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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 > August > 22 > Entry
Another delightful travel day
This was another travel day so you KNOW what’s coming - another airline bitch-out.
Everything was fine from Chicago to Denver - even landed 15 minutes early. You know what that means, though. The plane’s gate was occupied so we had to sit out on the tarmac for 25 minutes until the other plane vacated our gate.
Why be early if you have to sit and sit and sit on a runway?
Then the fun part. Waited 20 minutes for my luggage. No luggage. After nearly all of it was gone, an agent walked to the carousel and said, “Some of your luggage came on an earlier flight. We had to lock it up because the FAA makes us do that.”
Couldn’t she have told us when we FIRST got there. Anyway, I went to her and said, “McCoy.” Said she, “Sorry, no McCoy.” Ten more minutes at the carousel and no luggage. Time to trudge to the lost luggage office.
I handed another woman my ticket and she scanned it and said, “Your luggage came on an earlier flight.” Said I, “That’s what the other women said, but she doesn’t have my name on her list.”
Back to the other woman. “Oh, yeah. Here is is. Your suitcase is right inside this rope.” Guess what I wanted to do with that rope. Thanks, United. Again. I mean, can’t my luggage at least travel on the same flight as I do?
The day got better, though. I went to Ted Turner’s restaurant for lunch and had my first bisonburger and buffalo chili. Really good. The meat is sweeter and leaner (less than 4 % fat) and tastier.
Loved it. Except when it was time to go to the ballpark, I felt more like wandering around on the prairie.
Manager Dusty Baker altered his batting order for tonight’s game. He dropped Jay Bruce out of the No. 3 hole and is batting sixth. Brandon Phillips was moved from fourth to third and Joey Votto was moved to clean-up.
It wasn’t because a lefthander was pitching for the Rockies. The starter is righthander Livan Hernandez. We’ll get the explanation later from Baker.
And, yes, Corey Patterson is in the lineup. But lighten up, guys. Baker didn’t play him for a long, long time. And now that he is playing him, he isn’t batting leadoff. He is deep in the order. And he is playing out of necessity. Have you checked how many outfielders are on the roster?
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By うつ病
September 23, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this
見てよ。
By HuberTucky
August 23, 2008 5:06 PM | Link to this
Totally agree with playing Dickerson in center, Votto in left. Let Cabrerra and Javy split first and leave Corey on the bench from now on as a PH or late defensive replacement. He should never never be allowed near the bat rack. The Reds can be spoilers just as easily with Votto in left.
By wizard
August 23, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
Way to go Petey! Glad to see some more people are agreeing with me—don’t forget Alonso coming along shortly, also—to play at first. In addition, they could quit screwing Valentin at first base now, too.Rusty Dusty makes bad decisions, everyday.
By Petey in LA
August 23, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
I think Hal’s off base on giving CP playing time. Dickerson might be the starting CF next year…he needs as much PT out there as possible. Then who plays LF? Cabrera, a decent hitter, would be a better choice. But the best choice? Joey Votto. He’s played professionally in LF almost 50 times on the last two years, so let him get his playing time there, plus it gives Votto more flexibility for 2009 and beyond. Meanwhile, we can give some 1B ABs to Adam Rosales. There is NO reason to play CP the rest of the year. Period.
By ShockMonkey
August 23, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
Let’s see, Phillips is finally moved out of cleanup, where he didn’t belong, then promptly hits a two-run homer in the first. Votto is inserted into that slot and delivers three hits. The only starter without a hit last night? Gosh, who would that be Dusty? None other than CP. I rest my case. Put me in charge!
By wizard
August 23, 2008 2:42 AM | Link to this
Ha,Ha,Ha! Nothing better than a great sense of humor!Ha, ha, ha.Damn, I’m tired!
By Tim
August 23, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this
Jolbert Cabrera and his .327 would disagree that we’re playing CP out of necessity. It’s moronic to continue to trot CP out there. He’s awful—that’s a known fact that isn’t going to change. At least give Cabrera a chance to do something. Even though he’s not a youngster, his career BA and OBP are still better than Corey’s.
