Monday, February 15, 1999
REDS SPRING TRAINING PREVIEW
Getting down to business
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Every team strives for preseason competition for starting spots among players, and the Reds should have plenty of it when spring training begins next week in Sarasota, Fla.
Jostling for positions will begin once pitchers and catchers begin workouts Tuesday. The last two spots in the starting rotation are open, and though the Reds have several possible closers, that role has not been clearly defined. Eddie Taubensee is the incumbent No. 1 catcher, but he's recovering from a wrist injury and will be pushed by Brian Johnson.
The younger position players who showed considerable promise last year can feel good about their status but shouldn't relax too much. Though first baseman Sean Casey, second baseman Pokey Reese and third baseman Aaron Boone will likely start at their respective spots, veterans such as former Reds Hal Morris and Mark Lewis will be ready to seize any opportunity.
Greg Vaughn will be in left field. But Mike Cameron and Jeffrey Hammonds will grapple for the center-field berth while Dmitri Young must prove he can field decently enough to fend off Michael Tucker in right.
Here's a position-by-position look at how the Reds shape up as they head for camp:
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