Brennaman talks Reds baseball
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
CHILLICOTHE — As the Cincinnati Reds prepare for the 2013 baseball season, members of the self-proclaimed "Rock Star Tour" made a stop on their annual Reds Caravan Tour in Chillicothe, Thursday, at the WBEX 1490 AM/92.7 FM radio station, on the first day of the three-day event.
One of the tour members was Hall of Famer Marty Brennaman, who was not at a loss for words when it came to baseball, the Reds or even reality TV.
Being a radio broadcaster since the '70s, Brennaman has seen it all when it comes to the Reds organization, saying "normally, it takes a lot to get me excited, but this ball club gets my juices flowing."
"I think it is a good club, but on top of being a good club, it's a club that is fun to watch play," Brennaman told The Highland County Press. "This club plays an exciting brand of baseball. It's got a bunch of exciting kids who play hard and who are a bunch of guys that get along famously well.
"I truly believe, over and above all other sports, you have to have a certain measure of chemistry on a ball club, for the fact you are together from February through September and hopefully through October."
Brennaman continued to speak highly of a Reds team that's entering the '13 season as the defending NL Central champions, including 97 regular-season wins and two wins in the postseason one year ago.
"This is really a good baseball team," the Hall of Famer said. "That's the only way I can phrase it.
"I'd really like to see this team run roughshod through the National League."
For the Reds to compete for a chance to gain their third division title in four seasons, they went out and made some changes to their already dangerous lineup. This offseason, the Reds acquired Shin-Soo Choo to be the leadoff hitter in a trade with the Cleveland Indians, a deal which included center fielder Drew Stubbs leaving Cincinnati.
The Reds also re-signed closer Jonathan Broxton and left fielder Ryan Ludwick, along with Aroldis Chapman leaving the bullpen for a spot in the starting rotation.
Nobody can say the Reds aren't trying to improve ... their actions speak for themselves, as they went to a Game 5 of the NLDS this past October.
"In terms of looking back at 2012, all you have to do is look back at the number of games the club won," Brennaman said. "When you win 97 games, you've had a heck of a year.
"They did it on pitching and defense, and the obvious trait, which I think is admirable, is coming from behind to win ball games. This club … when they talk about teams battling, that's a trite expression when it comes to any team, in any sport, but it was never more appropriate than it was to characterize the way this club played in 2012."
How about the Reds in 2013, as the Reds are the favorites to repeat as division champions?
"For my money, this is a better team at this stage of season than it was one year ago," Brennaman said. "They've added Shin-Soo Choo, which gives them a legitimate lead-off hitter. His on-base percentage is high. He's a guy who can get on base, but he's also a guy who can hit for power and steal bases. From what we've been told, he's a workaholic.
"Having Broxton as not only the closer, but as insurance in case Chapman doesn't cut it as a starter – though we all feel that he can, but if by chance he doesn't – Broxton can move to the setup role, a spot he filled in second half of last year."
Brennaman spoke about some other Reds players when looking at the upcoming season.
"With the amount of youth and with the farm system this club has, I think this team is going to be around for a while," Brennaman said. "They won the division two of the last three seasons, but I think this club is going to be an impact player in the National League for a number of years to come."
Then the Reds radio play-by-play man spoke about third baseman Todd Frazier, who was in the running for NL Rookie of the Year last season.
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"He should have been rookie of the year in the National League, but he didn't get it," Brennaman said. "His time has come. He has the opportunity that a lot of players never get, and whether or not he can cut it is up to him."
One of the bright spots for the Reds last season was their pitching.
"The only time they used an extra pitcher (as a starter) was when they brought up Todd Redmond for a double header," Brennaman said. "To be honest, that is a little scary, because in the 39 years I've been broadcasting Reds baseball, that's never happened.
"You can't find too many cases where that has happened to too many clubs. That's the kind of thing you want, but you have to be lucky. In one sense, that was the case … this club had a measure of luck going for it last year, other than the (Joey) Votto injury. That was the only key injury this club had all year up until the postseason when (Johnny) Cueto went out."
Most of the players on the Reds have honed their skills in the Reds' farm system as draft choices or have been traded for while still being considered a prospect.
"This farm system is loaded with good, young talent, and the team is young," Brennaman said. "This club is in a heck of a position. They are in a great position to entertain fans with good, winning baseball for a number of years to come.
"I truly think the baseball operation here … when you have a GM like Walt Jocketty and guys like Bob Miller (assistant GM) and the others … these guys rarely make a mistake. If you have one bad June draft, you are in trouble for a number of years to come, and this club, under this regime, hasn't had a bad draft."
Talk about how this team was built shifted to trades, and Brennaman spoke about last offseason's trade for starting pitcher Mat Latos for a number of top prospects.
"I'll never forget it … I was watching my granddaughter play basketball when I got a call about the trade, and I thought 'Oh boy, I don't know about this one.'
"They gave up a lot of young talent, and as it turned out, it was a great trade. Mat Latos has stamped himself, based on what he did last year, as a potential No. 1 starter. It took a lot of guts to make that trade. It all starts with your baseball operation and having an ownership who is willing to do what you want to do, in order to make the club as good as it possibly can be."
Opening Day is April 1 when the Reds host the Los Angeles Angels, but before then, Brennaman spoke about another hobby of his … reality TV, as he gave his opinion on the new Pete Rose reality show … and ended on another one.
"I watched it and texted him wishing him good luck," Brennaman said. "I'm sleeping at midnight, Pete calls (it's 9 p.m. on the West Coast), and I said I liked it.
"The Pete Rose you see is vintage Pete Rose. It's the same Pete Rose I've known for 40 years. I thought it wasn't bad, and I told him if he can climb the mountain like Gene Simmons did with his show … I thought the Gene Simmons show was good."
