Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings July 11, 2017 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY

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1 Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings July 11, 2017 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1939-Reds pitcher Paul Derringer starts for the National League in the All-Star Game and pitches 3.0 shutout innings. Derringer allows two hits, with one strikeout, before Bill Lee receives the loss for the National League MLB.COM Cozart, Votto set for ASG: 7:30 ET tonight, FOX Votto's All-Star promise to Cozart turns into search for donkey By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com 12:00 AM ET + 1 COMMENT MIAMI -- Reporter after reporter arrived at Zack Cozart's table at Monday's media availability at Marlins Park, asking some variation of the same question: "What's the story with the donkey?" Perhaps, you, too, have been wondering how a donkey -- not "The Big Donkey," as former Reds All-Star Adam Dunn was known, but an actual donkey -- became one of the more interesting subplots of tonight's All-Star Game presented by Mastercard (FOX, 7:30 p.m ET). Or maybe you know the gist of it, which is that fellow All-Star Joey Votto owes Cozart, a first-time participant in the Midsummer Classic, a donkey for reaching this summer stage, and you're just wondering when the former National League MVP is going to deliver said donkey. It began, quietly enough, with Cozart taking his now-2-year-old son to the donkey farm near the Reds' Spring Training complex in Goodyear, Ariz., after a day of work in "What'd you do yesterday?" Votto asked his teammate the next morning. "I took Cooper to feed the donkeys," Cozart replied. "Oh," said Votto. "You like donkeys?" "Yeah," Cozart replied, "I like donkeys." From the seeds of this extremely mundane morning chat grew a story that serves as an example of what makes the All-Star Game and baseball fandom so great. Cozart got off to a scintillating start in '16, and Votto, whose brain is as quirky as his bat is productive, told him, "If you make the All-Star team, I'll buy you a donkey." Didn't happen. Cozart, still working his way back to full speed after 2015 reconstructive knee surgery, had a slight statistical fade as the first half wore on, and that was that. But the offer, evidently, was still on the table this season. And as it became clear that Cozart was playing himself into a worthy candidacy for the NL starting nod at short, the donkey offer became public. Votto donned a donkey costume on MLB Network to drum up some support, and the supportive Cincinnatians took it from there. Cozart's batting ninth in Joe Maddon's lineup tonight. Fun story, right? Yeah, but once the fun is over, it's time to get down to the very serious matter of donkey procurement. Votto, like so many of us, had no idea how one acquires a donkey. He joked about hiring a donkey assistant when he signed his gargantuan 10-year contract with the Reds. But as is often the case in life, ask enough questions and have enough money, and you can make things happen. "Once I started to make calls and give people my American Express," said Votto, "it became serious." Cozart had to make a call, too. Namely, to his mother, whose open land in the Nashville area is where this donkey will roam.

2 So where's the donkey? Well, if you live in the Cincinnati area, he's coming to a ballpark near you! The Reds begin the second half with a 10-game homestand at Great American Ball Park and, though Votto did not give a specific date, the donkey, which is expected to be a miniature donkey, will be delivered to Cozart on the field in a pregame ceremony before one of those games. Sadly, Votto's efforts to get Dunn there for the ceremony don't appear to be panning out. "We're just trying to make sure it's a donkey that can handle the stadium and the fans and stuff like that, because we're going to deliver it to him on the field," Votto said. "It's not just his donkey. It feels like it's Cincinnati's -- the fan base's -- because they did all the work to vote him in." Votto is also planning for Reds fans to lend a hand with name suggestions for the donkey via social media. "You've got to see the personality, see how it goes," said Cozart, "before you give it a goofy name or something." In case you haven't already discerned this, this is not just a story about fans supporting players but teammates supporting teammates. Votto saw Cozart's All-Star potential before baseball fans, at large, did. And it is Votto's influence as that ever-discerning disciple of strike-zone discipline that helped a now-healthy Cozart tap into that potential. While Votto is having an incredible season even by Joey Votto standards (.315/.427/.631 slash with 26 homers aft the break after never hitting more than 37 in a full season), Cozart's.316/.394/.547 slash from the shortstop position and career-best 11.6 percent walk rate is equally eye-catching. And Cozart said it is a Votto-like change in his setup, with his bat on his shoulder to help him get in hitting position quicker, that helped make it happen. "You see Joey do that, too, and obviously he's the best at it," Cozart said. "I used to be intimidated by him, because he was 'MVP Joey Votto.' But we've become good friends. He's helped me out not only with this vote, obviously, but becoming a better player." Soon, he'll have the donkey