Tuesday, March 07, 2000
REDS NOTEBOOK
Howington impressive before departure
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BRADENTON, Fla. — Ty Howington was among five non-roster players reassigned to the minor leagues Monday, but that didn't dampen the Reds' enthusiasm for last year's No.1 draft choice.
Manager Jack McKeon and pitching coach Don Gullett both held Howington in high esteem.
“He has a lot of potential, no question about that,” McKeon said.
“He has the stuff and all the tools to be a major-league pitcher,” said Gullett, who rated Howington's fastball as above-average.
Howington signed too late last year to pitch professionally. But the left-hander fared well in the instructional league last fall, pitched two scoreless innings in Sunday's split-squad game against Tampa Bay and now has part of a major-league camp to temper him. When Howington starts pro ball, possibly with Single-A Dayton, “He won't be a fish out of water,” Gullett said.
Howington uses an unorthodox, herky-jerky pitching motion. But, said McKeon, “That might be good deception on his part.”
Gullett said he and minor-league pitching coach Mac Jenkins decided that they wouldn't try to alter Howington's delivery, though they do want him to quicken it.
“It's a little too deliberate, in my opinion,” Gullett said.
Left-handers Justin Atchley and Jim Crowell, right-hander Keith Glauber and catcher Corky Miller were the other players reassigned to minor-league camp. There are 57 players in camp, 32 above the Opening Day limit.
REESE UPDATE: Second baseman Pokey Reese's sprained right ring finger was still too sore to allow him to grab a bat. But the Gold Glove winner traveled with the team to take ground balls and watch the Pittsburgh Pirates, an NL Central Division foe.
Though Reese said Sunday that he might resume playing today, he likely will remain sidelined for at least another day or two. The finger, which he injured while sliding headfirst into second base last Friday, continued to bother him when he tried to throw: “It didn't feel too bad, but I couldn't get too much on it.”
Fortunately for Reese and the Reds, the swelling around his finger had almost vanished and the pain was minimal.
“With this much time left in spring training, we want to err on the side of caution more than anything,” assistant trainer Mark Mann said.
HYZDU'S HOPES: Adam Hyzdu cited truths from baseball and the Bible to explain why he has continued his baseball career.
Hyzdu can hit. Since breaking Ken Griffey Jr.'s Moeller High School career home-run record of 22, Hyzdu has compiled a career average of .272 with 157 homers and 603 RBI in 10 minor-league seasons. He has been even better the last four seasons, averaging .308 with 22 homers and 74 RBI per year.
But Hyzdu, who was in the Reds' system from 1994-95, has not played a single major-league game. The utilityman is expected to begin the season in Triple-A. Still, he presses on gamely.
“There are three words: You never know,” said Hyzdu, 28. “But ... There's a verse in the Bible, Colossians 3:23. It says, "Whatever you do, do it heartily for the Lord, not for men.' So that's how I do it.
“People say, "How can you give 100 percent all the time,' which to me should never be a question. It's easy. A lot of guys, at one level or another, may perform according to the level, effort-wise. Well, effort is what you can control.”
Hyzdu appeared in Monday's game against the Reds, flying out as a pinch-hitter to end the seventh inning.
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