Monday, March 18, 2002
Bowden favors Graves as closer
But it's Boone's decision, GM says
By John Fay jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SARASOTA, Fla. — Reds general manager Jim Bowden says the decision is Bob Boone's, but if it were his call, Danny Graves would be the closer.
“I think if he was a starter he'd be a No.1 or 2 starter,” Bowden said. “If not, he's our closer. The way the team is structured right now, we need Danny on the back end closing games. When (Scott) Williamson or (John) Riedling comes back we'll have someone else to close. Then, if you have somebody else who can be a No.1 or 2 starter, you put them in the rotation.”
Both Williamson and Riedling are coming off surgery. Williamson has pitched in only two games. He'll pitch only every other day for the foreseeable future. Riedling still hasn't pitched in a game.
The starting pitching hasn't been a problem this spring.
Bowden has been as surprised as anyone by how well the Reds starting pitchers have thrown. Throw out the three starts Lance Davis made and the starters' ERA is 3.97.
“It surprises me that the pitching has been so good down here and the hitting has been so poor,” he said. “But it's just spring training. It doesn't matter until April. The pitchers have done a very good job keeping us in ball games. We just haven't hit. Starting this week, when Bob starts playing the regular lineup and they start getting four, five at-bats a day, the bats will come around.”
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Bowden favors Graves as closer
