Monday, March 27, 2000

Portugal officially No. 5

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Veteran makes rotation; Mercado earns bullpen spot

BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Reds pitcher Steve Parris throws against the Devil Rays Sunday. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        SARASOTA, Fla. — The Opening Day roster is set.

        The Reds optioned right-handed pitchers Bobby Munoz and Osvaldo Fernandez to Triple-A Louisville on Sunday. That means Mark Portugal is the fifth starter, and Hector Mercado fills the last bullpen spot.

        “You have to prepare for a 162-game marathon,” Reds General Manager Jim Bowden said. “With injuries you need 14 or 15 pitchers. We know who the 11 pitchers for Opening Day are. There's no point in waiting.”

        The roster stands at 28, three over the Opening Day limit. Barring an injury, shortstop Gookie Dawkins, catcher Jason LaRue and outfielder Kimera Bartee will be sent to Louisville.

        Portugal won the job because of his experience and the fact that Reds would have lost him if he didn't make the roster.

        Portugal, a 37-year-old right-hander, has pitched 12 seasons in the big leagues. He was 7-12 with the Boston Red Sox last year, but he was 10-5 with 4.40 ERA the year before.

        He is 3-0 this spring, but his ERA is 6.48 and he's allowed 29 hits in 20 innings.

        “I thought I've thrown the ball pretty decent,” he said. “"But the results haven't been there. I'm sure experience played a role in their decision.”

        He took the news with his usual good humor.

        “I would been ticked if I spent all this money getting in shape and didn't make the team,” he said.

        Portugal was considering retirement when Bowden called him and invited him to camp.

        “My (three) kids will be psyched,” he said. “I talked to them the other day and they said, "Dad, did you make the team?'I said, "No.' They said, "Why not?' I'll have some good news for them.”

        Mercado is on the opposite end of the spectrum from Portugal. He has no major-league experience, but he pitched his way onto the staff this spring.

        “He earned it,” Bowden said. “Mercado was an easy decision.”

        Mercado, a 25-year-old left-hander, has not allowed a run in 14 innings this spring.

        He is coming off elbow and shoulder surgery that kept him from throwing for almost two years.

        “After all I've been through,” Mercado said, “this is wonderful.”

        Mercado pitched only six innings last year. He was 11-3 with 3.96 ERA for the New York Mets' Double-A team in Portland, Maine, in 1997.

        He's been used as both a starter and reliever in the minors.

        The Reds will use him out of the bullpen, giving them three left-handed relievers: Mercado, Gabe White and Dennys Reyes.

        “It gives us more flexibility,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said. “(Last year), we had to use Gabe early, then hold back Reyes. Now, we can use two of them earlier.”

        Mercado is glad for the chance.

        “I don't care if I start or relieve,” he said. “I've done both in the minors. I just wanted an opportunity.”

        Fernandez, who is also coming off elbow surgery, and Munoz, who was slowed by a sore hamstring, will pitch in the starting rotation at Louisville, along with Elmer Dessens and Rob Bell.

        “We'll stretch them out to six or seven innings,” Bowden said. “They 'll compete to be the first guy called up when there's an injury.”

        If Portugal struggles, one of them could be called up.

        The final three cuts will come by Wednesday.

        Other than the final two spots on the pitching staff, the only position that was in question after the cuts is the back-up catcher spot. LaRue is battling veteran Benito Santiago for it, but Santiago looks to have won the job.

        Santiago is like Portugal — he had to be on the Opening Day roster or he would become a free agent.

        Santiago also has performed. He's hitting .342 with four RBI this spring. LaRue is hitting .208 with a homer and three RBI.

       

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