to show for it. Tonight at 7:30 ET, tune in to the 2017 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. The 88th All-Star Game, in Miami, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB.com, MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com. Anthony Castrovince has been a reporter for MLB.com since Read his columns and follow him on Twitter This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Dynasty League simulation: Reds' All-Star Game hitless streak continues Dave Clark, dclark@cincinnati.com Published 3:02 a.m. ET July 11, 2017 Updated 3:02 a.m. ET July 11, 2017 The Cincinnati Reds, hitless in the All-Star Game since Scott Rolen's 7th-inning single in the 2010 game in Anaheim, will have their streak continue according to USA TODAY's annual All-Star Game simulation using the online version of Dynasty League Baseball. Dynastyleaguebaseball.com's game recap has Reds shortstop Zack Cozart going 0-for-3 with a strikeout, and first baseman Joey Votto going 0-for-1 with a strikeout in Tuesday night's Midsummer Classic. It's a surprising prediction for Votto, who has just 42 strikeouts in 384 plate appearances this season. And Cozart has struck out just 48 times in 284 plate appearances. The simulation has Votto striking out against Astros relief pitcher Chris Devenski with two outs in the bottom of the sixth in Miami. (Votto lined out to left field in his only career plate appearance against Devenski, on Aug. 19 of last season.) Cozart is starting and batting ninth for the National League in his first career All-Star appearance. Votto, one of the game's best hitters, appears to be "due," as he's 0-for-9 in his four previous All-Star Game appearances. The Pirates' Josh Harrison, a former UC and Princeton High School standout, does not make an appearance in the game, according to the simulation.

3 Reds notes: Zack Cozart will have his donkey soon C. Trent Rosecrans, Published 6:15 p.m. ET July 10, 2017 Updated 6:58 p.m. ET July 10, 2017 MIAMI Joey Votto is down to two donkeys for Zack Cozart and soon, Cozart will have his prize for being named to the 2017 All-Star Game in Miami. Votto, who earlier this season promised Cozart a donkey if he made the All-Star team, has been doing his research on Cozart s new pet. I think that it's down to a couple. More than anything, we're checking their personalities, their temperament, to see if they can handle Cincinnati fans, Votto said during Monday s All-Star Game media availability. That's a variable, bringing that sucker onto the field and having him kick or spit or act out. I don't know if donkeys are called puppies, but I think we're trying to get a really small one. It's a donkey for Cozart's life. This is a lifetime donkey. Votto said he expected to deliver the foal to Cozart as early as the team s opening homestand. I think when we return to Cincinnati, we'll deliver it to him on the field so the fans get to share it with him and hopefully come up with a name for it, Votto said. Cozart said he was asked at least 20 donkey-related questions during his media session on Monday. Votto got his fair share, as well. The most common questions were about if it was really going to happen (yes), whether Cozart really likes donkeys (he does) and where the donkey would live. In Cincinnati, I m going to have some trouble with it, because I have a townhouse, Cozart said. My mom has land outside of Nashville. I have people in Cincinnati that have already told me they can take care of it. It's happening, so I have to figure it out. Cozart batting 9th Zack Cozart will bat ninth for the National League All-Stars on Tuesday, manager Joe Maddon announced on Monday. I get to see him a lot in Cincinnati, Maddon said at Monday s press conference. I think he s a really under-the-radar guy. This guy is one of the best offensive shortstops in all of baseball. To put him in the nine hole, awkward, but nevertheless great. Maddon chose Miami s Giancarlo Stanton to serve as the National League designated hitter over Votto. The two are tied atop the National League leaderboard with 26 home runs at the break. Votto leads Stanton in pretty much every other offensive category, but Stanton is playing at home. I thought it was a pretty easy decision, Maddon said. Looking at the breakdown of the team positionally, I thought to draw a DH out of the outfield was smart, or possibly a first baseman, having three outstanding first basemen. Furthermore, playing here under the circumstances, I thought it was the right thing to do. Cozart not worried about trade talk This month marked Cozat s first career All-Star Game and it could see the end of his Reds career. A free agent at the end of the season, Cozart said he s not worried about trade talk but knows it s coming. Reds general manager Dick Williams has also said the team has expressed interest in signing Cozart to an extension. I ve talked to Dick and Mr. (Bob) Castellini, I've told them how I feel about Cincinnati, my family loves it there, Cozart said. It's one of those things that at this point, there's only a couple of weeks until the trade deadline or whatever, I guess we'll be finding out here soon how that goes. It'll be interesting to see what happens. Cozart was then asked if he expected to be traded. I don't know if I expect to, I know my name's going to be out there, being where I'm at in my career and where the Reds are and everything, he said. We'll see.

