Thursday, September 16, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Williamson cuts finger but could be ready today
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Reliever Scott Williamson insisted he'd be ready to pitch today after leaving Wednesday night's game with a small cut on the middle finger of his right (throwing) hand, though manager Jack McKeon indicated that he might let the rookie heal for at least a day.
“I won't miss anything because of this, I'll tell you that,” Williamson said. “Not in this kind of race.”
Trainer Greg Lynn said nothing would be decided until Williamson is examined this afternoon.
“With our crack medical staff, you never know,” McKeon said. “They do wonders.”
Williamson hurt himself on the final pitch he threw, a split-fingered fastball for a strike that brought the count to 1-2 on Glenallen Hill with Mark Grace on second base and two outs. Williamson reasoned that he cut himself when his thumbnail caught the tip of his finger after he released the pitch.
Dr. Tim Kremchek, the Reds' medical director, closed the wound with a glue-like substance called Dermabond.
An angry Williamson, who overcame a mild case of shoulder tendinitis only last week, flung his glove against the back wall of the dugout after he left the field. He was much calmer following the game.
“I wasn't very pleased,” Williamson said. “But you have to be cautious about something like that. They did the right thing.”
All the right moves
Though many observers might praise McKeon for juggling his right fielders adroitly, the Reds manager emphasized that the players themselves have made the three-man platoon work.
“They're all interested in winning and doing what's necessary to win,” McKeon said Wednesday. “I know each one of them deserves to play a lot more. They made my job easier.”
McKeon has shuttled Dmitri Young, Michael Tucker and Jeffrey Hammonds in and out of right field all season, though Young has received most of the playing time since the All-Star break. McKeon tends to play whoever's swinging the hottest bat at the time, a strategy that has resulted in 59 starts for Tucker, 55 for Young and 32 for Hammonds.
Strictly as right fielders (all three have played other positions), the trio entered Wednesday with a combined .260 average (152-for-584) that is enhanced by 103 runs scored, 28 doubles, five triples, 28 homers, 92 RBI and 11 stolen bases.
The runs total exceeds any belonging to an individual player. The home run and RBI totals would rank second.
Lineup changes
Wednesday's lineup didn't take shape as easily as McKeon had hoped.
Second baseman Pokey Reese originally was slated to start but instead missed his third game in a row with pain resulting from lower back spasms. As usual, Chris Stynes replaced Reese.
Tucker, who would have played right field, came down with flu-like symptoms, enabling Hammonds to start. Young, who has missed three starts in a row with a tight left hamstring, was relegated to bench duty because, “He's a little lame,” McKeon said.
Young, who appeared in the ninth inning of Tuesday's game and hit a smash to shortstop for the final out, refused to comment on his physical condition.
For Pete's sake
One positive element stemming from Tuesday night's loss to Chicago was the comfort Pete Harnisch felt on the mound.
Harnisch had complained of mechanical problems after recent starts, which showed in his statistics. He was 1-2 with a 7.48 ERA in four starts entering Tuesday.
Then he allowed the Cubs just two runs and three hits in seven innings, walking two and striking out five.
“I think I found something and I'm pretty happy about it,” Harnisch said. “I had my best fastball of the year.”
Just in case
To enhance his flexibility in maneuvering personnel, McKeon asked rookie shortstop Travis Dawkins to practice at second base. McKeon explained that he'd need a second baseman if Reese were sidelined and the Reds need to pinch hit for Stynes.
Dawkins, who worked with third-base coach and former second baseman Ron Oester at taking and making short relays around the bag, said he had never played the position.
But, the 20-year-old added: “I don't mind it at all. I'll do just about anything that's going to help me in the long run as far as getting to the big leagues.”
Sweeney in a pinch
Since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sept.1, Mark Sweeney has gone to the plate 10 times as a pinch-hitter.
He has six hits, including one in each of the last two games. He has two doubles and a pair of RBI singles. He has 20 total bases in 24 at-bats.
“He's done a phenomenal job,” Reds General Manager Jim Bowden said. “He's a great pinch-hitter.”
Sweeney is hitting .458 overall with two home runs and seven RBI, all as a pinch-hitter.
Up next
Juan Guzman (6-2) seeks his second victory in a row over the Cubs in tonight's series finale.
The Cubs will counter with Andrew Lorraine (1-4), who took the defeat in Chicago's 6-4 loss to the Reds on Sept.8.
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