A: For you? Easy. You take the stitches out of the "son" in "Madson" and that leaves you with "Mad." Fits you perfectly, and I don't mean because it's an XL. Wear it proudly.
Q: Wouldn't a malpractice suit against team physician Dr. Tim Kremchek have covered the money the Reds have to pay Ryan Madson? — Jeff, Springboro
A: Yeah, blame it on the doctor that Madson's ligament exploded. Doc Kremchek did his due diligence. He is so good that players from other teams come to him for surgery. Hey, he can cut on me any time. In fact, he did. He repaired a torn meniscus in my left knee a few years ago and now I run real slow. Of course, I always ran real slow.
Q: Is there too much emphasis placed on the closer role, especially paying one $8.5 million to pitch maybe 50 innings (and now no innings)? — Jared, Troy
A: Baseball people are great copiers, so now everybody needs a one-inning closer. I liked the old days when if a relief pitcher came in and pitched a 1-2-3 inning, why not send him back for the seventh, eighth and ninth, if he is doing well. How many times do we see a set-up guy go 1-2-3 in the eighth, only to see the closer blow it in the ninth? And for a closer to come in with a three-run lead and get a save for one inning, even if he gives up two runs, is beyond my comprehension.
Q: First Ryan Madson, now Mat Latos? Are the Reds snakebit? — Mark, Bloomington, Ind.
A: Injuries happen to every team. Losing starting pitcher Adam Wainwright for all of last season didn't faze the St. Louis Cardinals. Snakebit? Not yet, but training in Arizona, the Reds best be careful because there are diamondbacks in the outfield that are long and slithery and don't wear baseball caps.
Q: When you named your all-time Reds team that you have covered last week you left out Eric Davis. How could you? — Jon, Milford
A: Several of you pointed out this gaffe. Anybody who knows me knows that Eric Davis is my all-time favorite player. I answered that question quickly — without thinking. Eric Davis is on my team. Where do I put him, center field or left field? He could play them both — at the same time.
Q: How much would it have cost the Reds to buy an insurance policy for one year for Ryan Madson instead of now paying him $8.5 million not to pitch? — Jim, Centerville
A: I once asked my insurance agent how much it would cost to insure my typing hands and after he quit laughing he upped my life insurance premiums. I can't answer how much it would have cost, but I am told insurance companies would not cover the full amount. But even if they covered half, that's $4.25 million the Reds would have saved, minus the premiums.
Q: Are the Los Angeles Dodgers really worth $2 billion to pay that guy Frank McCourt, who ruined one of baseball's best franchises? And they don't even get the parking lot rights? — Chris, Clayton
A: Two billion plus another $175 million for Dodger Stadium was the price. It's worth it if somebody is willing to pay it and the Magic Johnson group was salivating to pay it. Somebody suggested I chip in to help buy it and if I did they'd only owe $1 billion, 999 million, 999,999, plus the price of Dodger Stadium. I could buy one Dodger Dog, with mustard.
Q: What is up with former Reds-killer free agent Roy Oswalt and is his back any worse than Scott Rolen's or his arm any worse than Ryan Madson's? — Terence, Alpha
A: Oswalt's back is a minor issue, but the back-breaking money he wants is the major issue. He is still out there, still available, waiting for a suitor who suddenly needs a starting pitcher with a suspect back, although most of the time Oswalt could beat the Reds with a broken back.
Q: In all your years covering the Reds, who was the biggest flop as far as a can't-miss prospect making the team and doing nothing? — Floorman, Vandalia
A: The list of first-round picks who flopped is endless. Just go back as far as 1992 and there is outfielder Chad Mottola (the year the Reds could have drafted Derek Jeter), outfielder Pat Watkins, pitcher C.J. Nitkowski, shortstop David Espinosa, third baseman Brandon Larson, pitcher Ryan Wagner. Then there were first-round picks who never even made the team: outfielder John Oliver, pitcher Ty Howington, pitcher Chris Gruler. My pick-who-didn't-click? Brandon Larson.
Q: Where is that young hard-throwing relief pitcher the Reds had last year and about whom they talked about making a closer? I think his name was Jordan Smith? — Bill, Villa Hills, Ky.
A: His name still is Jordan Smith. And what is it with Reds' closer candidates? Smith pitched two early spring games and in two innings gave up three runs and five hits. Then he was shut down with arm problems, but because he doesn't make $8.5 million, not much was made of it by the media. With Smith, the Reds still have high hopes.
Q: There has been much discussion about a team's need for a pitching ace to contend for a World Series title. Don't you think the Reds' move to obtain Mat Latos was for this reason? — Robert, Troy
A: No, I don't. First of all, Latos is not what people would call an ace, a term I do not use and do not like. What's an ace? It's a card I love to draw with a face card in blackjack. Latos was brought in to fill the No. 2 or No. 3 spot in the rotation. Who says a team needs an "ace?" The St. Louis Cardinals lost their so-called No. 1 pitcher (an ace?) last year for the entire season (Adam Wainwright) and guess who won the World Series?
About the Author