Monday, August 26, 2002
Graves garners consideration for his first start
Closer's array of pitches appealing to Reds, who need arm for rotation
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HOUSTON — The Danny Graves debate has begun again. Should Graves be moved from closer to starter? Reds manager Bob Boone isn't considering it only for next year, he's considering it for next week.
The Reds need someone to make a spot start Saturday.
“I always think about it,” Boone said. “But I don't think it will happen (Saturday).”
The Reds have four games with the National League Central-leading St.Louis Cardinals between Tuesday and Saturday. That's Priority No. 1. But, if things break just right, Graves could get a start. Graves went a career-high 3 2/3 innings Saturday in the Reds' 5-3 victory over the Houston Astros.
The mention of starting threw Graves for a loop.
“As we speak, I'm not very comfortable with it,” he said. “I'm not saying no. But it's something we'd have to talk about.”
While Graves starting Saturday is a long shot, him being in the rotation next year isn't.
“I think I'll tell him to go into the offseason and prepare to be a starter like we did last year,” Boone said. “We'll use him in the spring like we did last year.”
Whether Graves comes into the 2003 season as a starter depends on a lot of variables: Which of the current starters re-sign with the Reds? Whom do the Reds obtain in offseason trades? Are they confident right-handers John Riedling or Scott Williamson can close?
“You don't know what's going to happen,” Boone said. “At the winter meetings, we could get (Mets closer Armando) Benitez in a trade.”
The reason Graves is so intriguing as a starter is that he throws four pitches. He can also be very pitch-efficient (he needed only 39 pitches to go 3 2/3 innings).
“I'm all for starting next year,” Graves said.
ROTATION SET: The Reds will face right-hander Jason Simontacchi and left-hander Chuck Finley in Tuesday's doubleheader against the Cardinals. Which game they will pitch hasn't been determined.
Right-handers Garrett Stephenson and Woody Williams, both just off the disabled list, will start for St. Louis on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
BACK IN CENTER: Reds outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. said he was taking one for the team by playing center. Griffey started there Saturday and Sunday after playing left field Friday night.
“It's the older guy helping the younger guys out,” he said. “It would have been three guys playing out of position.”
On Friday night, Reggie Taylor played center, so only Griffey, in left, was out of position. With Adam Dunn back Saturday, Dunn (a left fielder) would have played right, sending Austin Kearns (a right fielder) to center.
TWICE AS GOOD: Lance Berkman's first-inning home run Sunday gave the Astros slugger nine homers and 24 RBI in 17 games against the Reds. That's a homer every 6.9 at-bats and an RBI every 2.6 at-bats. Berkman produces at about half that rate against the rest of the compeition — a homer every 13.6 at-bats and an RBI every 4.4.
FARM REPORT: There was an interesting matchup at Single-A Dayton on Saturday night. The Dragons' Matt Boone, son of Reds manager Bob Boone, faced Lansing pitcher Danny Foli, the son of Reds third base coach Tim Foli.
All parties came away happy. Matt hit a two-run homer, but those were the only earned runs Danny gave up in six innings.
The home run was Boone's first at Dayton. He's hitting .168 for the Dragons since coming over from the Detroit Tigers' organization in the Brian Moehler trade.
UP NEXT: The Reds are off today. They open a four-game, three-day series against the Cardinals with a doubleheader Tuesday at Cinergy Field.
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Graves garners consideration for his first start
