*

*
Paul Daugherty
Enquirer columnist files news and observations

Paul Daugherty
Paul Daugherty has been an Enquirer sports columnist since 1994 and has been chronicling Cincinnati sports since 1988. He has covered almost every major sporting event in America, as well as five Summer Olympics. Along the way, he has been named one of the country's top-5 sports columnists four times, and Ohio columnist of the year on seven different occasions. Last year, he was voted 2nd-best sports columnist in the country, by the Associated Press Sports Editors.

Powered by Blogger

Monday, February 19, 2007

Fundamentals

If it's February, the Reds must be working on "fundamentals.'' The Reds work on fundamentals more than grade-school kids. So how come every year, the Reds are fundamentally iffy? Last year, they were next-to-last in the NL in fielding... next-to-last in sacrifices, bunts and flies... if there were a category for advancing runners, they'd likely be next-to-last in that, too. Fact is, their most influential players, Dunn and Griffey, don't "situational hit.'' Or bunt. A mess of other every day players aren't very good at it. They want to cut down on strikeouts, too. Same as they have for each of the last six, seven years. How's that working for 'em?

Question: Shouldnt major league players be "fundamental'' already? I mean, the nature of the word suggests it's a basic requirement, right? Everyone who ever played Knothole learned how to bunt. Everybody who played high school understood the need to shorten his stroke and protect the plate when he was down in the count. Everybody in A-ball understands a grounder to the right side is a good thing with a runner on 2nd or 3rd and less than 2 outs. This isn't earth shaking, and yet here we are, another February, emphasizing something that should have been learned many years ago.

If you've been in your job awhile, arent you, you know, fundamentally sound in what you do? I can spell, I'm reasonably adept at proper grammar. I can two-fingered type. Fundamentally, fundamentals arent an issue. Why, every year, are they on top of the Reds' wish list?


28 Comments:

at 5:17 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Paul,

I thoroughly agree. I am currently in San Antonio, TX and my schedule last year afforded me the opportunity to see 155 out of 162 games.(God bless dish network) I was appalled at the lack of professionalism, hustle, and fundamentals. I hope for improvement this year and I will be watching no matter what.

Andy Songer

 
at 6:22 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

I cant take it. This is the precise reason I can barely stand to hear Jerry Narron talk. Every interview that guy gives the words "play the right way" and "fundamentals" are uttered. Yet his team completely lacks them. If you preach it you better teach it. Beside the fact the if a baseball player isn't fundamentally sound he should be in the minors. Anymore fundamental talk and I'm campaigning for Jack Bauer to be our new manager. There is a man who gets results!

 
at 9:45 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good point , I bet a dollar to a dime that the Reds led baseball last year in first and second with no outs ,without scoring a run . Mainly because Griffey or Dunn either couldn't or wouldn't drop down a bunt . My question is how's that working out for you guys . Keep playing for the three run homer and we'll be watching meaningless games in August .

 
at 10:57 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think it is rare to find bright people on the coaching level in organized baseball. Narron seems to be standard baseball guy. He comes on the cheap, talks the parlance (btw, could you imagine a debate between him and M.Lewis, must see TV), and just seems to be a hick who endured the baseball wars to make it to the show.

The Castellini era is marked by a "savvy" marketing approach employed by the younger C's MBA mentality. Promotions, price points, free t-shirts. I feel like I've stumbled on to the set of the Apprentice while tripping on mescaline.

Wayne Krivsky's (talks John Wayne, but resembles him almost as much as Carson Daly resembles Johnny Carson) a Fairfield County CT Dukie, who is so bright he's reinventing the wheel, putting together a Minnesota Twin tapestry that will produce 80 wins.

The approach is akin to dressing up a pig "real pretty" and turning the ferris wheel up to a dizzying pace.

Market this Veeck wannabes, because I'm about to blow chunks.

Just win baseball games. People have a pretty healthy respect for that "business model". Shut up & build it. We promise to come, winning will leave us no choice.

 
at 8:37 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

this message is left for Andy Songer...are you the same A.S. who went to Lakota High School?

