Cincinnati activated Joey Hamilton from the disabled list yesterday while placing Elmer Dessens on the DL. Dessens suffered a groin pull during his August 1st start against the Dodgers and had to leave the game after only 4 innings. The Reds debated leaving him active and simply skipping his turn in the rotation, but they didn't want to risk aggravating the injury, causing him to miss more time. Cincinnati hopes that Dessens will be able to rejoin the team on August 17th when he's first eligible to leave the DL.

Hamilton never really recovered from the hamstring injury that caused him to spend time on the disabled list in May, and he returned to the DL with a hamstring strain in mid-July. The Reds had removed Hamilton from the rotation prior to his trip to the DL due to the acquisition of Ryan Dempster. However, he will now start at least until Dessens returns from the DL. Hamilton's return from his first DL trip marked the end of Jose Acevedo's last stint in the majors. The 24-year-old, who looked so promising after his first trip through the majors last season, suffered from severe home run problems during his few big league innings this year, allowing 28 H and 8 HR in 23.2 IP with a 14:12 K:BB. However, with his numbers at AAA Louisville in the International League this season, he should receive another opportunity with the Reds next season. In 112.1 IP he has a 102:25 K:BB with 107 H and 12 HR allowed.

After spending a month and half in the minors, Brady Clark returned to the majors when the Reds placed Hamilton on the DL in mid-July. Cincinnati had demoted Clark in early June when they promoted Juan Castro. Castro offers a little power off the bench as a middle infield back-up, but his offense is generally limited due to poor plate discipline. The Reds thought they were carrying too many outfielders with Ken Griffey, Jr. almost ready to rejoin the team following his first trip to the DL this season. With the trade of Juan Encarnacion, Clark was able to stay on the roster after Griffey returned from his most recent trip to the DL.

Austin Kearns took a brief two-day trip to the minors in late June as the Reds manipulated their roster. Cincinnati wanted to recall Luis Pineda to have an extra reliever on the staff while Gabe White was sidelined by an infection in his left hand. The Reds had sent Pineda to the minors when they activate Jose Silva from the disabled list in early June. As Kearns had options remaining, Cincinnati demoted him on June 23rd, only to recall him two days later when they placed Griffey on the DL for the second time this season.

Griffey has not been bothered by his hamstring since his return from the DL in late July. Cincinnati demoted Raul Gonzalez to clear room on the roster for Griffey's activation.

Both Silva and Pineda are now on the disabled list. Whereas Silva missed the first few months of the season following surgery to remove bone chips and spurs from his elbow in early March, he returned to the DL in late June with shoulder tendinitis. Less than a week later, Pineda joined Silva on the DL, also suffering from shoulder tendinitis. While both have started rehab assignments, the Reds may try to wait to activate them until after rosters expand in September.

Luke Hudson replaced Silva on the roster. However, the Reds demoted Hudson in mid-July in order to call up Brandon Larson. Aside from a bit of a control problem, Hudson is performing well at AAA Louisville. In 107 IP, the 25-year-old has a 111:50 K:BB with 89 H and 6 HR allowed. He also should receive a chance to start next season.

Cincinnati called up Jared Fernandez to fill Pineda's roster spot. Upon his promotion, Fernandez entered the rotation as the Reds fifth starter. While he's performed acceptably for Cincinnati, compiling a 24:12 K:BB with 32 H and 3 HR allowed in 32.2 IP, the Reds should pull him from the rotation in September and allow either Acevedo or Hudson to start, as they both have better skills and as a knuckleball pitcher, Fernandez would serve the team better in the bullpen.

White didn't need to spend time on the disabled list with his infected hand. However, in mid-July he reportedly kicked a bed and broke the little toe on his right foot, leading to an 18-day trip to the DL. The toe won't fully heal until the off-season, but he has sufficiently recovered so that he can pitch and field his position.

The Reds activated Jose Rijo from the DL at the same time they placed White on the disabled list. Luckily Cincinnati has abandoned thoughts of using the 37-year-old in the rotation and limited him to working out of the pen. Nonetheless, I wouldn't be surprised to see him once again develop a "tired arm" and hit the DL before playoff rosters are set on August 31st if the Reds still have any chance of making the post-season at that time.

Cincinnati demoted Chris Reitsma when they activated White from the DL in late July. Reitsma had lost his rotation spot and the Reds preferred to have him starting in AAA rather than working out of the major league pen. Reitsma bypassed AAA and went straight to the majors last season following a 2000 season split between A+ Sarasota in the Florida State League and AA Trenton in the Eastern League. He's considerably less dominant than either Hudson or Acevedo and should likely move to the bullpen to maximize his skills.

Aside from trade and Griffey-related changes, the only other Reds' roster change involving offensive players over the last couple months was to demote Corky Miller when they activated Kelly Stinnett from the disabled list. Miller had 27 H, 10 2B, and 3 HR with a 9:18 BB:K in 108 AB for a .250 BA, .322 OBP, and .426 SLG while in the majors. However, his defensive skills are highly regarded and he was playing more frequently than Jason LaRue by the end of his stay in the big league. The Reds will make room for him next season, and he should rejoin the team in September.