Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings December 18, 2012 CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Report: Former Red Frank Pastore passes away By dclark | 12/17/2012 Former Reds pitcher Frank Pastore passed away Monday afternoon, according to a message on the website of Christian radio station KKLA, his employer. The message reads as follows: Dear Listeners: As many of you are aware, Frank Pastore was in a motorcycle accident Monday night, 11/19. Gina Pastore informed us that in the early afternoon of Monday, December 17, Frank passed away. We will update you with any additional information as soon as it is available. Please continue to pray for Gina and the family. Blessings to you, KKLA Management Hollywoodreporter.com also posted Monday night that just three hours prior to his Nov. 19 accident, Pastore spoke of the dangers associated with his penchant for motorcycles. “Look, you guys know I ride a motorcycle, right?” Pastore asked his audience three hours before he collided with a car as he rode down the 210 freeway near Los Angeles. “So, at any moment, especially with the idiot people who cross the diamond lane into my lane, all right, without any blinkers – not that I’m angry about it – at any minute I could be spread all over the 210. But that’s (just) my body part, and that key distinction undergirds the entire Christian worldview.” The Christian radio personality and former pitcher for the Reds was in critical condition and in a coma four weeks ago following a motorcycle crash in California, family members and officials told the Whittier Daily News. SGVN’s Juliette Funes and Brian Day reported the following the day of Pastore’s crash: Pastore, a 55-year-old Upland resident and Alhambra native, was seriously injured when his Honda Shadow motorcycle was struck in the carpool lane by a Hyundai Sonata being driven by a 56-year-old Glendora woman just after 7:30 p.m. Monday, California Highway Patrol officials said. He remained hospitalized in critical condition in an intensive care unit at Los Angeles County-USC Medial Center, hospital spokeswoman Rosa Saca said. Pastore’s wife of 34 years, Gina, said her husband was in a coma. “Right now, he’s still in critical condition and we’re remaining hopeful for a good outcome. It’s such a fresh injury that we’re still not sure. It’s a roller coaster,” Gina Pastore said. “He’s a man of strong faith. He’s prepared to go be with the Lord if that’s what God desires.” The family said they remain hopeful 36 hours into Pastore’s injury. “My faith is unshaken,” Gina Pastore said. “I’m obviously very upset by what’s happened to my husband, but my faith is as strong as it ever was.” Pastore was 45-57 with a 4.30 ERA in seven seasons with the Reds (1979-85). He was a second-round pick of the Reds in the June 1975 draft. Pastore was on Twitter, @frankpastore. MLB.COM Pastore dies following motorcycle accident By Mark Sheldon | 12/17/2012 11:00 PM ET CINCINNATI - Former Reds pitcher Frank Pastore died on Monday from injuries he sustained during a Nov. 19 motorcycle accident. The news was reported by KKLA, a Christian radio station in Glendale, Calif., which has carried "The Frank Pastore Show" since 2004. Pastore, who was 55, was reportedly struck by a car on Interstate 210 in California and sustained head trauma. He was taken by medical helicopter to a local hospital. A right-hander, Pastore had a 48-58 record and 4.29 ERA in 220 career games over eight Major League seasons. Drafted by Cincinnati in the second round in 1975, he spent most of his eight-year career with the Reds from 1979-85 before finishing with the Twins in 1986. Reds prospect Felt still critical but improving By Mark Sheldon | 12/17/2012 5:12 PM ET CINCINNATI -- A Reds Draft pick critically injured during a fatal car accident over the weekend is still in a Texas hospital but has seen his condition improve. However, according to a Reds spokesman Monday afternoon, 18-year-old Mason Felt remains listed in critical, but stable, condition. Felt, Cincinnati's fifth-round pick in the 2012 Draft, was involved in a one-car wreck on Interstate 10 outside of Ozona, Texas, on Saturday morning. According to the San Angelo Standard-Times, the accident killed Felt's father, Richard, who was pronounced dead at the scene. A left-handed pitcher from Hoschton, Ga., who was signed by the Reds following the Draft, Felt did not appear in a game last season due