Tuesday, April 06, 1999

Excitement is back, say Reds fans

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BY JOHN ERARDI
The Cincinnati Enquirer

New Red Mark Sweeney hits a three-run, pinch-hit homer. | ZOOM |

        Opening Day can be a deceptive occasion — nothing in Cincinnati approximates it as a sports event — but if enthusiasm is any indication, baseball is back in the Queen City.

        It wasn't just the size of the crowd (55,112; seventh largest regular season crowd in Reds history) that impressed the Reds faithful, it was the way fans embraced the team.

        “A great day and a great crowd,” said Joan Bova, White Oak. “People are expecting big things this year. You can tell the excitement is back.”

        Fans exhibited little of the show-me mentality that has existed here in the four Opening Days since the players' strike of August, 1994. Reds crowds are notorious for sitting on their hands, but on this glorious Monday afternoon, the fans cheered everything.

        Well, almost everything.

        The Reds lost 11-8, generating plenty of offense and virtually none of the pitching they're going to need to be successful this season.

        From the entrance of the Clydesdales leading the Findlay Market parade ... to the singing of the National Anthem by the coal miner's daughter, Loretta Lynn ... to two terrific plays in right field by Dmitri Young ... to the raucous reception for the Reds' six-run sixth inning ... to the boisterous applause that greeted Reds returnee Hal Morris in the bottom of the ninth inning, the crowd was into it.

        People were here to have fun and spend money. The lines in front of the concession stands never let up. Beer vendors were mobbed before they even even made it to the stands. The standing-room-only area on the blue level behind home plate was a dozen people deep.

        “The game seems like just the right place to be,” said Lonnie Stinson, 29, who was with his 3-year-old son, Derek, at their first Opening Day together. “Derek's able to absorb some of the atmosphere, and I wanted to come down for him — and to see what (the off-season acquisition of) Greg Vaughn does for the lineup.”

GAME STORY
Box score - How runs scored
Casey's good gap-to-gap, ear-to-ear Paul Daugherty column
Young's makeover more than hair color Tim Sullivan column
Cameron makes good 1st impression
No relief in sight in opener
Vaughn still waiting to get his groove on
Notebook: Tomko's struggles a matter of form
Hayes enters with bat ready
Parade garb reflects team's
Fans come first on Opening Day
It's quiet opener for Schott
Marge's last Opening Day as bosslady Laura Pulfer column
Going, gone, gone! Pigeons make fast stadium exit Cliff Radel column
Stealing base easier than parking car