Saturday, August 05, 2000
Sexton finds his way to Cinergy
Road tough, both literally and figuratively
By Chris Haft
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Chris Sexton sounded like a true Cincinnatian — which he is — as he described his trip to Cinergy Field on Friday.
“It was a pain!” Sexton said, sounding as surprised as he was exasperated by the construction around the ballpark. “I know my way around downtown, but today I couldn't get in. It took me a little while longer than I thought it was going to.”
The same could be said of Sexton's path to the major leagues this season. Though he remained one of the International League's hottest hitters, Sexton watched as some of his other Louisville RiverBats teammates — D.T. Cromer, Brooks Kieschnick, Mike Bell — were summoned to Cincinnati before he was.
“Those guys were all having good years, too,” said Sexton, the infielder who replaced catcher Eddie Taubensee on the active roster. “It's tough, because whenever something happens, you want it to be you. But you understand that other guys deserve it. You just hope that at some point you get rewarded for what you've done, too.”
Sexton, a St.Xavier High School and Miami University graduate who played 35 games with Colorado last year, felt the excitement one might expect him to feel upon joining his hometown team.
“It's obviously a big thrill,” said Sexton, who was batting .324 in Triple-A with a league-high 79 runs scored. “To get called up is a big deal. To get called up in my hometown, with all my family and friends here, it's an exciting time.”
Sexton said he had been in the Reds' clubhouse only once previously — before a game late in the 1993 season, when he was honored as the Most Valuable Player of the organization's rookie-league Billings team.
His presence was noted immediately. Ken Griffey Jr. proclaimed: “Another Cincinnati guy! We're taking over.” Besides Griffey and Sexton, the team's other local natives are shortstop Barry Larkin, right-hander Larry Luebbers and third-base coach Ron Oester.
Jack McKeon said Sexton, who turned 29 Thursday, provides an “extra dimen sion” — not just by being able to play second base, third base, shortstop and the outfield but also by giving the manager another pinch-running option.
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Sexton finds his way to Cinergy