By John Fay and Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Tuesday's game

Barry Larkin and Ken Griffey Jr. are on schedule to return - but the Reds don't want to put a schedule on that.

For Larkin, out with a strained left calf, that could mean being activated Saturday - the first day he is eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list.

"I don't want to be painted into a corner by saying it will be Saturday," trainer Mark Mann said.

Griffey, sidelined by a dislocated right shoulder, continues to work on his range of motion and strength.

"He's working every day - three, four hours a day with (trainer) Lonnie Soloff," Mann said.

The original diagnosis had Griffey out six to 10 weeks. And now?

"The prognosis is encouraging," Reds manager Bob Boone said. "Every day there's progress. I think it will be shorter than longer."

Again, the Reds don't want to use specific dates.

"We're always trying to put a timetable on it," Boone said. "We get burned by that."

Larkin hasn't tested his injured calf much.

"The only running I've done is in the hydro-therapy pool," he said. "I'm feeling good. I'm doing a lot of bike and treadmill work."

Larkin took soft-toss batting practice Tuesday. If he feels good today, he'll take regular batting practice and begin jogging.

"He's pain free," Mann said. "That puts him on track."

Griffey still has some pain.

"But nothing like the first three days," he said. "I guess it feels like it's supposed to feel after you dislocate it. I can move it pretty well."

Griffey won't begin baseball activity for at least another week.

ON THE MEND: Bench coach Ray Knight underwent surgery Tuesday at Good Samaritan Hospital to remove pressure from a kidney stone. The 50-year-old is not expected to return to the club until after its next road trip, which ends May 4 in San Francisco.

A LONG(ER) THROW: Aaron Boone spent part of his off day Monday taking between 50 and 70 groundballs at third base in an effort to re-acquaint himself with the position. With Brandon Larson at Triple-A Louisville, Boone made his first start of the season at third Tuesday.

"What I know about him now is he can play second, and I already knew he could play third," manager Bob Boone said.

Entering Tuesday's game, Aaron Boone was the only Reds infielder without an error.

BACK AGAIN: More than a season removed from a forgettable debut with the Reds in 2001, right-handed relief pitcher Brian Reith joined the club Monday after being recalled from Triple-A Louisville.

In nine appearances for the Reds in 2001, Reith went 0-7 with a 7.81 ERA before spending all of 2002 in the minors.

"Not getting called up, I think helped my mindset quite a bit," Reith said.

He was 1-1 with a 1.74 ERA in six games with Louisville before his callup.

"I think the relief role may be a better one for him," Bob Boone said. "But he's been pretty consistent from Day 1 with putting it in or near the strike zone. He's much more aggressive now than the first time we saw him."

ROSTER MOVE: The Reds outrighted pitcher Chris Booker to Class A Dayton, leaving one open spot available on the 40-man roster.