Pyramid Hill lights up
Women of Excellence Awards
16th Annual Music Festival
Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2009 > February > 17 > Entry
Encarnacion loses, but still wins
Well, it’s Tuesday. UPS was supposed to deliver a large box of my clothes last Friday. No box yet. And the jeans I’m wearing can probably stand by themselves in the corner and whistle The Star Spangled Banner.
The Cincinnati Reds wasted a few thousand dollars on a trip to Phoenix, but Edwin Encarnacion and his agent saved face.
The Reds, led by Assistant GM Bob Miller, were in place in Phoenix for today’s schedule arbitration hearing with Encarnacion, but Encarnacion and the team came to terms on an agreement early today - a two-year contract believed to be worth $5 million.
Encarnacion saved face but he most likely was going to get his head handed to him in arbitration. He was asking for $3.5 million and the team was offering $2.2 million. Arbitrators would have decided which figure was best - no compromises - and conventional thinking was that in this economy and Encarnacion’s shaky numbers he would have lost.
And he would have had to sit through the hearings and listen to members of the front office tell arbitrators how bad he was last year and how he doesn’t deserve $3.5 million. With a low-key guy like Edwin, a guy with a fragile ego, it could have ruined his season.
The thing is, even if players LOSE in arbitration, they still win. They still get huge raises. Encarnacilon made $450,000 last year and the least he could have made this year was $2.2 million. Some loss, huh?
“Those are never nice and the aftermath is never nice,” said manager Dusty Baker of the arbitration process. “I’m glad they came to an agreement before the hearing. Good for Edwin and good for us.”
JOEY VOTTO is on Canada’s provisional 40-man World Baseball Class roster and it is certain he’ll still be on the roster when it is cut to 27. Is he going?
“Yes, I’m going to play for Canada and I’m looking forward to it,” said Votto. Votto was invited by Canada to play in the first WBC in 2006, but he declined. “I was just coming out of ‘A’ ball and I didn’t want to miss spring training.”
ALEX GONZALEZ is in camp, looking trim and talking positively after missing all of last season with a compression fracture of the left knee. He says he is ready to go full bore from Day One in spring training.
“It’s hard, very hard, to miss a whole year, but you have to stay strong in the mind,” said Gonzalez. “I’ve worked hard for a year to get back. I’ve done a lot of stuff with workouts and weights and taking ground balls and hitting. Last year was frustrating, but you have to forget last year and focus on this year - especially in your mind.
“I like this team,” he said. “We’ve added catcher Ramon Hernandez and center fielder Willy Taveras. With Brandon Phillips at second and me at short I think we’ll be one of the best defensive teams up the middle in the league. And Willy is one of the best leadoff hitters in the league, too.”
Permalink | Comments (46) | Post your comment |
Comments
By RonnieO
February 20, 2009 1:51 PM | Link to this
I agree with the general sentiment - Junior plus some pitching and we might have pulled a couple of these seasons (like 2002 and 2006) out of the fire. Guys - it ain’t like we haven’t been close a couple of times. Let’s go at this from another angle. Let’s say just for fun Manny Ramirez is available right now for the price of $9m per season for five seasons. Anybody not going to pull the trigger on that?By Matt
February 20, 2009 1:15 PM | Link to this
OK, but Junior wasn’t the problem. Dumping Griffey isn’t going to get us back to winning every season. I hope that we do get back to winning, but that will only happen if the Reds make smart moves like keeping their young nucleus of players and adding to that.By michael
February 20, 2009 11:36 AM | Link to this
I do agree that they didn’t build around Jr….I don’t think he was worth the money (10 Million would have bought us two Bobby Abreu’s)…bottom line 8 straight losing seasons, time to dump the contract, and get back to winning.By Matt
February 20, 2009 10:28 AM | Link to this
What you still fail to acknowledge though is that the reason the Reds didn’t win with Griffey is because they didn’t build a good team around him. One man doesn’t make a World Series winning team. If the Reds had made Griffey their cornerstone player and built a solid team around him, there is no doubt in my mind that the Reds would have won many of the seasons that Junior was here.By michael
February 20, 2009 8:47 AM | Link to this
