Wednesday, March 01, 2000
REDS NOTEBOOK
Casey misses workout with sore back
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — First baseman Sean Casey planned to return to the field today after missing Tuesday's workout with a sore back.
“It's nothing serious,” Casey said. “I did some stretches and some exercises. I just want to nip it in the bud right now. I don't want to try to be a hero out there today and regress in a week or two weeks.”
Casey sensed when he arrived at the Reds' clubhouse that he probably wouldn't be able to practice.
“I woke up this morning and I was just a little tight,” Casey said. “I got here, threw a little bit, and it was like there was a cramp in the middle of my back.”
DEION'S PATIENT: Though aspiring outfielder Deion Sanders knows he won't be running at full speed for at least two to three weeks and thus will miss the first half of the exhibition schedule, he's optimistic about his surgically repaired right knee.
“I'm getting better, man,” Sanders said. “I'm getting to where I need to be. There's no need to rush things right now. It's better just to take my time.”
Sanders will continue to take batting practice, repeat fielding drills and rehabilitate his knee. Tuesday afternoon, while most players were leaving for home or already gone, Sanders returned to the Reds' facility to exercise with his personal trainer.
“It benefits me,” he said of his layoff from games. “I get to see a lot of pitching on the side and do a lot of extra hitting. And the rehab will get me strong.”
REYES PROGRESSES: Left-hander Dennys Reyes pronounced his throwing session a success after he threw 30 pitches off a practice mound.
Reyes, slowed by shoulder tendinitis, will throw 45 pitches Thursday and 60 pitches Saturday barring any setbacks. He could be cleared to pitch in exhibition games as early as next week.
“I'm really excited,” said Reyes, who threw fastballs at three-quarters speed with the exception of two change-ups. “I was really nervous this morning about how I was going to feel.”
READY FOR ANYTHING: Though Chris Stynes is again destined to occupy a reserve role, he's prepared for much more.
“You just try to go through your daily routine like you're a starter,” said Stynes, manager Jack McKeon's favorite utilityman. “I think once you start getting that "Hey, I'm not going to play' mindset, you lose your edge. You never know what's going to happen.”
At the same time, Stynes isn't suffering from delusions of grandeur, mainly because McKeon won't let him.
“Jack's very up front with all of us,” Stynes said.
ON THE MOUND: Pitching coach Don Gullett said Ron Villone, Mark Portugal, Scott Sullivan, Gabe White and Scott Williamson remain on track to pitch in today's intrasquad game.
Pete Harnisch, Denny Neagle, Steve Parris, Rob Bell and Danny Graves lead the group pitching Thursday.
POKEY'S PARS: Second baseman Pokey Reese was exultant as he recounted a Monday afternoon round of golf, which he said was his first since last spring.
“Just call me Tiger Reese,” he crowed to anybody in the clubhouse who would listen.
Reese said he didn't keep score, which might have explained his joy.
B.P. BANTER: The levity continued around the batting cage.
After Ken Griffey Jr. belted a tremendous home run out of Ed Smith Stadium that appeared to land near where Reds coaches park their cars, bench coach Ken Griffey Sr. said in mock outrage, “That's my car!”
Griffey Jr. said, “After this season, I'l get you a Rolls Royce with my World Series money.”
Moments later, Reese glided to his left to catch Dante Bichette's low line drive. Chirped Barry Larkin, referring to Reese's fielding excellence, “You ain't learned from last year, Dante?”
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