JUST IN:Hal asks if internet petitions can help Pete Rose get elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Question: Who gets to choose the music and set the volume in the clubhouse? — Dave from Beavercreek, Centerville, and Miamisburg.
A: The music in Cincinnati is chosen by the starting pitcher for the day, so it might be rock n’ roll, salsa, country, rap, or rock n’ roll. It also has the potential to be loud, which is typically the case. Chris Sabo would blast the
University of Michigan fight song, “Hail To The Victors,” on Sunday mornings before the starting pitcher showed there. But unlike some of his teammates, he did not march around the room, high-stepping like a drum major.
A: There are internet petitions calling for Pete Rose’s induction into the Hall of Fame, but what steps can be taken to make that happen? — In Westerville, Suzanne.
A: Petitioning is a waste of paper and/or computer time. The Major League Baseball must reinstate him from the suspended/banished list before he can ever be considered for the Hall of Fame. There is no assurance that he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame, even if that were to occur. He does more than just say “Go.” It would still be uncertain if he could be voted in. Like Shoeless Joe Jackson, I have a strong sense that Rose won’t ever be reinstated. Baseball betting is not the only thing that would prevent him from progressing.
JEFF, Union: What is the most pitches a player has ever seen in an MLB at-bat?
A: Luke Maile’s 13-pitch at-bat from last week, in which he fouled eight pitches before striking out, undoubtedly served as the impetus for this query. Brandon Belt of San Francisco is the winner; the data only extends back to 1988. Belt saw 21 pitches in a 2018 game against Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jaime Barria. After fouling out, he flied to the right. And they sent smelling salts to Barria right away.
Q: Which former Reds player would you interview if you could, and why? – Englewood resident Shaun.
A: I’ve conducted several, perhaps excessively extensive interviews with every member of The Big Red Machine and the 1990 Wire-To-Wire Reds. I’ll therefore travel back to 1919 and speak with every member of that squad to find out if they were aware of or saw any hint that the Chicago Black Sox were intentionally losing to the Reds. And I would like going back in time to 1869 to speak with Harry Wright, the man who started the first professional team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings. However, I was unable to drive to the Union Grounds. The vehicle had not yet been created.
What would the lineup be for the upcoming Reds game if you were drawing it? From Red Bay, Alabama, BEN.
A: Russ Nixon volunteered to let me fill up his lineup card while he was managing the Reds in 1982, a season in which they lost 101 games. I said no since I knew I would lose and I didn’t want to. Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, Joe Morgan, and George Foster all available for use. Not at all, huh? You want the roster for this year? Alright. Without any injured players, this is it: India, 2B Jonathan, CF LF Will Benson, RF Jake Fraley, C; 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand; 3B Spencer Steer;Bichette, SS The Reds sent Bo Bichette to Toronto, and DH Stephenson Tyler.
