Thursday, April 22, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Wohlers looks good, could return by May 1
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Reliever Mark Wohlers continued toward a quick return to the major leagues.
The right-hander threw for about 71/2 minutes in the Reds' bullpen Wednesday and again impressed manager Jack McKeon and pitching coach Don Gullett. The “anxiety disorder” the Reds cited upon placing him on the disabled list when they acquired him Friday from Atlanta has ceased to be a factor.
Neither McKeon nor Gullett ruled out the possibility that Wohlers could join the club May 1, the first day he's eligible to be activated.
Gullett has worked on eliminating Wohlers' “recoil,” trying to improve his momentum toward home plate.
“He looks better and better every day,” McKeon said. “He has been throwing strikes all the time. I know there aren't any hitters up there, but I don't think that's going to have any bearing.”
Gullett said Wohlers will throw “live” batting practice Friday (pitching at or near full speed) to anybody who'll volunteer.
If that goes smoothly, Wohlers then would report to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Back soon?
General Manager Jim Bowden said reliever Stan Belinda, who's continuing his recovery from shoulder tendinitis, will pitch the first two innings of Indianapolis' game Friday night against Norfolk, the New York Mets' Triple-A team.
Bowden indicated earlier this week that the Reds would increase their pitching staff from 10 to 11 upon Belinda's activation from the disabled list. Wednesday, however, he was less specific about how roster room would be created. Outfielder Michael Tucker and first baseman-outfielder Mark Sweeney are the only position players with minor-league options.
Said Bowden, “We'll deal with it when he (Belinda) is ready.”
They'll try anything
First baseman Sean Casey, who has remained atop the National League batting lead virtually all season, hasn't received any extraordinary attention from opposing pitchers.
“People have thrown me in; people have thrown me (outside),” said Casey, who singled twice in four at-bats to lift his average to .458. “People have thrown me breaking stuff away, hard and in, hard and away. And I like that. I like to figure out how I can beat them. They're going to try to figure out ways, and I'm going to try to counter their ways.”
He hits, too
Maybe it's just a hot streak, but Pokey Reese has begun to establish some offensive consistency.
Known more for his fielding prowess, the Reds second baseman entered Wednesday with two or more hits in three of his last four games, including three hits Tuesday that equaled a career high. Reese was 7-for-16 in that span, lifting his average to .310. His 0-for-2 Wednesday dropped his average to .295, but that was still higher than his previous career high of .269 five years ago in Double-A.
Regular duty has helped Reese.
“Once you get an opportunity to be in there day in and day out, that makes you relax more,” hitting coach Denis Menke said.
Fast feet
An overlooked but helpful element of the Reds' six-run fourth inning was Dmitri Young's steal of third base.
It came after he and Eddie Taubensee walked following Greg Vaughn's two-run homer. With Aaron Boone squared to bunt, Young took off for third, which was left unguarded by the Mets infielders.
With Young at third, the Reds no longer had to give up an out by having Boone sacrifice. He walked and ultimately scored.
“That was a real heads-up play on Dmitri's part,” manager Jack McKeon said.
Up next
The three-game series with the Mets concludes tonight when right-hander Brett Tomko (0-0, 6.61 ERA) faces New York left-hander Al Leiter (0-2, 5.95).
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