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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > April > 30 > Entry
April Fool’s Month
A question for Bronson Arroyo as he does his pool laps: Can you cry under water?
The reason we ask is because what the Cincinnati Reds did the last two days in St. Louis is enough to push the most hardened Reds fans into crying jags.
A 17-loss April also means, well, maybe there IS crying in baseball.
Arroyo straightened himself out Monday and pitched the Reds to a victory over the St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game winning streak, the longest of the season. Three? The longest? You betcha, buddy.
Then the Reds play the next two games as if a baseball is a foreign object — hitting it or catching it. Once again they couldn’t buy an important base hit from a street person with a hundred-dollar bill.
Before Thursday afternoon’s yawn-inducer, somebody pointed out to manager Dusty Baker that the Reds hadn’t had a winning road trip since 2006, that they were 1-17 in their last 18 road trips.
“Really? Are you kidding me?” he said with a shake of his head. Yep, Dusty, it is how a team constructs seven straight years of losing — and don’t blame it on seven years of bad luck because Jack McKeon broke a mirror in the manager’s office when they didn’t bring him back after the 2000 season, the team’s last winning season (85-77).
Timeout while I light up a cigar in Jack’s memory, or go kick a base in Lou Piniella’s memory. Or maybe I’ll scribble Adam Dunn’s name on a lineup card in the leadoff spot in memory of Bob Boone.
During Thursday’s 5-2 loss, the middle of the batting order would have done just as well to take the capsule ride up to the top of the Gateway Arch.
Ken Griffey Jr., Brandon Phillips and Adam Dunn neither scored a run nor drove one in. Phillips was 0-for-4 with two punchouts and stranded four. Dunn had two hits that meant nothing and Griffey had a hit and a walk that also equaled nothing.
So, let’s see. Is there one ‘r’ in moribund? I know there is one ‘r’ in boring. And there is one ‘r’ in Harang but damn few w’s — and it isn’t his fault.
The guy is 1-4 with a 2.98 ERA in seven starts. He has six quality starts. The Reds have given him 22 runs (3.1 per game).
So for the second straight year the Reds have a four-time loser in April. Last year it was Eric Milton, who did NOT produce six quality starts and who did NOT have an ERA under 3.00.
The troupe is 3-3 on the trip. After resting in Buckhead (who can rest in Buckhead with its bars, bistros and restaurants?), the Reds open a three-game series in Atlanta Friday night.
Me? I get to go home tonight, rest a day in the abode, then cart my wife, Nadine, off to Atlanta with me, where her son, Chad, is a nuclear engineer. Hey, baseball writer/nuclear engineer? Same thing, right?
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By Mark
May 2, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
It’s no fun waging a battle of wits with an unarmed foe.
By Broadway
May 1, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
I guess you are now going to tell me there are no politics in baseball! Why don’t YOU lighten up, dummy. Some of you take yourselves way too seriously!
By Broadway
May 1, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
Sorry, just tried for a little change of pace, since none of YOUR ideas seem to make as much sense as mine!
By Y-City Jim
May 1, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
If the Reds top of the order had the OBP of the Cardinals top of the order I bet the Reds middle of the order would be a heck of a lot more productive. If Freel is the hot hand now then he should play but remember he will come back down to his norm of .271/.358.
By larry b.
May 1, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this
Bring up the Louisville Bats for the next Reds road trip, cant do any worse than 1 and 13. Get Er Done!
By Mark
May 1, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
Allow me to rant about four things: 1. Idiots who try to turn this blog into their own political forum. I don’t happen to agree with the war either but this is NOT the place to air that view. Go elsewhere … and stay there! 2. Idiots who want to trade Brandon Phillips. To quote John McEnroe, “You cannot be serious!” 3. Idiots who keep clicking on “Post your comment” because their comment doesn’t come up right away. Click once and wait for it! 4. Idiots who criticize Hal for typos. Must be extremely burdensome for you people to lead perfect lives. (I guess I just realized there are an awful lot of idiots who are Reds fans.)
