Graves not only one walking a tightrope

By Hal McCoy

Dayton Daily News

PHILADELPHIA | Cincinnati Reds fans aim their venom at closer Danny Graves, the man who combines excitement and adventure into deco art.

Despite giving fans apoplexy with his "put them on and dare them to score" style (some do, some don't), Graves entered the weekend with nine saves in 11 chances.

True, Graves has made Maalox a staple in manager Dave Miley's dop kit, along with the Grecian Formula, but bullpen failure is rampant throughout baseball.

How about the Chicago Cubs? Manager Dusty Baker finally tired of LaTroy Hawkins 11 blown saves in his last 18 chances dating back to last season.

He replaced Hawkins with former Cincinnati starter Ryan Dempster, who gave up two runs in his first assignment Tuesday, then blew a save for Mark Prior on Wednesday. Then he got hit by a line drive that left a deep bone bruise on his right forearm and is out for a while.

How about the Braves? They acquired Milwaukee closer Dan Kolb so they could put John Smoltz back in the rotation.

Kolb has three losses and two blown saves. On Wednesday, he retired just one of five Rockies in the ninth inning and blew a save for Smoltz, the man he replaced. It was the second time he'd done that.

Smoltz might request to be starter and closer when he pitches.

No free passes

When Cincinnati Reds General Manager Dan O'Brien talks about pitching to contact, this is what he means.

Minnesota starter Brad Radke has 34 strikeouts and one walk. Johan Santana has 67 strikeouts and six walks (one intentional).

Minnesota's staff had given up 50 walks entering the weekend. No other team had walked fewer than 85.

Welcome back, Izzy

Speaking of closers, while Jason Isringhausen was on the disabled list, the St. Louis Cardinals went 8-7.

Manager Tony La Russa went closer-by-committee. Not good. The bullpen had a 6.95 ERA and opponents hit .365. With Isringhausen, the bullpen had a 3.50 ERA and opponents hit .243.

Al Reyes had three saves while Julian Tavarez, Randy Flores and rookie Brad Thompson each had one. The bullpen lost four games and won one.

Isringhausen is back.

A Giant dilemma

When San Francisco ace Jason Schmidt's fastball didn't climb over 92 miles per hour, the Giants were concerned ... so concerned they put him on the disabled list with a shoulder strain.

What? Only 92? The Cincinnati Reds wish they had a healthy starter who could consistently hit 92.

A recap: The Giants have lost superstar Barry Bonds, closer Armando Benitez and No. 1 starter Schmidt.

Is that manager Felipe Alou standing on the Golden Gate Bridge railing?

It is good to lead

Incredibly, the Chicago White Sox led at one point in every one of their first 36 games during a 27-9 start.

That's clearly an all-steam, full-ahead start. And that start came despite:

• Paul Konerko, owner of seven home runs in the first 14 games, hitting only two more in his next 69 at-bats and batting .208.

• Outfielder Jermaine Dye, a free-agent signed to a two-year deal, hitting .192.

• Designated hitter Carl Everett, after a fast start, didn't hit a homer in his next 73 at-bats and was hitting .233 since April 18.

Can you say "Pitching, pitching, pitching?"

Paul, meet Jamie

If misery loves company, Cincinnati starter Paul Wilson needs to call Seattle's Jamie Moyer, but he shouldn't ask, "Hey, Jamie, how's it going?"

After a 4-0 start, Moyer lost three straight and, get this, gave up 17 runs and 27 hits in 82/3 innings.

Hit the road, Jack

When Tampa Bay pitcher Dewon Brazelton knew he was going to be optioned to the minors last week, he hit the road before GM Chuck LaMar could tell him. LaMar had to call his agent.

It is surprising Brazelton would ever leave the St. Petersburg city limits. His career road record in 18 starts is 0-14.

Brazelton was 1-7 this year with a 6.43 ERA. He led the majors in losses, runs allowed (34 in 42 innings) and led the American League in walks (29).

Said LaMar, with gloves off, "It is time for him to establish whether he is a major-league pitcher or not. It is not an experience factor. He has to prove to himself and the organization that he is a major-league starting pitcher."

He'll be establishing and proving at Triple-A Durham.

Using your head

The quote of the week comes from Philadelphia manager Charlie Manuel after his Phillies beat the Chicago Cubs when Hawkins caught a line drive and tried to double Jose Offerman off of first.

The throw hit Offerman on the batting helmet and bounced into the stands, permitting the two winning runs to score.

"That's what I call using your head for something other than a hat rack," Manuel said.

The M&M Boys

While they both are quite young and it was only over two series, Minnesota's Joe Mauer, 22, and Justin Mourneau, 24, were dubbed the M&M Boys last week by Twin Cities writers — a reference to Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris.

Mauer and Mourneau both bat left-handed and they bat third and fourth in the Twins order, just like Mantle and Maris did for the Yankees.

Last week against Cleveland and Tampa Bay, Mauer was 10-for-18 with two homers and five RBIs. Mourneau was 9-for-18 with four homers and 10 RBIs.

Soon to be filmed: "61, Part II."

Unwelcome mat?

Outfielder Mike Restovich, 26, should keep a bag packed and hold off on signing any apartment leases. In less than two months, he has played for four teams.

He started the season with Minnesota. Tampa Bay claimed him. The Devil Rays designated him for assignment four days later and Colorado claimed him. The Pittsburgh Pirates traded for him last week.

Have bats, will travel.

An honest, if less-rich man

San Diego rookie pitcher Tim Stauffer is either The Honest Man or ill-advised. The 22-year-old right-hander made his major-league debut against the Reds last week and won, pitching out of bases-loaded situations in the first and third innings.

He was a first-round draft pick, the fourth player taken, in 2003. The going rate? $2.75 million. Stauffer, though, told the Padres he had a sore shoulder and signed for $750,000.