Sunday, July 07, 2002
Reds Q&A
Online with John Fay
The e-mailers are still trying to fix the rotation. Read on:
Question from John in Muncie, Ind.: So much is said about Jim Bowden's genius for reclamation scrap-heap pitchers for rock-bottom prices, but only a few have actually worked out. Only Jimmy Haynes and Elmer Dessens have really paid off this year. In the past, the only other resurrected starting pitcher stories have been Pete Schourek and Pete Harnisch. Overall, Bowden's reclamations are just money poorly spent. Why spend a few hundred thousand (or more) each on inconsistent, unproductive and often-injured risks like Carlos Almanzar, Bruce Chen, Jose Silva, Joey Hamilton and Seth Etherton, when the sum of the parts could pay a starter with a better track record?
A: Add Jeff Shaw to the list. Chen, Etherton and Silva were acquired in trades. Bowden really has no other choice but to sign bargain-basement free agents. For the Reds, it's a low-risk, high-reward option to sign players such as Hamilton, Haynes and Rijo. The Reds signed those three to minor-league contracts, thus risking no money. Once they made the club, collectively they make $1.5 million. Even if Haynes is the only keeper in the bunch, it's still a bargain. Texas signed Dave Burba for $2 million. He's 4-4 with a 5.06 ERA.
Q, from Dave in Dallas: With the Reds struggling to find capable starters in the pitching rotation, wouldn't the All-Star break be the ideal time to re-open the negotiating window with Jeff Shaw and re-open the idea of moving Scott Williamson or another reliever into the rotation? Certainly, Shaw's investment would be less than they would have to pay to bring another starter in from outside the organization.
A: The Shaw thing is dead. And Williamson throws so many pitches that he would labor to get out of the fifth inning. Plus, coming off surgery, it's not a good time to experiment with him.
Q, from Bill: What is the status of Ty Howington? Any chance he will be called up this year?
A: Howington is back pitching at Double-A Chattanooga after a stint on the disabled list with shoulder tendinitis. He has pitched fairly well since coming back. The Reds will let him build up some innings and make sure he's completely healthy before they think about moving him up. But it's something that could happen in August or September.
Q, from Herb in Loveland: It is about time to discuss critically the abilities of Jim Lefebvre as the Reds' hitting coach. In spring training, we were told the Reds weren't hitting because the team was adjusting to Lefebvre's new methods. The season is now half over and the Reds are still not hitting as a team. Isn't it time to call JL on the carpet? Or are the Reds too dysfunctional organizationally for that to happen?
A: I think Lefebvre's safe. The Reds' bats are coming around, and he has done a decent job with some of the younger players. Reggie Taylor, for instance. You don't often see coaching changes when teams are in second place.
Q, from Andy: The difference between not getting Bartolo Colon and getting him (for whomever, Austin Kearns included) is the difference between maybe battling for first place or the wild card and definitely winning the weak, and I mean weak, Central Division. Outside of St. Louis, the Reds should be able to win every intradivisional series without him. With Colon, they probably would beat the Cardinals in every series. The Reds beat weak teams and lose to good teams (because they cannot win pitching duels). But in the Central, that's OK. The Reds forever will wonder why they didn't go for Colon. He'll probably, if healthy, take over the reigns of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling as the most dominant power pitcher in the National League for years to come. The Reds can't suck it up until they get their supposed revenue income?
A: I agree that getting Colon probably would have put the Reds over the top. The fact they didn't offer Kearns, an insider tells me, says management knows the financial situation isn't going to change drastically with the new stadium.
Q, from Gary: Reviewing the budget for the Reds, isn't their best option for a No.1 starter to put Danny Graves into the rotation after the All-Star break? Bob Boone has said that he is the best pitcher, so why not get him into 200 innings per year instead of 80? With the way Graves pitches, he may be better suited to starting in that, when his sinker isn't on, he will know early in the game and be able to adjust to his other pitches, instead of finding out with two on and nobody out. I think Graves is a good closer, a great closer when he is on. I think he would be a great starter in the Greg Maddux mold. I'd take that.
A: That may be an option next year. The Reds aren't going to experiment while they're in a division race.
E-mail jfay@enquirer.com
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