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Reds Tidbits (2006 Season)

Most folks with a brain would agree, unfortunately we are talking about the Reds here.

The organizational man love for the over the hill player who can suck at multiple positions while barely hitting at all, just baffles me.

They call them scrappy veterans who know how to win, give professional at bats and give a lot of clubhouse leadership. Marty and George Grande like them because they don't strike out much.

If they had them around as role players then fine, but the Reds think they are an intregal part of "the plan".

IMO, we can lose 80 or 90 games with anyone. Why not get the kids the experience?

Exactally, but if he keeps hitting like he has started in the spring and they decide to play those washed up guys I am going to be pissed.

The other thing I don't understand is why they need multiple guys for the role. No need to have both Aurilla and womack.
 
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Cincy

3/6/06

Cruz no pinch quitter

BY JOHN FAY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->SARASOTA, Fla. - Jacob Cruz watched the transaction list and watched as his job security was chipped away.

"They signed every left-handed hitter from Japan to Latin America - literally," Cruz said.

And parts elsewhere, he might have added.

New Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky signed Scott Hatteberg, Timo Perez, Tuffy Rhodes and Quinton McCracken in the days before spring training.

All are left-handed hitters with the exception of McCracken, who is a switch-hitter.

Cruz understands.

"Job security for a pinch hitter doesn't exist," Cruz said, "except for guys like Lenny Harris and John Vander Wal."

Case in point: Cruz is in camp on a minor-league contract for the fourth straight year, even though he spent almost all of the last two seasons in the big leagues.

"It's the same every year," he said. "Great year, good luck next year."

Cruz did have a great year by pinch-hitting standards. He set the Reds' franchise record with 20 pinch-hits. He also led the major leagues in pinch hits. He tied Tony Clark and Alex Cintron, both of Arizona, for the major-league lead with three pinch-hit home runs.

Reds manager Jerry Narron appreciates what Cruz can do.

"I know he can sit in that clubhouse for a week, then give us a good at-bat," Narron said. "As far as knowing his role and staying ready, he's outstanding."

Most of Cruz's at-bats came as a pinch-hitter last season. He was 20-for-76 (.263) with three homers and 11 RBI as a pinch hitter. He was 10-for-51 (.196) with a home run and seven RBI in his other at-bats. Cruz made only 13 starts on the year.

Still, as Narron said, Cruz manages to stay sharp.

"I just keep hitting," he said. "I'll hit in the cage during the game. I'll go down to the bullpen to watch guys warm up. I'll stand in against guys to keep my eyes sharp."

"Anything I can do to simulate at-bats," added Cruz.

Cruz, 33, was once a hot prospect. The San Francisco Giants picked him 32nd overall in the 1993 draft after an All-American career at Arizona State.

Cruz led the Pacific Coast League in hitting (.361) in 1997.

But he has never been a regular in the big leagues. The 147 at-bats he got in 2004 with the Reds were a career-high.

Each spring Cruz gets all the at-bats he wants. He was not on the Reds' trip to Tampa to play the New York Yankees on Saturday. Missing a spring road game is a rarity for him.

"First time ever," he said. "It felt weird. I thought I was fired."

Cruz keeps his humor. He is one of the easiest-going, approachable players in the Reds clubhouse. Spanish is his first language but his English is flawless, so he often helps Latin players with life issues.

Cruz probably will find a job elsewhere if things don't work out with the Reds.

"I don't think that far in advance," he said. "I just go day-by-day. You've got 40, 50 at-bats to prove yourself in spring. It's a tough gig."

Cruz is off to a good start. He had three hits and four walks in his first three spring games.

Cruz's disadvantage is Hatteberg is on a major league contract, so he's safe. McCracken and Perez can do more things as far as defense and baserunning. Rhodes showed great power in his 10 years in Japan.

Cruz's advantage is Narron knows what he can do.

"He's going to give you a good at-bat every time," Narron said.

That will often do in a pinch.

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Jaxbuck, I agree completely. The organization does show a "love" for those wily over the hill retreads. Maybe next year Julio Franco will be our big offseason acquisition. :(

Anyway I can tell you are a Reds fan like me because we can admit we suck and be used to it. I for one am tired of all the bullshit, false hopes the organization puts in people that the team will "compete" when anybody with half a damn clue knows pitching wins and our pitching sucks. I am not going back to Cincy until they some simblance of a baseball team on the field.
 
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Jaxbuck, I agree completely. The organization does show a "love" for those wily over the hill retreads. Maybe next year Julio Franco will be our big offseason acquisition. :(

Anyway I can tell you are a Reds fan like me because we can admit we suck and be used to it. I for one am tired of all the bullshit, false hopes the organization puts in people that the team will "compete" when anybody with half a damn clue knows pitching wins and our pitching sucks. I am not going back to Cincy until they some simblance of a baseball team on the field.