4 Reds don't have an All-Star hit since 2010 C. Trent Rosecrans, Published 6:03 p.m. ET July 10, 2017 Updated 6:57 p.m. ET July 10, 2017 MIAMI Scott Rolen led off the seventh inning of the 2010 All-Star Game in Anaheim, Calif., with a single. Matt Holiday then singled and Rolen went to third, in what would become a three-run rally to lead the National League to victory. After Rolen took third on Holiday s single, then-reds second baseman Brandon Phillips, one of three Reds All-Stars that year, wore a microphone for Fox Sports and could be heard saying, Yeah yeah. That s what we do in Cincinnati. We go first to third. Since then, the Reds have not only not been going first-to-third in All-Star Games, they haven t gone from home to first. The Reds haven t had a hit in an All-Star Game since Rolen s single off of Phil Hughes, then a Yankee. In that span, a total of seven different Reds hitters have gone 0 for 25 with two walks in All-Star Games in Phoenix, Kansas City, New York, Minneapolis, Cincinnati and San Diego. Tuesday in Miami, Reds shortstop Zack Cozart and first baseman Joey Votto hope to break that streak. If they don t get a hit in their first two at-bats, the American League will have a combined no-hitter against the Reds. I feel like me and Joe need to step it up, then," Cozart said. "We don't want to do that. I didn't know that (it had been so long)." Nor did Votto, who is 0 for 8 in All-Star Games. "Oh wow," Votto said when informed of the streak. "Alright, I'll get one." Cozart will be the Reds sixth starter during that stretch. The Reds All-Star futility has including five fly outs, 10 ground outs and 10 strikeouts. In addition to Votto s drought, Jay Bruce was 0 for 5, Phillips 0 for 4, a pair of Reds third basemen, Rolen and Todd Frazier, have gone 0 for 3, while Devin Mesoraco and Adam Duvall are both 0 for 1. Frazier and Duvall, at least, both have a walk. Since 2011, Reds have recorded 23 putouts and 10 assists, so they haven t been completely unproductive. Three different Reds pitchers have been All-Stars in that stretch, with Aroldis Chapman and Alfredo Simon combining to pitch four scoreless innings with one hit, six strikeouts and two walks. They combined to face 12 batters over five appearances, throwing 55 pitches. Another Reds pitcher, Johnny Cueto was named to the 2014 All-Star Game in Minneapolis but didn t pitch. Here s a brief rundown of the Reds appearances since the last hit: Anaheim 2010: Rolen started the National League rally in the seventh, and Phillips ended it by striking out against Andrew Bailey. The next inning, both Votto and Rolen would fly out. Arizona 2011: Rolen was the lone starter and batted ninth. He struck out in both his plate appearances, in the third and fifth. Votto struck out in the sixth and grounded out in the eighth. Phillips flew out in his lone at-bat and Bruce struck out looking in his first career All-Star plate appearance. Kansas City 2012: Votto started at first for the National League and was the cleanup hitter. Against Justin Verlander, Votto struck out looking with a runner at second in the National League s five-run first. He grounded out in his next two at-bats, while Bruce flew out in the sixth and grounded out in the ninth. New York 2013: Phillips and Votto both started the game at the Mets Citi Field, and both went 0 for 2. Leading off, Phillips flew out and Votto struck out looking to end Max Scherzer s perfect first. Both would ground out in the fourth before leaving the game. Minnesota 2014: The Reds had a four first-time All-Stars in the game Cueto, Frazier, Mesoraco and Simon to go along with Chapman. Mesoraco got one at-bat, a strikeout in the sixth. Fernando Rodney walked Frazier in the eighth. Cincinnati 2015: The day after winning the Home Run Derby in dramatic fashion, Frazier was in the starting lineup, batting second in front of the home crowd. Frazier came to the plate three times, each to loud ovations, and grounded out in each. San Diego 2016: Duvall participated in the Home Run Derby the night before, succumbing to Frazier in the semifinals. He grounded out to the catcher in the sixth and then was walked by Andrew Miller in the eighth inning. Two spots ahead of Duvall in the lineup, Bruce struck out in those same innings.

