Mercado needs good spring

SARASOTA, Fla. — If Hector Mercado comes anywhere close to duplicating his 2000 spring-training performance, he'll make the Opening Day pitching staff. Then again, matching what he did last year will be extremely difficult.

Mercado posted a 1.59 ERA in 12 exhibition appearances to claim the last spot in the bullpen, but he was sent to Triple-A Louisville after posting a 7.36 ERA in five outings. He allowed only one run in 6 2/3 innings during a September promotion.

Being a left-hander automatically gives Mercado an edge. Should Dennys Reyes make the starting rotation, the Reds might want to keep a lefty in the bullpen.

“I know I'm in better shape this year,” said Mercado, who was 1-5 with a 3.04 ERA and two saves for Louisville. “I'll just try to do the best I can. If you don't do the job, you've gotta go down (to the minors).”

Mercado said he felt fit despite having arthroscopic surgery Dec.19 to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. “I think it's 100 percent,” he said.

HEAD START? You might think Frankie Rodriguez is ready to start the season.

A non-roster invitee to camp, Rodriguez pitched one of the more impressive games of the Caribbean Series at Culiacan, Mexico, earlier this month, limiting the Cibao Aguilas of the Dominican Republic to one run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 7-3 victory for Caguas, Puerto Rico.

But that's not quite the same as facing major-league competition.

“Winter ball's a little bit different,” said Rodriguez, who has pitched for Boston, Minnesota and Seattle since 1995. “They have some (good) hitters there, but it's not the caliber of hitting that there is (in the majors). It always helps when you're not starting from scratch. But to face a tough hitter every at-bat, you have to do a lot more conditioning. It's easy to go out there in winter ball and just throw. So you can't say you're prepared. It's definitely a start, though.”

Rodriguez, who signed a minor-league contract last month, has an outside chance to force his way onto the Opening Day roster as either a starter or reliever. He was 2-1 with a 6.27 ERA in 23 relief appearances with Seattle last year.

“Nothing's guaranteed here, but the opportunity's a little bit better,” said Rodriguez, explaining why he chose the Reds over other teams he considered.

ETC.: First baseman Sean Casey, the last of Cincinnati's projected regulars to arrive in camp, unloaded his gear and took some late-afternoon swings in a batting cage. Casey yelled happily as he burst through the front doors: “Let's go! Let's get it on!”

• Reyes remained stalled in Mexico but is expected to arrive today. “I don't think it's a prob lem,” manager Bob Boone said. “I think it's a concern — a concern for him, as much as it is for the Reds. We can't wait around for him. We have to get more out of him this year.”

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