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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > May > 19 > Entry
A day in LA-LA land
As I sit in the Dodger Stadium pressbox writing this, awaiting the Cincinnati Reds-Los Angeles Dodgers game Monday night, I peer over the right field bleachers and see the San Gabriel Mountains.
It is close to 80 degrees and a girl with a violin is screeching a practice rendition of the National Anthem behind home plate. Hope she failed the audition. She sounds like Reds Authority trying to make a point.
By the way, most of you use your real e-mail addresses to post comments. Reds Authority hides behind xxxx@xxx.com. What a coward. Anybody out there think I should block his comments?
The Reds stay at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, a nice hotel in a great location - Ronald Reagan’s favorite hotel, when he could remember how to find it.
But the place is far, far way from Dodger Stadium, which is why I stay at the LA Marriott on Figueroa, five minutes from the stadium. Figueroa. Love that name ever since as a kid I heard Jack Webb (Joe Friday) say it over and over on Dragnet.
And this even happens nearly every time the Reds are in LA.
Jeremy Affeldt and Paul Bako had lunch and Bako, a wise veteran, said to Affeldt, “I’ll pay for lunch and you pay for the cab to the park.”
Affeldt thought he’d make out on that deal. Until they got in the cab.
“There was a wreck on the 110 and the cabbie took surface streets,” said Affeldt. “Took us over an hour to get here and cost $55. We stopped twice for coffee.”
Ken Griffey Jr. suggested that the cabbie probably took the scenic route, “A tour through Watts and Compton.”
Joey Votto took his first look at Dodger Stadium and was bug-eyed.
“Love this place, but I’ll let you know how much I like to hit in it in about three days,” he said.
Why does he say that?
“Well, I hated going to Clinton, Ia. when I played for the Dayton Dragons,” he said. “Just a really bad place, my least favorite place to go. But once I stepped into the batter’s box I loved the place because I always hit so well there. Why? I don’t know.”
Votto paused and added, “And now the people in Clinton are going to hate me.” For what he did to their baseball team, they already do.
Fabled Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully stopped into manager Dusty Baker’s office to say hello.
“As a kid, every day I listened to two people, Vin Scully and Chick Hearn (famous Los Angeles Lakers broadcaster). Those were my two favorite announcers. Then I played in LA and became friends with both.
“One thing about Vinnie, though,” Baker said. “He always calls me Johnny Lee Baker. I’m Johnny B. Baker. I used to correct him all the time, now I just let it go and he calls me Johnny Lee. That’s OK. He can call me anything he wants.”
Edwin Encarnacion, struggling at the plate, got Monday off, replaced at third base by Ryan Freel. It was fortuitous timing because Freel is 7 for 17 (.412) for his career against LA starter Brad Penny.
Baker said he could see slow hands on Encarnacion and frustration in his eyes after at-bats. He told him Sunday night he would rest Monday and Baker knew he was doing the right thing when Encarnacion didn’t argue.
It’s almost ball time. The Reds are 0-for-two-years (0-6) in Dodger Stadium.
