By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SARASOTA, Fla. - His first start in more than seven months felt as one might expect.

"I felt jumpy," Reds pitcher Jimmy Haynes said Wednesday. "I was anxious or something. I don't know what it was, but I was real quick in my delivery."

Projected by general manager Dan O'Brien to be in the starting rotation entering spring training, Haynes' bothersome back is stronger. The right-hander must now hone his command to assure a spot in the rotation.

"Everything feels good," Haynes said. "It's just a matter of getting the command down. That's the thing. The more action I see, the longer I'll get to throw and that's what helps it."

Held back at the start of spring training to strengthen his core muscles, Haynes threw 47 pitches in two innings against the Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium.

He allowed three runs, including a two-run homer to Pittsburgh center fielder Tike Redman, on four hits and threw just one first-pitch strike to the 11 batters he faced.

"We're building the arm strength and endurance up," Reds pitching coach Don Gullett said. "The more times he gets out there, he's going to settle in and smooth his mechanics out."

Wednesday's outing was Haynes' second this spring. He worked one scoreless inning of relief against the Braves on Saturday.

"I made some decent pitches, but I wasn't getting ahead of hitters or throwing strike one. That's what you've got to do," said Haynes.

"My fastball was cutting and sinking. There's probably some mechanical stuff for me to do and work on. But it's only my second time out there."

There are seven pitchers under consideration for a spot in the rotation.

Paul Wilson and Cory Lidle are locks to make the rotation.

Jose Acevedo, Aaron Harang, Brandon Claussen and Jesus Sanchez are competing for the final two, or possibly three, remaining spots. That group is a combined 3-1 with a 1.75 ERA in 36 innings this spring.

With 18 exhibition games remaining before Opening Day, Haynes will be working on four days' rest and extending his pitch counts.

"We'll continue to build endurance and arm strength," Gullett said. "The key is keeping him healthy and keeping him going in the right direction."

The Reds hope Haynes can be the effective pitcher he was in 2002. He went 15-10 with a 4.12 ERA in 34 starts that season.

A bulging disc in his back landed him on the disabled list twice last season. He made just 18 starts, going 2-12 with a 6.30 ERA, but did not pitch after Aug. 3.

"I don't think I had a time out there last year where I wasn't sore," he said. "It's definitely nice to go out there pain free."