I will go to the games, just to support them, and baseball games are fun to attend even if they team you like is losing.

I do agree tho that reds fans have became accustomed to the losing, which I don't like, but the moves have become so predictable and it is pretty bad when fans can point out the problems and the management does shit about it.
 
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Jaxbuck, I agree completely. The organization does show a "love" for those wily over the hill retreads. Maybe next year Julio Franco will be our big offseason acquisition. :(

Anyway I can tell you are a Reds fan like me because we can admit we suck and be used to it. I for one am tired of all the bullshit, false hopes the organization puts in people that the team will "compete" when anybody with half a damn clue knows pitching wins and our pitching sucks. I am not going back to Cincy until they some simblance of a baseball team on the field.

I can never stop being a fan and live too far away to go to the games anyway. What I will do is be a cynical, pessamistic and hyper critical fucker untill they do something to give me reason to act otherwise.
 
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Cincy

3/7/06

Junior visited Kirby for 4 hours Sunday

KEVIN KELLY AND ENQUIRER NEWS SERVICES

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->Reds star Ken Griffey Jr., who is in Arizona playing for the United States team in the World Baseball Classic, visited Kirby Puckett for more than four hours Sunday night.

Griffey didn't leave until almost 2 a.m. Monday.

"He's one of those guys, you're just glad you had a chance to know him," said Griffey, who was taken under the wing of the more-established Puckett as a 1989 rookie for Seattle. "He took care of me."

Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky got to know Puckett during his time as Twins assistant general manager, and the two sometimes shared an office at spring training.

"He'd come up and use my office and do all his autographing," Krivsky said.

"So we got to know each other pretty well just hanging out in my office."

Puckett enjoyed answering Krivsky's phone and not identifying himself.

"He'd answer it saying, 'Wayne Krivksy's office,' and nobody knew they were talking to him," Krivsky said. "I know he answered the phone a few times and it was my wife. He said, 'Hey, mama Kriv is on the phone. Mama Kriv wants to talk to you.' So my wife got to talk to him a few times.

"He was just a fun guy to be around . . . it's just a shame."
 
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Cincy

3/7/06

Reds notebook

This hit satisfies starter Claussen

BY KEVIN KELLY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->SARASOTA, Fla. - Brandon Claussen threw three scoreless innings in his spring training debut Monday at Ed Smith Stadium.

The highlight of the day, the Reds pitcher confessed, dealt not with what happened on the mound in a 5-2 win against the Phillies before 4,538 fans.

"It was the hit, totally," Claussen said.

Last season Claussen had just five hits in 55 at-bats, but in his only at-bat Monday slapped a two-run double down the first-base line. The second-inning hit off Phillies starter Ryan Franklin gave the Reds a 2-0 lead.

The left-hander was just as effective on the mound.

Claussen faced 11 hitters and allowed two hits while striking out two and walking one. He threw 43 pitches during the game and 15 more in the bullpen after he came out.

"I feel like all of us pitchers on the staff are way ahead of schedule," Claussen said. "Sixty pitches today if you count the bullpen, that's getting up there. We're preparing to get through the seventh inning this year, boys."

DUNEDIN DEBUT: After missing his first two starts because of a strained right calf, left-hander Eric Milton is scheduled to make his spring debut against the Blue Jays today.

"I've been throwing bullpens every other day," Milton said. "I want to work on everything. Throw all my pitches and basically get a feel for facing hitters again."

CUTS COMING: The first round of roster cuts is approaching.

"It will come sometime after Wednesday," Reds manager Jerry Narron said.

The Reds will have just one split-squad date (March 18) remaining after Wednesday's games against the Pirates and Twins.

Michael Gosling (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will start against the Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium. Homer Bailey also will pitch in that game. Dave Williams (0-0, 4.50) will start against Minnesota in Fort Myers.

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:We're preparing to get through the seventh inning this year, boys."

I don't know to laugh or cry at this comment.


After missing his first two starts because of a strained right calf, left-hander Eric Milton is scheduled to make his spring debut against the Blue Jays today.

"I've been throwing bullpens every other day," Milton said. "I want to work on everything. Throw all my pitches and basically get a feel for facing hitters again."

Oh, he's got his feel back.

4 runs on 4 hits with 1 HR in 2/3 of an inning. :smash:
 
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"Were preparing to get through the seventh inning this year, boys."

