A: No, but I’ve been called a jackass a few times, but it comes with the territory. When Joey Votto presents one to Zack Cozart for making the All-Star team, that donkey will be the second associated with baseball. When Charles O. Finley owned the Kansas City A’s, a politician gave Finley a mule because Missouri’s state animal is the mule. Finley named the mule after himself, Charley-O, and permitted the beast to roam in the grass beyond the center field fence, where some goats and sheep also grazed. Finley often put an A’s hat on Charley-O and paraded him around the press room after games.
RELATED: Reds land three prospects among Top 100
Q: Since the Reds are where everybody thought they would be, last place, is it time for the Bryan Price demise rumors to start? — CHRIS, Waynesville.
A: You answered your own question. The Reds weren’t expected to compete. They are rebuilding. Price has been told developing players right now is more important than winning games. He is trying to do just that. Why would they fire a guy who is doing just what they asked and actually winning a few more games than expected? They won’t lose 100, as many expected. But it isn’t time to start those rumors because those rumors started on Opening Day. Last place isn’t his fault, so why fire him?
RELATED: Reds robbed by instant replay again
Q: Because Reds pitchers will bat when they reach the majors, why don’t they bat in the minors where the designated hitter is used so they can at least learn to bunt? — LARRY, Piqua.
A: Teams do have that option to not use the DH in the minors, but pitchers are there to learn and refine their pitching mechanics. In addition, by using the DH the minor league teams can use nine hitters and get at-bats for non-pitching prospects. If they’d just do away with the infernal DH at all levels then pitchers would have game opportunities to bunt and hit. Won’t happen, though.
Q: Are the Reds going to try to trade Devin Mesoraco at the July 31 trade deadline because his contract is up after 2018? — TERESA, Madison, Ind.
RELATED: Reds put Mesoraco on DL again
A: It does make sense on two fronts. The first is that Mesoraco will be due $13,125,000 for the 2018 season. The second is that the Reds are loaded throughout the system with catchers, including Tyler Stephenson, the No. 1 draft pick in 2015, to say nothing about current catchers Tucker Barnhart and Rule 5 player Stuart Turner, who the Reds seem intent upon keeping. One drawback, though, are Mesoraco’s health issues, which have involved two hip surgeries and a shoulder surgery the past couple of years. And he is sharing time this year with Barnhart so other teams have to be suspect about Mesoraco’s durability. And guess what. He is back on the disabled list with a sore shoulder.
Q: I read that when Reds rookie Jackson Stephens made his debut that his fastball was faster than he threw in the minors and that Raisel Iglesias is throwing much harder than he did in April. Have the Reds turned up the dials on the speed gun to entertain the fans? — STEVE, Adelaide, Australia.
A: Different guns record varying speeds in different parks, I’m told. And there is no indication the Reds are cranking up the radar. Stephens probably was pumped up on adrenaline and Iglesias always throws hard and probably has built up his shoulder strength over the course of the season. And the Reds certainly didn’t have to adjust anything when Aroldis Chapman pitched. They did probably check the gun when he hit 105. It was accurate.
Q: I see a lot of major league outfielders making basket catches at the belt rather than catching the ball above their heads with two hands. Is this something they are teaching or are players doing it on their own? — RICK, Dayton.
A: Whatever works. Nobody teaches a basket catch but some outfielders like to put a little flair into their catches, a little mustard for the hot dog in them. Most teams will let them do it until they miss one. Then the pitcher might tell him where to put his basket catches. Few players can be Willie Mays.
Q: Will the Reds sign Scooter Gennett for next season? — TOM, Kettering.
A: If they don’t, they aren’t trying. Gennett was the steal of the year when the Reds signed him this spring after Milwaukee released him. The Brewers dumped him so Travis Shaw could play third base — a good move — and so they could move Jonathan Villar from third to second, where Gennett played. Horrible move. Villar is hitting .207 with eight homers. Gennett, playing part-time, is hitting .314 with 14 homers. If the Reds trade Zack Cozart, as expected, Jose Peraza can move to shortstop and Gennett can take over second base.
Q: As a neophyte fan new to baseball, I watch every game and I am confused by the umpires’ signals for safe or out. Are there specific signals? — ROY, Springfield.
A: Very elemental, sir. When you see an umpire hook his thumb into the air, as if he is hitch-hiking on I-70, the runner is out. When he spreads his arms wide at the chest, as if he is an eagle ready to take flight, the runner is safe. When you see an umpire run toward the dugout and put on a head set, he isn’t listening to Bachman Turner Overdrive, he is awaiting a decision from New York on a replay/review and anything can happen.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Q: When Joey Votto turned down the invitation to participate in the All-Star Home Run Derby, did he snub fans who deserve to see the best players? — RICHARD, Tipp City.
A: To the contrary, he did Reds fans a favor. Votto saw what happened to Todd Frazier and Adam Duvall, teammates who participated in the Home Run Derby. Both went downhill fast after the derby. Duvall admitted that for two weeks afterward he couldn’t lift his arms to his shoulders. That is a lot of hard swings in a short time. Votto’s swing is grooved to hit and if home runs happen they happen. He doesn’t try. He doesn’t want to alter that swing and he doesn’t want to struggle the second half and hurt both himself and his team. The derby is an exhibition and it certainly is a detriment to teams who lose the effectiveness of their players who spend a day swinging from the heels until their tongues hang out.
About the Author