Saturday, June 19, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
McKeon: Wife's doing well
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Sounding upbeat, Reds manager Jack McKeon reported that his wife, Carol, was given a “very, very favorable” prognosis after undergoing breast cancer surgery Thursday.
“She's doing great,” McKeon said Friday upon returning to Cinergy Field. He left Cincinnati after Wednesday afternoon's game and missed Thursday's game to be with his wife in North Carolina. “Medical technology is something. I was talking to the doctors this morning, and they were very happy. They thought they got everything they needed to get.”
McKeon said Carol was expected to leave the hospital Friday.
Because the procedure went so smoothly, McKeon was free to monitor the Reds' progress in their series opener against Milwaukee, which they won 2-0 as bench coach Ken Griffey Sr. ran the team.
While he was with Carol at the hospital, McKeon grew nervous as constant scoring updates on television showed that the Reds led 1-0. “I hate those one-run games. "Come on, boys, add to it,'” he said.
The Reds welcomed back McKeon with what he called one of their best all-around efforts of the season.
“We executed well, kept the score close and delivered when we needed to,” McKeon said.
Larkin's surge
A six-game hitting streak has lifted Barry Larkin's average to .300 for the first time since the second game of the season.
Larkin, who's hitting .474 (9-for-19) during his streak, capped his 2-for-4 effort Friday with an RBI single in the Reds' five-run seventh inning.
The 14-year veteran entered 1999 with an even .300 career average.
Pitchers' foe
Sean Casey said he hasn't noticed a dramatic difference in the way opposing pitchers approach him.
“Sometimes, I'll see a difference during a series,” said Casey, who has led the National League in hitting since June 6. “But it's a game of adjustments. If you can't make adjustments, you're not going to be successful.”
Level head
Though Scott Williamson leads all NL rookie pitchers in major statistical categories, the Reds right-hander won't allow himself to dwell on the possibility of winning the NL's Rookie of the Year award.
“I'd be excited as heck,” said Williamson, whose candidacy already has been trumpeted by McKeon. “But I never really thought about it. I'm just trying to do the best I can and let awards and all that stuff happen, if they do happen.”
Williamson, who tops all NL rookies in strikeouts (54), victories (six) and winning percentage (6-2, .750), recognized the dangers of losing a healthy perspective.
“A lot of times, I think people that get caught up in those things start slumping a little bit and put too much pressure on themselves,” said Williamson, whose seven saves lead all major-league rookies. “It's like trying to get to the big leagues: You can't really try to press yourself to get there. You just have to let it happen.”
Etc.
Though Eddie Taubensee, a left-handed batter, started Friday night against Brewers lefty Rafael Roque, McKeon said he would play the percentages and give rookie Jason LaRue his first major-league start behind the plate Sunday against Milwaukee lefty Jim Abbott.
• The starting time of Wednesday's game at Arizona has been moved back a half-hour to 10:35 p.m. to accommodate ESPN's telecast.
• The Reds have signed three more selections from this month's amateur draft: catcher Ryan Lundquist (eighth round), first baseman Kyle Moncrief (17th) and right-hander Carlos Hines (24th). The Reds have signed 29 of their 50 picks, including nine of the first 12 and 16 of the top 20.
• Aaron Boone was 1-for-8 this year with runners on third base and fewer than two outs when he singled in Eddie Taubensee from third to ignite the five-run seventh.
Up next
Ron Villone will make his third start since leaving the bullpen and his first against one of his former teams when he faces Milwaukee and right-hander Steve Woodard (6-5, 4.65).
Villone (1-1, 2.35 ERA) had no record, two saves and a 3.28 ERA for the Brewers in 1996. He was with them for his only full major-league season, 1997.
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