Ask for questions about the Reds, and you get a lot of these: Why won't Carl Lindner spend more money? To wit:

        Question, from David in Pleasant Ridge: How much does Carl Lindner make each year? A billion dollars? I don't know, but why is he so stingy with the budget? If I have all of this money and like the Reds that much, why not spend it on what I like? Take a chance. Have some fun. Spend your money, Carl! What's the point of having all of this money if you don't use it!

Answer: I'm no financial wizard, but I know Lindner makes somewhat less than a billion dollars a year. And does overpaying for pitching qualify as fun?

        Q, from David: As a lifelong Reds fan, I was wondering how much longer is the owner of the Reds going to get away with his we're-a-small-market-team mantra as an excuse not to spend any of his money on the team? Did he not realize he was buying a major-league baseball team when he purchased the Reds? And that part of being an owner is putting a competitive team on the field? Fans do not expect him to spend like the Yankees or the other free spenders. But neither do we expect him to trade some of the team's best talent like Sean Casey or Dmitri Young for salary reasons.

        A: The test of Lindner as an owner will come the next two years. The bad taste of last season has a lot of fans forgetting that things haven't been bad for very long. Lindner became owner Oct. 1, 1999, the day after the Reds completed a 96-67 season. The team traded for Ken Griffey Jr. shortly after that. They drew the second-most fans in club history in 2000 and finished in second place in the NL Central.

        If Lindner and management can turn things around next year, the badness of 2001 will be forgotten.

        The guess here is, Lindner won't throw money at the team to turn it around. But if spending $20 million more on payroll would bring in $40 million more in revenue, Lindner would do it. There is no guarantee of that.

        But it's not hopeless. The Oakland A's are testimony to the fact that you can win without spending $100 million on payroll.

        Can the Reds turn it around? Sure. Will they? That's why they play the games.

        Q, from Heather in Kettering, Ohio: I just looked at the schedule for Redsfest and noticed some names missing. Once again, Ken Griffey Jr. is not scheduled to attend. Any ideas why Junior and the others are not scheduled to attend?

        A: I took your question to Mr. Redsfest, Cal Levy, the Reds marketing director. More players could “possibly be added.” He said the Reds are still awaiting word from Junior and Reese. Levy expects to have 30 players in all.

        Q, from Bill (in reference to last week's column): Tony Armas is two years younger than Javier Vazquez, not vice versa, at least according to STATS Inc.

        You (and three other e-mailers) are right. Thanks for pointing it out. But I'd still take Vazquez in a dispersal draft.

        Q, from Jack in Delaware, Ohio: How does Ben Broussard compare to Sean Casey? Speed, defense, other defensive positions, power, etc.

A: Broussard, like almost every player, is faster than Casey. He stole 10 bases this year. That's a career for Casey. As for power, Broussard hit 23 home runs at Double A this year; Casey never hit more than 12 in the minors. Casey hit .329, .331, .380 in three years in the minors. Broussard hit .330, .255, .320. As far as defense, Broussard played first base in college, but the Reds converted him into a left fielder. So he would have to move back to first.

        Q, from Jody in Clearwater, Fla.: Whom do you think will bat cleanup in 2002? Sean Casey? Ken Griffey Jr.?

A: It won't be Griffey. He likes hitting third and has hit there his whole career. Casey is a possibility. But Adam Dunn is a better one. Dunn is a power hitter. Hitting fourth is a lot of pressure on a 22-year-old, but Dunn seems to handle it well.

        Q, from Chris in Hagerstown, Ind.: With Paul O'Neill's retirement, and the fact that he lives in Ohio, is there any chance of having Paul as a coach for the Reds anytime in the near future?

I'd say no. O'Neill is a Yankee forever. If he wants to coach, it will be with the Yankees.

       John Fay covers the Reds for the Enquirer. He can be reached at jfay@enquirer.com. Please include neighborhood or hometown. Read more questions and answers at Cincinnati.com.

Reds Q&A with John Fay Reds insider

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