Sunday, June 7, 1998

BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

With his arm on Jeff Shaw's shoulder and his hand shaking the hand of Shaw's son Travis, Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove apologized to the Reds' closer Saturday for a comment he made six years ago.

Back in 1992, when Shaw was pitching for the Indians, Hargrove told him in a heated moment he didn't have the talent to be a major league pitcher. That has stuck with and motivated Shaw to this day and was the main reason he was so excited about getting the save Friday in the Reds' 2-1 win over the Indians.

Hargrove denied he ever said it and Friday called Shaw a liar. But Hargrove cleared the air as the two talked on the field before Saturday's game at Cinergy Field. They ended up shaking hands and letting bygones be bygones.

"He said, "I wanted to talk to you is because I like you.' He basically said, "I don't remember saying that, but I want to apologize,' " said Shaw, who seemed content with the conversation.

Hargrove still denies making the comments, but is glad the issue is out of the way.

"I don't think there was anything to straighten out," he said. "It was an obvious difference of opinion. I don't remember saying that. I wouldn't even say it to an enemy. Sometimes people misinterpret what you say."

He added, "Jeff's always been a favorite of mine, so it was a total shock for me to read that in the paper. What's important to remember is he's not a liar."

Maturing

Reds pitching coach Don Gullett was pleased that Brett Tomko handled his criticism well. Gullett believes Tomko needs to keep maturing and get tougher mentally if he's going to go from good to great. Tomko agreed.

"That's something that Jack (McKeon) was trying to get through to him in spring training when they had their little war of words," Gullett said of the mini-fuss in March when the manager questioned Tomko's toughness. "Jack was just trying to toughen him up in his own way."

Gullett added, "(Tomko) has the physical ability, but he needs to bear down more instead of backing off when he gets in trouble if he wants to be one of the best pitchers in this league. He can be if he does it."

Good sport

Reds rookie Scott Winchester wanted to pitch in this weekend's series against the Indians, who traded him to Cincinnati, but the schedule didn't work out that way. Instead, Winchester will start Monday in San Diego and the Reds will call on Scott Klingenbeck to make his first start of 1998 after being called up from Triple-A.

"It would have been a lot of fun, and I'm a little disappointed, but I'm happy to see Klingenbeck up here," Winchester said. "I've gotten to know him in the minors the last couple years and it's good to see him get a chance."

Striking

Gullett saw the 27-year old Klingenbeck throw in the bullpen Friday for the first time, but he knows what to expect out even with just a little peek at Klingenbeck's stuff.

"I see a guy who's not going to light up the radar gun or light up your eyes, but he knows how to pitch and he'll change speeds," Gullett said. "You're not going to be overwhelmed by his velocity, but he's a veteran who's been around."

See all the people

Saturday's sellout against Cleveland was the first non-Opening Day sellout at Cinergy since August 6, 1994, against Atlanta.

"This is great. I wish it was like this every night," said Winchester, who joined the Reds after Opening Day and missed their trip to the normally sold out Coors Field in Denver. "This is the biggest crowd I've ever seen."

About 3,500 tickets remain for today's series finale.

On the air

Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall will be honored for their 25 years of broadcasting in a ceremony at 12:35 p.m. before today's game . . . Nuxhall will take off the Reds' three-game series this week in San Diego with WLW sports director Paul Keels filling in.

Up next

Oak Hills High graduate Klingenbeck gets his first start of the season since being recalled from Triple-A as he faces former Red Dave Burba (7-4, 3.73) in the series finale of the Battle of Ohio. First pitch is 1:15 p.m. at Cinergy Field.

Klingenbeck was 6-2 with a 2.86 ERA at Triple-A this season but hasn't pitched in the majors since 1996.