Category: Dailies

Gone.

Gone.  That’s what the Ken Griffey Jr. poster in my bedroom simply read while he posed after his signature swing.  Gone.  Well, now he’s back. 

Ken Griffey Jr. was it for me.  Like many others who grew up in the 90’s, it didn’t get any better than Junior.  The Mariners were my team, even ahead of my hometown Brewers at the time.  A-Rod, Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner, Joey Cora, Norm Charlton, but most notably was Junior.  I had all the baseball cards, the shirts, the N64 video game, the jerseys, the batting gloves and even the spikes…with the big Nike swoosh in Velcro across the laces.

I was lucky enough to meet Junior in 2007, while serving as media relations intern for the Milwaukee Brewers.  Mike Vassallo, Brewers director of media relations, used to work in the Reds media relations department.  When I realized the Reds were coming to town, I asked Mike if he could set up a meet-and-greet for me.  He simply said, “I’ll see what I can do.”

On the day of the second game of the series, Mike summoned me to his office.  “I think I can introduce you to Junior during batting practice tonight, so just be ready.”

Ready I was.  I made sure the batteries in the camera were charged.  I made sure the memory card was empty.  I made sure I got all my work done super-fast.  Then came the call. 

“Come down (to the field) when Junior is in the cage, he’ll meet you in-between rounds (of batting practice).”

Me_JR.jpgAfter working in baseball media relations for 5 minutes, it’s hard to get star-stuck.  You realize that the players are just “guys” and just like you and me…except they get to play baseball everyday.  But meeting Ken Griffey Jr. was one of the few times I had to step back.  Standing next to me was my favorite all-time baseball player.  I grew up watching his every move.  I tried to emulate his swing (even though I was right-handed).  I had his posters up in my room.  Here he was, shaking my hand.

Although I wish that Junior would’ve signed with Atlanta so I would’ve had the chance to see him come through Cincinnati this year, I’m glad he’s back with Seattle.  It just seems right.  He’ll get more at-bats with the DH and knock out a few more homers…followed by that classic pose.

Enjoy the homecoming Seattle, I’ll be reliving the glory days right there with you. 

-JM

WBC Rosters

World Baseball Classic final rosters include Reds players 1B Joey Votto (Canada), RHP Johnny Cueto (Dominican Republic), RHP Edinson Volquez (DR), OF Willy Taveras (DR), IF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr. (Mexico) and C Ramon Hernandez (Venezuela) along with minor leaguers IF Yen-Wen Kuo (Chinese Taipei), LHP Alexander Smit (The Netherlands) and RHP Juan Carlos Sulbaran (The Netherlands)…special assistant to the general manager Mario Soto will be the pitching coach for the Dominican Republic…Class AAA Louisville’s Tomas Vera will serve as the head athletic trainer for Venezuela.

The World Baseball Classic begins in Tokyo on 3/5, in San Juan and Toronto on 3/7 and in Mexico City on 3/8…the second round begins in Miami on 3/14 and in San Diego on 3/15…the semifinals are 3/21-3/22 and the final on 3/23, all at Dodger Stadium.

Spring Training Notebook 2-23-09

Spring Training Notebook 2-23-09.pdf

TODAY’S NEWS: Today’s workout uneventful.

WBC ROSTERS: Final 28-player rosters for the 16-team 2009 World Baseball Classic will be announced at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow on MLB Network…45-player provisional rosters for the WBC include 18 players in the Reds organization and 8 players on the 40-man roster: 1B Joey Votto (Canada), RHP Francisco Cordero (Dominican Republic), RHP Johnny Cueto (DR), RHP Edinson Volquez (DR), C/IF/OF Wilkin Castillo (DR), OF Willy Taveras (DR), IF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr. (Mexico) and C Ramon Hernandez (Venezuela)…also on the provisional rosters are 10 Reds minor leaguers…Class AAA Louisville head athletic trainer Tomas Vera will serve in that same position for Team Venezuela…he also was Venezuela’s head athletic trainer in 2006.

PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING: The Reds and the Men Against Prostate Cancer group will offer free comprehensive prostate cancer exams at Sarasota’s Ed Smith Stadium tomorrow from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m….the mobile examination center will be located at the corner of 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue…contact Rex Hardin of MAPC at (941) 926-9666.

A Rare Breed

Working in media relations requires a special breed.  The early mornings, the late nights and ridiculously long hours are enough to drive someone crazy.  Combine all that with the often unusual job duties and you have a very odd looking, seldom understood animal known as the media relations staffer.  This creature is one that runs on a strict schedule with a set routine, yet their behavior is unpredictable, even to their own kind.  If you ever find yourself confronted with one of these life forms, be careful…they might have all the answers to your baseball questions.  How might you recognize one of these beasts?  See the list below for an ode to my media relations brethren.

You know you work in baseball media relations when…

…you’ve seen the sun rise over the ballpark.
…you’re familiar with medical terms like ulnar collateral ligament and medial meniscus.
…your email inbox lights up every time a rumor hits the Internet.
…the 700 WLW Radio hotline number is on your cell phone speed dial.
…all gift-giving occasions involve something with a team logo, regardless of your friend or family’s team preference.  A sponsor’s logo is more than likely stamped on it.
…5 p.m. is the new 12 p.m.
…if it’s not in the press box dining room, it’s not in your diet for the duration of a homestand.
…your friends outside baseball place you on the DL when the season starts – the Distracted List.
…it’s unlikely you’ll eat while sitting for about six months – seven if you’re lucky.
…an eight-hour day feels like a half-day.
…you go through shoes faster than a tank of gas walking between clubhouses/around the stadium.
…your favorite road teams are ranked based on the speed with which the coaching staff posts the lineup.
…the cleaning/night staff doesn’t hide their laughter when you’re still there.
…the lights have been shut off for the night while you’re still at your desk.
…the first three shortcuts on your Blackberry or iPhone are MLB, ESPN and the team you work for.
…you know who wrote an article by reading the first sentence – not the byline.
…you have used a bat and ball to practice putting during downtime in the office.
…the first thing you think of when a major story breaks is how that team’s media relations staff will be sleepless that night.
…the day after the All-Star Break is the longest day of the year.
…you sub an ellipsis for a period in all writing…the way notes are done.
…you hum the National Anthem without realizing it’s in your head.
…you twitch when someone sticks an ‘s’ after RBI.
…calculating what you pay for the amount of time you’re actually in your apartment becomes shocking.
…all of your favorite places in the city for lunch, dinner or drinks are within four minutes of the ballpark.
…after 16 hours at work, the first thing you do when you get home is flip on MLB Network or ESPN to see if they reference anything from your postgame notes.
…you can tell who is on SportsCenter just by listening.
…you can identify umpires from the press box by their silhouettes.
…you’ve heard a legendary announcer pronounce your name and have gotten goosebumps.
…you cringe when people think you don’t work in the off-season.
…a vacation is a weekend when the team is on the road (unless you’re traveling).
…you know more about your own copier than the repair guy who comes in to fix it weekly.
…your worst nightmare is press box Internet failure.
…you spend all night/day putting together the gamenotes only to have someone ask you a question that is answered on page 1.
…you spend all off-season putting together the media guide only to have someone ask you who wore number 43 in 1987.
…it’s all worth it.

-JM

Special thanks to Rob Butcher (Cincinnati Reds), Lindsey Van Ess (MLB) and Dave Lezotte (Clinton Lumberkings — http://lumberkings.mlblogs.com/) for assistance in contributing to this story.

Spring Training Notebook 2-22-09

Spring Training Notebook 2-22-09.pdf

TODAY’S NEWS: Today’s workout was uneventful…C Humberto Cota, who had been traveling from Mexico, reported to Sarasota this morning…all players now are in camp…RHP Carlos Fisher is celebrating his 26th birthday.

PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING: The Reds and the Men Against Prostate Cancer group will offer free comprehensive prostate cancer exams at Ed Smith Stadium tomorrow from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m….the mobile examination center will be located at the corner of 12th Street and Tuttle Avenue…contact Rex Hardin of MAPC at (941) 926-9666.

ROTATION: RHP Edinson Volquez, RHP Johnny Cueto and RHP Homer Bailey are scheduled to pitch in Wed’s exhibition opener vs the Rays in Charlotte County…RHP Micah Owings will start Thu’s home opener vs the Twins…the upcoming rotation, subject to change, also includes RHP Bronson Arroyo on Fri vs Phi, RHP Nick Masset on Sat at Bos, RHP Aaron Harang next Sun vs NYY and Bailey again on Mon, 3/2 at Pit.