Wednesday, September 08, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Teams adjust to new NL umpires
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CHICAGO — In the ninth inning of Tuesday's first game, Cincinnati's Dmitri Young was ejected by umpire Dan Iassogna for protesting a called third strike. In the first inning of the second game, Chicago manager Jim Riggleman argued with Iassogna, who had moved to third base, about Pokey Reese's successful steal.
Iassogna isn't one of the National League's 13 new full-time umpires who started work last week. He's a minor-league fill-in. But the new umps are everywhere — the crew in this series included rookie Anthony Randazzo — which has led to more frequent on-field complaints.
Reds left-hander Ron Villone, who never made a peep while pitching 5ö innings in the opener, understood that patience is necessary.
“It's going to happen with any kind of profession, whether you're a player or an umpire,” Villone said. “When you start out, you're going to make mistakes. I don't think there are any major mistakes, but sure, there are going to be some growing pains.
“(Players) are going to have to adjust to it, and umpires are going to have to adjust to people wanting to take (frustrations) out on them sometimes. But I don't think it's going to have a major (effect) on how the ballgame's going to turn out.”
Efficient thieves Though home runs have dominated the Reds' offense recently, their skill as basestealers has remained fairly constant all season.
The Reds began Tuesday tied for third in the National League with 137 steals and had the third-best success rate (75.3 percent, behind Arizona and Philadelphia).
said first-base “I think Pokey (Reese), Cammy (Mike Cameron) and Boonie (Aaron Boone) have really developed into good basestealers,” said first-base coach Dave Collins, who tutors the baserunners. “They're starting to learn how to read pitchers, getting good jumps and getting better leads.”
Cameron and Reese have 33 and 31 steals, respectively. Should Barry Larkin, who has 26 steals, get at least four more, the Reds would have three players with 30 or more steals for the first time since 1988 (Chris Sabo 46, Larkin 40, Eric Davis 35).
Nice recovery Though right-hander Scott Sullivan has posted a 5.19 ERA in his last 15 games, the figure is somewhat deceiving.
Sullivan has been an asset in his last two appearances, saving Sunday's 9-7 victory at Philadelphia, pitching a perfect eighth inning here Monday (starting with a strikeout of Sammy Sosa) and keeping Tuesday's first game close with 1ô shutout innings.
Scott Williamson's absence due to shoulder tendinitis has heightened Sullivan's importance.
“Maybe my role has been pushed back an inning later. I don't mind that,” Sullivan said.
Prolific power If Larkin or Reese, who have nine homers apiece, goes deep again, the Reds will have nine different players with 10 or more homers for the first time since 1965. If both reach double figures, they'll have 10 players with at least 10 homers for the first time ever. Above average The Reds are within reach of having four players with at least 200 at-bats hit .300 or better for the first time since 1993.
Sean Casey (.337 entering Tuesday's second game) and Larkin (.301) could be joined by Eddie Taubensee (.299), Young (.297) or Boone (.292). Should they all reach or top .300, it would mark the first time since 1976 that five Reds have achieved this standard.
Cincinnati's quartet of .300 hitters in 1993 were Larkin (.315), Hal Morris (.319), Roberto Kelly (.319) and Kevin Mitchell (.341). The 1976 quintet comprised George Foster (.306), Cesar Geronimo (.307), Joe Morgan (.320), Pete Rose (.323) and Ken Griffey (.336).
Etc. His strained left hamstring sufficiently healed, Cameron returned to the lineup in the doubleheader's nightcap, following a 10-game hiatus. The center fielder wore tights fitted with a protective sleeve underneath his uniform pants as a precaution. Cameron's return was highlighted by a two-run home run in the third inning.
• Williamson, still nursing his case of shoulder tendinitis, played catch for the second day in a row and plans to throw off a bullpen mound today.
• D.T. Cromer, the Reds' first baseman-outfielder at Triple-A Indianapolis, became the third player in the team's history to bat .300 while collecting 30 homers and 100 RBI. Cromer finished at .310 with 30 homers and 107 RBI.
Up next Steve Parris (7-2), who worked only 1ö innings Friday in his first start back from the disabled list, will oppose Cubs left-hander Andrew Lorraine (1-3) as the series continues with the fourth of five games.
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