When the Reds first cut left-handed Daryle Ward, then followed that by cutting left-handed Jacque Jones, Nix became the lefty horse to ride.

And he isn't abashed about saying what he can contribute.

"I bring a lot of intensity and for my age (28) I've played quite a few games in the big leagues (270) so I have a good amount of experience," he said.

"I have confidence. I've played an entire season as a regular center fielder and I've done some things."

In 2004, Nix played center field for 115 games and hit .248 with 14 homers and 46 RBIs for a good Texas Rangers team.

"I played and we were in first place for a majority of the year," he said. "I was hurt, but that's a large part of why I couldn't take myself off the field. I was on the field every day and I got used to that. That's what I want. I've been in the middle of that and I've performed."

The injury Nix talked about was a shoulder after he smacked into a wall early in the season. And it was misdiagnosed.

"I needed surgery, but it wasn't diagnosed correctly and I wasn't made aware of it," he said. "I wasn't aware I needed it until a year later and that's when I had it (2005).

"Even though I was injured, for my teammates I couldn't take myself off the field. I play for now, for my teammates."

He was traded to Milwaukee but was never given much of a chance. He was a free agent after last season and signed with the Reds "because I thought this is my best opportunity.

"I bring experience, I can do some things on the field by hitting for power, run the bases, play all the outfield positions. I'm an asset in that they can use me anywhere."

It looks as if he'll get the chance to turn those words into reality.

The only eventful thing about Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the New York Yankees, other than four Reds errors, was the ejection of manager Dusty Baker. Asked if he had ever been ejected from a spring training game, Baker said, "Nope." And it was done by minor-league umpire D.J. Reyburn.

It came with Chris Dickerson batting in the sixth. In his previous at-bat, Reyburn called Dickerson out on a horrendous pitch, and this time Dickerson wanted to know where the pitch was.

"He wouldn't answer, then somebody said something from the dugout and I got upset and told him, 'You don't talk to people like that.' Then he kicked me out and that's when I got upset. He said some things, I said some things - and you know how arguments go."