Thursday, May 23, 2002
Reds Notebook: Hamilton starts Friday
By John Fay jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Joey Hamilton, activated from the disabled list Wednesday, will start Friday's series opener against the Braves in Atlanta.
Hamilton, the Reds' Opening Day starter, expects to pick up where he left off before the injury. He has been out since May7 with a pulled left hamstring.
“The session I had in the bullpen (Sunday), you couldn't ask for anything more,” he said. “It went real, real well.”
Hamilton said he could have pitched “five days ago,” but he wasn't eligible to come off the 15-day disabled list until Wednesday.
“When it happened, they had no way of knowing how long it was going to be,” he said. “They needed someone for the bullpen.”
Hamilton was able to resume throwing off flat ground three days after the injury.
He won't be on a pitch count Friday, but the Reds will keep an eye on him. Hamilton's biggest concern was fielding. He injured the leg going to cover first. He tested it Tuesday.
“I expected to feel something when I did that,” he said. “But I didn't.”
LARKIN OFF: Bob Boone said Wednesday that he planned to give shortstop Barry Larkin today, or at least part of it, off.
“I've been pushing him pretty hard,” Boone said.
SULLIVAN UPDATE: After pitching 56 major-league innings, Scott Sullivan came out his checkup just fine.
“They did an MRI on my elbow and Dr. (Tim) Kremchek said the tendons and ligaments look like I've got a young elbow,” Sullivan said. “That's good.”
Particularly since Sullivan has pitched tons of relief innings the past four years. Sullivan had the MRI because he has struggled since getting hit on the elbow by a Richie Sexson batted ball May 13. He also was given a cortisone injection.
“I tried throwing harder,” he said. “I tried throwing softer. I tried this and that. Nothing worked.”
Sullivan won't pitch until at least Friday.
“We've got a seven-man bullpen,” he said. “Everyone is throwing well. I'm going to enjoy watching for a few days.”
KEARNS AN ALL-STAR?: It's early, but not too early, to consider Austin Kearns' All-Star chances.
Kearns, a 22-year-old rookie, entered Wednesday hitting .362 with six home runs and 18 RBI in 29 games.
“There's a month and a half to go,” Bob Boone said. “That's 200, 250 more at-bats. If he's .370, multiply out the other numbers ... that would be something.”
Kearns' home run and RBI numbers project to 34 and 101 over a full season.
UP NEXT: The Reds wrap up the series with Florida at 12:35 p.m. today. Right-hander Jose Rijo faces right-hander Julian Tavarez.
Rijo (4-1, 3.89 ERA) will try to become the staff's first five-game winner. Tavarez is 1-2 with an 11.12 ERA in five starts. He has pitched 22 2/3 innings, allowing 33 hits and 15 walks.
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Reds Notebook: Hamilton starts Friday
