Prior to Wednesday's game, the Reds returned from a rehabilitation assignment and reinstated from the 15-day disabled list OF Norris Hopper and optioned to Class AAA Louisville RHP Homer Bailey.

Hopper has been on the 15-day DL since 4/23 with a nerve irritation in his right elbow. Thru six rehab games at Louisville and Sarasota he is hitting .292 (7-24). It will be interesting to see whether or not Hopper rises above Corey Patterson on the depth chart.

Bailey went 0-3, 8.76 in 3 starts during his stint with the Reds. He clearly was not ready to come up and at this point the Reds can ill afford to allow him to keep going out there. I am still convinved that Bailey is too young for fans to write off though and the fact that so many booed him during Sunday's blowout loss to Boston is really a bit pathetic.

The Reds have not named a starting pitcher for Saturday's game at Yankee Stadium, but Daryl Thompson seems like the best choice. The Reds acquired the right-hander in the infamous Austin Kearns/Felip Lopez deal with the Nationals nearly two years ago and he has been on the fast track since that time.

In 2007 at Class A Dayton and Class A Advanced Sarasota, Thompson combined to finish 14-5 with a 3.18 ERA in 27 starts as he ranked first in victories, second in ERA and fifth in strikeouts (121) among all Reds' Minor League pitchers. He started 2008 at Class AA Chattanooga and went 3-2 with a 1.76 ERA thru ten starts. Since being promoted to Louisville, Thompson is 3-0 thru four starts while posting a 3.25 ERA.  His control has been excellent this season as he boasts a 78:18 strikeout to walk ratio through 89 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .213 average.