By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

ST. LOUIS - There is a lot of uncertainty with the Reds next year, but no matter who becomes general manager and manager, they will certainly address the Reds' problem on defense.

"I think you have to," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "You can't give teams like the St. Louis Cardinals extra outs."

One way the Reds could solve the problem is by bringing Pokey Reese back through free agency.

Reese has a $5 million option for next year that the Pittsburgh Pirates will most likely decline, making him a free agent.

Reese would likely be willing to return to the Reds now that general manager Jim Bowden is gone.

Reese could play either shortstop or second with Ray Olmedo and Juan Castro sharing the other position. That would allow the Reds to move D'Angelo Jimenez to third, where his limited range isn't as much of a factor.

Such a scenario has been discussed among Reds staffers.

Reese makes $2.5 million this season. But he's coming off a down year where he missed most of the season with a torn ligament in his left thumb.

The Reds are last in the National League in fielding percentage and have committed the most errors in baseball.

That is compounded by the fact that they don't have many strikeout pitchers on the staff. The Reds, in fact, have struck out the second fewest hitters in the NL.

CASEY OUT: Sean Casey was scratched from Sunday's lineup. He continues to deal with a sore left groin.

"It's something I'm just going to have to try to grind out for the rest of the season," Casey said.

The injury may have something to do with the fact that Casey went 2-for-11 on the road trip.

HAPPY TO BE HERE: Matt Belisle was the latest to get the "You're going to big leagues, kid" talk.

It came from Rick Burleson, the Louisville manager.

"I had to take a deep breath and have my little moment," Belisle said. "It took a while to sink in."

Belisle pitched the sixth and seventh. He allowed a solo home run to Mike Matheny.

TWO ON THE WAY: Catcher Corky Miller and right-handed pitcher Juan Cerros are expected to join the Reds today when the team opens a four-game series with Pittsburgh at home.

Miller played 17 games with Cincinnati in 2001, and 39 last year. Cerros, 26, was picked in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 draft.

He spent most of the year on loan to Monterrey of the Mexican League.

He was 1-1 with two saves and a 2.44 ERA there. He was sent to Louisville Aug. 24. He was 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA with the Bats.

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E-mail jfay@enquirer.com