By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MIAMI - The Reds thought they were getting the shortstop of the future when they traded starter Elmer Dessens to get Felipe Lopez in a four-team deal Dec. 15, 2002.

That still could be true.

D'Angelo Jimenez, left, steals second base as Florida's Luis Castillo is late with the tag in the fourth inning. (AP photo)

Lopez, called up Tuesday from Triple-A Louisville to replace the injured Juan Castro, made the Reds out of spring training last year. But he was sent down June 16 after hitting .213 with two homers and 12 RBI in 59 games. Most troubling were his 16 errors.

He played well at Louisville after the demotion - .280, two homers, 18 RBI in 35 games - before he suffered a severely dislocated ankle injury that ended his season.

Lopez, 24, surprised everyone by being ready for the start of spring training, and his numbers kept getting better for the Bats. He hit .345 with three home runs and 18 RBI over his last 22 games.

Reds manager Dave Miley plans to start Lopez at shortstop today - as he would have with Castro in a day game after a night game.

WILSON UPDATE: Paul Wilson did his most extensive throwing Tuesday since he tweaked his right groin a week ago.

Wilson long-tossed up to 180 feet, threw off flat ground, threw from in front of the mound and even threw 20 off the mound.

If he has no adverse reaction, he'll throw a bullpen session today.

"If he's good to go with that, we'll slot him in somewhere to start," Miley said.

So it looks as if Sunday's start in Montreal was the only one Wilson will miss.

KEARNS UPDATE: Austin Kearns, out of the starting lineup with an open sore on his right thumb, was available to pinch hit Tuesday and will be again today.

But he will not take batting practice until the Reds return Friday for a three-game homestand.

"We could also use him in a double switch," Miley said. "We don't want him taking BP. That's 20, 30 swings."

By staying out of batting practice, Kearns will give the sore another three days to heal with Thursday's off day. He will have missed a total of five starts.

FREEL HIS PAIN: Ryan Freel's best characteristic as a player is his all-out style. It also can be his worst.

Freel collided with Adam Dunn on Saturday and with Ken Griffey Jr. on Monday.

"You don't want to be overaggressive," Freel said. "I've got to learn that. We can't afford to lose a guy like that."

ALL-STAR VOTE: The first All-Star balloting update was released Tuesday.

Two Reds were among those listed: Griffey was third among outfielders, and Sean Casey was fifth among first baseman.

"I've never paid much attention until the last (ballot)," Griffey said.

Griffey was surprised Casey was so far down.

"It's surprising, because he's having a great year," Griffey said. "But it's not surprising, because it's a popularity contest. Hopefully, with Casey, it will pick up for him."

All-Star Voting

To Be Held: Tuesday, July 13, At Minute Maid Park, Houston

American League

First Basemen

1. Jason Giambi, Yankees, 376,307. 2. Carlos Delgado, Blue Jays, 211,209. 3. Kevin Millar, Red Sox, 200,234. 4. Rafael Palmeiro, Orioles, 165,674. 5. Mark Teixeira, Rangers, 146,190.

Second Basemen

1. Alfonso Soriano, Rangers, 729,949. 2. Pokey Reese, Red Sox, 276,726. 3. Bret Boone, Mariners, 262,789. 4. Adam Kennedy, Angels, 117,501. 5. Ronnie Belliard, Indians, 99,185.

Third Basemen

1. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees, 558,880. 2. Bill Mueller, Red Sox, 288,955. 3. Hank Blalock, Rangers, 256,205. 4. Troy Glaus, Angels, 220,186. 5. Eric Chavez, Athletics, 179,598.

Shortstops

1. Nomar Garciaparra, Red Sox, 412,742. 2. Derek Jeter, Yankees, 396,268. 3. Miguel Tejada, Orioles, 299,517. 4. Michael Young, Rangers, 292,763. 5. David Eckstein, Angels, 95,450.

Catchers

1. Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers, 516,332. 2. Jorge Posada, Yankees, 343,255. 3. Jason Varitek, Red Sox, 337,574. 4. Javy Lopez, Orioles, 237,548. 5. Bengie Molina, Angels, 94,021.

Outfielders

1. Vladimir Guerrero, Angels, 637,515. 2. Manny Ramirez, Red Sox, 626,272. 3. Johnny Damon, Red Sox, 360,755. 4. Gary Sheffield, Yankees, 344,059. 5. Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners, 310,725. 6. Carlos Beltran, Royals, 310,206. 7. Hideki Matsui, Yankees, 283,583. 8. Magglio Ordonez, White Sox, 242,916. 9. Garret Anderson, Angels, 203,473. 10. Bernie Williams, Yankees, 201,305. 11. Torii Hunter, Twins, 200,100. 12. Trot Nixon, Red Sox, 196,522. 13. Jermaine Dye, Athletics, 147,721. 14. Jose Guillen, Angels, 136,420. 15. Kevin Mench, Rangers, 95,271.

National League

First Basemen

1. Albert Pujols, Cardinals, 449,708. 2. Jeff Bagwell, Astros, 442,247. 3. Derrek Lee, Cubs, 197,058. 4. Jim Thome, Phillies, 176,487. 5. Sean Casey, Reds, 133,085.

Second Basemen

1. Jeff Kent, Astros, 500,876. 2. Marcus Giles, Braves, 238,412. 3. Luis Castillo, Marlins, 189,476. 4. Mark Grudzielanek, Cubs, 169,951. 5. Roberto Alomar, Diamondbacks, 146,412.

