Sexton thaws out

Sexton took ground balls with Pokey Reese and Gookie Dawkins as part of an informal workout Thursday. This sort of occurrence repeats itself every spring in each team's camp and thus was no big deal.

Except for Sexton, who lives in Cincinnati. He has experienced this frigid winter alongside you.

“This was the first time I took ground balls outside, on grass,” he said. “Usually I get out on the field once or twice before spring training.”

Sexton almost invariably found that the earth around Cincinnati was frozen. “And when it thawed, it was so wet,” said the former St.Xavier High and Miami star.

Sexton, who hit .210 in 35 games last year, also was pleased to be back with the Reds. He received several other offers before signing as a minor-league free agent Nov.17 and receiving a non-roster invitation to camp.

The difference, said Sexton, was a phone call to his agent, Brian Goldberg, from manager Bob Boone. Through Goldberg, Boone urged Sexton to consider the Reds, because they had a shortage of utility players at the time. Since then they've obtained Donnie Sadler and Wilton Guerrero.

“It's certainly no guarantee,” Boone said, recounting the conversation. “But look at our club and see where we're thinnest.”

Said Sexton: “I don't know exactly what was said, but the gist of what I got out of it, after talking to Brian, was that I was going to get a fair shot. That impressed me. He (Boone) is a busy guy. It's not often that something like that would happen.”

Having to scrap for a job doesn't intimidate Sexton.

“It's something I'm used to,” he said. “Until I'm able to establish myself, there's going to be competition. That's the nature of professional sports. As long as I'm in there competing, I have at least some control over it if I get a chance.”

RIEDLING THE YEARLING: John Riedling's status has soared since last spring, when he wasn't a serious candidate for the pitching staff despite being on the 40-man roster.

After impressing the Reds in the season's final month with a 3-1 record, 2.35 ERA and one save, Riedling now occupies a locker in the same row as Mark Wohlers, Danny Graves and Scott Sullivan, Cincinnati's premier relievers. He's expected to enhance the depth of the Reds' bullpen.

But he's not taking a spot on the Opening Day roster for granted.

“I don't want to act like I made the team or anything,” Riedling said. “The bullpen has been great the last three years. Hopefully I can help keep it that way. I've been trying to break through, so I know how good it is.”

Still, the pressure on Riedling has eased.

“In years past, you know you're not going to throw too much, and you're doing everything to open up some eyes,” he said.

ETC.: Left-hander Dennys Reyes, who remains in Mexico due to visa problems, was the only Red to miss the opening workout for pitchers and catchers.

• Center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., who reported to camp Wednesday, did not participate in Thursday's workout. As a position player, Griffey was not obligated to participate, though he could have elected to because he finished last season with a hamstring injury.

• It didn't take long for the gags to resume in the clubhouse. Bullpen coach Tom Hume, who was arrested in early January for alleged hunting violations in Lee County, Ga., was asked by Graves why he wasn't in jail. “I'm on the work-release program,” Hume said. Actually, the charges against Hume were dropped.

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