Thursday, May 06, 1999REDS NOTEBOOK
Parris to miss turn after mediocre start
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati EnquirerWith three scheduled off-days in the next eight days, beginning today, the Reds will skip Steve Parris at least once through the starting rotation.
The Reds aren't unhappy with Parris, who has replaced Brett Tomko in the rotation. Parris allowed three runs and five hits in 5ô innings while receiving no decision in Monday's 4-3 victory over Arizona. But he's technically Cincinnati's No.5 starter.
Pitching coach Don Gullett said he and manager Jack McKeon discussed the possibility of moving Jason Bere into the bullpen instead of Parris. Bere has a 6.39 ERA with 21 walks in 25ô innings. In his last four starts, he has issued 14 walks while yielding 12 earned runs, spanning 14 innings.
But Gullett thinks Bere, who has worked hard to overcome serious elbow surgery in 1996, would be better off continuing to pitch.
“In his case, with what he's done the last couple of years, rehabilitating and coming back, for him to sit out a start or two would hurt his progress,” Gullett said Wednesday.
“By the same token, he has to realize that he's getting an opportunity to pitch, so it's a matter of him getting his act together and throwing more strikes. It's not a knock.”
In Gullett's analysis, Bere might be focusing too much on pitching to the edges of the strike zone. “I think he's possibly trying to pick too much, getting behind, and when he has to throw a strike and the hitter's ahead on the count, it's inevitable he's going to hit the ball.”
Bere pitched 4ô innings, allowing four runs and eight hits, in Tuesday night's game against Arizona.
With the change, Pete Harnisch, Denny Neagle and Bere will pitch this weekend's series against the Chicago Cubs. Steve Avery and Harnisch will start the pair of games next Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively, against Milwaukee.
He hits, too
Besides throwing a complete-game four-hitter, Arizona's Randy Johnson lined a second-inning RBI double Wednesday that broke a season-long hitless streak of 17 at-bats. It was his second career extra-base hit and his third lifetime RBI.“Every squirrel finds an acorn,” said Johnson, who spent most of his 12-year career watching designated hitters bat for him with Seattle in the American League.
Pokey's OK
Unaffected by the strained left hip flexor he suffered Tuesday night, Pokey Reese started at second base Wednesday, as usual.“It's something you have to play through,” said Reese, who hurt himself in Tuesday's first inning. when he dove for Luis Gonzalez's base hit. Reese kept playing but left the game in the sixth inning.
Young better
Outfielder Dmitri Young, who hasn't played since bruising the ribs on his right side Friday in Atlanta, said after Wednesday's game that he felt much better.“Friday needs to hurry up and get here,” said Young, who must sit through today's scheduled off-day.
Young was injured when he collided with the Turner Stadium wall in pursuit of John Smoltz's eighth-inning double.
Streak sustained
Arizona's Luis Gonzalez doubled to left field in his final at-bat in the eighth inning, lengthening his club-record hitting streak to 19 games. It's the longest streak in the majors this season. The left fielder had a 23-game streak with Houston in 1997.600 club
After receiving congratulations for earning his 600th managerial victory, McKeon made a casual but accurate observation.“I've had a lot of clubs in transition,” McKeon said, calling himself the “turnarounder.”
In fact, McKeon was asked to provide stability with every club he managed. He never inherited a contender or even a team that was on the brink of winning.
His first team, the Kansas City Royals (1973), were in only their fifth year of existence when he led them to an 88-74 record.
The Oakland A's (1977) were a mess, as owner Charlie O. Finley had traded or sold all of his stars by then, except Vida Blue.
San Diego (1988) had fallen from its 1984 perch as National League champions and was 16-30 under Larry Bowa. McKeon, the team's general manager, added field duties and recorded a 67-48 mark the rest of the way.
The Reds (1997) were in fourth place with a 43-56 record when McKeon succeeded Ray Knight.
Etc.
All-Star ballots became available at Cinergy Field. Every player in the Reds' Opening Day lineup appears on each ballot.• Put on your boogie shoes! The Reds announced that K.C. and the Sunshine Band will perform after the July 30 game against San Francisco. No separate admission will be charged for the concert.
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