Sunday, February 13, 2000
Reds on lookout for 5th starter
Veteran Portugal starts camp as leading contender
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Ken Griffey Jr. commands attention; pitching causes concern.
As the Reds marvel over their batting order, which includes Griffey, Barry Larkin, Sean Casey and Dante Bichette, they'll worry that their starting rotation might tarnish prospects for the 2000 season.
Re-establishing a reliable staff of starting pitchers will be the Reds' focus throughout spring training, which begins next week in Sarasota, Fla. Pitchers and catchers will report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex Wednesday; their first workout will be Friday. Position players are due Feb. 21, two days before the initial full-squad workout.
Griffey's arrival in Thursday's trade with Seattle gave the Reds a championship-caliber lineup. Cincinnati's eight likely Opening Day position players averaged .298 with 22 homers and 89 RBI apiece last year.
The Reds' starting pitchers, though respectable, seem less formidable. The rotation's flaws, ranging from uncertain health to unproven skill, are enough to temper General Manager Jim Bowden's enthusiasm.
“We think our position players can take us to the World Series,” Bowden said. “They're good enough to play with the large-market, $80 million, $100 million (payroll) teams. But we're going to go only as far as our pitching will take us. We need our top four starters to repeat what they did last year.”
That's not a sure thing. Pete Harnisch and Denny Neagle, the top two starters, would lead almost any other team's rotation. But both must prove they have overcome last year's shoulder injuries.
After beginning last season in Triple-A, Steve Parris and Ron Villone ascended to save the staff, and the team, from collapse. But neither has spent an entire year in a major-league starting rotation.
So the hunt for another starter or two will be extensive.
Trades are a possibility, even with nearly every other team also searching for pitching help.
“All of our baseball people will concentrate on starting pitching,” Bowden said. “That's all we'll do now.”
Signing Griffey to his nine-year, $116.5 million contract prevents the Reds from further increasing the payroll to add an established starting pitcher. But Bowden will have his scouts look for relief pitchers with the aptitude to become starters, much like Dave Burba, a 1995 acquisition from San Francisco who switched roles effectively.
A handful of Reds might be attractive in a trade. Though they value outfielders Dmitri Young, a probable starter, and Michael Tucker, a top reserve, either might look attractive to a hitting-starved club.
Shifting Dennys Reyes, Gabe White or reigning Rookie of the Year Scott Williamson to the rotation is another possibility. All are former starting pitchers. “There's no question that they're candidates,” Bowden said.
Yet the Reds, who led the majors with a 3.36 relief ERA last year, might be better off keeping their bullpen intact.
“With our defense up the middle and our explosive of fense, if we can stay in the game to the sixth inning, we have the offense to beat people,” Bowden said. “So we'll try to get a starting pitcher elsewhere rather than disrupt the bullpen.”
“Elsewhere” could mean the ranks of non-roster invitees and newcomers. Barring a trade, Mark Portugal, who owns a 109-95 record in 14 seasons, has the best chance to claim the fifth spot in the rotation. Other candidates include right-handed prospect Rob Bell and former Pittsburgh Pirate Elmer Des sens. Bowden even included 19-year-old Ty Howington, last year's No.1 amateur draft selection, on this list. “I know that's a long shot,” Bowden admitted.
Except for the novelty of seeing Reds uniforms on Griffey and Bichette this won't be an overly compelling camp. Most of the principals from last year's 96-67 team that missed the postseason by one victory have returned, and they bring job security with them.
Add closer Danny Graves and set-up specialist Scott Sulli van to the aforementioned seven pitchers. Pokey Reese, Aaron Boone, Hal Morris, Mark Lewis, Larkin and Casey are guaranteed infield berths. Bichette, Griffey, Tucker, Young and Alex Ochoa are the outfielders, with Eddie Taubensee and Jason LaRue catching.
In short, all but three spots on the 25-man Opening Day roster are virtually certain.
Eight key figures — Boone, Casey, Graves, LaRue, Reese, Reyes, Williamson and Young — will be 27 or younger come Opening Day. Skeptics might think they overachieved while collaborating on last year's success.
Then again, maybe 1999 was just a sampling of their skills.
“I think we can improve,” Boone said. “You say "career year;' it was the first full season for a lot of guys. I think we're smart enough to realize it's not just going to happen. But there's a good feeling going into spring training — knowing that we can, instead of, "Yeah, I think we can.'”
SPRING TRAINING PREVIEW
Reds on lookout for 5th starter
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