AGRI Biz

This is the fifth report card I have given out to the starting players for the Cincinnati Reds. I started it by giving first baseman Joey Votto an A, followed by Brandon Phillips, whom I graded a solid B. Next up was shortstop Paul Janish, who inherited the starting role when Alex Gonzalez was sent to the Boston Red Sox. Janish barely made muster as he received a disappointing D+ due ...

Wow. Just as I thought the Reds had given up on any hope they had for Ramon Hernandez, he slides in the back door. Cincinnati just signed him to a one-year contract (with options) worth $3 million. The Reds had declined his $8.5 million option earlier, and many, including myself, were not sad to see him depart. Ryan Hanigan can play the position for one-eighth of the price or less, ...

I repeat my assertion that the Reds need a solid shortstop to be an authentic contender for the Central Division championship. I have had my fill of Juan Castro's, Felipe Lopez's (though look at him now), Enrique Cruz's and Alex Gonzalez's until I could puke. Jeff Keppinger filled in for nearly a year and did an adequate job. I think they sent him to Houston while my back was turned shortly ...

I am sure you have heard the ages old adage, "If you can't play, coach." I have been hearing that from the time I followed the sport in the late 1950s. Can it be true? I mean, you can look at teams all across the fruited plain who are replete with hitting coaches who barely batted above the Mendoza line . I always wondered how Charlie Lau (may he rest in peace) ...

What is a Gold Glove exactly? It is an award created in 1957 by Rawlings (the most popular baseball glove maker at the time) to show defensive excellence at each of the nine positions. It began, like the Cy Young Award, with only one winner at each position in MLB. In 1958 it was changed to include one for the American League and one for the National League. A perusal of a list ...

For good or bad, Paul Janish inherited the position of shortstop after Alex Gonzalez was sent to Boston. Janish fits the description of "slick fielding, weak hitter" all to well. His defense has been sterling this season, as he has committed only three errors in 82 games. In a 10-game stretch from August 23 through September 1, Janish batted .333 with one home run and nine RBI. During that run, he was ...

á Note:á This was found in the diary of a Mr. O. C. Schwartz at an estate sale á á So much has been said about what is commonly called "The Merkle Boner" that, being an eyewitness to the account, I should set the matter straight once and for all. á It was a Wednesday, Sept. 23 in 1908, my Dad took me to the game , letting me miss school that day.á I was only ...

Reds' second baseman Brandon Phillips is next up to be graded on his performance this season. Phillips has been as steady as anyone this season. The longest stretch of the season for him without a hit was six games. From Apr. 15 until Apr. 23, he went 0-21 with an OBS of only .087. Other than that mini-lapse, Brandon has done well at the bat. He hasn't had much time off this ...

á Baseball means so many different things to different people. Not just a nine inch (circumference) circle shaped object with cork at the center, wrapped in yarn with white cowhide sewn with red stitches. á To some, it is a way of life, while others may view it strictly as a business. á To a little kid growing up in in the 1940's, in East Slumville, it was a way to escape the poverty and ...

Unfortunately, especially for the Cincinnati Reds, the baseball season is rapidly coming to a close. Just as in school, a student is issued a final grade for the season, it is within my power as Caesar Cliffius, not to mention Featured Columnist for my beloved Reds, to grade each player at their respective positions. This is the first in a series of articles designed to give a thumbnail image of each ...