Third Basemen

1. Scott Rolen, Cardinals, 461,194. 2. Aramis Ramirez, Cubs, 298,443. 3. Morgan Ensberg, Astros, 225,255. 4. Mike Lowell, Marlins, 224,946. 5. Adrian Beltre, Dodgers, 196,811.

Shortstops

1. Adam Everett, Astros, 302,310. 2. Edgar Renteria, Cardinals, 297,291. 3. Kaz Matsui, Mets, 217,749. 4. Alex Gonzalez, Cubs, 200,053. 5. Rafael Furcal, Braves, 173,458.

Catchers

1. Mike Piazza, Mets, 500,446. 2. Brad Ausmus, Astros, 302,090. 3. Paul Lo Duca, Dodgers, 236,067. 4. Michael Barrett, Cubs, 198,435. 5. Johnny Estrada, Braves, 119,969.

Outfielders

1. Barry Bonds, Giants, 647,183. 2. Sammy Sosa, Cubs, 586,479. 3. Ken Griffey Jr., Reds, 364,997. 4. Craig Biggio, Astros, 364,546. 5. Lance Berkman, Astros, 345,225. 6. Moises Alou, Cubs, 330,300. 7. Richard Hidalgo, Astros, 315,568. 8. Miguel Cabrera, Marlins, 224,528. 9. Jim Edmonds, Cardinals, 216,172. 10. Andruw Jones, Braves, 181,862. 11. Corey Patterson, Cubs, 175,479. 12. Adam Dunn, Reds, 165,246. 13. Juan Pierre, Marlins, 149,647. 14. Chipper Jones, Braves, 140,568. 15. Scott Podsednik, Brewers, 113,405.

BASHING BAT: Brandon Larson hit a three-run home run for Louisville on his rehab assignment. That left him just four RBI from tying Rod Brewer's Louisville franchise record of 221.

FARM REPORT: Ryan Wagner pitched a perfect ninth inning in his Louisville debut, an 8-3 win over Pawtucket. Jason Romano went 2-for-4 Monday, giving him hits in all 11 games since being demoted to Louisville. He was hitting .425. Elsewhere:

• Dustin Moseley was scheduled to make his first start for Double-A Chattanooga Tuesday since he came off the disabled list with a strained back.

• Kenny Kelly, who is leading the Southern League with a .355 average, is expected to be promoted from Chattanooga to Louisville to take Lopez's roster spot.

• Richie Gardner went five innings, allowing two runs on four hits, 9-8 loss to Kinston. Tony Blanco went 2-for-3 and hit his 16th home run in the game.

UP NEXT: The Reds wrap up the three-game series at 1:05 p.m. when Cory Lidle (4-4, 4.73 ERA) faces left-hander Dontrelle Willis (5-3, 3.99).

REDS FACT: Cincinnati entered Tuesday with three complete games this season - all by Cory Lidle, today's starter.

Reds statistics

(Through Monday's game)

BATTERS	AVG	OBA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	E
Casey	.394	.439	193	40	76	19	1	9	40	15	17	1	0	1
Castro	.298	.337	84	11	25	6	1	1	9	5	17	0	0	4
Larkin	.293	.337	181	32	53	8	2	3	19	13	23	2	0	1
Larson	.278	.350	36	4	10	3	0	1	5	4	6	0	0	5
Pena	.264	.328	53	7	14	1	1	4	8	4	24	0	0	0
Freel	.248	.347	153	21	38	4	5	1	8	16	27	8	3	6
Dunn	.247	.431	158	32	39	8	0	12	28	48	64	2	0	2
Griffey	.243	.344	181	27	44	12	0	13	42	26	41	1	0	0
Jimenez	.239	.348	188	24	45	9	2	3	19	31	30	2	4	4
Cruz	.220	.347	41	7	9	3	0	0	6	8	16	0	0	0
Kearns	.198	.330	86	10	17	2	1	3	13	16	29	1	1	1
Hummel	.188	.229	32	1	6	1	0	0	4	2	5	0	0	1
LaRue	.188	.319	96	11	18	6	0	1	11	12	26	0	1	5
Valentin	.162	.210	74	7	12	3	0	3	8	5	9	0	0	3
Team Totals	.248	.343	1683	240	417	88	13	54	224	222	403	17	9	34

PITCHERS	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO
Riedling	4	0	1.67	24	0	0	27.0	15	8	5	1	10	19
Graves	1	3	2.70	30	0	24	30.0	28	14	9	7	4	20
Wilson	7	0	3.34	10	10	0	64.2	68	26	24	8	15	35
Acevedo	3	3	4.15	10	10	0	60.2	58	29	28	10	12	51
Matthews	0	0	4.15	7	0	0	4.1	4	3	2	2	3	2
Jones	3	1	4.30	26	0	1	29.1	25	14	14	2	14	23
Van Poppel	2	2	4.31	11	5	0	39.2	43	19	19	3	8	25
Norton	0	0	4.58	21	0	0	17.2	19	10	9	2	9	8
Lidle	4	4	4.73	11	11	0	72.1	71	39	38	10	14	37
Harang	4	2	5.27	10	10	0	54.2	69	32	32	7	22	41
Reith	0	1	6.63	16	0	0	19.0	22	14	14	4	13	19
Valentine	0	1	27.00	1	1	0	1.0	2	3	3	0	5	0
Team Totals	30	21	4.48	51	51	25	450.0	476	241	224	62	147	297

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E-mail jfay@enquirer.com