Saturday, March 24, 2001
Reds Notebook
Boone feels Morris' pain
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — Bob Boone knows what Hal Morris is going through. Morris, a 13-year veteran, decided to retire Thursday.
Boone told Morris the feeling would get better.
“While it's sad, there's also a lot of relief,” Boone said. “He's going to realize all the things he'll get to do.”
Morris, who was in his third stint with the Reds, had two hits in 17 at-bats (.118) since rejoining the team March7.
“Hal has some personal issues, some family issues,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said, without elaborating. “He couldn't concentrate fully on baseball.”
Still, with the success Morris had (.304 lifetime average) over 13 years, it's tough to give it up.
“I was trying to come back with Seattle when I was 43,” Boone said. “To this day, I think they were crazy to let me go. ... It's a great life. That's why it's hard to leave it.”
Barry Larkin, Morris' teammate for 11 years, hadn't spoken to him.
“I can't tell you what he's thinking,” Larkin said.
REESE RETURN: Pokey Reese, who hasn't played since being hit by a pitch Wednesday, will start today against the Detroit Tigers in Lakeland.
“All the soreness is gone,” Reese said.
LARKIN UPDATE: Larkin said Friday he felt as good as he has felt since injuring his right groin. He resumed baseball activity Tuesday.
He passed a big test Thursday: sliding.
“It was uneventful,” he said. “That was a big hurdle simply because that was how I injured it.”
RIVERA DEBUT: Ruben Rivera, the newest Red, will be the designated hitter against the Tigers today. Rivera hasn't played since he was released by San Diego more than a week ago. “The only thing that concerns me is him running,” Boone said.
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Boone feels Morris' pain
