Baseball Guru
02-06-2002, 11:47 AM
But Reds point plans toward future
By Gary Estwick
The Cincinnati Enquirer
You can call Pete Rose Jr. a late bloomer.
You can even call him a role player.
Just don't call him a coach. Not now, not until he's ready.
Which doesn't seem to be any time soon. So don't ask.
“If they (Reds) would have mentioned coaching when we talked,” Rose Jr. said, “I wouldn't have signed.”
Rose Jr., 32, who signed a minor-league contract with the Reds last month, had told the team he still wanted to chase his dream of building a career in the the major leagues. He has been focused on that dream, not on any future he might have in coaching.
“It's not his job to look into the future and figure out what the Reds are going to do five years from now,” said Tim Naehring, director of player development for the Reds. “That's my job.”
In preparing for the future, Naehring made sure Rose Jr., an infielder, got a chance in the present. Rose Jr. will leave for spring training later this month.
“Hopefully, by giving him that chance, he'll remember that when he finally retires,” Naehring said.
The Reds often have talked to Rose Jr. and his agent, Joe Bick, about coaching in the Reds system. They like his passion and intensity — like that of his famous father, Pete Rose Sr. — and think he could teach that quality to young players.
But Rose Jr. wants to lead on the field, not in the dugout.
“I don't understand why people want me to stop playing and give up my dream,” Rose Jr. said.
Rose Jr.'s goal is to make the Triple-A team in Louisville, then get back to the majors for the first time in five seasons.
It won't be easy.
Rose Jr. has endured 13 minor-league seasons from 1989 through last season and played for six big-league systems. He started 2001 with the Philadelphia Phillies' Double-A affiliate and was released May 30. The Reds signed him to a minor-league contract June 29.
Rose Jr. combined to hit .322 in 44 games for Double-A Chattanooga and the Phillies' affiliate last season.
His best season came in 1997. Rose Jr. hit .308 with 25 home runs and 98 RBI with Chattanooga. Late that season, he also earned his lone major-league promotion. Rose Jr. hit .143 in 11 games for the Reds.
He's hoping for a longer stay in the majors this time.
“I'm just as anxious as I was going into my first spring training,” Rose Jr. said. “I just want to get in there and get off to a good start.”
Reaching the Reds will be a challenge, Naehring said.
“Short term, he's going to get an opportunity to compete for a job,” he said. “But it's going to be very difficult for him with the young players we have on the team.”
Rose Jr., who works out five days a week in Cincinnati as he prepares for spring training, has made several trips to Florida with Rose Sr. to work on baseball.
“He thinks it's a great opportunity (with the Reds),” Rose Jr. said.
Coaching will be another.
When he's ready, Rose Jr. said, he does plan to coach.
One day, just not today.
“It's a no-brainer,” he said. “Why would I do something else?”
By Gary Estwick
The Cincinnati Enquirer
You can call Pete Rose Jr. a late bloomer.
You can even call him a role player.
Just don't call him a coach. Not now, not until he's ready.
Which doesn't seem to be any time soon. So don't ask.
“If they (Reds) would have mentioned coaching when we talked,” Rose Jr. said, “I wouldn't have signed.”
Rose Jr., 32, who signed a minor-league contract with the Reds last month, had told the team he still wanted to chase his dream of building a career in the the major leagues. He has been focused on that dream, not on any future he might have in coaching.
“It's not his job to look into the future and figure out what the Reds are going to do five years from now,” said Tim Naehring, director of player development for the Reds. “That's my job.”
In preparing for the future, Naehring made sure Rose Jr., an infielder, got a chance in the present. Rose Jr. will leave for spring training later this month.
“Hopefully, by giving him that chance, he'll remember that when he finally retires,” Naehring said.
The Reds often have talked to Rose Jr. and his agent, Joe Bick, about coaching in the Reds system. They like his passion and intensity — like that of his famous father, Pete Rose Sr. — and think he could teach that quality to young players.
But Rose Jr. wants to lead on the field, not in the dugout.
“I don't understand why people want me to stop playing and give up my dream,” Rose Jr. said.
Rose Jr.'s goal is to make the Triple-A team in Louisville, then get back to the majors for the first time in five seasons.
It won't be easy.
Rose Jr. has endured 13 minor-league seasons from 1989 through last season and played for six big-league systems. He started 2001 with the Philadelphia Phillies' Double-A affiliate and was released May 30. The Reds signed him to a minor-league contract June 29.
Rose Jr. combined to hit .322 in 44 games for Double-A Chattanooga and the Phillies' affiliate last season.
His best season came in 1997. Rose Jr. hit .308 with 25 home runs and 98 RBI with Chattanooga. Late that season, he also earned his lone major-league promotion. Rose Jr. hit .143 in 11 games for the Reds.
He's hoping for a longer stay in the majors this time.
“I'm just as anxious as I was going into my first spring training,” Rose Jr. said. “I just want to get in there and get off to a good start.”
Reaching the Reds will be a challenge, Naehring said.
“Short term, he's going to get an opportunity to compete for a job,” he said. “But it's going to be very difficult for him with the young players we have on the team.”
Rose Jr., who works out five days a week in Cincinnati as he prepares for spring training, has made several trips to Florida with Rose Sr. to work on baseball.
“He thinks it's a great opportunity (with the Reds),” Rose Jr. said.
Coaching will be another.
When he's ready, Rose Jr. said, he does plan to coach.
One day, just not today.
“It's a no-brainer,” he said. “Why would I do something else?”