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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 > 21 > Entry
Take the ‘4’ - to Brooklyn
Subway Stories: And they don’t involve me. My trips on the ‘D’ train have been uneventful, other than the heavy rainstorm that was pounding Manhattan Friday night when I emerged from the tunnel. In 10 minutes it was over.
But wouldn’t you think three rookies would at least ask a veteran to accompany them on a subway ride? Jay Bruce, Paul Janish and Daryl Thompson ventured on their own odyssey Saturday and, uh, ended up about as far away from Yankee Stadium as you can get and still be in one of the five boroughs.
They found the ‘4’ train under Grand Central station just fine. But instead of getting on an uptown train, they boarded a downtown train.
“We ended up in Brooklyn,” said Thompson.
Hey, Brooklyn? Bronx? Both start with BR.
“Maybe they wanted to see Ebbets Field,” said manager Dusty Baker with a laugh.
Bronson Arroyo, a veteran subway rider, was on the ‘4’ Saturday when a man approached and asked, “Hey, man, need tickets to the game?” Said Arroyo, “No, dude. I’m good.”
When Ken Griffey Jr. arrived at the park Saturday he found a long red terrycloth robe hanging in his locker, something from sportsrobes.com.
He put it on, displaying ‘Griffey, 3,’ in large letters on the back with a ‘3’ and a Reds logo on the front. He walked past Adam Dunn’s locker and said, “I’m on my way to a weigh-in. Fightin’ for the title tonight.”
Griffey took it off and said, “I never wear a robe. Never wore one, not even as a kid.”
Somebody else mentioned the only time they wore a robe was when a hotel furnished one. Said Gary Majewski, “Not me. I walk around naked. I air dry.”
To much information, right?
With the dislocated finger of Jolbert Cabrera, suffered Friday night during a head-first slide into second base after his fourth hit, the Reds are down to Janish at shortstop, “And I got Andy Phillips as a back-up,” said Baker.
How about Brandon Phillips, signed as a shortstop?
“I asked him about it and he said with what has happened to our shortstops this year he’s afraid to go over there,” said Baker, speaking of injured shortstops Alex Gonzalez, Jeff Keppinger, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Cabrera.
Amazingly, Cabrera was called up from Class AAA Louisville to take Hairston’s place after he fractured his left thumb - sliding head first into second base.
Maybe Baker should issue a moratorium or a complete ban on head-first slides. Or maybe they can clandestinely call in Pete Rose to give head-first sliding lessons - and hitting lessons, while he is at it.
Phillips came up hobbling in the ninth inning Friday, too, hopping around after making a defensive play. Said Baker, “Man, I was holding my breath. But it was just a cramp.”
Yankees broadcaster and former pitcher David Cone walked into Baker’s office and Baker immediately recalled a game Cone pitched for the New York Mets against Baker’s San Francisco Giants.
“You threw about 150 pitches in a complete game,” said Baker.
“To be accurate - 166,” said Cone. “And I won, 1-0. I went to 3-and-2 on everybody.”
And for those keeping track - yes, Corey Patterson was in Saturday’s lineup, batting eighth after going 0 for 3 Friday. Norris Hopper? He could have been riding the ‘4’ train around Brooklyn, for all anybody seems to care.
Permalink | Comments (26) | Post your comment | Categories: Daryl Thompson
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By Illya Harrell
June 22, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
Bako’s a catcher. Seems to be Cueto’s personal catcher. He calls a pretty good game, and is above the league average in nailing runners. While no one can be disapponted with CP’s defense, his hitting is awful. As the projected starting center fielder (and owner of a 3.5 million dollar salary) he should be hitting better than Bako. The Reds knew what they were getting with Bako. Solid catching … anything at the plate would be bonus. The Reds thought they knew what they were getting with CP. Great defense and a top-notch leadoff bat. They were wrong.
By Deaner
June 22, 2008 9:35 AM | Link to this
Great stuff, Hal: Bronson and the tickets; Junior’s robe.. HA!
By MAC
June 22, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this
Once again, I think most of us agree on CP, but why does Bako continue to get a pass? His play isn’t much better, yet he continues to get the Lion’s share of playing time when a better option is available. Come on Dusty; clear the cob webs!
By Monty
June 22, 2008 6:01 AM | Link to this
I dont care if Patterson hit a homerun yesterday, he still stinks, and Hopper needs to play everyday till Griffey is back, if not all the time! Im sick of Dusty finding excuses why his boy CP needs to be in the lineup!
By MAC
June 22, 2008 3:08 AM | Link to this
Wow, I guess my enter button got stuck?
By MAC
June 22, 2008 3:04 AM | Link to this
I agree w/ most comments on CP; he simply get’s too much playing time while producing so little. What I don’t understand is why so many give Bako a free pass? Many say his Def is better, yet I’ve seen him make key errors in many games and not come close to making up for it at the plate. The same can be said about Ross. There’s no way Valentine is that bad defensively; I’ve seen the guy catch before. More importantly, he is very productive at the plate and in case Dusty and the rest of the Reds didn’t notice, they are having a hard time scoring runs? As a PH, he almost always does his job whether it’s a SAC fly, a ground ball to move a runner over or coming up w/ a key hit when needed. Even when he fails, he almost always has a good AB and that’s worth a lot when you consider most other Reds’ hitters don’t! Who knows, maybe his approach might rub off on some of his teamates?
