By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Friday's game

HOUSTON - Guys who get moved from the rotation to the bullpen aren't supposed to be as happy as Danny Graves was Friday.

"I'm excited," he said about the move that was announced before Friday's game. "It was an experiment that didn't go well. Now, the people who wanted me to do it aren't here."

Graves went 4-14 with a 5.30 ERA as a starter. He was 32-21 with a 3.32 ERA in six years as a reliever.

The Reds had no immediate replacement for Graves in the rotation. But manager Dave Miley and pitching coach Don Gullett saw no reason to keep Graves out there.

Though Graves was correct in saying the experiment was the idea of former general manager Jim Bowden and manager Bob Boone, Gullett didn't want to get into that.

"This isn't about who's right," Gullett said. "It's about getting the best out of Danny Graves."

Graves clearly hasn't been at his best. The Reds saw Graves' velocity drop from 90-94 mph as a reliever to 88-90 as a starter. That translated into more home runs. Graves has given up 29 in 163 innings this year. He gave up 42 in 518 innings as a reliever.

"This gives us a chance to build his velocity back up," Miley said. "That was one of the signs."

Graves will get a few days off and then be eased in the bullpen.

"We're not going to throw him in the fire as the closer," Gullett said. "We're going to put him in situations where he can help us win and get back his feel for it."

Graves was feeling good Friday.

"I know my arm's not going to hurt anymore," he said. "It hurt every day. I couldn't get used to starting."

Graves has been unhappy in the role for some time. But he never went to Boone or Miley.

"The bullpen is my (niche)," Graves said. "But I'm not the kind of guy to quit on something."

Gullett knew starting wasn't sitting well with Graves.

"I could tell by his body language and his demeanor," Gullett said. "He made some quality starts, but he needs to be in the bullpen."

Graves is confident he can be effective as a reliever.

"I know I'll be good again," he said. "My velocity will be back. I know that from that one game."

Graves was used as the closer in a 14-inning game against St. Louis June 24. He converted the save and said it was the best he felt all year.

"It was adrenaline," Graves said. "I couldn't get that going in the first inning. I tried to pitch it like it was the ninth, but it didn't work."

VALENTINE BACK: Joe Valentine was called up from Triple-A Louisville to take Scott Sullivan's spot on the roster.

This is Valentine's second stint with the Reds. But, he didn't pitch in the first one.

Valentine, a 23-year-old right-hander, was obtained in the Jose Guillen trade with Oakland.

He has been a closer most of his minor-league career. He throws up to 97 mph.

MAKING A PITCH: Reds pitchers had a 3.55 ERA over their last 14 games going into Friday.

WATSON HOSPITALIZED: Relief pitcher Mark Watson was in a Houston hospital undergoing testing after suffering from swelling in both legs and his elbow.

Watson pitched an inning in the Reds' 9-3 loss Thursday night.

He experienced the swelling after the trip to Houston, and it worsened Friday.

FARM REPORT: Right-hander Matt Belisle, the pitcher obtained in the Kent Mercker trade with Atlanta, was hit hard in Louisville's 7-3 loss to Toledo. Belisle gave up six runs on 12 hits in 6 1/3 innings.

UP NEXT: The Reds take on the Astros in the second game of the series today at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Paul Wilson (7-10, 4.90 ERA) faces right-hander Tim Redding (8-11, 3.66).

---

E-mail jfay@enquirer.com