Friday, April 02, 1999Both catchers will see action
But not in a strict platoon
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati EnquirerPORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Reds manager Jack McKeon stopped just short of saying Thursday he will use catchers Eddie Taubensee and Brian Johnson in a strict lefty-righty platoon, “though it could end up close to being that way.”
Mostly, McKeon wants to make sure each plays enough to stay sharp early in the season. He's open to the possibility that one could seize the job, at least for an extended period. Historically, both Taubensee and Johnson have been streaky hitters.
“If somebody gets hot, we're going to stay with him,” McKeon said.
Taubensee, a left-handed batter, won't necessarily face every right-handed pitcher. “We found (that) out last year by wearing Eddie out every day,” McKeon said. Statistics proved McKeon's point, since Taubensee hit .307 before the All-Star break and .237 afterwhile playing a career-high 130 games.
Through Thursday, Johnson was hitting .386 in 15 games with one homer and seven RBI, compared to Taubensee's .255 with no homers and 10 RBI.
DRESS REHEARSAL: Told last week that he could seek a major-league opportunity with another organization, infielder Jeff Branson has agreed to begin the season with Triple-A Indianapolis.
But his goal remains intact.
“I'll just go down and do my job and force them to call me up,” said Branson, a seven-year major-league veteran. “That's the plan right now unless something comes up before Opening Day in Indy (next Thursday).”
Until Thursday, the Reds will allow Branson to work out with them during the season-opening homestand against San Francisco.
Should another team express interest in Branson, the Reds have 72 hours to trade him, release him or promote him to Cincinnati.
DRESS REHEARSAL II: Like Branson, Carlos Baerga will take a detour to Cinergy Field on his way to Indianapolis.
When Baerga joins the Triple-A club, he'll find himself playing third base, where he has appeared only sporadically in his nine-year major-league career. However, Baerga said he played third the last three offseasons in the Puerto Rican winter league. He also spent the entire season at third with Triple-A Las Vegas in 1989.
“You're better off putting him at third base because you're looking for more range at second,” McKeon said.
HARNISCH UPDATE: Repeating that his lower back trouble was “not an issue,” scratched Opening Day starter Pete Harnisch prepared to pitch in a minor league exhibition game Sunday at the Reds' Sarasota training facility.
Harnisch allowed eight runs in three innings Wednesday against Philadelphia, prompting the Reds to replace him with Brett Tomko for Monday's game against San Francisco. Harnisch will instead make his 1999 debut Friday at St. Louis.
“It's not 100 percent, but it's pretty close,” Harnisch said of his back. “I'm going to keep treating it a little bit just to make sure, but it's not an issue for me.”
Harnisch said he intends to throw 75-to-85 pitches in his Sunday assignment. “After that, I'd expect to be on a normal (between-starts) program,” he said.
BY THE NUMBERS: Right-hander Scott Williamson, the lone rookie on Cincinnati's Opening Day roster, was offered the chance to exchange the No.66 he has worn all spring. He was offered 48 and 99. He took 48. “When you're a rookie, you don't have many choices,” Williamson said.
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