Wednesday, May 19, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Wohlers gaining control in BP
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DENVER — Mark Wohlers took another step toward becoming a full-fledged pitcher again, displaying only limited wildness while throwing “live” (full-speed) batting practice Tuesday.
“The key is, he's able to make adjustments now and he understands what he needs to do,” Reds pitching coach Don Gullett said of Wohlers, who threw 23 strikes in 42 pitches to Brian Johnson, Chris Stynes and Dmitri Young. “Not like before, when he was a runaway freight train and got confused.”
“Sometimes,” Wohlers said, “it would take me a couple of days or outings to adjust.”
Wohlers and fellow reliever Stan Belinda, who also looked strong in his live BP stint, will repeat the exercise Friday in San Diego. After that, the Reds will determine whether the right-handers are ready to test themselves against minor-league competition. Both remain on the disabled list, Wohlers with an “anxiety disorder” and Belinda with shoulder tendinitis.
Wohlers' stint drew more attention, given his prodigious talent and confounding downfall. He threw his curveball, slider and split-finger fastball effectively, though he twice fired fastballs in the dirt, well short of bullpen catcher Mark Berry.
Wohlers, who was increasingly sharp in his three recent bullpen sessions, rated this effort as his best against live hitters, whom he has faced twice — not counting his disastrous May 2 exhibition appearance for Triple-A Indianapolis.
“When I'm free and easy and loose, the ball jumps toward the end, as opposed to when I'm trying to muscle up and throw the ball 200 miles an hour,” he said.
Pitching picture
Cincinnati's pitching outlook could become clearer today if left-hander Steve Avery throws on the side to test his left middle finger. The Reds still weren't sure whether the blister on Avery's finger has healed enough to allow him to throw with any true force.
Regardless of Avery's status, Gullett said it's a “safe bet” that Brett Tomko, coming off his 8ö shutout innings Sunday against San Diego, will face the Padres again Friday, though an official announcement still hasn't been made. Pete Harnisch definitely will start Saturday, while Avery and Steve Parris remain candidates to start Sunday's series finale.
Pitching picture II
Given the lingering uncertainty surrounding Avery and the doubts surrounding Jason Bere and Denny Neagle, General Manager Jim Bowden supported the notion of maintaining the pitching staff at its current 12-man level.
“Right now it's best for the team to have 12,” Bowden said from his Cinergy Field office. “When we get to the point when we're better off with 11, we'll go with 11.”
Junior varsity
That was quite an infield the Indianapolis Indians used Monday night at Ottawa. Cincinnati's Triple-A affiliate started Mark Sweeney at first base, Carlos Baerga at second, Jeff Branson at shortstop and Aaron Boone at third.
Among them, they've played in 2,373 major-league games.
Wonderful Walker
Colorado right fielder Larry Walker has plenty of impressive credentials, including the 1997 National League Most Valuable Award, last year's batting title, three All-Star Game appearances and the major-league high .411 average he took into Tuesday's game.
More than all that, McKeon likes Walker's style.
“I love the way he plays,” McKeon said. “He's aggressive, he hustles, he runs everything out. It doesn't make any difference what the score is. If any kids want an example of how to play, watch him.”
Up next
Left-handers from different ends of the success spectrum oppose each other in today's series finale.
Cincinnati's Denny Neagle (0-3, 6.46 ERA), who believes that an adjustment in his pitching motion will help improve his changeup, faces Colorado's Brian Bohanon (6-1, 3.31), who is one victory away from matching the career high he reached last year with the Mets and Dodgers.
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