Friday, March 05, 1999

REDS NOTEBOOK

---

Harnisch looks good, with asterisk

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pete Harnisch pitched four hitless innings. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        SARASOTA, Fla. — Pete Harnisch looked sharp in Thursday's 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins, yet neither he nor manager Jack McKeon were overwhelmed.

        The eight position players Minnesota started against Harnisch have combined for only two years and 87 days of major league experience.

        “They've got a rookie club over there,” McKeon said. “You can't get excited.” Perhaps taking a shot at former manager Ray Knight, McKeon added, “Maybe other people do. My predecessors probably would have.”

        Harnisch lasted an inning or two longer than most starters typically do in their spring debuts, but his durability stemmed from the economy of pitches he threw — just 46.

        “It just as easily could have been 2ö innings if I walked a couple of guys on 3-2 counts,” Harnisch said.

        Still, the possible Opening Day starter was pleased with the location of his pitches. “I felt like I was throwing my fastball down and up, as opposed to up, up, up, which is good.”

Sean Donelan and Don Manyet of Fort Thomas, Ky., walked through the grandstand wearing fake goatees. Donelan's sign read, “We've got the facial hair — now put Pete in the Hall!”. (Craig Ruttle photo) | ZOOM |

        MIXED SUCCESS: Pokey Reese, trying to secure the second base job, muffed a potential double-play grounder that generated a fifth-inning unearned run. “He would have made a heck of a play, except he was looking for the bag,” McKeon said.

        Reese partially atoned two batters later by starting a double play. He also displayed nice range to either side on plays in the first and fourth innings. “I don't think there's going to be any problem,” McKeon said.

        McKeon was rewarded for his decision to play Reese for the entire game. Reese's seventh-inning single tied the score 2-2 and ignited a three-run rally.

        “Glad to see Pokey come through in the clutch,” McKeon said. “I was thinking about taking him out, but I wanted him to get one more at-bat.”

        IF AT FIRST: Dmitri Young, who has been focusing on his switch from left to right field, took grounders at first base during batting practice. It was the first time all spring that Young has worked in the infield.

        Bench coach Ken Griffey Sr. suggested to Young that he keep his first-base skills sharp, in case he's needed during a long extra-inning game or if Sean Casey is injured.

        “Just because I'm out in right field doesn't mean I have to let first base go,” said Young.

        During his five-inning stint in right field, Young handled a fly ball and two base hits smoothly.

        ETC.: Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench, one of General Manager Jim Bowden's special assistants, arrived in camp to work with Reds players.

        • Special assistant Larry Barton Jr., who signed Eric Davis and numerous others as a scout, was diagnosed with a Grade I cancerous tumor on the back of his tongue. Barton will be examined next week to determine a course of therapy.

       

---

Reds Stories

Vaughn goes deep - into infielder REDS NOTEBOOK REDS 4, TWINS 2

UC 76, SOUTH FLORIDA 56
UC NOTEBOOK
C-USA ROUNDUP
XAVIER 72, MASSACHUSETTS 68
A-10 ROUNDUP
Pitt picks coach - and it's not Prosser
Now Muskies can relax - a little
Buckeyes planting seeds for selection committee
Indiana hopes to give a third 'L' to Illini
March restores UK's confidence
UK live in Ky.; on tape in Ohio
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
Indiana boys basketball scores
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
St. Xavier stuns No. 1 West Hi
Elder's surge continues with win over Aiken
Finneytown reaches district title game
Kings poses test for unbeaten Springboro
Boone continues surge
Highlands hits stride in lopsided win
Harrison leads way at state wrestling
HOCKEY TONIGHT
SPORTS ON TV-RADIO
Bengals still in running for Ball

Reds page