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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 > July > 03 > Entry
Thompson: back to Louisville
They pulled the trigger on Daryl Thompson and if D-Train can find his way back to Louisville, he’ll be pitching for the Bats again. Of course, he doesn’t have to take a subway so he’ll find his way.
One night after taking a beating from the Pittsburgh Pirates, Thompson was optioned back to Class AAA Louisville.
His roster spot was taken by infielder Andy Phillips - and isn’t that bizarre? The Reds lost him on waivers to the New York Mets after the Reds designated him for assignment while they were in Yankee Stadium.
GM Walt Jocketty said at the time that he hated to lose him. Well, the Mets quickly put Phillips back on waivers and the Reds claimed him back.
Hopefully, his luggage catches up.
“Yeah, Andy Phillips is back,” said manager Dusty Baker, “after a very short stint in New York. Very short?”
Maybe the Reds just loaned him to the Mets.
So what does this mean for the Reds rotation? They don’t need a fifth starter until a week from Saturday in Milwaukee. And it is most likely that spot will be taken by Josh Fogg.
Fogg’s back is OK (“It’s been OK for a month,” he said) and he has been stretched out. His last three rehab starts were 8 1/3 inning, a complete game and 8 shutout innings, all more than 100 pitches.
And Thompson?
“He’s close, real close,” said Baker. “Most guys with his experience have command problems, throwing strikes. He was throwing strikes, but he was up in the zone. He was throwing middle of the plate strikes.
“He is not afraid and has tremendous desire and athleticism,” Baker added. “For his best sake, well, he is one of the best guys in our future plans. He has to tighten his slider a little bit and that will make everything else better.
“We like him and just think how far he has come since spring training,” said Baker. “He’s come up the ladder rather quickly. With his future and what we think of him, we thought it is in his best interests to go back and tighten things up.”
DESIGNATED DAY OFF? With a lefthander pitching tonight for the Washington Nationals, Adam Dunn is the guy who got the GSB, as the team likes to call it - a good, solid benching.
Jerry Hairston Jr. and Jeff Keppinger were 1-2 in the order, with Hairston in center and Jay Bruce in left, but with three righthanders pitching for the Nats after tonight, Dunn will return.
Baker admits Hairston and Keppinger are the best 1-2 situation for the team, but they won’t stay in the lineup that way.
“This is chance to have Hairston and Keppinger at the top,” said Baker. “But like I keep saying, with everybody back we have pluck one of them out of there and put out the best lineup we can come up with for that day. With the American League, it was a lot easier with the DH. We could play everybody.
“Ideally, yeah, it is best for us to have Hairston and Keppinger one-two. Ideally,” he said. “They’re really good hitters who can handle the bat and they give us flexibility.”
But every game isn’t an ideal situation, in Baker’s mind, for Hairston and Keppinger batting 1-2.
WITH THE Nationals in town, GM Jim Bowden is along for the ride and the former Reds GM is a big advocate of new Reds GM Walt Jocketty.
“I’m a big fan of Walt Jocketty’s,” said Bowden. “They hired the right guy. If they give him the leeway, and it looks as if they are spending money, he’ll do a good job. He’ll do what he did in St. Louis.”
