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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 > 2009 > April > 22 > Entry
The first test earns Reds an ‘F’
The first test against The Big Boys (Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals) was a big, red ‘F’ for the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday night on the banks of Lake Michigan.
Chicago Cubs 7, Cincinnati Reds 2. Not even close. It seemed like 17-2.
Winning two of three in Milwaukee (fifth place) and three of four in Houston (last place) is a nice ego boost for the 2009 Cincinnati Red — even if it could be a mirage.
Winning division games and winning on the road last year was something the Reds did only in their dreams or in their imaginations.
So this kick-start early in the season is welcomed, even though the team is hitting .215, the bottom feeders of the National League.
Now, though, is the time to see how the Reds stack up against a real team, the Chicago Cubs. They played the first Tuesday night and have two more chances to show some muscle.
The Cubs aren’t as likely to roll over the way the Astros did. The Reds won the last two 4-2 and 4-3 as Houston went 0 for 16 with runners in scoring position and stranded 19 runners.
Manager Dusty Baker, former manager of the Cubs, knows what lies ahead.
“Now we have three tough games and we’re facing their big dudes,” he said, referring to pitchers Rich Harden, Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano.
The test against Harden was a big fat flop - three hits in six innings, which is how the Reds have hit most of the season.
Baker acknowledges that on paper the Cubs are the National League Central favorites after winning the division the last two years.
But on paper only.
“We’re supposed to be a pitching team and so far that’s the way it has been,” he said. “Before it’s over we’ll be a hitting team, too.
“The Cubs should be the favorite,” said Baker. “That doesn’t mean they’ll win, but they should be the favorite. The thing with the Cubs is that they are able to go get what they want and what they need, which they’ve done the last couple of years.” So the next two days mean a lot to both sides — a chance for the Reds to shout, “Hey, look at us, we’re for real,” and a chance for the Cubs to say, “Ah, you’re a bunch of frauds beating up on weaklings.”
So far it is the Cubs doing the shouting. Jay Bruce, fresh off of missing three games in Houston with a swollen right hand, had two of the three hits off Harden. His homer gave the Reds a 1-0 lead and his single tied the game, 2-2.
Reds starter Micah Owings wasn’t electric, or even a bright bulb, but he deserved better. Left fielder Chris Dickerson dropped a routine fly ball that would have been the second out of the fifth inning, then the Cubs scored three unearned runs to take a 5-2 lead and never looked back.
Instead of taking a half-game lead in the NL Central at 8-5, the Reds fell back to 7-6 and are in third place, 1 1/2 games out of first.
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By nllspc
April 22, 2009 5:22 PM | Link to this
Owing deserved better? He lucky the wind kept at least 3 hits inside the park. The Cubs were mashing everything he threw up. He’s not fooling anyone. He just doesn’t have a strike out pitch to go to. If the wind wasn’t going nuts, he would have been out of that game way before dickerson blew that catch.
By ross
April 22, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this
I disagree no coaches..Berry and Hatcher do a good job..you cant blame the staff…blame jocketty..the player are not very good..he did not address needs
By Old Kiser Coach
April 22, 2009 3:55 PM | Link to this
No hitting coach,no pitching coach,no base coaches,no manager=5th or 6th place team. I pity the young players on the team. Gonzo and Hernandez should sit.
By Deaner
April 22, 2009 2:31 PM | Link to this
I agree that something needs to be done with Phillips. If he were free-swinging and hitting something more than air, it would be a different story but right now he’s embarrassing.
By ross
April 22, 2009 2:29 PM | Link to this
well put harry..this OF of dickerson, tavaras, bruce wont hit 40 between them and may not drive in much more then 100…worst everyday line-up ive seen the reds put on the fied
By coopster
April 22, 2009 1:51 PM | Link to this
Again the o-fer boys start and do manage a hit between them that resulted in zilch. Brandon Phillips needs to take a seat for while. worthless now.
By Harry the Horse
April 22, 2009 12:46 PM | Link to this
Adam Dunn .310 4 HRS 12 RBIS 1 error…. Chris Dickerson .222 1 HR 3 RBIS 2 errors Wow our defense has improved hasn’t it?? 100 loss team….
By Mike-Cinci
April 22, 2009 11:59 AM | Link to this
One 7-2 loss to the Cubs does not merit an “F”. I would say the grade is incomplete pending further evidence. Harden, Zambrano, Lily, and Dempster are all better than the Reds #1 starter. Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, and Bradley would all bat cleanup on the Reds.
By Albert
April 22, 2009 11:55 AM | Link to this
The best franchise and best baseball town got rid of jocketty for a reason..he has no clue..he is clueless now..the reds stink
By Bill from Florida
April 22, 2009 10:46 AM | Link to this
Trade Wright and Ramirez in.
