Wednesday, March 10, 1999
Reds try to run into more runs
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — Even before the Reds obtained Greg Vaughn to add thunder to their lineup, they tried to help themselves with some lightning.
The Reds think that speed can boost their run production this year, whether they steal more bases or take the extra base more often. At the top and bottom of the batting order, in the lineup and on the bench, Cincinnati should be faster — and therefore better, say the club's architects.
General Manager Jim Bowden had speed in mind when, on consecutive days last November, he acquired outfielders Michael Tucker from Atlanta and Mike Cameron from the Chicago White Sox. They, combined with holdovers such as Barry Larkin, Pokey Reese and Jeffrey Hammonds, gave the Reds a more mobile team.
Cinergy Field's artificial turf, a slicker playing surface than grass, almost requires the Reds to have speed to be successful. Before San Diego dropped Vaughn in the Reds' lap, Bowden and manager Jack McKeon figured they had to rely on pitching and defense — the latter of which demands decent quickness.
Moreover, running is the most time-honored method of generating offense. “Speed never slumps” is a favorite baseball maxim.
Said Bowden, “The increase in speed helps, No. 1, with range defensively, and No. 2, most importantly, by going from first to third on a single, scoring from first on a double, or scoring from second on a single ... (Speed's) going to give you another weapon, besides your bigger bats like Vaughn and (Sean) Casey and (Dmitri) Young and Barry.”
The projected batting order makes speed especially important.
“When you have hitters like Casey, Young and Vaughn, if a man's at first and the ball's hit in the gap, you want to score a run there,” Bowden said. “With Cameron, Reese, Barry, Hammonds, Tucker and (Chris) Stynes, those guys all can score from first base on a gapper and that's what you need.
“Because Sean and Dmitri
are doubles hitters right now. I think eventually they'll hit more home runs. But we want those doubles to be RBI. And that's what speed does. If you have a slower guy at first base and somebody hits one in the gap, it's now (runners at) second and third, and that run doesn't necessarily score.”
Stealing bases also should help the Reds put more runners into scoring position. Manager Jack McKeon has said that Cameron, the likely starter in center field, can steal as many as 40 to 50 bases even if he hits only .260 or so. Reese had 25 thefts as a rookie in 1997, and Larkin routinely steals that many when he's healthy.
They should help Cincinnati improve upon its 1998 total of 95 steals, which ranked ninth in the National League. Entering Tuesday night's exhibition vic tory against Texas, the Reds ranked fourth in the majors with six steals.
But McKeon said stealing must be done judiciously. He cited the 1997 team, which led the NL with 190 stolen bases but finished 76-86.
“I've always liked to run. But you have to have the personnel,” McKeon said. “You can't run yourself out of the game, trying to steal third base with nobody out and then you get thrown out and don't score. It's a matter of common sense.”
McKeon said he might occasionally give Cameron, Larkin and Reese the freedom to steal on their own. But Vaughn's presence might change that.
“Do you run with Vaughn coming up, when he can take you deep?” McKeon said. “Or do you run and steal and have them walk him?”
At least he has some options.
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