Tuesday, August 10, 1999REDS NOTEBOOK
Cameron's hot bat keeps him leading off
PITTSBURGH — Though Mike Cameron's occupancy of the leadoff spot might still be temporary, he has played himself into at least a short-term lease.
Cameron returned to the top of the order, where he hit through May 26, after Pokey Reese bruised his left hand on July 26. To ease Reese's return to the lineup last weekend in Milwaukee, Manager Jack McKeon kept Cameron in the leadoff spot.
McKeon's tendency to stick with successful combinations, along with Cameron's improved production, indicates that the center fielder will continue to bat first for the foreseeable future.
Cameron had raised his average from .256 to .266 in 11 games since Reese vacated the leadoff position, entering Monday night's series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cameron was batting .340 (16-for-47) with five doubles, two triples and three homers in that span, having hit safely in all but one game and scored in all but three.
“He's doing all right. Why change?” McKeon said of Cameron. “If he starts struggling there, we can always adjust. We're flexible.”
McKeon pointed out that Cameron also has fit the leadoff hitter's profile much better than Reese in one respect: Cameron has drawn 50 walks to Reese's 20, accounting for the disparity in on-base percentage (Cameron .350, Reese .320).
Parris pleased
Steve Parris was encouraged by his brief throwing session, which he will repeat Friday before probably starting an injury rehabilitation assignment in the minors.Assuming Parris feels good, that stint might last only one or two starts. Thus, before the end of August, the Reds might have to make a difficult decision to find room for him in the starting rotation.
“I definitely want to be 100 percent for the stretch run. I don't want to go out there and blow it out like Jaret Wright did,”said Parris, referring to the Cleveland right-hander who aggravated an arm injury Sunday.
Parris, who's on the disabled list with a strained triceps muscle, said he warmed up for about six minutes before throwing at about 75 percent of his full force for six to seven minutes off a bullpen mound.
Before, said Parris, “With every pitch I would throw, it would get tighter and tighter and tighter. Today, it seemed like the more I threw the looser it would get. So, hopefully, I turned the corner.”
Veteran influence
Joe Oliver has had a first-hand role in the blossoming of Pittsburgh's pitching.The former Reds catcher has appeared in 15 games since Pittsburgh obtained him from Tampa Bay on July 23, which coincides with the staff's improvement. Pirates starters have gone 10-4 with three complete games and a 2.40 ERA in their last 18 games.
“Guys here have incredible arms,” Oliver said. “I really enjoy catching these guys because they're young enough, but yet they have stuff you don't see from young pitchers. They're really pitching beyond their experience.”
Buried with Tampa Bay's Triple-A affiliate, Oliver got his chance to return to the majors after the Pirates lost catchers Jason Kendall and Keith Osik to injuries.
“It gave me a new appreciation for being up here,” Oliver said. “It also reaffirmed my feeling that I'm still a major-league player.”
Etc.
Entering Monday, catcher Eddie Taubensee had driven in 34 runs in his last 34 games after amassing 24 RBI in his first 50 games.• First baseman Sean Casey, who grew up in nearby Upper St. Clair, left “only” 16 tickets to Monday's game for friends and relatives. “Last year I left 70. Then I went 0-for-12 (in the series) and I said, "That will never happen again,'” joked Casey, who said that his mother's friends may swell tonight's pass list to 30.
A host of Casey's teachers from Upper St. Clair High School also plan to attend and display banners in support of their favorite player.
• Catcher Jason LaRue, who homered in his first five games since being optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, was named International League Plyaer of the Week. He hit .571 (12-for-21) with six homers and 11 RBI.
Up next
Juan Guzman (0-1) will make his second Reds start since being obtained from Baltimore. The right-hander allowed only two runs in eight innings but was a 2-1 loser to Colorado last Thursday. Ex-Reds left-hander Pete Schourek (3-5), who beat Cincinnati as a member of the Houston Astros last year, will oppose Guzman.
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