Brarhopper- you are correct. Griffey WAS great player, nobody can deny that. My point all along has been that they didn’t win with his bat in the lineup, and they needed to go a different direction. I didn’t like his style, just as some don’t like Pete Rose. Its just my opinion. I coach, and I expect all of my players to pactice hard, play hard, and I don’t favor the star players. The rules of the game are the same for all.By Buster
February 20, 2009 7:29 AM | Link to this
Actually history will be very kind to Griffey as a non-roid user and a great guy in the clubhouse and teammate. Some people (almost wrote the “m” word) don’t like him for reason that go to issues they have, not issues with Griffey. 600+ non-roid HR’s will look very strong when we all look back in 10 years.By BrarHopper
February 19, 2009 9:10 PM | Link to this
The headline and the article are about E3. Why are we flogging the dead Griffey horse? Jeezus, let it go! He’s not worth fighting over, not worth the energy, not worth the space, not worth the venom or the fawning. Griffey was awesome as a Mariner, and above average (sorta) as a Red. He was never a leader in either clbhouse…it’s just not the way he’s wired. Gentlemen, please, end it!By michael
February 19, 2009 8:53 PM | Link to this
Matt and I go back aways…I respect Matt. He is a good Reds Fan, but we have always disagreed on Jr.By Matt
February 19, 2009 8:36 PM | Link to this
Well said, Buster.By Buster
February 19, 2009 6:37 PM | Link to this
Matt - remember once you make a good point, Michael will change the argument … his logic is so bad that it is laughable. The best one was when he wrote that the Reds were better after the Griffey trade and when someone posted they played worse, he wrote something about them being shocked because of the trade for ten games, then when someone wrote how could they be so shocked if they hated him so much and should be happy Griffey was gone, he wrote he was being sarcastic … Michael doesn’t like Griffey and he doesn’t like Larkin … you see the trend? Read through the various blogs, Michael is almost always wrong and no one likes his posts - to his credit, he is so dumb he hasn’t caught on to his apparent shortcomings … let us adults officially declare this the “end of the michael era” and from this point on ignore all of his posts and let him rant by himself.By Matt
February 19, 2009 6:20 PM | Link to this
You know, you would think that Ken Griffey Jr. was Charles Manson reincarnated if you listened to some folks’ opinion on this blog. The “Griffey haters” mention nothing about Griffey’s impact on the community. They mention nothing about all of the big hits and home runs that he had for the Reds while he was here. They mention nothing about his veteran leadership and how he was a mentor to guys like Bruce, Votto, Phillips, etc. It’s just nothing but the bad, or at least the bad in their eyes. We’ve heard all of it, particularly about how Griffey wasn’t all rah-rah and go get ‘em. That he was “lazy”. Why, because he didn’t put on pom-poms and lead the Reds in a cheer every time they took the field? Some guys are more even-keeled than others. If Griffey was so “lazy”, how did he come back time after time from all of those devastating injuries? A “lazy” athlete would have just hung it up and said to heck with it. Griffey’s hard work to rebound from injury after injury shows his passion for the game. How can a person play a sport for 20 years and not be passionate about it? The Griffey haters need to give it a rest. Their arguments don’t hold water and are easily knocked down.By RonnieO
February 19, 2009 3:01 PM | Link to this
Look - I’m not trying to antagonize you, but that’s it? That’s the basis of Jr. blows as a teammate? A seven year old article where two known clubhouse problem children and a spurned managerial candidate with an axe to grind get peeoughed because Junior had 1.) a double wide locker and 2.) the stomach flu? Here’s a more recent one for you - this guy says he’s a great teammate, as did Dunn, Kearns, Casey, etc., etc. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/sns-ap-bba-mariners-griffey-buzz,0,3316366.storyBy michael
February 19, 2009 1:04 PM | Link to this
I don’t hate Jr….just not impressed with his lazy, me- first ways of playing the game. I am not the only one…here’s an article for you. http://articles.latimes.com/2002/feb/28/sports/sp-bbnotes28By RonnieO
February 19, 2009 12:40 PM | Link to this
Sure they were better except in winning percentage - there they were worse. You can still hate him while you own up to facts. And the fact is last years squad performed worse after Junior left and they performed better when he was on the roster.By michael
February 19, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this
