Cincinnati Enquirer

Austin powers

Austin Kearns has emerged as the Reds' best player, despite the fact he just turned 23.

Kearns was on track to perhaps win the 2002 National League Rookie of the Year award before his season ended with a strained left hamstring Aug. 27.

Kearns essentially has played one full season combined. A look:

	2002	2003	Total
G	107	46	153
AB	372	166	538
R	66	30	96
H	117	51	168
2B	24	8	32
3B	3	0	3
HR	13	13	26
RBI	56	44	100
BB	54	26	80
Avg.	.315	.307	.312
OB	.407	.413	.411

Highlights:

2002: Led NL rookies in hitting, on-base percentage and slugging percentage (.500) and second in home runs, RBI, multi-hit games (32), runs, hits, total bases (186), doubles, walks, extra-base hits (40) and outfield assists (8).

2003: Entering Saturday: Had a 16-game hitting streak; was among the NL leaders in RBI (tied for first, 44), home runs (T5th, 13), slugging percentage (7th, .590), on base-percentage (9th, .413) and total bases (10th, 98); had hit in 27 of his past 30 games.

Up in arms

Ryan Dempster, on the other hand, has struggled since joining the Reds and was placed on the disabled list Thursday. A look at his time as a Red:

	2002	2003	Total
G	15	10	25
GS	15	9	24
IP	88.2	52	140.2
H	102	57	159
R	61	46	107
ER	61	44	105
HR	16	4	20
BB	38	43	81
BB/9	4.2	7.5	5.2
SO	66	36	102
SO/9	6.7	6.3	6.5
W-L	5-5	1-4	6-9
ERA	6.19	7.62	6.70

Dempster was acquired from the Marlins for outfielder Juan Encarnacion last season.

Encarnacion, who hit .271 with 24 homers and 85 RBI for the Reds, hit .262 with eight homers and 34 RBI for Florida in 69 games.

Encarnacion entered Saturday hitting .274 with five homers, 25 RBI, 82 total bases and 12 stolen bases in 47 games.

By the numbers

(Entering Saturday)

212: Walks allowed by Reds pitchers.

173: Walks drawn by Reds batters.

258: Strikeouts by Reds pitchers.

402: Strikeouts by Reds batters.

149,504: Increase in Reds attendance this season from last season.

5,750: Attendance increase per home date.

16: Reds victories, out of 24, by two runs or fewer.

10: Victories by one run.

The week ahead

Monday: at Atlanta, 1:05 p.m.

Tuesday: at Atlanta, 7:35 p.m.

Wednesday: at Atlanta, 7:05 p.m.

Thursday: OFF

Friday: at Florida, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday: at Florida, 8:05 p.m.

Sunday: at Florida, 1:35 p.m.

The skinny: The Reds won two of three from the Braves last week. They are scheduled to face Mike Hampton (3-2. 4.31), Shane Reynolds (4-1, 5.05) and Russ Ortiz (6-3, 3.71).