A: They started stealing signs about the same time the telephone was invented in 1876. They did it with the naked eye from dugouts with sign language, they did it with binoculars from scoreboards, they did it with TVs in the clubhouse. If there is technology, like the Apple Watch, somebody is going to find a way to use it. Everybody does it and the trick is not to get caught, just like grand larceny.
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A: There is always hope for a 6-foot-6 left-hander who can throw hard. I’m convinced his confidence was shattered when he was doing well early in the season and the Reds sent him back to the minors to save some service time. He hasn’t been the same since and had to wonder, “Why was I sent back?” All he needs to do is learn to repeat his delivery so that he throws quality strikes. He’ll be fine. If not, there is always European basketball for the former St. John’s player.
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Q: Do Midwest League umpires rub mud on the baseballs before games at Dayton’s Fifth Third Field the way umpires do in the majors? — DAN, Vandalia.
A: Yes, and they use the same mud dug out of the banks of the Delaware River. It is the duty of the umpires but they like to farm it out to a clubhouse attendant and they give him an extra tip. I’d like to help the umpires out before a game at Great American Ball Park but mud on my laptop keys is not a good thing.
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Q: If you were coming to bat, what would be your walk-up song? — RON, Vandalia.
A: First of all I wouldn’t walk up there without wearing a full set of armor and the fans could call me Sir Whiffalot. My walk-up songs would be Coward of the County by Kenny Rogers (the singer, not the pitcher) and Paperback Writer by the Beatles.
Q: Do you see MLB switching to electronic umpiring any time soon? I hope they do because the strike zone would be far more consistent and fair, right? — STEVE, Vandalia.
A: Unfortunately, yes. And it will happen as soon as the equipment is perfected and debugged. My guess is that the machines won’t be infallible (they make mistakes, too) and fans will be clamoring for the human touch again. Even if machines begin calling strikes, they’ll still need an umpire at home plate to make safe and out calls and balk calls and hurry up conferences on the mound. So why do it? Let’s go all the way and invent robots to play the game and be done with it.
Q: A few years ago there was talk about the Reds not having leadership in the clubhouse and then Todd Frazier emerged. Now that Todd is no longer with the Reds, has any one player emerged to fill that role? — NANCY, Springfield.
A: The better the team the more you hear about leadership and the worse the team the less you hear. There is clubhouse leadership, led by Zack Cozart and Scooter Gennett. But it isn’t likely either will be with the Reds next year so two more leaders bite the dust. Joey Votto is an introvert, but he does lead by example and does answer questions when asked. Just remember, though, leaders can’t be picked. They earn that respect from their teammates.
Q: In the first 40 games since they acquired Jay Bruce in August the Cleveland Indians were 34-6. Was he the Tribe’s missing piece? — LARRY, Springfield.
A: The Cleveland Indians are a puzzle with no missing pieces. They made the World Series without him last year. While Jay Bruce is one of my all-time favorite Reds, it is likely the Indians would be doing what they are doing without him. He was just an extremely valuable addition to a roster already stuffed with talent. He is hitting .261 with five homers and 20 RBIs in 126 plate appearances with Cleveland. That’s OK, but certainly not eye-popping. One thing is certain — the players in the Indians clubhouse love him.
Q: How do you feel the Reds minor league affiliates did in producing players this year? — JAY, Englewood.
A: Bleacher Report rated the Reds minor league system eighth best in the majors right after this year’s draft. It lists Hunter Greene and Nick Senzel as the top two prospects. It listed Tyler Mahle, Luis Castillo and Jesse Winker in the Reds’ top 10 and all three are now on the roster. During a rebuild you better have a strong feeder system and the Reds appear to be on the straight-and-narrow highway, especially with the pitching.
Q: I realize the Reds’ record is not Bryan Price’s fault, but maybe he should be a pitching coach which is his expertise, then he could concentrate on the pitching staff and they could name a new manager? Do you think that may be a way to go? — RICK, Vandalia.
A: You said it with your first words. The plight of the Reds is not Price’s fault. So why do away with him? Fans who believe a different manager could have won with this team probably believe the Tooth Fairy will make them rich with only the loss of all their teeth. As manager he remains hands-on with the pitchers as well as all the position players. And in case you didn’t notice, the Reds already have picked up his option for 2018. And I maintain that the Price is right.
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