I thought about titling this “Celebrating Eric Milton's Triumphant Return To The Operating Room” but that's only half the story here, and it's too long for a title that only tells half the story.

We probably won't have Eric Milton to kick around anymore. He's due for Tommy John surgery on Friday, which means he's finished for the year and probably finished as a Red.

Milton was already on the DL, so we don't get to call up anybody to replace him, BUT since the Reds have also placed Jared Burton on the 15 day DL with back spasms, they do get to call up somebody for that….and that somebody is (drum roll, please) none other than Todd Coffey, who just got sent down on June 8 and would otherwise have had to stay in the minors for at least ten days. But with Burton going on the DL, the Reds can take advantage of an exception to that ten-day rule and call up Coffey anyway, which they've done.

That's the other half of the story. Except that…well, the Reds can't simply option Burton to the minors because he's a Rule 5 guy, who would have to clear waivers and be offered back to Oakland first. But if he's hurt, they can DL him, which gives him a maximum of 30 days in the minors on a rehab assignment when he comes off the DL.

Then again, the first time Milton went on the DL this year, coming out of spring training, it was for back spasms, and now he's going to have a ligament replacement in his elbow (which is what Tommy John surgery is).

So, is this Kriv-Dawg finding a creative way to get around all that Rule 5 red tape and get Burton some additional seasoning in the minors? Or should we be looking forward to the day in August when Doc kremchek looks down at the unconscious Burton on the operating room table, extends his gloved hand toward the OR nurse, and says, “Scalpel” in the usual monotone voice used by surgeons in that situation?

You decide.

The Reds have made so many moves lately, it's hard to keep track even with a scorecard. So here's a overview of the past week's roster moves…

Something wicked this way comes…

June 2: Bobby Livingston sent back to Louisville, Marcus McBeth called up.

So long, and thanks for all the fish…

June 4: Brad Salmon sent to Louisville, Dewayne Wise DFA'd. (Wise was DFA'd to get him off the 40-man roster, not because they want to get rid of him. He cleared waivers and is back in Louisville, but is on the DL. Hamstring, I think.)

A cup of coffee for Coffey…

June 5: Josh Hamilton activated off the DL, Todd Coffey called up from Louisville.

Headin' down the highway…

June 7: Brian Shackelford cleared waivers and was outrighted to Louisville. Again, this was basically to get him off the Reds' 40-man roster. The Reds could put him on the 40-man and call him up again…but I suspect they won't. I read this as meaning they don't see Shackelford as part of their future. I expect Love Shack to leave the Reds organization as a minor league free agent at the end of the season.

This move is especially interesting because it wasn't necessary. They have 39 players on the 40-man roster now, and didn't have to expose Shack to waivers. This suggests they need the roster space for someone else.

One Coffey to go….

June 8: Homer Bailey called up, Coffey sent back down. Don't want to get too excited after only one start, but I think now that he's up with the big club, he'll stay there.

So, that still leaves that one empty spot on the 40-man. Perhaps they are saving it for the other PTBNL in the Deno trade. Or could another trade be in the works?

Dunn and gone?

The talking heads at ESPN last night thought the Reds would trade either Dunn or Griffey. Today, the pundits and even Red Reporter think it will be Dunn.

But…if Dunn is traded, that leaves a rather large hole in the outfield. It doesn't look like Freel is coming back any time soon. Norris Hopper is a good bat off the bench, but I don't see him as a starting outfielder.

(And no, this is not a plug for Bubba Crosby. Bubba's still on the DL, and not expected back until the end of July. He's DHing in extended spring training games in Sarasota, but they're worried about his throwing mechanics. Sigh. Next time, Sparky, tell them when you're injured. Don't try to play through it. You screw up your mechanics that way, and worse.)

The Bats have had a lot of roster action, too. They released infielder Earl Snyder, who has struggled all season. Infielder/outfielder Jeff Bannon, a possible sub for Freel, has been on the DL, off it, back on it, and back off it. As mentioned previously, Wise is on the DL, as is Bubba. They're kind of hurting for OFers.

Most interesting, though, are two players coming in this week on rehab assignments. Eddie Guardado is supposed to join the Bats today, and Elizardo Ramirez is supposed to start for them tomorrow. Maybe that 40th roster spot is for one of them?

The Reds participated in their second extra-innings game this afternoon against the Cleveland Indians. Only this time, they won! The should have won the game yesterday as well, but you knew it wasn't going to happen. A win yesterday would have meant three wins in a row and a bona fide winning streak.

Three wins in a row is something they've achieved only two times this season. If the Reds have two consecutive wins and you're into Baseball Betting, like clockwork, you can count on them to lose. Your payout might not be much, though.

Today, Aaron Harang got things started with three hits and zero runs through seven innings of baseball. Always nice to get a good long performance from the starter, especially in these turns-out-to-be-11-innings affairs. Of course, add in his two walks and TEN strike-outs, and you realize that he could have stayed in a little bit longer if he'd just pitched to contact.

Mike Stanton darn near screwed things up in the eighth, getting out of a bases loaded situation after giving up three hits. David Weathers was much more efficient in the ninth, not allowing a hit.

Gary Majewski got the call at the beginning of the extras but didn't even get an out before he was pulled in favor of Jon Coutlangus who finished out the 10th without a hit. Marcus McBeth pitched the 11th and 12th, issuing a walk but not allowing a hit.

During McBeth's time on the mound in the 12th inning, the most fantastic play of the game went down. With one out in the inning and Jason Michaels on third, Franklin Gutierrez hit a fly ball to center. As soon as the ball is in Josh Hamilton's glove, Michaels took off for home, setting up Hamilton to showcase that stellar arm. A short hop later, the double-play at the plate was complete.

It was a spectacular play. It wasn't, as George Grande said (twice) the only reason why the game continued into the bottom of the inning, but it was still great.

Hamilton looked like he might carry on the momentum that he brought to the game in the bottom of the 12th when he came to the plate with one out and two men on. However, he lined out to right field, leaving the glory of knocking in Chad Moeller to Alex Gonzalez.

The win brings the Reds record to 25-39 and gives them the series over the Indians. They're still in last place in the NLC, but only nine games back now. They take tomorrow off before hosting the Angels on Tuesday. Kelvim Escobar takes on Bronson Arroyo.

For the first time since February, there's new Human League content. Check out the profile of Homer Bailey.

And make sure to let me know if I mixed up any of the facts. I sort of thought I might have messed up which team he played for in which year.

FSN Ohio has a segment before some of the games called “Think Fast” in which they do some free association with one of the players: Jim Day give a bunch of rapid fire words and the player is supposed to say the first thing that comes to mind.

On the eve of his first start, FSNO featured Homer Bailey. Here are several of his answers for your psychological analysis enjoyment:

hero – “gladiator”
pop – “goes the weasel”
sushi – “tastes like hell”
steak – “my favorite food”
mornings – “too early’
mean – “mad dog…I don’t know”
Griffey – “hilarious”
Dunn – “big”
Weathers – “funny”
Arroyo – “long hair”
Freel – “energetic”
this segment – “Think Fast”