By springfielder
May 1, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
Phillips is NOT a CLEANUP hitter. NEWS FLASH! REPEAT Phillips is NOT A CLEANUP HITTER. He is an excellent 2B that deserved a gold glove last season. Buy low and sell high. Get Aaron Hill from Toronto! Bring Hill would be a solid 2 hitter. Bonds 3 and griffey 4. (Phillips may be the best candidate for the reds as a 4 hole hitter, but HE IS NOT A 4 HOLE HITTER)
By springfielder
May 1, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
What the reds should do: Add Barry Bonds. Trade Phillips for Aaron Hill (Toronto)- free up some money and get a better 2B. In other words: Upgrade.
By econprof
May 1, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this
Hal, I greatly enjoy your blog. I’d be interested to hear your comments on how your reporting has changed now that you no longer travel with the team. Do you believe that back in the 70s you knew the players more intimately than you do now, or do feel that you still spend so time with the team that traveling on your own hasn’t had an impact? My understanding is that traveling with the team was a great way to get to know the players in their unguarded moments. PS - ipods are a great invention for the traveler, aren’t they?
By john hunicutt
May 1, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
I’m sorry, but the Reds don’t have a lock on losing—that’s the Pirates who are suffering the curse of the “Bonds-bino.” That’s right, they haven’t had a winning seanson since Barry left in ‘93. So, cheer up! It’s never as bad as it looks; especially compared to the REAL bottom feeders!!
By Ron
May 1, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
Gosh…the only reason I read the DDN is for the sports section and now I have to read this dreadfully biased and wrong political stuff here. Give it a rest! The problems run deeper than a guy that hits 40 HR’s every year. Bring up the obvious guys in Louisville and let’s play ball. It is only April by the way. There were 5 teams with losing records at the end of April last year that made the playoffs.
By Broadway
May 1, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
You crack me up about Dunner! Resembles a softball player {on a really bad team}; but also,reminds of my least favorite: Rhump Lumpball—or for those of you voting incorrectly—Rush Limbaugh!Come to think of it, Rhump could be our “backstop”. Fear not, the brass at redsland will make some correct moves about the time “the Shrub” gets us out of HIS war! Both have screwed it up royally.
By Rob
May 1, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
Keep in mind that this is the same relatively unproductive line-up we’ve had for most of the past several seasons. There is little balance or diversity from slots 1 thru 9. Poor at-bats are the rule rather than the exception, and that goes for the pitchers trying move baserunners over. I don’t know where the unbridled sense of optimism out of spring training came from; I think Cincinnati fans are smart enough to accept a full-fledged youth movement rather than this hokey ‘win-now’ attitude while pasting in has-beens like Patterson and Hairston and Fogg and all the others through the years. We all know that with this line-up as-is, there will be no win now. There needs to be a purge, like has been said, of the same tired old schtick we’ve seen this decade. I want some passion and energy to watch - see Arizona.
By Cait
May 1, 2008 9:24 AM | Link to this
Not sure what to do about 3-4-5. People criticize Jr. and Dunn, but where’s Phillips? He’s the cleanup hitter. And please, please Dusty, give Freel a chance to hit leadoff for a week or so before you sit him again. Patterson doesn’t even seem to be trying. Freel may fail, but at least he is 100% all the time.
By Cait
May 1, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this
Not sure what to do about 3-4-5. People criticize Jr. and Dunn, but where’s Phillips? He’s the cleanup hitter. And please, please Dusty, give Freel a chance to hit leadoff for a week or so before you sit him again. Patterson doesn’t even seem to be trying. Freel may fail, but at least he is 100% all the time.
By Steven Ross
May 1, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this
I think the burr in my saddle along with nearly everyone else, is we’re all tired of losing. It’s been a frustrating 10-years of ineptitude which so far, shows no sign of ending. I do have faith in Walt Jocketty and Dusty Baker simply because their history says success is definitely possible. The sooner we start purging the losers & dead-weight, the better.
By Mike
May 1, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this
Day after day, hour after hour, listening to the comments from Marty,Thom, & Brantley, ( sorry no Grande here!! ).& .listening to the self proclaimed talk show hosts..and those “who played the game “sounds like a broken record…..the bottom line, the net result, is this team is not very good at all. Your’e right…it is..what it is…!..A team that under achieves, a manager who has blinders on and plugs in his ears,,the #3-4-5 hitters or the “meat” of the order..is nothing more than a bare bone..Simply put..there is far too much to fix here..one month gone by..6 games out…whatever the thought may be in fixing this debacle..it’s time for Jay, Homer and Darryl..bring em on!
