Wednesday, April 14, 1999
Neagle's return means somebody has to go
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CHICAGO — The flip side of adding Denny Neagle to the Reds' roster is subtracting someone. Selecting whom to sacrifice could be an extremely difficult decision.
Unless he suffers a surprising setback in his recovery from weakened shoulder muscles, Neagle will join the starting rotation Sunday and pitch the finale of a three-game series against Pittsburgh at Cinergy Field.
The Reds play four times before that date, beginning with today's resumption of a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Each game could influence the team's braintrust.
“The move we make will be determined by who's being used, who's not being used, who's doing well or who might benefit from going down and playing or pitching for a little while,” General Manager Jim Bowden said.
Lacking any excess infielders or catchers, the Reds know that a pitcher or an outfielder will have to go. They just aren't sure which one. Scott Williamson and Dennys Reyes are the only pitchers with minor-league options. Michael Tucker and first baseman/outfielder Mark Sweeney are the only logical position players who could be optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. (Third baseman Aaron Boone, center fielder Mike Cameron and first baseman Sean Casey have options, too, but their status as regulars is secure.)
Each of the choices the Reds will face has drawbacks, which is why furrowed brows, if not frayed nerves, will be seen around the team's clubhouse and offices later this week.
Drop a pitcher? If anything, the Reds' 10-man staff might be too small. Trim a position player? OK, but Bowden and manager Jack McKeon are reluctant to dismantle the impressive bench they've built.
Events often influence these decisions. An injury or extremely poor performances between now and Sunday could settle matters. “You don't know what the heck is going to happen,” McKeon said. “We've got plenty of time for that.”
Bowden pointed out that the recent durability of the starting pitchers, who have worked into the seventh inning for five games in a row, could affect the decision.
“If our four starters continue to go into the sixth or seventh inning, there won't be a need for 11 pitchers; there'll be a need for 10,” Bowden said. “As I've said all along, we'll go to 11 when we need 11 and we'll go to 12 when we need 12.”
The Reds are considering demoting players they'd rather keep:
• Williamson. McKeon and pitching coach Don Gullett know they must nurture the rookie right-hander's confidence, even as he struggles to reclaim the effectiveness he displayed in spring training. Sending him to Indianapolis could further his apprenticeship as Cincinnati grooms him for the closer's role, but the Reds think he can gain decent on-the-job training in the majors.
• Reyes. He's listed here only because he has a minor-league option. Otherwise, it makes no sense to drop a hard-throwing left-hander who has been tough to hit (2.70 ERA, two hits, one walk and six strikeouts in 3ô innings).
• Tucker/Sweeney. Both have appeared only as pinch hitters so far. McKeon admitted that finding playing time for them is challenging.
Once the Reds solve the Neagle problem, they'll get to do it again in a couple of weeks when right-hander Stan Belinda leaves the disabled list.
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