Wednesday, April 29, 1998

BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Sean Casey was about five swings into his first round of batting practice in nearly a month when Reds manager Jack McKeon said "He hasn't missed a beat."

Casey did look that good, but he reminded everyone it was just BP. "Right now, Ken Griffey's BP pitches look good," he said. "We'll see when I'm looking at 90 (mph)."

Casey was examined by Dr. James Sanitato and given clearance to play whenever he feels ready.

"He doesn't have any double vision," Sanitato said. "He has full range of motion in the eye. Actually the surgery improved his vision some."

The next step for Casey, the first baseman who came from Cleveland in the trade for Dave Burba, is a rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis. He'll probably begin that Thursday.

On the prankster

McKeon, the king of gags, was the butt of one Tuesday afternoon. General Manager Jim Bowden arranged for uniformed security guards, who were dressed like real cops, to "arrest" and handcuff McKeon for unpaid parking tickets and smoking violations.

McKeon was taken to a car and driven out the stadium, then the "officers" then announced: "You've been had."

Outfielders out

Neither Reggie Sanders nor Jon Nunnally was in the starting lineup Tuesday night. Both were injured Monday night -- Sanders hyperextended his back crashing into the wall in center field, and Nunnally strained his hamstring running down a fly ball.

"It's a little sore," Nunnally said. "But if I had to I could go out there. I can hit. It's just hurts when I go full speed."

Nunnally walked as a pinch-hitter Tuesday. Sanders' status is day-to-day. An MRI showed no damage. 's back

Levy, the team's marketing consultant, was back at Cinergy Field Tuesday. Levy suffered a mild stroke April 13. Levy is walking with a cane but otherwise doing well.

"I'm just little tired," he said.

Willie's back

Willie Greene was back in the starting lineup Tuesday, four days after dislocating the little finger on his left hand. He batted in the second spot for the second time this year.

Up next

RHP Pete Harnisch (1-0, 4.02) faces RHP Mike Grace (1-2, 7.78) today at 12:35 p.m. in the final game of the three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies.