By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

JUPITER, Fla. - For however long Joey Hamilton continues pitching, he'll remember the Reds believed in him.

'There were a lot of teams that didn't want to give me a chance last year,' the 32-year-old pitcher said Saturday. 'For that I'll forever be grateful to (general manager) Jim Bowden and the Reds.''

Hamilton, who became Cincinnati's opening day starter after coming to camp as a non-roster player, is working strictly out of the Cardinals bullpen this spring.

In six games entering Saturday, Hamilton had a 6.00 ERA in six innings pitched.

St. Louis signed the veteran right-hander, who started 17 games and relieved in 22 others for the Reds last season, to a one-year deal worth up to $1.35 million during the off season.

'I gave the Reds the first opportunity, but they really couldn't do anything contract-wise,'' said Hamilton, who rejected a salary arbitration offer from Cincinnati.

'If they would've come close to matching the Cardinals then that would've been an option. But they didn't really give me any choice.''

Hamilton, who underwent right shoulder surgery in September 1999, went 4-10 with a 5.27 ERA in 39 appearances for Cincinnati last season.

'(The Cardinals), the last three years, they've had a good team and still do,'' he said. 'As a player that's one of the things you look at when you're making a decision.

'This is a good situation for me not only because of it being a good place to play but because I also want a chance to get back to the playoffs.''

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E-mail kkelly@enquirer.com