Thursday, March 04, 1999

REDS NOTEBOOK

---

LaRue bides his time

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Jason LaRue | ZOOM |

        SARASOTA, Fla. — Jason LaRue isn't adjusting his approach. It's not necessary.

        LaRue almost surely won't start the season in Cincinnati. But as the Reds' top catching prospect, he can pave a smooth route to his future with a solid performance in camp.

        “One thing he's going to do: He'll hit,” McKeon said with absolute certainty.

        McKeon indicated LaRue could be called up to Cincinnati next year or even later this season if he improves defensively.

        LaRue showed that potential in the Reds intrasquad games Monday and Tuesday, throwing out three baserunners trying to steal.

        LaRue, 24, batted a robust .365 with 14 homers and 82 RBI for Double-A Chattanooga, leading Baseball America to rate him fourth among the Reds' prospects. He also hit .235 in 15 games with Triple-A Indianapolis.

        “I'm just trying to show the coaches I think I'm ready for the big leagues,” LaRue said. “If I don't start there now, that's fine. I just want to make a good impression on them and hopefully I'll be there soon.”

        LaRue attributed last year's production to maturity, though he also excelled in 1997 (.315, 81 RBI at Sin gle-A Charleston). “I got a little more patient at the plate,” said LaRue, who struck out only 60 times in 386 at-bats with Chattanooga.

        ETC.: The first rainstorm of spring training shortened the Reds' workout and forced hitters into the covered batting cages. Though McKeon's plans to review defensive fundamentals such as bunt plays and cutoffs were washed out, he said, “We have plenty of time for that.”

        • Now that Buddy Bell, Dave Collins and Bill Doran are busy instructing minor leaguers, Triple-A manager Dave Miley and pitching coach Grant Jackson will join the major-league staff for about a week. It makes sense, said McKeon, “because basically, we have their team.”

        • Danny Graves, Scott Sullivan, Scott Williamson, Rob Bell and Manuel Barrios are the pitchers expected to be available after Pete Harnisch in the spring opener today.

       

---

Reds Stories

Play ball! Reds open spring schedule today Time to step it up Reds hope Cepeda boosts Perez REDS NOTEBOOK Nuxhall voice of summer Paul Daugherty column

Bearcats' woes solved or masked?
C-USA ROUNDUP
Huggins repeats as Coach of Year
XU's last-second heroes? Uh, zero
A-10 ROUNDUP
Lumpkin vows to make new start
Nuxhall voice of summer
Miami stumbles in MAC finals
MIAMI NOTEBOOK
SEC coaches agree: tourney wide open
Norse believe in each other
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
Indiana boys basketball sectional pairings
Indiana girls basketball semistate pairings
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
Madeira goes old-school to defeat Reading
CINCINNATI BOYS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP
Conner trounces Bellevue 59-28
Holmes makes sure Soard will coach another game
Schwegmann leads Brossart past Clark
Local wrestlers have high hopes at state
Bengals: Ball is in Ball's court

Reds page