.

        “I'm looking forward to it,” said outfielder Russell Branyan, who joined the Reds in June. “I got a little taste of it (Monday). I played golf. I was hitting my 7-iron 190, 200 yards. I usually hit 175, 180. I want to see how the ball flies here.”

        Like Branyan, second-year Reds outfielder Adam Dunn has considerable power. But Dunn knew Coors Field was different before he ever hit a ball in batting practice.

        “The outfield is so dadgum big,” he said. “I think more than the home runs, that's a factor. There's so much room out there. You're going to see a lot of hits.”

        Left-handed reliever Gabe White, traded from the Rockies back to the Reds before this season, spent two years with Colorado. He knows first-hand the nightmare Coors Field can be for pitchers.

        “There are so many factors,” White said. “The ball doesn't break as much. The gaps are huge. It's just tough.”

        In 2000, White had one of the best seasons for a pitcher at Coors Field. He was 10-2 with a 2.80 ERA there.

        “I'm pretty simple in the way I pitch. I don't try anything flashy,” White said. “Hard breaking stuff works better here. Guys with soft breaking stuff really struggle.”

        Last year, White struggled at Coors Field, where he was 2-1 with a 5.72 ERA.

        The trade back to Cincinnati helped White immensely. He is 5-1 with a 2.63 ERA this season.

        “A lot of pitchers who struggle (at Coors) would be good again if they got traded,” White said.

Rockies 7, Reds 6 Reds Box, Runs Reds will get help, Selig says Boone thinks labor deal can be done Mets co-owner says Selig inflated losses Hamilton replaces ailing Dessens Reds Notebook: Casey to test swing in Louisville Bonds hits 599th homer Braves 4, Diamondbacks 3 Phillies 5, Padres 4 Pirates 3, Dodgers 1 Rockies' Stark flourishes in Coors Schott released from hospital Indianapolis 8, Louisville 6

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