Paul...you never know the services your blog might provide!

 
at 10:02 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Man I get sick listening to all of you blowhards! First off, about fundamentals, did anyone actually watch last year's WS? Detroit blew their season because their pitchers couldn't locate first base with TomTom. Also, read damn near every manager's interviews this year, it's almost rehearsed, they all mention fundamentals and the sort. Anon who mentioned Dunn and Griff for not bunting: what dumbass manager has his middle-of-the-order hitters bunt? Not even putrid teams like TB or KC would do something so stupid. As for the Anon bashing Mr. C and the Kriv... What would you have liked them to do in their first year? We finally have an owner who gives a damn, who seems willing to do what it takes to put a contending team on the field. Didn't they just lock up their two best pitchers? We have a farm system that is ready to explode with prospects capable of filling the holes over the next few seasons ie Bailey, Votto, Bruce, Stubbs, Cueto, Wood. True, they inherited all but Stubbs, but those are bullets in their arsenal. Bash Wayne's results for the trade with Wash, but I applaude the cajones to do something radical to try to improve this team. Most of you need to baseball a favor and stop watching. You're all irritating the sport with your rhetoric. Buy videos of the Big Red Machine, watch your heroes, you know, like Bench, the pompous a-hole; Rose, EVERYONE'S hero--wait, he's a lying, cheating sack of garbage. Get out of the 70's folks. Paul, since you seem to absolutely hate the Reds and Bengals, quit writing about them.

Joe
Amelia

 
at 11:52 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

HARK! BRILLIANT JOE FROM AMELIA SPEAKS!

MAKE SURE TO CUT AND PASTE HIS COMMENTS AND ADD TO YOUR CLIPPINGS OF BRILLIANT OPINIONS!

THANKS, JOE FROM AMELIA!

 
at 4:37 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey, Joe from Amelia, been out of the trailer park lately?? Winning is the issue. Putting players on the field to win is the issue. The brass ones weren't required for the Nationals trade--it doesn't take them to embarrass oneself as GM.

 
at 5:16 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Joe, please don't share your sports takes in public, they are so foolish I don't want you to embarass yourself.

 
at 8:47 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very mature comments, seriously. Yeah, my trailer is 1/2 mile from Bengals' impoverished Deltha O'Neil's shack. It's a beautiful shanty-town. Regardless, to paraphrase "Field of Dreams" PRose14, 'I can't respect a man who's hero is a criminal.' Use this blog for opinions on sports matters, not for childish insults. If you're going to post w/o a Blogger acct, man up and at least sign off with a name. Now, outside of being putoff by my smugness and arrogance, only one person attacked my points made, and his was a stupid rebuttal. Criticizing the Kriv for not winning?? He inherited a 70-win team and somehow eeked out a damn near .500 record. Now, if any of you have an intelligent arguement about my views on the Reds, feel free to respond. If all you have are immature insults, grow up. Now if you don't mind, I need to look out my window to assure a tornado doesn't blow me and this new fangled computational machine to Kansas.

Joe
Amelia

 
at 11:40 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Doc...i'll bet you couldn't get your UC bashing article in fast enough tonight huh? You must feel like a kid at christmas.

 
at 7:26 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brilliant Joe from Amelia states that if we are to criticize and hurt his feelings, we should:

"...man up and at least sign off with a name..."

Whoah there, tough-guy!

And since there's only one "Joe" who lives in Amelia, you've definitely "manned-up" yourself there, tough-guy!

Please keep your brilliant comments coming. I need the humor; it's Ash Wednesday, I'm Catholic, and this fast is starting to make me cranky...

God Bless you, Brilliant Joe from Amelia!

Tony
Delhi (guess which Tony, Joe!)

 
at 9:00 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Joe

You still haven't made any sense.

Drew
Covington

 
at 9:26 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

How good can we expect our defense to be? Dunn is the worst left fielder in baseball (even though he wants to be "great"). Griffey has lost 4 steps. And we have a recovering drug-abuser in right who has played 15 games in 4 years.

Is there a way we can clone Ryan Freel?

Imagine if Wily Mo was still here.

Plus, Edwin worries me.

But I still smell playoffs - I know I'm crazy.

 
at 9:51 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Joe, we're blowhards?

Thanks for the mapquest and your "rubbing shoulders" with D. O'Neal (sic). You may have worked hard for said address, but it, like most of your points, is immaterial to any discussion.

Fundamentals didn't ruin the WS for Detroit, it was nerves.

Management talks of fundamentals in the contending towns because their rosters are set. IE, Yanks can talk about their in house drama because it is a given they will make postseason.

Dumbass for suggesting bunting 3 or 4 guys? OK, baseball guy, that's a pretty standard point. Yet, the stars on this team are inflexible, set in their ways. Dunn with his frat house approach, Griff with his Sour Patch Kids routine. Maybe he SHOULD bunt, or simply join the friggin team, because he's a stiff, a bore, and a pain in the rear.

Putrid teams? Let me tell you Ace, we are a KC and a TB. Don't act like we're some model franchise. We have history and rings, but our team is like your takes, run of the mill. Go ahead and make excuses for our brass, Mr. C and the Kriv. They don't give a damn anymore than prior ownership mind reader, you just don't know their motivation. Their moves are open to subjective analysis, it's wait and see.

