When fans ask for questions about the Reds, it seems half revolve around money. We miss the good old days, when hot-stove talk was about trades and players, not contracts and contraction. But here are some of your e-mails from the week:

        Question, from Carlos Perdomo in Caracas, Venezuela: With the possible elimination of several major-league teams — among them the Montreal Expos — I recommend pitcher Tony Armas. He is a superstar of baseball.

        Answer: Thanks, Carlos. I assume you read the Enquirer online; home delivery is probably a tad slow to Caracas. Armas would be a good choice, but Javier Vazquez has better numbers and is two years younger. Did the fact that Armas is from Venezuela affect your thinking?

        Q, from Dan in East Amherst, N.Y.: Do the Reds have any plans to limit (Ken) Griffey's playing time next spring to avoid the possibility of injury?

        A: There are two schools of thought here: A) Playing every day gets you ready to play every day, and B) Don't risk injury until games count. Griffey looked fully healthy the last two months of the 2001 season, so I'd expect a normal spring from him.

        Q, from Mike in Indiana: Hey, Barry Larkin: How about deferring some of your salary and becoming a team player? Take a lesson from Ken Griffey Jr. and do something for the team. A switch from shortstop and a pay cut would be a nice start. At least offer to give something back.

        A: Mike, Larkin already is deferring money. It's believed that $3 million of his $9 million salary is deferred. Putting off paying Larkin and Griffey is only a short-term solution. To compete with the Cubs, Cardinals and Astros, the Reds need about $20 million more in payroll. Larkin and Griffey would have to take all their salary deferred to make up that.

        Q, from Mark in Springfield, Ohio: I share season tickets with a friend. After last year's offseason ticket increase, we thought we would be safe (in) the new stadium. We were wrong. We have had four blue seats behind the third-base dugout. In the past five years, we have seen those ticket prices go from $14 to $17 to $21 to $28 to this year coming $32. Unfortunately, I believe we will be forced to give up two for this year (we are not corporate people; we are working-class fans). Do you know of any industry that has increased its prices 133 percent in that time period?

        A: That's the way things are going in pro sports. The Reds are just catching up with the rest of baseball. And it's only going to get worse when they move into the new stadium. With Bengals club seats going for $95, few blue-collar fans can afford the best seats. Sad, but I don't see it changing.

        Q: from Cat in Cortland, Ohio: During spring training, I noticed Bob Boone stressed fundamentals, but during the season, we hardly ever saw the Reds bunt runners over, hit and run, and steal. Since Bob Boone likes a hands-on approach to managing, what gives?

        A: The best players for little ball — Larkin, Aaron Boone and Pokey Reese — were hurt or ineffective much of the season. But the Reds definitely could use a dose of aggressiveness.

        Q, from Max in downtown Cincinnati: If this contraction thing happens, which apparently it will, it would give the Reds the answer to their dreams — the chance to get a No. 1 (starting pitcher) without having to give up the whole team. Is there any reason why they would not take Javier Vazquez? He is young (and) cheap, considering his value. Would Jim Bowden and John Allen have any reason not to take him, grin sheepishly and run away like a little school kid who just found a $10 bill on the street?

        A: No reason I can think of.

        Q, from Richard: You wrote, “Look for shortstop Ranier Olmedo to be the first to make it to the big club. He's 20 years old, but with a good year, he could get a September call-up.” Let's hope not. If the best option we have coming up for shortstop hits .244 in A ball with a .285 on-base percentage, then we're in big trouble. David Espinosa and Gookie Dawkins are much better prospects, and the numbers prove it.

        A: I have jumped ahead a bit. But Dawkins hit .264 in Single A as a 20-year-old and got a call-up the next year. Reds people will say Espinosa is not the fielder Olmedo is.

        Q, from Bob: I was raised in Indy in the '60s-'70s, so I grew up on the Big Red Machine. I live near Milwaukee, so I'm now a diehard Brewers and Reds fan. Boy, it's tough when those two teams play. My question is this: What are you favorite major-league and minor-league stadiums?

        A: I'd go with Wrigley for the general atmosphere. As far as the new stadiums, PNC Park in Pittsburgh is by far my favorite. It's so beautiful that the first time you're there, you have trouble concentrating on the game.

        Q, from Joe in Houston: With Ron Oester and Billy Doran gone, what is the possibility of the Reds bringing in former Reds great and native Cincinnatian Dave Parker as first-base coach or batting coach?

        A: Parkway would made an excellent hitting coach and have a positive affect on the young players. But Bob Boone will likely go with someone he's more familiar with — such as Greg Luzinski.

        John Fay covers the Reds for the Enquirer. He can be reached at jfay@enquirer.com. Please include neighborhood or hometown.

Reds Q&A with John Fay

PREP FOOTBALL PAGE
Elder, St. X win doubleheader
Elder 35, Colerain 21
St. Xavier 6, Princeton 0
Record crowd enjoys games, bands
Hamilton Badin 42, Dayton Oakwood 35
Coldwater 24, Wyoming 7
Football finals won't come here soon
Ohio regional final pairings
Ohio playoff scores, schedule
Indiana playoff scores, schedule
Kentucky playoff scores
Bengals now have 2nd-half stakes
Key to today's game
McGee could be target
Who's got the edge?
Jaguars-Bengals by the numbers
Mark Curnutte's NFL power ratings
Picking today's NFL games
East Carolina 28, UC 26
UC 81, Northern Kentucky 53
Little wants better effort from himself
XU women lose second exhibition
Locals win 3 state titles
Big title best for St. Ursula
Roger Bacon runner-up no more
Turpin's title has familiar look
Marshall 27, Miami 21
Ohio State 35, Purdue 9
Kentucky 56, Vanderbilt 30
Thomas More finishes 10-0
Capital 27, Wilmington 7
Georgetown 47, St. Joseph's (Ind.) 14
Two Bengals already super bowlers
PBA Tour final here today
High school bowling making a comeback
Best & worst of week in sports
Local college sports
Mighty Ducks 6, Albany 4
Sports events this week

• Return to Reds front page...