Reds ponder call-up for stolen-base king Billy Hamilton

CHICAGO – Billy Hamilton stole two more bases Thursday for Class AA Pensacola (Fla.) and has 133 for the year. The minor league record is 145 by Vince Coleman in 1983. Hamilton has 23 games left if he remains at Pensacola, which finishes its season Sept. 3.

Manager Dusty Baker was asked before today's Reds-Cubs game (2:20 p.m. ET) if Hamilton's speed might be a Reds asset come September call-up time.

"Possibly," Baker said. "Speed's always an asset. Speed kills. I remember the Cardinals with Willie McGee, Vince Coleman and Ozzie (Smith). Man. That was their slogan, speed kills."

Hamilton this year:

• -At High-A Bakersfield: 82 games, .323 batting average, one homer, 30 RBI, 104 steals, .413 on-base percentage. Defensively: 25 errors.
• -At AA Pensacola: 28 games, .273 batting average, one homer, eight RBI, 29 steals, .395 on-base percentage. Defensively: Four errors.