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LOS ANGELES — There is concern, in some quarters, about 24-year-old Edinson Volquez's penchant for throwing extraneous pitches — 100 or more in eight of his nine starts.

Manager Dusty Baker insists he is being careful and said, "He has to cut down on his pitches. He is working too hard to achieve what he is doing. But he is doing good, so how do you say, 'Change,' but you know there is even better in there."

They limit Volquez and watch closely when the magic 100th pitch creeps in.

Volquez pitched winter ball and there are questions about him running out of gas. Baker couldn't disagree more.

"Bob Quinn (former Yankees, Reds and Giants GM) told me once that pitchers usually rust out before they wear out. Latins guys who I've seen play winter ball rarely have arm problems — Julian Tavarez, Luis Tiant played winter ball somewhere every year, Diego Segui. Japanese pitchers throw more.

"Almost all foreign pitchers throw more than American pitchers," he added. "Rarely do you hear anybody say some American pitcher has a rubber arm."

Bronson Arroyo was mentioned and Baker said with a sly grin, "He's Cuban." Actually, he was born in Key West.

"Close enough. Key West is as close as you can get to Cuba," he said.

Freel vs. Penny

It worked out perfectly Monday for Baker to bench third baseman Edwin Encarnacion and replace him with Ryan Freel because Freel is 7 for 17 (.412) against LA starter Brad Penny.

"Edwin needs a break," said Baker. "He is starting to use a lot of body and less hands. He is starting to fret. I can see him frustrated after at-bats. Plus, he didn't fight me when I told him (Sunday night) and that's another sign.

"He didn't want to come up and say it but it's my job to read what players are thinking," Baker added."

Belisle: just do it

Matt Belisle was rained out of his last start and was skipped in the rotation. He takes his 1-3 record and 4.75 ERA to the mound against the Dodgers tonight.

Baker was bluntly honest when asked if the extra rest might help Belisle.

"Probably not, no, no, I couldn't say that," he said. "Fatigue isn't the issue. I talked to him a long time and I just said, 'Hey, man, you just gotta do it. You just gotta produce, that's all."

Lovin' Dodger Stadium

Joey Votto took his first look at Dodger Stadium and was wowed.

"Love this place, but I'll let you know how much I like to hit in it in about three days," he said.

Why does he say that?

"Well, I hated going to Clinton, Ia. when I played for the Dayton Dragons," he said. "Just a really bad place, my least favorite place to go. But once I stepped into the batter's box I loved the place because I always hit so well there. Why? I don't know."

Votto paused and added, "And now the people in Clinton are going to hate me." For what he did to their baseball team, they already do.

Numbers don't lie

How bad has it been on the west coast for the Reds recently? Over the last two seasons, plus three games in San Francisco this year in which they went 2-1, the Reds are 9-19.

Heading into Monday's game in Dodger Stadium, they Reds were 0-6 against LA the last two years. The last Reds starting pitcher to win in LA was Brandon Claussen on July 28, 2005.

Farm report

Lefthanded pitcher Matt Maloney (5-2) has three straight quality starts at Class AAA Louisville, allowing four runs over his last 20 1/3 innings (1.77 ERA) with 13 strikeouts and three walks He was named International League Pitcher of the Week for last week.

Quote of the day

Before Paul Janish made his first start Sunday and had three hits and a walk, Baker said, "It's OK to be nervous, just don't be scared." Afterward, Baker said, "He ain't scared. Uh, huh. He is looking forward to it and having fun with it."