Sunday, February 13, 2000
INFIELDERS
No retooling needed
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Last year, doubts lingered about three-fourths of the Reds' projected starting infield. Sounds pretty silly now, doesn't it?
First baseman Sean Casey, second baseman Pokey Reese and third baseman Aaron Boone proved in 1999 that they merited playing alongside 10-time All-Star shortstop Barry Larkin.
Casey, who batted .371 before the All-Star Game and .286 afterward, wants to improve his endurance. Reese will admit that he could use a little work on the double-play pivot, and Boone must shake off the mild effects of minor arthroscopic knee surgery he underwent in December. Larkin remains Larkin, a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate. Everybody has room for improvement, but for this group, that room is a broom closet.
The Reds will take a long look at Travis Dawkins, who has been heralded as Larkin's heir apparent. As promising as Dawkins is, his 56 extra-base hits in 1,054 minor-league at-bats indicate that he could use a little more development before ascending to Cincinnati for good.
Most of the competition will focus on the utility spot. Chris Stynes, dubbed by manager Jack McKeon as the team's “secret weapon,” and Chris Sexton, the St. Xavier High School and Miami University graduate, are middle infielders who also can play third and the outfield.
Hal Morris, the .305 lifetime hitter and fan favorite, is the heavy favorite at first base, though D.T. Cromer and Ron Wright have aspirations of unseating him. Hamilton's Mark Lewis, who started 30 games last year, will almost surely be the top substitute at third base.
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