Wednesday, March 15, 2000
Reese still hurting
REDS NOTEBOOK
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Second baseman Pokey Reese smoked several line drives during batting practice but said that he would need two to three more days to heal his sprained right ring finger before returning to the lineup.
“It's still sore,” Reese said. “I'm just getting a little work in. I want it to be completely right (before playing again). I want to be ready for April 3 (Opening Day), not March 15.”
Reese injured himself when he slid head first into second base in Cincinnati's split-squad exhibition opener March 3. He hasn't played since.
FERNANDEZ ROCKED: Osvaldo Fernandez's bid to secure the fifth spot in the starting rotation stalled in the Reds' 8-6 split-squad exhibition loss to Philadelphia at Clearwater, Fla.
Fernandez allowed six runs and nine hits in four innings and absorbed the defeat. The right-hander entered the game unscored upon in six innings spanning two appearances.
“A couple of pitches were a little high,” said Fernandez, whose two elbow surgeries have prevented him from pitching in the majors since 1997. “My two-seamer (sinking fastball) was no good today.”
MORE CUTS: Left-hander Heath Murray, considered until recently to be a contender for one of the Reds' pitching openings, was among four players demoted to the minors, dropping Cincinnati's spring contingent to 39.
Murray, 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA and a .348 opponents' batting average, was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville. First baseman D.T. Cromer was optioned to Louisville while right-handers Joe Hudson and Andy Larkin were reassigned to minor-league camp.
GARCIA ARRIVES: Utilityman Freddy Garcia, a two-year veteran who'll probably begin the season in the minors, started at third base against Philadelphia and went 1-for-4.
Acquired Monday from the Atlanta Braves for minor- league pitcher Dennis Russo, Garcia welcomed the move to the Reds organization. “They (the Braves) had so many good players over there,” said Garcia, a third baseman by trade who had played mostly left field this spring.
Noting that he also can play first base and right field, Garcia added, “I hope to find a place here to help the team.”
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