Friday, February 26, 1999
Pitchers set for spring
Harnisch will start first exhibition
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — Reds manager Jack McKeon named Pete Harnisch to start the March 4 exhibition opener against Minnesota and said that Denny Neagle, who has been slowed by a strained leg muscle, won't start until March 7 against Toronto, the fourth day of the Grapefruit League season.
McKeon added that because of frequent scheduled off-days in the regular season, one in each of the first three weeks, Cincinnati won't need a fifth starter until April 24 against Houston. Any rainouts would prolong the life of the four-man rotation.
The Harnisch-Neagle announcement probably won't affect McKeon's decision on his starter for the April 5 season opener against San Francisco. He has said that one of them likely will receive the call.
Though Neagle has been pushed back, he and Harnisch still may pitch on consecutive days through March, or close to it. This will enable McKeon to align his rotation toward the end of the month to allow either of them to work the opener.
Neagle, who injured his left quadriceps on Tuesday, returned to the field Thursday. Delaying the left-hander's exhibition debut “gives him a little extra time” to recuperate, McKeon said.
McKeon added that Brett Tomko and Steve Parris will start the pair of split-squad exhibitions March 5 against Texas and Minnesota and that Jason Bere will pitch March 6 against Boston.
Steve Avery will pitch the other half of the March 7 doubleheader against Toronto — another delayed start, said McKeon, to avoid any emotional complications that might result from the left-handerfacing his former Boston teammates.
Reds Stories
Blake's the man at QB
Boomer not coming back to Bengals
UC 64, SOUTH FLORIDA 53
UC NOTEBOOK
Pirtle C-USA coach of year
5-4 dynamo blocks XU's title path
XU's Kremer wins double A-10 honors
Girls vs. boys on mat isn't progress
Daugherty named top 10 columnist
Gambling addict gives UK athletes insights
MAC tourney: Miami favored, Kent tough
Miami good at baseball, too
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
Indiana boys basketball scores
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
CINCINNATI GIRLS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP
Mason's 'D' keys victory
Football star Gibson leads Highlands again
N.KY. BOYS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP
N.KY. GIRLS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP
St. X, St. Francis renew state swimming rivalry
Ursuline given slight edge over Hawken
Three wrestlers take unbeaten records to district
HOCKEY TONIGHT
Sanders leads Norse victory
SPORTS ON TV-RADIO
Reds page
