Thursday, May 13, 1999
Reds option Boone to Triple-A
3B sent down for lefty Villone
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Aaron Boone, the Reds' Opening Day third baseman, was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis after Wednesday night's game against Milwaukee.
The Reds had been expected to option either first baseman-outfielder Mark Sweeney or outfielder Michael Tucker to the minors to accommodate left-handed reliever Ron Villone, whose contract will be purchased on Friday.
“I've been around long enough to know that nothing's too surprising in this game,” said Boone, 26.
After starting Opening Day, Boone missed four games in the season's first week with a stomach ailment. Once he was healthy, he started six out of seven games but hit only .227, leading manager Jack McKeon to use Mark Lewis at third.
A pinch-hit groundout in Wednesday's seventh inning left Boone's average at .218, with one homer and three RBI.
“I feel like I'm on the verge (of finding his batting stroke),” Boone said. “I don't feel locked in yet, but at the same time I feel close. I'm just going to try to get into a groove and hopefully be back really soon.”
Reds General Manager Jim Bowden compared Boone's de motion to that of right-hander Brett Tomko, who remains integral to the Reds' plans.
“It's not a long-term decision, but a short-term (one), to get him up and going,” Bowden said of Boone.
Though Bowden typically makes personnel moves, he said he wanted McKeon and the coaching staff to make this decision, since they're the ones who determine game strategy and how players are used.
“It's an organization decision,” McKeon said. “We weighed a lot of options.”
Asked where Boone will play at Triple-A, since Carlos Baerga has received most of his playing time at third base, “That's (Indianapolis manager) Dave Miley's decision to make. He'll find a place for Boone, Baerga, (Jeff) Branson and all of them. They'll all play and they'll compete to come up here and help us.”
Speaking of Baerga, don't rule out a promotion for him yet. He was hitting .442 (19-for-43) with a homer and nine RBI this month through Tuesday, hiking his average to .306.
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