Friday, March 24, 2000
Radke may be back on market
REDS NOTEBOOK
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — General Manager Jim Bowden refused to comment Thursday on Minnesota Twins right-hander Brad Radke. Bowden didn't have to.
The speculation about a trade involving Radke will begin anew now that his agent, Ron Simon, has announced they won't negotiate a contract extension with Minnesota during the season. This increases the likelihood that the Twins, fearful of losing Radke for nothing but compensatory draft choices as a free agent after the season, will try to deal him.
Early this month, Bowden openly professed his interest in Radke, who finished 12-14 with a 3.75 ERA last year and would be a No.1 or No.2 starter in almost any team's rotation.
Should Minnesota reopen the Radke bidding, the Reds would have plenty of competition, including Atlanta, Boston, Oakland, Tampa Bay and both New York teams. The low-budget Twins are looking primarily for low-paid young players or minor-league prospects.
WINCHESTER DEMOTED: The Reds optioned pitcher Scott Winchester to Triple-A Louisville, trimming their spring roster to 31 and ending the right-hander's impressive bid to make the Opening Day roster.
Limited to six minor-league rehabilitation appearances last year after undergoing shoulder surgery in August 1998, Winchester did not allow a run in his first four spring appearances, spanning 4ô innings.
“He was incredible,” Bowden said. “He was throwing 92-93 (mph) and had a great breaking ball.”
Winchester allowed runs in four of his last five appearances and finished with a 1-1 record and a 4.76 ERA.
“The last three outings, he was down a little bit (in velocity), but I think that's normal when you're coming back from his kind of injury,” Bowden said. “So I definitely think the signs we saw early in the spring are what we're going to see later this year. He just needs to pitch and get innings. It's not going to do him any good to be carried as an 11th pitcher and not be used, because that's not how you build up arm strength.”
WOHLERS' PROGRESS: Mark Wohlers took another step forward in his recovery from extensive elbow surgery, pitching his first round of batting practice.
Pitching coach Don Gullett said Wohlers, who's about a month ahead of schedule in his comeback from “Tommy John” surgery July 6, probably will throw batting practice every three days if he remains healthy.
“We're going to build him up gradually,” said Gullett, who has been pleased with Wohlers' resilience.
Wohlers threw all fastballs in his 25-pitch stint, but Gullett said the former Atlanta Braves closer has begun throwing breaking pitches and split-fingered fastballs on flat ground.
BOONE DENTED: Third baseman Aaron Boone aggravated a mildly sprained left ankle while rounding first base Thursday on his first-inning RBI single. He said he initially hurt himself Wednesday.
“It's not a big deal,” Boone said.
Still, he left the game for precautionary reasons and was replaced by Chris Stynes.
BACK TO BACK: Gullett said he plans to use relief pitchers on consecutive days “in the very near future” to prepare them for the regular season.
“I think they're in physical condition to do it,” Gullett said. “It's to get them acclimated. It's more of a mental hump to get over than anything else.”
ETC.: Fox Sports Net will televise today's 1p.m. game against Toronto.
• An ugly moment occurred as the Reds came off the field after the top of the eighth inning. A fan sitting behind Cincinnati's dugout, apparently intoxicated, began yelling insults at second baseman Pokey Reese.
Numerous Reds players gathered at the dugout's top step, expressing outrage and demanding the fan's ejection. Reese was clearly unhappy later but said: “It's part of our jobs. We have to take it.”
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