"Kriv" had nothing to do with the stars, that was previous front office. Arroyo, great. Washington trade, reinventing the wheel. It's all about cajones(?), whether it was a good trade or not. Like signing your name to some stupid rant? I see the similarity there. Won't stop watching baseball, just because some loudmouth beliggerently bellows in some backroom on the net.

Rhetoric? All opinions. That's how this works. Why don't we just make you furor? You may have a hard time finding loyalty, because it would be the blind leading the blind.

Yeah, I'm sure PD will stop writing. Joe, stick to reading the Eastern Hills Journal, which seems to be aimed at your reading level and basic understanding of the game.

 
at 10:15 AM Blogger docproc said...

Paul:

You're right on the nose with this one. The primary culprits are indeed Dunn and Griffey. The rest of the team seems to have a clue about executing fundamentals, but our middle-of-the-lineup "stars" with the fat contracts and lousy attitudes refuse to hit to the opposite field (particularly when the shift is handing them a free base hit), move runners over, drop the occasional bunt, shorten their swings with two strikes on them, or run out ground balls.

And I don't want to hear that stupid line, "but they're paid to hit home runs, not ground balls." No, they're paid to help win ballgames--by whatever means necessary. If Narron doesn't ask/require them to adapt their game in key situations, then he's as much to blame as they are. Fundamentals aren't just for spring training.

 
at 11:56 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

docproc:

But they're paid to hit homeruns...they are.

 
at 1:20 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

yo "brilliant joe from amelia" (that one's awesome)...you out there still? finish licking your wounds and check in, would ya? I, too, could use the humor!

 
at 2:32 PM Blogger docproc said...

To 11:56 Anonymous:

I think you're missing the big picture. Yes, they are paid to hit home runs under the assumption that home runs are supposed to HELP WIN BALLGAMES. They're also paid to generate RBIs under the assumption that runs HELP WIN BALLGAMES. They're also expected to have a batting average well above the Mendoza Line under the assumption that hits HELP WIN BALLGAMES.

So, Adam Dunn, when your home runs all come at meaningless times in meaningless games, when you leave potential runs at second/third base because you're fruitlessly swinging for the fences or looking at strike three, and when your batting average keeps dropping every year, that doesn't HELP WIN BALLGAMES--so you're NOT doing what you're paid for.

Ultimately, the only number that matters is the number of games a team wins--and Dunn's and Griffey's individual stats aren't helping that cause very much or very often.

 
at 4:24 PM Blogger Joe Farfsing said...

Thank you Anon from 9:51, seriously. Smartass insults aside, my opinions were finally addressed.

We're not in the penthouse of the Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals, true. But suffice to say we're not in the tenament of Tampa or Kansas City. A small townhouse next to Toronto and Cleveland is probably more accurate.

If you read my initial post, I didn't credit any of the stars to Krivsky. All he really did was luck out on the Arroyo, Phillips, and Ross trades. The Reds were universally predicted for a 5th place team, they finished 3rd, and weren't eliminated until the next to last game. Not too shabby I think we can all agree. As for the Nationals trade, I liked the idea; most others didn't, but the philosophy was sound. Our offense was good, our bullpen bad. He dealt from a position of strength to attempt to fix a position of weakness. As for cajones, get a Spanish-English dictionary. I'm not making excuses for the front office, I'm a fan like everyone else. I just personally like the plan they seem to have.

The rhetoric I was refering to is the same crap that has been echoed throughout Greater Cincinnati since the breakup of the Big Red Machine. Same people that hold Pete Rose as an icon, not as a predecessor to Barry Bonds. People complaining about the lack of hustle, professionalism, fundamentals are the same people that bemoan the steroids of today's era while turning a blind eye towards the rampant abuse of amphetamines and the overwhelming number of alcoholics in the 60's and 70's like Mickey Mantle. Players may not hustle as much as in olden days, but today's player is a better player. They're simply in better shape, stronger, faster.

Lastly, I have a personal mini grudge against Doc that I won't get into. That being said, his columns tend to be loaded with vitriol against the Reds and Bengals. I know a columnist is by nature more subjective than the average fan, and not supposed to be a homer saying all is great with our teams. That being said, Doc seems to be just the opposite. His response to the Reds' extensions for Harang and Arroyo? Bitching about not signing Jeff Suppan, comparing him to the current #3, Eric Milton. Suppan, he of the astounding career record of 106-101, a .512 winning %. Career ERA of 4.60. 1.7 K/BB ratio. Averages 190 innings/yr. Compare to Milton: career record of 87-80, a .520 winning %. Career ERA of 5.01. 2.49 K/BB ratio. Averages 180 innings/yr. To me, they seem very similar. In fact Milton looks like a better pitcher for their careers. That's why I'm not a Doc fan, looks at things with the same untrained eye as a casual fan. Same garbage as Andy Furman.

