Sunday, April 04, 1999
These Reds have chance in any color
BY PAUL DAUGHERTY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The '99 Reds are better than the '98 Reds in every respect, not the least of which is allowing grown men to make their own grooming choices. If you want your face to have hair, fine. If you want your face to have hair dyed yellow, to match the hair on your head or, who knows, the color of your lip gloss, well...
If Dmitri Young can't play right field, he can try out for a Star Trek movie.
The security guys at the players gate won't ask for his autograph. They'll fingerprint him.
What'd he say to his teammates that first day? Trick or treat?
That's not art class up there, D. That's your hair. Come back to us, kid.
See? We're having fun already. Last year wasn't fun around here until Mark McGwire showed up in September. Of course, he arrived a day late, 12 hours after he'd hit No.62. That's just how it went here.
For the better
Things are changed. Whiskers are in, dogs are out. Denny Neagle (occasionally a stunning platinum blond) is in.
Brett Tomko is back. Greg Vaughn is back-back-back. Pete Harnisch's back is back. He says.
It's a team Barry Larkin can be proud of.
The Reds are better than we would have believed three months ago. They're better than two months ago, or even two weeks, given the injuries to key players on other teams in the NL Central.
The Reds are better than anyone could have expected, given the rich man-poor man state of the game. The difference between our two pro teams is this: The Reds are in an economy where they can't compete for titles, but they give it their best, anyway. The Bengals are in an economy that allows them to compete, and they don't.
The Reds are better for retaining John Allen and Jim Bowden. One keeps the porch light on while the other is spending the inheritance. Both are doing the best they can.
The Reds are better for having Vaughn, whose hard work and professionalism has already helped, even as his bat has limped.
The Reds are better enough to take your mind off just how far they are from being consistent winners. They are better enough to give you a reason to believe.
They're better than the Pirates, Brewers and Cardinals.
But they're not good enough.
Full of promise
Is the stadium half full? Or half empty?
Full: Above average starting rotation, improved power, great bench, a year older, Greg Vaughn, Denny Neagle.
Empty: Houston's rotation is still better, even without Randy Johnson. Chicago's may be just as good, even without Kerry Wood. The Astros have a better lineup, even without Moises Alou.
Full: Lots of promise in the bullpen.
Empty: No Rod Beck (Cubs) or Billy Wagner (Astros.)
Full: Twenty to 25 wins from Steve Avery and Jason Bere.
Empty: Bullpen assignments and DL stints from Steve Avery and Jason Bere.
Full: A September wild-card run.
Empty: “We're building for the new stadium.”
The Reds are only as good as Harnisch's back and Neagle's shoulder, and right now, who knows for sure about either?
They're only as good as Sean Casey's potential, Aaron Boone's potential and Pokey Reese's potential. Potential, someone once said, “means you ain't done nothin' yet.”
If Mike Cameron plays every day in center, he's going to need some new radials about Memorial Day. He'll have done 50,000 miles. Eric Davis was a great center fielder when he was young. He spent a few years playing center and left, when Kal Daniels was out there taking flyballs to the face. But even Davis didn't have to cover for two guys.
The Reds have a $33 million payroll. Thirty-three mil doesn't buy what it used to. What it has bought this team is a chance, which is more than any other small market mirage currently working.
If the Reds don't have a chance, then Dmitri Young's name isn't Marilyn Monroe.
What? It's not? Oh. Never mind.
Enquirer columnist Paul Daugherty welcomes your comments at 768-8454.
Enquirer columnist Paul Daugherty welcomes your comments at 768-8454.
DAUGHERTY ARCHIVE
