Wednesday, February 24, 1999
Reds won't gloat over Astros' misfortune
Alou's injury aside, Houston still team to beat
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — The Reds clubhouse was devoid of gloating or giddiness Tuesday as news spread of Moises Alou's possible season-ending knee injury.
The Astros were counting on Alou to be a primary run producer. Instead, the two-time National League Central Division champions must replace Alou in left field with Richard Hidalgo, whose promising .304 career batting average can't hide his tender age (23) or major-league experience (273 at-bats).
Losing Alou to a torn anterior cruciate ligament added to a perceived series of setbacks for the Reds' most direct rival, which includes not re-signing left-hander Randy Johnson, failing to trade for right-hander Roger Clemens and swapping Brad Ausmus, considered a first-rate defensive catcher.
“It has to hurt somewhat,” Reds pitcher Pete Harnisch said. “It would affect any team,” General Manager Jim Bowden said. Shortstop Barry Larkin called Alou's injury a “major blow.”
Manager Jack McKeon acknowledged that losing Alou, who hit .312 with 38 homers and 124 RBI last year while finishing third in the league's Most Valuable Player voting, could dent the Astros' psyches.
But, McKeon added, “Who knows? This is a game of picking up one another. You can't tell until the season starts. They may pick up the slack and there won't be any difference.”
Harnisch pointed out that signing 1996 NL MVP Ken Caminiti to play third base should help the Astros recoup some offensive punch.
“They still have a good team. They have a lot of great players,” said Harnisch, citing perennial all-stars Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell, as well as outfielder Derek Bell. “It's not as if they have a bad lineup.”
Larkin noted that Houston, which finished 25 games ahead of the Reds last year at 102-60, scored a league-best 874 runs and finished second with a .280 team average.
“Instead of scoring a thousand runs, they'll score 900 runs,” Larkin said with a chuckle.
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