Ronnie- I think I have made it clear how I feel, I don’t think I have confused anyone but you with how I feel about Junior’s performance as a Red. You can easily research how his veteran teammates felt. The “shock” was sarcasm… and used in reference to those of you who are blinded by what Griffey was before he came to Cincy. On a team of youngsters, I am sure it took some time to settle in a new role in the lineup. No…I don’t see where I have fluctuated any on my opinion of Griffey. The Reds are better without him.By RonnieO
February 19, 2009 10:36 AM | Link to this
Hold on a minute - I thought the guy was a cancer, a waste of clubhouse space, a guy who clogged up Vottos #3 hole, he sucked, etc. etc. etc. But NOW you want me to believe that the team was NOT glad to be rid of this paycheck grabbing burden? No, in fact, they were “in shock” so much so that they went right out and lost 10 straight games?!!?! Make up your mind, man - he was a contributor or he wasn’t. His teammates liked him or they didn’t. But you can’t have it both ways!By Begs
February 18, 2009 11:54 PM | Link to this
UPS was supposed to deliver my wife’s Christmas present by Dec. 23. Still waiting. Loved your lead. You are as amazing as ever, Hal.By buster
February 18, 2009 7:19 PM | Link to this
I believe Michael’s … uh … logic and intellect speaks for itself. Wow … next topic please.By michael
February 18, 2009 6:48 PM | Link to this
Take away the first 10 games following the shock of the trade…and we had a winning record. Regardless, explain the 8 losing years with your savior hitting 3 and 4 in the lineup? The facts demonstrate my cause.By buster
February 18, 2009 6:36 PM | Link to this
Don’t confuse Michael with the facts, he likes the colors in his world just the way they are.By Matt
February 18, 2009 4:33 PM | Link to this
Tank you, RonnieO. Good points you did make there, sir.By RonnieO
February 18, 2009 3:53 PM | Link to this
michael, maybe the reason Matt keeps arguing with you is that you keep saying things that are demonstrably wrong. The Reds DID NOT “play better at the end of last year without him.” Junior was dealt on 7/31. The Reds record up to that point was 51-58, a .467 winning %. Their record after Junior was traded was 23-30, or a .433 winning %. They were worse after Junior left, not better.By Matt
February 18, 2009 1:08 PM | Link to this
The Reds never won with Griffey, that’s true. Why do you think that is? Is it because Griffey just “sucked” and was no good, or was it because the Reds didn’t build a winning team around him from his arrival in 2000 until his departure in 2008? Yes, Junior was injured quite frequently during his time with the Reds, but when he was healthy he contributed and was an asset to the Cincinnati Reds. If you can prove otherwise, I would ask that you provide that proof so we can put an end to this argument once and for all. As for Barry Larkin, he was an outstanding member of the Reds who constantly proved that he was first-rate on and off the field. Yes, he was guilty of ripping the captain’s C off his chest, among other things I’m sure. He is a human being like the rest of us, and he made mistakes and had his faults. But please, give credit where credit is due.By michael
February 18, 2009 12:25 PM | Link to this
Matt, we have had this argument before….the Reds always sucked with Griffey and played better at the end of last year without him. We all know you love him…but he was just a Paycheck grabber who, because of people like you, thought he walked on water. Dude…he was great in his prime, but I am glad he is no longer wasting locker space at GABP and not clogging up Votto’s 3 hole. Time to let go buddy. Larkin…threw a fit when his buddy was traded and tore of his Captain C…asked for money that the Reds didn’t have, and missed a lot of games with broken fingernails. He too was good, just not my kind of player. Coach Ron Oester and Pokey Reese said Larkin divided the team, while wearing the Captain C, with his “superstar” attitude. I trust Oester’s judgement, because I have met him and watched him play the game the right way. That is all I will write about Griffey…that horse is dead.By Howie Feltersnatch
February 18, 2009 11:18 AM | Link to this
EE is as perlexing as Dunner. You want to like the guy but he just seems to gag in the clutch.By Matt
February 18, 2009 11:15 AM | Link to this
What Reds fan doesn’t appreciate Barry Larkin? And Junior never helped the Reds? Yeah, right.By michael
February 18, 2009 9:33 AM | Link to this
Who is this Jr guy? Was he ever on the Reds? Let it go…he’s gone and most of us are glad!Neevr helped the Reds. Never a Larkin fan, and never a Griffey fan. http://reds.enquirer.com/2002/02/27/redsullivanoester_jr.htmlBy Get Real
February 18, 2009 7:44 AM | Link to this
