March 11, 2013

Ken Griffey Jr, World Baseball Classic ambassador

Ken Griffey Jr on his camouflage jersey giveaway day

Ken Griffey Jr on his camouflage jersey giveaway day

The New York Times interviewed Ken Griffey, Jr over the weekend, talking to him about his family and his role as an ambassador for the World Baseball Classic (WBC).

Here in the U.S., we need to do a better job of supporting our team. The support isn’t as much as it should be. For me, I want a team where I have to turn guys away. I want to be the guy to say, “We’re already full.” You look at the enthusiasm from the other countries and how guys want to play for their team. I think it’s a little different here. But it can change, and it should change.

The WBC is definitely more popular in other countries than in the US. And it’s the same with me. I know I don’t go out of my way to watch any WBC games. In some ways, I think US interest in the tournament is depressed by the existence of MLB. With the exception of Canada, none of the other countries see major-league talent every day during the summer. This is their chance to see and compare their country’s athletes against the best.

For me, it feels like watching an all star version of spring training, with less of the meaningfulness of the actual All Star game. Of course, I’m not the target audience. I already like baseball; I don’t need to be sold.

I understand the desire to make it more popular in the US, and support from Griffey and the inclusion of bigger stars will help. But right now, I still feel the ending of the 2012 MLB season. And only the Cincinnati Reds playing real baseball can assuage that. The WBC is a pale substitute.

March 8, 2013

Shut up, Lutz

Lutz jogging in from the outfieldDuring last year’s spring training, I remember hearing about a prospect in the Cincinnati Reds’ system who grew up in Germany and didn’t play baseball until he was 16. He was raw, but he’s still in the system and has improved.

Reds manager Dusty Baker has raved about Donald Lutz this spring. Lutz, or “Big Lutz,” as Baker calls him, has a lot of pop in his bat.

How much pop?

“He hit a ball as hard the other day … it reminded me of Willie Stargell and those guys. When I was a kid and I was playing center field, I was nervous. (I thought) Willie Stargell and Willie McCovey might hit a ball that I’d misjudge and it would hit me in the chest and go through me.”

Lutz, unlike his 30 Rock namesake, is tall and muscular, standing at 6 feet, 3 inches and weighing 250 pounds. So far this Spring, he’s got a .353 average, an on base percentage of .389, and a slugging percentage of .588. This is all in sizes so small it’s hardly a sample, but he does also have a home run and 5 RBI.

He could be a special player in the next year or two. This year, though, he’s likely to start in Pensacola on the AA team. There he’ll continue to work on the move from first base to the outfield. Because even though he’s 2 or 3 years away from the majors, the Reds have a first baseman for quite some time who isn’t moving for anyone.

March 8, 2013

In brief: 2 games and 1 chat opportunity

Last Game
The Reds were off yesterday, leaving Reds fans everywhere with very little to worry relentlessly about. Just kidding, there’s plenty of stuff to worry about.

Next Game
As if to make up for yesterday, the Reds are doing double-duty today. Half the team will be stay home to host the Cubs. Tony Cingrani will start for the Reds.

Meanwhile, the rest will be head to Camelback Ranch to take on the Dodgers. Bronson Arroyo will be the one to start that game. Both games begin at 9:05 p.m. ET.

Jay Bruce, Ryan Lamarre, Corky Miller, Phil Castellini, and Thom Brennaman on the dais, signing merchandise for fans.

Jay Bruce, Ryan Lamarre, Corky Miller, Phil Castellini, and Thom Brennaman on the dais, signing merchandise for fans.

Your chance to sock it to Phil Castellini
I got this email from the Reds this morning, and thought you might like to know about your chance to talk baseball operations. It’s perfect for all you baseball fan MBAs out there!

Reds Chief Operating Officer Phil Castellini will be chatting LIVE with fans today at 3 p.m. ET at reds.com. Fans will have the chance to talk with Phil about some of the club’s new business initiatives for 2013, including improvements to the ballpark, dynamic pricing on tickets and much more.

Fans can login to the chat starting at noon ET on reds.com and begin submitting their questions. To participate in the chat, fans will need an MLB.com account.

Click here for more information and to take part in today’s chat!

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
According to Doc’s Sports Network, Vegas favors the Reds to win the NLC, giving them 5/7 odds.

March 7, 2013

In brief: six degrees of taking credit

Ryan Ludwick at the plate.

Not Ludwick hitting the 3-run bomb; just him batting sometime last September.

Last Game
The Reds went to town on Team Canada last night, walloping them 2-12.

Mat Latos started for the Reds and gave Team Canada its two runs. After his 3 innings, though, the bullpen was in the groove. The Reds struck out 14.

Ryan Ludwick hit a 3-run home run in the second inning, and Miguel Olivo did the same in the third, but even those only accounted for half of the Reds’ runs.

There were plenty of RBI to go around. None for Jay Bruce, though. Surely, that’s a fluke.

So, not looking so good for Team Canada, if they can’t even beat the spring training Reds. I bet it was a nice feeling for the Reds to put the hurt on someone in Goodyear for a change.

Next Game
The Reds have today off. Finally! A chance for the team to properly take in all the wonders that the greater Phoenix metropolitan area has to offer!

A “New” Face on the Beat
C. Trent Rosecrans, whose name you probably recognize from his time writing about the Reds for the now-defunct Cincinnati Post or for the other places he’s contributed since then, has joined the Reds beat for the Enquirer.

Good for you, C. Trent! I hope it goes really well.

Now, I know what you’re wondering: “How can I give credit to the Red Hot Household for this most excellent reduction in underemployment?” Well, it just so happens that our own Zeldink is on the Gannet Digital team that finally pushed the Enquirer’s parent company into the online world in a meaningful way. That allowed them to start making money, stop laying people off, and even expand the beats they cover. New beats meant that John Fay’s second-in-command could move on to greener pastures and before you knew it, poof! A door is opened for C. Trent.

You’re welcome.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Emmanuel Burriss is currently leaning the spring training Reds in at-bats. His average is pretty sweet: .304. Unfortunately, his OBP is less so: .304.

March 6, 2013

In Brief: Reds take on Team Canada

Jay Bruce returns to the dugout after hitting a home run.

Bruce had two home runs yesterday. Get used to photos like this. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Last Game
Despite leading early, the Reds kept their losing streak alive yesterday when they lost to the Angels 4-6. The starting pitching was pretty good, the youngster they gave the ball to in the seventh wasn’t, and Jay Bruce hit 2 solo shots.

Next Game
Tonight the Reds play an exhibition game (as if they aren’t all exhibition games) against the World Baseball Classic team from Canada. Both teams number Joey Votto on their rosters, so of course, he won’t be playing at all tonight.

Bruce is apparently hot, though, and Mat Latos is starting, so it still ought to be a game. First pitch at 9:05 p.m.

Every game is equally important; some are just more important than others
There is no mention of tonight’s game on the home page of Reds.com except for the fifth story in the carousel. That puts it behind a story about the battle for the fifth rotation spot, an ad for MLBtv premium, a story that calls Todd Frazier a “new face,” and an ad for single-game tickets. Sort of gives you an idea of how this game ranks, priority wise.

What to Say to Sound Smart at the Water Cooler
Pittsburgh’s Russell Martin was supposed to be the starting catcher for Team Canada, but he backed out to keep from using up all his catching ability before the season even starts. He still wanted to play, though, and his idea was to play shortstop instead. It sounds like a ridiculous idea, but he does have 15 whole games at 3B in his career, which is almost the same thing.