Tuesday, September 07, 1999
Center stage for Hammonds
Outfielder key while Cameron out with injury in weekend's homer barrage
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
CHICAGO — Even the guy Jeffrey Hammonds replaced in the Reds lineup knows it's probably not a good idea to sit Hammonds down right now.
“Do you think I should come back?” Mike Cameron said. “I think I'll sit on the bench and enjoy it.”
Cameron's strained left hamstring gave Hammonds a chance to play, and Hammonds has made the most of the opportunity. In the nine starts, he is hitting .452 (14-of-31) with five home runs and eight RBI, despite an 0-for-4 Monday that ended his 10-game hitting streak. Hammonds, of course, was key in the Reds' home-run barrage in Philadelphia over the weekend, hitting three homers in two games.
“It's been a good week,” Hammonds said. “That's all. A good, solid week. Don't get me wrong, I'm enjoying it.”
Reds manager Jack McKeon has taken to calling him “Babe Ruth Hammonds.”
“That's Jack,” Hammonds said. “He's got nicknames for everybody.”
As Hammonds is saying that, a television in the clubhouse shows highlights from the Philly game Sunday, and the announcer calls him “Babe Ruth Hammonds.”
“Uh-oh, here we go,” he said.
Hammonds has hit 15 home runs. He is averaging a home run every 14.6 at-bats this season. That would be ninth in the National League if he had enough at-bats to qualify.
Hammonds, the least-used of the Reds' five outfielders, was reluctant to talk about his individual accomplishments in the midst of a pennant race.
“I don't want to be talking me, me, I, I when we're trying to win this thing,” he said. “That's all I'm trying to do is help the team win.”
That may mean going back to the bench when Cameron returns. Although McKeon joked Monday, “I wonder if he's heard of Wally Pipp.”
Cameron likely will start one of the games in today's doubleheader. “We need him for his defense,” McKeon said. “He covers so much ground in center field. You win with pitching and defense.”
Hammonds could be moved to right field, but Dmitri Young is nearly as hot as Hammonds. Young has seven hits, three home runs and nine RBI in the last three games, including a three-run homer in Monday's 6-3 victory.
“Hammonds has done a good job,” McKeon said. “He's on a streak. When he slacks off some, we'll put someone else in there. That's what makes it easy with my three outfielders. One cools off, you put another in, and bingo, he takes off.”
The three outfielders — Young, Hammonds and Michael Tucker — have split playing time this way this year: Young has 296 at-bats, Tucker 267 and Hammonds 220.
McKeon relies on hunches and scouting reports when deciding who to play.
“I'll look and see what they've done against the guy who's pitching,” McKeon said. “Sometimes it backfires. I put Tucker in against (Philadelphia's Curt) Schilling because he had three home runs off him. Then (Tucker) ended up not even fouling a ball off of Schilling.”
The Reds' depth is one of the reasons they've been able to stay in the race. Last year, Pat Watkins, Mike Frank, Chris Stynes and Jon Nunnally got significant time in the outfield.
None of them would be the fifth outfielder on this year's club.
The other key is Tucker, Young and Hammonds have accepted their roles.
“They're all very good team players,” McKeon said.
“I've stayed confident,” Hammonds said. “I wanted to be ready when my time came.”
The Reds must make some hard decisions about their outfielders this offseason. The contract of Greg Vaughn is up after this season. Hammonds' salary goes from $2.4 million to $3.1 million.
So Hammonds isn't sure he'll be back.
“That's not my call,” he said. “... I'd love to come back.”
But, again, the pennant race comes first.
“I'm happy, healthy and having a good time helping the team win,” Hammonds said.
Reds Stories
Bengals give up on Sawyer at corner
BENGALS NOTEBOOK
Ott keeps focus amid mystique at Ohio State
Bruins talk bravely about Buckeyes
Kroger lures top seniors
Longshot pulls Mighty upset at RD
New leaders run to polls' top spots
GCL South teams dominate Division I poll
Reds page
