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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 37th 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 > 2009 > March > 02 > Entry
Bailey: changed man on and off the field
BRADENTON, Fla. — A person who has been around for all of Homer Bailey’s so-far below C-level career, watched an interview and said, “Who kidnapped the old Homer Bailey?”
As far as the Cincinnati Reds are concerned, if the old Bailey was kidnapped they better pay the ransom to have the kidnpappers keep him.
The new Homer Bailey is something to behold — on and off the field.
First he pitched three scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates, giving up one hit and striking out four during a 2-1 loss.
Then he was even more dazzling in his post-appearance interview.
Instead of one-word answers delivered with a snarled lip and a surly voice from the old Bailey, the new Bailey was a smiling, cooperative bundle of personality — and he has been that way all spring.
“It has to do with the offseason I had, a really good offseason,” he said. “In the past, I wasn’t really dedicated in the offseason, didn’t prepare myself as I should have.”
Asked if he is a different pitcher from last year, or the year before, Bailey said, “When you have a year like I had last year (0-6, 7.93 ERA), you can’t not have a few things knocked inside your head. I was able to look back and think about it a lot more and realize the mistakes I made and I understand it more.
“One more year of seeing the games, watching the games and let it all sink in was good for me,” he added.
Bailey looks at it as a fresh start and said, “I have a lot more motivation, not that I didn’t have it last year. But I have some self-motivation that I’m trying to work with. So far, all is going well.”
Many Bailey defenders — probably rightfully so — say people forget that he is only 22. Bailey forgets, too.
“Yeah, I do,” he said. “A lot. Every time I wake up. I have to sit back and keep in mind I still have a lot of time ahead of me and that everything is a learning process instead of getting frustrated so much.
“I need to step back, take a deep breath and say, ‘All right, sink it in, remember it for next time.’”
Bailey also said the changing of the guard in the Reds clubhouse contributes to his change.
“The vibes I get in camp, well, we’re a lot younger and guys coming into camp for the first time aren’t afraid to step on egg shells with all the veterans around,” he said.
Bailey smiled broadly and said, “All this isn’t rocket science. But I don’t want to take an IQ test. I might fail.”
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Comments
By expambApege
December 8, 2009 9:27 AM | Link to this
Как говорится.. Не дать не взять, зачётная статья!
By Y-City Jim
March 3, 2009 5:40 PM | Link to this
Someone tell Adam Dunn that he has been replaced by a new whipping boy - Homer Bailey.
By Boxter
March 3, 2009 3:23 PM | Link to this
It’s March. Homer will be in AAA by the all star break if not sooner.
By Mark
March 3, 2009 1:25 PM | Link to this
Gary, don’t try to confuse guys like Ben with facts. All they know is what they are told by the big Gasbag. There’s a reason why they’re called Dittoheads. They want to be told what to do and say because they can’t think for themselves. The same goes for the Griffey-Dunn bashers. This pitching staff had better be prepared to get their pitch counts down and get ready for a lot of 3-2 games. There is not a whole lot of punch in this offense after the 3-4-5 hitters.
By bill
March 3, 2009 1:23 PM | Link to this
Hal, you are right, he is still young. There are alot of players here in Dayton playing A ball, that are older than Homer.
By Gary Maloy Jr
March 3, 2009 11:05 AM | Link to this
Social-Democracy. I’ve lived in Norway for 23 of the past 25 years. I’m a local politician in the Progress Party (not socialists!). But, while the Social-Democrats attempt to micro-manage things, many Americans misunderstand European socialism. Ben, your idea that central government would bail-out the last place teams, ensure a balanced playing field by deciding where the players play and decide where spring training is to be held is waaay off the truth. In Norway, the worst teams are relegated to the 2nd division which they have to win they following season so as to be promoted to the first division again the year after that. The teams that are a financial mess are punished by the league officials - forcing them down two (or even three) divisions until they clean up their financial act. And the best teams “spring train” at LaMange (among other places in Spain and Portugal), while other teams stay home to save money. I hate when someone pulls politics into Hal’s blog, but I felt the need to tell the truth and not let Ben’s social commentary stand un-challenged. As far as the Reds are concerned, I’m hyped!! I’ve even purchased the MLB-TV package this year and not just the radio package. This team is looking up. I am totally psyched. Go Reds!
