Any suggestions for an aging man with failing health and one item left on his bucket list — seeing a Cincinnati Reds World Series championship? — DAVE, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek.
Yeah, rewrite the bucket list. Change it to the Cleveland Indians. My bucket list has the Cleveland Browns in the Super Bowl. I’ve told my greatgrandson to put it on his bucket list.
Unending movement. I-71 between Cincinnati and Louisville will be congested with players shuffling back and forth. If you mean a trade, I see shortstop Zack Cozart traded. Jose Peraza will be moved from second base to shortstop, and Scooter Gennett will play second base until the Reds are ready to plant Dilson Herrera at second base. And third baseman Eugenio Suarez is on borrowed time until Nick Senzel gets the call.
Why did the Reds trade Frank Robinson and Vada Pinson? — THOMAS, Oriental Mindoro, The Philippines.
Wow, that goes back even before my 44 years of covering baseball. But in the case of Robinson, owner Bill DeWitt famously said Robinson was “an old 30.” And he traded him to Baltimore for two trinkets and a bauble. Old Man Robinson won the American League Triple Crown.
Pinson was a great player for the Reds, but after he was traded he never reached the same heights during years with St. Louis, Cleveland, California and Kansas City. The Reds acquired pitcher Wayne Granger and outfielder Bobby Tolan from St. Louis for Pinson. That was a timely trade. And why isn’t Pinson in the
Joey Votto could play for any team at any time in any era. He is that good, the best allaround hitter I’ve seen in my 44 years. If Votto played for The BRM he would have played first base and Tony Perez would have stayed at third base and Pete Rose would have stayed in left field. With that scenario the Reds probably wouldn’t have traded to get George Foster, and what a mistake that would have been. Hall of Fame?
What is the most bizarre thing you’ve seen players do during a rain delay? — JOHN, Xenia.
I saw second baseman Bret Boone put on pitcher Jeff Brantley’s cowboy boots and walk around the clubhouse wearing nothing but the boots. I saw outfielder Dave Collins put a roll of toilet paper on a coat hanger and hang it on a back belt loop of a writer’s pants and saw the writer walk around the clubhouse with toilet paper streaming behind him. I saw pitcher Tom Seaver use scissors to snip off a writer’s tie at the knot (Seaver later presented the guy with six new ties). Bizarre enough?
What is the best possible result for the Reds this year? — ALAN, Sugarcreek Twp.
Can’t see them doing any better than fourth. If all goes well, they might finish ahead of Milwaukee. Nobody is more positive about things and nobody is more gung-ho Cincinnati Reds than Sean Casey. But last week on MLB Network he said about the Reds, “It’s gonna be a long year with what they’ve got going on.” I never argue with Sean Casey.
Isn’t Bryan Price going to overwork the pitching staff by using five and six pitchers a game? — RICK, Vandalia.
Don’t fault him. Fault the starting pitchers who can’t get out of the fifth inning. Right now there are eight pitchers in the bullpen, plenty of arms. And those same eight guys won’t be with the team all year. There will be a steady stream of fresh arms coming up from the minors when needed. They will be needed.
What is the logic of not using Raisel Iglesias as a starter when he did well in that role when he first came up? — JIMMY, Cincinnati.
Stay tuned. Iglesias eventually will be in the rotation. Maybe not this year, but probably next year. He has had a lot of shoulder issues the last two years, so the Reds are being cautious now by using him for only an inning or a two at a time. But the Reds say a rotation role is in his future.
Why has the Dayton Daily News eliminated “Player Periscope” in Sunday’s paper that kept track of how local players were doing in the minor leagues? — BO, Centerville.
That was a nice feature but it disappeared about 30 years ago. I was never a decision-maker at the DDN, so I don’t know why it was discontinued. The news holes, including the sports sections, are shrinking all over the newspaper business, so it could be a matter of space.
And it could be that the person who contributed that feature is no longer with us.