C. Trent Rosecrans

crosecrans@enquirer.com

Because the Diamondbacks are in town, I figured I should share this story -- and, well, I feel a little silly about it, but it's a funny story, so...

Anyway, as sportswriters, we don't really root for teams anymore, but you do like to see good guys do well. One of those 'good guys' on my list is now Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero.

If you remember the All-Star Game, Aroldis Chapman limped a bit off the field after covering first for the last out of his half-inning. MLB.com's Mark Sheldon and I wanted to talk to him afterwards, but neither of us speaks Spanish. Tomas Vera, the Reds' assistant athletic trainer who usually translates for Chapman, had already left, so Reds media relations director Rob Butcher looked around for someone to translate. At one point, we hear we'll get Yasiel Puig's interpreter, but she was busy with Puig at that point, so Butcher finds someone else.

He finds a shorter guy who is dressed nicely, and he does a great job translating.

So after we talk to Chapman, I go up to the guy and say, "Excuse me, what's your name?"

He says, "Miguel"

I say, "Miguel what?"

He says, "Translator"

I say, right, but I need to know your last name for the paper, he says, "Miguel the Translator."

I say, "What's your last name?"

He says, "Montero."

At that point, I just drop my head in shame and start laughing -- and apologize.

Montero looks at me and says, "It's OK, I'm usually wearing a mask."

• After Chapman's appearance on Monday, Montero -- who struck out -- said he'd rather face Chapman as a batter than as a catcher. He caught Chapman in the All-Star Game.

I asked Brayan Pena if he agreed.

Pena -- the first big-league batter to face Chapman back in spring training of 2010 -- looked at me like I was crazy.

"That's a bold statement," Pena said. "No. No chance."

After telling Pena that Montero said Chapman hurts his hand catching -- Pena conceded that point, saying his hand usually hurts afterward, but still, no, it's better to have all that gear on and know what's coming than to have to face him -- especially since Montero is a left-handed batter.

"I'd rather catch him every single day than face him," Pena said. "The All-Stars - they may think different."

Just then, Reds All-Star catcher Devin Mesoraco walked by, so Pena asked him.

"Oh catch him, no doubt," Mesoraco said.

• For the record, Pena singled off of Chapman in spring training in 2010 -- and hasn't faced him since. He says he won't even take live BP off of him in spring training. Pena's goal is to finish his career hitting 1.000 off of Chapman and keeping those bragging rights.

MINOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP

Double-A -- Mississippi 4, Pensacola 3: Robert Stephenson struggled with his control again, walking 7 in 4 2/3 innings. He gave up 4 runs (three earned) on 3 hits. He struck out six. LF Kyle Waldrop was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI. [Box]

High-A -- Bakersfield 6, Visalia 4: 3B Marquez Smith hit a grand slam for his 21st homer on the season. Mike Dennhardt went 7 innings, giving up a run on five hits. [Box]

Low-A -- Dayton 7, Lansing 6: The Dragons overcame a six-run deficit, five in the last two innings (three in the eighth, two in the ninth) to beat the Lugnuts. In his first at-bat for Dayton, Alex Blandino, the Reds' second first-rounder in this year's draft, homered. 3B Tanner Rahier added a two-run homer in the eighth. The Dragons' two runs in the ninth came on a passed ball and a wild pitch, both with two outs and Rahier at the plate. [Box]

Rookie -- Billings 5, Helena 2: Jerry Narron's son, Connor, had a double and a homer for the Brewers for two of the three hits Tyler Mahle allowed in his 5.2 innings. Mahle struck out five and Narron's homer was the only run he allowed. Meanwhile, RF Aristides Aquino was 3 for 4 with 3 RBI and a solo homer. He also doubled. It was his 11th homer in 39 games. [Box]

LINKS AND SUCH

• Today would have been Joe Nuxhall's 86th birthday. Happy birthday Joe.

I'll always cherish my memories of Ken Griffey Jr. and Joe picking on each other in a nearly empty clubhouse in Sarasota. Griffey was asking Joe about taking his horse into town back in the day. It was just one of those perfect moments.

I remember talking to a writer friend who is known for his surliness, and asked if he had ever heard of anyone saying a bad word about Joe -- and even this guy, who never missed a dark cloud on a sunny day -- couldn't think of one. How's that for a legacy?

• The Cardinals pretty much said they're going to get a new pitcher for Saturday's game against the Brewers. It could be David Price, Cole Hamels or A.J. Burnett. The Phillies were in Memphis to scout on Tuesday. Burnett's regular day to pitch is Saturday. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

• We've almost come to expect this announcement every year, but with 2015 being year No. 66 for Vin Scully, it's time to make sure we don't take it for granted. Scully's the best that is or ever was -- he's worth the price of MLB.tv alone. [Los Angeles Times]

• So, ESPN suspends Stephen A. Smith for a week for his idiotic comments regarding Ray Rice's suspension, which is just for two weeks. Victim shaming is awful -- no matter how much you couch it. Unfortunately, it's more than just Smith guilty of it, he's just gotten the most attention. [Awful Announcing]

• Is there a more deceitful, vile organization in professional sports than the NFL team in Washington, D.C.? [Slate]

• A large factory in Lawrenceburg produces much of the country's "small-batch rye whiskey." [The Daily Beast]

• The history of "Boom Chicka Wah Wah." [Salon.com]