By MAC
June 22, 2008 3:00 AM | Link to this
I agree w/ most comments on CP; he simply get’s too much playing time while producing so little. What I don’t understand is why so many give Bako a free pass? Many say his Def is better, yet I’ve seen him make key errors in many games and not come close to making up for it at the plate. The same can be said about Ross. There’s no way Valentine is that bad defensively; I’ve seen the guy catch before. More importantly, he is very productive at the plate. As a PH, he almost always does his job at the plate whether it’s a SAC fly, a ground ball to move a runner over or coming up w/ a key hit when needed. Even when he fails AB, he almost always has a good AB and that’s worth a lot when you consider most other Reds’ hitters don’t! Who knows, maybe his approach might rub off on some of his teamates?
By MAC
June 22, 2008 3:00 AM | Link to this
I agree w/ most comments on CP; he simply get’s too much playing time while producing so little. What I don’t understand is why so many give Bako a free pass? Many say his Def is better, yet I’ve seen him make key errors in many games and not come close to making up for it at the plate. The same can be said about Ross. There’s no way Valentine is that bad defensively; I’ve seen the guy catch before. More importantly, he is very productive at the plate. As a PH, he almost always does his job at the plate whether it’s a SAC fly, a ground ball to move a runner over or coming up w/ a key hit when needed. Even when he fails AB, he almost always has a good AB and that’s worth a lot when you consider most other Reds’ hitters don’t! Who knows, maybe his approach might rub off on some of his teamates?
By MAC
June 22, 2008 2:59 AM | Link to this
I agree w/ most comments on CP; he simply get’s too much playing time while producing so little. What I don’t understand is why so many give Bako a free pass? Many say his Def is better, yet I’ve seen him make key errors in many games and not come close to making up for it at the plate. The same can be said about Ross. There’s no way Valentine is that bad defensively; I’ve seen the guy catch before. More importantly, he is very productive at the plate. As a PH, he almost always does his job at the plate whether it’s a SAC fly, a ground ball to move a runner over or coming up w/ a key hit when needed. Even when he fails AB, he almost always has a good AB and that’s worth a lot when you considering most other Reds’ hitters don’t! Who knows, maybe his approach might rub off on some of his teamates?
By HuberTucky
June 21, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
I about messed myself when Patterson hit that monster home run. Just proves the old adage that sometimes even a bling hog finds an acorn. I am still baffled that he and his .193 BA get to start over Hopper and his .300 BA. besides, Hopper is our lead-off man and sparkplug. Patterson is neither.
By coach
June 21, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this
Whenever it becomes possible—I hope Baker and Pole corrale Thompson/Bailey/and all others they plan to keep—and make them learn V’s changeup! With their fastballs—it will nearly complete all they need to make this a great staff—that is, if they “locate” those pitches!
By Harry
June 21, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this
Hi Hal, How did Adam Dunn get the name “donkey”? It not fair to the donkeys. Go Reds, Harry
By Rob
June 21, 2008 6:26 PM | Link to this
Maybe they need to start calling the position “Short-short-left-center-field”. “Shortstop” doesn’t seem to be working out too well for them.
By Frosty
June 21, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
I second DWR’s request. Is it possible that Hopper just hasn’t asked to play and that CP, living with Baker always asks?
By Frosty
June 21, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Nice to see the ‘4’didn’t affect their play. Great job for Thompson! Defense was excellent! EE had his bat going and his glove. Votto continues to adjust. Now it’s about time for Bruce to adjust to those curve balls. Great game by the Yankee Killers!!!
By Jane
June 21, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
Credit Wayne Krivsky for Daryl Thompson!!
By AP-FLORIDA
June 21, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this
HAL,I ENJOY YOUR BLOGS ALSO…BUT CAN YOU MANAGE? JUST HALF AS WELL AS YOU WRITE AND WE WOULD IMPROVE 500%…OKAY KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK
By Pat
June 21, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
I think we need to start calling them left second basemen. we might have to trade for juan castro.
By Michael
June 21, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
Corey Patterson just hit a 2-run HR, his first big hit in a long time. That assures us Dusty will stick with Patterson for the next 30 days.
By redbuck
June 21, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
This is the best mlb blog around. I feel like on the trip when I read your posts. Hal, you are the best beat writer out there, and thanks for the ejoyable posts.
By Mike
June 21, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
How about this powerful combo..Griffey is 1 for his last 19..Dunn is 6 for the last 51…a total of 7-70 combined….as Marty ( “there’s no question about that!..(.he says it 10 times a game!) Brennaman..would pontificate..That’s anmeic!
By bigdoc
June 21, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this
Good chuckles! Good thing those kids didn’t get mugged! I predict DT doesn’t make it out of the first!
By Keith
June 21, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
DWR—A good question for Dusty, except you can change ‘a .300 hitter’ to ‘a .329 career hitter’ and ‘Corey patterson suffering through such a poor season’ to ‘Corey Patterson suffering through such a poor career and making Reds fans suffer this part of it.’
By Lee
June 21, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
I just don’t understand Baker’s love for Patterson. As a Reds fan its just hard to even watch a game when you know the manager plays who he likes, not who is the better player.
By dwr
June 21, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
Hal, you write perhaps the finest baseball blog out there, so cheers to that. Could you put a direct question to Dusty Baker, using these exact words, “Dusty, I’m sure you are you aware that Norris Hopper is a .300 hitter with speed and great bat control. Why isn’t he getting an opportunity against righties and lefties with Corey Patterson suffering through such a poor season?” I think we all want to know the answer. It’s just absolutely confounding. Thanks, Hal!
By pdolwick
June 21, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
This blog is immensely enjoyable. It’s the first bookmark I click in the morning anymore. Thanks Hal for writing it. Go Reds! Pat D.