Tuesday, April 06, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Tomko's struggles a matter of form
Brett Tomko said bad mechanics, not troublesome nerves, doomed him Monday against the San Francisco Giants.
Tomko, making his first Opening Day start, labored through 3ô innings and 85 pitches. He allowed six runs and eight hits while walking three (one intentionally) and striking out one.
Tomko emphasized that whatever's wrong with his delivery is minor. But he wants to study videotapes of past performances, because he didn't sound completely sure of what's troubling him.
“I know it's something mechanically that's off. Because the ball's not doing what I want it to do,” he said. “I'd try to hit a spot, and I'd miss by a foot. That doesn't just happen magically.”
Tomko wasn't sharp in his last two spring outings. He allowed 10 runs and 12 hits in 10ö innings.
“It's something I have to work on this week and get right before my next start,” said Tomko, who received the Opening Day assignment after Pete Harnisch's back spasms sidelined him for 10 days. “It's embarrassing to go out there and do that.”
Welcome novelty
Mark Sweeney's three-run homer off Giants starter Mark Gardner was a rare sight for the Reds, who had only two pinch-hit homers last season.
Then again, excelling off the bench was nothing new for Sweeney, who hit .276 (29-for-105) as one of the NL's top pinch-hitters over the last two years.
“I was just trying to hit something in the air so I could score (Eddie Taubensee) from third base,” Sweeney said. “It's something small, but when you think the right way, sometimes good things happen.”
Harnisch's back
Harnisch reported no problems with his balky back after pitching six innings in a Single-A exhibition game Sunday in Sarasota, Fla., leaving him ready to start Friday night at St. Louis.
“It's doing pretty good. I'm very happy with it,” said Harnisch, who threw 85 pitches while allowing six hits, two runs and one walk while striking out six. “I'd say it's behind us.”
Harnisch didn't pitch for 10 days after suffering back spasms March 21.
Lefty signed
The Reds signed left-handed reliever Ron Villone, who has made 157 appearances in four years, to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Villone's best season was 1997, when he was 1-0 with a 3.42 ERA in 50 games for Milwaukee.
Hairy Barry
For the first time in his 13 years with the Reds, Barry Larkin took the field for Opening Day with a mustache.
The team captain was just one of the 13 Reds who wore facial hair Monday, the first Cincinnati players to do so in a regular-season game since 1902.
Right fielder Dmitri Young was the most obvious Monday, with his dye-job gold hair and long, funky yellow goatee. Left fielder Greg Vaughn wore his usual bushy but well-cropped goatee.
Tomko's goatee added some years to his youngish face, and Taubensee added a goatee to go with his offseason muscle building.
Other goatees: catcher Brian Johnson, outfielder Michael Tucker, second baseman Pokey Reese and pitchers Gabe White, Harnisch and John Hudek.
Rookie pitcher Scott Williamson had a thin beard, and outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds sported a mustache.
Pokey's day
Reese didn't have a couple dozen reporters gathered around his locker Monday. That was a good thing.
Last year, Reese was the story of Opening Day. Subbing for Larkin and making his first Opening Day start, Reese committed a month's worth of errors: four.
“(Manager) Jack (McKeon) told me today not to worry about what happened last year,” Reese said. “You can't dwell on it. I made four errors. Things like that happen.”
Reese, now the Reds second baseman, was flawless in six chances in the field.
Sign him up
Reds assistant general manager Doc Rodgers didn't even know Jose Valdez's name, but he knew he wanted to sign him.
Valdez was one of the players Jose Rijo had try out for Rodgers during his trip to Rijo's camp in the Dominican Republic.
Valdez, 20, spent two years in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization as an outfielder.
“He came to Jose and Jose said, "Can you pitch?'” Rodgers said.
He can. He throws between 92 and 94 mph.
“He still has to learn some things,” Rodgers said. “But we'll have him in Single-A by midseason.”
Walking man
San Francisco left fielder Barry Bonds established a National League record by drawing his 290th career intentional walk when Tomko put him on base in the fourth inning. Bonds broke a tie with Henry Aaron, who still holds the major-league mark with 293.
Excitement is back, say Reds fans
GIANTS 11, REDS 8
Box score - How runs scored
Casey's good gap-to-gap, ear-to-ear Paul Daugherty column
Young's makeover more than hair color Tim Sullivan column
Cameron makes good 1st impression
No relief in sight in opener
Vaughn still waiting to get his groove on
Notebook: Tomko's struggles a matter of form
Hayes enters with bat ready
Parade garb reflects team's
Fans come first on Opening Day
It's quiet opener for Schott
Marge's last Opening Day as bosslady Laura Pulfer column
Going, gone, gone! Pigeons make fast stadium exit Cliff Radel column
Stealing base easier than parking car
