Wednesday, February 24, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Strain sidelines Neagle
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — Denny Neagle's strained left quadriceps is no cause for alarm, though the sight of a 20-game winner being led to the clubhouse by a trainer never fails to command attention.
Assistant trainer Mark Mann said that Neagle should resume practicing within a couple of days. The left-hander will be treated with ice applications, electronic stimulation, ultrasound, and stretching and strengthening exercises.
Neagle was injured during Tuesday's opening full-squad workout while covering first base during pitchers' fielding practice. He said that he slightly pulled a gluteus muscle a few days ago, causing him to favor the leg. The quadriceps consists of four muscles in front of the thigh.
“I think you turn 30 and everything starts hurting and aching even more,” said Neagle, who reached that age in September.
DOUBLE DUTY: As a switch hitter, Dmitri Young faces twice the responsibility when it comes to honing his batting stroke.
Getting enough swings from each side of the plate, said Young, is “probably the toughest thing.” His approach worked last year, when he hit .306 right-handed and .320 left-handed while posting a .310 average overall.
As a natural right-handed batter, Young formerly worked more on his left-handed swing. “Now I'm at the point where I get so much work on the left, the right side is a little retarded,” he said.
ANOTHER SHOT: It's a little strange to see a one-time major award winner on the list of non-roster invitees.
But shortstop Pat Listach is simply trying to restart an injury-stalled career.
Listach, 31, was the American League Rookie of the Year with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1992, when he hit .290 and stole 54 bases. But knee surgeries following each of the next two seasons slowed his progress, literally and figuratively. He also fouled a pitch off his foot in 1996, which almost scuttled a Brewers trade with the New York Yankees.
“My entire game was based on speed and the ability to make plays in the hole,” said Listach, who played on the Triple-A level in the Cleveland and Philadelphia or ganizations last year. “I wasn't able to do it for a few years and it cost me.”
Listach has done what he can to enhance his value, playing the outfield and all infield spots except first. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Manager Jack McKeon liked what he saw during the full-squad workout: “Everybody was in good shape and there was a lot of enthusiasm.”
But he resisted any definitive conclusions, calling the session “normal stuff.”
Said McKeon, “Nobody's going to judge anybody on their first day.”
ETC.: Shortstop and team captain Barry Larkin still had his light mustache, a fact observed by coach Ken Griffey Sr. “I've seen that swing before,” Griffey called to nobody in particular as Larkin lined a batting-practice pitch to right field. “The only thing different is the hair on his lip.”
• Brian Theiss, the fitness trainer who helped Young lose 12-15 pounds this offseason, visited camp to set up exercise programs with various players. Theiss said that the Reds wanted him to work with outfielders Greg Vaughn and Mike Frank and left-hander Dennys Reyes, who's about eight pounds overweight and has had back trouble.
• Johnny Bench was named the starting catcher on the Team of the Century selected by Street & Smith's magazine, which will be on newsstands March 1. Pete Rose and Cincinnati native Ken Griffey Jr. were selected as reserve players. Former Red Joe Morgan was selected to the all-time “B” team's bench.
Reds Stories
