I got this e-mail from J.S. Bragg:

People are starting to call it “The Curse of Barry Larkin” and saying it will only end (our not having a permanent shortstop since him) until he is back in the organization. Since 2004 ended and Barry was forced out of the organization, 13 people have played shortstop for the Reds…in under 4 years. I say get him back in the organization NOW.

Felipe Lopez (224 games)
Alex Gonzalez (103 Games)
Jeff Keppinger (85 Games)
Rich Aurillia (56 Games)
Juan Castro (46 Games)
Royce Clayton (43 Games)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (22 Games)
Paul Janish (19 Games)
Pedro Lopez (12 Games)
Ray Olmedo (9 Games)
Brandon Phillips (4 Games)
William Bergolla (1 Game)
Enrique Cruz (1 Game)

Well, some would argue Larkin's final contract cursed the Reds more than his departure...

Anyway, I asked Dusty Baker if there was a shortstop curse now that the Reds have played their third different starting shortstop on the disabled list.

"I don't believe in that. I heard enough of that **** in Chicago," Baker said. "There's no curses. Sometimes it's outfielders, sometimes it's pitchers. If that's the case, we were cursed before I got here, because Gonzo was hurt before I got here."

Baker was asked about Brandon Phillips playing shortstop, but doesn't plan on doing that.

"I know everybody says that, he could probably do it, but how many guys do you want out of position?" Baker said. "Do you want one or do you want two or three? What would happen on a double play -- Brandon's not used to doing it and he gets wiped out on a double play, then what? Then you're without Brandon too. It's not that easy.

"It's like football, moving from right tackle to left tackle, it's not that easy. Some guys can do it, some can play left tackle, right tackle, center, guard, but there aren't many. There's not that many guys who can play all over the field in baseball, too. Plus I asked Brandon yesterday, 'I said, hey man, it may come down to you playing shortstop.' He said, 'Not the way things are going at that position.'"