Sports

ST. LOUIS — Did you think Francisco Cordero was a bit, uh, overweight this year? Did you think Cordero was a bit slow running to cover first base? Did you think he walked too many this year and got into too many jams?

Yes, yes, yes, yes. And there was a reason.

Turns out the Reds' $46 million closer pitched all season with a sore right foot and Friday, Sept. 26, he had a bone spur removed.

Cordero was unable to do the normal running pitchers do to stay in shape and keep the pounds off.

Nevertheless he is 5-4 with 34 saves in 40 opportunities and appeared in 72 games.

"It bothered him all year long, and we were trying to keep him to use against teams that were in the playoff hunt," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He'll be in a boot for four weeks, but should be ready for spring training. This thing has bothered him since spring training. He couldn't run, couldn't cover first base. He said some days it felt fine and other days it would kill him. That plays tricks on your head. And that's one reason his weight was up. The bicycle is one thing, but running is another, especially when you are used to running."

Asked who the closer will be for the last three games, Baker smiled and said, "We'll see. Probably David Weathers. He has done it the most."

Edinson Volquez, shut down from his scheduled Sunday start with a knee problem that has bothered him for several weeks, was back in Cincinnati to have it examined Friday.

Outfielder Chris Dickerson underwent surgery Friday to remove a piece of bone from his left ankle.

Votto gets a triple

Joey Votto woke up Friday morning with an extra triple. After reviewing the tapes, Major League Baseball reversed the official scorer's call on a ball Votto hit to left.

Ty Wigginton, normally an infielder, was playing left field and badly misplayed the ball, turning in different directions, but didn't touch it. It was ruled an error until MLB changed it after the Reds appealed.

"It was a fair change," Baker said. "The thing is, he is not an outfielder and you have to take that into consideration, too."

In the same game, Votto hit a ball that thudded against a yellow line on the right-field wall. Umpires reviewed it to see if it was a home run and ruled it was not. Since umpires reviewed that play, it is not eligible to be overturned by the MLB committee.

The Owings program

Micah Owings, strictly a pinch-hitter now, plans an offseason of hard work on his troublesome shoulder so he will be ready this spring to compete for the one spot that appears available in the rotation behind Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto.

"I'm going to be doing a lot of exercising and shoulder isotonics, really stay on top of it," Owings said. "I'm going to start throwing a little earlier in the offseason than I usually do to get ready for spring training. I usually start just before Christmas, but I'll start earlier."

Owings thought about pitching winter ball, but the Reds haven't mentioned it, so it is on hold, "Although I'd do it if they wanted me to. With the two starts I had at (Class AAA) Tucson, I still had 115 innings. The most important thing for me is to stay with the stretching and strengthening."