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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 > April > 23 > Entry
One win away from a ‘great’ trip
What’s the difference between a great road trip and a good road trip? That’s an easy one for the Cincinnati Reds — win today against the Chicago Cubs and it’s a great trip. Lose and it is only a good one.
Why? Even if they lose today, isn’t 6-4 doggone good for a team that usually can’t win on the road if the other team spots it two runs?
Well, by winning today, the Reds take two of three from the Cubs in Wrigley Field, a solid statement to the team that is the acknowledged favorite to win the National League Central. Lose and the Reds have lost two of three to the Cubs, not such a good statement.
This is only the first trip of the year, too early to bring back the nickname I put on the 1999 team — The Big Road Machine. That team was stocked with a bunch of road warriors, led by outfielder Greg Vaughn. And it’s the last Reds team to have a road impact.
Unfortunately, the ‘99 Reds played their final game of the season at home, in Riverfront Stadium — a one-game playoff to determine the National League wild card team. The New York Mets won that game on Al Leiter’s three-hit shutout. I’ve often wondered what might have happened if they had played that game in Shea Stadium.
As for the 2009 Reds and the end of this 11-day, 10-game trip, Manager Dusty Baker said, “You can’t think that this is the end, the last game. You have to think that this is the first day of the trip. The last day of a trip is always one of the toughest days to play. That’s why I try to stress getaway day victories. They usually create a sweep or prevent a sweep or determine who wins the series (like today).
“It’s big. On getaway day you can’t be thinking about family or anything,” he said. “That’s why it is tough to play. You have to fool yourself. You have to think like it’s the first day of the trip.”
Baker agrees today’s game is the determinator between good and great.
“Exactly,” he said. “That’s the number I wanted (7-3) when we started the trip. That means you’ve won every series. You don’t want to lose any, but you kinda have to be real about stuff. You’re always searching for the perfect road trip and I’ve been searching for 15 years.”
THERE IS no way I can imagine this is the first day of the trip. Even the first stop, Milwaukee, seems like a month ago. As a reminder, all I have to do is open my suitcase and see the dirty clothes wadded and stuffed into every corner.
And the cash inside my money clip is dwindling toward nothing.
ON A SAD note, this is the last day to get something from the El Burrito Mexicano. Reds Director of Media Relations Rob Butcher and I get a burrito from the place every day. It is a hole in the wall joint on Addison Street a few doors down after you walk under the El tracks. No exaggeration — the burritos are eight inches long and so big you can hardly wrap your mouth around them.
And they are so good.
Are they good for you — other than creating indigestion? Well, Butcher is in training to run a marathon and he eats one every day. I’m in training to take one quick lap around the dinner table, so what’s it gonna hurt?
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Comments
By Wizard
April 26, 2009 4:25 PM | Link to this
Go Reds! We only need 78 more wins for 88, and a second place finish!By gm
April 24, 2009 12:12 PM | Link to this
I’ve often wondered what might have happened if they had played that game in Shea Stadium. Well, the ‘99 Reds had a chance to close out the regular season up at soggy County Stadium the previous weekend, so I guess you could say the “Big Road Machine” broke down before reaching the finish line, that year.By DB
April 23, 2009 6:12 PM | Link to this
“USUALLY create a sweep or prevent a sweep or determine who wins the series?” What other outcome is there? 4 Game Series a team could be playing for a tie.By Gary Maloy Jr.
April 23, 2009 5:08 PM | Link to this
Umm, Jack… I really don’t care why the Cubs are pitching to Votto. Sweet Lou went out to the mound to talk to Zambrano. The big dog wanted to pitch to Joey, and Votto burned him. You might have seen Lou’s reaction in the dugout. He certainly didn’t look pleased.By Kyle
April 23, 2009 5:05 PM | Link to this
I still think the Reds got ripped on that playoff game in ‘99. They played that nasty late game in (I think) Milwaukee and had to red eye home to play the next day. Tough luck scheduling. So, Hal, with Marty you said Chicago is head and shoulders above the rest in the central. What’s this series say about the Reds’ pitching?By Jack
April 23, 2009 4:28 PM | Link to this
Hal, can you ask Sweet Lou why he is pitching to Votto when hitters 4-9 batting averages combined fail to match Votto’s? A one man wrecking crew.By Jack
April 23, 2009 2:49 PM | Link to this
I thought 7-3 was very unrealistic, but what the heck, go out and win another one.By Jimmy
April 23, 2009 1:52 PM | Link to this
OK, I guess it could be a two or four game set, and the final game could tie the series up.By Jimmy
April 23, 2009 1:51 PM | Link to this
“USUALLY create a sweep or prevent a sweep or determine who wins the series?” What other outcome is there?By Jimmy
April 23, 2009 1:50 PM | Link to this
“USUALLY create a sweep or prevent a sweep or determine who wins the series?” What other outcome is there?By Scott Johnson
April 23, 2009 1:41 PM | Link to this
Big early season game for the Reds, no doubt. A 7-3 road trip would be just HUGE. Mr. McCoy, my family and I are going to be making the trip from Charleston to see the Reds on Saturday. It’d be an honor if I might have the opportuntity to meet you. Contact me if you have the time. \