Saturday, April 08, 2000
REDS NOTEBOOK
Cromer now 3-for-3 for career
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
D.T. Cromer made history Friday night — recent history, at least.
The Reds rookie slapped a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning, extending his perfect performance off the bench to 3-for-3. No Reds batter since 1975 has recorded hits in each of his first three plate appearances.
The only other two Reds since 1975 to record hits in each of their first two major-league plate appearances were right-handed pitcher Keefe Ca to on June 7, 1984 at San Diego, and utilityman Eric Owens on June 7-8, 1995 against Pittsburgh.
JUNIOR ON SOSA: Reds center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. has distinct memories of Sammy Sosa stemming from when the Chicago Cubs slugger played in the American League with Texas and the Chicago White Sox from 1989-91.
“He was a thin little child, not like now,” said Griffey, a former Seattle Mariner. “I walked out and saw him a few minutes ago and told him he was strong like a bull. He started laughing.”
Griffey delivered a succinct appraisal of Sosa's skills: “You'd rather see him on defense than offense.” Reminded that Sosa is a decent out fielder, Griffey said, “But he can't hurt you on defense.”
ONE A DAY: Right fielder Dante Bichette poked his head through the thicket of reporters surrounding Griffey and said, “All we need is a hundred hits out of him this year. Because every time he gets a hit, we win.”
It was a reference to Thursday night's game, when Griffey's first hit as a Red drove in a first-inning run in Cincinnati's 5-1 victory over Milwaukee.
Griffey thought for a moment after Bichette left before saying, “I need a little more than that.”
DEION'S DATE: Outfielder Deion Sanders said he would report to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday to play himself back into baseball shape.
“I'll try to have 10 stolen bases by the time they get back,” Sanders said of the Reds, who will begin a weeklong road trip Monday at Colorado.
Asked how long he expects to be in the minors, Sanders emphasized general manager Jim Bowden would determine that. “It's his timetable, not mine,” Sanders said.
RIGHT ANGLES: Instead of criticizing Bichette's shaky defense, Reds manager Jack McKeon praised his right fielder for diligently trying to improve.
Bichette spent 35-40 minutes on Thursday taking fielding practice. “He's one of the hardest workers we have,” McKeon said.
McKeon said right field “has been hazardous for everybody” since he became a manager in mid-1997.
“Reggie (Sanders) had a tough time out there, and Dmitri had a tough time last year until he settled in,” McKeon said.
AWARDS SHOW: Reds who will be honored today: Jack McKeon (Manager of Year), Sean Casey (Hutch Award), Griffey (Silver Slugger, Gold Glove), Barry Larkin (Silver Slugger), Pokey Reese (Gold Glove) and Scott Williamson (NL rookie of the year).
ETC.: The Cubs reinstated outfielder Glenallen Hill, who went on the 15-day disabled list on March 23 with a strained left hamstring.
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Cromer now 3-for-3 for career