Saturday, August 03, 2002
Groin injury to Dessens has Boone concerned
Ace might not be able to make start Wednesday
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SAN DIEGO — Elmer Dessens' strained groin muscle felt better Friday. But that didn't ease Reds manager Bob Boone's mind much.
“I'm pretty nervous about it,” Boone said. “When you're talking about a groin with a pitcher, you don't want him to go on the mound until he's symptom-free.”
The Reds are waiting to see how the injury is 48 hours after it occurred.
Dessens, the ace of the staff, hurt himself throwing a pitch in the fourth inning of the Reds' 6-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday. He was forced to leave the game.
“It's a little better (Friday),” Dessens said. “We'll see (today).”
Dessens' turn to pitch is Wednesday in Colorado. It's unlikely he'll be able to start then. But the Reds could juggle the rotation to give him more rest.
“With the off days, there's a lot of different ways we can work the rotation,” Boone said.
If Dessens has to go on the disabled list, the Reds have a lot of alternatives. Boone wouldn't elaborate on them.
“When I know, I'll share it with you,” he said.
The three logical choices are Chris Reitsma, Joey Hamilton or Luke Hudson.
Reitsma was sent to Triple-A Louisville this week when Gabe White was activated. He is scheduled to start there Sunday. Hamilton has pitched well in two rehab starts in Louisville will start there today. Hudson has spent most of the year at Louisville, but he showed great stuff in a short stint with the Reds earlier this year.
INTERESTED READERS: The Reds players remained silent on general manager Jim Bowden's latest controversy, but they were very interested in news of the story.
A copy of Friday's Enquirer was passed around among the players.
RIEDLING GOOD: Lost in the drama of Thursday's victory over the Dodgers was John Riedling's best outing of the year.
Riedling pitched three innings of one-hit ball in relief of Dessens.
“He was really good,” Boone said. “That's the best he's looked. He was pretty special.”
Riedling's numbers have been good since he returned June 11 from nearly a year of rehabbing his shoulder. He has a 2.19 ERA and has limited opponents to a .233 average.
He has gotten better lately.
“The last three outings, stuff-wise, I've been good,” he said. “My curveball's been good. That helps my slider.”
The three-inning stint was the longest of Riedling's career. But he said he could pitch again Friday.
“Yeah, I could go,” he said.
BULLPEN STATUS: The Reds were a little short in the bullpen Friday because the relievers pitched nine innings Thursday. That didn't have Boone too concerned.
“With the knuckleballer (Jared Fernandez) going (Friday), we can leave him out there,” Boone said.
FARM REPORT: Left-hander Lance Davis had his second good start in three outings for Triple-A Louisville as the Bats beat Indianapolis 6-2. He went seven innings, allowing one run on seven hit. He walked only one and struck seven.
UP NEXT: The Reds take on the Padres in the second game of the three-game series tonight (10:05) in San Diego. Right-hander Jimmy Haynes (11-6, 4.16 ERA) takes on former Reds right-hander Brett Tomko (5-6, 3.90).
It will be the first time Tomko has faced the Reds. He was dealt to Seattle as part of the Ken Griffey Jr. trade Feb.10, 2000.
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Groin injury to Dessens has Boone concerned
