Sunday, June 09, 2002
Reds Q & A
Empty seats speak loud, clear
By John Fay, jfay@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The e-mailers tried to explain why the Reds aren't drawing, among other things this week. Read on:
Question (well actually a comment) from Jay in Beavercreek: Reds officials were said to be scratching their heads at only 19,000 for Tuesday's game. They must have dandruff or they are just stupid. I saw that the game was televised so I stayed up here in Dayton and watched for free with cheaper snacks. Wake up, Reds officials.
A: Good point. The revenue they get for televising 40 homes games — that's what the contract with Fox Sports Net calls for — offsets any loss in the ticket sales. The Reds do have the right to veto three games Fox picks. They generally try to keep big draws off the air, though that is difficult because the schedule is set early.
From Jared: I've been watching baseball since I was a little kid. I have yet to see a team win a pennant with the joke of a starting pitching staff the Reds have. If Reds management wants people to come to the ballpark, they should give fans a sense that they believe in this team by getting some starting pitching. I like a lot of the young talent and frequently watch on TV or listen on the radio. I have gone to as many as 10 games in years past but will continue to keep the $25-plus in my wallet rather than overtly support the present product. Jim Bowden has been creative before, and I'm sure he can get creative again if they really want to stay in the race. I'd bet 1,000-to-1 that a staff of Chris Reitsma, Elmer Dessens, Joey Hamilton, Jimmy Haynes and whomever (please, please don't put Jose Rijo back in that spot) will not be pitching in October.
A: I'll put $5 on that 1,000-to-1. But, seriously, the Reds may be a long shot for the postseason, but the fact they're in the race now may open the way for a deadline deal for a frontline pitcher.
From Gary in Loveland: People realize there's a lot more interesting things to do than waste plunking down over a hundred dollars for a family of four to see a bunch of overpaid men play. Period. This is coming from someone who used to love the game. A hundred bucks goes further on buying yard stuff for my wife or letting the kids go to the movies for a month. The sport has left the average Joe out of the picture. Our family income is well over $100,000 a year, and we still can't see spending the money or wasting the time driving downtown to see any professional team.
A: You can still buy a red-seat ticket for $9. If you like baseball, I still think the experience — even in a bad park like Cinergy — can be a memorable one. As far as the overpaid part of the deal, the economics of the game are what they are. If enough fans feel like you do, teams won't draw and players won't be paid as much. But so far this year more than 23 million have attended games.
From Tom: There is no big secret here. The bottom line is that the Reds are not as good as other contenders. If my memory serves me correctly, the Reds have a winning record against two teams that are currently at .500 or better. They've been beaten like a drum by the Braves, Cardinals and Giants, and they haven't even seen Arizona yet. They also have a losing record against Houston. I hope they can turn around their fortunes soon, or this season is going to be one big tease.
A: All wins are counted equally.
Q, from Andrew in Chicago: John, now that we have all quit fantasizing about Bartolo Colon, have you heard anything of substance about acquiring even a mid-range starter for this year? This staff gets a “B+” for effort, but the talent isn't enough to stay with the Cardinals.
A: The Reds already have a lot of “mid-range” type starters. Bowden is on record as saying he wants to trade for No. 1 or 2.
Q, from Dave in Marion, Ill.: In retrospect, how did the Reds compare the two workouts of Scott Kazmir and Chris Gruler? Did they both impress equally? What did the executives and scouts see in the players individually, including delivery, velocity, breaking balls, and body types? Pre-draft rumors swirled that Kazmir was “lights out” and Gruler was disappointing.
A: I believe the Reds' line about Gruler having a higher ceiling. One Reds insider whose opinion I respect said Gruler was clearly superior, and called him “a mini Roger Clemens.”
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Coming up this week
Enquirer Page Two power rankings
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Reds Q & A
