Sunday, March 19, 2000
Reese returns from injury
2nd baseman works at leadoff
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — Playing in his first exhibition game since straining his right ring finger on March 3, Pokey Reese immediately began refining his technique as a leadoff hitter in the Reds' 5-3 victory Saturday over the Philadelphia Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium.
If anything, Reese was too diligent.
Reese wanted to see as many pitches as possible to acclimate himself to hitting again. This dovetailed with his duty as a leadoff hitter, who must force himself to take pitches he might usually swing at to coax walks and make pitchers work harder. Reese took so many pitches in his first at-bat that he struck out looking. He later worked Phillies starter Amaury Telemaco to a full count in his third and final at-bat before flying out.
A leadoff hitter also is required to get on base and run disruptively. Reese did so in his second at-bat, grounding an infield single into the hole between shortstop and third base. He then broke up a double play on a Barry Larkin grounder that enabled Mark Portugal to score one of Cincinnati's three second-inning
runs.
Reese's slide bore significance, too. It was feet-first, not the headfirst variety that caused his injury.
Reese reported feeling no extreme discomfort in his hand and said that he should manage to regain his timing at the plate in the remaining two weeks of exhibitions.
“That's more than enough. I'll get it right,” he said. “I saw the ball well. I was off just a little bit.”
Overall, it was a smooth re-entry for the 26-year-old.
“He has that baseball IQ that you can't teach,” first-base coach Dave Collins said.
Yet statistics indicate that Reese must learn the art of leading off. His on-base percentage in 76 starts as a leadoff hitter last year was .316, well below the major-league average of .349.
“On-base percentage is everything for a leadoff hitter,” Collins said. “If he gets on base, you're talking runs.”
But in most aspects it was a breakthrough season for Reese, who hit .285 with 37 doubles, 10 homers, 52 RBI and 38 steals in 45 tries.
“Last year was such a big lift for him because it's the first time he had some success in the big leagues,” hitting coach Denis Menke said. “I think that's going to make him better this year, because of the confidence he has in himself. His on-base percentage will get higher.”
Menke also said, “Pokey knows himself.” So it wasn't surprising to hear Reese deliver a brief but thorough analysis of his first day back.
Taking pitches was an idea he seemed slow to embrace. “You need to, anyway. I need to start doing that,” he said. “Anybody hates getting behind on the count, but at the same time it can help you.”
Though Reese dismissed his infield single — “I should have called time and gotten the ball,” he said sarcastically — it exemplified the type of hitting that will make him effective.
“Especially in our ballpark (Cinergy Field),” Collins said. “With AstroTurf, you want to try to keep from hitting fly-ball outs. You want to hit the ball on a line or on the ground and use your speed.”
Reese was prouder of his slide that prevented Philadelphia second baseman Marlon Anderson from completing the double play.
“I got in there pretty well on him,” Reese said. “It's the little things. We got a run off that, didn't we?”
Therein lies Reese's hunger to play and the Reds' confidence in his presence at the top of the order.
“He plays with such enthusiasm and passion,” Collins said. “He makes things happen. I think when he gets on base the whole team feels like, "Hey, here we go.' That's what a leadoff hitter has to create.”
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