Miley throws heat on Reds' mound, is willing to take heat about losing
By Hal McCoy
Dayton Daily News
CINCINNATI | It was 75 degrees on the floor of Great American Ball Park on Saturday morning, but there was Cincinnati Reds manager Dave Miley pitching batting practice — probably realizing it was cooler out there than the hot spot he is sitting on these days.
"I pitched batting practice one other time this year," he said. "It was in St. Louis and we scored runs that day and won, so even though I won't be able to comb my hair tomorrow, I'm trying it again."
It worked again ... an 11-3 win.
Miley is ducking nothing during these turbulent times. Before Saturday's victory, staggered by an eight-game losing streak, Miley said he planned to make a public appearance after the game. He went to the Game Day Sports Cafe for a radio spot with Tracy Jones.
"I don't care if we were on an eight-game winning streak or an eight-game losing streak, I made the commitment and I'm keeping it. It isn't Tracy Jones' fault we lost eight in a row."
Lopez's approach
After sitting for the early segments of the season, Felipe Lopez is getting playing time — second base Friday and shortstop Saturday, mostly because he is hitting .308 with 11 RBIs, third most on the team despite only 39 at-bats.
"I'll never forget what Ruben Sierra told me in 1999, my rookie year, in winter ball," Lopez said. "He said, 'Son, you have great hands, but if you don't hit, you better find something else to do. That's the key. If you hit, they'll find a spot for you."
While he sat, he worked.
"I used batting practice for game situations," he said. "Instead of trying to hit home runs, I worked on things. A lot of guys use batting practice to show off, then they take bad habits into the game."
Said Miley, "Give Lopez a lot of credit. When he didn't get a lot of playing time early, he worked a lot with (hitting coach) Chris Chambliss and (infield coach) Randy Whisler."
Lopez had a double and two RBIs in Saturday's victory.
Surgery for Gruler
The Reds' misfortune with pitching prospects continues.
Chris Gruler, the team's No. 1 draft pick (third overall) in 2002, is scheduled for another shoulder surgery. In three injury-plagued seasons in rookie ball and with the Dayton Dragons, he has appeared in only 22 games, going 2-4 with a 5.33 ERA.
Valentin recovering
Normally, Javier Valentin probably would catch fellow Latin player Ramon Ortiz, especially in a day game after a night game, but Valentin was on the bench Saturday.
The switch-hitting Valentin was able to catch and bat right-handed, but he wasn't ready to bat left-handed.
"I hurt something in my left side taking extra batting practice in Milwaukee," he said. "It was 30 degrees and they had the roof open. It did it on the last swing I took.
Valentin took batting practice before Saturday's game, including some light swings from the left side, and felt fine, meaning he'll be available to catch today, if put into the lineup.
A real professional
Pitcher Paul Wilson was at his locker ready for the media after his public execution Friday night, when he recorded no outs and gave up eight runs.
Many guys would have dug a hole and hid.
"Wish I could have," he said. "I learned a long time ago to take it like a man, that it is best to face the media and get it over, and they won't be as tough on you. The worst thing for me was being here in the clubhouse after getting pummeled when I should have been out there with my teammates who were getting booed because of me."
No white horse?
Somebody asked Adam Dunn before the race who he thought would win Saturday's Kentucky Derby and he said, "A brown horse. That's how much I know. And now that I've said that, a gray horse probably will win ... that's how I'm going."
Of course Giacomo, the Derby winner, was the only gray horse in the field.