Friday, March 24, 2000
No answers for No. 5 spot
Portugal better than Hernandez against Pirates
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — Mark Portugal knows how it feels to be in limbo, though he hasn't experienced it for some time.
“I was 22 years old,” said Portugal, recalling the 1985 season when he was an aspiring member of the Minnesota Twins. “I've come full circle. I went from battling for a job to having a job, and now I'm battling again.”
Barring a trade that brings Cincinnati a clearly qualified starting pitcher, the tug-of-war between Portugal and Osvaldo Fernandez for the last vacancy in the rotation will continue into next week.
Portugal outperformed Fernandez Thursday but didn't eliminate him as a contender in the Reds' 9-7 exhibition victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. At least that's what the Reds' decision-makers said publicly.
Fernandez started and allowed five runs (four earned) and eight hits in five innings. He has an 0-1 record with a 5.00 ERA.
Portugal relieved him and yielded two runs on three hits in three innings. He earned the victory to improve to 3-0 with a 4.50 ERA.
“I don't think we're ready to make a commitment yet,” said manager Jack McKeon, adding that each right-hander will receive another chance to pitch. “We may be getting some ideas, but we're not ready to close the door on either one of them. We'll keep the competition going for a while.”
“If you go on performance, Portugal was somewhat better than Fernandez,” pitching coach Don Gullett said.
But, Gullett added, “I'm not necessarily looking that much at the performance aspect of it. I'm trying to get an idea of what those guys are trying to do in certain situations.”
Gullett pointed out that Fernandez was pitching on three days' rest, one fewer than usual. Questionable defense hurt Fer nandez in the first inning, when Pittsburgh scored three runs. Shortstop Barry Larkin and right fielder Dante Bichette failed to come up with run-scoring hits that may have been catchable in some circumstances.
“Osvaldo obviously wasn't as sharp,” Gullett said. “I thought he pitched a little too carefully. He got behind on the count quite a bit and got some balls up. He threw some quality pitches inside ... but the command just wasn't there.”
Portugal retired the first seven batters he faced before Adrian Brown's infield hit sparked Pittsburgh's two-run rally that broke a 5-5 tie. Chad Hermansen's RBI double was the inning's loudest hit.
“That was really the only bad pitch I made,” Portugal said.
“He threw some pretty good pitches today,” Gullett said of Portugal. “I liked his curveball, and I've been talking to him about trusting his fastball more. He threw some today, two or three in succession. We're trying to get him out of the routine of throwing change-ups from behind on the count and being predictable.”
Both pitchers signed non-guaranteed minor-league contracts. But Fernandez, who hasn't pitched in the majors since 1997 while enduring elbow problems, has said he would accept a minor-league assignment. That would enable him to strengthen his arm while giving the Reds some depth.
Portugal, who was on the brink of retiring before his young sons persuaded him to accept the Reds' offer, probably would balk at the idea of going to the minors after nearly 13 seasons in the big leagues.
“They asked me to show up healthy and throw the ball. I've done that,” Portugal said. “But other guys have thrown the ball well, too. It's a decision that's going to be made by somebody other than me. I can't sweat it. It's something that's out of my control.”
Having come this far, Portugal wants to take the next step.
“I'm ready to pitch,” he said. “I'm ready for the season to start. I just hope I'm part of this team when it happens.”
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