Friday, May 03, 2002
Reds notes: Casey's defense catches Boone's eye
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
LOS ANGELES — Reds manager Bob Boone is starting to notice when Sean Casey doesn't make plays.
“That ball (Wednesday) night was the first one he missed all year,” Boone said.
Boone has said repeatedly that “Casey is playing a Gold Glove first base.”
The ball, hit by Paul Lo Duca in the ninth, went off Casey's shin for an infield single. “I was trying to kick it to (Barry Larkin),” Casey said.
But, seriously, he hasn't booted many balls. He has two errors all year.
Improving defensively was a spring project for Casey.
“I made a real effort,” he said. “I got the mentality that I was going to go after balls. When I started doing that, I realized I could make plays.”
Boone has noticed.
“I bet he's fielded 15 balls this year that rolled past him into right field for hits last year,” Boone said.
Most of the additional balls he's getting are to his right. That's something he didn't have to worry about in the past.
“When I first got here, I was playing with Bret Boone (at second),” Casey said. “He said, "Anything you have to take one step for, I've got.' And he did. He was one of the best. But Pokey (Reese) was even better. He got those balls in shallow right.”
Todd Walker, the current second baseman, doesn't have that kind of range.
But Walker's another player whose defensive improvement Bob Boone continually praises.
The Reds are still fourth from last in the National League in defense. But in winning nine of their past 10 games before Thursday, they made numerous big plays that led to wins.
Juan Encarnacion's catch-and-throw double play Wednesday night was the play of the game. Instead of it being a 2-1 game with runners at first and second with two outs, it remained 2-0 and the Reds were out of the inning en route to a 4-0 win.
“We've been pretty solid,” Boone said.
Encarnacion's play was one of three double plays Wednesday. In addition, in the first inning, shortstop Barry Larkin made a sliding stop and forced a runner at second.
Rather than having first and second and no outs, the Dodgers had a runner at first and one out.
“That was a huge play,” said Joey Hamilton, Wednesday's winning pitcher.
KEARNS OUT: Boone originally had Austin Kearns in his lineup for Thursday's game.
“You can't see his eye,” Boone said. “But he can see out of it.”
Well, not completely.
Kearns said the swelling that resulted from getting hit by right-hander Giovanni Carrara was still limiting the vision in his left eye.
Kearns thought he'd be able to play today when the Reds open a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants.
Ruben Mateo started in Kearns' place. Reggie Taylor started for Kearns Wednesday. Taylor has struck out in his last seven at-bats.
NO LONG FACES: You can go down a list of batting averages and see the Reds have a lot of guys struggling. Larkin's hitting .209, Aaron Boone .242, Walker .215.
But Bob Boone said that doesn't reflect in the mood of the players.
“These guys are fun to be around,” Boone said. “We've got guys struggling. Normally, they'd be sad. But these guys are buying into (the fact) the score's the important thing.”
WALKER SITS: Boone gave Walker Thursday night off. Wilton Guerrero started at second base instead. Walker went 0-for-3 Wednesday to push his hitless streak to 10 at-bats. He has seven hits in his last 52 ABs (.135).
The Reds faced left-hander Odalis Perez Thursday. They face another left-hander today (Kirk Rueter). Walker hits left-handed; Guerrero is a switch hitter.
“We've got two day games in a row coming up,” Boone said. “I might try to sneak an off day for Larkin in one of them. But, if he gets hot, I probably won't.”
DOWN ON THE FARM: Josh Hall, the seventh-round draft choice in 1998 (that's the class of Austin Kearns and Adam Dunn), pitched a complete game in Single-A Stockton's 4-2 victory over High Desert. Hall only allowed only four hits and three walks. He struck out 15.
Lance Davis and Jose Acevedo both pitched Thursday. Davis, pitching in Double-A Chattanooga, went one inning, giving up three hits and one run. He struck out two and did not return after a rain delay.
Acevedo, pitching for Triple-A Louisville, lost 2-1 at Scranton. He went seven innings, gave up two runs on five hits, walked three and struck out nine.
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Reds notes: Casey's defense catches Boone's eye
