Thursday, March 04, 1999Play ball! Reds open spring schedule today
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati EnquirerSARASOTA, Fla. — The Reds may not straighten all their question marks into exclamation points by Opening Day, but now's the time to start trying.
They begin their exhibition season today against the Minnesota Twins at Ed Smith Stadium with a lineup that features no surprises but includes several unproven players.
Manager Jack McKeon said Wednesday Pokey Reese will lead off and play second base, followed by shortstop Barry Larkin, first baseman Sean Casey, left fielder Greg Vaughn, right fielder Dmitri Young, catcher Eddie Taubensee, center fielder Mike Cam eron and third baseman Aaron Boone. Right-hander Pete Harnisch is the starting pitcher.
When somebody suggested that this sounded a lot like an Opening Day lineup, McKeon said, “Close to it.”
It's also a lineup that had better grow up fast. It's enhanced by Larkin's perennial excellence and Vaughn's impressive power, but it's also filled with younger players such as Reese, Casey, Boone and Cameron who have not yet established themselves as steady major leaguers. They may be close to arriving. But a lot of promising players never complete the journey.
For a look at the Reds who have the most to prove this spring, click here: Time to step it up
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