Pathetic, absolutely pathetic. It is amazing how this once storied franchise has became the laughingstock of the league. Hey, at least we got the right formula for finding the right retread relievers.:(
 
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Cincy

3/8/06

Milton embarrassed by outing

Hobbled lefty unable to last one inning vs. Blue Jays

BY KEVIN KELLY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER
<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->DUNEDIN, Fla. - A bandage held an ice pack tight against Eric Milton's strained right calf.

The Reds pitcher re-aggravated the injury that delayed his spring training debut until Tuesday, but he made certain not to blame it for his performance against the Blue Jays at Knology Park.

"After today, I want to be back out there tomorrow and pitch," Milton said.

"I'll listen to the doctors and trainers and do what they say. But if it were up to me, I'd be pitching tomorrow.

"Today was pretty much an embarrassment for me."

The left-hander threw 20 of his 33 pitches for strikes and left the game with two outs in the first inning.

Toronto led 4-0 after a three-run home run to center field by Shea Hillenbrand and a double off the right-field wall by John-Ford Griffin.

It was while backing up home plate on Griffin's double that Milton felt the calf grab. He remained in the game and threw 12 more pitches to the next two batters before coming out.

"If I can throw the ball, I'm going to go out there and throw the ball," said Milton, who allowed four hits and walked one. "I'm not looking for a reason to come out of the game. That's for sure."

Reds manager Jerry Narron said the training staff would evaluate Milton when the team returned to Sarasota after the 6-3 loss to Toronto.

Asked if he were concerned the injury could become a nuisance, Narron replied: "Only if he misses his next outing. Other than that I won't be."

Milton was scheduled to start the spring training opener against the Tigers on March 2 but was scratched because of the calf strain.

When he took the mound Tuesday afternoon, conditions were far from ideal. The wind was blowing out to center field.

"My location was a little off," Milton said. "Working behind, I couldn't really mix in all my pitches.

"It's my first time out. I'm trying to get rid of this injury."
 
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Cincy

3/8/06

Reds notebook

Griffey, Peña are gone to the WBC; Outfielders get their chances

BY KEVIN KELLY | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

<!--ARTICLE BODY TEXT-->DUNEDIN, Fla. - Not receiving an invitation to participate in the World Baseball Classic might be a disappointment for some.

But for those trying to land a spot on a major-league roster, or just make a favorable impression, the absence of players selected for the tournament is resulting in increased playing time this spring.

The Reds are a good example.

With starting outfielders Wily Mo Peña (Dominican Republic) and Ken Griffey Jr. (United States) at the World Baseball Classic, two non-roster invitees filled their spots in the starting lineup against the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

"That's great (that) they're going and representing their countries," said Andy Abad, who started in left field in the 6-3 loss. "Fortunately enough, those are guys that are guys in my position. I can go ahead and take advantage of getting some at-bats. The coaching staff has done a good job of getting guys in there. I've gone to big-league camps and haven't gotten an at-bat for a week."

Quinton McCracken started in center field and was replaced by Chris Denorfia, who has played in six games this spring.

"You can't even measure that," Denorfia said. "There's only so many innings to go around every spring training.

"Especially with a big camp like we've got this year, for a couple of outfielders to be gone, it's great for young guys like me to get a chance to get in there just about every day."

ANAHEIM EVENING: Nobody had a better vantage point of Kirby Puckett's major-league debut with the Twins on May 8, 1984, than Jerry Narron.

The Reds manager started at catcher for the Angels that evening in Anaheim when Puckett batted leadoff and had four hits in five at-bats.

Puckett, who died Monday, went on to become a Hall of Fame outfielder.

"At the time (in 1984), he was a guy that could just really run," Narron said.

"I don't think anybody expected him to have the kind of power that he ended up having.

"I think everybody felt the Twins had found a guy for the top of their order.

They didn't know they had a guy for the middle of their order."

Frank Viola pitched a four-hit shutout in that 5-0 win at Anaheim Stadium.

Half of the hits he allowed belonged to Narron.

POWER-PACKED: It took just seven spring at-bats before Earl Snyder had his first home run. The Reds infielder, a non-roster invitee, hit a two-run homer against the Phillies on Monday.

Over the past two seasons only one other minor-league player - Mitch Jones - has hit more home runs than Snyder's 65 with Triple-A Pawtucket and Durham.

"The last couple of years, as far as power numbers, have been really good," said Snyder, who went 1-for-2 Tuesday. "Hopefully I can keep that up. And when I do get into games, like Monday, try to take advantage of opportunities and not miss pitches that you should hit."

ODDS AND ENDS: Ed Smith Stadium will be the site of a Reds reunion today. The Pirates are expected to bring former Cincinnati first baseman Sean Casey and third baseman Joe Randa for the 1:05 p.m. game. ... McCracken's five-game hitting streak ended Tuesday. He went 0-for-1 with a walk.

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