Home of the Week
Madison graduation 2012
Warren County CC graduation
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 > 27 > Entry
Does Cleveland really rock?
It’s still The Jake to me. Jacobs Field. What’s this Progressive Field stuff? I mean, The Prog? C’mon, Cleveland..
It’s like when they changed Riverfront Stadium to Cinergy Field. T’was always Riverfront to me. Cinergy Field sounded like a science experiment.
JOEY VOTTO is thrilled to be out of Toronto, even if it is his hometown.
“You have no idea,” he said Friday in Cleveland. “It was just too much at one time for a young player like me - the media attention. It was nice to see my family and friends, but it was too much.”
Votto went in to Toronto on a seven-game hitting streak and was 14 for 28 (.500). During the three games in Rogers Centre he was 1 for 11 with five strikeouts, two walks and a lonely double.
ADAM DUNN, for some strange reason, was a villain in Toronto. Even though it was Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi who ripped Dunn on a radio show, it was Dunn who was booed heavily by the fans.
“I didn’t mind it,” he said with a laugh. “It’s kinda nice to be booed on the road.”
THERE IS a video game in the Jacobs Field - OK, Progressive Field - visitor’s clubhouse, a hunting game called Big Buck Hunter. Deer dance across a screen while the game-player holds a mock rifle and pumps away at the images.
“This is as close as I get to hunting,” said Aaron Harang, pumping away on the plastic gun. “I haven’t hit many deer, but I smoked a wolf.”
THE TEAM hotel is only five blocks from Jacobs/Progressive, but Daryl Thompson, also known as D-Train, took no chances. Even though he didn’t have to take a subway and risk getting lost like he did for his debut in New York, he left the hotel at 2 o’clock for the walk to the stadium.
No big deal. If he went the wrong way, Lake Erie would have stopped him within two blocks.
DAVID WEATHERS has an 8-year-old son, Ryan, who makes a lot of the trips. The kid is unbelievable with the bat and snags fly balls like a major-leaguer. Ahem, better than some. There he was Friday, in a miniature Reds uniform with ‘Weathers, 25’ on the back, in the outfield shagging fly balls early Friday.
One problem. It was the Cleveland Indians taking extra batting practice.
KEN GRIFFEY JR. was looking at Friday’s lineup card when trainer Mark Mann walked by and said, “Vacation’s over, Griff. Back in the field.”
Said Griffey, twisting his head, “I think my neck hurts.”
Actually, Griffey told manager Dusty Baker he doesn’t like DHing, which he did the first six games of this trip. So Baker had him back in right field Friday and he’ll play there Saturday, too, while Adam Dunn is the designated hitter.
WITH THE NBA draft in progress, Baker was thinking basketball.
“We want to get back to .500 by the All-Star break,” he said. “Most teams see that vacation coming and are thinking about that. We have to keep pushing hard right to the last game - sort of like hitting a couple of three-pointers just before the half to get back into a game.
“Then a lot of teams come back from the break thinking they are still on vacation and ease back into it,” he said. “We have to jump on ‘em hard right from the start.”
Nice plan. Let’s see about the execution.
The Cincinnati-Cleveland series supposedly is for The Ohio Cup. In reality, with both teams in last place, it is to determine the second-worst team in Ohio.
Permalink | Comments (21) | Post your comment |
Tweet
Comments
By HuberTucky
June 28, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this
Uh oh! I smell smoke! Looks like Dusty is trying to think again…and that is certainly dangerous territory. His mind is like a bad neighborhood and he shouldn’t go in there alone! From the Yahoo sports page, Dusty is guessing Edwin will be available again Sunday. And when Encarnacion comes back, Baker has to figure a way to play or rotate Kepp, Hair and EE at shortstop and third base. Now, here he goes: “I have to figure that out, but that’s part of my job, part of the challenge,” Baker said. EE is hitting .241 with 12 homers and 29 RBIs, while Kepp is @ .311 and Hair @ .323. So, Redleg fans, logic dictates that since EE’s BA is hovering around the sterling results we see from Jr’s .239 & Dunn’s .221, it stands to reason (?) that EE will be playing. Hell, bring back Cory while you’re at it! Yee Haa, another decision from the Chairman of the Low IQ Club!
