Sunday, December 26, 1999
Naehring giving best off the field
REDS INSIDER
BY CHRIS HAFT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
True giving knows no season, though this is an especially appropriate time to recognize the ongoing efforts of several athletic figures to help our youth.
The Athletes Reaching Out (ARO) Foundation, launched in 1996 by Reds special assistant Tim Naehring, is gaining momentum. A shoulder injury interrupted Naehring's playing career as the Boston Red Sox's third baseman in 1997. But nothing, it seems, will deter him and his associates from spreading ARO's good deeds.
University of Cincinnati men's basketball coach Bob Huggins, whose foundation is a division of ARO, has plans to build an inner-city gymnasium. Bengals linebacker Tom Tumulty, one of the organization's newest “ambassadors,” has organized a charity bowling tournament. Bengals quarterback Jeff Blake and offensive tackle Willie Anderson long have been active in ARO-related events.
ARO helped Scott High School in Taylor Mill, Ky., build new athletic fields last year. It has distributed college grants. The foundation, presided over by Judi Sturwold, simplifies community service by tying athletes and coaches to corporate sponsors and organizing databases for fan mail.
Many Cincinnatians already are familiar with Naehring's devotion. The LaSalle High School and Miami University graduate spearheaded the construction of Little Fenway, a scaled-down version of Boston's Fenway Park, which opened in 1997. Naehring intends to build a second Little Fenway in the Boston area.
“I don't want the publicity. I don't need the publicity,” said Naehring, who plunges himself into ARO when he's not scouting for the Reds. “But I do want this thing to keep growing.”
To that end, Naehring has discussed intensifying the Reds' involvement in ARO with John Allen, the team's chief operating officer.
“I look for a good relationship in the future,” Naehring said. “The Reds have been nothing but supportive.”
JUMBO THREE-WAY: Somebody with a fertile imagination and a lot of time on his hands started the preposterous rumor that the Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners had discussed a three-way trade that would bring Ken Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati.
In this hallucinogenic mushroom cloud, Seattle would have sent Griffey and right-hander Ken Cloude to Pittsburgh for right-hander Jason Schmidt, left-hander Jason Christiansen and infielders Aramis Ramirez and Abraham Nunez. Pittsburgh would have forwarded Griffey, Cloude and first baseman Kevin Young to the Reds, who in turn would have sent first baseman Sean Casey, center fielder Mike Cameron and right-hander Scott Williamson to the Pirates.
By the way, would-be Cincinnati hurler Cloude was 4-4 with a 7.96 ERA this year, allowing 106 hits and 46 walks in 72ô innings while striking out 35.
It cannot be emphasized enough that no truth to this proposal exists. Reds General Manager Jim Bowden pointed out that the Reds would have absorbed not only Griffey's $8.5 million salary, but also Young's $6 million obligation. This would be financial suicide for the Reds, not to mention a public relations disaster stemming from Casey's departure.
AND FURTHERMORE: Griffey has grown comfortable with the likelihood that he'll be back in Seattle for another year, now that the chance of a trade to the Reds is virtually nonexistent.
Why not? Adding free agents John Olerud, Mark McLemore, Arthur Rhodes, Stan Javier and Kazuhiro Sasaki, the reliever from Japan, makes Seattle the favorite to wrest the American League West crown from Texas.
“He's fine with it,” said Brian Goldberg, Griffey's Cincinnati-based agent. “With the improvements they've made on the team, he's very much looking forward to going back there and having a good year.”
CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH: Dr. Tim Kremchek, the Reds' team physician, was encouraged by the results and the turnout when nine players recently participated in strength testing.
Kremchek and his staff saw a cross-section of players: Left-hander Denny Neagle, who's still building up his shoulder. Established right-handers Scott Sullivan and Brett Tomko. Lefty Ron Villone, a naturally hard worker. Second baseman Pokey Reese, one of the club's biggest stars, who's simply trying to get stronger. Right-hander Rob Bell, one of the organization's top prospects, who endured elbow trouble last season. Pitchers Scott Winchester and Terrell Wade and first baseman Ron Wright, hoping to revive their careers after various injuries.
Next month, Kremchek hopes to run similar tests on right-handers Pete Harnisch and Williamson, who are trying to build up their shoulders.
Kremchek noted that Neagle's strength has improved 30 percent since the end of the season. It's just one example, Kremchek said, of a refreshed work ethic.
“I think the idea is that these guys are putting forth the effort to work out and fly here,” Kremchek said. “In years past, it would be, "See you in February.' ”
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