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A side of major league baseball most never see
By STEVE MAJOR
Sportswriter
CINCINNATI Ive been a major league baseball fan for over
40 years. Ive watched a ton of games on TV, listened to even more
on radio, followed games on the internet and seen professional baseball
in Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
So Ive had the typical fan experiences sitting in the stands,
drinking high-priced beer and enjoying the game. But, one day recently
it dawned on me that maybe I could see more than just what a seat in the
stands had to offer.
So I asked my editor at the Progress about getting me a media pass to
a Cincinnati Reds game. Thus, I could indulge my passion and give the
Progress readers a glimpse behind the scenes. To paraphrase Star Treks
Captain Kirk, my mission was to go where no fan has gone before.
Thus, I attended the Reds game against the Colorado Rockies as a member
of the official media. I arrived early at the park, wanting to maximize
the time I had there. But, I was so early there were no official media
events to cover yet.
So, I wandered around the bowels of Great American Ball Park, poked my
head in a few rooms, saw boxes of Chris Sabo bobble heads to be distributed
the next day (made in China, of course) and generally just saw what was
to be seen.
Opening pitch
The Rockies were taking batting practice and I sat near the bullpen for
a while just watching. One of the Rockies, who was shagging flies in the
very, very hot afternoon sun, came in to get a drink. I recognized him
as National League All-Star pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez. But, he was in and
out of the bullpen before I could work up the nerve to ask a question.
I thought to myself, Hey, Im official media; I can talk to
these guys. Besides, I was wondering why he wasnt starting
that night as teams usually use their number #1 starters coming out of
the All-Star break.
So when he came over close to the pen again to pick up a ball, I asked
him his name to confirm who he was. He also said he wasnt starting
that night because he had thrown two innings in the All-Star game and
thus wouldnt pitch again until the Rockies next series in
Miami.
Wow, that was cool, I thought to myself. I just talked
to the best pitcher in the National League.
I continued my way around the inside of the stadium where I started a
conversation with Tom the electrician. We were standing by the trailers
where they control TV broadcasts.
Tom has worked for the Reds since the early 90s. When I suggested
that being an electrician here, as opposed to a factory, was maybe a little
special, he agreed that being around baseball was more fun. It was a great
job with great people to work with.
This was a theme I heard repeatedly that night from Jeremy the usher,
Laura the intern, John the souvenir vendor and others. Its a job,
but it was also more. All were baseball fans and more than that, all were
Reds fans.
Jeremy summed it up well when he said as an usher he is busy helping fans
to their seats mostly for just the first three innings, after which he
gets to watch the ball game.
Nice work, if you can get it.
Being a Reds fan is a lot of fun this year, too, for the first time in
a long time. The Reds are winning after over 10 years of sub .500 baseball.
The last playoff appearance was 1995 and the last World Series Title was
1990. So, fans are ready for a winner.
Pre-game routine
Eventually, it was time to head into the clubhouse for pre-game interviews.
The players locker room itself is what youd expect for professional
athletes and maybe have seen in clips of interviews large locker
areas, overstuffed couches, big screen TVs and photos of historical players
on the walls.
Latin tunes were blasting out of a sound system at Francisco Corderos
locker. Players were milling around getting ready for the days work.
There were about 15 or so media people, most focusing on just a few players.
Pitcher Edinson Volquez, who was scheduled to make his first start the
next day coming off a year of surgery and rehab, was one center of attention.
Also, a group formed around All-Star first baseman Joey Votto.
Not sure about the journalistic etiquette, I was a bit cautious about
asking questions. And when I asked one out of turn, Votto told me professionally,
but forcefully, that I have to wait until he finishes with the other journalists
questions.
I also stepped out of bounds when I took a stroll into the players
dining room for a look around. As I came back out another journalist looked
at me horrified and told me we cant go in there. Thanks for
the heads up, I replied.
Meet and greet
I asked Arthur Rhodes about the All-Star game, where he had a blast.
And Ryan Hanigan was glad to be playing again after a trip to the disabled
list and rehab in the minors.
In the clubhouse I met Reds director of media relations, Rob Butcher,
who had provided my media pass. Rob has been with the Reds in this capacity
since the mid-90s. We talked ball baseball and media a bit.
The best part of his job? Having to watch the games, getting to be on
top of statistics and everything that happens on the field. Yes, he has
to watch each and every game, and get paid for it.
I also introduced myself to Bernie Stowe, the patriarch of three generations
of clubhouse staff. He told me he started out with the Reds as a bat boy
in 1947.
Easy Rider
Eventually we were ushered into manager Dusty Bakers office for
some pre-game comments. As we walked in Dusty, sitting comfortably behind
his desk, took the ubiquitous toothpick out of his mouth to talk to us.
We stood around his desk with me towards the back of the group. I was
less interested in Dustys specific answers and more in the setting
and the process.
Bakers office is decorated with interesting photos. There were a
couple pictures of Jackie Robinson, some family photos, an autographed
shot of Hank Aaron and, seemingly a bit out of place, a framed poster
from Easy Rider.
The atmosphere was relaxed; Baker alternately answered questions seriously
and joked, as well. We all had a good laugh when he said as a major league
rookie, like all first-year players, he was subject to some playful hazing,
like having to carry veteran players luggage. But, he added, the
more he hit that year the less luggage he carried.
At the end of Dustys pre-game, we took the elevators up to the press
box, which is open air and located on the second deck to the left of home
plate. As you would expect, it has a great view of the field.
