savafan
04-03-2007, 01:40 PM
http://www.daytondailynews.com/s/content/oh/story/sports/pro/reds/2007/04/03/ddn040307redsside1.html
By Kyle Nagel
Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
CINCINNATI — David Ross quickly glanced over his shoulder while sitting at his locker in the postgame clubhouse, as if looking for those who had criticized his teammate, Adam Dunn.
"OK," he said. "Everybody says he had a bad year last year. What'd he hit, 40? Forty home runs? OK, 40 home runs, 90-something RBIs, and he had a bad year. Please let me have that kind of year.
"I don't know if we all know exactly what we're watching."
On Monday, as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago Cubs, 5-1, in their season opener, the 42,710 in Great American Ball Park and untold more on television watched the burly Reds outfielder hit two home runs in his first two times up.
They were two crowd-pleasing blasts that pushed his career total to 200 in just 882 games with the team that made him a second-round draft pick in 1998 out of New Caney (Texas) High School.
Dunn became the seventh player in Reds history to hit 200 homers for the team, but he has done so at a quicker pace than the other hallowed members of the list. Which begs the question: Are baseball fans watching a man who — when his career ends — will be considered the best home-run hitter in Reds history?
"Sure, that could happen," said Ryan Freel, the Cincinnati center fielder. "And I really think it's going to be a different story this year with him."
It's been a powerful story so far. In his first six seasons, Dunn hit 198 home runs. Johnny Bench, who leads the franchise with 389 homers from 1967-83, had 154 after six seasons. Only one player, Frank Robinson, hit more homers (202) in his first six seasons with the club than Dunn, and Robinson finished his career as one of the game's great sluggers with 586 round-trippers.
Of the Reds' 200-home run group, Bench played the most games (2,158). If Dunn continues his pace and matches that game total, he'll hit 526 home runs, or 137 more than Cincinnati's all-time best ball crusher.
Or, is it an Opening Day thing? Dunn now has the franchise record for homers in season openers, with five.
"Just tired of Florida," Dunn said, explaining his Opening Day precision as a move away from spring training. "I'm ready to get out. I wish every day was Opening Day."
He made the most of it Monday when he placed himself on a list that one day he could lead.
"I've played with some good ones," Ross said. "Every time he comes to the plate, there's a chance he's going to hit a home run. A good chance. Obviously, we saw that today."
By Kyle Nagel
Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
CINCINNATI — David Ross quickly glanced over his shoulder while sitting at his locker in the postgame clubhouse, as if looking for those who had criticized his teammate, Adam Dunn.
"OK," he said. "Everybody says he had a bad year last year. What'd he hit, 40? Forty home runs? OK, 40 home runs, 90-something RBIs, and he had a bad year. Please let me have that kind of year.
"I don't know if we all know exactly what we're watching."
On Monday, as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago Cubs, 5-1, in their season opener, the 42,710 in Great American Ball Park and untold more on television watched the burly Reds outfielder hit two home runs in his first two times up.
They were two crowd-pleasing blasts that pushed his career total to 200 in just 882 games with the team that made him a second-round draft pick in 1998 out of New Caney (Texas) High School.
Dunn became the seventh player in Reds history to hit 200 homers for the team, but he has done so at a quicker pace than the other hallowed members of the list. Which begs the question: Are baseball fans watching a man who — when his career ends — will be considered the best home-run hitter in Reds history?
"Sure, that could happen," said Ryan Freel, the Cincinnati center fielder. "And I really think it's going to be a different story this year with him."
It's been a powerful story so far. In his first six seasons, Dunn hit 198 home runs. Johnny Bench, who leads the franchise with 389 homers from 1967-83, had 154 after six seasons. Only one player, Frank Robinson, hit more homers (202) in his first six seasons with the club than Dunn, and Robinson finished his career as one of the game's great sluggers with 586 round-trippers.
Of the Reds' 200-home run group, Bench played the most games (2,158). If Dunn continues his pace and matches that game total, he'll hit 526 home runs, or 137 more than Cincinnati's all-time best ball crusher.
Or, is it an Opening Day thing? Dunn now has the franchise record for homers in season openers, with five.
"Just tired of Florida," Dunn said, explaining his Opening Day precision as a move away from spring training. "I'm ready to get out. I wish every day was Opening Day."
He made the most of it Monday when he placed himself on a list that one day he could lead.
"I've played with some good ones," Ross said. "Every time he comes to the plate, there's a chance he's going to hit a home run. A good chance. Obviously, we saw that today."