Reds: Is this team for real?
Posted: Sunday February 28, 1999 05:29 PM
By Jeff Pearlman, Sports Illustrated
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Trivia question (see answer below): Toby Harrah
is a coach with the Reds. What's cool about Toby Harrah?
My Grandma Herz, a peculiar bird from Germany, has a simple way
of looking at things. She is from the old country, after all. Grandma
doesn't believe in VCRs, CD players or microwave ovens, and she still holds
a grudge against that horrible President Truman .
One particular trait Grandma has -- one that drives my mom crazy -- is
simplicity. When it comes to other people, she will never ask what they
smell like; where they're from; how old are they; have they been convicted;
do they believe in UFOs; do they enjoy White Russians; etc.
Instead, she simply asks: Are they nice?
Grandma popped into my head Friday afternoon, as I was speaking to a
half-naked Dmitri Young in
the Cincinnati Reds'
clubhouse. Young is Cincy's powerful right fielder, a big man (6'2", 235
pounds) who could crush me like yesterday's tuna helper. He is also,
simply, nice. Young smiles a lot. He looks you in the eye. Laughs. After a
10-minute chat, he offered a hearty, "Hey, it was nice talking to you."
Perhaps it's just my giddiness over a 70-degree late-February day, but the
entire Reds clubhouse -- from Larkin to Avery to Reese to Tomko -- was one
gigantic beehive of nice people. Baseball players (thank you, Albert Belle)
have the worst reputations of athletes in the four major sports. They are
surly and rude and arrogant and, if you're not careful, more than willing
to pelt the average writer with a nickel to the skull. At least that's what
people say.
But here was Steve Avery, one
of the modern game's great busts, openly talking of his troubles, taking
time to explain the hows and whys, smiling, giggling. And here was Jason Bere,
shaking your hand, remembering your name, going over his horrible '98
season. And here was Larkin, the total gentleman. And Hal Morris --
"Have a seat, Jeff." And Pokey Reese
("God, I'm so happy to be a big leaguer.")
Grandma, I've found you a team. They're all very nice.
Funny scene in downtown Sarasota. The city decided to hold a day for
the Reds, so all 71 players and coaches had to go straight from a two-hour
morning workout to a city park -- in uniforms. During the arduous process
of speeches and presentations, the players were cooperative and
well-behaved. Then, after a very looong hour, the MC said the Reds would be
available for autographs.
Woooooooooooooossssshh!! Two seconds later, this nice bunch of guys
bolted for the bus. It was hard to blame 'em.
Loretta Lynn stopped by camp. All of, oh, zero players knew
who she was.
Reds manager Jack McKeon has been in baseball for 49
productive years, but his tombstone seems certain to read: "TRADER" JACK
MCKEON. HE TRADED OZZIE SMITH. In 1982, as San Diego's GM, McKeon
swapped shortstops with the Cardinals, letting Ozzie go in return for
Garry Templeton. To this day, McKeon stands by the deal. "Ozzie was a
great shortstop, no question," McKeon said. "But all those balls you saw
him dive for. Garry had so much range, he reached 'em standing up."
Best thing about spring training are the security guards. Every
Florida-based team is required to have at least one senior citizen manning
the media entrance. Not only that, but the guy must smell like prunes, talk
a lot and agree with everything you say.
An example from the Reds:
Security: Sir, who gave you permission to go there?
Me: Uhhm ... the media guy.
Security: O.K.
Trivia answer: Nothing. But Harrah spelled backward is Harrah.
Sports Illustrated staff writer Jeff Pearlman will check in with
periodic Postcards from his tour of spring camps.
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