Tuesday, February 16, 1999
McKeon sees battles at 2B, OF
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — Though pitchers and catchers will be the first to report to the Reds' spring training complex today, manager Jack McKeon already has position players squarely in mind.
McKeon cited second base and outfield defense as issues that will be his top priorities. Pitchers and catchers undergo physical examinations Wednesday and begin workouts Thursday. Position players' first workout is Feb. 23.
McKeon reiterated that Pokey Reese, whose natural position is shortstop, is the leading candidate at second base but must prove he can handle the switch. Veterans Mark Lewis, Chris Stynes and Jeff Branson, a non-roster invitee, also can play second.
“It's not going to be etched in stone that he's guaranteed anything,” McKeon said of Reese. “We're going to give him the first crack at it. I think he showed us enough last year that he can play defensively, and it looked like he was starting to come around with the bat.”
McKeon wants to schedule more “B” or split-squad exhibition games, not only to give pitchers enough work, but also to find playing time for his glut of outfielders. Much focus will fall on Dmitri Young, who hit .310 last year but is being asked to improve his defense while switching from left to right field — where Michael Tucker also plays.
“The biggest problem we have is, you get the thinking that everybody's going to give you the same year they had last year plus improve. It doesn't necessarily happen that way,” McKeon said. “We found that out last year. So you try to emphasize that you can't take anything for granted.”
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