Thursday, August 30, 2001
Pokey fills in at 2B
Manager Boone says defense key to decision
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HOUSTON — After making his last 43 starts at shortstop, Pokey Reese was back at second base Wednesday.
The reason was twofold: Reds manager Bob Boone wanted to give left-handed-hitting second baseman Todd Walker a day off against LHP Carlos Hernandez, and Reese is a better second baseman than Juan Castro.
“I think that's our best defense,” Boone said. “I talked to Pokey about it last week. Pokey's much better at second. You don't have as much dropoff with Juan at short.”
Reese had played shortstop exclusively since Barry Larkin went on the disabled list June 29. But Reese is so good at second — he has won the last two National League Gold Gloves there — that Walker has paled in comparison, particularly when turning the double play.
But Boone has seen improvement in Walker.
“He's been a lot better,” Boone said. “It's all footwork. He's worked on that. He got hung up on that play (Tuesday) night. But he's been very sure-handed.”
Walker offers more offensively than Reese or Castro — he's hitting .299 with 15 homers and 66 RBI this season. Reese entered Wednesday hitting .232; Castro was at .230.
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Pokey fills in at 2B
