Tuesday, May 14, 2002
Flawed delivery may be Graves' problem
Reds notebook
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MILWAUKEE — Reds manager Bob Boone and pitching coach Don Gullett think they've discovered a flaw in closer Danny Graves' windup. Whether they're correct or not, you'll find out by looking at Graves' results over the next few games.
“We saw something in the way he loads up with his front leg,” Boone said. “It opens him up a little bit. We'll see if that's it.”
Graves hopes there's an explanation for his recent ineffectiveness.
In his outing Sunday, Graves allowed five runs to score (two inherited runs, three of his own). The two-run homer he gave up to St. Louis' J.D. Drew was the difference in a 10-8 loss.
In his outing before that on Friday, Graves gave up Edgar Renteria's two-run homer, which was the difference in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Cardinals.
“The first time it happened,” Graves said, “you kind of blow it off. But two times in a row, you have to address it. Hopefully, we can fix it.”
Graves was going to have a session with Gullett before Monday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Reds think the problem has flattened out Graves' sinker, his best pitch. He hadn't given up a homer since Aug.8 of last season before Renteria hit his.
“My ball has been around the plate,” he said. “I'm not walking guys. But pitches have been up.”
Graves' ERA nearly doubled to 3.04 after his last two outings. Entering Monday, he had allowed 28 hits in 23 2/3innings, and opponents were hitting .289 off him.
SCARY MOMENT FOR SULLIVAN: Richie Sexton's hard grounder in the eighth inning of the Reds' 5-0 victory over the Brewers on Monday went right off Scott Sullivan's pitching arm, behind the elbow.
Sullivan didn't even try to continue.
“It's scary anytime for a pitcher when something happens to your one asset,” Sullivan said.
But X-rays taken at Miller Park showed no breaks.
“I told (trainer) Greg Lynn to put some tobacco juice on it. I'm ready to go,” Sullivan said.
He was kidding, of course — he had the elbow iced. The ball hit the flexor mass, which is the meaty part of the forearm.
Sullivan is officially listed as day-to-day.
Any extended loss of time for Sullivan would be a huge blow to the Reds. Sullivan's appearance Monday was his 24th in 37 games, and he is 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA.
PINEDA APPEAL: Luis Pineda's suspension for hitting Chicago's Todd Hundley with a pitch on April 3 was reduced from three games to one game, and his fine was cut from $1,000 to $750.
Pineda, a rookie right-hander, will serve the suspension tonight.
His appeal was heard Wednesday by Bob Watson of Major League Baseball. The decision was announced Monday.
“I'm happy,” Pineda said. “It's a good deal for me.”
CASEY BACK: First baseman Sean Casey was back in the lineup for Monday's game. Casey tested his right hamstring by running before the game.
“I think he'll be all right,” Boone said. “I try to get him to pull back. It's that first step.”
Casey had missed three starts since slightly pulling his right hamstring on Thursday night.
DUNN HONORED: Outfielder Adam Dunn was named the National League Player of the Week after hitting .412 with two home runs and a league-high 12 RBI from May 6-12. It is the first time Dunn has won the honor.
UP NEXT: The Reds play the second game of their four-game series against the Brewers at 8:05 p.m., Tuesday.
Jose Acevedo (3-1, 7.53) makes his first start since being recalled from Louisville. He'll face Ruben Quevedo (1-4, 5.40).
The Reds knocked Quevedo out after one inning in his start May 6.
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Flawed delivery may be Graves' problem
