Sunday, August 04, 2002
Staff ace, Dessens, could be destined for DL
Starter's groin getting better, but Boone doesn't want to take chance
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SAN DIEGO — Elmer Dessens' right groin muscle keeps getting better.
But Reds manager Bob Boone said Dessens won't make his next start Wednesday in Colorado.
The disabled list is a possibility.
“I don't know if he can escape it,” Boone said.
The Reds are holding out hope Dessens can start Saturday.
But Boone said that is iffy.
“It's (Aug.) 3rd,” Boone said.
“We wouldn't even think about having him climb on the mound for four days. That takes you to the 7th.”
Another sign the Reds could put Dessens on the DL was that Joey Hamilton was limited to two innings in his start at Triple-A Louisville. Hamilton, who is rehabilitating a pulled hamstring muscle, went two innings, allowing two runs on three hits.
Hamilton is one of the pitchers, along with Chris Reitsma and Luke Hudson, who could move into Dessens' spot.
Dessens, a 30-year-old right-hander, has been the ace of the staff. He is 7-5 with a 2.67 ERA (second in the National League). Dessens had a similar injury in 1999 when he was pitching in Japan. He missed three weeks.
If that were the case this time, , he'd return Aug.22. That would allow him to make eight more starts.
COLORADO ROTATION: Boone isn't sure what his rotation will be for the series at Colorado that opens Tuesday. Brian Moehler will start the first game. If the Reds picked up the rotation after Dessens' turn, Jared Fernandez would pitch Wednesday.
“But I don't know if I want Jared to pitch in Colorado,” Boone said.
Fernandez is a knuckleballer. The Reds don't want to find the knuckleball doesn't dance in Colorado's thin air.
The choices would be Hamilton, Reitsma or Hudson in the Wednesday spot, or pitch Jimmy Haynes on one day's less rest.
AARON GIVEN OK: The Reds voted Friday to allow Aaron Boone to vote on their behalf on a strike date.
Boone, the player rep, said he's had no further discussions with the Players Association on setting a date to strike.
“This just gives me decision-making power,” he said.
CASEY UPDATE: Sean Casey, on the disabled list with a tear in a muscle in the rotator cuff group, hit soft toss Friday and took batting practice Saturday.
“It definitely feels a lot better,” Casey said.
He is eligible to come off the DL Wednesday.
FARM REPORT: The Reds got two excellent performances from young pitchers Friday.
Dustin Moseley, the 20-year-old right-hander who was a first-round pick in 2000, went 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits in Double-A Chattanooga's 3-2 win over Greenville. Moseley is 4-3 at Chattanooga.
At Single-A Stockton, Casey DeHart, a 24-year-old left-hander who was 11th-round pick in 1998, pitched seven innings of one-hit, shutout ball in the Ports' 5-0 win over San Jose. DeHart is 4-4 with a 2.29 ERA.
UP NEXT: The Reds wrap up the three-game series with the Padres at 5 p.m. today. Right-hander Ryan Dempster (6-11, 5.43 ERA) faces San Diego right-hander Bobby J. Jones (7-5, 4.50).
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Staff ace, Dessens, could be destined for DL
