Patterson making big hit(s) with Reds

Corey Patterson was a man without a team until the Cincinnati Reds called midway through spring training.

Man, are they ever happy he picked up the phone.

That's because Patterson entered the three-game series with the Cubs leading the Reds in both home runs (4) and RBI (9), and has given the Reds a boost from the leadoff spot.

"Corey's been playing excellent for us," said Reds manager Dusty Baker, who was also Patterson's skipper with the Cubs. "He's cut down on the strikeouts, he's bunting more, he's getting some big hits.

"He's more mature. I think he's starting to find himself as to what kind of player he's supposed to be."

Patterson doesn't dispute that theory.

"I think so," he said. "It just comes with experience as with anything you do in life. You take things in stride."

Like the reception he received from the Wrigley faithful Tuesday night in his first trip back since 2005 -- a greeting that featured more boos than cheers.

"The fans, they're entitled to do or say what they want -- as long as they don't physically try to do anything to me," Patterson said following a pregame weightlifting session. "Yeah, they're not going to say the best things, but I've got to just take that out of the equation and go play ball."

If Patterson continues as he has, Baker says, then "the sky's the limit."