Reds notebook
Randa thinks June will determine club's direction

By John Fay
Enquirer staff writer

HOUSTON - Joe Randa reached 10 years of major league service time Monday.

He's been around long enough to know you don't declare a season turned around after a little over a week of good baseball.

"We've got a long way to go," Randa said. "I don't feel like we're out of the woods yet."

Monday's 9-0 victory over the Houston Astros, in which Randa's two-run homer was key, was the Reds' sixth win in eight games.

Given the fact it came over Roger Clemens and opened a crucial six-game road trip, it would be easy to attach a lot of significance to it.

Randa, again, wasn't about to do that.

"We're digging out of a pretty big hole," Randa said.

The Reds are 21-30. They entered Monday 12½ games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League and 8½ games out of the NL Wild Card.

"June is a critical part of the season," Randa said. "That's the reality of baseball."

Randa knows if the Reds tread water through June changes will likely come in July. He said veterans and players on one-year contracts - he qualifies on both counts - could be traded.
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