Thursday, June 03, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Villone to get start Saturday
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEW YORK — Brett Tomko hasn't been removed from the Reds' starting rotation, but he certainly appeared in danger of it Wednesday.
The Reds altered their pitching plans for the final two stops on their four-city road trip, indicating that Ron Villone will leave the bullpen to start Saturday at Kansas City.
Officially, the starters for Saturday and for next Tuesday's game at Minnesota remain undetermined. Tomko, Villone or Jason Bere could receive either assignment. “We're not being evasive,” manager Jack McKeon said. “We just haven't decided. We want to see what Kansas City looks like (through scouting reports and statistical matchups).”
But, in what may have been a slip — or a joke — pitching coach Don Gullett coyly patted his left arm when asked who would start Saturday, symbolizing the left-handed Villone.
Tomko would have started Sunday, but instead of using today's scheduled off-day to give each starter extra rest, the Reds will instead temporarily switch to a four-man rotation, which means that Pete Harnisch will pitch the Kansas City finale.
“We'll rest them at the All-Star break,” McKeon said. “When you're going good, ride 'em.”
Whoever doesn't start will assume the long relief role that propelled Villone into prominence. He pitched 4ô shutout innings last Friday at Florida before blanking New York for four more innings on Memorial Day, keeping him unscored upon in 13ô innings over five appearances.
By contrast, Tomko has allowed nine earned runs in 11ö innings in his last three starts. Bere was demoted to the bullpen but emerged to replace injured Denny Neagle and pitch 5ô shutout innings last Saturday to earn a victory.
“We may decide one of those guys will be better in the bullpen,” McKeon said. “He can come out of the bullpen and get a couple of wins (actually, one) like Villone did.”
DH candidates
Friday's start of interleague play means that McKeon can get some extra at-bats for one of his reserves.
“I haven't even thought about it,” he said. “I have a lot to choose from.”
No kidding. McKeon obviously will use a right-handed batter when Kansas City left-hander Jose Rosado opens the series Friday, which represents a potential opportunity for Jeffrey Hammonds or switch-hitter Dmitri Young.
Since Young is batting .108 right-handed and .300 left-handed, Hammonds appears to be a more logical choice. On the other hand, Hammonds is only 1-for-11 lifetime against Rosado, though that one hit was a home run and just one of those 10 outs was a strikeout.
Against right-handers Jeff Suppan and Jay Witasick on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, McKeon could install Michael Tucker or Young — though one of them will start in right field — or backup first baseman Hal Morris.
Brian Johnson is 3-for-5 with two homers against Suppan, but he's frozen on the bench as the backup catcher. Rules prohibit the designated hitter from moving to a position, so Johnson could not DH and move behind the plate if the Reds needed to replace Eddie Taubensee.
Beginning Monday at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, where the Reds will face the Minnesota Twins, McKeon could opt for Greg Vaughn in the DH spot, preventing the left fielder from playing on the Dome's artificial turf with his sore knees.
Up next
An off-day at Kansas City. The Reds begin a three-game series at Kauffman Stadium on Friday.
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