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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 > 22 > Entry
Honest Abe Keppinger returns
A roster move had to be made Sunday morning to make room for the activation of shortstop Jeff Keppinger.
There was a delay, backing up our pre-game meeting with manager Dusty Baker and backing up Marty Brennaman’s pre-game taped interview.
Finally, the announcement was made. Andy Phillips was designated for assignment.
“He was in Sunday chapel,” said general manager Walt Jocketty. “I didn’t want to go into the middle of chapel and pull him out to tell him he was designated.”
It was suggested that maybe Phillips was in chapel praying that Jocketty wouldn’t tap him on the shoulder, but when Keppinger walked into the clubhouse Sunday morning one could see the stricken and forlorn look on Phillips’ face.
Said Baker, “That would have been sacrilegious to pull him out of chapel. We don’t want that.”
Jocketty then began talking positively abut how much he liked Phillips and how much they’d like to get him back up quickly, but Phillips is out of options and has to pass through waivers.
“Don’t write too many good things about him because we don’t want anybody to claim him,” Jocketty said.
Activating Keppinger is a quick-fix emergency situation. He may not be quite ready, but with the loss Friday of Jolbert Cabrera and the offensive ineptitude of Paul Janish, Keppinger is needed.
“We would have preferred to keep him down there (rehabbing at Louisville) for a while longer, but I talked with (manager) Rick Sweet and (Director of Player Development) Terry Reynolds and they say he is ready,” said Baker.
“We’ll play him today, we have an off day Monday and he’ll get treatment, then he’ll play Tuesday. We need a real shortstop for that AstroTurf in Toronto.”
Keppinger is sporting a full beard that he began growing the day he fouled a ball off his kneecap and fractured it. He looks like a small economy-sized Abe Lincoln.
“I tried to find a beard trimmer yesterday but I couldn’t,” he said. “So it stays, for now. If I don’t get any hits today it is gone for sure. If I get some hits, well, it served me pretty well in Louisville.”
Adam Dunn, in the polite vernacular, was given the day off, replaced in left field by Norris Hopper. Don’t get too excited, though. Corey Patterson was in center - but at least Hopper was leading off.
Dunn, one of the world’s great self-deprecators, said, “Just a GSB, a good, solid benching.” And he added, “Seriously, who would you bench?”
Uh, Dunn is 6 for 54 (.111), but he has a lot of company in the slump department.
“It can’t hurt for me to sit right now,” he said. “I get into these little ruts that only I can get myself into. Hopefully, I’ll sit today and get it going in Toronto.”
Dunn said he hasn’t heard from Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi, who promised to call Dunn and apologize for Ricciardi’s critical harangue of Dunn on a radio show.
“No, he hasn’t called,” said Dunn. “It would be hard for him to get my number.” Told that GM Jocketty, who did talk to Ricciardi, could have given up the number, Dunn said. “That would not be nice of Walt.”
So maybe Dunn and Ricciardi will meet on the field Tuesday. Is Dunn going to give J.P. a big ol’ hug.
“Yeah,” said Dunn. “A bear hug.”
Ken Griffey Jr. walked into the visitor’s clubhouse and said, “Last time here when I walk out the door after today’s game.” The Yankees move across the street to a new Yankee Stadium after this season.
Said Griffey, “I suppose they’ll keep this place as a National Historical Landmark.”
When he was told that there were plans to tear down the old place and turn it into greenspace, a park, Griffey said, “Bet they don’t. It’ll be a historic landmark because, after all, Babe Ruth urinated in the grass.”
Daryl Thompson, who made his major-league debut with five scoreless innings Saturday after getting lost on the subway, walked into the clubhouse early Sunday and when asked if he took a cab this time or the team bus, he said, “Oh, no. I took the subway. I’m a veteran now. I know how to get around.”
Baker knows how to get around, too.
“Love these early games,” he said. “I was in bed by 10 last night. Went to Spanish Harlem and had some Cuban food and listened to merengue while I ate.”
I ate at Junior’s Delicatessan on 45th street. Don’t bother. Long wait, poor service (35 minutes between ordering and delivery), cold food. I knew I should have walked nine blocks to the Carnegie Deli - my favorite. Tonight. For sure.
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By JANET
June 23, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
Why wasn’t Ken Griffey Sr at the Reds celebration for Jr’s 600 home runs?
By Rob
June 23, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
“Why didn’t they send Janish down and keep Phillips?” For the exact reason why they brought Kep up in the first place. They’re hurting for shortstops and bringing one shortstop up and sending another one down does not in any way increase the number of shortstops on your major league club.
By Gerry
June 22, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
Why didn’t they send Janish down and keep Phillips? Some of the decision making is baffling to say the least.
By Y-City Jim
June 22, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this
Of all outfielders with 100 or more at bats, Corey Patterson has the lowest OBPm and he has almost 200 at bats. Walt, pull the plug on the Corey Patterson experiment. BTW, he ranks 176th among all MLB outfielders.
By Y-City Jim
June 22, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this
It was nice to take two of three though the sweep would have been so much sweeter. Baker found a way to sneak his son, Corey Patterson, into starting all three games. Pathetic! Finally, he won’t let Valentin catch but he let’s him play 3B?
By rlg
June 22, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
This looked like a repeat of an old movie today. Starter pitches well and Majeski and Alfelt come in and add gasoline to the fire, making a close game, a semi-blowout, especially the way the Reds have been hitting all season. Again, another display of ineffectiveness in coming up with the big hit in clutch situations. Both Bruce and Votto looked overmatched each time they struck out. They have to figure out a way to make consistent contact and at least put the ball in play. On the positive side, Cueto looked like his old self, he deserved better than what he got today.
By Ryan
June 22, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
Just saw you on FSN, Hal, during the rain delay. Love to hear the stories. I imagine both you and George Grande could chat for days recanting stories. Glad to see Keppinger back, though it sucks to see Phillips go. Hopefully, he can clear waivers and come back to play with us, especially with Edwin possibly going down.