5 WCPO - Channel 9 Fay: Reds have plenty of factors in play as trade deadline looms at the end of July John Fay 2:37 PM, Jul 10, 2017 CINCINNATI -- As the trade deadline approaches on July 31, the Reds obviously are in the seller category. When you re in that place, the rumor mill churns with scenarios of every contending team picking out whatever assets you have. Zack Cozart, Scott Feldman and Drew Storen are obvious trade candidates. But the report Thursday the Washington Nationals were interested in Raisel Iglesias had a lot of people in the Redsland worked up. I listened to a bit of Lance McAlister s show on WLW. The callers seemed split between you ve got to listen and why do you keep trading our best players? I could make an argument for either side. But first, I'd like to present what I think the Reds should be looking for in trades. I d go for a starting pitcher on the brink of the majors whom the club controls for at least three years. A lot like Luis Castillo or Anthony DeSclafani. That said, there are no sure bets when you re dealing with prospects, no matter how highly rated. Just look at some recent history. At the winter meetings this year, the Nationals traded right-handers Lucas Giollito and Reynaldo Lopez to the Chicago White Sox for Adam Eaton. Giolito was as close to a sure bet as you get. He was No. 2 overall on Baseball America s prospect list in the Lopez was No. 31 going into It looked like the White Sox got a steal. Two can t-miss prospects for three years for Eaton. Giolito is 2-8 with a 5.40 ERA at Triple-A. Lopez is 6-5 with a 4.03 at Triple-A. They re both young enough that they could turn out to be what the White Sox hoped they d be. But not every prospect turns potential into production. The Reds have seen that with Cody Reed and Robert Stephenson this year. So I d be very hesitant to trade Iglesias for prospects. He s under contract until 2020 at a reasonable rate, and his stuff is off the charts. I d be more inclined to move him back to the rotation than move him for a prospect or two. As for Cozart, Feldman and Storen, sure, you float their names. They are not under control for next season. I wrote a while back that the Reds shouldn t trade Cozart and try to make a run at.500 instead -- and consider signing him if he d agree to a reasonable deal. Getting back to.500 is a pipe dream now. Scooter Gennett s continued breakout season has to have the Reds wondering if a Jose Peraza-Gennett middle infield makes sense for Gennett s only 27. He ll be arbitration-eligible for the second time. He ll likely be cheaper for 18 than Cozart, even if Cozart agrees to a reasonable deal. Feldman and Storen have worked out better than anyone could have expected. But they re only signed for this year. In Feldman s case, he s taking starts away from young pitchers that the Reds need to get a look at -- namely Reed, Stephenson, Jackson Stephens, Sal Romano, Amir Garrett and Tyler Mahle. None of the aforementioned young guys is as sure a bet as Feldman and the Reds (owner Bob Castellini) would like to see a better record this year. But the focus has to continues to be on the future. Feldman and Storen aren t going to be part of the future. Cozart probably isn t either, which is a shame. He s a great guy who s turned into a very good player. So I d move them if the offers are good enough. As for Iglesias, I d hold onto him. Again, he s signed until You ve got to hope the future arrives before then.

