Tuesday, May 21, 2002
Reds Notebook:
It's Almanzar by default
By John Fay jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ST. LOUIS — The Reds have five pitchers in various stages of rehab, so why did they bring up Carlos Almanzar to be the 12th pitcher?
“He was the best we had available at Triple-A,” General Manager Jim Bowden said. “Jose Silva's not ready. He needs to build up arm strength.”
The other rehabbers — John Reidling, Lance Davis, Brian Bohanon and Seth Etherton — are either not ready or more suited for starting.
Almanzar's role will be similar to Chris Nichting's last year. Nichting was Louisville's closer when the Reds brought him up and used him as a setup man.
Almanzar, 28, was the closer at Louisville, and had 11 saves with an 2.45 ERA. The Reds got Almanzar for “future considerations” on March 29. He never even made it to spring training and simply reported to Louisville.
“He won't go in crucial roles until we see what we've got,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “I'd like him to be able to go more than an inning.”
Said Almanzar: “I can go two, three innings, whatever they need. I'm happy to be here. Whatever they want, I'll do.”
Almanzar threw two innings in Monday's 7-3 loss to the Cardinals, striking out two and walking one while not allowing a hit.
CATCHING QUESTION: The Reds face a major decision when catcher Kelly Stinnett is ready. Corky Miller, the player who replaced Stinnett on the roster, has since moved in front of Jason LaRue on the depth chart.
Stinnett is still on a throwing program to get his right elbow 100 percent. That's just the first step.
“After that, Kelly needs to go play,” Bowden said. “He'll probably go on a 20-day rehab assignment.”
That means the decision could be pushed back to mid-June. There's always the chance it could become a moot point because of a trade.
BOHANON DOING WELL: Bohanon threw seven innings of three-hit, shutout ball for Louisville on Sunday, and could be next in the pitching mix.
“I covet two left-handers (in the bullpen),” Boone said. “I also see three hits in seven innings. I like that, too.”
Boone said the Reds are willing to wait.
“We've got a lot of guys — Silva, (Lance) Davis, (Seth) Etherton and (John) Riedling — rehabbing,” he said. “I'm sure there will come a point when they're all throwing good. That's a good feeling. It's not like last year, where we had to go to Double-A to get somebody.”
VISITORS: Some of the St. Louis Rams were at Busch Stadium before the game to take batting practice. Among them was Dustin Cohen, the former Miami University and Summit Country Day star.
“I haven't hit since Summit,” Cohen said.
Cohen, a third-year linebacker with the Rams, lined several into the outfield. The Ram with baseball talent was cornerback Dexter McCleon, who hit one out. McCleon played at Clemson.
Cohen is a Reds fans.
“I'm going to have to sit on my hands during the game,” he said.
FARM REPORT: Etherton was moved from Single-A Dayton to Double-A Chattanooga.... Donny Leon is hitting .310 with three homers and eight RBI in seven games at Louisville since getting promoted from Chattanooga.... Left-hander John Koronka, a 12th-round pick in 1998, pushed his record to 9-0 at Single-A Stockton.
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Reds Notebook: It's Almanzar by default
