Scott Williamson gave up five runs in the fifth inning Tuesday and manager Bob Boone isn't sure he's ready to pitch. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        SARASOTA, Fla. — There were few surprises Tuesday when the Reds announced their 25-man roster. To make room for 12 pitchers — including right-hander Luis Pineda — the Reds optioned four players to Triple-A and placed right-hander John Riedling on the 15-day disabled list.

        “I feel like I'm ready to pitch,” Pineda said. “I think I pitched pretty good in spring training.”

        Pineda has appeared in 11 games this spring, all in relief. He is 1-1 with one save in 12 1/3 innings.

        In Tuesday's 12-9 loss to the Minnesota Twins, Pineda allowed two hits and one run in the sixth. He won the final roster spot over left-hander Hector Mercado, infielder Gookie Dawkins, outfielder Ruben Mateo and catcher Corky Miller.

        Pineda said he didn't feel nervous Tuesday, despite knowing final cuts would come at some point this week.

        “If I do my job right, I won't have any problems,” he said. “(But there was) a lot of competition, too. I'm working hard all day. I go to bed early, to rest up for the next day.”

        Boone had said the Reds might not set their roster until after the club heads north late this week. That changed Tuesday, six days before the Opening Day game against the Chicago Cubs.

        “We felt we were comfortable making decisions,” Boone said. “Part of that is being comfortable with (Barry) Larkin.”

        Keeping Dawkins was an option, to relieve Larkin late in games. Larkin suffered an assortment of injuries last season, and at one point this spring missed seven straight games due to lower abdominal discomfort related to surgery for a sports hernia. But Larkin has played in three of four games since returning to action Saturday; no starters played Sunday.

        Dawkins' strength is defense, but his weakness is hitting. He averaged stood at .175 in 22 games.

        Mercado (0-1) pitched 13 innings in spring training and earned one save. Mateo hit .218 in 21 games, and Miller hit .250 in 14 games but had only 16 at-bats.

        “As I've told everybody that we've sent out, a lot of times, it's a "guesstimate,'” Boone said. “All those guys we sent out in the last wave are pretty close. They were all pretty even. We've got a pretty good idea of what our next wave of guys are like.”

        Boone said he's still trying to figure out at least one pitcher on roster.

        “I'm not sure about (Scott) Williamson, how much he can go,” Boone said. “We need to try and find out in the next few days.”

        Williamson spent most of last season rehabilitating his right elbow following ligament replacement surgery. He has appeared in five games (4 2/3 total innings) this spring and is 0-2.

        He allowed five hits and five runs in the fifth inning Tuesday.

        Four pitchers are on the disabled list: Riedling, Lance Davis (shoulder) and Jose Silva (elbow) on the 15-day, and Seth Etherton (shoulder) on the 60-day.

        Boone thinks Pineda is ready now.

        “He can throw strikes,” Boone said. “And he's got a nice breaking ball to offset the good fastball.”

        Riedling is still suffering from complications from shoulder surgery in September. He is scheduled to pitch one inning today against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers but will stay in Sarasota to pitch in a minor-league game Sunday.

        The Reds will take 12 pitchers, six infielders, five outfielders and two catchers to Cincinnati.

        “Getting there is sometimes the easiest thing,” Boone said. “Now we're going to see who wants to stay.”

Dunn misses football but doesn't regret giving it up New ballpark fare: veggie dogs Selig rules out lockout, but union calls it a ploy Reds start season with 12 pitchers Arm troubles mystify Reitsma Kearns issue settled Game Report: Twins 12, Reds 9

SULLIVAN: Will NBA be next suitor for Huggins?
Huggins saga typified 'Misinformation Age'
Bengals, Burris reach deal
Bengals still working on Wilson
High school sports page
NCAA basketball page
Indiana's scrappy Moye going after ball, title
Oklahoma counts on its bench
Kansas unfazed by media spotlight
Final Four is birthright for Lady Vols
Memphis, South Carolina reach NIT final

• Return to Reds front page...