Thursday, March 30, 2000
Harnisch to start Opening Day
But he's not happy with his pitching
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — Reds manager Jack McKeon officially announced that Pete Harnisch would start against Milwaukee on Opening Day.
Not only was Harnisch the team's biggest winner last year, finishing 16-10, but he also won his last two pressure-packed starts at Houston and Milwaukee when the Reds were in the playoff race.
“You have confidence it'll be under control (with Harnisch),” McKeon said. “There is a lot of excitement, and you have to have the right individual out there.”
Said Harnisch, “Every year you start fresh and you have to kind of control yourself a little bit. Hopefully I'll be able to have the level of concentration I'd like.”
Harnisch, who'll be starting his fourth career opener, knows what kind of environment he'll encounter.
“There's a little more excitement,” Harnisch said. “Opening Day is a big day for the fans. They've waited a long time, four or five months now. The bottom line is, it's an honor to be out there on the field with the starting team for the first game.”
Harnisch wasn't as respectful about his effort in the Reds' 4-3 exhibition loss to Boston.
“I'm not thrilled with the way I'm throwing the ball, but there's no more time left,” he said after allowing three runs and nine hits in six innings. “You're either ready or you're not. I'm going through a bad dead-arm period. It's been four or five days since the last time I threw. I run into it every spring. It's not like a surprise. But it came a little late, a week to 10 days later than it normally comes.”
FIRST MATCHUPS: After Harnisch faces Milwaukee's Steve Woodard (11-8 a year ago), the series resumes Wednesday with Denny Neagle (9-5) opposing Jimmy Haynes (7-12 with Oakland). Steve Parris (11-4) pitches against Jaime Navarro (8-13 with the Chicago White Sox) in Thursday's series finale.
LARUE STUBBORN: Catcher Jason LaRue bristled at being optioned to Triple-A Louisville, saying, “I've done all there is to do in the minor leagues.”
LaRue began spring training as a lock to back up starter Eddie Taubensee but was supplanted by veteran Benito Santiago, who signed as a free agent on Feb. 24.
LaRue, who spoke Wednesday as he cleaned out his locker, received the bad news from McKeon a day earlier.
“Jack just told me that maybe it'll benefit me to go down there and play every day,” said LaRue, a career .300 hitter in five minor-league seasons. “I said I don't think so. I think the thing that would benefit me right now is learning the hitters and pitchers in the National League, since that's where my future lies.”
MOVES: As expected, the Reds reached the 25-man Opening Day roster limit by outrighting outfielder Kimera Bartee to Triple-A Louisville.
The Reds also placed outfielder Deion Sanders on the 15-day disabled list with an inflamed right ankle.
NUMBERS GAME: Sanders will wear jersey No.2, which previously began to coach Harry Dunlop. Dunlop will switch to No. 50.
Catcher Benito Santiago will exchange the 0 he wore for No.6. Right-hander Rob Bell will wear No. 29 and fellow rookie Hector Mercado No.39.
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