Sunday, July 15, 2001
Reds Notebook
Graves' defense saves Reds
By Chris Haft
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Here's how intense Danny Graves was while fielding his position Saturday:
“I even lost my belly ring out there on that dive to first,” Graves said, recounting a 12th-inning play in which he fielded Jolbert Cabrera's chopper and plunged almost simultaneously into the bag with the Cleveland utilityman, who was ruled safe.
Though Graves couldn't record that out, he succeeded four other times, pouncing on every bunt or grounder hit near him in his three-inning relief stint. Graves' defense helped the Reds survive their 6-5, 13-inning win.
“He might have won the Gold Glove today with some of those plays he made. Unbelievable,” third baseman Aaron Boone said.
“Somebody must have put something in my breakfast this morning to get me a little excited,” Graves said. “Don't expect that too often. That was a definitely a lot of luck.”
SWAP SCENE: Woody Woodward, special assignment scout for the Seattle Mariners, was in town for a third consecutive day to scrutinize Dmitri Young and Alex Ochoa.
But the list of potential suitors for Young and infielder Pokey Reese appears to be dwindling.
General manager Brian Cashman of the New York Yankees, who had expressed interest in Young, recently told reporters, “We're going to go with the team we have.” The Chicago Cubs also were eyeing Young but won't look his way again unless Tampa Bay first baseman Fred McGriff declines a trade to them. Minnesota, which had scouted Young extensively, has shifted its attention to starting pitching.
Jason Giambi's contract stalemate with Oakland raises the possibility he'll be made available for trade, which would thrust Young further into the background.
The notion the Atlanta Braves might want Reese to replace injured shortstop Rafael Furcal seems to be a fantasy. Atlanta instead has focused on Anaheim's Benji Gil, who would be much easier to acquire than Reese. Gil earns $350,000 and is a career utilityman; Reese earns $3.2 million and has won two Gold Gloves.
JUNIOR'S HAMSTRING: Yes, Ken Griffey Jr. is in a 4-for-35 tailspin that has dropped his average to .222. But Dr. Tim Kremchek said Griffey hasn't fully recovered from the partially torn left hamstring that sidelined him most of the season.
Kremchek said Griffey's hamstring will be checked toward or at the end of the season by Dr. Bill Garrett, the specialist who examined him in May.
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Graves' defense saves Reds
