By Mark Sheldon - MLB.com
CINCINNATI -- A team accustomed to selling around trade deadline time in recent years, players in the Reds clubhouse were enjoying one of the perks of contending.
Additions for the stretch run.
Pitchers Kyle Lohse and Rheal Cormier were the latest new arrivals. Of the six big-league players acquired by general manager Wayne Krivsky in July, five have been relievers in a near- complete remodeling of the bullpen.
The only bullpen members left on the Reds' active roster that began the season with the club were Todd Coffey and David Weathers. Kent Mercker is on the disabled list.
"Wayne's not messing around," said closer Eddie Guardado, who was acquired from Seattle on July 6 for Minor League pitcher Travis Chick.
As Lohse and Cormier got comfortable at their new lockers and in their new uniforms, their teammates welcomed the arrival of more reinforcements for the stretch run.
"I like it," right fielder Ryan Freel said. "I remember facing Lohse in Spring Training. It's not much, but he seemed to get me out all the time. We've seen [Cormier] quite a bit. He throws strikes and goes after you. He's aggressive."
When informed that Cormier came to town owner of the National League's lowest ERA among relievers at 1.59, Freel's eyes lit up.
"I had no idea," Freel said. "No kidding? That makes me happier."
Also acquired in July were relievers Bill Bray and Gary Majewski and shortstop Royce Clayton from Washington.
"We got a good team, and they're trying to fit a couple pieces in there that makes us a playoff team and hopefully go far," catcher David Ross said. "And that's our goal, shooting for St. Louis. Now we got the pieces, [and] it's time to go play hard and try to win the division."
Cincinnati entered the night in second place, 3 1/2 games behind the Cardinals in the NL Central race. The Reds led the Wild Card standings by one game over Arizona.
Guardado was one of the first to greet Lohse in the clubhouse. The two were once teammates on the Twins during that club's playoff years.
"When he's right, he can pitch. He will be all right," Guardado said.
It's been a tumultuous last couple of seasons for Lohse. The right-hander was 2-5 with a 7.07 ERA this season at Minnesota. He lost his spot in the rotation and was demoted to Triple-A for three weeks.
Guardado could empathize with Lohse's situation. Before his trade early last month, Guardado was unhappy after he lost his closer's job on the Mariners. Since filling that role on the Reds, he's been revitalized.
"I think it's going to be good for Lohse," Guardado said. "He was kind of going through what I was going through this year. He was dealing with a lot of stuff and getting sent down. That takes a toll, especially on a young guy. Even though he's been around you, he's still young. You feel like everyone is rooting against you -- not saying they were, but that's how you feel."
Lohse, who will be in a long-relief role for the time being but could end up starting, met and had a long sit-down with Reds pitching coach Tom Hume.
"We got to know each other and what he's all about," said Lohse, who was acquired for Class A Dayton pitcher Zach Ward. "It seems like they have a good atmosphere going over here. It's going to be interesting for me to try and get acclimated, figure out what role I'll be in, whatever it is. I'm more than happy to fill it."
Cormier, who came from the Phillies Monday for pitcher Justin Germano, got into town early Tuesday and walked around the city before coming to Great American Ball Park. The lefty already knew Scott Hatteberg, Eric Milton and Mercker as teammates on previous clubs, and was all too familiar with another new teammate -- Ken Griffey Jr.
"I'm glad I don't have to face Griffey anymore. He raked me," Cormier said, regarding Griffey's 7-for-12 (.583) lifetime average against the reliever. "It seems like a pretty laid-back clubhouse. [Former Red] Cory Lidle told me it was a pretty nice place."
Tuesday wasn't a good night for the Reds' revamped bullpen, which allowed six runs (one earned) during a 10-4 loss to Los Angeles. Cormier issued a bases-loaded walk and a three-run double in the five-run seventh inning. Lohse allowed one earned run and four hits in the ninth.
Cormier, who was signed to a one-year contract extension for 2007 as a condition for waiving his no-trade clause, understood what was expected of him in Cincinnati.
"There's not a lot of games left. This is when crunch time comes," Cormier said. "As a player coming from a different team, you just want to do your job, and hopefully, the team can get to the postseason. I feel honored that my services were wanted. I just have to go out there and pitch, and do my job."
Ross felt that ownership and Krivsky also did their job to help take the Reds the rest of the way.
"Obviously, he's getting some backing from ownership, which is huge to add some payroll," Ross said. "It's fun to have a guy that's aggressive and is going to help your team. The push behind that is Wayne bringing in guys that have won before and bring that winning attitude. It's fun to have the backing from the top all the way down."
