While I was in Colorado enjoying the snow (had a great time, thanks), my good buddy, Tim Sullivan, was stirring up the e-mailers with a Jeff Shaw column.

        Reds fans are angry. They see the Reds' refusal to even counter Shaw's offer as — there's no other word for for it — Bengalesque. Read on:

        Question, from Peirce in Cincinnati: What will it take for Jeff Shaw and the Reds to reach an understanding? Is it possible the Reds are waiting on Scott Williamson's arbitration case and how the ticket sales for next year are looking? Can you tell Carl Lindner and John Allen they will: A) make hometown fans happy by signing a local guy who wants only to play for the Reds; B) make the fans more excited to come to games to see our deeper bullpen; and C) sell more tickets. I feel if they can't sign Shaw, then the front office doesn't care about the team and its fans, which begs the question, why should the fans care? I feel that if the Reds and Shaw can't some to an agreement, it's going to hurt this team more than the dollars they would spend to get him.

        Answer: I don't think Williamson's hearing has an effect here. It's a $200,000 difference. As far as season-ticket sales, the Reds said they got a bump when 2003 prices were announced.

        Q, from Tim in Indian Lake: I have two questions. Why in the world are the Reds not willing to try to sign Jeff Shaw? And why in the world are the Reds not willing to try to sign Jeff Shaw? He is at the peak of his career, and this would allow Danny Graves to start. Obviously, a two- or three-year deal would be nice. Is Shaw not interested in a multiyear deal? It sounds to me as if the Reds are saying, “We don't want Shaw for only one year, because we know we won't contend in '02, anyway.” What am I missing here?

        A: You're missing nothing. The Reds simply aren't willing to spend the money for 2002. Otherwise, they would have countered with a two-year deal for, say, $1.5 million in 2002 and $6.5 million in 2003. My guess is, Shaw would have accepted.

        Q, from Rodger in Western Hills: I remain perplexed about the Jeff Shaw situation. Couldn't the Reds offer Shaw what they offered James Baldwin? Pocket change this year and decent cash next year? Or have they and he declined? It just seems to me they have a can't-miss guy who is begging to play for them, and moving Graves to the rotation would go a long way toward helping the cause and making this year interesting.

        A: That is the perplexing thing. Why not just throw a bone to fans and make one move for 2002?

        Q, from Jordan in Fort Wright: If Carl Lindner is one of the 100 richest men in America, then why doesn't he add $20 million dollars to the Reds' salary cap? Don't you think the Reds, of all teams, would benefit tremendously from that? I think he waited too long to cough it up with having to wait for Great American Ball Park to be built; he risked, or is risking, losing too many good players. And do you think the Reds will have enough money to keep players such as Sean Casey, Aaron Boone Todd Walker, Juan Encarnacion, Scott Williamson, Jason LaRue, Danny Graves and future stars such as Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns, Ben Broussard, Lance Davis, Chris Reitsma and Jose Acevedo? And do you think — I know I sure do — the Reds were smart in picking up Jimmy Haynes and Brian Bohanon?

        A: Those are a lot of questions, Jordan. Let's answer them in order: Because he doesn't want to. Yes, it would help. GABP's added revenue should allow the Reds to sign their young players. And signing Haynes and Bohanon can't hurt; in fact, Haynes is my long shot to make the rotation.

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

Buoyant Boone unbowed Pitchers set to battle for last spots on team Positional breakdowns What might have been Reds Q&A Reds 2002 Spring Training Schedule Reds 2001 stats AL teams at the start of spring NL teams at the start of spring Spring training team capsules For baseball teams, spring has almost sprung

A pointed victory for UC
SULLIVAN: No denying Bearcats' dominance
UC notebook
Muskies unravel; streak is over
Late calls rankle Musketeers' West
DAUGHERTY: Bledsoe the real deal
Bengals Q&A
AFC outguns NFC to win Pro Bowl
Roundup: Boys hoops
Roundup: Girls hoops
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
Indiana boys basketball scores
Indiana girls basketball scores
Seventh-grader stands tall against opponents
Swimming: CovCath, Notre Dame cruise
Swimming: Ursuline cruises to victory in sectionals
Ursuline has unique way to honor signees
League wrestling: Mount Healthy wins first SW Ohio Public title
Wrestling: Lakota West wins team GMC title
Cottrell returns from injury, leads NKU women to victory
NKU's Sanders all about the game
RedHawks' rally fizzles Rockets
Indiana 77, Louisville 62
Kansas has big day despite Knight
No. 7 Kentucky 68, LSU 56
Notre Dame nips Hoyas in 4 OTs
Ohio 85, Ball St. 71
Top 25 roundup
Ducks blank Rats
Horses: Miss Pickums wins Likely Exchange Stakes
All-Star 2002: East typifies how things have changed
Rafalski, Devils win thriller in OT
Stojakovic edges Person in 3-point shootout
Young guns ready for Daytona
Coming up this week
Enquirer's Page Two power rankings

• Return to Reds front page...