Sunday, December 02, 2001
Reds should share
Fans have right to know what's up
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The Reds have been on the inactive list this offseason. No trades. No free agent signings. Not even many rumors.
What gives? No one in baseball is doing a lot because contraction is holding up everyone, but Reds general manager Jim Bowden promised to be very active this offseason.
The holdup is probably financial. The Reds can't make any major moves until their player payroll number is set.
So has the payroll been set?
“I'm not going to comment on that,” said chief operating officer John Allen.
The guess here is the number hasn't been set — thus the lack of moves. Once the number is set, don't expect the Reds to bid for Jason Giambi or Chan Ho Park, because the Reds aren't going to have a lot of money to throw around.
Baseball painted a picture of dire economic straits last week, saying baseball lost $500 million and 25 of the 30 clubs lost money.
Were the Reds one of them?
“I'm not going to comment on that,” Allen said.
I don't take Allen's unwillingness to talk personally. But I think it's the wrong strategy with the fans.
Fans are constantly asking why Reds CEO Carl Lindner doesn't spend more money on players. If the reason is the Reds are losing money, Lindner — through Allen — should say so.
Fans might not be sympathetic, but at least they would better understand.
They'd also better understand why the Reds raised ticket prices again.
Privately held companies aren't compelled to release such information. But baseball is different. For one thing, the taxpayers of Hamilton County are footing most of the bill for Great American Ball Park.
REDSFEST UPDATE:
Ken Griffey Jr. still hasn't officially said no to Redsfest.
“We're hopeful that we'll get some last-minute additions,” Reds marketing director Cal Levy said.
That would be Griffey.
The show should be a hit whether he's there or not. Last year, the Reds drew more than 10,000 fans without Griffey or Barry Larkin. Larkin will be there this year, as will rookie sensation Adam Dunn.
“We've got 35 guys,” Levy said. “It's going to be a great show.”
A notable late addition is pitcher Joey Hamilton. Hamilton is a free agent, so him being at Redsfest might be a sign he's going to re-sign with the Reds.
The sixth Redsfest will be from 4-10p.m. Friday and from 10a.m. to 6p.m. Saturday at the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Tickets are on sale at the Dugout Shop (241-0947) in the Westin Hotel downtown and at all Tickets.com outlets.
SKIPPER JAYHAWK:
The Reds named Jayhawk Owens manager of their Single-A team in Stockton, Calif. Owens played four years in the majors with Colorado.
Owens, a graduate of Glen Este High, has been the hitting coach for Houston's Single-A teams in Lexington and Michigan the past two years.
SIM SERIES:
MLB.com is holding a simulated World Series tournament with the greatest teams of all time. The 1975 Reds have moved into the Sweet 16 of the 64-team NCAA-style bracket.
The 1975 Reds are the No.1 seed in the West. The other No.1 seeds: the 1998 New York Yankees (Northeast), 1927 Yankees (East) and 1906 Chicago Cubs (Central).
The 1976 Reds are not in it because only one team was selected from each dynasty.
Look for the '27 Yankees and the '75 Reds to play in the final. I'd take the Reds, but the hunch is Babe's boys will win it all.
AN ANSWER:
A reader called asking who Bill James rated above Johnny Bench at catcher in The New Historical Baseball Abstract. It was Yogi Berra. Which goes to show baseball can't be reduced to numbers.
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NFL notebook
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Week 12 NFL picks
Bearcats bound for Motor City Bowl
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XU notebook
The unknown stuntman
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Indiana 26, Kentucky 15
College basketball roundup
Miami gets spark from freshman against Wright State
Role reversal for Xavier, UC
Small college hoops roundup
Area athletes make college choices known
Buckeyes oust UC in volleyball
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NBA roundup
NHL roundup
Sports Desk: Power Rankings
Coming up this week
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Reds should share
