Reds-Indians: No more mismatch

The Indians were this big, powerful team — bound for the World Series. They had bash ers up and down the lineup. They had money to spend and All-Stars at every position.

The Reds were this nice, little team — bound for rebuilding. They had no bashers in the lineup. They had no money to spend, and the only All-Star they had would be traded two days before the All-Star Game.

“You had two teams going in opposite directions,” said Reds closer and former Indian Danny Graves.

The Reds' disastrous series loss to the Chicago White Sox notwithstanding, the Reds and Indians go into this year's interstate, interleague rivalry pretty much on equal ground. The series opens at 7:05 p.m. today at Jacobs Field.

The Indians won 97 games last year. The Reds won 96.The Indians are the favorites in the American League Central. The Reds are the favor ites in the National League Central.

“On paper, we're as good as them,” Graves said. “Maybe even a little better.”

The Reds and Indians are linked by more than geography. Two huge trades with the Indians helped shape the Reds' roster:

• On July 31, 1997, the Reds sent John Smiley and Jeff Branson to the Indians for Graves, Damian Jackson, Jim Crowell and Scott Winchester.

• On March 30, 1997 — the eve of Opening Day — the Reds sent Opening Day starter Dave Burba to the Indians for Sean Casey.

Graves and Casey, along with other players in the young-and-cheaper movement, played well in 1998. That led to the shift in the

Reds' philosophy for 1999.

“All the talk had been about getting ready for the new stadium,” Graves said. “But the young players played so well, management said, "Let's go for it and win now.'”

Jackson was one of three players traded to San Diego so the Reds could acquire Greg Vaughn, a big part of last year's success.

The Indians played another role in the Reds' success last season. They came in June and swept the Reds, but the Reds went to Cleveland and took two of three in July.

“I think that showed us that we could play with anyone,” Casey said. “It gave us a lot of confidence.”

The series came right before the All-Star break. The Reds carried the momentum of the Indians series into the second half.

Last year's run led to the signings of Ken Griffey Jr. and Dante Bichette before this season.

Thus, the playing field was leveled.

And now the level playing field is at a very high level. The Indians, despite a spate of injuries, are 32-23 and 1¹/₂ games behind the White Sox in the AL Central.

“Every time you play Cleveland, it's a challenge,” said Denny Neagle, who will start tonight's opener. “They got boppers up and down the lineup — (Jim) Thome, (Richie) Sexson, (Dave) Justice. The list goes on.

“Friday night in the Jake. It should be fun.”

The rivalry has been fun. Last year, the Reds traded a White Sox series for an Indians series at Cinergy. (One at Jacobs was already on the schedule).

This year, the Reds didn't have to ask for two series.

“Baseball did that on its own,” Reds chief operating officer John Allen said. “The Mets and the Yankees and the Cubs and White Sox play twice also.”

The Reds are 5-7 against the Indians. The Reds have fared better in Jacobs, where they are 4-2, than at Cinergy.

“We've played them enough now that it doesn't get the hype it used to,” said catcher Eddie Taubensee, one of four former Indians on the Reds roster. “They're still the team to beat in their division.

“It should make for some interesting games.”

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