Saturday, January 08, 2000
Pokey's hope: Stay Red, with Griffey
BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It was the first news conference in Reds history featuring a guy who just didn't get traded. But there was Pokey Reese sitting before representatives from every media outlet in town explaining how it felt not to get traded.
Reese was flattered, happy to still be a Red and willing to accept the fact that he might be forever known as the player the Reds would not give up to get Ken Griffey Jr.
Reese can live with that tag.
“That's OK,” he said. “I came from nowhere. Seven years in the minors waiting behind a Hall of Famer (Reds shortstop Barry Larkin). Last year, I just tried to perform when I got the chance.”
Reese did perform. In his first full season in the major leagues, he hit .285 with 10 home runs, 52 RBI and 38 stolen bases, and he played second base so spectacularly that Reds General Manager Jim Bowden put an “untouchable” label on Reese when the Seattle Mariners wanted him as part of a deal for Griffey.
If Bowden thought like Reese, Pokey would be looking at life in the Pacific Northwest right now.
“Without a doubt,” Reese said when asked if he would have made the trade. “Griffey's the best player in baseball ... to bring him to the hometown where he played for Moeller. He's going to have a chance to break Hank Aaron's record ... ”
Reese, the National League Gold Glove winner at second base, has been answering questions about the trade from more than just reporters.
“My mom called and said, "Wow, I hear you're getting traded for Ken Griffey,'” Reese said. “A lot of my friends have been calling. I've heard more about this than the Gold Glove.”
When Reese first heard his name mentioned in the Griffey talks, he thought he was gone. He went so far as to start thinking about picking another number — Seattle shortstop Alex Rodriguez wears No. 3, as does Reese.
“I was thinking, "Seattle's a long way from home (in South Carolina),'” Reese said.
Reese spends the offseason in Cincinnati. But, partly because of all the trade talk, he hasn't been out much. He's been working out and playing a lot of video games.
Reese made it clear he wants to remain a Red.
“I'm a Red, and hopefully I'll be a Red next year,” he said. “We won 96 games. Why break up the team? Aaron Boone is my best friend. Sean Casey is my locker mate.”
The ideal scenario in Reese's mind in keep the Reds together and get Griffey.
“If you could keep this team together and bring him in,” Reese said, “I think we'd be the favorites to win the NL Central ... maybe Jim (Bowden) will find a way to do the deal without giving anybody up.”
Reese admits that having his name mentioned with Griffey's is the most flattering thing that's happened to him in baseball. It could not come at a better time; Reese is eligible for arbitration.
What's the guy the Reds wouldn't trade for Griffey worth?
“I don't know,” Reese said. “You'd have to ask Jim Bowden. He holds the cards. I had a good year, and hopefully I'll be rewarded.”
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