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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 > 18 > Entry
E.E. - The Man with a Plan for 2009
The lockers in the Cincinnati Reds clubhouse are in numerical order - stars are not awarded special comfortable locations, like an end locker so that there is nobody on one side of you. If your number falls where you are shoved into a tight corner, like Michah Owings’ No. 33, so be it.
There is no large, black steamer trunk in front of anybody’s locker, like the one Ken Griffey Jr. had in front of his locker, a trunk that not only was at his home locker, but magically appeared in front of his locker on the road.
Nobody has more than one locker. Stuff it all in one cubicle, pal.
Democracy has arrived with the Reds.
Edwin Encarnacion, heavier of wallet by $7.6 million for the next two years, is toward the back of the clubhouse in the middle of a row. He doesn’t mind. He was astounded when he was told he has the third most service with the Reds of anybody on the team and he is only 26 with little more than three years of major-league service.
“Unbelievable,” he said, when told he had the third most service with the Reds. “Now I can make the rules.”
Edwin comes from, uh, a rather large family and when asked how many brothers and sisters he has, he said, “Oh, wow. Uh…15. And now I can help feed them.”
Encarnacion is basically a shy guy, but for him he was effusive Wednesday morning when he reported to camp.
He is a Man With a Plan for 2009.
“Last year I tried to pull the ball too much, tried to hit too many homers,” he said. While he hit a career-best 26 homers, he drove in only 68 runs and hit .251.
“I’m going to try to be more consistent with my hitting,” he said. “I know I can do it. I’ve done it before, so I know I can.”
With only 16 home runs in 2007, Encarnacion drove in 76 and hit .289.
“I just have to work on it and hit the ball up the middle,” he said. “Last year I tried to hit the ball too hard and pull everything. Sometimes you mind goes crazy. You have to be smart in this game. You have to go into a season with some plan for hitting.”
And then there is defense - or the lack thereof. He made 23 errors last season.
“That’s one of the things I worked hard on during my off-season,” he said. “It’s my throwing. I know that. I catch everything, but sometimes I throw it away. I’m working hard to keep those errors down.
“That’s the first thing you have to do to win games, play good defense,” he said. “If you don’t play good defense, you are not going to win games.”
Manager Dusty Baker is happy to hear Encarnacion’s mission statement.
“That’s what we’ve talked about with Edwin over the winter,” said Baker. “The Edwin I knew was a right-center hitter who can pull. To be a pull hitter, boy, you gotta be perfect all the time on your swing and you’re actually cutting your territory down.
“It’s like using a slice of the pie instead of the whole pie and then they can start defensing you easier,” Baker added. “Sometimes it happens at this point of your career. It happened to me and it happens to a lot of players. It’s a deadly disease - well, it ain’t dealy, but it’s a disease. It call it home run-itis. You start liking the trot and then you end up hitting lower with less RBIs.”
Encarnacion is living proof of that, but he is young enough to rectify it.
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Comments
By RonnieO
February 19, 2009 10:28 AM | Link to this
Another angle to consider is what it says about Juniors expectations past 2009. He always maintained he wanted to end his playing career in Seattle. If he doesn’t think he has two years left to play for the Braves and then hope an opportunity avails itself in Seattle, this may be him hedging his bet on how much more his body can handle. As I understand it, the two main offers were pretty similar compensation wise.By Matt
February 18, 2009 10:16 PM | Link to this
It doesn’t seem like it came down to playing for a contender. Seattle clearly doesn’t seem to have that status. That’s unfortunate. It would be nice to see Junior get that World Series ring before he retires.By Y-City Jim
February 18, 2009 10:02 PM | Link to this
Jr. chose Seattle over Atlanta. Wonder if it came down to playing time?By Matt
February 18, 2009 8:22 PM | Link to this
Yes, I agree. Griffey is not the player that he once was, and it didn’t make sense for the Reds to keep him around much longer, but if I were making the decisions I would have kept him through the end of his contract. I don’t let comments by Michael or other Griffey-bashers get to me Marty. It’s too bad that those folks blame Griffey for everything but give him credit for nothing.By Marty
February 18, 2009 7:23 PM | Link to this
Matt, Don’t let comments by wannabes like michael upset your apple cart. Apparently, when he was in “awe” of his childhood heroe Rose back in the day, it destroyed his idea of “superstar status”…..Cheating gamblers will do that to ya. One thing is for certain though, it was time for Griffey to move on.By michael
February 18, 2009 7:06 PM | Link to this
Jimmy, Matt is blinded by the star power of his childhood hero….which I understand because I am a Pete Rose fan. I have heard and read the opposite from Jr’s teammates, except from the youngsters that are in awe of him just like Matt. If you mention Jr…Matt will respond. Nothing against Jr, just glad that we are going a different direction.By Matt
February 18, 2009 6:57 PM | Link to this
Jimmy, perhaps you should ask the teammates that played with him whether he was a cancer or not. Anyone that I’ve heard that’s played with Griffey has had nothing but kind things to say about him. Or maybe the less fortunate children that he took to Kings Island. Or the kid sitting behind home plate last year that he gave his batting helmet and bat to, after he hit a big home run. This talk about Griffey being a cancer or some bad guy I think is frankly outrageous. As far as the plane ride that he and Larkin took a few years ago after the season finale, I think any true sports fan knows that the stars are going to get the “star treatment” once in a while. It really is not that big of a deal to me if a couple guys catch private plane home after the last game of a losing season. Life goes on.By Jimmy1Time
February 18, 2009 6:47 PM | Link to this
Question Hal, are we starting to see the real side of Jr. in you blogs? I loved Jr. when he played, and always backed him when some dumb jerk knocked him. But I never thought he was a leader. In fact maybe a CANCER, kinda like Carl Pickens for the Bengals! We all know he and Jack McKeon butted heads. I love the story were Jr. and Larkin got a private plane to take home after the season was done. Instead of riding home with the team. Is Ken Jr. a jerk? Whats the real story? Did he help us, or hurt us?By Jimmy1Time
February 18, 2009 6:39 PM | Link to this
I dont care if EE hits .238 as long as he drives in 90 rib eys steaks and doesn’t cost us games with his throwing!!! Well maybe hit .250 I really feel this guy can play. Just maybe take a xanax before he plays. The guy wears his emotions on his sleaves. I like his swing. I will be plling for the guy. Go EE!!!By Buster
February 18, 2009 6:31 PM | Link to this
Right on Kevin - any EE comparison to Brandon Larson is really dumb. Not sure how fish or cut bait applies to EE seeing as he is the Reds starting 3B and there is no one pushing him out whether he “tears it up” in April or not. And the Reds just gave him $7 million for two years. Soooo, he’s going to play.By Kevin
February 18, 2009 5:04 PM | Link to this
Pete…..Like Brandon Larson? What team have you been watching Thats ridiculous!! Esquared is 10 times the third baseman that Larson was! In fact, Id go as far as to say Corey Patterson was a much better hitter than Larson! EE is solid, with the exception of those wild throws from third that he seems to be working on. Give the kid a break.By jim m.
