by the Webmaster
LSUsports.net
ATLANTA — Only five days after being traded for the second time in a two seasons, former LSU baseball All-American Todd Walker delivered a pinch-hit bases-loaded single to propel the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Monday.
Walker’s heroics came as part of a five-run eighth inning against the defending National League East Division champs and gave the cellar-dwelling Reds (36-62) a 4-3 lead on their way to only their fifth win in 20 games.
In his first four games with the Reds, he started the first three before his pinch-hit role last night. He is 5-of-15 (.333) with three runs scored and three RBI. His two-RBI single on Monday evening was his first hit in a pinch-hit role this season, as the lefthander went 0-for-11 with the Rockies.
Walker’s instant success in Cincinnati hasn’t been without controversy, as manager Bob Boone’s decision to pinch hit Walker for starting second baseman Pokey Reese (.223 in 90 games) enraged Reese, who threw his bat down so hard in the on-deck circle that he broke the weighted donut in two.
Reese, a two-time Gold Glover who has played for the Reds for four-plus seasons since entering the big leagues, is a speedy second baseman (18 of 21 stolen bases) who could lose his job to Walker when (and if) shortstop Barry Larkin returns to the lineup. Larkin has not played since May 16 when he tore his groin, and may not return this season.
Larkin’s absence may bode well for Walker as well as Reese. Walker hovers around a .300 batting average in 89 games this season, hitting .298 (91 of 305) with a .350 on-base percentage and a .498 slugging percentage. Reese would play shortstop, while Walker would stay at his natural position at second base.
The three-time All-American and College World Series MVP in 1993, Walker spent the first four seasons of his Major League career battling a “personality clash” between himself and Minnesota Twins’ manager Tom Kelly. During his final season with the Twins, Walker gladly accepted demotion to AAA Salt Lake City rather than playing under Kelly.
The highlight of his four seasons with the Twins was batting .316 (167 of 528) in 1998 when he played in 143 games, scored 82 runs, hit 12 homers, 41 doubles and knocked in 62 runs, all career highs until Walker hit his 13th home run during his first game as a Red on Thursday evening.
After finally being traded out of Minneapolis, Walker spent the end of the 2000 season with Colorado Rockies where he tried to regain his form from 1998 and live up to his billing as a top prospect.
In Denver’s thin air, Walker thrived in the first half of the 2001 season despite his team’s struggles. He played in 89 of 94 games — despite continuing to be plagued by left-handed pitching (.190, 8 of 42, 1 HR) — and batted .297 including .355 (55 of 155) at Coors Field in Denver. However, he began to lose playing time as the season neared the All-Star break and his batting average fell off consistently — .344 in April, .322 in May, .260 in June and only .224 in July.
Walker was also criticized for not being able to hit away from Coors Field. On the road this season, he has batted a paltry .240 (36 of 150, 3 HR) with only 13 RBI and 25 strikeouts.
The Rockies’ upper management was desperate to make a move to get out of the West Division cellar after losing 25 of 30 games — and its ready to make several moves. Walker and outfielder Robin Jennings (.236 in 21 games) were traded to Cincinnati for shortstop Alex Ochoa (.289 in 90 games, 48 runs, 35 RBI).
Walker and the Reds look for back-to-back wins for the first time since June 28 when they take on the Braves (56-43) tonight at 6:35 p.m. CDT.
Just who will be taking field at second base is still up in the air, but for Walker it’s just another stop on the marry-go-round of Major League Baseball.