Valdez offers much more than bunting ability

MILWAUKEE -- Any time Wilson Valdez is batting for the Reds, he's a threat to bunt for a hit. But manager Dusty Baker sees Valdez as more than a bunter.

"That's just part of his game," Baker said on Wednesday. "He hasn't played enough for anybody to see what he really can do. His batting average was fair with Philly, but he was a big hit guy. He got a number of hits in the clutch, some against us. These guys played near every day when [Placido] Polanco, [Chase] Utley and [Jimmy] Rollins were out. This guy played on a championship team for a couple of years and played a lot."

On Wednesday against Milwaukee, Valdez started at third base in place of Scott Rolen, who was given some rest with a day game following a night game. In 13 games entering the series finale, the 33-year-old Valdez was batting only .200.