Baseball Guru
06-23-2002, 02:41 PM
By JOE KAY
CINCINNATI (AP) - Austin Kearns, one of the leaders of the Cincinnati Reds' unexpected surge into first place, was demoted to the minors Sunday so a reliever could be added to the roster.
The Reds will be without left-hander Gabe White for at least a few more days and don't want to remain short-handed in the bullpen. They called up right-hander Luis Pineda and optioned Kearns to Triple-A Louisville.
``He was certainly disappointed,'' manager Bob Boone said of Kearns, who declined to talk to reporters. ``Intellectually he understands it, but when it happens to you, it's hard to swallow. He's a huge part of our future, but we're living in the right now.''
Kearns, 22, was called up April 17 for what was supposed to be a temporary stay, but hit so well that he earned a starting spot in right field. He and left fielder Adam Dunn, his roommate throughout the minors, anchored the lineup during the Reds' 51-day stay atop the NL Central.
Kearns was NL rookie of the month for May, hitting five homers with 17 RBIs in 24 games. His playing time diminished when Ken Griffey Jr. returned from the disabled list on May 23, and he went into a slump that dropped his average to .284 - still one of the best on the roster.
The Reds have fallen into a deep offensive slump that has dropped them 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis. The Reds had lost six in a row, their deepest slump of the season, when Kearns was sent to the minors before Sunday's game against Oakland.
With Griffey sidelined for 6 1/2 weeks by a torn tendon in his right knee, the outfield of Kearns, Dunn and Juan Encarnacion carried the team. When Griffey returned, one of them wound up sitting every day.
Encarnacion was in a 13-for-64 slump (.203) heading into Sunday's game and Kearns was in an 0-for-12 and 5-for-34 slump (.147) when he was sent down.
``It kills me to see him struggling and to think that maybe part of that is he's in a role where he's not playing everyday,'' Boone said. ``I think this rotation thing is affecting him somewhat. The one thing I can't do is mess up Austin Kearns by not playing him every day.''
The bullpen was the main consideration in the move.
White, the only left-hander in the bullpen, got a severe infection in his pitching hand and was hospitalized Saturday. Although he was released from the hospital, he still must get intravenous antibiotics for several more days.
Boone wants a left-hander in the bullpen for a series next weekend in St. Louis. White is the only option.
``You need a left-hander every day,'' Boone said. ``But the Cardinals are a particular team that does not swing as well against any lefty. I'd like to have him back, but you can't force mother nature. By Wednesday or Thursday, we'll know whether that's possible or not.''
If White has to go on the disabled list, Kearns could be brought back and thrown back into the four-man rotation in the outfield.
``It could be as short as three days (in the minors) and my gut tells me it's going to be a short-term move, but I certainly don't have a crystal ball,'' Boone said.
Kearns was promoted directly from Double-A Chattanooga and has never played at Triple-A.
CINCINNATI (AP) - Austin Kearns, one of the leaders of the Cincinnati Reds' unexpected surge into first place, was demoted to the minors Sunday so a reliever could be added to the roster.
The Reds will be without left-hander Gabe White for at least a few more days and don't want to remain short-handed in the bullpen. They called up right-hander Luis Pineda and optioned Kearns to Triple-A Louisville.
``He was certainly disappointed,'' manager Bob Boone said of Kearns, who declined to talk to reporters. ``Intellectually he understands it, but when it happens to you, it's hard to swallow. He's a huge part of our future, but we're living in the right now.''
Kearns, 22, was called up April 17 for what was supposed to be a temporary stay, but hit so well that he earned a starting spot in right field. He and left fielder Adam Dunn, his roommate throughout the minors, anchored the lineup during the Reds' 51-day stay atop the NL Central.
Kearns was NL rookie of the month for May, hitting five homers with 17 RBIs in 24 games. His playing time diminished when Ken Griffey Jr. returned from the disabled list on May 23, and he went into a slump that dropped his average to .284 - still one of the best on the roster.
The Reds have fallen into a deep offensive slump that has dropped them 2 1/2 games behind St. Louis. The Reds had lost six in a row, their deepest slump of the season, when Kearns was sent to the minors before Sunday's game against Oakland.
With Griffey sidelined for 6 1/2 weeks by a torn tendon in his right knee, the outfield of Kearns, Dunn and Juan Encarnacion carried the team. When Griffey returned, one of them wound up sitting every day.
Encarnacion was in a 13-for-64 slump (.203) heading into Sunday's game and Kearns was in an 0-for-12 and 5-for-34 slump (.147) when he was sent down.
``It kills me to see him struggling and to think that maybe part of that is he's in a role where he's not playing everyday,'' Boone said. ``I think this rotation thing is affecting him somewhat. The one thing I can't do is mess up Austin Kearns by not playing him every day.''
The bullpen was the main consideration in the move.
White, the only left-hander in the bullpen, got a severe infection in his pitching hand and was hospitalized Saturday. Although he was released from the hospital, he still must get intravenous antibiotics for several more days.
Boone wants a left-hander in the bullpen for a series next weekend in St. Louis. White is the only option.
``You need a left-hander every day,'' Boone said. ``But the Cardinals are a particular team that does not swing as well against any lefty. I'd like to have him back, but you can't force mother nature. By Wednesday or Thursday, we'll know whether that's possible or not.''
If White has to go on the disabled list, Kearns could be brought back and thrown back into the four-man rotation in the outfield.
``It could be as short as three days (in the minors) and my gut tells me it's going to be a short-term move, but I certainly don't have a crystal ball,'' Boone said.
Kearns was promoted directly from Double-A Chattanooga and has never played at Triple-A.