Key to playoffs: Win at home

By Hal McCoy

Staff Writer

MILWAUKEE | If the Cincinnati Reds harbor any hope of making the playoffs, recent history says they better be comfortable at home and win, win, win. Teams that win at home get to go to the playoffs. So far, the Reds are 6-3.

2005 — Eight of the nine teams with the top home winning records made the playoffs, with Boston leading at 54-27 and Houston the best in the National League at 53-28.

2004 — Seven of the nine teams with the best home record made the playoffs, led by the New York Yankees at 57-24. Anaheim made it with only a 45-36 home record, 12th best in the majors.

2003 — The teams with the six best home records made the playoffs, led by San Francisco in the National League and Oakland in the American League, both at 57-24.

2002 — The top seven teams with the best home records qualified for the playoffs, with Oakland and Anaheim both at 54-27.


Phillies' fans good at expressing displeasure

Everybody knows and perpetuates the stories about the scoundrel fans in Philadelphia, the ones who booed a guy dressed as Santa Claus and pelted him with snowballs and how former first baseman Richie/Dick Allen was booed so much in Philly that he once scrawled the word, "Boo!" in large letters with his spikes at first base.

The Phillies were 4-2 on a road trip and came home, where they were 2-7 at Citizens Bank Park. And the fans were in top negative form. Is that the problem for the Phillies in home games?

"When you're playing bad and they boo, so what?" said manager Charley Manuel. "Why shouldn't they get on you? When you aren't executing and not playing fundamentally sound, they have a right to get on you."

Manuel said fans in Cleveland booed his teams when they played bad, too, "But the only difference here is that it is louder and they swear more."


Of tarps and hair

The Chicago White Sox won eight of nine games and grabbed first place in the American League Central, so what was management fretting about? Wet tarps and hair length.

Owner Jerry Reinsdorf ordered pitcher Mark Buehrle to cease and desist taking belly-flop slides on the tarp during rain delays, something he has done his entire career. Then, general manager Ken Williams ordered catcher A.J. Pierzynski and Joe Crede to get haircuts. Pierzynski, never a popular teammate, ratted out teammates Freddy Garcia and Neal Cotts.

After Pierzynski trimmed his locks, a message appeared on a board in the clubhouse adding Garcia and Cotts to the barber's list: "Garcia and Cotts, Pierzynski threw you under the bus. Cut your hair. K.W."

About Buehrle wet slides for life, Williams said, "As I've told him twice before, he needs to find another hobby. This one puts his team's career and chances in jeopardy."


So, why a changeup?

Justin Verlander is only Detroit's No. 5 starter, but he is Nolan Ryanesque with his velocity, always around 100 with his fastball.

Even though Oakland's Nick Swisher hit two home runs off him, one on a changeup, he was wowed about one other at-bat.

"You blink and it's in the mitt," said Swisher. "He struck me out with a 101 miles an hour fastball and I didn't really see it, just heard it as it went past me."


An expensive shirt

The flannel Milwaukee Braves jersey that Hank Aaron wore as a rookie in 1954 goes up for auction in June and spokespersons for two auction houses, Sotheby's and SCP Auctions, estimate it will go for $250,000.

Maybe the Cincinnati Reds can find the rookie jerseys worn by Johnny Bench and Pete Rose and use the proceeds to purchase a starting pitcher.


A long, long climb

When Houston beat the Milwaukee Brewers, 13-12, last week, it evened the Astros all-time record at 3,507 wins and 3,507 losses. It was the first time the team's record was at .500 since the 12th game of the franchise's history — 6-6 on April 26, 1962.

At that time they were known as the Houston Colt .45s and they lost to the Milwaukee Braves, but Aaron and his expensive jersey were long gone.


One for the Birds/Byrds

A bird somehow flew into the visitor's clubhouse in Baltimore's Camden Yards and landed on the carpet. Then it walked directly to the locker of Cleveland pitcher — are you ready for this? — Paul Byrd.

No, it was not an Oriole and, yes, there were witnesses.


Injury of the year

This one will stand until a better one pops up and, no, it probably won't involve Cincinnati's Ken Griffey Jr. His injuries are all of the normal variety.

Former Cubs pitcher Jon Leicester, now pitching at Triple-A Oklahoma City in the Texas system, went on the disabled list after injuring his left knee when he slipped coming out of the whirlpool.

No word on whether he spilled his drink.


Groaner of the week

Only two guys named Marlon have ever played in the majors. Marlon Anderson and Marlon Byrd both play for the Washington Nationals. Both formerly played for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Neither Marlon, though, has ever played for the Marlins.


A Royal pain

Cincinnati native and former Reds third baseman Buddy Bell took over the Kansas City Royals last mid-season and now must wonder if he might have been better off taking an easier job, like a painter atop the Golden Gate Bridge.

The Royals recently had a 0-9 trip and almost got no-hitter during the last game against the White Sox. The Reds had 62 hits in the nine games and gave up 69 runs.

Buddy's philosophy?

"I never say it can't get any worse," he said. "This game is too hard to play and there is always something lurking around the corner."

Yeah, like another trip.