Brennaman wrapped up his reality TV talk with a laugh, "And of course, let's not forget, at the end of the day, we are all Honey Boo Boo fans."
One of the tour members was Hall of Famer Marty Brennaman, who was not at a loss for words when it came to baseball, the Reds or even reality TV.
Being a radio broadcaster since the '70s, Brennaman has seen it all when it comes to the Reds organization, saying "normally, it takes a lot to get me excited, but this ball club gets my juices flowing."
"I think it is a good club, but on top of being a good club, it's a club that is fun to watch play," Brennaman told The Highland County Press. "This club plays an exciting brand of baseball. It's got a bunch of exciting kids who play hard and who are a bunch of guys that get along famously well.
"I truly believe, over and above all other sports, you have to have a certain measure of chemistry on a ball club, for the fact you are together from February through September and hopefully through October."
Brennaman continued to speak highly of a Reds team that's entering the '13 season as the defending NL Central champions, including 97 regular-season wins and two wins in the postseason one year ago.
"This is really a good baseball team," the Hall of Famer said. "That's the only way I can phrase it.
"I'd really like to see this team run roughshod through the National League."
For the Reds to compete for a chance to gain their third division title in four seasons, they went out and made some changes to their already dangerous lineup. This offseason, the Reds acquired Shin-Soo Choo to be the leadoff hitter in a trade with the Cleveland Indians, a deal which included center fielder Drew Stubbs leaving Cincinnati.
The Reds also re-signed closer Jonathan Broxton and left fielder Ryan Ludwick, along with Aroldis Chapman leaving the bullpen for a spot in the starting rotation.
Nobody can say the Reds aren't trying to improve ... their actions speak for themselves, as they went to a Game 5 of the NLDS this past October.
"In terms of looking back at 2012, all you have to do is look back at the number of games the club won," Brennaman said. "When you win 97 games, you've had a heck of a year.
"They did it on pitching and defense, and the obvious trait, which I think is admirable, is coming from behind to win ball games. This club … when they talk about teams battling, that's a trite expression when it comes to any team, in any sport, but it was never more appropriate than it was to characterize the way this club played in 2012."
How about the Reds in 2013, as the Reds are the favorites to repeat as division champions?
"For my money, this is a better team at this stage of season than it was one year ago," Brennaman said. "They've added Shin-Soo Choo, which gives them a legitimate lead-off hitter. His on-base percentage is high. He's a guy who can get on base, but he's also a guy who can hit for power and steal bases. From what we've been told, he's a workaholic.
"Having Broxton as not only the closer, but as insurance in case Chapman doesn't cut it as a starter – though we all feel that he can, but if by chance he doesn't – Broxton can move to the setup role, a spot he filled in second half of last year."
Brennaman spoke about some other Reds players when looking at the upcoming season.
"With the amount of youth and with the farm system this club has, I think this team is going to be around for a while," Brennaman said. "They won the division two of the last three seasons, but I think this club is going to be an impact player in the National League for a number of years to come."
Then the Reds radio play-by-play man spoke about third baseman Todd Frazier, who was in the running for NL Rookie of the Year last season.
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"He should have been rookie of the year in the National League, but he didn't get it," Brennaman said. "His time has come. He has the opportunity that a lot of players never get, and whether or not he can cut it is up to him."
One of the bright spots for the Reds last season was their pitching.
"The only time they used an extra pitcher (as a starter) was when they brought up Todd Redmond for a double header," Brennaman said. "To be honest, that is a little scary, because in the 39 years I've been broadcasting Reds baseball, that's never happened.
"You can't find too many cases where that has happened to too many clubs. That's the kind of thing you want, but you have to be lucky. In one sense, that was the case … this club had a measure of luck going for it last year, other than the (Joey) Votto injury. That was the only key injury this club had all year up until the postseason when (Johnny) Cueto went out."
Most of the players on the Reds have honed their skills in the Reds' farm system as draft choices or have been traded for while still being considered a prospect.
"This farm system is loaded with good, young talent, and the team is young," Brennaman said. "This club is in a heck of a position. They are in a great position to entertain fans with good, winning baseball for a number of years to come.
"I truly think the baseball operation here … when you have a GM like Walt Jocketty and guys like Bob Miller (assistant GM) and the others … these guys rarely make a mistake. If you have one bad June draft, you are in trouble for a number of years to come, and this club, under this regime, hasn't had a bad draft."
Talk about how this team was built shifted to trades, and Brennaman spoke about last offseason's trade for starting pitcher Mat Latos for a number of top prospects.
"I'll never forget it … I was watching my granddaughter play basketball when I got a call about the trade, and I thought 'Oh boy, I don't know about this one.'
"They gave up a lot of young talent, and as it turned out, it was a great trade. Mat Latos has stamped himself, based on what he did last year, as a potential No. 1 starter. It took a lot of guts to make that trade. It all starts with your baseball operation and having an ownership who is willing to do what you want to do, in order to make the club as good as it possibly can be."
Opening Day is April 1 when the Reds host the Los Angeles Angels, but before then, Brennaman spoke about another hobby of his … reality TV, as he gave his opinion on the new Pete Rose reality show … and ended on another one.
"I watched it and texted him wishing him good luck," Brennaman said. "I'm sleeping at midnight, Pete calls (it's 9 p.m. on the West Coast), and I said I liked it.
"The Pete Rose you see is vintage Pete Rose. It's the same Pete Rose I've known for 40 years. I thought it wasn't bad, and I told him if he can climb the mountain like Gene Simmons did with his show … I thought the Gene Simmons show was good."
Brennaman wrapped up his reality TV talk with a laugh, "And of course, let's not forget, at the end of the day, we are all Honey Boo Boo fans."