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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 > 2009 > March > 21 > Entry
Left is right with Reds beat writers
Dusty Baker paused in the middle of his early morning briefing with the beat writers in his office and said, “Damn, do you have to be lefthanded to be a writer?”
You do to cover the Cincinnati Reds. The three beat writers all are lefthanded - John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com and me. Sheldon leaves camp today to be with his wife, Sheryl, who is expecting a baby March 28. Sheldon’s replacement, Jonathan Mayo, also is lefthanded.
And the previous two beat writers for the now defunct Cincinnati Post were lefthanded - C. Trent Rosecrans and Mark Lancaster.
What does it mean? It means left is right, as far as beat writers are concerned.
AS THE REDS begin play today at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates, they have lost six straight games - scoring 1, 4, 1, 3,1 and 2 runs. And their last win was 1-0.
“Been a little rough,” said Baker. “We’re not getting any breaks. It seems like we’re not hitting because we’re not getting hits. By that, I mean were hitting the ball hard but not getting hits.”
The regular lineup was to play against the Pirates today, all but shortstop Alex Gonzalez (seven innings) and catcher Ryan Hanigan (seven innings) scheduled to go nine. Then the regular won’t make Sunday’s trip to Bradenton to play the Pirates again.
MEANWHILE, the much-struggling Coco Cordero is going to try to get some of his stuff together by pitching in some minor-league games on the back field, beginning today at 1 o’clock.
THE REDS have their third off day of the spring Tuesday and when asked what he planned for the team that day, Baker said, “Rest.” It will be Bronson Arroyo’s day to pitch and he will join Cordero on the back fields to pitch against the minor-leaguers.
ILLNESS CONTINUES to make its way through the clubhouse. Norris Hopper is absent, sent home with bronchitis. Darnell McDonald and Daryle Ward have missed time with sickness and Baker said, “If they show up sick, we just send them home. No use spreading that stuff around if we can stop it.”
CHRIS DICKERSON sat down at a table in the middle of the clubhouse and the other occupants of the table were: Jim Maloney, Cesar Geronimo, Mario Soto and Eric Davis.
“I hope you realize you are sitting at a table full of history and legends,” somebody said.
“I do,” he said. “Indeed I do. I’m hoping a lot of it rubs off.”
JAY BRUCE still doesn’t have his car. It was kidnapped by Jonny Gomes, who wanted Bruce to drive an old SUV painted red with white baseball stitches all over it and used by the Sarasota Reds.
When Bruce refused, Gomes said, “If he keeps this up, he is going to be riding a Huffy with squirrel tales and a jacked-up seat.”
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Comments
By Craig
March 21, 2009 3:47 PM | Link to this
“Everyone is born left-handed until they commit their first sin”—keep up the good work, Hal.By Charles-Dayton
March 21, 2009 3:26 PM | Link to this
Not completely true Jake … there are four guys in the starting 8 that hit 20 plus Home Runs last year (Bruce, Votto, EE and Phillips) - true they lost Dunn which is a big loss but all four of the guys above are better than Griffey so Jr is no loss. They are not a singles hitting team - and HR’s are down in baseball (last year first time total MLB under 5000 HR’s since 1998 and 700 fewer HR’s than year 2000) so faster - better hitting teams are in vogue. Not to say the Reds are going to be great but they are more than a singles hitting team and better hitting team than 2008. the biggest gap is the production from whomever plays LF trying to replace Dunn’s slugging and onbase ability. That is an issue but Taveres will be better than Patterson and Hernandez will be better than the trio that caught last year.By jaker
March 21, 2009 2:20 PM | Link to this
Hi Hal, saw you at Thursday nights game.You are looking younger all the time. for all the Dunn haters I wish you would show a comparison of his stats for the last 3-4 years compared to w.Taveras.I am sure they would be suprised at the on base and strikeout comparison.How can Taveras even be considered as the leadoff hitter? If Dusty is amazed at the low runs scored total lately then he better wake up and get used to it because he doe not have Dunn & Griffey.The Reds have built a singles team for a home run ballpark so get used to it!!! All starting pitchers will be expected to allow 2 or less runs for at least 7 or 8 innings and hope somebody besides Cordero is brought in to finish it!!By Mike-Cinci
March 21, 2009 1:43 PM | Link to this
Hal, I read your newspaper report on what is right and wrong with the Reds so far this Spring and I can not disagree with you. The concern I have is even the good things that are happening may be spring training mirages. It is time for EE to deliver. There are rumors Rosalies may beat out Keppinger which would be a big deal given how highly everyone thought of Keppinger at the beginning of last year. Cordero could be the next Eric Gagne, Danny Graves, and Bob Wickman rolled into one. They all fell apart overnight. Teams should not give 33 year old relievers 4 year $44 million contracts.By flipper
March 21, 2009 11:56 AM | Link to this
Florida has much nicer weather in March than Ohio. I think these guys must not be taking care of themselves and resting at night. Night life can set you back. Eat right & rest to keep your strength up.By Ryan K.-Madison, IN.
March 21, 2009 11:41 AM | Link to this
I have been without access to the internet for the last week and I forgot how fun it is to read your blogs Hal. I read all the articles I missed in order last night and it was a lot of fun. Thanks for all you do Hal. Now..on with the season!! It feels like they have been in spring training for two years.By Jim
March 21, 2009 11:32 AM | Link to this
Does anyone in the Reds organization not realize that a flu bug or some kind of sickness passes through the Reds clubhouse every year? Do any other MLB teams go through this?