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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 > 30 > Entry
Another good change-up artist
Looks as if the Reds have another functional arm that knows how to throw change-ups that keep hitters off stride.
OK, OK, so it was the San Francisco Giants, the NL West version of the Cincinnati Reds. They have nearly identical records.
But 24-year-old rookie Ramon Ramirez was impressive - after his fifth pitch of the game to San Francisco leadoff hitter Randy Winn went spiraling into the stands for a leadoff home run.
Over seven innings, Ramirez gave up three runs and five hits, walked two and struck out six.
He is another Edinson Volquez and/or Johnny Cueto - except he is from Venezuela, not the Dominican Republic. And while Volquez and Cueto get their fastballs giddy-upping at 95 and 96, Ramirez only touches 91-92.
But he had the Giants swinging at the breeze.
He left with a 6-3 lead after seven, and said he could have gone eight, but manager Dusty Baker thought 98 pitches was enough and wanted him to leave on a positive note.
Bill Bray then gave up three straight hits, including Winn’s second homer of the game. Mike Lincoln came in and blew the save, giving up the tying run on Aaron Rowand’s home run.
And here’s one baseball rule that stinks like a dead skunk in the middle of the road. Lincoln blew the save, gave up the tying run. Yet when the Reds scored in the bottom of the eighth, that made Lincoln the winning pitcher. How bad does that smell? Rotten as Denmark, as they say - although I hear Denmark is a nice place to visit.
Anyway, the Ramirez kid looked good and deserves another shot. But if Johnny Cueto is ready by the time Friday rolls around, Ramirez will be back in Louisville trying to help the Bats win the playoffs.
Here’s what Ramirez said of his major-league debut:
Of his first batter hitting a home run: “I was feeling nervous and I was trying to calm down and make adjustments after that.
“I tried to relax and think about the way I was pitching in Louisville,” he added. And of his first taste of the majors, he added, “It was the best thing ever.”
At least we think that’s what he said. Like Cueto, he doesn’t speak English and his words were interpreted to us by Juan “Porky” Lopez.
I remember when Fernando Valenzuela first joined the Dodgers from Mexico and spoke no English. He would be asked a question and his answer would go on and on, like: Da-da-da-da. Da-da-da-da-da. Da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-da-day.”
And the interpreter would say, “He said, ‘I felt good.” Oh-kay. I took two years of Spanish in college, cut too many classes, so I have only myself to blame for needing an interpreter.
So what did Baker think of Ramirez?
“It was a very good seven innings, one of the better seven innings from somebody we called up and it might be the best,” Baker added. “He was calm and cool and you could tell he is a good athlete. He gave us what we needed.”
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By Bowshier
September 1, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
Does the late call back mean Burton is off our postseaon roster? hee hee
By Bowshier
September 1, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
Does the late call back mean Burton is off our postseaon roster? hee hee
By MAC
September 1, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
Reds have another change-up artist and Hal, isn’t it about time? I’ve complained to Hal for years about the Reds inability to develop starting pitching and the Reds organization’s unwillingness to emphasize the change-up in the minors. Finally, we’ve seen a (change-up) in the Reds approach and (in case U haven’t noticed) some good young pitchers because of it and FEWER ARM INJURIES which is no small pt. IMO! While Homer continues to struggle as a power pitcher, others are passing him by w/ good command of their FB and pitching to contact w/ a change-up.
By rob in stl
August 31, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this
Hal, Couldn’t agree more with the way the win was awarded last night. Baseball should look at the way wins are awarded to pitchers in that situation. The bullpen only allowed the Giants to tie the game and the Reds regained the lead in their half of the inning. It would be nice if Lincoln could be tagged with just a blown save and Ramirez awarded the win.
By Beard
August 31, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
I’d much rather see Ramirez than Fogg (who won’t be with the team at all next year). Let Ramirez get a few starts then in the spring you can have a competition for the #5 rotation spot between Bailey, Thompson, Maloney, Owings, and Ramirez.
By Mark in Sun Valley
August 31, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this
You’re probably right Y. I just saw demoted and did not see Sarasota. He’ll be back tomorrow and we’ll have an extra bat today. Don’t wanna be a pessimist, but I doubt this hitting spree will continue much longer. There is a world of differnece between Cain and the last 2 pitchers we’ve seen.
By Y-City Jim
August 31, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
Actually, if may be just a one day thing. Sarasota’s season ends today, which means they can call him right back up. If they had sent him to Louisville, he would have had to stay down at least ten days.
By Mark in Sun Valley
August 31, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
I suspect Ramirez will be pitching Thursday for Louisville in their Championship series, and will then be back to Cincinnati. I am surprised Hanigan did not go back as well. The real puzzler is who will the Reds drop off the 40 man roster to get an additional outfielder with the big club after Louisville finishes? And will that outfielder be Drew Stubbs? He seems to be the best OF in the system with Dickerson called up, but I do not think they wanted to start the arbitration clock on Bruce, Dickerson AND Stubbs in the same year.
By Y-City Jim
August 31, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this
Management must not see it that way. Ramirez was optioned to Class A Sarasota after the game. One our new acquisitions, Wilin Castillo, was called up. We now have four catchers.
By Mike-Cinci
August 31, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
Like the other posts I’d give Ramirez a few more starts. What is there to lose? Unless Cueto is perfectly healthy I’d let him continue to rest. The Reds have a chance to see how some young players fit in and they should take advantage of it. My guess is EE stays with the team. He is too young to give up on yet. I heard a guy on the Doc Rodgers show call for the Reds to get Casey Blake to play 3rd. Blake is 35 and should not be part of any rebuilding program. Isn’t he Joe Randa the second.The Reds need to keep the good young players and find some more.
By HuberTucky
August 31, 2008 1:16 AM | Link to this
I found Ramirez to very a very impressive young man on the mound tonight. An awesome debut for a fairly hapless team. How sad that Lincoln got the W — for what? He stunk the place up. Bray flat out sucked. Good to see Dusty yank him pretty quickly. Seems pretty unfair that Lincoln got the W, but I guess that the way that stuff goes. Personally, I’d rest Cueto more than seems prudent based on the fact that he really isn’t needed that badly on a rotten team at this point in the year? For what purpose? Let Ramirez pitch in his spot Friday. And Homer Bailey better be watchin. Take note, Tex. There’s an eager aggressive talented young man ready to step in and maybe eat your lunch. Must admit, Patterson has been looking a wee bit better lately, but tonight his sloppiness on 3rd cost the Reds a run. He should have easily scored before the DP was completed and hence another run missed. On bases tonight, he and Bruce could have been more alert.
By Mark in Sun Valley
August 31, 2008 12:59 AM | Link to this
MAC, you’re thinking of Elizardo “EZ” Ramirez. He was dropped from the Reds 40 man roster to make room for other players and he ended up in the Texas organization.
By MAC
August 31, 2008 12:09 AM | Link to this
Isn’t this the same Ramirez that hurt his arm pitching for the Reds 2 or 3 years ago? That Ramirez had a very good change-up as well.
By Y-City Jim
August 30, 2008 11:54 PM | Link to this
He did a nice job. What impressed me most of he was fairly efficient with his pitches and didn’t run the count too high. It will take a few outings to determine and maybe a year or two of MLB experience to determine how good he really is though.