By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SARASOTA, Fla. - The news on Pete Harnisch continues to be all good. Harnisch threw 55 pitches Thursday in his second session against live hitters.

"I was very impressed," Reds general manager Jim Bowden said. "I told him that I thought he was capable of pitching an inning in a game. He's throwing 86, 88 mph with a tremendous changeup."

Juan Thomas, one of the players who hit against Harnisch, agreed.

"His sinker was nasty," Thomas said. "If that's 80, 90 percent, I'd hate to see 100 percent."

The Reds are moving cautiously with Harnisch, who is recovering from April 21 ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow.

The next step for Harnisch will be throwing three sets of 20 pitches. He'll alternate with Chris Booker, so the session will have the effect of a simulated game.

"He continues to progress," pitching coach Don Gullett said. "That's what we're after. We want to get to the point where he's fatigued but doesn't have pain."

BOOKER TOO: The Reds' other pitcher in rehabilitation mode, right-hander Booker, threw to hitters for the first time this spring.

"He's seven to 10 days behind Pete," Gullett said.

But Gullett expects Booker, 26, to pitch in games before the spring is over.

"I don't see why not," Gullett said, "as long as we don't have any setbacks."

Booker, acquired in the Michael Tucker trade in July 2001, is one of the hardest throwers in the camp.

CUT DAY: The Reds, who have 66 players in camp, will trim their roster after Monday's split-squad doubleheader.

"We'll make significant cuts," Bowden said.

WILSON UPDATE: Paul Wilson threw a six-minute session off the mound Thursday morning. It was the first time Wilson has thrown off the mound since straining a rib cage muscle eight days ago.

"It was good," Wilson said. "No pain. We'll see how it feels (today). The goal is to pitch to hitters the next time."

Mike Stefanski, who caught Wilson, was impressed.

"His sinker was electric," Stefanski said.

SULLIVAN HURTING: Scott Sullivan plans on throwing off the mound today. He has been held out of throwing for the last few days because of inflammation in the middle finger of his pitching hand.

"It's nothing serious," Sullivan said. "We're being cautious."

PINEDA'S HERE: Luis Pineda, who went 1-3 with a 4.18 ERA last year for the Reds, is here in minor-league camp.

Pineda, obtained in the Dmitri Young trade in 2001, is coming back from shoulder surgery.

"I got my motion back," Pineda said. "No pain."

Pineda hasn't begun throwing off the mound yet. If he's healthy, he could work his way into the Reds' plans quickly.

Pineda throws 95 mph, and opponents hit .221 off him last season.

SARDINHA HURT: Catcher Dane Sardinha suffered a torn lateral collateral ligament in his left knee in a collision. He was put in a brace and is expected to miss three to four weeks. He is not expected to need surgery and will be re-evaluated Saturday.

E-mail jfay@enquirer.com