Cincinnati Reds
Mack Jenkins
Busy Time for the Mack Daddy
Another season is winding down. This will make number eighteen or nineteen that have come and gone. This time of year always stinks.
Sep 13, 2005
Mack Jenkins
Signs
Sign, sign everywhere a sign, do this don’t do that can’t you read the sign? Have you ever heard those song lyrics? They may apply to any baseball game that one watches. There are signs being given on every pitch. Haven’t you noticed?
Jul 27, 2005
Mack Jenkins
These Three Can Make a Season
When I first got into coaching in 1990 the minor league director asked me who the most important guys on the team were. “Of course”, I answered him, “catcher, short stop and center fielder”...
Jul 15, 2005
Mack Jenkins
It's All About the Angles
Angles, what is that word doing in an article on baseball? Geometry was my worst subject and maybe one of my least favorite ever, it was right there with Introduction to manners.
Jun 20, 2005
Mack Jenkins
Happy Un-Birthday
One thing about being on the road so much is that we miss a lot of special occasions. Events like birthdays, anniversaries, kids’ ball games, weddings and so forth.
May 3, 2005
Mack Jenkins
It's the Big One Elizabeth!
Hey Everyone, I hope that the off-season treated you well. Every year before Spring workouts begin all the players and staff have physicals.
Apr 11, 2005
Mack Jenkins
Reports...ugh!
Let me tell you about a part of my job that the average fan does not know about. Coaches are required to do more these days than throw batting practice, spit tobacco, argue with umpires and yell at players.
Sep 7, 2004
Mack Jenkins
Hurrican Charley
It has been too long since I’ve have seen my family, this is part of the job that no one likes. Baseball people miss out on a lot of family outings, triumphs, celebrations and failures. I was frightened last week when Hurricane Charley barreled toward the West coast of Florida.
Aug 26, 2004
Mack Jenkins
What an Act..
During the season we see all kinds of promotions, mascots and ideas to get fans to come to the ball park. I thought we might take time to rate some of these acts and promotions.
Aug 11, 2004
Mack Jenkins
Les Bats de Louisville
The day started today with the alarming blaring at 4:50 a.m. The team had a seven o’clock flight to Ottawa. When I arrived the airport in Louisville at six, the US Air check-in was packed.
Jul 26, 2004
Mack Jenkins
Ty Cobb didn't watch TV
Hope your summer is going well. Every year when we break camp and arrive at a new city, we have to find a place to live for the next five months. The ball club usually has a list of apartments that will work with the players and staff on short- term leases.
Jul 17, 2004
Mack Jenkins
Mound Talk
Someone recently wondered out loud, “ What do you guys talk about when you go to the mound?” Well, that depends on the situation. I will just give some instances of mound meeting talks.
Jul 1, 2004
Mack Jenkins
The 'Cuse
We just completed our annual four day trip to Syracuse, NY. The two previous trips
were nothing to write home about. It was cold there and the sun never seemed to shine.
Jun 9, 2004
Mack Jenkins
That's Odd
The season is about six weeks old and we are battling to get to .500. There are some unusual, peculiar, odd, strange things that have happened thus far this year and I thought I would let everyone on in them. The first one I think I mentioned in my last article, the team bus broke down making a U-turn in the median and the team had to walk about quarter mile to the yard. That’s odd.
May 24, 2004
Mack Jenkins
Just Another Reminder
It has been a while. I hope everyone has a good off-season. There is a saying here in AAA, Just Another Reminder. What does that mean, you ask? Well, there are some things that happen in the minors that remind us that even if we are in AAA we are not in the major leagues.
Apr 19, 2004
Mack Jenkins
Titantic
Hope all is well. We are currently on the bus, headed to Columbus. The once mighty Bats have a two game series with the red hot second place Clippers. There are only six games left in the regular season.
Aug 28, 2003
Mack Jenkins
Ouch!
Hope all the readers are doing well. The season has just under two weeks left. Well, longer than that because it looks like the Bats are headed to the playoffs. We are about seven games up with thirteen to play. I am sitting in the clubhouse in Toledo during our batting practice time.
Aug 22, 2003
Mack Jenkins
Changes
What a whirlwind the summer has been. The transaction wire in Louisville must be on fire by now. We have made countless roster changes.
Aug 13, 2003
Mack Jenkins
It's not the All-Star Break Anymore
It is obvious the all star break is over on a day like this. Ever seen that movie, Planes, Trains and Automobiles?
Aug 6, 2003
Mack Jenkins
Manager for a Day
What a short all star break. We had three days off and they were all full. The last two games before the beak, I got to manage.
Jul 28, 2003
Mack Jenkins
2:00 am Game?
I have got to share with all the readers the adventure of one of our recent contests. When a team plays eighteen innings over two days and wins, hey, that is a pair of victories, right?