There are four terraces of seats and work space. Each seat has an Internet
connection and everyone, expect me, had their laptops to work on as the
game progressed. There are both computer monitors and big screen TVs so
you can follow the broadcast and see replays.
Field reporting
With still a lot of time before the game and the Reds taking batting practice,
I headed down to the field. Batting practice is a well orchestrated event.
Players and coaches are all over the field working on batting and fielding.
Everyone takes turns getting in the work they need before that nights
game.
Besides that, Reds public relations people are there with special visitors
who are getting photos with the players and autographs. One young boy
had a giant baseball to which players were happy to add their John Hancocks.
I took a seat up on the back of the bench, just like you see the big leaguers
do, and introduced myself to an older gentleman next to me. He was Jim
Ferguson, who was the Reds media relations director from 1972 to
1990 during the era of the Big Red Machine.
We talked baseball. He recalled how Yogi Berra had trouble with footing
on Crosley Fields left field terrace as an outfielder in the 1961
World Series. He talked about how special the World Championship teams
of the 1970s were. And we even discussed official scoring, which Jim had
done after retirement for the Tampa Bay Rays.
In the press box
As game time approached, I returned to the press box. I sat next to Lew
Freedman, the sports editor for The Republic newspaper of Columbus, Ind.
He and I had met in the clubhouse earlier. As the game got under way,
he and I talked baseball and other sports, and did for a lot of the evening.
Pitcher Bronson Arroyo, who started for the Reds, was strong through seven
innings as the Reds built a 3-1 advantage. But Arroyo got into trouble
in the eighth with the Rockies cutting the Reds lead to just one run.
Rhodes was called out of the bull pen. Unfortunately, he promptly added
to the problems by walking the first batter he faced to load the bases
with no outs.
Rhodes bounced back to get a shallow fly out and a strike out. Then he
got two strikes on the next batter. The stadium, with a near sellout crowd,
was rocking with every pitch. I never heard a sound so loud that wasnt
taking off or landing. And when Rhodes struck that batter out, the place
got even louder.
And again in the ninth, with Cordero in to close it out, it got loud again.
The Reds closer has had an up and down year, hes among the league
leaders in saves, but hes blown six as well. So, when he pitches,
its usually an adventure.
However, Cordero was sharp and when he got a called third strike on a
full count for the last out, the noise reached a crescendo.
Its not over yet
For the post-game, we were back in Dustys office, but this time
he was standing up in front of a MLB background and the TV cameras were
rolling. He answered the usual questions about the win and the teams
effort, all the time sweating under the cameras hot lights.
Then back to the players locker room for more interviews. By then
players were in all phases of changing, showering and leaving. The clubhouse
staff was busy collecting uniforms to launder and were cleaning cleats
and running errands.
Arroyo, the winning pitcher, answered lots of questions, as did Rhodes
and Cordero. Corderos two young sons were waiting by their daddys
locker and they were as cute as could be with pint-sized Reds jerseys
with their fathers number.
I was just kind of watching it all, taking in the experience. But, I must
have looked like I needed a quote because Arroyo walked up to me and just
started talking about the game. I thought that was a nice gesture for
someone who probably was more than ready to head for home.
But, as for me, I was not nearly ready to go yet. The Reds were celebrating
the 20th Anniversary of the 1990 Worlds Championship and the Reds
Hall of Fame inductions were scheduled for Saturday night.
Therefore, there was some extra entertainment after the game with MC Hammer
performing on a stage set up on the infield. I headed for the press box
to watch.
Hammer didnt have the parachute pants, but he still had the moves;
and you still Cant Touch This. Most of the crowd stayed
for the performance and they were rocking yet again.
As if a seeing the Reds win and MC Hammer wasnt enough entertainment
for one night, there was also an awesome fire works show to cap things
off (which cost about $22,000, one of the fireworks technicians told me
later).
Wow, had I picked the right night to come, or what?
Talking baseball
One of the last conversations I had was with Jeff Piecoro, who has done
pre-game and post-game work for Reds TV coverage over the past 10
plus years. He said how enjoyable its been this year to be around
a winning team. We can all imagine how difficult it must be to talk to
players when the team is losing, like the Reds have been for too long.
Jeff also mentioned how fun the travel is. And with predominately night
games, there is a lot of golf to be played on road trips.
We also talked about longtime Reds player and radio announcer Joe Nuxhall,
who passed away in 2007. Having listened to so many Reds games on radio,
Ill always remember his sign off: This is the old left-hander
rounding third and heading for home. Good night everybody.
I also ran into three Reds Hall of Famers waiting for the elevator
Cesar Geronimo, Leo Cardenas and Pedro Borbon.
Borbon was inducted into the Hall this year, and I remember when he bit
a piece out of a Mets cap after a dust-up on the field in the 1973
playoffs.
Geronimo, who is from the Dominican Republic, thought that the young players
great desire was the reason that a country of less than 10 million people
could produce so many big leaguers.
And while Im dropping names, Im tossing in a few more. I met
Baseball Hall of Famer Joe Morgan; Marty Brennaman, the longtime Reds
broadcaster; and Hal McCoy, who has written about the Reds for the Dayton
Daily News for 37 years. All were friendly and generous with their time.
All-in-all, it was a fantastic experience for a baseball fan, which I
hope Ive been able to convey here. In fact, I think I might have
missed my calling in life. Maybe I should have been a sports journalist?
Do you think I can convince the Progress editor to get me a media pass
to the Reds for the rest of the season?
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