Wednesday, March 29, 2000
Pitchers' woes not troubling
REDS NOTEBOOK
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Reds' brain trust didn't seem to be bothered by the recent difficulties experienced by Denny Neagle, Ron Villone and Mark Portugal, three-fifths of the team's starting rotation.
In their last starts, the three have combined to allow 18 earned runs and 28 hits in 14 innings, recording an 11.57 ERA.
“You can't put a lot of faith in spring training statistics,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said.
“I'd much rather have them do it in March than April,” Bowden said of the pitchers' struggles. “I've seen springs where the pitchers get them all out down here and they go up (for the regular season) and get whacked for a month.”
PROFIT MARGIN: Right-handed pitcher Eddie Gaillard may never win a game for the Reds, but he has made them $680,000 richer by just breathing.
The Reds sold the contractual rights to Gaillard, who was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on March22, to the Chunichi Dragons of the Japanese Central League for $700,000.
This was the same Gaillard who the Reds claimed for the $20,000 waiver price from Tampa Bay Nov.24. He was 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in six spring appearances.
Gaillard's departure opens up a spot on the 40-man roster, which will come in handy if or when outfielder Deion Sanders or right-hander Mark Wohlers becomes able to play. Both will begin the season recovering from injuries and regaining their form with the major-league club before reporting to Triple-A Louisville.
BAD DAY: Mark Portugal gave up six runs and 10 hits in four-plus innings Tuesday, hiking his ERA to 6.00. “Not the best outing of the spring,” said Cincinnati's No.5 starter. He also turned an ankle.
“I don't foresee it being a problem, though it might be sore for a couple of days,” said Portugal, who'll stay in Florida to pitch a minor-league exhibition game on Saturday while the rest of the Reds play Baltimore in Chattanooga, Tenn.
JAPAN JAUNT: McKeon wanted to make sure he said the right things about the season-opening, two-game series between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets which starts today.
“Everybody has different opinions but if it's good for baseball, I'm all for it,” McKeon said. Noting that he thoroughly enjoyed a personal trip he took to the Land of the Rising Sun as a guest of the Yakult Swallows in the late 1980s, he added, “I like Japan.”
But McKeon said the logistics of playing in Japan would be daunting.
“Whether I'd want to go over there to open the season and come back ... It's a necessary evil. But you have no choice,” he said. “If you're asked to go, you go. You have to do what's best for the interests of the game.”
Speculation already has begun that the Reds could be asked to play in Japan next year, due to center fielder Ken Griffey Jr.'s worldwide allure.
Reds Stories
UC's Johnson not in class, weighs NBA
Martin awarded Robertson trophy
Stadium's signature: A Swoosh
Dillon talks put on hold
Limits for on-field celebration suggested
Cleaves' loss a Spartan gain
Flying Pig draws world record holder
Local boxers advance in Olympic qualifier
UK suspends two players after arrests
Reds page
