Tomko was supposed to start the Reds' night game against the Minnesota Twins. But when rain wiped out the first half of the split-squad double-header in Sarasota, Tomko was scratched and Pete Harnisch replaced him.
Tomko, who had pitched only once this spring, was going to get three innings at the most. But two outs into the Reds' sixth - an out from Tomko's appearance - rain hit Fort Myers. After a 20-minute downpour, the game was called.
The Reds lost, 2-1, and Tomko lost another chance to pitch.
''Of course, it's frustrating,'' Tomko said. ''Because I'm ready to pitch. I want to pitch.''
With only 12 days of spring training left, it's looking more and more as if Tomko will not be part of the rotation when the Reds come north. Manager Jack McKeon is reluctant to tinker with his rotation to move Tomko along faster.
''He's got to wait his turn,'' McKeon said. ''I didn't put him in this situation. We can't say, 'We got Brett, move everyone else back.' Everyone else went by him.''
Tomko, a 24-year-old right-hander, was 11-7 with 3.43 ERA last year as a rookie. He was easily the Reds' most effective starter. He thinks he can still get ready in time.
''Two starts is all I need,'' he said. ''I'll go five, then six innings. I threw 70 pitches two days ago.''
Tomko went three innings in his one appearance, allowing four hits and three runs.
Then he fell out of favor with McKeon on March 5. Tomko was scheduled to make his second appearance of the spring that day. But he told McKeon just before game time that his shoulder was sore and he couldn't go. ''It would have different if he said something three or four days before,'' McKeon said.
Tomko was suffering from tendinitis. He is 100 percent healthy now.
McKeon plans on working Tomko in slowly. The other five starters have logged plenty of innings:
Dave Burba has compiled 26 innings with a 1.38 ERA; Mike Remlinger, 22 innings, 2.86 ERA; Harnisch, 22 innings, 4.50 ERA; Steve Cooke, 18 innings, 2.50 ERA; Mark Hutton, 14 innings, 1.93 ERA; and David Weathers, 15ô innings, 4.70 ERA.
''Right now, Tomko's sixth, maybe seventh, as far as being ready,'' McKeon said.
But McKeon isn't ruling him out.
''I think he still has time to get ready,'' McKeon said. ''If he does start out with us, he'll probably be the fifth starter.'' McKeon will use him in minor-league games to get him in shape, but even then Tomko must pitch well to be ready by March 31.
''We may have to leave him back here to get him in shape,'' McKeon said.
Tomko's learning the lesson of McKeon's managing style. He is willing to give players a chance, and if they prove themselves, he's reluctant to take away the job they earned.
''The guys that take your place may take off,'' McKeon said. ''That's the story of Wally Pipp. That's how Jon Nunnally got his chance. Mike Kelly fell down (and hurt himself). Nunnally went in there and never came out.''
Twins 2, Reds 1
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