Saturday, June 22, 2002
Reds might give Larson a look
'Father's Day has come and gone... and we still haven't hit.'
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Reds are starting to look at Brandon Larson as this season's Adam Dunn — i.e., a minor leaguer who can be brought up to give the major-league team's offense a boost.
They're not quite ready to make the move, but they are considering it.
“We have a lot of confidence in our team here,” Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. “But Father's Day has come and gone, the Fourth of July is just around the corner and we still haven't hit. We're not going to wait until Labor Day.”
Larson, the Reds' first-round pick in the 1997 draft, is tearing it up at Triple-A Louisville. He went into Friday's action hitting .330 with 19 home runs and 55 RBI.
“He's playing extremely well,” Bowden said. “All the reports have been good. (Special assistant) Gary Hughes has seen him. (Special assistant) Larry Barton is going to see him.”
A move to bring up Larson wouldn't be an easy one. He's not on the 40-man roster, which means the Reds would risk losing someone on the 40-man if they promote him. Neither of the Reds' backup infielders, Wilton Guerrero or Juan Castro, has options remaining.
Larson's primary position is third base, but he has played four games at first base and two at second for Louisville.
Larson, 25, hits right-handed.
The Reds scored only four runs in their previous four games entering Friday. They have averaged 2.9 runs per game over their last 18 games.
“We still think the offense will come around,” Bowden said. “But if it doesn't soon, we'll consider (bringing Larson up).”
LINEUP SHAKEUP: Aaron Boone, Sean Casey and Austin Kearns were out of the Reds' lineup Friday. Was it because they're struggling?
“Because I need more than two runs a night,” Reds manager Bob Boone said.
Through Friday, Aaron Boone was in a 1-for-15 slump (.067); Casey was 3-for-27 (.111) and Kearns was 5-for-30.
Russell Branyan started at third base, Reggie Taylor in left field and Adam Dunn at first on Friday.
Bob Boone was asked if Aaron Boone, Casey and Kearns might need two or three days off.
“I don't know. Ask me (today),” he said.
The Reds have no shortage of hitters who are struggling.
“Hitting's all feel,” Bob Boone said. “When you ain't got it, it's a scary feeling. Hitting's hard.”
LINEUP MIXUP: Shortstop Barry Larkin wasn't in the lineup posted in the Reds' clubhouse.
“I'm not?” Larkin said. “I'm going to talk to Skip.”
It turned out that bench coach Ray Knight copied the wrong version of the lineup. Larkin entered Friday's game on a 13-game hitting streak, but went 0-for-4.
WILTON OK: Guerrero was available to play Friday. He missed the previous two games after he was struck on his foot by a ball hit by Juan Encarnacion during batting practice .
FARM REPORT: Dustin Moseley, the Reds' second pick in the first round of the 2000 draft, was promoted from Single-A to Double-A Chattanooga. Moseley, a 20-year-old right-hander, was 6-3 with a 2.74 ERA and made the California League all-star team for Stockton.
UP NEXT: The Reds play the A's in the second game of a three-game series at 7:10 p.m. today. Left-hander Bruce Chen (2-3, 6.58 ERA) will make his first start for the Reds after being acquired from Montreal June 14. He'll face left-hander Barry Zito (9-2, 3.01).
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Reds might give Larson a look
