SEATTLE — Adam Dunn ought to be a matter of minutes now. He ought to be called up before the sun goes down. He ought to be in left field Thursday night when the Reds resume their nowhere season at Cinergy Field.

        He has earned it with his statistics and Reds fans have earned it through their suffering.

        Adam Dunn is not only the best reason to believe things will get better, but perhaps the only reason to believe the Reds can be worth watching in 2001.

Adam Dunn | ZOOM |

        The time for nurturing is past. The time for Dunn is now.

        The 21-year-old outfielder who has reduced minor-league pitching to rubble this season was at it again Sunday afternoon.
He struck a towering home run in the All-Star Futures Game at Safeco Field. Counting his stops at Chattanooga and Louisville, it was his 31st home run of the season.

        Whatever Dunn has left to prove is a pittance compared to the power he has to offer. To delay his big-league debut any longer serves no purpose but to postpone his eligibility for salary arbitration. This is about as short-sighted as Mr. Magoo in a manhole.

Making room

        It no longer makes sense to wait for the Reds to create roster room for Dunn. It no longer makes sense to stifle his progress until a deal can be made for Dmitri Young (or Alex Ochoa) to free a starting outfield spot. You don't leave a thoroughbred harnessed to a plow to accommodate a comparative plodder.

Dunn at spring training | ZOOM |

        You don't build a ballclub around the men you're trying to move. You build a ballclub around the guys who demonstrate they deserve it.

        “I definitely think he's going to be very successful,” Louisville manager Dave Miley said. “He's got the ability to do anything he wants in this game.”

        What the left-handed slugger did Sunday was smash a third-inning curve ball from left-hander Juan Pena several stories high down the right-field line, off a window of the Hit It Here Cafe. Baseballs do not normally carry well at Safeco Field, but this one left the premises as if the place were on fire.

        The official estimate on Dunn's drive was 409 feet.

        “Come on,” he said, dismissively, when told of the calculated distance.

        By Dunn's recent slugging standards, it might as well have been a bunt.

Dunn belongs in majors

        This is a guy who received a standing ovation recently for a long-distance foul ball he hit in Louisville. This is a guy who hit a home run in high school over the pine trees beyond a 405-foot center field fence — so far he declines to estimate the distance.

Dunn at spring training | ZOOM |

        This is a guy the Reds player development director calls a “can't-miss superstar.” This is a guy who belongs in the big time.

        “I try not thinking about it,” Dunn said Sunday. “You hear stuff, but you've got to block it out and not let it affect you.”

        Dunn is aware of the scrutiny and speculation that attend his every at bat, but he feels no need to start pushing for a promotion.

        “I'm having a great time,” he said. “The best time I've ever had in baseball.”

        Adam Dunn can afford to wait. The Reds, however, ought to be in a hurry.

        E-mail tsullivan@enquirer.com. Past columns at Enquirer.com/columns/sullivan.

Baseball may be older than historians hought

SULLIVAN: Bring up Dunn now Dunn's HR helps U.S win Futures game Twins 7, Reds 1 Griffey tired of DHing More playing time for Rivera Radke completely dominates Reds Reds box, runs

Donald's career down for the count
Pitino returns to college recruiting scene
Baseball may be older than historians hought
Indy's Market Square Arena goes out in clouds of smoke
Madison Regatta to Madison
World-ranked teen opens eyes in Met
Met tennis schedule, results
N.Ky. Amateur golf tourneys start
N.Ky. Men's amateur tee times
N.Ky. Women's amateur tee times
Mixed Pairings tee times

• Return to Reds front page...