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ATLANTA — Ryan Freel wants it known — he is neither a malcontent nor a malinger.

Yes, he wants to play. No, he doesn't hold it against Corey Patterson and says nobody else should, either.

After getting three hits Wednesday, April 20, in St. Louis, boosting his average to .321, Freel was not in Friday's lineup, but manager Dusty Baker quickly explained that Freel had not faced Atlanta pitcher Tim Hudson and Patterson had (1-for-5). Baker said that Freel will play tonight and Sunday.

"I'm not saying I'm the missing piece here to make us win," Freel said. "I played Wednesday, and we didn't win. I'm not going to put my foot in my mouth, because it isn't all about me. I said from Day 1 when I came to the Reds that I just want to win. Whatever it takes to win.

"I don't want people to think I'm against (Patterson), and that I'm not pulling for him," Freel added. "I want to play, of course I want to play, but I want to win. If I'm sitting on the bench and we're winning, I don't care."

But he is sitting, and the Reds are not winning.

"If I'm playing well and we're losing, what good is that?" he asked. "I just love to play. I love this game, but it doesn't owe me anything. I owe this game everything. It is not about playing time, and I don't want the reputation of being anything but a hard player, a gamer who wants to play every day.

"We have to win, whatever it takes," he said. "It shouldn't be focused on one person, not just on Corey Patterson. We're losing games by one or two runs, and our home runs aren't up, based on who we have on this team. Look at the power guys, look at small-ball guys, look at some of the pitching — you can't blame Corey Patterson. That's not fair to anybody. He is a pro who has been around the game, and he is a good player, despite what people are saying about him. He doesn't want to be where he is."

But in the dugout isn't where Freel wants to be, either.

Revising the revisions

For the third time during this turn through the rotation the Reds have made a change, this time moving Aaron Harang back a day from Monday to Tuesday for an extra day of rest and moving Johnny Cueto from Tuesday to Monday.

"We talked to Harang about it, and he thought it was a good idea," Baker said. "In his last start, he told us he had enough, and he never wants to come out, so I knew. He was getting the ball up, too, and that's not him. He can usually get that quality pitch whenever he wants it."

Pondering Votto

Manager Dusty Baker said the off day Thursday was a blessing after 16 straight days of playing, "Especially when you're losing and trying to figure things out. I don't sleep well when we're losing. I try to sleep, but something won't let me sleep while I try to figure things out."

Baker said he has used up ink pens and a tree's worth of paper trying to figure a batting order/lineup.

"I'd like to move Joey Votto up, but I have to be careful about stacking left-handers," he said. "So do I leave Votto alone? He's going to be up there soon. He'll be a fifth hitter. Man, he works hard, keeps his mouth shut and is very respectful."

A $975,000 mistake

Infielder Juan Castro cleared waivers, and the Reds were unable to trade him, so he was released Friday. The Reds, though, remain on the hook for his $975,000 salary.

Quote of the day

"We have to get the big boys in the middle hot, just one would help. How about if we have an MVP player for a week? Just a week. Yeah, we need one MVP for a week." — Manager Dusty Baker.

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