NEW YORK — The Reds met for about two hours with players association executive director Donald Fehr at the team hotel Friday. Fehr is meeting with all the major-league clubs to brief them on the labor negotiations.

        “It was nothing earth-shattering,” said Aaron Boone, the Reds' player representative. “(Fehr) updated guys. They had a chance to make comments and ask questions. It was good.”

        Other teams have come out of similar meetings feeling optimistic. Does Boone feel that way?

        “That's fair to say,” Boone said. “It's a good sign that (the owners) are sitting down and talking to us and that we have meetings scheduled all next week.”

        So is Boone more optimistic than he was after the meeting on eve of the All-Star Game?

        “Yeah, I'd say so,” he said.

        The Reds did not take a vote to authorize setting a strike date.

        Sept. 16 has been reported as the date players will set for a strike.

        “That's a farce,” Boone said. “There's no truth to that.”

        REMEMBERING: This is the Reds' first trip to New York since the Sept. 11 tragedy.

        Ken Griffey Jr. will meet the family of Kenny Marino before today's game. Marino, a firefighter for Rescue 1, perished in the World Trade Center collapse and was a huge Griffey fan.

        In one of the first games after Sept. 11, Marino's widow, Katrina, e-mailed the Reds, asking if Griffey could hit a home run for her husband. Griffey delivered in the Reds' 8-1 win over Philadelphia that night.

        The couple's two children will be here today as well.

        “The kids will be there,” Griffey said when asked how he'd handle the moment. “I'll let them do the talking, find out what they like and don't like. I'll give them a bat, glove, whatever. But what they lost is something you can't bring back.”

        MORE 9-11: Scott Williamson spent Friday visiting a police station and firehouse.

        His financial adviser, Robert Riola, knew a firefighter who died Sept. 11, and Riola set up the visit. Williamson and his fiancee, Lisa McWilliams, were particularly touched when they spent time at Ladder Company 2. The house lost 10 men in the attack.

        “It was pretty emotional,” Williamson said. “I got teary-eyed. The guys were awesome. It was one of the best experiences of my life.”

        Williamson brought Cincinnati Fire Department hats — McWilliams' father and two brothers are firefighters — and exchanged them for NYFD hats.

        GABE TEST: Gabe White, out because of a broken right little toe, is eligible to come off the disabled list today. Reds manager Bob Boone said that's unlikely, even though White has thrown well in bullpen sessions.

        “The test is going to be whether he's able to field a bunt, break out of the box if he has to hit,” Boone said. “My gut feeling is it will be after the weekend.”

        ROTATION: The rotation beyond the weekend series here remains in question.

        “We're going to keep Elmer (Dessens) and (Jimmy) Haynes on their scheduled day,” Boone said.

        Brian Moehler will start Tuesday. Jared Fernandez and Ryan Dempster will be worked in around the others.

        Dempster was skipped a turn in the order. Boone was unsure whether Dempster, 0-3 with a 12.00 ERA since coming to the Reds, would be used in relief in the meantime.

        “We're trying to figure what is best: a sideline (session) or throwing an inning or two (in a game),” Boone said.

        UP NEXT: The Reds play the Mets in the second game of the three-game series. Knuckleballer Jared Fernandez (1-1, 4.58) faces left-hander Al Leiter (9-8, 3.28). The Reds beat Leiter 9-1 Sunday.

Mets 3, Reds 2 Reds box, Runs Fehr: Avoiding strike possible Boone feels good about meeting with Fehr Mo called his shot Patriarch of umpire family dies at age 84 Angels move into 1st in AL West NL roundup AL roundup Notes from Friday's games

Now signed, rookies work on delivering
Bengals brimming with confidence
Abnormal heart tests send Jackson to sideline
Potential unfulfilled, Seahawks' Leaf retires
UC's Hicks rebuilding strength in injured leg
Agassi duels with Kuerten
Day of upsets sees 3 of 8 top seeds fall
New division, same intensity
Deveroes' finest strut their stuff
As Paris nears, Armstrong is in command
Pocono polesitter Elliott chases mountain milestone
Warriors tap Musselman as team's new head coach
Watson 5 off lead at British Seniors
Coming up this week

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