Permalink | Comments (34) | Post your comment |
Comments
By Jim
July 9, 2008 12:35 AM | Link to this
Hal has any newsperson every ask baker why he left harang in so long when it was obvious he could not get the ball over the plate I would be interested in his answer”By Jim
July 9, 2008 12:35 AM | Link to this
Hal has any newsperson every ask baker why he left harang in so long when it was obvious he could not get the ball over the plate I would be interested in his answer”By Jim
July 9, 2008 12:34 AM | Link to this
Hal has any newsperson every ask baker why he left harang in so long when it was obvious he could not get the ball over the plate I would be interested in his answer”By Jim
July 9, 2008 12:34 AM | Link to this
Hal has any newsperson every ask baker why he left harang in so long when it was obvious he could not get the ball over the plate I would be interested in his answer”By Jim
July 9, 2008 12:34 AM | Link to this
Hal has any newsperson every ask baker why he left harang in so long when it was obvious he could not get the ball over the plate I would be interested in his answer”By Jane
July 5, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this
Jim Bowden is a jerk! Remember him??? He is the one that depleted our farm system that poor Wayne Krivsky had to build back up. Mr. Leatherpants has a alot to learn!!!By L- in Indy
July 4, 2008 3:04 PM | Link to this
Who should bat 3rd? Look at the stats, nobody else, save Phillips, is worthy of batting 3rd. Everyone else strikes out way too much or has about the same average as Griffey, so what does it matter. I do agree and do not understand why he doesn’t play Hairston and Kepp everyday and bat them 1-2 either. I want to know the trade rumors….I know Bronson is most likely gone and read Weathers as well, but who else, to who and for what?By Mike
July 4, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
Today on the Banana phone during todays rain delay..a caller asked why does Griffey bat #3 and why doesn;t he bat lower in the order? Answer given was…that moving players around is counter productive and that moving the “younger players ” into the 3 spot is exposinig them to a high pressure position and would hurt more than it would help..Griffey is best suited there and most likely be there from now on. A 2nd caller asked..”why don’t the Reds players run out pop flys or ground balls in the infield? Caller said it was disturning to see players not putting out a full effort! The answer given was ” I don’t think if there is a pop fly in the infield, a routine catch..there is no need to go all out and run full speed when its apparent the ball will be caught.. You can’t run full speed all the time. The answers given were from Jeff BrantleyBy H
July 4, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
Re Mike’s post: Just another nail in the coffin of what little hope we can hang onto with this terribel team. Baker is the classic example of if it ain’t broke, go fix it. What a moron he’s proving to be. I guess we can simply hope for a well pitched game today…By Mike
July 4, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
Todays batting order…..Baker will break up as he called it just recently… the best 1-2 combo for the batting order is Hairston-Keppinger. Bruce moves to #2..Keppinger falls to #6 and of course, Mr. Griffey after that oustanding performance yesterday (0-4) remains at #3..all because of respect and course, nothing to do with his performance whatsoever.By Bob
July 4, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
The Braves optioned Jeff Francoeur to Double A because he was hitting .234. Should the Reds make a similar move they wouldn’t have enough players left to fill out the lineup. Griffey, of course, would be exempt due to respect and a future HOF.By Mike
July 4, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this
What Baker is doing..is setting up Griffey to fail when he bats him 3rd.His failure there is magnified 10 times and as Marty Brennman says 10 times a game..”There’s no question about it!” There is no shame for him to bat lower in the order, and I mean lower than 4th.. His past accomplishments are tremendous and most Reds fans know that and respect it. This respect is shown in this years All Star game on 7/15. His stats this year certainly do not merit him starting in the OF, but fans are showing thier respect in thier votes. Only problem, somewhere on some team, there is an outfielder who probably won’t make it with virtually the same stats as Griffey. But, that’s OK..but you can’t reflect that ‘respect” everyday by battinig him 3rd and the entire team suffers as it did yesterday with his “bad” day at the plate.By HuberTucky
July 4, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
