SPRING TRAINING 2002

• Positional breakdowns • Pitchers set to battle for last spots on team • What might have been • Reds Q&A • Reds 2002 Spring Training Schedule • Reds 2001 stats • AL teams at the start of spring • NL teams at the start of spring • Spring training team capsules • For baseball teams, spring has almost sprung

        The Reds will have 37 pitchers in camp when they open spring training Saturday. But they aren't pretending to be giving out 37 equal opportunities.

        “We'll target (those) we think have the upper hand and have a chance to make the ballclub,” Reds pitching coach Don Gullett said.

        Elmer Dessens, Chris Reitsma, Lance Davis, Jose Acevedo, Danny Graves, Scott Sullivan, Gabe White and Jose Silva are locks. So are Scott Williamson and John Riedling, if they are healthy.

        That leaves 27 guys in the running for one or two spots. There are some pretty good names: Seth Etherton, Jose Rijo, Joey Hamilton, Jimmy Haynes, Brian Bohanon and Jim Brower.

        Gullett is familiar with the bargain free agents the Reds brought in. Silva, Haynes and Bohanon all fit in that category. All pitched in the majors last year.

        Silva, a 28-year-old right-hander, was 3-3 with a 6.75 ERA with Pittsburgh. Haynes, a 29-year-old right-hander, was 8-17 with a 4.85 ERA with Milwaukee. And Bohanon, a 33-year-old left-hander, was 5-8 with a 7.14 ERA with Colorado. Gullett's scouting report on each:

        • Silva: “I saw him as an 18-year-old kid in the Instructional League. He's had some injury problems. But prior to getting his leg broken last year, he was a guy you didn't want to face.”

        • Haynes: “He has the arm strength to be effective. He's pitched 200 innings in the big leagues a couple of times. There are some things we have to look at — whether it's mechanical or his thought process. He's healthy. He has a good arm. He can be a big help.”

        • Bohanon: “He's another guy who's been successful. Whether it's mechanically or something else, he lost something off his fastball. We're not sure what it is due to.”

        The Reds will try to look at everyone through split-squad, intrasquad and simulated games.

        WILLIE TO BULLPEN?

        Gullett stressed it was only his opinion, but he would prefer that Williamson operate out of the bullpen until his arm is OK.

        “Ideally, you'd like him in a place where you can protect him until he gets his feet wet,” Gullett said. “The same with Etherton.”

        If the Reds braintrust reads Sports Illustrated, the team might be inclined to do what Gullett suggests. In the current issue, St.Louis pitcher Matt Morris is compared to Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood, both of whom had “Tommy John” elbow surgery, like Williamson, and missed the 1999 season. (Etherton and Reidling both had shoulder surgery last year).

        Morris was brought back as a reliever in 2000 and had a 3.57 ERA in 31 appearances. He hasn't spent any more time on the disabled list, and he went 22-8 with a 3.16 ERA upon returning to the rotation last year.

        Wood, who was brought back as a starter, has spent 57 days on the DL since returning and was 12-6 with a 3.36 ERA last season after going 8-7 with a 4.80 ERA in 2000.

        HARNISCH UPDATE:

        Either it wasn't about money or Pete Harnisch made a bad decision when he turned down the Reds' contract offer in January. The Reds offered Harnisch $500,000, plus up to $1.5 million in incentives Jan.8.

        Now he's set to sign with the Colorado Rockies for $250,000 — with a chance to make $500,000 if he makes the club. He could make $1 million more in incentives.

        READY TO GO:

        By Thursday afternoon, third baseman Aaron Boone already had talked to four of his teammates. That's a sign of spring training fever.

        “"It's that time of year,” Boone said.

Buoyant Boone unbowed Pitchers set to battle for last spots on team Positional breakdowns What might have been Reds Q&A Reds 2002 Spring Training Schedule Reds 2001 stats AL teams at the start of spring NL teams at the start of spring Spring training team capsules For baseball teams, spring has almost sprung

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