Sunday, May 23, 1999
Neagle will miss at least 1 start
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SAN DIEGO — Denny Neagle's weakened pitching shoulder will not cause him to be placed on the disabled list, but he will miss at least one turn in the rotation.
Monday's scheduled off day will enable the Reds to skip Neagle for at least one start. They won't need a fifth starter until next Saturday at Florida.
It's conceivable that Neagle could pitch that day or the next. He said Saturday that pitching in warm weather might help the weakened muscles in his shoulder loosen up more easily.
But Reds manager Jack McKeon said that he wouldn't rush into a decision regarding Neagle's status. Neagle said that he, the Reds' braintrust and the members of the team's medical staff will meet early this week to plan a course of action after the club returns to Cincinnati.
Neagle's 0-3 record and 8.17 ERA provide graphic evidence of his pitching problems.
Pitching coach Don Gullett said that if weakened muscles still trouble Neagle, which was confirmed Friday when the pitcher was examined at the Kerlan-Jobe clinic in Los Angeles, throwing won't strengthen him.
“That's my opinion. I'm not a doctor,” Gullett said. “He's been throwing since March. So it's back to the drawing board to get that group of muscles stronger. Then you start throwing.”
Asked if Neagle, who will resume an exercise program, could be sufficiently strengthened by next weekend, both McKeon and Gullett cited Monday's off day and repeated that an immediate decision doesn't have to be made.
Having healed the blister on his left middle finger, Steve Avery will start today's series finale here against San Diego. Steve Parris, Brett Tomko — whose sprained right ankle isn't expected to sideline him — and Pete Harnisch will start in the Los Angeles series at Cinergy Field.
If Neagle misses more than one start, the Reds' options include returning Jason Bere to the rotation or moving Dennys Reyes from the bullpen. Reyes, who entered Saturday night's game against San Diego with a glittering 1.80 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 20 innings spanning 20 appearances, started in 15 of his 33 major-league games before this year.
Summoning a pitcher from Triple-A would be an act of desperation. The Reds have no pitcher currently worthy of a promotion performing there.
Bere, whose 6.61 ERA in eight starts belies his 2-0 record, displayed improved consistency while throwing 80 pitches in “live” (full-speed) batting practice Saturday.
Gullett said he continued to try to fix Bere's pitching mechanics, specifically the right-hander's arm position, balance and momentum toward home plate.
“His stuff's there, but as Jack and I have told him, he's not giving himself or the team a chance if he can't get the ball over the plate,” Gullett said.
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