Saturday, March 06, 1999

REDS NOTEBOOK

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A deal with Braves? Maybe . . maybe not

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pokey Reese delivers sacrifice bunt in Friday's game. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        SARASOTA, Fla. — Asked about the incessant trade rumors regarding the Atlanta Braves, Reds General Manager Jim Bowden walked a verbal tightrope between quashing and encouraging them.

        Since losing first baseman Andres Galarraga for the season to a cancerous tumor, the Braves have considered acquiring one of the Reds' starting-quality reserves, such as first baseman Hal Morris. Outfielders Michael Tucker, Mark Sweeney and Jeffrey Hammonds also are possibilities.

        Morris has plenty of backers in the Braves' clubhouse, such as former Red Bret Boone and Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine.

        “With their situation, they have to have interest in our infielders and outfielders. I think it would improve their club,” Bowden said. “But we're not as interested in improving their club as we are in improving our club. ... We put together a good bench with depth so that we could withstand injuries and still be competitive. We're not inclined to give that (away) and help another team.

        “We'll listen to anyone if we can make a deal that's going to improve us in the short- and long-term. But not at the expense of hurting our chance of contending this year.”

        NEAGLE MAY START MONDAY: Depending on how his arm responds after throwing today, Denny Neagle could pitch as early as Monday in a “B” game against Minnesota.

        Neagle resumed throwing earlier this week after having been slowed by a strained left quadriceps he suffered on Feb. 23. But the left-hander has recovered nicely.

        “I'm really happy with the progress,” said Neagle, a candidate to be the Opening Day starter. “(Manager) Jack (McKeon) and I talked about it. Even if it got to the point where we were getting ready to open the season and maybe I did need an extra start or two, we always have those days off early where (McKeon) could bump me back a little bit (in the starting rotation) to get myself strengthened and ready to go.” BAT BRIGADE: Even if the Reds had lost Friday's split-squad game against the Texas Rangers, manager Jack McKeon would have liked what he saw in the middle innings.

        After Texas grabbed a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning, the Reds scored three runs in the bottom of the inning and tied the score in the fifth.

        “Last year we never would have scored four runs,” McKeon said. “Not that they quit. It's just that we didn't have any guys who would take the bull by the horns.”

        After Sean Casey and Hammonds singled in the fourth, Tucker scored them both by doubling to right field. Brian Johnson walked before Mark Lewis' RBI single.

        The Reds pulled even in the fifth as Jeff Branson doubled leading off, went to third on Casey's warning-track fly ball to center and scored on Dmitri Young's sacrifice fly.

        FURTHER IMPRESSIONS: Left-handed reliever Joey Eischen, whose job is to retire lefty hitters, didn't help his chances of making the Opening Day roster when he allowed an RBI double and a sacrifice fly to left-handers Rusty Greer and Lee Stevens, the first two hitters he faced in the fourth inning.

        “He's supposed to be a situational pitcher,” McKeon said.

        However, McKeon praised second baseman Pokey Reese's defense. Reese bobbled a ball for the second consecutive day, briefly fumbling Ivan Rodriguez's fourth-inning RBI groundout. But Reese also made quick, rangy plays in the first and fifth innings and stayed in the entire game for the second day in a row.

       

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