MiddletownJournal.com

CINCINNATI — Dusty Baker was managing the Chicago Cubs when Geovany Soto made his major-league debut in 2005, but the Reds manager has a sentimental favorite in the race for the rookie of the year award, and it's not the all-star catcher.

Baker is pulling for Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who had 18 home runs going into Saturday's game against the Cubs. He has 17 as a first baseman, a club record for a first-year player at that position.

"It's pretty close. ... The advantage Soto's got is that he's on a contending team and was an all-star," Baker said.

But Votto is closing the gap, having hit .396 with 25 RBIs over the last 27 games.

"He's coming on strong — big-time," Baker said. "He studies. He's a quick learner. He's very confident. He knows he's good, but he wants to be better. He's very humble with it."

Soto leads NL rookies with 21 homers and 80 RBIs and is hitting .293. Votto is first among rookies in hits (133) and is second in average (.297), RBIs (70) and homers.

Baker fuzzy on facts

Baker, 59, was surprised to learn the 40th anniversary of his major-league debut was Saturday, Sept. 6. One year removed from high school, the California native was a September call-up for the Atlanta Braves and pinch-hit against the Houston Astros.

After being told the box score shows he went 0-for-1, Baker began rhapsodizing about his first big-league hit. But his memory was a bit faulty on that, too.

"It was off Juan Marichal," he said. "It was a little swinging bunt. I ran halfway to right field. I couldn't stop."

The pitcher actually was the Astros' Mike Cuellar. But Baker had 1,981 career hits, and some, apparently, are easier to recall than others.

Ramirez in, Fogg out

Rookie Ramon Ramirez (0-0, 2.70 ERA in two games) will start for the Reds against the Brewers on Tuesday, taking Josh Fogg's spot in the rotation.

Fogg (2-7, 7.58) suffered a groin injury Thursday against the Pirates; Ramirez threw three perfect innings in relief.

"I remember talking to (former Dodgers great) Don Newcombe years ago, and he said if a pitcher (injures) that groin, you have to be really careful," Baker said. "Everything you do is off that."

Weathers' slugger

Three hours before the game, Reds reliever David Weathers was getting lit up in batting practice — by his own son.

Ryan Weathers, 8, repeatedly ripped towering flies during the session while relief pitcher Jeremy Affeldt tried to run them down.

"He's a mini-Babe Ruth," Affeldt said. "Stormy was out there coaching him, too, throwing him sinkers and cutters. He's going to be a little Adam Dunn. He was hitting some bombs."

Weathers said his son will make his youth baseball debut next summer.

"I want him to play as long as he's having fun," the elder Weathers said.