A look at the Reds' five new pitchers

[CincyRedsFan30]

5 new faces on the mound

By the Dayton Daily News

Kent Mercker

• 6-2, 205

• Left-handed reliever

• Mercker, the Braves' first-round draft pick in 1986, begins his third stint with Cincinnati (1997, 2003). The former starter is 69-65 in 15 seasons and is 6-4 with a 3.02 ERA since 2001, when he missed the entire season recovering from a cerebral hemorrhage. Last year, Mercker, 37, made a career-high 71 appearances and went 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA for the Cubs. He was 0-2 in 2003 when the Reds traded him to Atlanta on Aug. 12 during the Great Salary Dump of '03.


Eric Milton

• 6-3, 207

• Left-handed

starter

• The former all-star (2001) became the Reds' most high-profile pitcher signing in several years during the off-season. He became Cincinnati's No. 2 starter after leading Philadelphia in wins (14), starts (34), innings pitching (201) and strikeouts (161) last season. In seven seasons, the first six with the Twins, Milton, 29, is 71-57 with a no-hitter in 1999. He has averaged 12 wins in six big-league seasons. The Reds have had two 12-game winners in the past five seasons.


Ramon Ortiz

• 6-0, 175

• Right-handed starter

• Ortiz, 31, has something that no other Reds pitcher does — a World Series victory. In 2002, with the Angels, Ortiz won Game 3 against the Giants as the Angels won the title. He spent his previous six seasons with the Angels and compiled a 59-49 record, including three straight seasons of 13 or more wins. With 137 career starts, Ortiz — who owns several barbershops in his Dominican Republic hometown — gives the Reds another proven piece for the rotation.


David Weathers

• 6-3, 230

• Right-handed reliever

• A 52-62 career record isn't spectacular, but Weathers, 35, has a 3.12 ERA since 1999. He also has valued playoff experience. In 1996 with the Yankees — one of his nine employers in 14 seasons — Weathers had a 0.82 ERA in seven postseason appearances. Weathers also has previous stint with the Reds. He went 2-4 with a 6.21 ERA in 16 games in 1998 before finishing with Milwaukee. His best year came in 2002: 6-3, 2.91 ERA in 71 appearances for the Mets.


Ben Weber

• 6-4, 205

• Right-handed reliever

• Weber, like Ortiz, had a standout season with the 2002 Angels: 7-2 with a 2.54 ERA in 63 games. His numbers from five seasons with the Giants and Angels are very respectable — 19-8 and 3.58 ERA in 218 games. Last season, after going 18-5 with a 2.88 ERA from 2001-03, effects of carpel tunnel syndrome led Weber, 35, to an 0-2 slate with the Angels in 16 games before a demotion and release. But surely his triplets gave him a solid workout over the winter.

[griffeyfan3]

im glad they picked up milton....he will help out tremedously this year along with the others.

[RedsFan33]

I think the bullpen should be in very good shape with all the vet's anchoring it, but the staff is the main worry as it is every year. Ortiz is already hurting and so is Hancock and Hudson. Wilson needs to stay healthy because you all saw what he did last year while healthy. And I think Milton will be just fine, just needs to cut down on giving up the long ball.

[redsrbetter]

I just can't wait to see how this guys work out all their quirks and get it going.