Tuesday, May 07, 2002
Notes: Larkin out, but hamstring okay
Vet doesn't start because of wet field
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek's diagnosis and an MRI confirmed what was first thought: Barry Larkin's hamstring injury is not serious.
Larkin was out of the lineup Monday night for the Reds series opener with the Milwaukee Brewers because of the rain before the game, but he was available to play.
“If it was dry, he'd be in there,” Reds manager Bob Boone said.
Larkin felt tightness in his right hamstring while making a play in the field Sunday in San Francisco.
“It's nothing significant,” he said. “It's a matter of being cautious.”
The injury came on a day Larkin had a pair of hits. He was batting seventh in the order for the first time in his career.
“There's hits in that seven hole,” he said.
Larkin would not pronounce his slump over.
“I'm still trying to find myself,” he said.
Wilton Guerrero started at shortstop Monday. Gookie Dawkins replaced Larkin Sunday, but Dawkins is hitting only .105 on the year and he's hitless in his last 11 at-bats.
Guerrero isn't good defensively, but he is more of an offensive threat. He entered Monday hitting .253.
HELP ON WAY: The Reds are getting closer to getting help in the middle infield.
Juan Castro is headed to Sarasota today to work out at extended spring training. After a few days of that, he'll go on a rehab assignment. Castro has been on the disabled list since March 29 with a pulled left hamstring.
He re-injured it April 10 on the first day of a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville.
“It feels pretty good,” Castro said. “I've been running OK. But it's different in competition.”
Given what happened last time, Castro will go slowly for the first few days.
SILVA SCRATCHED: Jose Silva was supposed to throw for Boone and pitching coach Don Gullett Monday but that was cancelled because of the wet field. The forecast is similar for today and Wednesday, so Boone wasn't sure when Silva will get a chance for a session.
Silva, a 28-year-old right-hander, has been on the DL since spring training after elbow surgery. If all goes well in his session for Boone and Gullett, he'll be sent out on a rehab assignment.
DAVIS UPDATE: Lance Davis made his second start for Double-A Chattanooga. He went five innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out four. His command was excellent: 70 pitches, 51 strikes.
PHANTOM PICKOFF: Almost no one in the stadium saw it and no camera caught it, but Corky Miller did pick off J.T. Snow at first base Sunday. Miller had the play planned.
Reggie Sanders was at the plate and Miller had called for a changeup from Chris Reitsma.
“The first time they see Reitsma's change they swing right through it,” Miller.
Sanders did and flung his bat in to the stands. All eyes followed the bat, including Snow's. He had no chance when Miller threw behind him.
“He said, "Did you see that?”' first baseman Sean Casey said. “I knew he had no chance.”
SULLY WANTS BALL: If it looked like Scott Sullivan was not happy to come out of the Sunday's game just before Barry Bonds came up, it's because he wasn't.
“Any relief pitcher who doesn't want the ball in that situation best look for something else to do in the future,” Sullivan said. “But that said, there's no one I'd rather have take over than Danny Graves.”
UP NEXT: In the second game of the series, right-hander Elmer Dessens (1-3, 1.95) faces left-hander Glendon Rusch (1-2, 2.51).
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Notes: Larkin out, but hamstring okay