Jul 21, 2003
Mack Jenkins
An Even Dozen
Hope everyone is doing well. The weather is finally starting to heat up. It has been a wet and cool season thus far. I believe last time I wrote I sspoke about the struggles of our veteran laded club.
Jul 5, 2003
Mack Jenkins
Paw- Tucket
I hope that all is well. We recently completed a trip to Pawtucket, pronounced- Pa-tucket. Rhode Island. Now, being a good ole boy from Alabama, this place was very interesting to me.
Jun 11, 2003
Mack Jenkins
ATY Hot Seat
Hello All,
Hope everything is well. The season is in full swing and we are struggling to stay above .500. It a shame too. We have a veteran ball club with too much talent to be inconsistent as we are.
May 22, 2003
Mack Jenkins
Buffalo, what a city
I hope that things are going your way. I do not know about you guys but I am ready for summer. The season is a month old and the Bats are doing okay.
May 5, 2003
Mack Jenkins
Louisville Promotes Five
Oh, you are wondering about the Bats. We have made lots of changes, as expected. We have promoted five to Cincy. We have activated two from our disabled list, put one on it, and put one back on the disabled list.
Apr 24, 2003
Mack Jenkins
Staz Hot!
I hope everyone has had a good off-season. Spring Training has come and gone. Thank goodness because it was a long one. I reported on the 13th of Febuary and drove North on March 31st.
Apr 3, 2003
Mack Jenkins
A slice of Real Life
Hello everyone, Hope this journal finds everyone doing well. As you know my team, the Louisville Bats, did not qualify for the playoffs. In my opinion it was still a great year because a lot of players got better, and that's what the minor league is all about.
Sep 16, 2002
Mack Jenkins
Giving it a Run
Hey Gang, Hope that everyone is well. The summer is nearly over, only eight regularly scheduled games are left. I do mention regular season because we have the possibility of getting into the playoffs, post season.
Sep 6, 2002
Mack Jenkins
Whirlwind
Hello Everyone, Hope all is well with everyone. If not, write me and tell me about it. The minor league season is near its end.
Aug 25, 2002
Mack Jenkins
IL Ratings
Hello Everyone, I can't believe it but the baseball season is already into August. We have traveled around the International League and it is time to rate some of theses cities. Now, the categories might be a bit unusual but they are important, I think.
Aug 2, 2002
Mack Jenkins
What's the Difference
Hey Everybody, I hope that everything is going well. I have often been asked this year what is the difference between AA and AAA baseball. If you are wondering why someone might ask me this, well, I spent the previous six seasons as the pitching coach in Chattanooga of the Southern League. The Southern league is AA, for those who do not know. Well, let's get to the difference now that everyone knows the background.
Jun 27, 2002
Mack Jenkins
Don't Blow Out
Hello everyone, Hope the summer is treating everyone well. We were a playing a series recently when one of our hitters asked, "Hey, who's this guy coming into the game?"
Jun 8, 2002
Mack Jenkins
Hey Blue
If you had one eye, you'd be a Cyclops,
Shake your head-your eyes are stuck,
Punch a hole in that mask,
Have a clue/have an idea
Sorry to wake you,
Here're my glasses-you need them more than I do,
May 29, 2002
Mack Jenkins
Rain Delay from Hell
We recently had a three-hour rain delay before one of our games during an eight-day home stand in Louisville. The game was scheduled for 11:15 a.m. We finally got started at 2:15 p.m. that afternoon. Now, this education day was a sellout. School kids from the area flock to the ballpark for a fun field trip. The night before it rained over two inches. When I arrived at the yard that morning, it was raining.
May 15, 2002
Mack Jenkins
Lackwanna Station
Hello everyone, I hope this entry finds everyone well. The first month of the season is finally over. say finally because it has been the longest April- EVER. I am not real sure why. Maybe be it is because I have been counting the days ever since I left Sarasota until I am reunited with my family. Maybe it is the anxiety being a AAA coach for the first time. It has been hard getting into any kind of daily work routine in Louisville. There have been a lot of day games, rain, cold weather, rain and no one there wants to volunteer in helpful information either.
Apr 30, 2002
Mack Jenkins
Mack Going Down Under
Hello Everyone, hope all is well with all. We are currently on our first road trip of the year, an eight day johnson to Durham, Charlotte and Indianapolis.
Apr 12, 2002
Mack Jenkins
Sleepless
Hey Everyone hope all is well with all the ATY readers. It is 4 A.M. and I cannot sleep a wink. We break camp in two days and I have a lot on my mind.
Mar 29, 2002
Mack Jenkins
Good Enough is not Good Enough, Today!
Hey Everyone, hope all is well with all the readers. It is baseball season, FINALLY! I am in full swing with the Reds in Sarasota. A question I am often asked this time of year is "what did you do in the off season?"
Mar 6, 2002