Tuesday, March 28, 2000
Finger good enough for Reese to play
2B says he's fit to start season
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — The possibility of Pokey Reese's missing the Reds' season opener faded when the second baseman started Monday's exhibition game against the Texas Rangers.
The Reds insisted they weren't concerned Sunday when Reese aggravated his sprained right ring fin ger and was scratched from the starting lineup against Tampa Bay. But that same injury sidelined Reese for two weeks when he originally hurt himself March 3 on a headfirst slide into second base.
Reese, a Gold Glove winner and leadoff hitter, also said he was never worried.
“I wouldn't let it hold me out of the lineup,” he said. “If this was the regular season, I'd be in there.”
Reese was in there against the Rangers.
He went 1-for-3, scored a run and handled three fielding chances flawlessly in the Reds 9-8 loss. Manager Jack McKeon removed Reese with most of the other regulars after five innings.
Reese's hand was around a cellular phone instead of being encased in an ice pack after he left the game, proving that he felt fine.
“Except for that one at-bat,” Reese said with a laugh, referring to a checked-swing groundout to first base.
Reese admitted that his finger occasionally pained him since he resumed playing in exhibitions on March 18.
“I'd wake up in the morning and it would be stiff and swollen a little bit,” Reese said. “But this morning I woke up, and there wasn't any swelling. And it felt good in batting practice.”
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