the state of the reds
Knee-jerk: Reds go to the winter meetings and add a drug addict to the roster.
Real: Josh Hamilton is barely a gamble, at $50,000. Krivsky did well w/lesser names last year. See: Brandon Phillips, David Ross.
Knee-jerk: Reds are no better now than a year ago.
Real: True. But neither is anyone else. Cubs got stupid and showed their desperation, buying 4 years of Ted Lilly for $40 mil. C'mon. Guy's 59-58 in his career. Once again, Wood and Prior will hold the team hostage to their porcelain arms. The team that spent $95 mil on payroll last year, to win 66 times, will be lucky to get to .500
Astros could lose Pettitte to the Yankees, and have to rely on 600-year-old Roger Clemens, if he favors them with his presence. Cards made a nice pickup in Adam Kennedy. But Kip Wells?
Knee-jerk: Who is Griffey to say he'll "consider'' switching to RF?
Real: Accommodations have always been made for star players. The issue with Junior isn't where he plays, it's how. As in, how 'bout taking BP with your team? How 'bout running to your position? How 'bout showing lots of impressionable young players that stardom comes from hard work and preparation?
Here's hoping Narron & Co. have the, um, courage to tell Junior and Dunn to behave like the leaders they should be.
posted by Paul Daugherty at 7:52 AM
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Post a Comment*Real: 78-84
In regards to your comment about Griffey showing the younger players what it means to work hard. I work at the stadium. I think you better take a look at who's on the field first before every game taking extra B.P. It's Griffey (and a lot of times Dunn). Nearly every single day. I agree that he should make the position move, but you don't know that he doesn't work as hard as any other player on the roster.
Are you kidding me Daugherty!? I am so sick and tired of people ripping on Griffey for MEANINGLESS activities like "team bp" and "running to your position". First off Paul did you go to any Reds games this year...Griffey does run to his postition, maybe he doesn't run out their like Coffey (whose "hustle" I'm sure you love) but then again Griffey doesn't play like Coffey...and thank god for that!
Secondly it doesn't matter WHEN you take BP it matters THAT you take it and Griffey takes it more than anyone else, how about teaching that to young kids. Teaching always trying to improve even when no one is at the ballpark yet except you. I know because I would go to the ballpark 5 or 6 hours before the games and stand outside the park and watch Junior take 3 times the BP of anyone else out there during "team BP".
It is IDIOTIC statements like the ones you made in your article about Griffey that me wonder if you have ever played sports in your whole life.
I'm sure your right Ken Griffey Jr. has 563 homers and has passed Joe DiMaggio on the all-time RBI list by just coasting and taking it easy, oh yeah and 10 gold gloves without hustle too, I'm sure thats it!
...but then again maybe I'm wrong maybe our kids should look up to players who "hustle their butts off" like Ryan Freel, a standup citizen.
What's with asking your players to work hard,move to the position you want them at etc.?I don't get it.Screw the status stuff.Get a manager with stones and carry on!
Its nice to see the Reds tap into a market the Bengals hadn't dipped into yet, crack addicts.
If he hits the ball like he hit the pipe, I believe everybody deserves a second chance.
Ahhh Thank you Paul for spilling some of the beans. True, Griff does skip an occasional BP, at last count he skipped one to do an interview with YOU, nonetheles he skips one now and then. He makes up for it by taking hundreds of swings before ANY of his other teammates show up for work.
Dunn, well he skips a lot of things. As one concerned writer eluded that Dunn hits early. Well, that would only be when he is MADE to do so. How about the time Dunn had to show up for his physical which is required for his rather large insurance policy to cover his contract. He quit not even halfway through and had to be reprimanded by John Allen. Check with a few of your sources. This is 100% true.
How about the time Dunn and Kearns skipped mandatory BP sessions in Philadelhia two years ago? And they wonder why they can't have Laz-Y Boy chairs. Why do you need a chair if you already lazy?
Dunn and Kearns were and are the poster children for entitlement. I've never and I mean never witnessed Adam Dunn hustle. Jog, loaf and mope maybe. 100& effort. Naaah. Griff, I have seen him hustle when it counts. I guess in this day and age I have to live with those standards. Nice work Paul!
