Wednesday, March 22, 2000
Reds try to juggle pitchers and innings
REDS NOTEBOOK
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — Ron Villone will start in a minor-league game today, as the Reds try to get him close to 100 pitches.
They also have some decisions to make about relief pitchers.
“If Villone goes six or seven innings, we only can get a couple of guys an inning,” pitching coach Don Gullett said.
Instead, Hector Mercado, the 25-year-old lefty, will start today at Fort Myers against the Boston Red Sox. Mercado, who is coming off major elbow surgery, will go two or three innings.
That way the Reds can get a look at pitchers such as Eddie Gaillard, Bobby Munoz and Scott Winchester, who are competing for the final roster spots.
Osvaldo Fernandez, a right-hander coming off shoulder surgery, will start Thursday against the Pirates.
YOUNG UPDATE: Dmitri Young had treatment on his sore right groin Tuesday.
“He felt pretty good,” assistant trainer Mark Mann said. “We'll have him run in the outfield in the morning and go from there.”
Young could play against the Red Sox. The alternative would be to leave him behind and have him hit in a minor-league game.
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