Tuesday, September 21, 1999
REDS NOTEBOOK
Harnisch might not
pitch for a week
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SAN DIEGO — The Reds might use Thursday's scheduled off-day to help give struggling right-hander Pete Harnisch extra rest between starts, perhaps pushing his next assignment as far back as next Tuesday's opener of the two-game series in Houston.
“It's not etched in stone,” manager Jack McKeon repeated Monday.
Exactly how or whether the Reds will realign their starting rotation could depend on their performance in their current three-game series against the San Diego Padres, pitching coach Don Gullett said.
What is certain is that the off-day gives Cincinnati the luxury of shuffling its pitching order without having to give any starter insufficient rest.
Harnisch (14-10), the team's leading winner but 1-4 with a 7.11 ERA in his last six starts, would pitch Saturday against St. Louis if the Reds were to remain in their rotation.
But McKeon said that he's “tentatively” considering using Steve Parris to open the St. Louis series on Friday, as scheduled, followed by Denny Neagle and Juan Guzman.
Gullett said that Harnisch could return late in the Cardinals series, which might mean pitching in Monday's finale. Or, said McKeon, “we could skip him right up until Houston,” meaning he'd pitch next Tuesday, followed by Parris on Wednesday. Then the Reds could use Ron Villone on Monday or even Brett Tomko, if they needed another starter to give Harnisch additional time.
Harnisch preferred not to address the subject until he discussed it with McKeon or Gullett. “Nobody has said anything to me yet,” he said.
The Reds gave Harnisch extra rest after the All-Star break, shifting him to the back of the rotation after the Reds resumed playing to give him 11 days to rest his troublesome shoulder. He won his first four decisions in a span of seven starts after the break, posting an ERA of 2.80.
Slumping CFs
Despite mustering one hit in his last 29 at-bats, Michael Tucker found himself in Monday night's starting lineup. He replaced center fielder Mike Cameron, who also has endured problems at the plate.
Cameron was hitless in his last 12 at-bats, dropping his average to .140 (6-for-43) since returning from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for 10 games. He also had struck out nine times in the previous five games.
Asked if he thought Cameron was pressuring himself, McKeon said, “It's hard to say,” but his additional remarks indicated that he believed this to be so.
“You get in a rut,” McKeon said. “Sometimes a day mentally is more beneficial than anything. You start trying too hard, you try to do more than you're capable of and it keeps getting worse. So take a day or two off.”
Tucker made only his fifth start in center this year, compared with 59 in right field.
Williamson OK
McKeon personally checked right-hander Scott Williamson's healing right middle finger and deemed the rookie ready to resume pitching. Williamson hasn't appeared since last Wednesday, when he suffered a cut on the finger.
Bus service
The Reds announced that Metro Transit Authority will provide shuttle service for all four games of the final regular-season series against St. Louis starting Friday. Shuttles will leave four different locations one hour before each game: Western Hills Plaza, Forest Park, Fields-Ertel and Anderson Township. Fares are $3 round-trip and $1.50 one-way. For more information, call (513) 621-4455.
Etc.
• More than a dozen players turned out for early batting practice about 31/2 hours before Monday night's first pitch.
• The lead headline in Monday's sports sections of the San Diego Union-Tribune was enough to make any Bengals fan seethe: “BLOWOUT IN BUNGLEVILLE”, an reference to the San Diego Chargers' 34-7 victory over Cincinnati.
Schott suit
Attorneys for a group that tried unsuccessfully to bring a minor-league team to Dayton asked a federal judge Monday to allow them to question former Reds owner Marge Schott about her racial opinions.
In a motion filed in U.S. District Court, Baseball at Trotwood Inc. said there is evidence Schott made decisions regarding the Dayton baseball project and that Schott's racial views are relevant because Baseball at Trotwood's majority owner is former boxing promoter Rock Newman, who is black.
Schott's attorney, Stephen Bailey, said he had not seen the court filing and declined to comment.
The Cincinnati Reds have granted territorial rights to the Dayton Professional Baseball Club, paving the way for that group to bring a Class-A Reds affiliate to Dayton next spring.
Baseball at Trotwood is suing the Dayton Professional Baseball Club and Schott, alleging it was the victim of racial discrimination.
Schott is scheduled to be questioned privately later this month by attorneys for Baseball at Trotwood.
According to court documents filed by Schott's attorneys, Schott played no part in the Reds' decision to grant territorial rights because she had been suspended from making such decisions.
— The Associated Press
Up next
Juan Guzman (6-2) will make his first career appearance against the Padres. The Reds hope they'll be able to maintain the average of seven runs they've scored for Guzman in his nine starts.
Guzman will oppose San Diego's Matt Clement (9-12), who pitched respectably in seven innings against Cincinnati on May 23 (five runs, three earned, five hits) but took the loss in a 6-2 defeat.
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