Griffey is a great guy. He still walks out of the box when he hits a fly ball. He didn't play in September (injuried toe). Dunn played very poorly in September. That is when it mattered most. We need to light a fire under these two good citizens. Can't we hustle and be good citizens. They were given the talent most of us would love to have.
Knee-jerk: Griffey should have to abide by the same rules as everyone else.
Real: It still won't give you anymore notches in the W column and that's what matters. Unless Junior taking BP with the team makes Kyle Loshe more consistent or facilitates a miracle recovery for Everday Eddie, it doesn't matter where it matters (W-L). Otherwise, talk to Detroit about a Griffey/Casey trade.
The reality is that the Reds aren't a lot better, if at all. They've got their fingers crossed that a lot of last years' success stories are going to be repeated and that a couple new ones are in the wings. I love baseball as much as the next guy, and I'll attend my share of games, but this is another season of hopefully hangin' around 'til the break and then it's deal/no deal.
Knee-jerk: Paul Daugherty goes to games and watches how Griffey consistently doesn't put forth the effort on the diamond on a daily basis.
Real: Griffey consistently works hard, jogs out to centerfield, and shows younger players how to play the game.
Hey Anonymous why are you getting so personal with Paul? Even if you do not agree with his opinion there is no need to bash him. Then after you bash him you don't have the guts put your name. Real mature!!
And why shouldn't he give Griffey the devil for not running to the OF, or taking BP with everyone else he plays with. Forget the fact these are his teammates, or that millions of little kids are watching him every time he doesn't run a ball out, or doesn't bust it after a fly ball. He should be called out for it.
Why do we all love Pete Rose and Ryan Freel again? Or Barry Larkin? That's what I thought.
Josh Hamilton is the real deal if he can ever get his head straightened out. Don't discount the possibility.
Chip Lapp
Kenwood
Adam Dunn IS a "shader" - he stands with his buds and chats in the shade when he is "fielding" B.P. Haven't seen the hustle in the last two years of spring training - maybe "entitlement" is the apt descriptor??? Or maybe it all changes when he heads north for the season???? We'll be watching this spring...
No one else is any better off in the NL central? What do you call the addition of Soriano to the Cubs and Carlos Lee to the Astros. From an offensive standpoint, the Reds were awful after the All-Star break, ranking 2nd to last in MLB in runs scored, and dead last in batting average. They continue to fall behind on that side of the ball while insisting on signing old middle relievers who are on the decline who cant break 85 mph on their best day.
The only thing to look forward to as a Reds fan this year is what will hopefully be a rookie of the year run for Homer Bailey. Oh wait...I'm also excited to see if Alex Gonzalez will have an OBP over .300!
hey paul why don't you just admit it, you probably don't like griffey or dunn!!
Real: Griffey is a leader, do you think Paul has access to see what takes place on a daily basis with JR. helping the younger players. It's sad that Griff gets ripped by a local columnist who doesn't understand the game, and infact has stated multiple times he finds the game "boring."
Cutter, Bloom, Old Woodward's Bulldogs. Fountain Square, the new beautiful stadiums and the beautiful skyline I see on Cincinnati telecasts all bring life long pride of my home town... I watched nearly every game that Griffy played in Bank One Ballpark and had to listen to observations of insensitive local folks.No he doesn't hustle, he doesn't warm up with his team mates including batting practice in Phoenix... Recall Ken is Dunn and Kern's role model, a welfare egomaniac driving his golden calf and screwing his HOF hopes.
is cincinnati the hoe of second chance, or just felons, criminals and addicts. it started with UC & Huggins, filtered to the Bengals, and now the Reds.
Cincinnati's best developmental league in the the prison yard!
The last poster questions Paul's access to Griffey and ability to comment...
Paul is a fully credentialed member of the media, and one of the most highly regarded sportswriters in the country.
Even if he does think baseball is boring, I'm sure his access is much better than the average citizen.
we read your articles, but wonder why there is no stories on Bob Huggins more often.
Thanks,
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