CCIINNCCIINNNNAATTII RREEDDSS PPRREESSSS CCLLIIPPPPIINNGGSS AUGUST 12, 2014 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY: AUGUST 12, 1985 – REDS SHORTSTOP ZACK COZART WAS BORN IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. CINCINNATI ENQUIRER BAR 8.12.14: 1994 the Bo Jackson of MLB seasons C. Trent Rosecrans Twenty years ago today, there was no baseball. Today's the anniversary of the first day of the 1994 MLB players' strike. On Aug. 12, 1994, the Reds were a half-game ahead of the Astros in the NL Central, while the Dodgers were in first place in the NL West and the Expos were six games up on the Braves in the East. The Braves led the wild card -- the first wild card -- 2.5 games ahead of the Astros. There's so many what-ifs from that season, that it's kind of like the Bo Jackson of baseball seasons (I've always been more interested in what Bo Jackson could have done than what he did, as incredible as that was). First off, the Expos were the team -- they were 74-40 when the season was over. I was starting my freshman year at the University of Georgia that summer and we went to Braves-Expos game that July. My friends had a hotel room and we were at the Marriott Marquee, as we were going to see them, I saw the Expos bus come in and those guys walk through the lobby -- Larry Walker, Moises Alou, Cliff Floud, Darrin Fletcher, Marquis Grissom, Ken Hill, Pedro Martinez, Rondell White, John Wetteland -- and more. They were the biggest, baddest team on the planet. I was sure they were going to win the World Series. I'm still not convinced they wouldn't. And had they won, is it possible there would still be a team in Montreal in a downtown stadium? I don't know, but I've got to say, as much as I like Washington, D.C., it's no Montreal. But it's not just the Expos -- or even the Royals (they were 4 games out, but had just had a 14-game winning streak and finished with the Cy Young winner in David Cone and Rookie of the Year in Bob Hamelin), but there's so many other questions. It seemed like 1994 would be the year Roger Marris' record would fall -- on the day of the strike six players had more than 35 home runs and two had 40 or more. Matt Williams led baseball with 43, followed by Ken Griffey Jr. (40), Jeff Bagwell (39), Frank Thomas (38), Barry Bonds (37) and Albert Belle (36). And then there was Tony Gwynn, who was hitting .394 at the time of the strike, making a run at .400. Greg Maddux was having his best season, 16-6 with a 1.56 ERA through 25 starts, with 10 complete games and three shutouts (and a 0.896 WHIP). MINOR LEAUGE ROUNDUP Triple-A: Louisville 8, Scranton/WB 4: In his first game back in Triple-A, Donald Lutz led off the Bat's 4-run eighth with a solo homer. He finished 3 for 5 with a double in addition to his homer. Neftali Soto had two doubles and an RBI, while 3B Juan Silverio was 2 for 3 with 2 driven in. [Box] LINKS AND SUCH • The Royals, who took over first place in the AL Central last night, traded for Josh Willingham. And as the Kansas City Star's Sam Mellinger writes: For starters, it's a flashing neon sign of a reminder about how quickly things can change in baseball. When David Glass wouldn't budge from a franchise record $92 million payroll at the July 31 trade deadline, the Royals were five games out of the second wild card and four games out of first place in the American League Central. There was a feeling among some that if the Royals were going to make a trade, they should sell, not buy. • Jarrod Dyson knows the Royals are now in first place: Pete Rose to coach Florence Freedom Provided by the Florence Freedom Pete Rose will coach first base for the Florence Freedom on Tuesday, Sept. 2. The Freedom will also retire Rose's No. 14 during the game that evening. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. against the River City Rascals with gates opening at 5:35. Rose will throw out the ceremonial first pitch and the Freedom will retire his jersey in a special on-field ceremony during the seventh inning stretch. The Freedom will become the first professional baseball team to officially retire Rose's jersey. Rose will wear his legendary number-14 jersey throughout the night while serving as the Freedom's first base coach. By John Kiesewetter | [email protected] We dove head-first into our Pete Rose archives dating back to his Cincinnati Reds debut on Opening Day in 1963. Here's a look back at his life on and off the field, his awards and accomplishments, his denials and confessions, and his TV series and commercials. Fans can get involved in this exciting night in a variety of ways. In honor of Pete's number 14, reserved tickets that evening will be $14. Dugout tickets are $16 and VIP tickets, which include in- seat waitress service, are $18 for the evening. All tickets and ticket packages can be purchased by calling the Freedom Box Office at 859-594-4487 or online at florencefreedom.com. Rose will also meet for 60 minutes with 100 fans who purchase a meet and greet. The $114 package includes hearing Rose address the group for 10 minutes, personally meeting the hit king, taking a picture with Rose and getting one Freedom memorabilia item autographed. Only Freedom memorabilia is allowed to be autographed that night. The meet and greet also includes a reserved ticket to the game and will take place at the ballpark from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Fans also have the opportunity to purchase a pre-autographed Freedom item by Mr. Rose for $55. This includes a reserved ticket to the game. No ticket vouchers, exchanges, rain out tickets or Kids Club passes will be accepted for this special event. Rose, 73, finished his Major League Baseball Career with 4,256 hits, the most in MLB history. A three-time batting champion, Rose won three World Series titles and was a 17-time All-Star. He played locally for the Cincinnati Reds from 1963-1978 and again from 1984-1986. Rose also managed the Reds from 1984-1989. The 1963 National League Rookie of the Year and the 1973 NL MVP is a member of Major League Baseball's All-Century Team. TML 8/11: The Reds are still relevant Paul Daugherty An eventful weekend ends on a high note for The Club, the Next Tiger Woods shows the First Tiger Woods why his reign is over and the Reds Hall of Fame is spectacular in every way. The End. Can I roll over now? Johnny Beisbol is just so damned consistently good. How good? If he's not the best Reds starting pitcher in my 26 years here, he's in the small group photo. My first year here, 1988, Danny Jackson won 23 games. He was dominant and only lost the Cy because Orel Hershiser went something like 56 innings without allowing a run. Jackson threw 15 CGs, had six shutouts and pitched 260 innings. The next year, he went 6-11. Jose Rijo was consistently good, until he blew out his elbow. He won 48 games in four years, '90-'93. Pete Schourek won 18 in '95. E.Volquez won 17 one year. None has put together the sort of three-year run Cueto's having now. When D. Mesoraco's slam made it 7-2 Sunday, I'd have bet everything you own on a Reds win. Giving Cueto a 5-run lead is like giving Usain Bolt a 10-meter head start in the 100 meters. He's 38-17 in the last three years, including 5-2 last year, when he made just 11 starts. This summer, Cueto has an identical record to A. Wainwright (14-6) and a lower ERA (2.28 to 2.05). He won't win the Cy because Kershaw (14-2) is ridiculous. But in a season where almost nothing can be depended on, Cueto is Gibraltar. Yesterday was fairly typical, even if he did give up two solo homers in the humid air that causes balls to sprint from Great American Small Park. In, out, up, down. Fastballs that flame, sink and cut. Always around the plate. Hitters frozen, flailing and bailing. (It should be noted Cueto did it without his personal catcher, Brayan Pena, who was rested. All Mesoraco did was hit 2 homers and drive in six. Hmmm.) Other than Kershaw, is there a guy you'd rather have start a wild card playoff game? Naturally, I wrote about Cueto's hair for today's TM. As much as we've bitched all summer, The Club is still relevant, against some odds. If Bruce continues to awaken, one big bat would still do the trick. DDBP will return on schedule. Predicting when Votto graces the club with his presence is like naming every star in the sky. He will be back when he's good and ready. And not before. Regardless, there is still time to make an impactful deal. Now, then. HOF STUFF. I was down at GASP Saturday, to do something on Junior for Sunday's TM.