As for Tony from Delhi: My point wasn't to prove I'm manly and physically backing up my opinions. Everyone hates Joe from Amelia now, not Anon 6:30 or Anon 9:28. If you're going to criticize, you're subject to criticism yourself.

Joe
Amelia

 
at 4:54 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

docproc:
what's "mendoza line"?

 
at 5:20 PM Anonymous Anonymous said...

What has Griffey ever won , if you pulled up his winning percentage of games he's played in , not on the DL , I guarantee it's less than 50 percent . Seattle traded him and won 108 games the next year . Don't tell me he's paid to hit homers , he's paid to win ball games . He's turning into the Allen Iverson of baseball .

 
at 6:58 PM Blogger docproc said...

Sorry, I thought "Mendoza Line" was a well-understood baseball reference. Here's a wikipedia explanation of the term:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendoza_Line

I guess I'm showing my age...

 
at 7:28 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

docproc: what's "wikipedia"??

 
at 10:07 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brilliant Joe From Amelia:
You sure do take a little chunk of your day to get your opinions on to a blog, don't you?

Pretty long entries there, buddy!

And the mini-grudge you allegedly hold against Doc probably doesn't keep him up at night. Have you ever thought of thinking him kind of, you know, honorable?? It's up to him to post or not post entries, and he keeps posting yours, complete with their hatred of him!

 
at 9:10 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Joe,

Forgive the smart ass insults, and thanks for pointing that out.

I think the baby often gets thrown out with the proverbial bath water due to sensationalism, see Jim Rome. I fall into this. He's a bright guy, but it is often lost because of his immaturity.

Agreed on Reds place in baseball universe. Somewhere in the middle. Which, considering our market size, is playing up. Tired argument? Market size and success have a correlation. Saint Louis is an exception; however, Dewitt's cash, business savvy, and an extremely loyal fan base (it is apple pie there) make it happen. Walt Jockety doesn't hurt either.

The truth is that since 1994 we have a pissing match between owners and players with a non-independent commish. Money has ruined the game. Tired p.o.v.? Both sides are gluttonously, over the top, no excuse possible to defend it rich. And we fans put up with scandal, greed, while both sides of the schism laugh their collective ways to payday. We continue to foot the bill. It is corruption. Plain and simple. All good things come to an end. Maybe the fans, owners, and players destruction of modern day sport is a very necessary thing. Kind of our growing up as a human race. Hopefully!

I think you make good points assessing the Reds. I understand the cajones reference on Kriv. Yet, brains and brawn should be lauded. That was ballsy, but other GM's openly laughed at Kriv's cajones. Granted, it's easy to play Monday AM QB, I just think the only chance for this team would be to go down to Sarasota, start in the sub-basement and work your way up. Get strong from within, kind of a goofy pilates analogy, if you will.

I understand the 70's reference. I realize alcoholism and skirt chasing were part of the game, but the mask has just changed today. Now athhlete's are pimps, who live "the life", jack needles in the arms, beat up women, carry guns, fire guns, and often kill people. Today's athlete demonstrates base, animalistic tendencies. Creepy. I'd take Dimaggio and Marilyn over some of these lowlifes of today. Camelot v. Roman Empire on steroids. Again, we as fans and media glamorize and co-sign the debauchery. Call it what it is, just evil.

Your beef with Doc is your beef. God bless you. Remember, he's getting paid to do this. A lot of our societal problems stem from envy. And the envied can be a little arrogant, also.

The donation basket will approach you soon. Ask yourself, what can I give?

 
at 7:58 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

Joe-
Why'd you address your last entry to yourself, and then not sign it at the bottom?
Tony
(Delhi)

 
at 2:55 AM Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Is there a way we can clone Ryan Freel?"

Only enough room for one drunk on the team.

 
Post a Comment*

* Our online blogs currently are hosted and operated by a third party, namely, Blogger.com. You are now leaving the Cincinnati.Com website and will be linked to Blogger.com's registration page. The Blogger.com site and its associated services are not controlled by Cincinnati.Com and different terms of use and privacy policy will apply to your use of the Blogger.com site and services.

By proceeding and/or registering with Blogger.com you agree and understand that Cincinnati.Com is not responsible for the Blogger.com site you are about to access or for any service you may use while on the Blogger.com site. << Home


Blogs
Jim Borgman
Today at the Forum
Paul Daugherty
Politics Extra
N. Ky. Politics
Pop culture review
Cincytainment
Who's News
Television
Roller Derby Diva
Art
CinStages Buzz....
The Foodie Report
cincyMOMS
Classical music
John Fay's Reds Insider
Bengals
High school sports
NCAA
UC Sports
CiN Weekly staff
Soundcheck