Monday, March 22, 1999
Spasms shorten Harnisch's outing
'I don't think it's anything major'
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — Officials will try to relax during today's scheduled day off, though Pete Harnisch's back spasms could cause worry.
Nagging pain on Harnisch's left side limited him to four innings in Sunday's 5-3 loss to Texas. Harnisch had hoped to work at least one more inning.
Harnisch expects to make his next start, scheduled for Friday against Philadelphia.
“I don't think it's anything that major,” Harnisch said after giving up six hits and one run. “If I was pitching tomorrow, I feel like I could. But it is there and it is annoying.”
What's potentially annoying to the Reds is that they also must monitor Jason Bere, who seems to have overcome 1996 elbow surgery but won't prove it until he works deep into the regular season; Steve Avery, who hasn't thrown more than 135 innings in any of the last three years; and Denny Neagle, who's trying to strengthen the muscles in the back of his throwing shoulder.
Unwilling to see Harnisch hurt himself worse or injure his arm by altering his delivery, manager Jack McKeon was concerned enough to remove him against his wishes.
“He was fighting us to go back out,” McKeon said. “But we said, "Don't take a chance.'”
Said Harnisch, “I didn't think it was going to get a whole lot worse ... My arm felt good. But whatever. It's no problem.”
Harnisch described his pain as a “grabbing” sensation which he first felt last Wednesday, the day after his previous start. The discomfort returned when he threw on the side Friday, but he felt fine Saturday and Sunday until he warmed up in the bullpen.
At least Harnisch didn't get clobbered as he did last Tuesday, when Detroit ravaged him for eight hits and 11 earned runs in 2ö innings.
“I didn't think I threw great, but obviously it was an improvement over the last time out,” he said. “There were some positive things ... So I feel good about that.”
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