Hanks, Howard pay visit to GABP

07/19/2006
CINCINNATI -- On Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park, actors Tom Hanks and Dennis Miller and director Ron Howard were just three regular guys killing time during a long rain delay.
They just happened to be three guys who have film and television credits that have earned them millions of fans.
In an impromptu gathering with the media in a room adjacent to the press box, the three entertainers talked baseball and worked the room a little, too.
"Will you please stop being the jaded media?" Hanks jokingly bellowed. "You are here to entertain us. It's not the other way around."
The trio and some of their friends recently rented a bus and have been on a tour of some Major League ballparks. They'd been to Baltimore's Camden Yards and Pittsburgh's PNC Park before reaching Cincinnati to watch the Reds play the Mets.
"It was Tommy's idea," said Miller, a comedian and former talk show host and "Saturday Night Live" cast member.
"I turned 50 about 10 days ago," said Hanks, a two-time Oscar winner famous for such films as "Apollo 13," "Forrest Gump" and "Saving Private Ryan." "This was the dream that you have, gosh, all the way back. Wouldn't you love to be able to go to a bunch of ballparks with a bunch of guys? The requisite was you had to be a baseball fan and funny to make it on the bus."
Hanks, Howard and Miller aren't just novice appreciators of baseball. All are longtime fans with plenty of detailed and nostalgic memories.
"I grew up with the Dodgers," said Howard, an Academy Award-winning director responsible for such films as "The Da Vinci Code" and "Apollo 13," and star of the TV show "Happy Days." "I fell in love with them in '63, and Vin Scully taught me everything about baseball. I loved it. All last year, I was out of the country. I missed the entire season. I heard about Tom's deal, and signed up."
Miller grew up in Pittsburgh loving the Pirates, and Roberto Clemente and Bill Mazeroski.
"I remember when Bob Prince used to call games at Crosley [Field]," Miller said. "Somebody would hit a home run, and it was only like 303 feet. He would say, 'It was out over the moon deck and into a pickup truck on I-75 and on its way to Dayton.' "
"I sold peanuts and soda in the Oakland-Alameda Coliseum," Hanks said. "Until, quite frankly, I got robbed a few times too many. It was a money-losing proposition, so I stopped that."
"Tough room out there," Miller said. "Rickey Henderson was not the only one stealing things in Oakland."
Where does the caravan go next? It's not a movie-promotion junket, so there will be no advance billing.
"Should we divulge our top secret? So far we've been under the radar," Hanks said.
"Tom is so important that he's arranged for a St. Louis Browns game," Miller said.

Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/

Reds' late rally soaks Mets

07/20/2006
CINCINNATI -- A pair of Hollywood heavyweights were among those who endured a long night at Great American Ball Park on Wednesday.
But though actor Tom Hanks and director Ron Howard were among the 26,300 in attendance, it was the ensemble cast of the Reds' bullpen that provided one of the "tour de force" performances of the summer in a 7-4 win over the Mets.
New York jumped out to a 4-0 lead off Cincinnati starter Aaron Harang by the second inning before a burst of heavy thundershowers rolled through and delayed the game for two hours and 23 minutes.
On the other side of the delay, Harang was out of the game, and six members of the Reds' bullpen came up big, stringing together seven scoreless innings while the lineup chipped away at the deficit. Jason LaRue's two-run double in the eighth provided the go-ahead runs.
"You can't say enough about the way our bullpen pitched tonight," said third baseman Rich Aurilia, whose fifth-inning solo home run tied the game at 4 and extended his hitting streak to 12 games. "They kept them off the board after the second inning, and we had some big defensive plays, too. Any time you do that, you're going to win a lot of ballgames. We beat a good team tonight."
Two enthusiastic thumbs-up also came from manager Jerry Narron.
"The bullpen [was] outstanding," Narron said. "Every one of them."
Coming off back-to-back solid starts, Harang did not look as strong, allowing four earned runs and four hits in just two innings. There was no consideration of bringing him back when play resumed.
"I really did not want to send him back out there after a two-hour delay," Narron said. "There was no way he was going to go back out there. If it had been September, he probably would have gone back out, but not in July."
Following Harang's departure, it was plausible that the game could have gotten out of hand. The Mets entered second in the National League in runs scored. The Reds came in with the league's worst bullpen ERA, at 5.20.
The players didn't buy into the potential typecasting.
"Bullpens go through ups and downs," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "Just because they've struggled doesn't mean they're going to struggle all the time. They did their job tonight."
Jason Standridge halted the Mets with two scoreless innings. David Weathers followed with the next two, which included working out of a sixth inning in which he allowed three walks. After Kent Mercker's scoreless seventh, Bill Bray gave up a leadoff double and a one-out walk in the eighth.
Todd Coffey (5-4) faced one batter and finished the eighth for the win. Eddie Guardado's perfect ninth earned him his fourth save.
The game ended at 12:28 a.m. ET on Thursday, just a little more than 12 hours before the two teams will meet again to complete the series.
"That lineup has everything," LaRue said of the Mets. "They've got power. They've got speed. They hit and run. They bunt. I was impressed that we went out there and played the game that we did, especially as long a night as it was. It was outstanding to see the bullpen shut that offense down."
Mets starter Steve Trachsel returned after the rain but was knocked out when Cincinnati rallied for three runs in the fourth on an RBI single from Brandon Phillips and a two-run single by pinch-hitter Edwin Encarnacion. Aurilia's homer came against reliever Darren Oliver.
In addition to nearly exhausting his bullpen, Narron needed several pinch-hitters and used all of his position players, too. A reporter told the manager that he looked spent after the game.
"Just a little bit," he replied. "When you start pinch-hitting in the second inning, [you're] trying to figure out ways to get through it to give yourself a chance to win."
They got their chance in the eighth. Scott Hatteberg was on second base with one out when Royce Clayton grounded to shortstop. In a fielder's-choice play, New York's Jose Reyes fired to third base to get Hatteberg, but his throw was not in time.
Swinging on a 3-0 pitch from Duaner Sanchez (5-1), LaRue followed with a two-run double near the left-field foul line. Narron gave LaRue the green light to swing on the 3-0 count.
"I was just looking for a fastball over the plate to just try and get a sacrifice fly," LaRue said. "With the way they were pitching to me, that might be the only pitch that was good to swing at."
Pinch-hitter Javier Valentin added an RBI single for an insurance run.
"It was a team effort tonight," Narron said. "We used everybody -- all the position guys -- and we used everybody in the bullpen except [Gary] Majewski. That's a pretty good feeling when you use everybody to get a win."

Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/

Notes: Harang to stay on schedule

07/20/2006
CINCINNATI -- Aaron Harang's short night of two innings in Wednesday's game likely won't prompt manager Jerry Narron to alter the Reds rotation to give the pitcher another start.
Narron said he was "99 percent sure" Harang would stay in his regular spot and make his next start Tuesday at Houston.
"We talked about it," Harang said on Thursday morning. "As far as I know, they're not. It wouldn't work any way we did it."
Harang allowed four earned runs in two innings and threw 51 pitches before a two-hour, 23-minute rain delay halted the game. The bullpen worked seven scoreless innings after the game resumed for a 7-4 victory. The right-hander admitted he lacked his best stuff during the game.
"I really hadn't been sleeping. I've been fighting some allergies," Harang said of his shortest start this season. "I couldn't hit my spots. It was one of those days."
The night wasn't a total loss for Harang, who also worked off a mound in the Reds' indoor batting cage at Great American Ball Park.
"I was throwing during the whole rain delay to stay ready to go in and pitch," Harang said. "Once it got to the two-hour mark, Jerry said, 'That's it.'"
Harang threw 55 more pitches, which moved his pitch count to 106.
"Although the intensity was not as high in the cage," said Harang, who is 10-6 with a 3.72 ERA in 21 starts this season.
Plan B: With the rain delay throwing any regular plans out the window, Narron had several contingencies working throughout Wednesday night. The manager took a slight risk in the eighth by pinch-hitting with Javier Valentin, his only other available catcher with David Ross on the disabled list.
Had starter Jason LaRue been injured, it would have gotten really interesting. Utility man Ryan Freel would have debuted in a new position.
"Freelie would have caught. [Chris] Denorfia said he never caught but would strap it on," Narron said. "We could have done something."
To save pinch-hitters earlier in the game, he looked for opportunities to bat starting pitchers Elizardo Ramirez or Bronson Arroyo. But Cincinnati's ninth spot came up during run-scoring chances.
Had the Reds not taken an eighth-inning lead in Wednesday's game and won it nine innings, the pitching was set up to get through extras.
"If the game would have stayed tied, [Todd] Coffey would have gone back out there for the ninth," Narron said. "[Eddie] Guardado would have pitched the 10th. And [Gary] Majewski would have had to throw as long as he could."
Saturday's scheduled starter, Joe Mays, was also considered available to pitch or pinch-hit.
Red dot special: Freel started in center field on Thursday in place of lefty slugger Ken Griffey Jr., who got a day off following a night game. ... Rich Aurilia shifted from third base and started at first base in place of Scott Hatteberg. It opened up a spot for Edwin Encarnacion to start at third base. ... Wednesday's victory gave the Reds 50 wins for the season. Last season's 50th win did not come until Aug. 8. ... A fan gained illegal entry into Narron's office in the home clubhouse following Wednesday's game. The fan quietly sat down in the manager's office and listened to the postgame press conference and remained after it ended before Narron asked what he was doing there. Security later escorted the unidentified man away without incident.

Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/

Missed chances cost Reds dearly

07/20/2006
CINCINNATI -- The final images may not have been the most lasting ones that came out of Thursday's 4-2 Reds loss to the Mets in 10 innings.
A 10th-inning rookie defensive mistake by right fielder Chris Denorfia was costly during another unfortunate outing by reliever Gary Majewski.
But the game never should have gotten to that point.
What really stood out was one missed chance after another by the Reds lineup, which went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 12 runners on base. It foiled starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo's sixth bid for his 10th victory, despite his strong eight-inning performance where he allowed two earned runs.
"We should have had the game. We did have the game," said second baseman Brandon Phillips, who himself missed capitalizing on a bases-loaded chance in the seventh. "Things happen."
The game wasn't truly lost until the extra inning. Against Majewski (3-3), Mets pinch-hitter Xavier Nady lofted a one-out pop fly to shallow right field. Phillips appeared to have the best chance at making the play, but was called off by a charging Denorfia, who missed the ball off the end of his glove in a diving attempt.
Nady reached second base with a bloop double. He scored the go-ahead run on Endy Chavez's RBI double down the left-field line.
Not wanting to come down publicly on Denorfia, Phillips deferred the matter to Reds manager Jerry Narron's opinion.
"I think everybody knows Brandon had that ball," Narron said. "Dino really thought he had it and took charge of it. It's just an aggressive mistake."
"It's one of those balls where if I don't call for it, I don't know if he's going to get it or not," Denorfia said. "That's how I'm looking at it. I charged pretty hard and definitely took control of it. I just came up a little short."
Carlos Beltran's RBI double off Kent Mercker added another run and ensured the Mets would leave taking two of three in the series. The run was charged to Majewski, who has allowed five earned runs in three appearances since last week's trade to the Reds from the Nationals.
"He's going to do a good job for us," Narron said. "It seems like every outing he's been out there, he's gotten a freaky little play or something. He's going to be fine."
Locked into a duel with crafty Mets lefty Tom Glavine, Arroyo's only runs allowed came on solo homers by Cliff Floyd in the second inning and Carlos Delgado in the fourth that made it 2-0. The right-hander stepped up his intensity after Ryan Freel's two-run, game-tying double in the fifth inning.
At one point, Arroyo retired 12 in a row and 13 of his final 14 batters. He walked off the field pumping his fist after he struck out Beltran, his final batter.
"When we tied the game, I definitely went out there and tried to pitch [with] more max effort," said Arroyo, who is 9-6 with a 2.92 ERA in 21 starts. "I don't do that a lot in the beginning of a game. Once you get to a point in the game when you don't have too many innings left, you have to give everything you got and either hold the lead or hold it where it is."
The Reds did not reward Arroyo's effort. They put the leadoff batter on base in the fifth through ninth innings, but scored no more after the fifth.
The two best chances came with the bases loaded in both the sixth and seventh innings. Batting with two outs, Arroyo dropped a low percentage bunt to the mound, with Glavine easily firing home for the inning-ending force play.
In the seventh, after Glavine issued back-to-back walks that loaded the bases with one out, Scott Hatteberg was called to pinch-hit for Edwin Encarnacion against submarine right-hander Chad Bradford. Hatteberg struck out swinging before Phillips grounded into an inning-ending fielder's choice.
"He's one of the toughest guys in all of baseball to strike out," Narron said of Hatteberg. "That's the real reason I sent him up there for Eddie. Bradford is just a funky right-hander that can be very difficult with right-handed hitters. With one out, I like my chances with Hattie out there. "
"It's a situation where you've got to come through," Hatteberg said. "We had a couple of them that slipped through our fingers."
Symbolic of the kind of day it was for the Reds, Hatteberg struck out in his second at-bat during the ninth against Pedro Feliciano (4-2). It was only the second time all season he struck out twice in a game. There were no chances left when closer Billy Wagner finished the game in the 10th.
"We should have won the game," Narron said. "We just didn't get a hit when we needed it."

Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/

Notes: Overweight Hancock released

02/18/2006
SARASOTA, Fla. -- In a matter of minutes on Saturday, Josh Hancock went from being a Reds pitcher to a cautionary tale.
Manager Jerry Narron's message to his players has been to be ready to work. He drove that point home by making an example out of Hancock. The right-hander was released by the club just before pitchers and catchers set foot on the field for their first Spring Training workout.
Narron said that Hancock, a non-roster player, reported to camp 17 pounds overweight. After the move was announced, Narron recalled a speech he made to his players on the last day of the 2005 season in St. Louis.
"I told these guys to give themselves a chance to be successful," Narron said. "The only way you can do that is by being committed, working out this winter and coming to Spring Training in shape. Take serious what you're doing, even if you're in the winter. I have no clue what Josh Hancock did."
Hancock was 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 11 relief appearances last season, but he spent most of the year on the disabled list with a strained right groin. The 27-year-old did not pitch in his first game until September. Last month when the Reds signed pitcher Grant Balfour, Hancock was taken off the 40-man roster to clear space, and he was signed to a Minor League deal with an invite to camp.
That invitation was quickly rescinded.
"Can he be a successful Major League pitcher at 17 pounds more than he was asked to be? Maybe," Narron said. "But we looked at last year. He was on the disabled list for 133 games. We did not see the commitment that we wanted to see this winter."
In an indication of his preference for veterans, Narron also made it known that all players are not created equal in his clubhouse.
"I'm not going to say I'm going to treat everybody the same," Narron said. "I believe you earn the right to do things in this game. A player may come in here tomorrow that's 50 pounds overweight, but if he does, he better have had a real good year last year."
It's rare that a player is sent out on the very first day. The move reverberated around the Reds clubhouse.
"It makes a statement," utility player Ryan Freel said. "It doesn't look like we're messing around. [Narron] is showing that the first day. You could hear a pin drop in here when they announced that. It keeps people in check, and you realize they mean business right now. We're trying to do something positive here and win something."
"It's a surprise for everyone," pitcher Eric Milton said. "That's not a bad thing, because it shows everyone in here you have to be on top of your game. If you're not here and ready to play, then you shouldn't be here. I think it sent a message to everyone."
Under the sun: The remaining 31 pitchers and catchers have hit the field for their first official workout of camp. Typical of the first day, there were assorted drills performed, including pitchers fielding grounders and covering first base and bunting.
Still recovering from a torn tendon in his right index finger, reliever David Weathers was limited to long-tossing and light throwing in a side session.
Balfour, who is rehabilitating from ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow and shoulder surgery, began throwing again for the first time last week. He was throwing from 60 feet, but not off a mound. Head trainer Mark Mann said that Balfour was expected to start throwing off a mound by the end of Spring Training.
Coaching search: The process of hiring a new first-base coach is ongoing. Narron, who interviewed Ken Griffey Sr. on Friday, said that he's spoken informally about the position with internal candidates Ed Napoleon and Pete Mackanin and called Lynn Jones, who is not expected to be in camp until next week.
Seen and heard: Right fielder Austin Kearns was the latest prominent early arrival at the Reds' complex on Saturday. Position players aren't required to report until Tuesday.
Tickets for Opening Day quickly sold out after going on sale on Saturday morning, the club said. Cincinnati opens the 2006 season on April 3 against the Cubs.
Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky hired Ken "Squeaky" Parker as a professional scout. Parker, 69, most recently scouted for the Pirates and is considered to be a legend in the industry. Over the years, he's been responsible for signing big-league players Will Clark, Matt Williams and Jeff Brantley.

Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/

Notes: Reds look to fill vacancy

02/17/2006
SARASOTA, Fla. -- With a vacancy at first base coach, the Reds identified a list of internal candidates for the job on Friday.
Among the internal candidates are Ken Griffey Sr., who interviewed for the position Friday, Ed Napoleon, Lynn Jones and Pete Mackanin. Manager Jerry Narron indicated the search could be expanded to people outside the organization.
Cincinnati is seeking a replacement for former coach John Moses, who called Narron and abruptly quit on Thursday because he wanted to spend more time with his family.
"We've got some very qualified guys right here," Narron said. "We don't have to do it right now. Shoot, it would have been nice to have done this a month ago or whatever but we're not there. We just have to do the best we can with where we are."
The Reds would like the new coach to also work with the outfielders and on baserunning skills.
Griffey Sr., the father of center fielder Ken Griffey Jr., is a team consultant. A star outfielder for the club in the 1970s, the elder Griffey was a coach on former Reds skipper Bob Boone's staff before abruptly quitting midseason.
Also the first base coach for Team USA's entry in the World Baseball Classic, Griffey Sr. has let the Reds know those duties wouldn't hinder him from accepting the job.
"That's something we'll talk with him about, and to Major League Baseball about, if it comes down to it," Narron said.
Napoleon is entering his third season with the Reds organization as outfield/bunting instructor. He has a long resume of Major League coaching stints, most recently with the Rangers from 1995-2000.
Jones was hired this winter as the Reds' Minor League outfield/baserunning coordinator after spending the past three seasons working for the Red Sox. He was manager Terry Francona's first base coach in Boston from 2004-05. A former big league outfielder with the Tigers and Royals, Jones was originally a 10th-round draft pick of the Reds in 1974.
Mackanin was just named the Reds' Major League advance scout on Friday after spending the last five seasons with the Pirates organization, the last three as a big league bench coach. A former big league player from 1973-81, he worked with outfielders while a third base coach for Montreal from 1997-2000 and managed the Reds' old Triple-A affiliate in Nashville in 1991-92.
Hatteberg arrives: More early arrivals trickled into Reds camp Friday, including recent acquisition Scott Hatteberg. The former A's and Red Sox first baseman was signed as a free agent on Sunday.
Hatteberg, 36, spent the entire offseason working out at his home in Washington State not knowing if he'd land a job for 2006.
"It was getting harder and harder as the day got closer to keep it up," said Hatteberg, who batted .256 with seven home runs and 59 RBIs in 134 games last season with Oakland. "It came together. That's what I kept telling myself -- 'Just be ready. It can happen.' And it did."
Hatteberg is behind Adam Dunn on the depth chart at first base. Narron was pleased he was still available so late in the offseason.
"He gives us tremendous insurance at first, if Dunn can't play or somebody gets traded or somebody gets injured," Narron said. "He's a professional hitter. He's a guy that can put the ball in play and a tough out when he comes to bat. He's not going to give away at-bats."
"I know who is playing first base. I'm aware they're solid over there," Hatteberg said. "I want to be able to get in there. They sound like they wanted me to get in there. I know [Dunn] plays outfield also, so maybe it's a matchup type of thing. However they cycle me in, I'll be ready."
Breaking away: As part of his offseason workout regimen, pitcher Aaron Harang spent a lot of time riding his mountain bike on roads near his San Diego home. A couple of years ago, Harang took a spinning class on exercise bikes and then bought the mountain bike last year. It didn't get much use until this winter.
"I rode that [bike] a lot this year," said Harang, who was 11-13 with a 3.83 ERA in 32 starts last season. "It's not too much different. But it was different being on the road than in a room. I was doing a lot of hill work and stuff."
Harang said the bike work, plus running three times a week, was to condition his legs to handle the endurance of a lot of innings and work. With 211 2/3 innings in 2005, he was the only Reds starter to cross the 200-innings benchmark last season.
Odds and ends: There were no formal workouts held on Friday as Reds players underwent their annual physicals. Pitchers and catchers will have their first workout Saturday morning.
So far, 37 of 38 Reds pitchers and catchers are in camp. Backup catcher Javier Valentin, whose wife delivered a baby boy in Puerto Rico, remained excused. Narron said Valentin was scheduled to be in uniform on Monday.
With Mackanin on board as the Major League advance scout, former Reds advance scout Gene Bennett was shifted to a professional scouting position.
After just over a month as a Cubs' special assistant to the general manager, Chris Buckley was named the Reds' senior director of scouting. Buckley worked in the Toronto organization from 1989-2005 in a variety of roles.

Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/

Reds hire Hatcher as first base coach

02/19/2006
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Reds manager Jerry Narron felt that he had five qualified candidates, and five friends, to choose from for the vacant first base coaching position.
On Sunday, Narron decided to hire Billy Hatcher to fill it.
Hatcher, 45, spent the previous 10 seasons coaching in the Devil Rays organization and was the lone candidate from outside the organization to replace John Moses, who abruptly retired Thursday.
"I've always enjoyed going back to Cincinnati," Hatcher said. "When it's one of the places you played, as a coach, you say, 'I hope I can go back.' I was elated. It's a great feeling to coach where you've played."
After Narron spoke with Hatcher on Saturday and interviewed him on Sunday, he selected the former Reds outfielder over Ken Griffey Sr., Ed Napoleon, Pete Mackanin and Lynn Jones.
"The deciding factor was being able to watch Billy work the last few years," Narron said Sunday evening. "I know what he's all about. I really felt comfortable talking with him yesterday."
Hatcher, who will also work with Reds outfielders, has coached at the big-league level the last eight years -- Tampa Bay's entire history -- including the past three years as first base coach on former skipper Lou Piniella's staff.
"I can help the guys be better outfielders, and I can help them be better base runners and base stealers," Hatcher said. "You look at where your strengths and weaknesses are and work from there. I can do that."
Reds chief executive officer Bob Castellini and general manager Wayne Krivsky gave Narron complete decision-making authority in naming a coach.
"It was a really difficult decision," Narron said. "All are good people and all are friends of mine. No one tried to influence me away from anybody, which was nice. No one tried to influence me towards anybody either. I appreciate the confidence that Mr. Castellini had in me."
The other four candidates will remain with the organization in their current roles. Mackanin was named Major League advance scout last week. Napoleon is entering his third season with the Reds organization as outfield/bunting instructor. Jones was hired this winter as the Reds' Minor League outfield/baserunning coordinator.
Narron asked Griffey, a team consultant and first base coach for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, to help hitting coach Chris Chambliss at various times during the season.
Hatcher's hiring should spark fond memories for many Reds fans. As part of a 12-year big-league career with seven teams, he played with Cincinnati from 1990-92. His World Series-record .750 (9-for-12) average helped Cincinnati sweep Oakland in the 1990 Fall Classic. A .264 lifetime hitter, he batted .519 overall in the '90 postseason.
Narron said Hatcher would be on the job Monday morning.
"Billy is a guy that's very experienced with outfielders and very experienced at coaching first base," Narron said. "He had a very good Major League career and did some outstanding things with the Cincinnati Reds as a player."

Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/