Friday, February 25, 2000
New signee Santiago faces uphill battle
REDS NOTEBOOK
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — Though the Reds signed Benito Santiago to a non-guaranteed minor-league contract Thursday, General Manager Jim Bowden emphasized that Eddie Taubensee and Jason LaRue are the Opening Day catchers.
Bowden said Santiago, who turns 35 on March 9, can make the team under one of three circumstances: He beats out Taubensee or LaRue, one of them suffers an injury, or manager Jack McKeon decides to keep three catchers. Injuries can't be predicted, but the other two scenarios appear unlikely.
Bowden wanted Santiago as insurance in case Taubensee or LaRue is hurt. Of the Reds' five non-roster catchers who are ticketed for the minors, only two, Guillermo Garcia and Mike Hubbard, have major-league experience. “If we were to have an injury to a catcher in spring training, we certainly wouldn't have to trade for one now,” Bowden said.
Bowden said Santiago's contract allows him to seek a job with other major-league teams if he doesn't open the season with the Reds.
The arrival of 13-year veteran Santiago might make LaRue, fresh off his rookie year, appear expendable. But Bowden said LaRue has nothing to fear.
“LaRue's ready to help us win right now,” Bowden said. “He proved that last year. He caught (Ron) Villone's one-hitters, he's a leader and he's improving with the bat.”
Santiago hit .249 with seven homers and 36 RBI for the Chicago Cubs last year. The 1987 NL Rookie of the Year with San Diego and then-Padres manager McKeon, Santiago hit .286 with 11 homers and 44 RBI in 81 games for the Reds in 1995.
SOLID SHOULDERS: Though it's early, the Reds have been encouraged by pitchers Pete Harnisch, Denny Neagle and Scott Williamson, who have thrown without discomfort after enduring shoulder trouble in the past year.
“I have no pain or soreness or anything, so that's a good sign,” Harnisch said. Neagle reported feeling only “the normal soreness that you're supposed to get.” Said Williamson: “It's very surprising. I'm not even sore.”
It was around this time last year that weakness in the back of Neagle's shoulder became public knowledge. Harnisch pitched through pain during the season's final four months. Williamson was bothered by tendinitis in September.
BETTER DAYS: Having been injured through most of his professional career, Brandon Larson welcomes his recent stretch of good health.
The Reds' 1997 first-round draft choice played 112 games last year, hitting a combined .294 with 25 homers and 94 RBI with Single-A Rockford and Double-A Chattanooga. He was limited to 18 games in 1998 because of a knee injury.
That mishap followed a skin rash, caused by laundry soap, that Larson developed in spring training of '98, his first with the major-league Reds.
“I did feel like I was cursed,” said Larson, the Most Valuable Player of the 1997 College World Series with Louisiana State. “I came from such a high in college to such a low. ... I feel like I have to hit the bottom before I get to the top.”
At 23, Larson still has plenty of time to reach the majors. “I'll try to duplicate what I did last year. That's pretty much all I can ask for,” he said. “Hopefully things will take care of themselves down the road.”
ETC.: Left-hander Dennys Reyes, striving to overcome shoulder tendinitis, will toss a baseball at a 100-foot distance today before working up to 120 feet Sunday. He'll pitch off a mound Tuesday if he emerges from those sessions pain-free.
• The Reds signed minor-league outfielder Brady Clark, who hit .326 for their Double-A Chattanooga team last year. Ten players remain unsigned, including first baseman Sean Casey and third baseman Aaron Boone.
ATTENDANCE UPDATE: An estimated 1,600 people attended Thursday's workout; 1,845 watched Wednesday.
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