to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. He is currently assigned to the organization's Arizona League rookie-level team. Cozart aiming to continue growth in 2013 By Mark Sheldon | 12/17/2012 12:04 PM ET CINCINNATI -- As far as Reds shortstop Zack Cozart was concerned, his biggest success from his rookie season was something that can't be measured by existing statistics. "The coolest thing for me is I think I got the respect of my teammates," Cozart said. "They know I can go out there and help them win -- that was key. As a rookie, you're always trying to prove yourself to your teammates and the fans. I think I did that pretty well and I'm looking forward to getting to Spring Training." Cozart, 27, was given an endorsement of sorts that indicates he's in the Reds' long-term plans. After the season, the organization moved top Minor League prospect Billy Hamilton from shortstop to center field. While that move had as much to do with preserving Hamilton's body because he steals so much, the other move was clearer. Last week, young shortstop Didi Gregorius departed to Arizona in a three-team trade, because he was blocked at the big league level by Cozart. In 138 games last season, Cozart batted .246 with 15 home runs, 33 doubles and 35 RBIs for Cincinnati. His homer total was the most in franchise history by a rookie shortstop and the most by a rookie shortstop in the Majors since Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki hit 24 homers in 2007. Defensively, Cozart made 14 errors but was ranked third among National League shortstops with a .975 fielding percentage and seventh with a 2.0 defensive wins above replacement rating. Of course, there is room for improvement and Cozart was given some homework by manager Dusty Baker when the team gathered for Redsfest last weekend. "Cozart learned some things, and there's a lot more to learn," Baker said. "I know he can get that fastball going. Pitch selection has to get better. Bunting, I think, [and hitting in the] No. 2 role. But he's a tremendous talent. I like his attitude. He's not scared. He likes to be there. If we can teach him how to hit with runners in scoring position, some things that all young guys can learn." Cozart, who had only a .288 on-base percentage last season, appeared to agree, especially about the bunting. "That's little stuff I could have done a lot better with last year," Cozart said. "I want to get better and try to perfect it for next year." Cozart might not be in the No. 2 spot in the order any longer, now that the Reds have acquired Shin-Soo Choo to leadoff. It should put Brandon Phillips in the second spot and Cozart down in the order. But December isn't a time for lineup card writing anyway. At the plate, Cozart was at times prone to extended slumps, especially from the leadoff spot. It didn't affect his play at shortstop, where he demonstrated an ability to make both the routine plays and many challenging ones. "That's a tribute to him, his mental strength," Baker said. "He didn't take his offense to the field. You can't afford to do that at shortstop. You've got to play winning baseball." What a week for the Reds (From Mark Sheldon’s “Mark My Word” Blog) By Mark Sheldon | 12/17/2012 9:48 AM ET Wow — you miss a little, you miss a lot. I knew some things could go down with the Reds while I was away last week but I can’t say I expected them to knock out their entire remaining off-season wishlist. I would have liked to cover/report on those stories. You’ve gotten Shin-Soo Choo analysis from everywhere already but I’ll add my thoughts anyway. Despite a couple of shortcomings, this is a very good trade for the Reds. They found their leadoff hitter, got $3.5 million cash in the process, didn’t block Billy Hamilton’s path to the Majors and did the deal without having to give up a starting pitcher or future starting pitcher. I’d say that’s pretty, pretty good. Instead they moved a talented shortstop in Didi Gregorius, who was always going to be blocked by Zack Cozart, and Drew Stubbs — who could be the change-of-scenery guy. If so, good for him. But it wasn’t going to happen in Cincinnati. Choo will indeed be a one-year stopgap. He’s represented by Scott Boras and will look to cash in big as a free agent in 2014. But it could be quite a year if he meets projections as an on-base percentage guy. He’s a well- regarded hitter in general and from what I’ve heard, a dedicated hard worker that will pull his weight.