6 ESPN.COM Donkey delivery nearing completion Reds' Joey Votto, Zack Cozart say Jerry Crasnick ESPN Senior Writer 7:32 AM ET MIAMI -- Joey Votto is staying true to his pledge to buy Zack Cozart a donkey as a reward for making the National League All-Star team. And now the transaction is close enough that they can smell the finish line. The Cincinnati Reds teammates said they expect the donkey purchase to be complete in a week or so, at which point Cozart's new family pet will be introduced at Great American Ball Park. "We're just trying to make sure it's a donkey that can handle the stadium and the fans and stuff like that, because we're going to deliver it on the field,'' Votto said. "It's not just Zack's donkey. It feels like it's the fan base's [donkey], because they did all the work to vote him in.'' Cozart initially conveyed his fondness for the four-legged creatures to Votto after taking his son, Cooper, to a donkey farm near the Reds' spring training site in Goodyear, Arizona, in Votto vowed to buy Cozart a donkey if he made the All-Star team, and the hypothetical became reality when Cozart was elected to his first Midsummer Classic through fan balloting last week. "I've got to go to the Cincinnati Zoo and get some tips on how to take care of this thing,'' Cozart said Monday. "My mom lives like 45 minutes outside of Nashville and she has some land, so that's where I think it'll be. "I told Joey I need a miniature one. I don't need one of those big boys running around. I think he's getting a baby donkey, so it's going to be like me taking care of a puppy, and we'll have to groom him.'' Votto helped give Cozart's All-Star campaign momentum by dressing up as a donkey during a recent joint appearance on the show "Intentional Talk.'' Cozart received 2.46 million votes to beat out the Los Angeles Dodgers' Corey Seager for a starting berth on the NL squad, and he and Votto spent a considerable amount of time answering donkey queries during Monday's All-Star media availability at Marlins Park. When asked how much legwork goes into making a donkey purchase, Votto replied, "Once I signed my 10-year deal, I got a donkey assistant.'' Votto added that he had hoped to lure former Reds outfielder Adam Dunn -- aka "The Big Donkey'' -- to Cincinnati for the introduction ceremonies, but was unable to make it happen. "I wanted [Dunn] to be a part of it, but getting him on a flight up to Cincinnati is probably not gonna happen,'' Votto said. While no name has been determined for the soon-to-be-acquired donkey, Votto said the Reds will probably solicit input from fans on Twitter and other social media before Cozart makes the final call. "I guess you have to kind of see the personality,'' Cozart said, "and go from there.'' In the meantime, Votto and Cozart know they're in the middle of a feel-good story with legs. "People love these kinds of stories,'' Votto said. "They like supporting funny stories and stories that intrigue them. I think that was the case here.'' TRANSACTIONS 07/10/17 Philadelphia Phillies transferred RHP Casey Fien from the 10-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Shoulder impingement Atlanta Braves sent LF Sean Rodriguez on a rehab assignment to Mississippi Braves. Chicago Cubs sent RHP Kyle Hendricks on a rehab assignment to Tennessee Smokies. San Francisco Giants optioned RF Mac Williamson to Sacramento River Cats. St. Louis Cardinals optioned SS Alex Mejia to Memphis Redbirds. St. Louis Cardinals optioned RHP Luke Weaver to Memphis Redbirds. Washington Nationals optioned LHP Sammy Solis to Syracuse Chiefs. St. Louis Cardinals activated 2B Kolten Wong from the 10-day disabled list. St. Louis Cardinals traded RF Todd Cunningham to Los Angeles Dodgers for cash. Atlanta Braves optioned 2B Micah Johnson to Gwinnett Braves.

7 New York Yankees released 1B Chris Carter. Chicago White Sox optioned RF Willy Garcia to Charlotte Knights. Tampa Bay Rays signed OF Michael Smith. Tampa Bay Rays signed free agent RHP Paul Campbell to a minor league contract. Tampa Bay Rays signed free agent RHP Kyle Goodbrand to a minor league contract. Baltimore Orioles sent 1B Chris Davis on a rehab assignment to Frederick Keys.