Tuesday, July 14, 1998

BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Scott Winchester wipes his brow as he walks back to the mound in the second inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

ST. LOUIS -- A source has confirmed that the Reds and Tigers had agreed to a deal for Detroit's Kimera Bartee, an outstanding defensive center fielder.

But the deal, which would have sent minor league infielder Damian Jackson to Detroit, was nixed by Tigers owner Mike Illitch because Bartee is one of his favorite players.

The Reds like Bartee's defensive prowess, and would rather see rookie Mike Frank play right field than center.

Reds General Manager Jim Bowden likely will continue his pursuit of a center fielder through a trade, with Anaheim's Jim Edmonds a remote possibility.

Larkin top player

Reds shortstop Barry Larkin was named National League Player of the Week Monday for the abbreviated four-day week after the All-Star break. In three games, Larkin hit .583 (7-for-12) with three doubles, three home runs, a triple, seven RBI and four runs scored. He raised his average to .294 entering Monday's game.

It's the fourth time he has earned the award (he also won in 1990, '91 and '97), but the pleasure hasn't worn off yet.

"Oh yeah, it's nice," Larkin said. "Anytime you can win an award, it's special."

Since the All-Star break, Larkin has seven hits, all for extra bases, giving him a slugging percentage of a whopping 1.750.

"I'm single-less for the second half. That's from running through stop signs at first base," he joked. "These things come in bunches."

Walking wounded

The Reds training room was busy Monday, with three players getting treatment for injuries sustained in Sunday's win.

Pokey Reese, who strained his right hamstring running the bases, got some ultrasound and electro-stimulation treatment and was withheld from the lineup for the first time in 14 games. He had started 13 straight (12 at third base, one at second), with the Reds winning 12 of those.

"I woke up this morning and it was sore," Reese said. "I've never had a hamstring pull. I felt it when I touched the bag (second base, as he scored from first on Brook Fordyce's double.)

Reese, who is day-to-day but probably won't play in the three-game series in St. Louis, said he believes the oppressive Phoenix heat -- even with the roof closed at Bank One Ballpark -- may have played a role, dehydrating him. "That dry heat, man," he said, "Whew!" Fordyce also was injured Sunday, straining his left shoulder on a collision at home plate that saved a run. He had trouble lifting his left arm Sunday night but Monday said he was getting better, expecting to miss only a few days.

"It's stiff, but I expected that," Fordyce said. "I just tried to get as low as I could (on the play) and tried to hang on. I knew there was going to be a collision."

If the Reds needed an emergency catcher while he was out, they could go to rookie Paul Konerko, who originally signed out of high school as a backstop. Konkero, meanwhile, joined the list of the wounded when he jammed a finger during batting practice Monday, but he started at third base anyway.

Pitcher Pete Harnisch was hit with a ball on his left calf Sunday and walked around gingerly Monday. "It's a little better," he said. "It's only three times its normal size instead of seven. It's sore. I can't run on it, but I'll try to do some bike (Tuesday)." Harnisch isn't expected to miss his scheduled start Saturday -- if he's still a member of the Reds -- because he can use Thursday's off-day as an extra day to heal.

Rare error

Larkin committed a throwing error in the Cardinals' four-run first inning Monday.

The error ended a six-game errorless streak for the Reds, who had made 79 errors in their first 86 games.

That LaRussa

St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa continued his recent practice of batting the pitcher in the No. 8 position in the batting order Monday.

LaRussa began batting the pitcher eighth in hopes that a position player batting ninth could help get more baserunners for Mark McGwire.

Up next

Reds right-hander Steve Parris (1-0, 3.00) faces St. Louis for the second time in as many starts tonight, opposing Cardinals righty Todd Stottlemyre (9-7, 3.08) in an 8:10 p.m. start from Busch Stadium.

In his last start before the All-Star break, Parris went five innings against the Cardinals, allowing four runs and five hits on July 4. Like all Reds pitchers that weekend, he didn't give up a homer to McGwire, but did let Brian Jordan smack one.