Friday, July 05, 2002
Reds Notebook:
Dessens gets extra day's rest
By John Fay jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Reds right-hander Elmer Dessens was moved back one day to allow knuckleballer Jared Fernandez to pitch on his normal day.
“Elmer's been our best pitcher,” Boone said. “We figured we'd back him off a day and let Jared pitch in the day game heat.”
Dessens had a little stiffness in his shoulder the day after his last start.
You would think the Reds would reshuffle the rotation after the All-Star Break to ensure that Dessens and Jimmy Haynes, their two most successful starters, make the first two starts.
“We haven't considered it yet,” Boone said. “We'll look at who we're facing and set it up.”
CASEY STRUGGLING: Reds first baseman Sean Casey is hitless in his last 14 at-bats after going 0-for-4 Thursday.
Casey had a rough game. He hit into a double play with runners at first and second in the third inning, and flied out with the bases loaded in the fifth.
PEP TALK: Boone spent a long time before Thursday's game talking to outfielder/third baseman Russell Branyan. They talked philosophy more than hitting. The message: Enjoy yourself, find the joy in the game.
“Hitting a baseball is probably the hardest thing to do in sports,” Boone said. “Putting artificial pressure on yourself makes it that much harder.”
Branyan came to the Reds a little beat up from his time in Cleveland, particularly because he struck out once every 2.5 at-bats.
“He's here to be the best hitter he can be,” Boone said. “He's not here to strike out less.”
UP NEXT: The Reds play the Brewers in the second game of the four-game series tonight at 7:10. Dessens (5-4, 2.58) faces Milwaukee left-hander Glendon Rusch (5-6, 4.61). The Reds scored seven runs off Rusch in an 8-2 victory on May 7.
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Reds Notebook: Dessens gets extra day's rest