February 18, 2009 3:54 PM | Link to this
Edwin needs to focus on not throwing sidearm when a routine grounder is hot to him. Thats his biggest fault! I plyed 3rd and got away from sidearm on routine plays because my throw would tail.. now on a ball that your charging or to your left as you grab on the run, thats the time to throw sidearm.. Thats what I observed last year and yes his pulling everything.. he has power he can hit the ball out to right field as well… Glad to see he is foucsing on improving on his own like he did.. Hope he does well he bats 4th and Brandon hits 2nd.. but we shall see..By bobs
February 18, 2009 2:28 PM | Link to this
With the hopeful health of Gonzo, this could really help during the two-three week stretches when EE cant find the plate. With the threat of Keppinger and Hairston lingering over EE, hopefully he will leave up to his words on not becoming the next Adam Dunn. Just do not buy it EE, important stats are coming down for him, not up. Not a good sign for someone with multiple full years in the pros.By Parker in CIncinnati
February 18, 2009 2:26 PM | Link to this
As funny as that moment was, 1 clutch homerun does not make him a clutch player. I remember last year where the Reds were rallying to score some runs and EE came to the plate, and all I could hope for is that the Pitcher Walks him.By RonnieO
February 18, 2009 12:57 PM | Link to this
Scott - thanks for that - that has to be one of my favorite Cowboy moments. He was literally in the middle of repeating his prior sentence about Edwin - “This guy just is not clutch” or something like that - then a blast. BTW - that was another Dusty classic, where he asked Edwin to bunt and got him down 2 strikes. Never mind in his entire pro career Edwin has exactly ZERO sac bunts.By Pete
February 18, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this
Unless EE comes out & really tears it up this year, he should consider himself on his way out, 2yr contract notwithstanding. It’s time for the Reds to fish or cut bait w/ him. They simply can’t continue to run him out there like Brandon Larson.By Scott
February 18, 2009 12:17 PM | Link to this
Plus wasn’t there a game last year when EE hit a walk-off homer. That was the game Brantley ate his own words on TV iirc. EE can be a really good player, he just needs guidance.By Florida Buckeye
February 18, 2009 12:12 PM | Link to this
Like someone pointed out in an earlier post/blog, EE is someone that you want to like; but his lack of continued growth as a player makes me a doubter…Also, Dusty’s comments on how when a hitter constantly tries to pull the ball, he helps defenders out, etc., . . I wonder if he and Griffey had a chat about that last year?!?By Mike-Cinci
February 18, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this
Last season in the Saturday game against the Red Sox at GABP EE came to bat in the 9th inning with 2 outs and the Reds behind by one run. Jonathan Papelbon was pitching for the Red Sox. The Sawx fans were on their feet screamming encouragement to the unhittable Papelbon. The count went to 3-2 and EE fouled off several pitches. Close to 40,000 fans were on their feet. EE then hit a rocket shot deep into the left field seats to tie the game and send it to extra innings. It was probably the loudest cheer all season at the ball park. The Sawx fans were stunned. Their fabulous closer had failed in the clutch. It was one of 4 HR’s Papelbon gave up in 2008. Great game!By Mr. Redlegs (Original)
February 18, 2009 11:23 AM | Link to this
EE will never be the vocal leader of this team. His shy demeanor will only allow him to be a silent leader who leads by example if he is a consistent performer.By Parker in CIncinnati
February 18, 2009 10:49 AM | Link to this
One good thing that I read in this was that EE knows where his problems are, and seems to want to adress them, I think he could be a key factor in the Reds success this year, but I think if he starts pulling down the team, he should be traded.By Steven Ross
February 18, 2009 10:43 AM | Link to this
EE says all the right things. Now I hope he does all the right things. Such as not making every throw to first an adventure.By Greg in London
February 18, 2009 9:32 AM | Link to this
I don’t know if E.E. can be a leader, but it sounds like he may grow into it. Lord knows this team needs a few leaders. There are times he needs to put the ball in his pocket instead of trying to “gun” someone.