This is the first time she’s worked for a winning team, and today will be the first time she works on players before a playoff game. McNeil arrives at Great American Ball Park four hours before first pitch and returns home to Springfield before the game begins.
“It’s a whole new ballgame,” McNeil said. “They’ve gotten better every year.”
The Reds are on the verge of being eliminated by the Phillies in the National League Division Series. A loss tonight in Game 3 would end Cincinnati’s season.
But McNeil said she didn’t see a “ happy to be here” attitude the day after Jay Bruce’s home run clinched the division in the final week of the regular season.
“It wasn’t like, ‘We made the playoffs. This is it. We don’t care if we win or lose,’ ” McNeil said. “For them, the World Series is the prize.”
McNeil noticed a big change in attitude this season. In July and August, when past Reds teams fell out of contention, this team had a more positive attitude.
McNeil, of course, helps them get through the season. Legs and shoulders are the big problem areas.
“Every season, I tend to work on more players toward the end of the season,” she said. “They get more wore down. There are a few players I see only once in a while. Over the season, I’ve worked on two-thirds of the team. There’s probably a core of 15 players I see regularly. The more veteran guys know it’s beneficial. The younger guys don’t know.”
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