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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2009 > March > 30
Monday, March 30, 2009
Jacque Jones one of three Reds’ cuts
For those of you who were willing to bet their stashed-away cash that Jacque Jones would start the season with the Cincinnati Reds just because he formerly played for manager Dusty Baker, well, you better concentrate on your NCAA brackets.
You lost this one.
Jones was one of the three cuts made by the Reds today. Jones was re-assigned to minor-league camp, but was told there may not be room for him.
Meanwhile, outfielder Norris Hopper and pitcher Darryl Thompson were optioned to Class AAA Louisville.
It was a tough time for Baker. This is the facet of his job he hates most, calling a player into his office to tell him he isn’t wanted. Baker says he wants them all, but there just isn’t room.
Jones, a great guy who always wears a wide smile, was wearing one when he accepted condolences from his teammates and when he met the media. He knew what was coming. His .089 batting average told him like a legal document.
“No surprise, I didn’t hit,” he said. “I went to Mexico this winter, had a good time, did some hitting, but it didn’t carry over to here. I wanted to do well to justify a slot with the team and I just didn’t do it.
“Dusty was great and gave me opportunities, a lot of at bats (45) and I just didn’t do anything with it,” he said.
And now what does he do? He isn’t sure other than, “I’m going to stick around awhile.” It is probably too late to hook up with another organization and for the Reds it is a matter of if they can squeez him onto the Louisville roster.
“We’re trying to see if there is room or not - hopefully so he can do what Jerry did last year,” said Baker. Jerry is Jerry Hairston Jr., who didn’t make the team out of camp and began the year with Louisville, then was called up and played six positions and hit .326.
“Hopefully, he can work with Smoky Garrett (Louisville batting instructor), who I respect a lot,” Baker added. “We have some good prospects down there, so there may not be room. We’re trying to figure it out.”
Hopper was not offered a contract after last season, becoming a free agent, then quickly re-signed with the Reds at a lesser salary. But he hit only .132 this spring.
There are now 33 players in camp - still six outfielders, Jay Bruce, Chris Dickerson, Willy Taveras, Jonny Gomes, Laynce Nix and Darnell McDonald. Seven if you count infielder/outfielder Jerry Hairston Jr., who could be at shortstop if Alex Gonzalez isn’t ready.
He still isn’t playing with the big team. Nor is Edwin Encarnacion. Both were scheduled to DH in minor-league games today.
“We have to try to get them ready for the season,” said Baker. “It’s that time. Everybody always says you have plenty of time, all of a sudden you’re on a crash course of an accelerated program.”
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