Sunday, June 30, 2002
Boone to ask for more innings from starters
Reds notebook
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
ST. LOUIS — The key to the Reds' fortunes the second half will be tied to whether the starting pitchers can take the next step and pitch deeper into games.
Reds manager Bob Boone has been pleased with his starters so far. They collectively have a respectable 4.26 ERA, but they are averaging just more than five innings per outing.
“That next step is huge,” Boone said.
Boone has started the process already. Friday, he let Chris Reitsma hit for himself in the seventh inning. Reitsma ended up giving up back-to-back, one-out doubles, the second of which drove in what proved to be the winning run.
“That was strictly by design,” Boone said. “At some point, you have to be able to go deeper into the ballgame. Those were two mistake pitches. In a tight ballgame, you can't do that.”
Reitsma's ERA (3.60) doesn't go with his record (3-6). Neither does Elmer Dessens' (2.56 and 4-4).
The key for both is to pitch longer and remain effective. Dessens is fifth in the National League in ERA but is tied for 46th in wins.
“It's something I definitely want to do,” Reitsma said of pitching deeper into games. “You look at the elite pitchers, they go seven, eight, nine innings every time.”
As Boone put it, “It's part of the development.”
Reitsma is only in his second year in the majors. Dessens has been a major-league starter only since the All-Star break in 2000.
Another Reds starter, Luis Pineda, makes his second career start today.
“You can talk, talk, talk,” Boone said. “But they have to do it. That's what development is. But it comes to a point where you can't live with the mistakes anymore and someone else is given a chance.”
Jose Acevedo found that out when he was sent to the minors. That other part of the equation is Boone knows he can't continue to use the bullpen as much as he has.
“The starters have to carry more of the load,” he said. “I haven't taxed them at all. It has to start soon, because right now the bullpen is thin. I want the bullpen strong in September.”
Scott Sullivan has been ineffective. John Riedling and Scott Williamson can't pitch every day because they are coming off surgery. And Boone hopes to bring back Gabe White slowly after he missed a week with an infection in his hand.
SPEAKING OF WHITE: Gabe White pitched a scoreless eighth inning in his first appearance since his hand infection.
“Everything was good,” he said. “I didn't have any discomfort at all. I was able to make some pretty good pitches.”
LARKIN OUT: Shortstop Barry Larkin missed his third consecutive start after having a muscle spasm in his right trapezius muscle. Boone held off until late to see if Larkin was able to play. Larkin was still too sore.
Larkin pinch hit and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the Reds' three-run seventh.
Aaron Boone started at shortstop and Russell Branyan started at third base for the third straight day.
SILVA HURTING: Right-hander Jose Silva has rotator cuff tendinitis and weakness in his shoulder. He'll be put on a strengthening program.
The injury is unrelated to elbow surgery Silva had in spring training.
FARM REPORT: Brandon Larson had three more hits for Louisville Friday, including two doubles, in the Bats' 1-0 victory over Durham.
UP NEXT: Pineda (2-3, 2.81 ERA) faces Cardinals ace Matt Morris (10-5, 3.03) today.
Pineda threw five shutout innings in his last start Tuesday, but he thinks he can do better.
“I'll try,” he said. “Big thing is throw strikes.”
Pineda walked five in the 5-2 win over the Cubs.
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Boone to ask for more innings from starters
