Thursday, March 30, 2000

Reds face truth about pitching

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Rookie Bell replaces Portugal as fifth starter

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

When he wasn't shuffing his pitching staff, Jim Bowden (right) was dancing to "YMCA" with his son JB, 13. They were dragging the infield with the grounds crew after the fifth inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        SARASOTA, Fla. — The Reds proved Wednesday that they sense the weight of increased expectations and have worried much more about their starting rotation than they admitted.

        They released Mark Portugal, the 13-year-veteran whom they named their No.5 starter Sunday, and replaced him by recalling Rob Bell, the 23-year-old whose peak experience consists of 72 Double-A innings.

        Portugal's spring statistics were lackluster. His 3-0 record masked a 6.00 ERA and 39 hits allowed in 24 innings. Opponents hit .371 against him.

        But Monday, manager Jack McKeon said he considered this year's season-opening pitching staff to be stronger than last year's. Tuesday, General Manager Jim Bowden said he wasn't overly concerned about hard-hit starters such as Denny Neagle (8.10 ERA), Ron Villone (7.29) and Portugal, who had just allowed Boston six runs and 10 hits in four innings.

        “If yesterday was the reason I got fired, that's really tired,” said Portugal, who pitched for the Reds in 1995-96.

        More likely, Reds management feels heightened pressure to win a championship in the wake of last year's 96-victory season and the acquisition of Ken Griffey Jr. At least that's a widely held perception in the clubhouse.

Bell

Portugal

        “It would be unfair for me to comment on what they're thinking, but it would seem that way to a degree,” Opening Day pitcher Pete Harnisch said.

        “Last year we were a team that everybody thought might surprise people. This year we're a team that's supposed to win,” left-hander Denny Neagle said. “... Just like players press, sometimes management might all of a sudden start saying, "We're supposed to win it; I'm going to make damned sure we're covering all our bases now.'”

        Bell, who has a 30-34 record in five minor-league seasons, was among the Atlanta Braves' top pitching prospects when they sent him, outfielder Michael Tucker and Neagle to the Reds in the November 1998 Bret Boone trade.

        Portugal owns a 109-95 major-league record and a reputation as a savvy competitor. At 37, he indicated he's likely to retire from baseball.

        “Absolutely we're rushing him,” Bowden said of Bell. “Sure, we're concerned about it. But it's a decision we think is best for this club, now and long term.”

        Said Bell, who allowed one earned run in seven innings in two early March exhibition games: “I feel I've learned a lot in Double-A (last year). I feel like I haven't missed out on anything.”

        The timing of the move stunned players who were happily preparing to break camp. The Reds play their final Florida exhibition game today against Toronto and open the season Monday at Cinergy Field against Milwaukee.

        Harnisch was the most vocal of Portugal's supporters.

        “"Bewildered' is probably the best word I could come up with. "Shocked' is probably another one,” Harnisch said. “To tell a guy a day and a half ago he's made the team ... He probably figures, "I've stopped being evaluated.' He's probably not out there (against Boston) at full blast.

        “Obviously, the man was put in a do-or-die situation to make the team and didn't even know it. That's pretty horse(bleep). I'm sure they have their reasons. But that part of the game's not fun, to watch a guy (leave) who's a really good friend, a major-league pitcher for 13 years and still a quality major-league pitcher who could help this team. The way it was handled probably was not the best. But that's what you get sometimes around here I guess.” Money was not a factor, because Portugal signed a non-guaranteed minor-league contract.

        “It was strictly a baseball decision,” Bowden said. “I love Mark personally. It was very difficult for me to have to (release him), because Mark's a winner. He helped us win in '95 and get to the NLCS. But the reality is, he's been hit hard all spring. We haven't seen any progress. We're now going to Plan B, because Rob Bell has pitched really well.”

        The performances Bowden referred to included a pair of minor-league exhibitions that McKeon and pitching coach Don Gullett watched. McKeon pointed out that though Bell was sent to minor-league camp March 16, that was done partly to give him a chance to pitch and avoid the logjam of veteran pitchers who needed innings in major-league exhibitions.

        “I could care less what's been done,” Bowden said. “We send guys out to pitch. It's much better to (have a pitcher) pitch down there and evaluate (him) there rather than (for him) to sit up here and not get innings.”

       

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