Reds feeling shorthanded these days

NEW YORK -- Being a Reds shortstop these days has become about as safe as being the drummer for "Spinal Tap."

As expected, following a grisly dislocation of his left index finger on Friday night, Jolbert Cabrera was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday to make room on the roster for callup Daryl Thompson.

Cabrera joined Alex Gonzalez, Jeff Keppinger and Jerry Hairston Jr. -- all were playing shortstop when they went on the DL.

Rookie Paul Janish was the starting shortstop on Saturday afternoon against the Yankees. As he got dressed before the game, he accidentally banged his right elbow on the corner of his locker.

"I just smoked my funny bone," Janish said with a wince.

Somebody get this man some bubble wrap and a security detail because the Reds have no other shortstops left. Andy Phillips, who has never played shortstop in the Major Leagues, is the emergency backup to Janish.

"It's been pretty insane with the occurrences of late," Janish said. "It's one of those things. I don't think there's any way to explain. You'd have better odds winning the lottery."

During a 4-2 Reds win over the Yankees on Friday, Cabrera had four hits. After hit No. 4 in the seventh inning, a single, he was advancing to second on a wild pitch and caught his finger on the base as he slid headfirst.

The dislocation of the joint pierced the skin and required stitches at the ballpark. Cabrera was taken to a hospital to have the finger put back into place while under anesthesia. He is expected to miss several weeks.

Cabrera was batting .389 (7-for-18) in seven games since his call up following Hairston's injury. It was Cabrera's first big league action since 2004.

Hairston, who suffered a fractured left thumb while stealing second base on June 9 in Florida, hoped to accelerate the start of a Minor League rehabilitation assignment, while Keppinger, who has been out with a fractured left kneecap since May 13, is already on a rehab assignment, but he isn't expected back until after the road trip ends on June 29.

Gonzalez, who has been out with a compression fracture in his left knee since the early days of Spring Training, is still not considered close to returning.

Reds manager Dusty Baker said there was a good chance the Keppinger and Hairston return timetables could be moved up.

"We have to check and see how they're doing and how they're really doing," Baker said. "There's how the player says he's feeling and doing, and those down there who have been watching say how he's doing."

Second baseman Brandon Phillips originally came up as a shortstop, but Baker has been hesitant to move him to the other side of the infield.

"I talked to Brandon," Baker said. "He said the way that position is going, he's a little scared of going over there right now."

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