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Comments
By wow gold
June 16, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
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May 20, 2008 10:09 AM | Link to this
Don’t block Reds Authority. First, he can just pick a new name and fake e-mail address and come back. Second, if he says something stupid or gets too nitpicky, then the rest of us can hammer him/her. Mistakes happen, most of us are fortunate enough that our mistakes aren’t seen by thousands of people!By Doco
May 20, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
Wow! Talk about jumping on the pile! You guys are HAMMERING this guy! And rightfully so. But after a beating like this we should ask ourselves, “What would the Bengals do?” I say we give him one more chance. Maybe he’s realized the error of his ways. And what fun are these blogs without some healthy disagreements? But SA, let’s try to keep them respectful and realize that you’re basically reading rough-draft journal entries.By ShockMonkey
May 20, 2008 6:30 AM | Link to this
Teach SA a lesson in respecting HOF’s. Block him Hal. Sorry dude, you had your chance.By Michael in Monterey, CA
May 20, 2008 1:32 AM | Link to this
They just put Weathers in- there goes the win streak!By Mr. Redlegs (Original)
May 20, 2008 1:18 AM | Link to this
Freedom of Speech? Right. Go start your own blog. That’s exercising freedom of speech. Otherwise, you can be edited, deleted or summarily dismissed by whomever whenever.By Greggers
May 20, 2008 1:00 AM | Link to this
Hal, I wrote you after suffering a brain hemorrhage and lost some of my eyesight. You wrote back with kindness and aplomb. We also talked about Dick Wagner and the 1981 Reds. Thanks for that. My vote is to block Redsauthority. So let it be written, so let it be done.By Scott in NC
May 20, 2008 12:07 AM | Link to this
Freedom of speech in a free country also means the majority rules. Please block the jerk.By half blind guy
May 19, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this
I am a partially sighted man and have lost over half my eyeseight. I know that Hal has had a significant vision loss over the years and I think he’s done one a hell of a job for what, 30 years? And now especially for a guy with vision loss. If “redsauthority” (Tnow that’s a laugh!) would spend a day walking in Hal’s or my moccasins perhaps he’d cut the critical act and kindly shut his pie hole. And a fake email address? I agree that that speaks volumes — block the coward.By Fisch
May 19, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this
Seriously…we all know when Hal uses a wrong first name, that it’s only because he’s been watching baseball long enough to know EVERYONE!!!! Seen enough stats to make most math teachers jealous. SO MAYBE, JUST MAYBE HE FLUBS ONE NOW AND THEN!!! We all like the universe to line-up just-so, but it DOESN’T, SO GET A LIFE!!!By Ryan
May 19, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
Reds Authority; it’s not about you “pointing out mistakes,” it’s about you being a pompous a*s, all while cowardly hiding behind a fake email address. This is a BLOG, not a stat sheet or a box score; we all read Hal’s blogs to hear what it’s like covering the Reds. If I wanted to know what Volquez’s ERA was, I’d go to ESPN or MLB.com. I’d say block this kid and be done with it. Enjoy LA Hal, I’m jealous; though not jealous on how expensive everything seems to be out there.By OakwoodTucky
May 19, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this
This is hilarious. Now big shot RedsAuthority shamelessly sucking up to the guy he just attacked, “Hal, I DO enjoy your work. You are THE BEST!” … Make up your mind, Queenie! Oh yeah, if you’re such a hot shot, why is the fake email address? What are you afraid of on this blog, ya big coward? Ha ha ha! Brown nose!By Reds Authority
May 19, 2008 10:12 PM | Link to this
Hal, I DO enjoy your work. You are THE BEST! Why else would I occasionally stop by to read what you have to say??? I am only pointing out the increasing-with-frequency typos (and occasional errors of fact). Yes, I can overlook (and do!); I simply pointed out in an earlier post that it makes it a little harder to get through the piece. Again, Hal, you are the best! Seriously!By Reds Authority
May 19, 2008 10:06 PM | Link to this
Wow! I point out a mistake and Hal’s asking the board whether or not he “should block (me)”??? Are you serious??? So much for “Freedom of Speech”. That’s unbelievable…especially coming from a guy who spent the last 3 1/2 decades enjoying “Freedom of Speech” as the Reds beat writer for the Dayton Daily News. Simply unbelievable!By Jon in SF
May 19, 2008 10:02 PM | Link to this
Block him. Definitely some kid with too much time on his hands.By Joe
May 19, 2008 9:21 PM | Link to this
I vote to block him. So you make a few mistakes here and there. Who cares? It doesn’t take away from your blog. You’re the best Hal. I check the blog a few times a day and get excited when I see a new one.By HuberTucky
May 19, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this
My vote is to block anyone who lacks integrity enough to have to give a bogus email address. Isn’t there enough anonymity here for that yoyo? Heck, the internet and these blogs already offer jillions of hiding places for cowards like RedsAuthority. No honesty and no itegrity…block him, Hal!By Darryl
May 19, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
What a great way to spend a Monday night.(sorry about the violin music)