By Mike-Cinci
June 28, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this
Most fans now seem to agree the Reds need more talent. They look spiritless because all losing teams look that way. It is no fun to lose and it is worse when you know you have no chance. The won/lost record says it all. The manager and coaches will eventually pay the price for losing. Bad teams always fire managers. Hopefully Jocketty can find some good players that can help while we wait for more prospects. Unfortunately there is no overnight cure for what ails our favorite team. Watching losing baseball has never been fun.
By Mike-Cinci
June 28, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
Most fans now seem to agree the Reds need more talent. They look spiritless because all losing teams look that way. It is no fun to lose and it is worse when you know you have no chance. The won/lost record says it all. The manager and coaches will eventually pay the price for losing. Bad teams always fire managers. Hopefully Jocketty can find some good players that can help while we wait for more prospects. Unfortunately there is no overnight cure for what ails our favorite team. Watching losing baseball has never been fun.
By Mike-Cinci
June 28, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this
Most fans now seem to agree the Reds need more talent. They look spiritless because all losing teams look that way. It is no fun to lose and it is worse when you know you have no chance. The won/lost record says it all. The manager and coaches will eventually pay the price for losing. Bad teams always fire managers. Hopefully Jocketty can find some good players that can help while we wait for more prospects. Unfortunately there is no overnight cure for what ails our favorite team. Watching losing baseball has never been fun.
By Mike
June 28, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this
Hal, Been a Red’s fan since ‘62 and this is the most boring team in memory. If ever your professionalism has been tested, I would guess this has got to be the year— how do you do it?! About Dunn: I like him as a player. However, I think Junior’s decline has saddled him with some unexpectd pressure. He now finds HIMSELF in the position of being the ultimate power source— not to mention the sad yet inevitable spectacle of seeing his friend’s skills decline. And about Griffey: It has been an education watching how this savvy player compensates for the erosion of his physical gifts. The silver lining in all of this is, of course, the play of the rookies. So yeah, this fan will keep dragging himself to the games (at least on TV). Write on.
By JT
June 28, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
Hey Rusty Pete. Reds fans are some of the best in baseball. We are fed up with the lack of fire in the bellies of the 25 lost souls in our dugout. And we’re tired of being beaten. And, one simple fact is we dont have enough talent. We have to aquire better baseball players, through solid trades, or making a splash in free agency. So keep your bashing to yourself, because the rest of us fans dont want to listen to it. We love our team and live and die wth ‘em nightly and we are too good of a franchise to be going eight or ten years without at least breaking .500.
By tom
June 28, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
We’re stuck with Baker at least for another year if the pathetic play continues. In the meantime, get rid of Jacoby and Pole and bring up the coaches at AAA to see if they can motivate this spiritless team.
By Y-City Jim
June 28, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
Careful using the KC Royals as an example. They are 12-2 in their last 14 games after knocking off St. Louis again last night.
By Rich
June 28, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this
Hey Rusty - How many winning seasons have the Reds had since 2002 when they finished a couple games over 500. I’m a fan of the home team as well but I don’t center my life around this team or any other team for that matter. However, I can understand those that do how they must feel when one player admits he’s not excited about going to the All Star game and the other one seems to lack any excitement for the game. (Dunn) These two are not leaders - which is what this team needs. Pitching and hitting; that’s what it’s all about.
By Mike-Cinci
June 28, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
The problem with the Reds is they do not have enough talent. Other teams are better. The players are tryung to win just like the players in Seattle and Kansas City are trying to win. They don’t have enough talent either. This will not change until the Reds sign and develop young players in their farm system. The team has wasted the last 20 years and it is now showing up in the record of the major league team. Getting this fixed will take time…lots and lots of time.
By Todcon
June 28, 2008 7:15 AM | Link to this
Can someone please explain to me why Majewski was brought in when he was. Bray obviously should have faced the next batter, being better against righties than lefties. Baker all too often fails to make a proper decision that would keep these guys in the game. Remember Patterson batting recently against a leftie with two on, two out in the seventh with the game on the line? I’ve had enough time to evaluate and I don’t like Dusty Baker a little bit.
