Friday, September 10, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Vaughn: Pokey is 'Prime Time'
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CHICAGO — With the NFL season openers approaching, Greg Vaughn alluded to football — and a former Reds center fielder — to define second baseman Pokey Reese's defensive wizardry.
Reese ended a Cubs rally in Thursday's eighth inning by snaring Manny Alexander's fly ball to short right field with runners on first and second base, two outs and the Reds leading 4-3. Though the ball appeared destined to fall safely for a run-scoring hit, Reese said he had it all the way.
This came as no surprise to Vaughn, Cincinnati's left fielder.
“We're used to seeing Pokey do it every day. He is by far the best second baseman in the league,” Vaughn said. “He goes from the (left-field) side of second base to the foul territory in right field, to short right field, to medium center field.
“He's like Prime Time (Dallas Cowboys cornerback Deion Sanders), because he takes away half the field by himself. He's that good. And God blessed him with a strong arm, so it doesn't matter where he is. If he gets his glove on it, he's going to get you out. Chicago has seen it for four days; I've been fortunate to see it for the whole season.”
After preserving the Reds' lead with his catch, Reese playfully wagged his finger at a group of Chicago fans.
“They thought the ball was going to fall in,” Reese said. “It was just a little gesture. I was having a little fun with them.”
Williamson back
Right-hander Scott Williamson made his first appearance since last Wednesday, pitching 1ô scoreless innings despite issuing a pair of walks and allowing a hit.
Williamson, who missed seven games while nursing a mild case of shoulder tendinitis, walked Sammy Sosa, the first batter he faced, with a 3-2 pitch in the seventh inning. Williamson ended the inning by coaxing a pop-up from Mark Grace.
Williamson escaped the eighth after surrendering Henry Rodriguez's leadoff single and walking Gary Gaetti with two outs.
“I felt like I debuted,” said the rookie, who reported no pain. “I was a little nervous out there at first.”
Williamson was glad to enter the game in a crucial situation.
“It shows the confidence they still have in me,” Williamson said. “It's good to get my feet wet like that again.”
Losing steam?
Manager Jack McKeon doubted that Williamson's inactivity will hurt his chances in the NL's Rookie of the Year award balloting.
“A lot of times, guys make their decisions early and stick with them,” said McKeon, whose vast experience has taught him a thing or two about the sportswriters who conduct the voting.
Many of Williamson's rivals for the award will be at Cinergy Field this weekend. The Florida Marlins boast several top rookie candidates, including outfielder Bruce Aven (.303), shortstop Alex Gonzalez (.277, 26 doubles, eight triples, 11 homers) and outfielder Preston Wilson (.284, 23 homers, 62 RBI).
Power tools
Mementoes from the Reds' recent home-run barrage in Philadelphia went on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
On exhibit are the bat Mark Lewis used and the ball he hit Saturday when he became the eighth different player to hit a homer.
Also on display are the bat Dmitri Young swung and the ball he hit Sunday for Cincinnati's 14th homer in the two-day stretch, which set a major-league record.
Minor feats
Double-A Chattanooga right-hander Rob Bell ended his season by earning Southern League Pitcher of the Week honors for firing a complete-game, six-hit shutout and striking out 10 in the process.
Outfielder Adam Dunn of Single-A Rockford won the Midwest League Batter of the Week award for hitting .526 (20-for-38) with 10 runs, five doubles, two homers and nine RBI in a nine-game stretch.
Etc.
The Reds tied another NL record by hitting 22 homers in their last six games before Thursday's. The major-league mark in this category belongs to the 1977 Boston Red Sox, who hit 25.
• Reds reliever Scott Sullivan passed the 100-inning mark by working a scoreless sixth, hiking his season total to 100ö. Sullivan, who led the NL with 102 innings last year, became Cincinnati's first reliever with consecutive 100-inning seasons since Pedro Borbon did it each year from 1972-77.
• The Chicago Tribune cited Reds bench coach Ken Griffey Sr. as a possible candidate for the Cubs' managerial post if Jim Riggleman is fired, as is assumed. “I don't read the papers, so I couldn't tell you,” Griffey said.
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