Friday, February 18, 2000

Neagle's health is Reds' wealth

---

Rotation aided by left-hander's rehabilitation

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Denny Neagle runs though a neighborhood near the Reds spring training complex. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        SARASOTA, Fla. — Denny Neagle is healthy. That in itself is big news for the Reds.

        Having Neagle available from the outset to anchor the starting rotation should help the Reds avoid problems they had last year — their sluggish first two months and a near-meltdown by the pitching staff.

        Ideally, every successful team has not just one top starter, but two big winners to prevent long losing streaks and anchor a postseason rotation. If Neagle and Pete Harnisch fend off shoulder trouble and other ailments for the entire year, the Reds will have taken a major step toward easing their major preseason concern: getting the pitching they need to complement their formidable lineup.

        “I'm obviously a little more excited this spring, because I don't have that whole (injury) thing in the back of my mind,” Neagle said Thursday, one day before Reds pitchers and catchers hold their first workout.

        Neagle was among the Reds who underwent physical exami nations at the Ed Smith Stadium Complex. “His shoulder is stronger than it was at any point last year,” team physician Dr. Tim Kremchek said. “It's a world of difference between last spring and this spring.”

        That bolstered Cincinnati's hopes of starting the season with the same Neagle who ended last year, when he was 6-0 with a 2.20 ERA in his final seven starts.

        “He was dominating,” reliever Danny Graves said. “He was our best pitcher for a stretch there. Having him back will take a lot of pressure off the other starters. A healthy Denny will go six or seven innings. Maybe even eight. That's going to help us in the bullpen, too.”

        Neagle, 31, was projected to be Cincinnati's ace after he was acquired from Atlanta in the November 1998 Bret Boone trade. He won 52 games from 1996-98. But the shoulder weakness that was diagnosed at this time last year kept him on the disabled list through most of the season's first four months.

        Neagle's inability to pitch began an unfavorable pattern for the rotation. “There was pressure on everybody to try to pick up the slack from his getting hurt,” Graves said.

        Steve Avery excelled, then crumbled. Brett Tomko was sent to the minors. Jason Bere flamed out. Only Steve Parris' ascent from Triple-A and Ron Villone's emergence from the bullpen prevented a total collapse. Neagle said he learned from the experience with his shoulder, which he started to call a “mistake.” He corrected himself, saying, “I wouldn't even call it a mistake. I just didn't know how to rehab it at that point.”

        Neagle received a crash course in arm and shoulder maintenance in the middle of last season. Not only did the exercise program enable him to finish strong and instill habits he maintained this offseason, but it also might have made him a more effective pitcher. That's an exciting prospect for the Reds, given the left-hander's 90-60 career record.

        “I gained a couple of miles an hour on my fastball,” Neagle said. “Everybody saw it. Teammates and opposing hitters were saying, "What's gotten into you?'”

        Neagle's stronger fastball enhanced his change-up, his No.1 pitch, which has been called one of the best off-speed deliveries in the majors.

        “No matter what your "out' pitch is, I've always believed that you have to pitch off your fastball,” Neagle said. “Now, all of a sudden, I have a little more sneakiness behind that fastball. It gave me more confidence to throw it a little bit more, whereas in the past, I'd be tempted to say, "This guy can turn on anybody's fastball, so I'm going to sneak another change-up by him.'”

        Neagle also changed his pace contractually. Faced with a Nov.11 deadline for demanding a trade, a provision in the multiyear deal he signed after the 1996 season with Atlanta, Neagle dropped that right. In return, the Reds tore up the 2001 option on his services, making him a free agent after this season.

        “All things considered, it was best for both parties. Nobody has gotten hurt,” Neagle said. “I'm back here for another year. Hopefully we can make a run at (a title), and we'll see what happens as far as any kind of contract talks.”

        If Neagle wins 15 to 20 games — a reachable level if he stays healthy — he could command more than $10 million annually on the open market. But the eight-year veteran realized the danger of assuming too much.

        “The last thing you want to do is put so much weight on it that you take away from your main focus, which is trying to do the best you can for your team,” he said.

        Spring training schedule

---

Reds Stories

Neagle's health is Reds' wealth Kids drew Portugal back Perez' No. 24 will be retired in May Rose caught off guard Tomko ready for new start in Seattle Marge's gifts come from her heart

UC 77, Houston 65
UC NOTEBOOK
Even Martin needs a hand to hold onto
Temple revs up for UC
Pickens fit for Saints?
Bengals' Hawkins welcomes competition
Overruns not new to stadium architect
Xavier's fortunes tied to Frey's consistency
Local driver fighting to jump-start career
Defense, Munoz rally Mason girls
Cincinnati girls basketball roundup
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
St. X's Sollmann wins football award
Newport star takes home football honor
N.Ky. girls basketball roundup
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
NKU 85, St. Joseph's 71

Reds page