By w
August 23, 2008 12:07 AM | Link to this
Geez, Jim—I sure wouldn’t want to have my own opinion on here…Just judging talent that reminds me of Geronimo—who if I recall wasn’t a great hitter, either; but is in the Reds HOF. I don’t have all of your’s and Matt’s stats—just an observation. I figure if Dusty can “have a gut feeling”about CP, I can have one about Dickerson. Ya think?
By Y-City Jim
August 22, 2008 11:55 PM | Link to this
37 MLB AB’s and you want to give the guy the starting CF job? That seems a bit premature especially considering that in six MiLB seasons he has hit .260. Now if he can match his MiLB OBP of .360, I might be inclined to agree.
By wizard
August 22, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
IMO, no need to sign a CF for next year! Dickerson is it. He’ll only get better.
By Matt
August 22, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this
The Redlegs are pounding those Rockies tonight!! 10 hits and 7 runs, and we’re only in the 5th inning. Good stuff.
By Bill
August 22, 2008 10:22 PM | Link to this
Hal, Skip the Mountain Oysters. I don’t know if the Reds have any more healthy outfielders on their 40 man roster. With Belisle out with surgery, I’m not sure who will be pitching the last 2 weeks of Sept. I figure that JC and EV will be out of innings by then.
By wizard
August 22, 2008 10:08 PM | Link to this
Sure do agree with Mark…about Dickerson playing CF—every night! Just drove in two runs with a basehit. You don’t have to hit homeruns to win!
By Mark from C-bus
August 22, 2008 8:37 PM | Link to this
I like dropping Bruce to the six hole, moving Phillips to three, and Votto to four…I think Votto could be a decent 4 hole hitter as he matures…and Phillips was never natural there—in fact, he’s not a natural three holer either, but whaddya gonna do?
By Roger
August 22, 2008 7:14 PM | Link to this
Laying out interesting ink for the Reds, surely must be a little difficult during this time of the season. Six or seven paragraphs about your lost luggage, is somewhat refeshing (compared to the team). At least the United team evenually solved the problem. You started with lost luggage and ened with Patterson, somtimes you just have to share bad news.
By ShockMonkey
August 22, 2008 6:59 PM | Link to this
Sorry Hal but CP should NOT be in the lineup under any circumstance. He’s awful and so is Baker for playing him as a favorite. Even Chris Welch asked why is CP in the lineup? I thought the Reds were going younger! One would think! Duh! He’s NOT going to be here next season. The sooner WJ slaps DFA on Patterson, the better. Then we can work on finding a manager who has a clue. Oh yeah, he finally has a decent brain synapse and moves Phillips out of cleanup. Simply amazing!
By Mark in Sun Valley
August 22, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this
I agree that right now, Dusty’s hands are somewhat tied in the OF department. If Louisville was not in the race, I am sure another outfielder would be called up. But since Patterson is not part of our future, and perhaps Dickerson is, shouldn’t he play CF, so we can see if he has the talent defensively, rather than shuttling him to LF for Corey? And I would like to see Andy Phillips at least once in a while. And Cabrera hitting 100 points higher than CP, it makes playing patterson most of the time seem silly. All part of Dusty’s magical pageantry.
By HuberTucky
August 22, 2008 5:49 PM | Link to this
Hal, I’ve lived in Colorado since 1992 and can tell you that I NEVER fly United. They are the worst. I love Southwest in every regard. They have never once screwed things up for me, my travel, or my luggage. And they are the best dealing with customer service. United is the opposite, kinda like USAIR. Both awful. (BTW — Wasn’t your last bad airline experience reported here with USAIR?). Bison/buffalo meat is very lean, even less fat that skinless chicken breast. We like that kinda range meat out here in the West. Ever eat at The Fort? (west Denver in Morrison/Golden near the Bandimere Speedway). The Fort has great wild game meat. Give it a go if you never tried it. Elk, antelope, even Mtn. Oysters.