I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992.
I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble.
I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.
Homer Bailey has grown up in the Cincinnati Reds' organization.
The immature, skinny 18-year old that was taken by the Reds in the first round of the 2004 draft came into the Reds' camp in 2005 with a chip on his shoulder.
Blessed with a 97 mph fastball, Bailey thought that was all he needed.
The team tried to get him to develop other pitches, knowing that for a while Bailey would get hit around.
He was stubborn.
Now the young brash kid has established himself among his peers.
The 2004 class of the baseball draft was pitching rich.
Justin Verlander, Philip Humber, Bailey, Jared Weaver, Bill Bray, Phil Hughes, Gio Gonzalez and Houston Street were all selected in the first round.
Of that group only Verlander and Humber were selected before Bailey.
When Bailey pitched his no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 28, he became the fourth of the group, mentioned above to throw a gem.
Bailey put on 25 pounds in the winter of 2011 and it paid off. He established career highs for wins, (13) and innings pitched (208) in his career-high 33 starts. His ERA was also a career low at 3.68.
The kid who has grown into a man is more cooperative with those he works with both inside and outside the clubhouse. He has also built himself into a strapping 230 lb. athlete.
"Before I left home I was 230," Bailey said.
His frame is solid.
Asked by veteran Hall of Fame reporter Hal McCoy, "Where is the 30 pounds?" "Heart," Bailey said without a blink of an eye.
"We were a pretty good group of guys in that draft, huh?" Bailey asked.
Bailey said that it was funny because in Houston just before the Reds went to Pittsburgh on the final road trip, Thom Brennaman listed the names of those in the 2004 draft that pitched a no-hitter.
"When are you going to pitch yours?" Brennaman asked.
"Yeah right," Bailey said. "Three weeks later I threw one. You can thank him more than anyone."
Bailey is the only player on the roster that hasn't signed yet. He is eligible for arbitration and will likely get a hefty raise.
Professionally edited by ML Schirmer
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