Hermanson's here (updated version)

If you had any concern about Dustin Hermanson's back, this should ease your troubled mind: He took five flights -- mostly on commuter jets -- the last three days and was able to throw a bullpen today. Five flights in three days makes my back hurt thinking about it.

Hermanson said he thinks the reason it took so long to get signed is teams were frightened off by the medical report the White Sox were giving.

"It's like looking at medical report from a guy who had Tommy John surgery 2 1/2 years ago," he said. "That report isn't any good anymore. Things have changed for me in the last year and a half."

Hermanson said the key is a new program that stresses core his strength. We'll see. He's pretty close to joining the fray. "I just need to face hitters," he said.

I agree with Wayne Krivsky: Hermanson is worth taking a risk on. The guy saved 34 games two years ago and had 2.04 ERA, and the Reds lose nothing if he doesn't make the team.


Two other things:

--Ken Griffey Jr. says things went fine in the BP session yesterday. "It's a matter of getting hand stronger."

--Jeff Conine was a scratch yesterday. He's got a stiff back. He's day-to-day.

I'm off to Fort Myers for the tilt with the Twins. I'll update with game reports, but not nearly as often as yesterday.

Made it to Fort Myers in 90-minutes, pretty good time. Driving to Fort Myers is my least favorite part of the spring training.

But enough scribe whining. Narron had this to say about Hermanson: "I love the way he competes. He wants to pitch. He wants the ball."

Jerry Narron said the Reds will find a way to get Hermanson some innings. "We're going to do everythnig we can to find out if he's healthy."