Tuesday, March 28, 2000
REDS NOTEBOOK
Deion gets first hit with big-league club
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Deion Sanders had a distinguished visitor after Monday's exhibition game against the Texas Rangers. It was Chan Gailey, his former head coach with the Dallas Cowboys who became the Miami Dolphins' offensive coordinator after being fired.
![[sanders]](/img/photos/2000/03/032800sanders_180x144.jpg)
Deion Sanders, left, laughs at teammate Ken Griffey Jr. during Monday's game.
(AP photo)
| ZOOM | |
“He's all right, and that's the best thing,” Sanders said after chatting briefly but warmly with Gailey in the Reds' clubhouse.
Sanders also looked OK against the Rangers while making only his second appearance in a major-league exhibition game this spring. The aspiring Red entered the game to play left field in the bottom of the sixth inning and went 1-for-2, grounding out to second base against left-hander Mike Munoz in the seventh before singling to left field off right-hander R.A. Dickey in the ninth inning.
Sanders' first hit in five spring at-bats loaded the bases and set up the Reds' three-run rally in their 9-8 loss.
“Anytime you get an opportunity to play with the big guys, that's definitely a step forward,” he said after his first Reds appearance since March 14.
Sanders, who has been honing his skills in minor-league exhibitions, didn't receive a chance to demonstrate how much of his renowned speed he has regained as he continues recovering from right knee and ankle injuries. He did manage to break up a ninth-inning double play by sliding into second base.
General Manager Jim Bowden has said that Sanders won't be activated until he proves he can be a disruptive force on the basepaths. Bowden is giving Sanders every opportunity to recapture that skill, allowing the cornerback/outfielder to heal and train in Cincinnati until he's ready to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Louisville.
Dr. Tim Kremchek, the Reds' team physician, has said that Sanders should be able to play regularly at 100 percent of his physical capacity in four weeks. Sanders obviously disagreed with this assessment.
“How can I put this gently? That's Dr. Kremchek's opinion,” Sanders said. “I've been feeling well for — I'm not going to say for quite some time — but this past week I've been really good ... I don't think I'm running any better or worse than I usually am. (Sunday) I felt really good.”
Sanders swung at the first pitch from Munoz before working Dickey to a 3-1 count and making solid contact. That, he said, reflected his lack of confidence against left-handers and his ease facing right-handers.
“I'm not as comfortable against lefties as against righties,” said Sanders, a left-handed batter.
HIS OWN BLASTS: Ken Griffey Jr. said he didn't watch Sunday's televised demolition of Seattle's Kingdome, his home stadium for nearly 11 years. He didn't need to.
“I just moved it back a few feet,” he deadpanned, joking about the force of his home-run blasts.
ONE MORE TUNEUP: Each starting pitcher will receive one more tuneup before the season begins April 3 at Cinergy Field against Milwaukee. Cincinnati has three Florida exhibition games remaining before a Friday scrimmage against its Triple-A Louisville affiliate and a Saturday exhibition in Chattanooga, Tenn., against Baltimore.
JACK'S GAGS: McKeon amused himself Monday morning by answering telephone calls that were mistakenly routed to the visiting team manager's office.
Without identifying himself, he assured one caller that the game would be played despite the rain, and told another caller that the Rangers' ticket office would open the next morning at 9.
“That's one of the jobs you have as manager,” he said.
Reds Stories
Pickens interests Ravens
BENGALS NOTEBOOK
It's worst-ever Final Four group
Lakota East beats Fairfield in Hamilton's coaching debut
Reds page
![[sanders]](/img/photos/2000/03/032800sanders.jpg)