Monday, August 05, 2002
Riedling pitches with a hot hand
Reliever's back-to-back solid outings earn him share of top setup man role
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
SAN DIEGO — When healthy, John Riedling's stuff is considered on par with that of Reds closer Danny Graves.
Riedling is healthy.
“I don't know how I could get any stronger,” he said.
Riedling, a right-handed reliever, pitched two scoreless innings Saturday and three scoreless innings Thursday.
“Those last two outings are the best he's thrown for the Reds,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “I can't imagine him throwing any better than that.”
Riedling was in the top setup role Saturday. He came on with runners at first and second base and none out in the seventh inning. He retired six of the seven batters he faced, and lowered his ERA to 2.03 — best on the club.
Boone said Riedling, Scott Sullivan, Scott Williamson and Gabe White are sharing the role of top setup man. But he continues to use caution with Riedling and Williamson, both of whom are coming off surgery last year.
Riedling, who had arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder, wants to throw caution to the wind.
“I pitched two innings last night and three innings two nights ago. There's no reason for caution,” he said.
The thing that's made Riedling better lately is his improved curveball.
“They can't sit on my slider anymore,” he said. “It's helped me get out left-handers.”
When Riedling was recalled from Triple-A Louisville last month, he was told the promotion could be temporary.
“I had been inconsistent,” he said. “But they needed someone quick. I was on the roster. I was an easy choice. I just told myself to go out and pitch.”
TRY AGAIN: Reds right-hander Ryan Dempster will make his next start, despite allowing 10 runs on 10 hits in Sunday's 15-10 win over the San Diego Padres.
“He's going out there the next turn,” Boone said when asked if Dempster had pitched his way out of the Reds' rotation. “I thought he was all right (in the second inning). He gave up a bunt single, (hit a batter), then a flare, a walk and the home run. He could have easily gotten out of the inning.”
Dempster gave up five runs in the second, pitched two 1-2-3 innings, then gave up five more runs in the fifth.
“He was losing it then,“ Boone said.
Dempster's ERA as a Red is 11.74.
“The only thing that was good about today was we won,” Dempster said. “All that matters from now to Sept.30 is whether we win or lose. I don't care what my ERA is the rest of the year.”
CHEN OUT: Reds left-hander Bruce Chen was unavailable to pitch Sunday because of stiffness in his neck.
ROTATION UPDATE: There's no word on who will start Wednesday and Thursday's games in Colorado. Boone is sticking to “TBA” on both days.
“We probably won't make a decision until Tuesday,” Boone said. “We have a few options. We'll talk about it.”
Right-hander Elmer Dessens was supposed to start Wednesday, but he strained a groin muscle in his last start. The Reds have all but ruled out him starting Wednesday, and he could go on the disabled list.
The team's top two alternatives would be activating Joey Hamilton or starting Jimmy Haynes on one less day of rest.
Hamilton threw two innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Saturday night. His numbers weren't good — two innings, two runs, three hits, two walks — but Boone said reports were that Hamilton was fine.
Chris Reitsma, just demoted to Louisville, didn't help himself with his outing Sunday. Reitsma went four innings, allowing eight hits and five runs (four earned) against Charlotte.
One alternative that won't be used is starting knuckleballer Jared Fernandez in Colorado's thin air. Fernandez understands.
“I heard the Dodgers used to skip (Tom) Candiotti out there,” Fernandez said. “The ball doesn't move as much out there. I'm going to throw and see what it does.”
SWINGING CASEY: Reds first baseman Sean Casey (shoulder) seems to be on schedule to come off the disabled list Wednesday, the first day he's eligible. Casey took batting practice for the second straight day Sunday.
“It felt good, really good,” he said.
PINEDA UPDATE: Boone has been getting good reports on right-hander Luis Pineda's rehab in Sarasota, Fla.
“He's working really hard,” Boone said.
Pineda will probably go on a rehab assignment in the next few days.
UP NEXT: The Reds are off today. They open a three-game road series against Colorado with a 9:05 p.m.game Tuesday.
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Riedling pitches with a hot hand
