--RHP Micah Owings was acquired last season from Arizona to pitch, but did not appear on the mound for Cincinnati as he continued the rehab of a shoulder injury. He did pinch-hit four times for the Reds, collecting two hits and three RBIs.
--RHP Aaron Harang's career-worst 6-17 record was pushed along by 35 home runs, tied for the most given up in the NL last season. --C Ramon Hernandez, acquired in the offseason for the Orioles, should be an offensive upgrade for the Reds at the position. However, he tied for the second-most errors among AL catchers (nine) and was third with 10 passed balls last year.
--2B Brandon Phillips, a natural shortstop, has talked about moving to shortstop. But manager Dusty Baker has no plans to make the switch because he believes the 2008 Gold Glove winner will be one of the all-time great defensive second basemen.
--3B Edwin Encarnacion, who made 23 errors last year, most of them throwing, has been the subject of discussions regarding switching him to left field or even first base, but he'll go to spring training as a third baseman.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2 -- Complete games by the starting staff, tying the club record for fewest in a season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "You're always hoping for more complete games to take the pressure off the bullpen, and I'd like to think we'll have more than two in 2009." -- Manager Dusty Baker after the team tied a club low with only two complete games last season.
