That might have been him sleeping in the dugout during Thursday's game.
Before the Reds acquired him in a trade Wednesday for pitcher Robert Manuel, the Mariners had designated him for assignment.
"He hasn't hit in a week," said manager Dusty Baker. "He has worked out, but didn't have a place to hit. So we'll get him some at-bats (today) when Edinson Volquez pitches his simulated game."
Balentien hit .213 in 56 games for the Mariners this season with four homers and 13 RBIs after hitting .202 in 71 games last year with seven homers and 24 RBIs.
"I'm happy to get another chance and thank the Cincinnati organization for giving me another opportunity," said Balentien, a native of the Netherlands Antilles.
Baltentien did not play for the surprisingly good Netherlands World Baseball Classic team, "Because I wanted to be in spring training to make the Mariners team.
"The last couple of years I've worked hard to have success at this level to be consistent and do the same things I have the last couple of years to have success," he said.
"He looks like a very strong young man," said Baker of the 6-foot-2, 218-pound right-handed hitter. He has hit 132 home runs in 678 minor-league games.
Lehr to start
Justin Lehr will turn 32 on Aug. 3 and has never started a major-league, but that will change tonight when his contract is purchased from Class AAA Louisville.
Lehr will be matched against Colorado right-hander Aaron Cook, a Hamilton native who is 10-3 with a 3.87 earned run average for the Rockies.
To make room, the Reds most likely will move a player from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list, probably pitcher Mike Lincoln.
Lehr has pitched in the majors, but only in relief for Oakland and Milwaukee, and his last appearance was with the Brewers in 2006.
A family affair
This isn't to say that David Weathers is old, but — Weathers faced both Max Venable and his son, Will Venable, one time and struck them both out.
The younger Venable, though, had four hits and drove in four runs Thursday, without facing Weathers. How ironic that on the day they had the annual Father-Sons/Daughters game that the son of a former Reds player would get a career-best four hits against the Reds.
Weathers did not remember Max Venable, who played for the Reds from 1985 through 1987, but when told he struck out both father and son, he said, "I own that family."
Weathers also has faced both Tony Gwynn and Tony Gwynn Jr.
Quote(s) of the day
— "Walt Jocketty is manning the phone today big-time. I haven't seen him all morning." — Manager Dusty Baker, talking about GM Walt Jocketty trying to make a trade.
— "Another scratch in our lineup? Why not? Everyone else is doing it." — Jonny Gomes after seeing that Willy Taveras was scratched from Thursday's lineup with a sore right wrist.
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