Saturday, April 10, 1999REDS NOTEBOOK
Neagle's debut April 18
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati EnquirerST. LOUIS — Barring further setbacks, Denny Neagle will make his regular-season Reds debut on Sunday, April 18 against Pittsburgh at Cinergy Field.
Neagle said Friday that he discussed this with General Manager Jim Bowden and manager Jack McKeon. The left-hander still plans to make one more minor-league rehabilitation appearance to test the strength of his recovering shoulder, which will be Tuesday for Triple-A Indianapolis against Columbus.
That would keep Neagle on the five-day rotation he has maintained. His start against Pittsburgh also would allow the Reds to avoid skipping or moving anybody in their existing four-man rotation.
As of now, Brett Tomko and Jason Bere will finish the St. Louis series, with Steve Avery, Pete Harnisch and Tomko pitching in Chicago (a scheduled off-day separates Avery's start from Harnisch's). Bere and Avery would pitch the first two games against Pittsburgh before Neagle's turn arrives.
McKeon said some thought was given to separating the two left-handers, Avery and Neagle, in the rotation. But the Reds' brain trust liked the smoothness of Neagle's merger into the starting group.
Neagle, who pitched 5ö creditable innings Thursday in Indianapolis' season opener, said he can't wait to return.
“This (inactivity) is killing me,” said Neagle, who won 52 games over the last three seasons. “There's only so much you can do for moral support for your teammates.”
Neagle, 30, said the most encouraging aspect of Thursday's outing was his ability to maintain his velocity at 86-89 mph through most of his 78-pitch effort. “That's right where I am in the middle of the season,” he said.
Scare avoided
At least five players — catchers Eddie Taubensee and Brian Johnson, first baseman Hal Morris and pitchers Steve Avery and John Hudek — live in a Montgomery complex near where Friday morning's tornado wreaked its most violent havoc. But their families telephoned them to say that they escaped harm.The Reds left Cincinnati late Thursday afternoon.
“Some of the wives went to the shelter where they were helping people,” Morris said. “They said it was pretty rough.”
Taubensee didn't know about the tornado when his wife, Rene, called him in the morning, but felt relieved afterward. “Apparently she didn't hear the (warning) sirens,” he said.
Lineup changes
Taking a cue from past performances, McKeon replaced center fielder and leadoff batter Mike Cameron with Jeffrey Hammonds for the first time this season.Hammonds entered the game hitting .385 (5-for-13) against Cardinals starter Darren Oliver, compared to 0-for-6 for Cameron.
McKeon also decided to give third baseman Aaron Boone another day to recover from his gastroenteritis (an enlarged colon caused by a viral infection).
McKeon offered a sneak preview toward Sunday by announcing that Morris will start against Donovan Osborne, since the first baseman is hitting .462 (6-for-13) in his career off the Cardinals lefty.
New look
Players reveled in their sharp-looking black batting practice uniforms, featuring red numerals set off by white trim. “They look awesome,” shortstop Barry Larkin said.But the Reds won't get their wish to don the mesh tops during a game. Major League rules prevent it. The most they can do is to take steps toward wearing the tops next year by asking for permission by May to have them manufactured as regular (non-mesh) jerseys.
Belinda update
Right-hander Stan Belinda plans to test his shoulder — which put him on the disabled list — by throwing off a bullpen mound Sunday.“We'll take it from there,” said Belinda, who has endured similar tendinitis around this time in each of the last five seasons. “The arm's definitely responded well. I know what I can do when I'm healthy. That's the key, knowing and trying to be patient. They know what I can do when I'm healthy, so that helps.”
Bell's new job
Minor league field coordinator Buddy Bell will manage the U.S. team that will compete in the Pan American Games this summer in Winnipeg, Canada.The Cincinnati native managed the Detroit Tigers from 1996-98.
Assistant General Manager Darrell “Doc” Rodgers also will be closely involved with the Pan Am team by serving on the player selection committee.
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