By Ben There
March 3, 2009 10:20 AM | Link to this
How fortunate you are that our country changed direction away from Fascism, where there would have been NO Sring Training!Bush lover,Ben.
By Ben
March 3, 2009 5:08 AM | Link to this
When we become a socialist country (yes-we are well on our way), the government will tell teams where they have to hold Spring Training. The government will also pick the 25 man roster for each team too because the government knows best how to do everything-managers and coaches can’t make decisions for themselves. There will also be a rescue package/bailout for teams that are in last place.
By StuttgartTim
March 3, 2009 3:39 AM | Link to this
Hal, I had just written my brother who you spoke to last year, about the S.T. experience in Sarasota. To me, it is more enjoyable than a regular season game. I guess in future springs I’ll have to follow the Sox or Pirates. As a die hard Reds fan for over 50 years, It’ll be tough though. I realize that ‘Sota officials are the bad guys here, but I don’t see how the following will be the same in the desert. Excuse me. I mean that BIG beach. Thanks for all the excellent posts!
By Ben
March 3, 2009 2:13 AM | Link to this
I don’t care how Bailey pitched in ONE spring training game against some non-roster invitees that are vying for a bench warmer spot-He’s had enough HORRIBLE outings as a major league pitcher that I’m not going to believe anything with him has improved until I see him pitch consistently for at least half a season! Oh yeah, and Owings is a complete NUT CASE-he doesn’t have the mental toughness to make it as a major league pitcher. He should play LF instead.
By Brar Hopper
March 3, 2009 1:39 AM | Link to this
Okay, for those of us who don’t know Farney, here goes… Farney? Who’s Farney? “He’s a little guy who lives in my head who talks to me and I talk to him,” said Freel, acting as if he finally crashed into too many walls, ran into too many catchers and dived into too many dugouts. “That little midget in my head said, ‘That was a great catch, Ryan,’ I said, ‘Hey, Farney, I don’t know if that was you who really caught that ball, but that was pretty good if it was.’ Everybody thinks I talk to myself, so I tell ‘em I’m talking to Farney.’ “
By Y-City Jim
March 2, 2009 10:54 PM | Link to this
An Old School quote seems fitting - “You all remember that crazy bastard.”
By Mike
March 2, 2009 10:38 PM | Link to this
Farney was Ryan Freel’s alter ego.
By Andy's Aunt Bea
March 2, 2009 10:28 PM | Link to this
Couldn’t agree more with Shock Monkey. And Y-City, who’s Farney?
By Y-City Jim
March 2, 2009 10:21 PM | Link to this
Maybe he was referring to Farney.
By ShockMonkey
March 2, 2009 8:33 PM | Link to this
Bailey also said the changing of the guard in the Reds clubhouse contributes to his change. “The vibes I get in camp, well, we’re a lot younger and guys coming into camp for the first time aren’t afraid to step on egg shells with all the veterans around,” he said. Pure conjecture but would that have been Whiffey and Done..err..Dunn? Me thinks so. I’m so glad those two are gone.
By Rick M.
March 2, 2009 6:45 PM | Link to this
So, Homer is in a better mood these days. Good for him. I hope that means he found a way to put some movement on his ‘straight as an arrow’ fastball.
By Steve M
March 2, 2009 4:36 PM | Link to this
Great news about Homer. A club can never have too much quality pitching. Who would have ever thought the Reds would be in this position. I’m headed to Sarasota in about 10 days to see two weeks of games, can’t wait to see Homer and the rest.
By Y-City Jim
March 2, 2009 4:20 PM | Link to this
Very encouraging especially seeing how much Reds pitching has been pounded on for the past couple of days. He threw 45 pitches in three innings, which isn’t terrible but it would be nice to see it drop a bit more. With the strikeouts though that might be hard to do.
By mike cahill
March 2, 2009 3:57 PM | Link to this
That’s good news. Hal, I’ll be in Sarasota later this month to see the Reds and Bosox. Hope to see you there and that it warms up some.
By Cait
March 2, 2009 3:20 PM | Link to this
Sometimes you have to hit bottom before you realize you need to change. If Bailey is for real, and Owings looks good so far, I’m excited about the pitching staff we’ll have. Maybe Bailey realized he was on the trading block this winter and no one wanted him?
By Deaner
March 2, 2009 2:56 PM | Link to this
Good to hear. Thanks for the prompt post, Hal!