Monday, May 17, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Sweeney optioned to Indianapolis
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Mark Sweeney's conviction that he's a major league-caliber player — which Reds General Manager Jim Bowden readily supported — offered scant consolation.
The same roster crunch that forced Sweeney to be demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis could keep him there longer than he wants, or deserves. Sweeney said that he asked Bowden if a trade could be made, but was told that no prospects for a deal existed.
“The scary thing is, you never know,” said Sweeney, a .298 career pinch hitter who hasn't played in the minors since August 1995.
Sweeney was sacrificed to make room for righthander Brett Tomko, who replaced injured Steve Avery (blister on left middle finger) to start Sunday's series finale against the San Diego Padres.
An unfortunate combination of limitations and flexibility doomed Sweeney. He was limited in his pinch-hitting role, in which he thrived (.357, 5-for-14, with two homers and five RBI). The first baseman-outfielder was Cincinnati's only position player not to start a game. And he was one of only two position players with minor-league options remaining, leaving him vulnerable.
The other non-pitcher with options was outfielder Michael Tucker, whose speed and defensive ability enhanced his value.
“There's probably four or five guys we'd like to send down ahead of (Sweeney),” Bowden said. “(But) we don't want to release anybody. It tells you why I've argued for a long time with the union that our present system is not right. It should allow us to keep the best 25 players and not make decisions based on who has options and who doesn't. But that's what happened in this situation.”
Cincinnati's perceived need for 12 pitchers entering the three-game series beginning tonight at Colorado's Coors Field, a hitter's haven, further sealed Sweeney's fate.
Sweeney, 29, was disappointed but composed.
“I don't mean any disrespect to this organization, because they're giving me an opportunity to be a major-league baseball player,” he said.
Sweeney could rejoin the Reds once Avery recovers and a pitcher is jettisoned. “We think he's going to be a major part of this team this year,” Bowden said.
But there's always the possibility that the Reds could decide to keep 12 pitchers. Besides, infielders Aaron Boone, Carlos Baerga and Jeff Branson also are impatiently awaiting promotions at Indy.
Arms race
A summary of the Reds' pregame throwing sessions, which yielded encouraging results:
• Lefthander Denny Neagle adjusted his delivery, stepping more directly toward the catcher's target instead of throwing slightly across his body from a “closed” motion.
Neagle said he noticed a marked improvement in his changeup, which resembled “the old parachute coming out and dropping like it's supposed to.”
“He looked like a different pitcher today,” Bowden said of Neagle, who is 0-3 with a 6.46 ERA.
“I thought he threw better today than he's thrown since he's been here,” pitching coach Don Gullett said of Neagle.
Neagle said he realized his flaw when he watched San Diego relief ace Trevor Hoffman excel with his changeup Friday night.
• Relievers Mark Wohlers and Stan Belinda will throw “live” (full-speed) batting practice on Tuesday in Denver after throwing impressively off a bullpen mound.
• Scott Winchester threw 20-25 pitches off a bullpen mound and might be ready to begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment as early as mid-June.
“There was no pain whatsoever,” said a euphoric Winchester, who hadn't thrown off a mound since undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair a tear in his rotator cuf last Aug. 18. Winchester, who was 3-6 with a 5.81 ERA for the Reds, had been rehabilitating his shoulder at the team's Sarasota, Fla., training complex.
Baerga stalled
Bowden said that other teams' interest in obtaining Baerga, a Triple-A infielder, remained lukewarm, though the former All-Star switch hitter has begun to hit more proficiently.
Bowden said Baerga, who could have asked for his release Saturday under terms of his contract, should stick with the Reds' Indianapolis affiliate unless a substantially better offer comes.
Etc.
• Sunday's paid attendance of 26,843 did not include 7,806 straight-A students and guests of D.A.R.E., the anti-drug advocacy group, which made the crowd appear larger.
Reds Stories
NBA draft lesson: Stay in school
Four jailed after fight during softball game
UC, Miami rank low in women's sports survey
LOCAL GOLF NOTES
'Racing Report' hits on all cylinders
Cauthen rooting for another Triple Crown winner
HIGH SCHOOL RESULTS
Reds page
