Thursday, July 18, 2002
Reds Notebook: Chen solid in relief
By John Fay jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
PITTSBURGH - Manager Bob Boone was generous with his praise of left-hander Bruce Chen Wednesday. Chen threw a 1-2-3 inning in Tuesday's 6-0 victory over Milwaukee.
“I didn't think he'd be able to pick it up as fast as he has,” Boone said. “Jeepers, his mechanics are super. He's got a knockout changeup and action on the fastball.”
Chen is 0-0 with a 1.35 ERA in 11 relief appearances as a Red. He has given up only 10 hits and six walks with 11 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings.
The Reds tinkered with Chen's delivery after getting him in trade from Montreal for Jim Brower.
“We tightened up his delivery, got him reaching out directly at the target,” Boone said.
“When I did it right, I threw a good pitch,” Chen said. “When I did it wrong, I threw a bad pitch. I saw the difference right away.”
w more often and reinforce the new mechanics.
“That's really helped, throwing every day,” he said.
Still, Boone thinks the future for Chen, 25, is as a starter.
“I've been really impressed,” Boone said. “I think I'm going to quit and be his agent.”
LONG AT SHORT? The Aaron Boone experiment at shortstop has been such a success that it gives the Reds an option for the future: playing him there every day after Barry Larkin is gone.
“He's handled it very well,” Bob Boone said. “Do I think he could play there every day? Yes. The only problem with that is I think he's the best third baseman in the league.”
Aaron is confident he can play shortstop.
“I have some doubts because I haven't done it over 162 games. But athletically, I know I can do it,” he said. “I want to play it more to learn the little nuances.”
Boone has started six games at short; the Reds are 3-3 with him there.
INJURY UPDATE: Carlos Almanzar, on the disabled list since June 11 because of a broken right index finger, has begun throwing off flat ground.
“I'm 40 percent,” he said. “It swells up every time I throw.”
Luis Pineda, on the DL since July 3 because of a sore right shoulder, has begun throwing as part of his rehabilitation in Sarasota, Fla.
FARM REPORT: Left-hander Lance Davis had a quality start at Double-A Chattanooga Tuesday. He allowed three runs on seven hits in seven innings in the Lookouts' 8-7 win over Birmingham and got a no-decision. He is 0-6 with a 4.28 ERA at Chattanooga.
UP NEXT: The Reds wrap up the two-game series against the Pirates at 7:05p.m. today at PNC Park. Right-hander Jimmy Haynes (10-6, 4.28 ERA) faces right-hander Kip Wells (10-6, 3.45).
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Reds Notebook: Chen solid in relief