Griffey: Another 0 for 4, rarely gets the ball out of the infield anymore, can hardly get around on a fastball, and has slowed greatly. Hey, me too no that I’m an old guy! These people who blindly defend him based on his awesome career FROM THE PAST are drather elusional and dealing in wishful thinking, waiting for the former Kid to show up. Newsflash: Ain’t gonna happen! He’s hurting the team in the three spot. Period. Deal with the facts, guys, and quit squaking — look at the numbers (that’s known as facts). Fairytales and dreamland are for children. Stick a fork in this turkey…he’s done!By Steven Ross
July 4, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
Fogg should ask the Reds to either release or trade him. He’s deserves better. As for last night, I was wishing, hoping like mad, Dusty would PH for Griffey with bases loaded and one out. Facing the lefty, he K’d and looked awful. Thankfully, Phillips came through and we beat the mighty Nationals!By Florida Buckeye
July 4, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
It’s disturbing to read Baker’s comments: He realizes that Kep and Hairston are the best 1-2 hitters we have, and yet, he cannot play them everyday because he has to give ‘respect’ to a player that IS not what he once was…Add to that, it’s even more disturbing, that those of us who recognized and appreciate his storied past, and his feats of excellence,are being called, rude, not True Red’s Fans, nor even fans of baseball…Might I point out that IF we weren’t fans of the Reds, we wouldn’t be reading Hal’s blog; IF we weren’t fans of the Reds we wouldn’t care that Griff is cloggin up the order batting third, and IF we weren’t Reds fans, we wouldn’t feel slighted about being told who is, and who is NOT a Reds fan!By jspoelker
July 4, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
Manny Acta “said” with his decision to intentionally walk Keppinger to pitch to Griffey with the bases loaded, what the Reds can’t say,and what announcers and sports writers won’t say.By Matt
July 4, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
Mike-Cinci, I certainly appreciate that comment. You articulated your opinion very well and I agree with it. Griffey should not be batting third, you are absolutely right. If I were the manager he would hit 6th or 7th in the order, no doubt. Hope everyone has a great 4th!! God bless America!!By Mike-Cinci
July 4, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
Griffey, Jr. has had a great career. He WAS arguably the best player in baseball in the 1990’s. Today he is a shadow of his former self. Leaving him batting 3rd is a sign of respect but it also hurts the team. Junior no longer merits batting that high in the order based on results. Fan wanting Griffey to bat lower in the order are not bashing him but recognizing that he is not justifying the #3 position by his productivity. Dunn has batted 7th several times. Joe Torre batted Alex Rodriquez, arguably the best player in the game today, 8th in the playoffs and World Series. Johnny Bench did not finish his career batting clean-up. Recall a couple of years ago how hard it was to convince Griffey to move to RF from CF. It was clear he had lost several steps but he resisted that move too. It would be nice if Junior volunteered to Baker to move down in the order for the good of the team. That would be classy. Junior is a good man, a nice father, a solid citizen we can all be proud of, a first team Hall of Famer but he should not be batting 3rd.By Matt
July 4, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
As far as Griffey playing every day, as long as he is a Red, he will be out there every day, unless he is hurt or sick, or getting a day off here and there. The Reds aren’t paying someone that high of a salary to sit on the bench. Dusty Baker being manager has nothing to do with it. If Jimbob Smith was manager Jr. would be out there every day. And yes, again, it is duly noted that Griffey is not the player he once was. But look at the reception he gets almost everywhere else. Most fans in baseball know and appreciate the legend Griffey is and that he is one of the greatest, and they give him the respect he deserves, while we have fans in Cincinnati, at least the ones who speak up, who are waiting for Griff to fail so that they can trash him, and that is a shame.By Mike
July 4, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
All of his accolades aside,all of his glory of yesteryear, all of his fans hope for a renewed Griffey..face the stark reality..he is what he is.. a product of time and it has caught up with him. Fact: 0-4 in the #3 spot in the order and didn’t get one out of the infield! But,all this aside, Baker ” out of respect” will leave him there till he retires or whatever.By AP-FLORID
July 4, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this
