Wednesday, June 16, 1999REDS NOTEBOOK
LaRue shows getting to majors isn't easy
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati EnquirerJason LaRue's major-league arrival might have been easier as a ballplayer than as a passenger.
The rookie catcher, promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace injured Brian Johnson (right knee), was expected to arrive at Cinergy Field in the middle of the Reds' series opener Monday night against the New York Mets. But a succession of traveling snafus kept LaRue from reaching Cincinnati until midnight.
LaRue's saga began in Durham, N.C., where he received word that he was being recalled. His trip became adventuresome immediately upon his departure for the Raleigh-Durham airport:
• The car LaRue was riding in to the airport got a flat tire. The driver, a clubhouse attendant, didn't know how to fix it. LaRue did it himself.
• Bad weather in Atlanta forced that airport to close temporarily, thus delaying LaRue's connecting flight to Cincinnati.
• Understandably, LaRue felt a little hungry by the time he landed in Cincinnati. But he and his wife, Heather, couldn't find an open restaurant.
“In a sense, it was the most exciting point in my life — and then I couldn't believe it, because it seemed like the worst things that could happen when you get called up were happening,” LaRue said.
Still, LaRue was plainly thrilled as he unpacked his equipment bag in the Reds clubhouse.
“It's what I dreamed of,” LaRue said Tuesday. “I really can't describe the feeling I've got inside of me. I'm just super-excited.”
LaRue probably won't play as often as Johnson did, although he did replace Eddie Taubensee in Tuesday's blowout loss, going hitless in two at-bats.
“I'll try to break him in gradually,” manager Jack McKeon said.
LaRue, 25, can use his spare time to reacquaint himself with Cincinnati's pitchers, most of whom he met in spring training.
“It's been a while since I've caught most of them, so I need to catch (pitchers in the bullpen) to make up for the lost time, just see what their pitches are doing,” LaRue said.
Johnson update
The Reds announced that the arthroscopic surgery Johnson underwent Tuesday morning to remove loose bodies of cartilage in his knee went successfully. Johnson, hitting .275 with four homers and 15 RBI in 27 games, is expected to return after the All-Star break.All-Star voting
Reds shortstop Barry Larkin widened his lead over New York's Rey Ordonez in the latest returns of fans' All-Star balloting while Sean Casey remained a distant third among first basemen.Larkin, who led second-place Ordonez by 367 votes last week, now is 2,296 votes ahead of Ordonez, 207,382 to 205,086.
Casey, who has been at or near the top of the list of the NL batting leaders all season, had 92,493 votes. He trails St. Louis' Mark McGwire (407,960) and Houston's Jeff Bagwell (253,200).
Greg Vaughn is the only other Red among the leaders, ranking 17th among outfielders with 64,675 votes.
Balloting for the game, to be played July 13 at Boston's Fenway Park, ends June 27.
Up next
Steve Parris will make his second attempt to become the first Reds pitcher since 1995 to win his first five decisions when he faces New York in today's series finale.Parris (4-0, 4.83 ERA) will confront Mets right-hander Masato Yoshii (5-5, 5.13). John Smiley, Xavier Hernandez and Mike Jackson each began '95 with 5-0 records.
All aboard
Based on the success of the shuttle service that delivered fans to Cinergy Field during last weekend's series against Cleveland, the buses will run for today's Business Day special.Shuttles will be available at four Metro Park & Ride locations: Western Hills Plaza, Forest Park, Fields Ertel and Anderson Township. Fares are $3 (round-trip) or $1.50 (one-way). Buses will leave at 11:30a.m. from each location and will return immediately after the game. For more information, call 621-4455.
Reds Stories
METS 11, REDS 3
McKeon fights Mets' fashion
Box, runs
REDS NOTEBOOK