Ryan … and don’t forget to trim …By Matt
February 17, 2009 11:59 PM | Link to this
“Get Real” and “Ryan K”, please, take the childishness elsewhere. This blog is finally looking interesting again and we don’t need it brought down to the level of where it was before. Go Reds!!By Parker in CIncinnati
February 17, 2009 11:41 PM | Link to this
I have never really een a EE fan, but I have decided to come into this season giving him one more chance, he has the potential, no one will aurgue against that, but he has been unable to use it for the majority of his Pro Career.By Get Real
February 17, 2009 10:30 PM | Link to this
… perhaps you and your goofy little brother can get jobs this summer cutting grass in Madison …By Ryan K.-Madison, IN.
February 17, 2009 10:11 PM | Link to this
Get Real..your running your mouth with a name like that? Do yourself a favor…get real? Your just mad cause Hal put my name in one of his blogs about the hot dog. Your not a real Reds fan anyway….Yankee boy. You go away..By Mike-Cinci
February 17, 2009 9:01 PM | Link to this
It appears Junior will have a job for $2 million + incentives. Clearly no team wanted to spend big $ or hardly any $ on the guy. (These $ have nothing to do with the real world as most of us know it). I hope he has a great season. It would be a nice story. I also hope he does not have a lousy season and spoils the memories of a wonderful career. Remember when we said players would not continue to play because they made so much money. How wrong we were? Why would any player who can still do it quit the game? Until age 30 Junior was the best in baseball. Injuries and age have hurt lately but in his prime (Seattle) he was a wonder to see play.By Matt
February 17, 2009 8:54 PM | Link to this
We should all remember to keep things mature and on an even-keel in here. We all love the Reds and are here to give our opinions. Let’s all remember to keep things civil and peaceable.By Get Real
February 17, 2009 7:43 PM | Link to this
Great post Ryan - you are a child. Turd? Your 13 year old brother? Keeping it real? Aren’t you the same clown that told Hal you wanted him to choke on a hot dog? You seem real mature. Go away.By Rick M
February 17, 2009 7:01 PM | Link to this
Hopefully, EEE will step up his game and prove me wrong…BUT…I’ve been hoping EEE won’t bat 4th and between Bruce & Votto in ‘09. IMO, his mental game is too fragile to handle batting clean-up. A muffed grounder here and a bad throw there can easily easily put him in a 1-for-19 cold streak at the plate. Looked at some numbers and found that EEE has hit a career .263 (64-for-273) when batting fourth BUT has batted .212 from the fourth slot over 2007 & 2008 (21-for-99) and batted only .190 (11-for-58) while batting fourth in 2008. Did You Know? EEE is a .340 career hitter when batting in the 7th slot (.315 in 2008).By Matt
February 17, 2009 6:16 PM | Link to this
Wherever Junior goes, all the best to him. He has had a remarkable career and at this point I’m sure the top priority for him is being on a contender. It’s too bad that the Reds didn’t win while Griffey was on their roster, but it is what it is. As far as EE, the sky is still the limit for him. He’s what, 25 or 26 years old? Geez, his career is just getting started. If he can improve his defense marginally and get his average a few points higher while keeping his power intact, he will hopefully ensure his place at 3B for the Reds for years to come. I think though that this year is key for Encarnacion. If he improves, I see him in a Reds uniform for a long time. If not, I think he’s gone. If not by season’s end, sometime in 2010. I am a fan of Encarnacion and hope that he continues to mature and get better as a major leaguer, and that his days in Cincinnati are far from over. I’m pulling for him, and for the Reds for what will hopefully be a great 2009 and beyond.By Y-City Jim
February 17, 2009 6:03 PM | Link to this
Griffey’s expected to make a decision and sign this afternoon, and I’d be very surprised if it’s not with the Braves. I’m told the details have already been worked out, though the agent will meet with GM Fran Wren once more this afternoon. Don’t know about the physical yet, if they’re doing it today or what. No announcement is expected from the team until Wednesday (in part because of the A-Rod circus over in Tampa, but also because a Griffey decision probably won’t come until late afternoon, too late to call a press conference). Seattle is his other option, but it’s been clear for several days that the Kid was leaning heavily toward Atlanta, to be so much closer to his family in Orlando and play for Bobby Cox on a team that’s expected to be more of a contender than the Mariners.By Ryan K. -Madison, IN.
