Saturday, May 11, 2002
Notes: Don gone?
Gullett on Yankees rumors: 'I haven't talked to anyone'
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Don Gullett is under contract until the end of the year, but that hasn't kept the New York papers from speculating about his future. Longtime New York Yankees pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre is retiring after this season.
It's easy to jump to the conclusion that Gullett will be a candidate for the job, given his success in his eight years as the Reds pitching coach and his Yankee connection (he played for the Yankees in 1977 and '78).
Gullett has done nothing to spur the speculation.
“I'm under contract,” he said. “I'm not going to comment on other jobs. I haven't talked to anyone.”
Reds general manager Jim Bowden wouldn't comment on whether he's talked about extending Gullett's contract. But he made it clear he wants to keep Gullett.
“He was the pitching coordinator when I was farm director,” Bowden said. “He's been the pitching coach the whole time I've been general manager. I hope he finishes his career as our pitching coach.”
PETEY RELEASED: The Reds released Pete Rose Jr. Friday. Rose, 32, was hitting .229 for nine games for Double-A Chattanooga when he was released. He was caught in a numbers game. Wily Mo Pena and Alejandro Diaz are about to come off the disabled list.
“They reduced Double-A rosters to 23,” Reds director of player development Tim Naehring said. “With the emphasis on pitching, we carry 12 pitchers. With two catchers, you have room for nine position players.”
Naehring would like to see Rose coach — but not until Rose wants to. “I've talked to Petey until I'm blue in the face,” Naehring said. “He wants to play. I would never stand in the way of someone who feels that way.”
The only alternative would have been to allow Rose to return to extended spring training. “I think Petey would have liked to go back to extended,” Naehring said. “But from an organizational standpoint that doesn't make sense.”
CASEY SCRATCHED: Sean Casey was originally in the lineup for Friday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. But he was scratched after batting practice. He suffered a slightly pulled hamstring Wednesday. Adam Dunn started at first. Austin Kearns moved from right to left, and Ruben Mateo started in right.
Casey pinch-hit in the sixth inning and had a sacrifice fly.
MORE REHABS: Jose Silva and Seth Etherton both threw to hitters before Friday's game. The sessions went well enough that both were sent on rehab assignments. Silva, on the DL since March 21 after elbow surgery, will throw one inning of relief for Triple-A Louisville on Monday. Etherton, on the 60-day DL with shoulder weakness, will throw at extended spring training Monday and then throw for Single-A Dayton on Friday. Bowden said Silva's velocity was “significantly better” Friday than it was Tuesday.
“He threw extremely well,” Bowden said.
Etherton, the 25-year-old right-hander, was obtained in December of 2000. He's never pitched for them. He spent all of last year on the DL after shoulder surgery.
He started this on the DL after having a couple of setbacks in his rehab at spring training. Etherton isn't eligible to come off the DL until May 30.
Rehab assignments for pitchers can last up 30 days.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR? Austin Kearns leads National League rookies in hitting (.400), on-base percentage (.528) and slugging percentage (.636). He's tied for lead in home runs (3) and multi-hit games (7).
NUXIE ON SEXSON: Reds radio broadcaster Joe Nuxhall stood behind his criticism of Milwaukee's Richie Sexson after Sexson pointed the bat at Reds reliever Jim Brower after an inside pitch.
Nuxhall suggested that if Sexson was going to cry about it maybe his mommy should pick him up.
“Gee whiz,” Nuxhall said. “That pitch was almost a strike. It was maybe four inches inside.”
But Nuxhall also understood where Sexson was coming from. “Like he said, he was probably frustrated with the way they're playing,” Nuxhall said.
DAVIS REHAB: Lance Davis pitched for Louisville against Rochester Friday night, going six innings. He allowed 10 hits and two runs. Both runs were allowed in the first inning. It was his third rehab start, first at Triple-A.
UP NEXT: The Reds take on the Cardinals in the second game of the three-game series today at 1:15 p.m. (Fox Sports Net). Right-hander Chris Reitsma (1-0, 3.49) faces right-hander Darryl Kile (1-2, 3.75).
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Coming up this week
Quotes of the Week
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Notes: Don gone?
