Tuesday, April 06, 1999

Vaughn still waiting to get his groove on

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Slugger 1-for-4 in Reds debut

BY SCOTT MacGREGOR
The Cincinnati Enquirer

New slugger Greg Vaughn was limited to an infield single. (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

        Every time Greg Vaughn hits a long fly, it's going to be like this.

        Fans gasping, oohing and aahing in anticipation of a home run, whether the ball has a chance or not. When you hit 50 of them, as Vaughn did last year with the San Diego Padres, you get a reputation.

        But Vaughn, traded to Cincinnati in February for Reggie Sanders and Damian Jackson, can't hit homers every time up, and he didn't hit one Monday in his Reds debut.

        That didn't stop the crowd of 55,112 from gasping when he smacked a high fly ball that went foul in his first at-bat.

        The fans were not on their feet or even particularly noisy for Vaughn's first at-bat, preferring the more businesslike approach that Vaughn himself practices.

        Vaughn had an uneventful day, going 1-for-4 with an infield single in the ninth as the Reds tried to rally. Instead, the guy that came with him from San Diego in the trade, reserve outfielder Mark Sweeney, was one of three Reds to homer.

        “You look at all those hits (15 for the Giants, 12 for the Reds), and myself and (Giants star) Barry Bonds weren't even a part of the game,” Vaughn said. “Today, I didn't really do anything to help us win.”

        After striding to the plate last season to the ear-splitting music of rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg in San Diego, Vaughn was introduced at Cinergy Field only by the public address announcer calling his name.

        “I try not to worry about what the crowd's doing,” Vaughn said. “It's hard enough to hit a baseball without worrying about what else is going on around me. I'm up there fighting for my life. And that's what it is until I get in a groove, it's a fight.”

        Vaughn takes his quiet spring (.250, two homers, six RBI) as the tuneup that spring training is intended to be.

        “I don't get paid to hit in spring,” he said. “I go there trying to work on things. It's a marathon, not a sprint. I prepare for the long haul.”

        He also said he thinks the Reds can be a playoff contender. “I didn't come here to play for the wild card. I came here to win,” he said.

        Vaughn said he can tell fans are definitely excited he's in town, but added, “I try not to get too caught up in that stuff. You can't let your emotions be a roller coaster ride.”

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