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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 > June > 02 > Entry
J-Roll, meet J-Bruce (Babe Bruce)
You probably read it here first yesterday, but the Cincinnati Reds made it official today — Homer Bailey starts Thursday for the Reds in Citizens Bank Park.
‘Our father, who art in heaven …’ And I’m not just picking on Bailey. I’d say that about any pitcher asked to face the Phlailing Phillies in that CBP bandbox right now. It’s worse than Great American Ball Park, and that’s saying a lot.
And I’m safely ensconced in Philly. Having given U.S. Airways the what-for after my Trip-From-Hell to New York, today I pass out my wondrous thanks. We left Dayton this morning — early. We arrived in Philly — early. And my suitcase accompanied me to the hotel.
The Reds are thankful the Phillies took away first place from the Marlins on Sunday, right? The Reds are 5-0 in their last five games against first-place teams. And they would be 6-0, but they knocked the Indians out of first place on a Saturday and when they beat them again on Sunday when the Tribe was in second place.
I’m sitting outside the hotel, smoking an Ashton on a bench. Across the street is The Melting Pot: A Fondue Restaurant. Ever eat in one? I challenge you to get out of one for less than $100 per person. Good stuff, though. And fun.
The headline on this morning’s Philly Inquirer says: “J-Roll Talks the Talk.”
Does everybody in the world now use their first initial and half their last name as a nickname? Did it start with J-Lo? Or was it A-Rod? Glad they didn’t do it back when Frank Baumholtz played or he would have been F-Baum.
And the Reds’ newest sensation, Jay Bruce, doesn’t have to shorten his to J-Bruce.
Anyway, in Sunday’s Phillies-Marlins game the Phils led 7-5 in the eighth when relief pitcher Tom Gordon walked the first guy in the eighth and threw two straight balls to the next guy.
Shortstop Rollins (J-Roll or Jelly Roll) ran to the mound and said to Gordon, “What the heck you doing? Throw strikes. Babe Ruth is dead.”
Oh, yeah. Wait until they get a look at Babe Bruce. The Phillies know about him, though. Phillies advance scout Hank Webb watched Bruce destroy the Atlanta Braves in all three weekend games and said, “They’ll never believe my report.”
And the Phillies know that Ken Griffey Jr. is one home run away from 600 because J-Roll said, “It would be great to see history made, after we’re up 10-1, of course.”
… Speaking of scouts, one of the nicest guys in the business, San Diego scout Ken Bracey, suffered a heart attack recently and is recovering at home. You never see Bracey without seeing Atlanta scout Jim Fregos — two wonderful throwbacks in the game of baseball.
… My good friend Murray Greenberg runs M.L. Dunn carpeting in Dayton. I tell him he should hire Adam Dunn to do commercials for him, as long as they don’t put a guitar in Dunn’s hands and have him sing, “Together Again.”
… Want to read a highly entertaining baseball book? Get a copy of Pouring Six Beers at a Time by Bill Giles, who once owned the Philadelphia Phillies and whose father, Warren Giles, once ran the Reds and was president of the National League.
A page-turner.
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By Coach
June 2, 2008 9:10 PM | Link to this
Arroyo the Yo-Yo! Up and down. He throws too much junk; and how many times have I said, most of it isn’t in the damn strike zone? He most always pitches from behind [and how is that any better than Belisle?}! What did he think Utley was going to do with his 3-0 “fast” ball in the first inning? Even Marty the “O’rally” lover said, “Be careful” before he threw the 3-0 pitch for Utley’s 21st homerun!dumb pitching from him most of this year.Hate to use the term—FLAKY—but, I will.Replace the Flake with anyone—throw in a resin bag and a haircut!
By Kyle
June 2, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this
Next thing you know one of those microbreweries down there will be offering the new Jay-brew, or J-Brew if you prefer.
By Bob Widener
June 2, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this
I wouldn’t read anything penned by a Giles. His cheap old man traded the best fielding SS in history in lieu of a raise, and I haven’t been a Reds rooter since 1947.
By Bob Widener
June 2, 2008 4:25 PM | Link to this
I wouldn’t read anything penned by a Giles. His cheap old man traded the best fielding SS in history in lieu of a raise, and I haven’t been a Reds rooter since 1947.
By HuberTucky
June 2, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
Dear H-Mac — Loved your reference to F-Baum! Made me laugh out loud. USAIRWAYS? A horrible airline that merged with a great ailrline (USWEST), ruined it and settled back in as a horrible airline. I avoid them like the plague. Of course living in Columbus, it’s a snap to take the nation’s greatest airline, SOUTHWEST, from here to anywhere, cheaply! Regards, H-Tuck
By Reds Fan
June 2, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
Hal as always great work on your blog. Maybe arriving early to Philly and your luggage being there also is a good sign. The Reds can use all the luck they can on the road. Have a rabbit’s foot or 4 leaf clover in your suitcase it would be greatly appreciated. Hope the Reds can keep the streak alive and beat our road demons!! GO REDS!
By Don
June 2, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
Hal,I love your blog. It just keeps getting better and better.I may also be influenced right now by the way the Reds are playing.Anyway, keep up the good work.
By jack birdwhistell
June 2, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
sorry for hitting the button 4 times! j b
By jack birdwhistell
June 2, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
Hal, Great stuff! As you well said, ‘You can’t make this stuff up!’ You probably also coudn’t have designed a more murderous June sched for the Reds. We all need to remember that a .500 season would be a giant step forward. jack birdwhistell lawrenceburg, KY
By jack birdwhistell
June 2, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
Hal, Great stuff! As you well said, ‘You can’t make this stuff up!’ You probably also coudn’t have designed a more murderous June sched for the Reds. We all need to remember that a .500 season would be a giant step forward. jack birdwhistell lawrenceburg, KY
By jack birdwhistell
June 2, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
Hal, Great stuff! As you well said, ‘You can’t make this stuff up!’ You probably also coudn’t have designed a more murderous June sched for the Reds. We all need to remember that a .500 season would be a giant step forward. jack birdwhistell lawrenceburg, KY
By jack birdwhistell
June 2, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
Hal, Great stuff! As you well said, ‘You can’t make this stuff up!’ You probably also coudn’t have designed a more murderous June sched for the Reds. We all need to remember that a .500 season would be a giant step forward. jack birdwhistell lawrenceburg, KY
By pat monahan
June 2, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
so j-bruce isn’t his nickname? I just assumed he brought his a game, he must have brought a nickname with him, too.