GIVE GRIFFEY HIS DUE FOR PAST BUT WHEN THEY WALK KEPPINGER TO GET TO KEN JR AND HE POPS OUT TO THIRD, THAT SAYS IT ALL…..A BLIND SQUIRREL FINDS A NUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT WORSE YET, A (?) MAJOR LEAGUE MANAGER PUTS HIM THEREBy redsrealist
July 4, 2008 2:35 AM | Link to this
I agree some Griffey and Baker bashers take it to the extreme, but the fact of the matter is Jr. does NOT produce like he once did. Hairston is batting .380 in the leadoff spot for the year. Keppinger has been the Reds’ most consistent hitter. Yet, Dusty is going to rotate those two who get the job done on a nearly daily basis instead of a guy who maybe once a week comes through? Just look at tonight’s game. The Nats intentionally walked Kepp to get to Griffey, who popped out. Manny Acta knows who he’d rather take his chances with. When is Dusty going to quit appeasing his players and just put the best team out there? Not until they’re gone from this team, i’m sorry to say.By Gary Maloy Jr
July 4, 2008 12:11 AM | Link to this
Reds fans ARE smart. I don’t consider Griffey bashers as being Reds - or even baseball - fans. They know absolutely nothing about baseball. They’re certainly of the ‘what have you done for me lately’ crowd, and have nothing more intelligent to do than bash one of the greatest players ever. If Griffey had avoided the career-threatening injuries and had 703 home runs today, I wonder what these ‘fans’ would be babbling about?By Matt
July 3, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this
Ahh, looks like we’re getting our daily dose of the Griffey bashing on here. A first ballot Hall of Famer, 603 home runs, just isn’t good enough for some people, huh? Junior has lost a few steps yes, but he is still one of the best to ever play the game. Remember the walk off shot Monday night? I have heard for years that Cincinnati fans are smart. That’s a laugh. If the fans were smart around here, they would appreciate the likes of folks like Dusty Baker, Ken Griffey Jr., and Edwin Encarnacion. Go Reds!!By Indy Fan
July 3, 2008 9:36 PM | Link to this
After reading some of Dusty’s comments about his lineups, one gets the impression that winning the game is not at the top of his agenda. He seems to care more about keeping the players happy.By Pops
July 3, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
As long as the brain trust insists on Mr. Lethargic Griffey hitting third into his customary pop-out, tap out to the right side, strike out, or double play…this team will go nowhere.By AP-FLORIDA
July 3, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this
griffey just popped out to third with bases loaded and one out….By ohdave
July 3, 2008 6:55 PM | Link to this
Rob, if Jockety can fool someone into taking Fogg off of the Reds hands he should be named GM of the year.By D8Nken
July 3, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this
When is Baker going to get it? Hairston and Keppinger need to play EVERY day. Why does he think the team played well on the road trip. Look at the last 2 nights without both of them in there. Let Jr, Dunn, Bruce, and EE rotate the GSB. God knows they all deserve it more then Keppinger or Hairston.By Mr. Redlegs (Original)
July 3, 2008 6:50 PM | Link to this
Affeldt is NOT going to the rotation. He’s got market and scouts are eyeballing him—and not as a starter. No contender is trading for him to be a starter, so why would the Reds be so idiotic as to move him into the rotation? To plug a rotation hole for a last-place team? Oh-kay.By Mr. Baseball
July 3, 2008 6:23 PM | Link to this
Josh Fogg has been consistently mediocre in his big league career. Right now, considering the alternatives, that looks pretty good for the #5 spot. He has won between 10-12 games in 5 out of 6 seasons before this one. He seems to have had three consistent 100+ pitch starts in Louisville. Let’s see how he does. If he bombs again, it might be Affeldt time.By Y-City Jim
July 3, 2008 6:10 PM | Link to this
Typo on the number of hits - it’s 13 not 15.By Y-City Jim
July 3, 2008 6:06 PM | Link to this
I know the argument is that he hasn’t had a chance to work several innings but why not give the job to Jeremy Affeldt? Over the last 15 days he has pitch 10 2/3 innings giving up 15 hits and three earned runs while walking 3 and striking out 9. He gives them a LHer in the rotation. Can he do any worse than they guys we have been running out there? From my perspective, he has been patiently waiting for his chance without complaint. Reward him with the same chance that Fogg, Bellisle, Bailey, and Thompson were all given.By rob
July 3, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
Who goes when Fogg is activated? It would be almost cruel to dfa A. Phillips again. It’s pretty obvious Fogg will be auditioning for a trade. If that happens, who is plugged into that fifth spot the last 2 months? Darryl Thompson? Matt Maloney? Or, ahem Homer Bailey?