Monday, July 20, 1998

BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Next move belongs to Harnisch, suitors

Reds General Manager Jim Bowden says his work is done. He has made a contract proposal to pitcher Pete Harnisch, and he has made trade proposals to the four teams interested in trading for Harnisch. "The ball's in Pete's court, and in the court of the teams interested in trading for him," Bowden said.

The Reds have offered Harnisch a three-year contract at $2 million per year. Bowden said he expects to hear from Harnisch's agent in the next 48 hours.

Bowden will not name the clubs he is talking to. A news report said the Reds are talking with the Red Sox about a trade that involves Harnisch and outfielder Reggie Sanders. San Diego has also shown interest.

"They know what we want," Bowden said. "All they have to do is go ahead and pull the trigger."

White way

Gabe White has never been in a streak like this.

"Not at this level," he said.

White, a left-handed reliever, has not allowed in a run in his last 10 appearances, covering 12 1/3 innings. He has allowed only three hits and three walks, while striking out 15, in that span. "It feels really good," he said. "Everything's working." White said the key is getting his legs into his delivery. He was hesitant to do that last year after knee surgery in spring training. "The knee felt fine," he said. "But there was something in the back of my mind. I didn't want to hurt it again."

More drive with his legs has added a couple miles an hour to his fastball and made his slider better.

Struggling

Paul Konerko went 0-for-4 Sunday to push his hitless streak to 11 straight at-bats. Konerko is hitting .182 since coming to the Reds in a trade for closer Jeff Shaw.

Catching on

The fact that Guillermo Garcia's first major-league hit was a home run should not be a surprise. Garcia, whose two-run shot against San Diego on Sunday got him a curtain call, hit 24 HRs in 383 at-bats at Indianapolis.

"You never think it would happen that way," Garcia said.

What is surprising is the fact that Garcia is a catcher at all. He didn't play the position until 1993.

That's when the New York Mets decided to try Garcia at catcher. Garcia had spent three years in the New York organization playing shortstop.

"They liked my arm strength," Garcia said. "I think they made a good decision."

Garcia continued to play other positions -- shortstop, third, second and first base -- nearly as often as catcher until this year when Garcia became the everyday catcher in Indianapolis.

Garcia was hitting .259 with 14 home runs and 41 RBI at Indy. He threw out 42 percent of would-be base stealers.

"He did a good job," Reds manager Jack McKeon said. "He's got a good arm, good hands, some power."

Hussman signs

The Reds signed fourth-round draft pick Darrell Hussman. Hussman is a right-handed pitcher from the University of Arizona.

The two players who remained unsigned are top pick Austin Kearns and No. 3 pick Greg Porter.

The Reds and Kearns' advisers, the Hendricks brothers, will meet in Cincinnati later this month. The Reds have offered $1.5 million; Kearns is seeking $2.1 million.