By ROGER DOTY
May 1, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
THE REDS CAN BE SUMMED UP IN THOSE NOW FAMOUS WORDS FROM THE HALLS OF CONGRESS: ” IT IS WHAT IT IS”
By Deaner
May 1, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this
Good stuff Hal… one of your best posts ever.
By VietVet
May 1, 2008 8:01 AM | Link to this
Griffey’s done-Dunn never started. Both should be gone after this season. Arroyo gone.Cueto back to the minors unless he straightens out. Hitting-streaky at best-Pitching-bullpen ok-starting-after the 6th inning, gets a little shakey.Patterson sits-Freel plays.Ross,Coffey,Belisle gone.Bailey not ready for primetime.
By bill
May 1, 2008 7:32 AM | Link to this
These Reds started out 4-1 and I told you dudes not to get excited but you didn’t listen to me. I told you dudes that Dusty Baker was average, at best, and you didn’t listen to me.
By Y-City Jim
May 1, 2008 6:39 AM | Link to this
Lehr is a 30-year-old minor leaguer with very limited MLB experience. Don’t expect him to offer much more help than a Tom Shearn.
By Ryan
May 1, 2008 4:20 AM | Link to this
Not much in the farm system to improve things? I think every Red’s fan would beg to differ. How about Jay Bruce? How about Homer Bailey? How about Justin Lehr? There are some great players in the farm right now, whom I think could have a pretty big impact in the majors.
By Mike
April 30, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
I don’t think Dusty is the problem or the solution. I’m sure he is saying “thank goodness the money is enough to support my family”. So far, the players aren’t very good. Other teams are clearly better. There is not much in the Reds farm system that will improve things. I hate to say this but we need a 5 year plan. As far as I know we never have had one. 2013 will be the turnaround year if we start now. Patience!
By Dave from Louisville
April 30, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
At what point do you change the 3-4-5 hitters? I thought Dusty was brought here to manage those personalities, not let them manage him. Start beating teh drum Hal!!!!! Freel Griffey Edwin Votto Phillips Dunn Keppinger Bako P
By Dave from Louisville
April 30, 2008 9:50 PM | Link to this
At what point do you change the 3-4-5 hitters? I thought Dusty was brought here to manage those personalities, not let them manage him. Start beating teh drum Hal!!!!! Freel Griffey Edwin Votto Phillips Dunn Keppinger Bako P
By Sigh Yung
April 30, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
I am trying to figure out Dusty’s selections of relief pitchers. Is it hit and miss, guessing, who is next in line; or does he have a plan? Like why Merker today? Is he one of our better reliever’s? Were we trying to keep this game close, so we could win it, with our best personnel?
By Mike
April 30, 2008 7:45 PM | Link to this
Griffey is here till at least June 15..which is 46 days too many… Dunn should leave tomorrow…He does remind you of a softball player..!! And I find it interesting that after Mario Soto left Johnny Cueto in the hands of Dick Pole for the last few weeks..the results have been questionable!..Why is Pole here anyway?? Betcha Freel will still sit even after having 3 hits today..after all…”he not an everyday player” so the experts say!! and he wears down as well…Is Freel 45 years old ???
By terry
April 30, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
NOW is the time to unload Griffey to Seattle. The Reds can’t think that his approach to 600 HRs is putting people in the stands!
By Steve
April 30, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this
Sigh. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
By Jim M.
April 30, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this
The sad part about this Hal, is that this team never steps it up to do better. After a awesome win with great plays by Edwin, they did ZERO to get the whole team focused on winning the series! lousy base running that you mostly see in little league!! then today,Freel does a great job to get on base in the top of the 7th. I am listening and hoping there is a hit and run, a sacrifice bunt or even a run and hit or steal. but NO, 1st pitch grounded into a doubleplay. That bothered me!! Not to mention Marty and Thom telling the pitiful 1 RBI 3-4-5 hitters with 2 outs on the whole month!!! They are not going to win with lackadaisic play, not to mention no team leader. they need to bring up young players hungry and not keep Dunn who is a softball player trying to play baseball!! I wish Puhols was a free agent. He would step this team up in a heart beat. The Reds dont have a hitter that anybody is scared of!!