It's intriguing to check the projected 2001 performances for individual Reds, devised by the folks at STATS Inc. for their annual Major League Handbook.

        According to them, Sean Casey (.325, 22 homers, 99 RBI) and Ken Griffey Jr. (.286, 48 homers, 135 RBI) will improve upon last year; Dmitri Young (.299, 18 homers, 84 RBI), Barry Larkin (.288, 11 homers, 52 RBI) and Pokey Reese (.259, 10 homers, 49 RBI) will remain at roughly their current levels; Aaron Boone (.264, 11 homers, 55 RBI) might show effects of his knee injury, and Alex Ochoa (.284, 10 homers, 46 RBI) and Michael Tucker (.256, 14 homers, 46 RBI) will continue to contribute in limited roles.

        Because of deadlines, the guide listed Eddie Taubensee and Benito Santiago as Reds, limiting probable starting catcher Jason LaRue (.265, eight homers) to a 196-at-bat projection.

        The Reds will need more from Pete Harnisch than STATS Inc. thinks he can provide (10-9, 4.12 ERA), but they'd welcome the predictions for Danny Graves (36 saves) and Scott Sullivan (7-4, 3.39 ERA, 109 innings pitched). Few Cincinnati pitchers were listed, because criteria for inclusion (150 games or 500 innings) required experience most of them lack.

        Keep in mind that while some of these forecasts are accurate, many miss the mark, as the STATS editors themselves admit. For instance, STATS' 2000 outlook for Reese (.250, eight homers, 51 RBI) was close to his ultimate output (.255, 12 homers, 46 RBI). But they sold Young (.291, 14, 63 predicted; .303, 18, 88 actual) and Graves (3.83 ERA, 23 saves predicted; 2.56 ERA, 30 saves actual) a little short.

What to call The Wall Casey will hear arbitration case STATS sees better years for Casey, Griffey Training complex upgraded

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