SARASOTA, Fla. — The Reds' 19 cuts Sunday and Monday did little to answer the big question about this team:

        Who in the name of Mario Soto will be in the rotation? The competition was trimmed to eight.

        We did learn Monday that Ty Howington, the Reds' No. 1 pick in 1999 and the best pitching prospect in the organization, won't be in the rotation. Make that probably.

        Howington was among five players cut Monday. But the Reds could do what they did with Rob Bell in 2000 and recall Howington if the remaining pitchers fail to impress.

        “The door is always open,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said.

        “This is such a fickle game,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “We can go down and get any of those guys anytime.”

        Howington, pitchers Brian Reith and Jared Fernandez, outfielder Austin Kearns, and first baseman Ben Broussard were cut Monday. hAll will go to Triple-A Louisville.

        Howington, Reith and Fernandez had been impressive this spring. The Reds don't have opportunities to get everyone prepared with 11 pitchers in the competition.

        “Where are the innings?” Boone said. "They're right over here (in the minor leagues). We want everyone ready for April 1 when the real competition begins. We made an educated guess on who's going to be in the major leagues. But it's still a guess.”

        Which is why the cuts weren't necessarily final.

        “Jared Fernandez is throwing better than he's ever thrown,” Bowden said. “This is a guy who can throw a lot of innings. We're always open when you get down to the buzzer. Right now, we don't see them making our staff, but with injuries and trades, you never know how things play out.”

        For now, Jose Acevedo, Lance Davis, Elmer Dessens, Seth Etherton, Joey Hamilton, Jimmy Haynes, Chris Reitsma and Jose Rijo are competing for the five spots.

        Etherton has yet to pitch in a game because he is rehabbing the shoulder he had surgically repaired a year ago.

        With 18 pitchers — including relievers — in camp, the Reds still will be squeezed for innings. Most of the eight rotation candidates figure to get three more outings. That will determine the starting five.

        “There's still a long way to go,” Bowden said.

        The other big question of the spring was partly answered. Juan Encarnacion or Ruben Mateo will be the right fielder. Kearns, the top pick in 1998, was given a shot at the job. But he hit only .111 in 18 at-bats. Kearns struggled much of last season with a torn ligament in his thumb. Some in the organization wonder if the thumb is OK.

        “I think there's discomfort there,” Bowden said. “But it didn't keep him from hitting .370 in the Arizona Fall League last year. We certainly think he can have a big year. But we think, for his development, he needs a year in Triple A. The same goes for Ben Broussard.”

        The position players, are pretty well decided. The starting eight — save right field — is set. Kelly Stinnett will be the backup catcher. Brady Clark is the fourth outfielder. Wilton Guerrero and Juan Castro are the utility infielders.

        Shortstops Gookie Dawkins and Ranier Olmedo have to play everyday to continue to develop, so they are headed to the minors.

        That leaves five players — Kevin Witt, Raul Gonzalez, Robin Jennings, Anthony Sanders and Mateo (assuming Encarnacion, the favorite, is the starting right fielder) — competing for one or two spots, depending on whether the Reds keep 11 or 12 pitchers.

        “Even when spring training began, we weren't projecting a lot of openings,” Bowden said. “That hasn't changed. The only thing that can change is: Do we keep one less pitcher and do you have any injuries? That determines how many openings.”

        Four of the six or seven bullpen spots are set: Danny Graves, Scott Sullivan, Gabe White and Jim Brower. The health of Scott Williamson and John Riedling will a big factor in the remaining berths.

        Ricardo Aramboles, the 20-year-old right-hander, survived the cut over Howington because he can pitch in relief. But he's probably going to Louisville as a starter.

        That leaves Luis Pineda, Hector Mercado and Craig Dingman — plus Rijo, if he doesn't make the rotation — competing for two or three bullpen spots if Williamson and Riedling don't take them.

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