Saturday, April 01, 2000

Quick start would help Reds

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9-12 April put them in hole last year

BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Deion Sanders, who will start the season in Louisville on rehab assignment, is congratulated by Mark Lewis after scoring in Friday's intrasquad game. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        SARASOTA, Fla. — Though ballplayers are experts at refusing to dwell on the past, the Reds might be wise to recall the end of last season upon beginning this one.

        They lost three of their final four regular-season games, spoiling a 19-9 September and forcing a one-game wild-card playoff with the New York Mets, which they also dropped. Months earlier, they lurched through a 9-12 April and were in last place as late as May 15 with a 15-18 record before jelling. A better start would have spared the Reds the burdens of closing with a rush and facing the Mets in the wild-card showdown.

        With that in mind, the Reds know that starting this season at a quicker pace would signifi cantly ease the challenge they face in the evenly matched National League Central Division.

        A fast start would be a welcome departure for the Reds, who haven't finished above .500 in April since 1994 (15-7). They were 12-14 in 1998, 7-18 in 1997, 9-16 in 1996 and 0-5 in strike-shortened 1995.

        Two contradictory adages are relevant here. One goes,

        “The games you win in April are just as important as the ones in September,” which reinforces the notion that a quick break from the gate is best.

        Then there's the saying, “It's a marathon, not a sprint,” which fans loathe but players embrace, since it reflects the importance of maintaining perspective, viewing the proverbial big picture and keeping calm over a 162-game season. Adherents of this theory believe that while a fast start isn't essential, it can't hurt.

        “It's not do or die, so to speak, but it's important,” said Reds third baseman Aaron Boone, who philosophizes about baseball better than most 27-year-olds. “You win the division by putting together solid months and playing consistently. In the grand scheme of things, April is no more or less important than August or September. Obviously we want to get off to a good start. Hopefully we'll be on the good side of .500 in April.”

        Reds manager Jack McKeon has no doubt what factor can most directly influence a smooth takeoff. “You get off to a good start (when) the pitching is sharp,” he said.

        Perhaps this goes without saying, since solid pitching's always essential. But McKeon pointed out that pitching quality is especially volatile early in the season, when starters haven't gained consistency and closers are still harnessing their strength. Any staff maintaining a semblance of steadiness will boost its team considerably.

        McKeon cited the New York Mets' season opener Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs in Japan as an example: “Who would expect (Mets ace Mike) Hampton to walk nine guys? He probably won't walk nine guys the next month.”

        The Reds won't be able to blame the schedule if they falter in April. They play 12 of their first 18 games at Cinergy Field. For the month, the only teams Cincinnati faces that finished above .500 last year are San Francisco (April 18-20) and New York (April 25-27). In fact, the Reds won't play back-to-back series against above-.500 clubs from '99 until June 9-14, when they visit Cleveland and San Francisco.

        By then, of course, new powerhouses may have emerged. Some of them could come from the NL Central. St. Louis has improved by adding center fielder Jim Edmonds and right-handers Andy Benes, Pat Hent gen and Darryl Kile. Houston lost Hampton, the Cy Young Award winner, but still looks formidable. Pittsburgh has arguably the league's best rotation with Kris Benson, Francisco Cordova, Todd Ritchie and Jason Schmidt.

        The Reds might need any immediate edge they can get.

        “If we can set the tone and create a little gap in the standings, that's always nice,” left-hander Denny Neagle said.

        ETC.: The Reds play their final exhibition game today beginning at 2:10 p.m. when they confront the Baltimore Orioles in Chattanooga, site of Cincinnati's Double-A affiliate. • Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Ochoa rapped three hits apiece to highlight Friday's intrasquad game, which included players from Triple-A affiliate Louisville. Ochoa also drove in three runs.

        Dante Bichette hit a two-run homer while Aaron Boone, Michael Tucker, Benito Santiago and minor-leaguer D.T. Cromer had two hits apiece.

        Steve Parris (six innings, 10 hits, five runs, one walk, six strikeouts) and Rob Bell (seven innings, eight hits, seven runs, three earned, one walk, two strikeouts) were the starting pitchers.

       

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