By nick w
April 22, 2009 10:42 AM | Link to this
I think micah will do better as time goes on, this was his first start on a normal rotation and the weather last night was not the best so lets see how he does in his next couple starts. The biggest thing that i am worried about is phillips and i think dusty needs to shuffle the lineup and get him out of the 4th spot. Ive noticed that everyone expect phillips is becoming a more patient hitter. Phillips needs to watch everyone else and stop swinging at the first pitch, it seems like every time he gets up with runners in scoring postion he trys to kill the first pitch he sees and grounds out or something. I still am confident that this team will finish above .500 but finish third in the division behind chicago and st. louis.
By Scott
April 22, 2009 10:03 AM | Link to this
The conditions of last nights game gave the edge to the home team for sure, however even they seemed to struggle until late in the game. It’s still early and the Reds are still on pace for 87-88 wins.
By Marge
April 22, 2009 10:00 AM | Link to this
Jeff, I agree alot with what you’re saying. Dusty talks alot about the players picking the leader of the team. Dusty, you need to adjust your managerial style, this team is young, “green”, talented but nobody knows what it takes to win. Dusty needs a “my way or the highway” approach with the team. That’s the approach of teams like the Cardinals, Twins, Angels, Cubs and that’s why they compete every year. I thought Dusty would make the adjustemnt after the cancers left but it looks like I am wrong.
By Jeff
April 22, 2009 9:04 AM | Link to this
Positives: This team is building for 2010,2011,2012. I love their youth. We actually have number 5 pitcher, although 0-2 he is doing ok. WE ARE WINNING CLOSE GAMES. I truly like our front office. I think krivsky did and awesome job buidling talent but Jocketty has built winners before. Negatives: I am not sure Baker is the right manager for this team. He is a veteran team amanager and not a youth manager. This team’s hitting approach is terrible. No one can hit the ball the other way past votto in the lineup. Until Phillips, EE, Bruce, GHonzalex leaner to hit the ball to right field they will not hit. A. Ramierez tagjhut the reds a lesson last night about hitting the other way and he is a power hitter. I also have serious concverns about lincoln and burton. Plus I like Owings but our #5 spot is 0-2 again and last year our #5 was terrible all year. I am being patient with this team because I know they are young. First and foremost Phillips needs to go back to 2007 when he was hitting the ball consistenly the other way. 0-21 is not good for your number 4 hitter and you will not win many games. Anywho GO REDS!!!
By Steve
April 22, 2009 9:00 AM | Link to this
Harden vs. Owings will have poor results for the Reds every time. Take one of 3 this series and it’s a positive.
By Marge
April 22, 2009 9:00 AM | Link to this
Why is it the longer a player is with the Reds the worse hitter he becomes? Phillips, EE, Dickerson, Bruce, Gonzo, CP, Bako, etc…exception may be Votto. I’m a big Reds fan but last night they got schooled in the art of patient and professional hitting. If I’m Dusty I tell Phillips the next time you swing wildly at a first pitch breaking ball you bat last. We need some fire and accountability.
By ross
April 22, 2009 8:55 AM | Link to this
jock itch has put together the all time Reds worst OF..this team will finish no better then 5th possibly last..I believe the Bucs are better this year
By Daytonredleg
April 22, 2009 8:39 AM | Link to this
ok, so Baker is wondering about the hitting. Yet he sits Hanigan and Janish for the 0-fer twins.
By Mark in Sun Valley
April 22, 2009 8:12 AM | Link to this
True MAC, but the mitt is not always the target. To combat that, pitchers might use a catchers shoulder or knee and depend on the catcher to adjust at the last second, as he delivers. It still requires a quieter body to give the spot. And if a batter is caught peaking, there is always a remedy for that, the old high hard one.
By JJ
April 22, 2009 7:57 AM | Link to this
Still a long season ahead, but it sure would be nice to haves Dunns’ #’s in the lineup
By Florida Buckeye
April 22, 2009 7:43 AM | Link to this
The differences I see between the teams: Patience at the plate, and fundamentals…
By MAC
April 22, 2009 3:10 AM | Link to this
I umpire a lot and a catcher that sets up too early can easily give the hitter the pitch location. C’s who set up one way and then shift in the opposite direction make it harder on the umpire, but I know it keeps many hitters off balance as well. Just something to consider.
By Aaron B.
April 22, 2009 1:22 AM | Link to this
OK, Hal, I hear ya, but lets keep this real. That was not a routine ball that Dickerson dropped. Should he have dropped it, no, but that ball was belted to the wall in a harsh wind and Dickerson was right at the hard brick wall. You could see him trying to feel for the wall with his non-catching hand as he backed up. Also Harden is a very tough pitcher. Yet it was a good game until Micah Owings walked back to back batters in the decisive inning that broke it open. I couldn’t help but notice Hernandez waving the target around again.time he makes the t