Tuesday, May 18, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Bere's spot in the rotation on the line
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DENVER — Jason Bere will need a strong performance tonight against the Colorado Rockies to maintain hopes of staying in the starting rotation.
After beginning the year as Cincinnati's No. 3 starter, Bere is in danger of being bumped from the five-man contingent. Steve Parris and Brett Tomko appeared to forge ahead of him in the pecking order with their impressive starts against San Diego last weekend.
Bere (2-0, 6.53 ERA) has struggled with his control, walking 25 batters in 30ô innings. He has failed to last past the sixth inning in his last five starts, prompting the Reds to replace him with Parris last Saturday.
Pitching coach Don Gullett, whose job involves bolstering pitchers' confidence, retained faith in Bere. “There's nothing wrong with his stuff,” Gullett said. “He's just not throwing enough strikes.”
Though Coors Field would seem to be the worst place for a faltering pitcher to try to revive his fortunes, Gullett said that Bere's emphasis on throwing fastballs and changeups might help him. Typically, the thin air here diminishes the effectiveness of curveballs.
Even dozen
The Reds' desire to arm themselves here with a 12-man pitching staff implied that they'll demote or release one of them later in the week or shortly afterward.
But manager Jack McKeon said that sticking with a dozen pitchers is a possibility.
“Why not? It's better to have too many than too few,” he said. “This way it gives us an extra right-hander, an extra left-hander and an extra starter.”
McKeon isn't fretting about which pitcher he'll trim if that becomes necessary. “As is always the case, injuries are a factor,” he said.
Sexton finds role
Chris Sexton isn't a star, but the St. Xavier High School and Miami University graduate has appeared in nine of the Colorado Rockies' 12 games since they promoted him from Triple-A Colorado Springs.
“I know what my role is,” said Sexton, who's batting .176 (3-for-17) with one homer and four RBI. “I feel like I'm part of the team. I feel like I'm contributing, and that's what it's all about.”
Sexton has moved from his natural position of shortstop to play left and center field. “It's not something that feels foreign to me,” said Sexton, who played center at Miami. “I've always felt comfortable out there. I'm able to use that to my advantage.”
Reflecting his reserve status, Sexton still commutes from Colorado Springs, which is an hour's drive away, though he stays in Denver when the Rockies play an afternoon game following a night game.
“I'm waiting to feel things out,” he said. “I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket right now. I'm confident with what's going on, but by the same token I don't want to take anything for granted.”
Like most Cincinnatians who reach the majors, Sexton, who spent 1993-94 in the Reds' system before they traded him to Colorado for right-hander Marcus Moore early in the 1995 season, felt a little extra excitement at facing the team he once adored.
“Oh, man. I couldn't get enough of the Reds,” said Sexton, who cited Joe Morgan, Eric Davis and Barry Larkin as his favorite players.
Looking ahead
When the Reds get around to naming their starters for this weekend's series in San Diego, they'll do so with an eye on the subsequent three-game foray against Los Angeles May 25-27 at Cinergy Field.
Since the Dodgers use a primarily righthanded-hitting lineup featuring the likes of Eric Karros, Gary Sheffield and Raul Mondesi, the Reds want to start at least two righties against them.
Of course, the pitchers' availability will depend on who pitches at San Diego. As of now, Friday's and Sunday's starters are undetermined.
Possibilities for Friday include Parris, Tomko and Steve Avery, depending on the condition of his left middle finger.
In the lineup
Dmitri Young, who started last Friday and Saturday before being replaced Sunday by Michael Tucker, returned to Cincinnati's starting lineup in right field. McKeon is continuing to divide playing time among Young, Tucker and, to a lesser extent, Jeffrey Hammonds to keep each relatively sharp. He'll scrap that plan if or when one catches fire.
Defying percentages, McKeon started left-handed-batting catcher Eddie Taubensee against Colorado lefty Bobby Jones. McKeon explained that Taubensee has worked more extensively with starting pitcher Pete Harnisch than Brian Johnson had.
Etc
When Sean Casey flew out to center field in the first inning, it marked the first time this season that he had gone five plate appearances without reaching base safely. That stretch grew to six when Casey lined out to left in the third inning.
• Colorado's Larry Walker lengthened his hitting streak to 18 games with a first-inning single.
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