Barry Larkin dodges an inside pitch. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The “new” strike zone was either ignored or emphasized during Thursday's exhibition opener, depending on whom you talked to.

        Prompted by the commissioner's office, the strike zone has grown higher to include pitches about two-and-a-half baseballs above a hitter's belt, and narrower, to exclude pitches off the corners of home plate.

        Shortstop Barry Larkin, who homered and lined out twice, thought plate umpire Scott Nelson made few changes.

        “I think it's going to be one of those deals where you have to respect what an individual umpire is going to call,” Larkin said. “(Nelson) wasn't calling high strikes on me. I purposely took a couple of (high) pitches, thinking they might be at the top of the strike zone. And he called them balls. So he wasn't calling the high strike. At least not on me.”

        Right fielder Alex Ochoa agreed.

        “Pitchers are trying to throw down (low), anyway,” he said. “It's the first day, so they're getting used to it, too.”

        But rookie knuckleballer Jared Fernandez, who pitched two innings, noticed a pronounced change.

        “I threw two or three (pitches) that were high that they'd normally call balls, and I got them for strikes. All of them,” the right-hander said. “And I threw two or three on the outside corner that I'd usually get (for strikes) — one was a fastball, two were knuckleballs — and I didn't get any. So I guess they're really serious about being straight up and down (on the corners).”

        STEADY EDDIE: Former Reds catcher Eddie Taubensee knows beyond doubt his surgically repaired lower back is much better.

        “Sean Casey came over my house the week before spring training began and we rode roller coasters together at MGM Studios,” said Taubensee, who lives near Orlando.

        Taubensee, traded to Cleveland Nov.16 for right-handers Jim Brower and Robert Pugmire, was limited to 81 games last year with the Reds. He underwent surgery Aug.8 to remove a disk that was pushing on his spinal cord.

        Taubensee began rehabilitation immediately and said he began feeling well again around Christmas.

        “It's going well so far,” he said. “I'm really healthy.”

        He proved it in the seventh inning with an RBI single off Reds rookie Brian Reith that forged a 3-3 tie.

        Taubensee will need more moments like that to equal the playing time he received with Cincinnati. Cleveland manager Charlie Manuel has said he expects Einar Diaz to catch 100 to 110 games, leaving only about 50 to 60 for Tauben see.

        IN THE FOLD: With right-hander Rob Bell and left-hander Hector Mercado coming to terms, the 40-man roster has been signed.

Harnisch expects trade from Reds Labor worries cast shadow over season Grass is greener at Cinergy Field DAUGHERTY: Wohlers' story best in baseball Game Report: Reds 3, Indians 3 Larkin doesn't notice new strike zone Dykstra quits as Single-A manager

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