OBSERVATIONS: Elly/India — Like Pork & Beans

By Hal McCoy

UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, awaiting the start of the Reds weekend series with San Francisco, a team one game ahead of Cincinnati in the wild card hunt. It could be a big step forwared for the Reds or another of their constant one step back.

—HE’S STILL HERE: The trade rumors involving Jonathan India were true. The New York Yankees were deeply in play until they landed Jazz Chisholm Jr.,l who promptly hit four home runs in four games for the Bronx Bombers.

And the failure of Nick Krall to hook up with the Yankees provided deep satisfaction for India.

“Another deadline passed and I’m still a Red, which is a good feeling,” India told MLB.com. “I’m happy. I love it here. I’ve said that a million times This place is a special place to be.”

There is no doubt that when India bats leadoff and Elly De La Cruz bats second and both produce, the Reds win games. They go together like pork and beans, with the same explosiveness.”

But shouldn’t this happen? Shouldn’t manager David Bell put TJ Friedl back in the leadoff spot, drop India to second and De La Cruz to third. With his power and ability to drive in runs, De La Cruz plots as more of a three-hole hitter than a two-hole.

And with Friedl’s bunt-for-hits ability and his unblinking eye at the plate, he seems a prototypical leadoff guy.

With India second and De La Cruz third, the pork and beans explosiveness remains.

—REVENUE VS. PAYROLL: This comes with no surprise ribbons attached, a survey that reveals every team’s 2023 revenue, their 2024 payroll and how much revenue a team puts into its payroll.

For example, the New York Mets 2023 revenue was $393 million. But the Mets put 87% of that back into a payroll of $342 million. That’s the top percentage.

The Reds? They don’t even put half their revenue back into payroll. Revenue was $315 million and payroll is $126 million, just 40%. And that was before the trade deadline salary dump.

Cincinnati ’s percentage of using revenue for payroll is the 24th lowest in MLB. The lowest, as one might expect, is Tampa Bay: $301 million in revenue, $100 million payroll (before the trade deadline), just 33.2% of revenue invested in payroll.

After the Mets’ 87%, second highest is Toronto with $328 million in revenue and a $245 million payroll, 75%.

And can you believe this? The New York Yankees, with the higest revenue ($679 million), have a $316 payroll, a 46.5% investment, 18th lowest.

—WITT-ICISMS: Some say Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr., is faster than Elly De La Cruz. In a match race, though, I would put some sheckles on the long legs of Sir Excellence Elly.

And here’s what Witt says about Elly: “Stolen bases? What he is doing is special. I’m trying to get to his level.

When Witt spoke, both had been caught stealing 10 times, but De La Cruz had 55 successes to Witt’s 24.

—HEY, MICKEY: When Dayton’s Mike Schmidt terrorized the National League, opposing pitchers suspected he was a visitor from the Outer Limits.

He did receive quite the power surge when he was five years old. He climbed a tree in his backyard to the top, grabbed a wire and felt 4,000 volts invade his body. When he could let go, he fell from the top of the tree, hitting several branches on his way down that slowed his descent.

Reportedly, his heart stopped while receiving the 4,000-volt jolt, but he hit the ground hard enough to re-start the heart.

Then, perhaps powered by Dayton Power & Light, he hit 548 MLB home runs.

—NO, IT ISN’T: Darrel Chaney was a utility infielder with a magic glove on The Big Red Machine (1969-75) and most likely would have played regulary for most other MLB teams. And a nicer person you’ll seldom meet.

His grandson, Chase Chaney, is a right-handed pitcher for the Rocket City Trash Pandas (what a cool name), the Double-A Southern League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels.

In July, he went 2-0 with a 0.79 earned run average as a starter and was named Pitcher of the Month. His reward? He was placed in the bullpen.

As a man who know, grandpa Darrel said, “Sometimes baseball just isn’t fair.”

No, it isn’t. Just ask Rece Hinds.

—THE NAME GAME: Humor me again as I rummage through old MLB nicknames. The National League Chicago team has to lead the world in former nicknames before they became the Cubs.

They became the Cubs in 1908 after being referred to as White Stockings, Orphans, Remnants, Rainmakers, Cowboys, Colts, Recruits, Zephyrs and Desert Rangers.

Lovable Losers was never an official name, although they’ve been called that almost as much as the Cubs.

While we’re delving in ancient baseball history, did you know that Troy, N.Y., population 60,000 at the time, had a franchise in the National League. Then it moved. . .to New York and became the Giants.

—TY ONE ON: There have been scads of stories about the life and raucous times surrounding Ty Cobb, including how he would slide spikes-high to cut the shins and ankles of infielders. In fairness, that’s how the game was played in Ty’s time. They all did it.

What most people don’t know is that in 1906 Cobb missed 44 games due to a nervous breakdown.

—TAKE A CHANCE: Former Chicago Cubs manager Frank Chance was a tough loser and took losses home with him. After one tough defeat, he went home and wouldn’t eat. His wife said, “Don’t worry, dear, you still have me.”

And Chance said, “I would have traded you today for a key base hit.”

—GRIZZLIES LUKE-WARM: Cool Hand Luke Kennard, a product of Franklin High School and Duke, recently signed a one-year $11 million contract extension with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.

The Griz must like the guy. . .and why not? Not only is he an excellent all-around team player, he is a super person. Met him a couple of years ago at Mom’s Restaurant in Franklin, the best breakfast place in southwest Ohio with omelettes the size of footballs.

And you never know who might drop in.

—JUST GEORGE: From Steven Wright, my favorite comedian: “Do you think when they asked George Washington for ID he showed them a quarter? And when he flipped it, he says, ‘Call it in the air, me or tails.’”

—PLAYLIST NUMBER 79: A few obscure ones that found their way on my trusty ol’ iPod:

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (The Shirelles), Red Rubber Ball (Cykle), Please Don’t Go (KC & The Sunshine Band), Smokey Mountain Rain (Ronnie Milsap), Careless Whisper (George Michael), Too Much Heaven (BeeGees).

Don’t Bring Me Down (Electric Light Orchestra), Into The Great Wide Open (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers), Touch of Grey (Grateful Dead), The Weight (The Band), Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel),