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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
Homer Simpson and Homer Dunn
I knew it, I knew, I knew it. I just knew it wouldn’t be long before Homer took the mound in front of the Cincinnati Reds. It happened Monday night in Dodger Stadium.
Homer Bailey? Uh, no.
It was Homer Simpson, or a guy dressed up like Homer Simpson. He threw out the game’s first pitch. He bounced it and I won’t make any derogatory comments about it resembling something Homer Bailey is throwing lately.
Anyway, it was Bronson Arroyo pitching for the Reds — the new, improved Bronson Arroyo. He had the Dodgers digging dirt with ground balls in the first two innings, getting the first four outs on grounders.
But it didn’t last. After leading 4-0, Arroyo gave up four straight one-out hits in the fifth inning for three runs and a 5-5 tie.
The Reds scraped one hit over the last four innings and lost, 6-5, on a walk-off bases-loaded single off David Weathers by Blake DeWitt.
It was the first loss by a member of the Reds bullpen since April 19, and this one really wasn’t Weathers’ fault. The inning started with a ground ball that shortstop Paul Janish made a nifty play on, but he threw the ball on the fly into the Reds’ dugout.
The official scorer ruled it a single and an error, but had Janish made a good throw, the runner would have been out. It should have been a straight two-base error.
Anyway, that forced manager Dusty Baker to issue two intentional walks to fill the bases and DeWitt, a left-hander, poked one between short and third to end it — and end the Reds’ six-game winning streak.
Welcome to the West Coast.
Arroyo gave up a couple of hits in the second, but got another grounder for an inning-ending double play and had thrown 14 straight scoreless innings at that juncture.
Meanwhile, the Reds chomped away at LA’s Brad Penny in the third three innings — four runs and six hits. Didn’t Penny used to be good? How about decent?
And guess who homered for the fifth straight game? Yep, that guy who isn’t worth all that money they’re paying him to hit 40 homers, drive in 100 and score 100.
Yep, Adam Dunn’s 11th homer of the season drifted into the right-field bleachers, tying him with some high-falutin’ people for hitting home runs in five straight games, a club record — Ted Kluszewski, Johnny Bench, Ken Griffey Jr.
“Some pretty good company,” said Dunn.
It also gave Dunn at least one RBI in eight straight games. Can we have a hamster dance for the big guy?
Oops! Sorry I mentioned Arroyo’s scoreless streak. It end at 14. The Dodgers scored two in the third, but it wasn’t entirely Arroyo’s fault — except he had two outs and nobody on.
He walked Juan Pierre and Andre Ethier doubled. But that should have been it. Russell Martin tapped a slow roller toward shortstop. Jerry Hairston Jr. charged in erratically, then threw low and ugly past first base, a two-run throwing error.
Time out for a quiz: Why in the name of Phil Rizzuto isn’t Paul Janish playing shortstop? Seriously. Uh, maybe that ninth-inning throw by Janish answers that question, too.
Baker said it is because both Hairston and Janish are playing well and by holding back Janish he can use him late in the game to double-switch, moving Hairston to left field and Janish to short, removing Dunn for defensive purposes.
“I do worry about Dunn’s spot in the order coming up in a tie game or if we fall behind,” said Baker. “That’s always on my mind.”
Dunn, probably whistling that old Jerry Reed song under his breath, “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot,” produced another run in the fifth, following a Phillips triple with a hard-shot single to right field to make it 5-2. Right now Dunn seems dead-center on every pitch
Arroyo caved in the fifth, again swith two outs. He had two outs and one on when he gave up four straight singles to three runs and a tie game, 5-5.
Then came the ninth and a long, quiet bus ride back to the Century Plaza.
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Comments
By smitty
May 20, 2008 9:57 PM | Link to this
The comment regarding Ronald Reagan is a slap in the face to anyone who has to deal with Alzheimer’s or a dementia.By Y-City Jim
May 20, 2008 6:35 PM | Link to this
If you are going to complain about Griffey batting high in the order then complain louder that Patterson bats ahead of him in the order.By Jack
May 20, 2008 5:07 PM | Link to this
Some of you need to get a clue on the “laziness” of some players. If you have not played, then you have no idea…and I am NOT talking about on a pro level or a college level. You put a soft liner out in right center and 98% of people jog to first. Most players out this level dont mess up an easy play out there. If you want to critique Junior, critique is speed. The difference is most of the players would have had the speed to beat the throw.By HuberTucky
May 20, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
Here I am again making the same old observation…Griffeydoesn’t care, can’t catch up to a MLB fastball anymore, attitude sucks, and he has suddenly become a huge liability. Give him away and open his spot for someone who cares and will hustle and bring some energy — Bruce. Gid rid of Grif and his cancerous attiutde. Except for one year, the Reds have generally played better when he was injured or not playing. He reminds me of Bonds without the roids. Tapped out, negative, disinterested, tired, bored. A drag. Ground out, strike out, pop out, automaitc out. Yawn out! That’s me.By Mike
May 20, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
Kyle has made a good observatopn on Votto’s defense. He had a bad reputation on defense coming out of the minors. So far he does not look accomplished at 1B. He does seem to swipe the ball and he is not good at digging the ball out of the dirt. I hope he gets better.By wade
May 20, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
yeah Hal, why is you never harp on Jr? did he buy you a car or something? He’s by far the laziest player I have ever seen. If he were any other player his butt would be on the wood after getting thrown out at 2nd like that. He is setting a fine example for the young guys on the team.By Kyle
May 20, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
Coach, I know you and I aren’t going to agree on anything this year, but I never had him up for a gold glove. This isn’t the first game he has blown a scoop because he was staring at Griffey in right field. Last night on Hairston’s throw his whole body was leaning toward right, and his head was facing the right. He’s afraid to take one in the chops. I haven’t seen him once put his body in front of a bad throw to keep it from going in the dugout. He doesn’t scoop, he swipes at it. And Reds Fan, hitting the post your comment button two more times doesn’t make it post any quicker.By Steven Ross
May 20, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
Griffey’s crawl into 2nd only to be thrown out was sad. He has no wheels and can barely hit above .240 now. Dunn has quieted the critics for now but Whiffey continues to show on a daily basis his decline. Move him.By Deaner
May 20, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
I love it when the Reds go to L.A. because I can listen to Vin Scully on XM. I must admit, however, that I usually fall asleep once he leaves the radio booth in the 4th inning. Unfortunately, I was awake for the 5th inning last night.By Mike
May 20, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
Baseball is roughly a 24 week season. The differnce between a 90-72 record and a chance for the playoffs and a 78-84 record and a 4th or 5th place finish is just one win instead of a loss over 2 weeks. The 6-5 loss to LA was one of those “one win in 2 weeks” that got away. Teams with good players get the extra win and usually win a game like Monday night’s. We will see if the Reds have good enough players to get the extra win. So far the jury is still out but it looks like that extra win will be tough to get.By Reds Fan
May 20, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
What about the Reds realizing how big a play Griffey trying to stretch that single into a double. Not only did it cost them an out but Phillips triples and Dunn singles. Could have been the inning to get back what they lost. Also the fact Junior is a liability in the outfield. Don’t like our chances tonight with Belislie going vs Billingsley. Maybe a miracle will happen to makeup for last night.By Reds Fan
May 20, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
What about the Reds realizing how big a play Griffey trying to stretch that single into a double. Not only did it cost them an out but Phillips triples and Dunn singles. Could have been the inning to get back what they lost. Also the fact Junior is a liability in the outfield. Don’t like our chances tonight with Belislie going vs Billingsley. Maybe a miracle will happen to makeup for last night.By Reds Fan
May 20, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
What about the Reds realizing how big a play Griffey trying to stretch that single into a double. Not only did it cost them an out but Phillips triples and Dunn singles. Could have been the inning to get back what they lost. Also the fact Junior is a liability in the outfield. Don’t like our chances tonight with Belislie going vs Billingsley. Maybe a miracle will happen to makeup for last night.By Reds Fan
May 20, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
What about the Reds realizing how big a play Griffey trying to stretch that single into a double. Not only did it cost them an out but Phillips triples and Dunn singles. Could have been the inning to get back what they lost. Also the fact Junior is a liability in the outfield. Don’t like our chances tonight with Belislie going vs Billingsley. Maybe a miracle will happen to makeup for last night.By Michael in Monterey, CA
May 20, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
Once again Weathers cannot be counted upon when the game is on the line. Dusty, you didn’t have a nine run lead so why was he in there? For those of you who think Weathers didn’t lose the game I will refer you to the box score. Release Weathers NOW!!By Coach
May 20, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
Not too long ago, Joey Votto was a candidate for a golden glove award—now he is good for nothing, because of poor throws by short stops???? What game are you watching?By Coach
May 20, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
First, Weathers DID NOT lose this game!Throwing errors cost the Reds three runs!In addition, and probably more important—Bronson’s stubborness again was demonstrated in the fact that he threw TOO MANY breaking balls!!!He doesn’t throw most of them for strikes—so they are mostly ignored by the hitters—at least until he throws 18 of them in a row—hangs one—and watches the cover unravel, as it whistles by his golden locks. He ALWAYS gets hammered when he refuses to throw more fast balls, than breaking balls!!! He needs to “locate” more fastballs, in and out of the strike zone!!! His pitch selection, was a loss waiting to happen! This stupidity hurt him previously, and will hurt him again in the future. Janish should have started this game—after his previous game. Do you think if Patterson, or Hairston had gotten three hits their previous game, that they would have started two straight games? Long live Stormy!By Mr. Redlegs (Original)
May 20, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this
After reading both beat writer’s gamers, I believe there’s two salient points of this fracas: 1.) This was one of those all-around mistake-filled games we’re more used to seeing this team play. (Some of you nitpick every single move by Baker. Managers have decisions to make, they have to make them quickly and decisively, and there’s zero chance they will be right all the time. That’s why it’s called managing); 2.) On Martin’s ball in the bottom of the ninth, Janish made a heckuva play to keep the ball in the infield, but he had a difficult throw. If he’d put the ball in his pocket, kept the runner at first, Kent grounded out to second on the next play. Double play wipes out the runner, different ball game; 3.) Game the Reds should have won, but didn’t deserve to win. Big difference. Every mistake cost them.By steve t.
May 20, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this
Just when you though Dusty had woken up this season he shows again that he is either thick or likes to take naps on the bench. Ex #1:Why let Arroyo take an AB if you are not going to let him start the next inning? #2: Why not let Janish run for Bako in the 8th if you are going to bring him in anyway for “defensive purposes.” Time and time again this guy dumbfounds me on how he ever got to be a major league manager. Maybe a good guy but not very intellegent.By Kyle
May 20, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this
Several things: First block Reds Authority. Everyone is tired of him harping on meaningless typos. This is your blog, so he doesn’t have any free speech rights in it. Second, Weathers is horrible. Third, nobody’s talking about Joey Votto, yet again, making a horrible attempt at a scoop. Once again his head was out in right field on a throw in the dirt. Skips past him and two runs jog home. Take that one play away and the Reds win that game. Bronson’s out of that inning and still pitching strong. Votto, let’s go back to Little League instruction: Keep your head in and eye on the ball. You can’t catch what you can’t see.By Stocc
May 20, 2008 6:41 AM | Link to this
Hi Hal, Its funny how you never mentioned Junior in your article. I know you like him, but the skills have greatly diminished and the hustle was NEVER there. When do you drop him down in the order? When do you limit his playing time? When do you send him back to Seattle? I think that would rejuvinate his career.By terry
May 20, 2008 5:44 AM | Link to this
Hal—you’d be better off just ignoring stupid observations like Red Authority makes. It just makes it appear you’re super sensitive to criticism. Just keep telling your stories and giving us your insights. I did think the comment about Ronald Reagan was a little odd coming from you of all people.