REDS NOTEBOOK
Konerko: Pressing isn't problem

BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DENVER - Before game one of Thursday's day-night double-header against the Rockies, manager Jack McKeon talked of how rookie third baseman Paul Konerko was pressing. Konerko then went in as a late double-switch replacement and smashed a three-run homer to the deepest part of Coors Field, into the rocks in straight-away center.

Still, Konerko entered the second game in an 8-for-38 slump since joining the Reds. He, however, discounts the notion of "pressing."

"When I hit well, I press," Konerko said. "I'm not one of those guys that can go up there nice and relaxed and hit. I've always put a lot of energy into each at bat, and it builds up. Sometimes, I don't handle it well."

Konerko says the key is in putting his past at-bats behind him. "That's my biggest problem," he said.

Young and aching

Dmitri Young's upper body has been taking a beating lately.

In Game One, Young strained his right shoulder diving to catch a ball hit to left off the bat of Rockies center fielder Ellis Burks in the third inning. Young finished out the inning, but was replaced by Mike Frank and didn't start the second game.

World Order

Graves and Gabe White have started a trend. The two fans of professional wrestling have gotten others in the Reds clubhouse interested in the ahh, sport and have gotten teammates to buy T-shirts with the letters "N.W.O." for the New World Order.

For those unitiated in the joys of wrestling, that's the gang led by Hulk Hogan and Rodzilla.

Even such staid clubhouse prescences as Barry Larkin and Brett Tomko have gotten the T-shirts, and about 10 players - including Larkin, White, Tomko, Graves and Sean Casey - took a group picture with the shirts on in Los Angeles.

Perez hot

Remember Eduardo Perez? The Reds' Opening Day first baseman is hitting .314 (11-for-35) in his past 20 games and leads the team with a .357 batting average with runners in scoring position.

  • Game 1: Rockies 6, Reds 4
  • Game 2: Rockies 6, Reds 4
  • Box scores, runs
  • Scouting Report: Reds at Giants
  • Bere grateful for chance
  • Broadway backers may get 40-day extension
  • Associated Press baseball page

    		•