Sunday, October 07, 2001
Boone defends Griffey from radio backlash
Star's proposed layoff irks talk-show callers
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Ken Griffey Jr. took another beating on talk radio Sunday over something that didn't happen.
Griffey had permission to skip the first game of Saturday's doubleheader to go to Orlando, Fla., to watch his son, Trey, play football. Griffey was going to return in time for the second game. Reds manager Bob Boone hadn't planned on playing him in Game 1 anyway. Griffey ended up not going to Orlando at all because he had a promotional commitment.
Boone heard Griffey was getting bashed and defended him.
“This guy is a consummate gamer,” Boone said. “He's had a bad thumb the last week and he won't come out of the lineup. Since he has come back (from the hamstring injury), it's been difficult to rest him. He just won't come out of the lineup.”
From the day he came off the disabled list (June 15) to Sunday, Griffey played in 94 of 97 games.
“And then it was only when we forced him to take a day off,” Boone said. “He's a gamer. I've really appreciated what he's done.”
Griffey has performed well as his hamstring has gotten stronger.
“He's had a terrific year,” Boone said. “Until he hurt his thumb, I thought he was going to hit .300 with 25 home runs.”
As it turned out, Griffey went hitless in his final 10 at-bats to finish at .286 with 22 home runs and 65 RBI.
GRAVES TO START: Danny Graves will condition as a starter this offseason and be used early in spring training like a starter.
That doesn't necessarily mean he'll be in the rotation next year.
“We don't know how it's going to play out,” Boone said.
By using him as a starter, Graves will get a chance to use all four of his pitches and build arm strength.
Graves is all for the plan, although he made it clear he hasn't committed to starting.
“If two weeks into (spring training) I feel like I can do it and they feel like I can do it, we'll discuss it,” Graves said. “It's something we both have to agree on.”
Graves had a good year as the Reds' closer. He was 6-5 with a 4.15 ERA and 32 saves. The ERA was a full point higher than his career mark, and he did have blown seven saves.
The Reds would have to find a replacement for Graves as a closer to move him to the starting rotation.
“You have to decide which is better for the club,” Boone said. “Can we afford not to have him on the back end (of the bullpen)?”
OPEN TO STAYING: Adam Dunn said there has been no serious discussion about signing him to a long-term contract, but he's open to the possibility.
“Sure,” he said. “Unlike some people, I like it in Cincinnati.”
TWO GONE: Elmer Dessens left the team to attend to a family emergency in Mexico, and Chris Reitsma went to Calgary where his wife, Janelle, is about to give birth to their first child.
Sean Casey drove Reitsma to the airport.
“He called me at 4 in the morning,” Casey said. “I hope he made it. It was going to take six hours to get to Calgary.”
SULLY DOES IT: By pitching one inning Sunday, Scott Sullivan wrapped up the title as the World's Busiest Relief Pitcher for the fourth straight year.
Sullivan, who finished with 103 1/3 innings, becomes the first pitcher to lead the majors in relief innings four years in a row.
“The last couple of years I've been able to accumulate innings because Ray Knight, Jack McKeon and Bob Boone have had confidence in me. It's a credit to the training staff and the medical staff,” said Sullivan, who finished 7-1 with a 3.31 ERA.
Reds Stories
Steelers 16, Bengals 7
Bengals back where they started
Bengals-Steelers Notebook
No stopping Bettis
Third down not charmed for defense
Couch makes clutch plays for 3-1 Browns
Bengals-Steelers statistics
Bonds hits 73rd; was it SF goodbye?
Astros beat Cardinals for NL Central
Baseball playoff schedules
Baseball's best on display on the final weekend
Prep football page
High school week ahead
UC prospect nears decision
• Return to Reds front page...
Boone defends Griffey from radio backlash
