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07-24-2006, 10:47 AM
REDS NOTES
Mays stays in Reds rotation, at least till Claussen's back.
By Hal McCoy
Staff Writer
CINCINNATI | As is his way, Cincinnati Reds manager Jerry Narron was coy about the future of his pitching rotation, saying the plan was mapped through Friday in Milwaukee, when Eric Milton would pitch.
The team needs a starter Saturday. Joe Mays? Joe Mays, with a 0-1 record and 7.33 ERA for his four starts?
"As of right now, unless something changes — a four-man rotation or a trade — Mays will go back out there," Narron said.
A four-man rotation?
"I just threw that out there to give people something to talk about," Narron said with a laugh.
One option could be Brandon Claussen, who passed a test of his shoulder and back Sunday with a 15-minute, 50-pitch bullpen session. Claussen believes he will pitch on rehab for Class AAA Louisville on Wednesday.
Could he be ready to return in Milwaukee?
"That's my goal," he said. "I'll use Wednesday to get back in the groove and then, 'Let's go.' I want to be part of something good, and something good is certainly happening here right now."
Injured catcher David Ross will play for Class AA Chattanooga today and Tuesday, "Then the plan is for him to be ready to play for us Wednesday (in Houston)," Narron said.
No DL next year
Reds relief pitcher Kent Mercker is 38, near retirement and on the disabled list (elbow tendinitis) for the second time this year, a place most baseball players hate to be.
"I'll bet I won't be on the DL next year, unless they have one at Muirfield Village Country Club," he said.
Mercker was injected with cortisone Saturday and said, "I knew I was headed for the disabled list when they suggested the shot and asked me if I would accept a rehab assignment. ... If we were 30 games up or 30 games out, I'd take 20 Advil and go out there. But I don't want to worry about my arm and about being behind 2-and-0 all the time. They're just getting rid of another old guy for a young guy (Brian Shackelford, 29)."
Mercker had been pitching successfully — no earned runs in his last nine appearances and a 1.50 ERA in his last 15 assignments.
Three for two
Edwin Encarnacion has a five-game hitting streak during which he has hit .533 with a home run and four RBIs, but he wasn't in Sunday's Reds lineup.
That's because Rich Aurilia, who is hitting .373 during a 14-game hitting streak that ended with a pinch-hitting assignment Saturday, and Scott Hatteberg, who is hitting .458 with three homers and 10 RBIs over his last 15 games, need to play, too.
Narron admits finding playing time for three guys for two positions (first base, third base) is a delicate issue.
"It's a great situation when all of them are hitting, and you would like to have all three in the lineup," Narron said. "I have to juggle as best I can, make sure they're all rested, sharp. I hope they all continue hot and hope they continue the rest of the way. I'll go by matchups and how many games they've played in a row."
Have suit, will travel
The guys in the Reds clubhouse swear it wasn't a setup, that it wasn't initiation for the new guys from Washington.
But both Royce Clayton and Gary Majewski walked into the clubhouse Sunday morning with their suitcase packed and wearing dress clothes, required for travel.
They apparently thought the Reds were leaving for Houston right after the game. The itinerary passed out by traveling secretary Gary Wahoff clearly tells players the plane leaves tonight at 6.
"I can only lead the horses to the water; I can't make them read the itinerary," Wahoff said.
While the rest of the Reds laughed heartily when Clayton and Majewski walked in, dragging their suitcases, nobody claimed the prank.
Contact this reporter by e-mail hmccoy@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Find this article at:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/reds/daily/072406redsnotes.html
Mays stays in Reds rotation, at least till Claussen's back.
By Hal McCoy
Staff Writer
CINCINNATI | As is his way, Cincinnati Reds manager Jerry Narron was coy about the future of his pitching rotation, saying the plan was mapped through Friday in Milwaukee, when Eric Milton would pitch.
The team needs a starter Saturday. Joe Mays? Joe Mays, with a 0-1 record and 7.33 ERA for his four starts?
"As of right now, unless something changes — a four-man rotation or a trade — Mays will go back out there," Narron said.
A four-man rotation?
"I just threw that out there to give people something to talk about," Narron said with a laugh.
One option could be Brandon Claussen, who passed a test of his shoulder and back Sunday with a 15-minute, 50-pitch bullpen session. Claussen believes he will pitch on rehab for Class AAA Louisville on Wednesday.
Could he be ready to return in Milwaukee?
"That's my goal," he said. "I'll use Wednesday to get back in the groove and then, 'Let's go.' I want to be part of something good, and something good is certainly happening here right now."
Injured catcher David Ross will play for Class AA Chattanooga today and Tuesday, "Then the plan is for him to be ready to play for us Wednesday (in Houston)," Narron said.
No DL next year
Reds relief pitcher Kent Mercker is 38, near retirement and on the disabled list (elbow tendinitis) for the second time this year, a place most baseball players hate to be.
"I'll bet I won't be on the DL next year, unless they have one at Muirfield Village Country Club," he said.
Mercker was injected with cortisone Saturday and said, "I knew I was headed for the disabled list when they suggested the shot and asked me if I would accept a rehab assignment. ... If we were 30 games up or 30 games out, I'd take 20 Advil and go out there. But I don't want to worry about my arm and about being behind 2-and-0 all the time. They're just getting rid of another old guy for a young guy (Brian Shackelford, 29)."
Mercker had been pitching successfully — no earned runs in his last nine appearances and a 1.50 ERA in his last 15 assignments.
Three for two
Edwin Encarnacion has a five-game hitting streak during which he has hit .533 with a home run and four RBIs, but he wasn't in Sunday's Reds lineup.
That's because Rich Aurilia, who is hitting .373 during a 14-game hitting streak that ended with a pinch-hitting assignment Saturday, and Scott Hatteberg, who is hitting .458 with three homers and 10 RBIs over his last 15 games, need to play, too.
Narron admits finding playing time for three guys for two positions (first base, third base) is a delicate issue.
"It's a great situation when all of them are hitting, and you would like to have all three in the lineup," Narron said. "I have to juggle as best I can, make sure they're all rested, sharp. I hope they all continue hot and hope they continue the rest of the way. I'll go by matchups and how many games they've played in a row."
Have suit, will travel
The guys in the Reds clubhouse swear it wasn't a setup, that it wasn't initiation for the new guys from Washington.
But both Royce Clayton and Gary Majewski walked into the clubhouse Sunday morning with their suitcase packed and wearing dress clothes, required for travel.
They apparently thought the Reds were leaving for Houston right after the game. The itinerary passed out by traveling secretary Gary Wahoff clearly tells players the plane leaves tonight at 6.
"I can only lead the horses to the water; I can't make them read the itinerary," Wahoff said.
While the rest of the Reds laughed heartily when Clayton and Majewski walked in, dragging their suitcases, nobody claimed the prank.
Contact this reporter by e-mail hmccoy@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Find this article at:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/reds/daily/072406redsnotes.html