February 17, 2009 6:01 PM | Link to this
E.E. is a turd and doesnt deserve a spot on the Louisville squad. My little brother is thirteen years old and can play the corner better than this dude. i was hoping the reds would trade him in the off season or just let him go period. Keppinger can play third. Sorry about the negativity…just being real. Oh well…our pitching is whats gonna get us into the playoffs this year anyway.By RRF
February 17, 2009 4:43 PM | Link to this
PEORIA, Ariz. — Free-agent outfielder Ken Griffey Jr., who is being hotly pursued by the Mariners and Braves, told MLB.com that he has not reached a decision on which team he will play for next season. “We are still kicking things around with my family and have not made a decision,” Griffey said from his Orlando, Fla., home. “This is the first time in my career that I have been a free agent, and it’s nerve-wracking.” The 39-year-old said he hopes to make a decision “later today or early tomorrow morning.” Griffey said it was a difficult decision because “I love Seattle,” but the Braves offer him a chance to stay closer to home. “You know how close I am to my wife and kids,” he said during a telephone interview. As of Tuesday afternoon, Griffey was huddled with his wife, Melissa, and his agent Brian Goldberg. Both Griffey and Goldberg said a story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday morning that said he had chosen the Braves, is not accurate. Griffey said he heard about the story and sent a text message to Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik and CEO Howard Lincoln, telling them that the report was not accurate.By Mike-Cinci
February 17, 2009 3:42 PM | Link to this
EE wins big. ESPN reports EE will get $7.6 million over 2 years.By Y-City Jim
February 17, 2009 3:05 PM | Link to this
Jr. deal imminent. Going to sign with the Braves for $2 million.By Y-City Jim
February 17, 2009 3:01 PM | Link to this
Total deal: $7,600,506 2009: $2,000,000 2010: $4,750,000 Signing bonus - $850,000, payable between March 2009 and November 2009. Plus: $25,000 for 600 plate appearances Plus: $25,000 for All Star; $50,000 for LCS/MVP; $100,000 for WS/MVP; $50,000 for Gold Glove; $50,000 for Silver Slugger. Edwin will donate 1% of base salaries and signing bonus to Reds Community Fund. From Lance McAlister’s 1530 web site.By James O'Hara
February 17, 2009 1:45 PM | Link to this
Hal - Any recommendations for our best bet to get some pics with Reds players Thursday at Spring Training? Early? Late? Mid-day? What time does practice start and end? We’re from Dayton staying in Marco Island. Thanks!By bobs
February 17, 2009 1:41 PM | Link to this
Mike-Cinci, thanks for the info on the previous post. 5 mil for two years for EE…not that bad. Still do not think he is any good, but at least the Reds did not over pay for his services.By Buster
February 17, 2009 12:40 PM | Link to this
EE for two years at $5 million - ok with me … play ball.