Tuesday, July 17, 2001
Reds Notebook
Boone moves BP indoors
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Reds manager Bob Boone shook up the Reds' pregame rituals in an attempt to shake some life into the team's offense.
“We're taking batting practice with a different plan,” Boone said. “It's what we've talked about all year, getting into a position to hit.”
In order to implement the new plan, Boone moved batting practice for the position players to the indoor cages.
“It's a different environment,” he said. “We'll work on hitting line drives and at taking pitches. At this stage, it's a matter of getting warmed up for the game.”
In batting practice, players tend to swing at almost any pitch and try to hit a certain number of balls out of the park. Boone plans on taking more control.
“I'm directing the plan,” he said. “We're going to work on hitting the middle of the ball with the middle of the bat.”
Boone also would like to see players chase fewer bad pitches. That's been a year-long theme.
He pointed to Pokey Reese's third at-bat Sunday.
“Not to single Pokey out,” Boone said. “But he took a ball. Then he swung at pitches up at his eyes. He took (another) ball. Then he flew out. It could have been 3-0. That changes everything. Then the pitcher has to come to you.”
YOUNG COVETED: With Fred McGriff turning down a trade to the Chicago Cubs from the Tampa Bay Devils Rays, the Cubs are back in the market for a hitter.
Chicago media reports say that puts Dmitri Young back on the Cubs' wish list.
COMING AROUND: Pokey Reese is one Red who has shown signs of turning it around lately. Reese was on a moderate six-game hitting streak before going hitless Monday. He hit .333 in the six games. From May 30 to the current streak, Reese has been hitting .180.
“He's getting better swings,” Boone said.
Said Reese: “I've felt good all year. I just haven't been getting any hits. ... Lately, I've gone back to what I know.”
ALEX THE ARM: The Reds were still talking Monday about the throw Alex Ochoa made on Sunday to get Tony Clark at the plate to complete a double play.
“Wow,” Boone said.
“I was yelling "three,'” Ken Griffey Jr. said. “He was only 310 feet away from home.”
Ochoa was a a couple of steps from the warning track but he didn't consider the safe play to third base.
“I was thinking home all the way,” Ochoa said. “Anytime you make a (play) defense like that when they have a rally going, it's nice.”
Even nicer for Ochoa was the second-inning double Sunday that ended an 0-for-31 skid.
“That lifted a great weight off my shoulders,” he said.
BEHIND THE NUMBERS: Jose Acevedo is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in his last three starts. He'd be 3-0, if not for Sunday's blown save.
“He's a breath of fresh air,” Boone said. “He's only had one bad outing. He's pitching like he belongs here.”
Consider this: Acevedo gave up five runs in his very first inning after being called up. Throw that out and his ERA drops from 5.14 to 3.66.
UP NEXT: Reds' right-hander Chris Reitsma (4-8, 4.49 ERA) faces right-hander Jeff Weaver (8-8, 3.99) in the finale of the series with Detroit. Reitsma is seeking his first victory since June 20.
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Boone moves BP indoors