By DALE 78
June 28, 2008 6:30 AM | Link to this
Is Mr J done evaluating this team .If he is he is certainly not seeing much .I think the Reds have pretty much written off this season but are not willing to admit it . MR Baker talks about getting back to 500 hundred ,who is he kidding .This teams sucks and everybody knows it .
By FedUp
June 28, 2008 3:36 AM | Link to this
To address your question, caseyforlife, Bruce and Votto had a combined 4 strikeouts. They are also rookies each in the first 1/2 of their first year.How about batting averages? Griffey .239, Dunn .221, Bruce .278, Votto .280. At least they appear to be trying and appear to care. And caseyforlife, you don’t need to post 3 times…once is sufficient. And to you Rusty Pate — you are way off base. Reds fans are the best fans but are also honest. We got spoiled with winning teams at one time and we know what it feels like. Now we are collectively sick of what we’ve seen now for at least 8 years of terrible frustrating mediocre team play and results. Are you content to keep rooting for a sub par, underperforming rotten team? What kind of fan are you? How dare you criticize our passion?
By Y-City Jim
June 28, 2008 2:42 AM | Link to this
Hal, maybe the question should does Cincinnati rock? I would love to go to a Reds game just once where the Reds fans are deafening. How can any fan make accusations that the team has no heart? Where’s their inspiration? It certainly isn’t coming from the fans in the seats of GABP.
By Rusty Pate
June 28, 2008 2:30 AM | Link to this
Cincinnati fans are the worst in sports. I am a die hard Reds fan, but all the crying and complaining makes me sick. This is a young team. Anyone who thought they would contend this year was crazy. I still think they can make a run at .500, but no way they are even close to the Cubs or Brewers, not yet. Cleveland is not a bad team, despite their record. Sabathia will do this to many teams the rest of the season. My advice to Reds fans: Chill out. I know it is frustrating when you have unrealistic expectations, but just be happy that Cincy finally has quality young arms like Volquez or Thompson and young sticks like Phillips and Bruce. You don’t compete when your best players are under 27.
By Caseyforlife
June 28, 2008 1:08 AM | Link to this
I’m sorry but how many strikeouts did Bruce and Votto have combined? Dunn had the hardest hit of the game and in case you missed it he was robbed by Sizemore. People that blame Griffey and Dunn for everything are clearly not watching the games.
By FedUp
June 28, 2008 12:40 AM | Link to this
FedUp, that’s what ya get when you merge FedEx and UPS. In reality, fed up is what ya get watching this heartless team. Well, not everyone is heartless. Kepp, Hair, Brandon, Joey & Bruce seem to really hustle and care. Hell, Hairston had one hit, which is one more than the dynamic duo of high-priced lefty powerhouses Griffey and Dunn had…but wait, at least G&D had FIVE strikeouts between ‘em in seven official at bats (G walked once). Disgusting to watch this team…but I’ve been addicted to the Reds for my whole life…they’re my home team since I was a boy. Gads, I need to GET a life! That’s what hurts so much. Ooops, I think I just got a little vomit in my mouth.
By Rich
June 27, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this
I would have to agree with Lil Tucky. This team has no spark. They don’t seem to play hard or even care about the game. The fundamental mistakes they make remind me of a college or high school team. I thought they would tear through the last place teams…
By HuberTucky
June 27, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this
Same old same old. D Thompson’s pitching beautifully and once again the Dreads have psyched themselves out with the (imagined)reality of a pre-game loss. The offense is non-existent. And remember the Fireman of the Year award for relief pitches? Well, Arsonist of the Year Majewski is pitching now and throwing gas on the fire. What a suck of a team. Terrible. No heart. Absolutely no passion. No player leadership. As if they don’t care, most of them. Sickening & pathetic.
By rlg
June 27, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
It is now the top of the sixth in Cleveland, first game. How much longer do we have to watch this anemic offense? Weak ground outs, strikeouts, swinging at the first pitch, always. When do they finally make some changes…five years of this is enough.
By Pat
June 27, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this
I can’t keep up with the different names of the ball parks. I just call them by the name of the home team. Afterall, Great American isn’t paying me to say their name.