Sunday, July 16, 2000
Franken-Stynes has monster hit streak
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
DENVER — Chris Stynes has no logical explanation for it.
It's not the hair, he says, although Stynes did begin working up his dreadlocks about the time he became the hottest hitter on the planet.
“No, it's just a new hairstyle,” Stynes said.
So chalk Stynes' surge up to a hot bat and a little luck.
Stynes went 3-for-5 Saturday against the Colorado Rockies to push his average to .468. Here's a look at the mind-boggling numbers that got Stynes there:
• He is hitting .625 (15-for-24) over his last five games, with three home runs, six RBI and 12 runs scored.
• He is hitting .613 (19-for-29) in seven starts at third base since Aaron Boone injured his knee.
• He is hitting .529 (36-for-68) with six homers and 13 RBI in his last 23 games.
This from a guy who hit .092 before the All-Star break and .239 overall last year.
Stynes admits he wondered if his days with the Reds were through.
“You start wondering if you're going to have a job next year,” he said. “The only thing that made it easier was we were winning.”
Stynes, 27, attributes his success to adjusting to the role of utility player.
“When you don't play very often, you want to have a great game when you do play, so you'll be in there the next game,” he said. “The reality is you probably aren't going to play the next game anyway. If you just go out and play hard and leave it on the field, you're much better off.”
Stynes came to the Reds in a trade with Kansas City in 1997. He went 7-for-7 in his first two games as a Red and ended the year hitting .348 for Cincinnati.
He was the Reds' Opening Day left fielder in 1998 and hit .254 in 123 games that year. He lost his starting job to Dmitri Young and Greg Vaughn in 1999, but his versatility will keep him around. He can play second base, third base, right field and left field.
“He isn't going to win a Gold Glove at any position,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said. “But he does a pretty good job at all of them.”
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Franken-Stynes has monster hit streak
