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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 > May > 02 > Entry
The Derby, Black and Gold, the lineup
My Kentucky Derby picks (three hours before the race):
Friesan Fire (because he loves the slop, is a good mudder). Dunkirk (love the name and love gray horse).
The Kentucky Derby is probably the only major sporting event in America I have not attended and plan to do so at some point. As my friend Bob Hertzel, an official scorer in Pittsburgh who covered the Big Red Machine for the Cincinnati Enquirer, said to me today, “You always did like slow horses, slow dogs and fast women.” Well, he is partly right, but I won’t say which one(s).
QUESTION: Is there any other city in America where all of its pro sports franchises haave the same colors. That’s the case in Pittsburgh. The Pirates? Black and gold. The Steelers? Black and gold. The Penquins? Black and gold.
My hotel is full of Penguins fans, here for tonight’s NHL playoff game against the Washington Capitals. The lobby was stuffed with fans wearing Penguins jerseys. Not one Pirates jersey. In fact, I spotted a group of school kids touring PNC Park Friday, most of them wearing Steelers jerseys. Strange.
But my good friend, Chris Weller, is the Aramark guy for the Pirates and is only in his second year here and I’m sure he’ll get the market straightened out. And he is a closet Reds fan.
THE REDS lineup tonight: Willy Taveras, Chris Dickerson, Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, Ramon Hernandez, Adam Rosales, Alex Gonzalez, Micah Owings.
I’m not sure that I wouldn’t continue to play Ryan Hanigan. Manager Dusty Baker says he likes to ride a player while he is hot. How hot is .412? And in my mind, as feeble as it may be, Hanigan may be a better defensive catcher. And if Dusty likes to get ‘em while they’re hot, how about Paul Janish at shortstop. He is hitting .357 (to .177 for Gonzalez) and while Gonzalez IS a defensive specialist, I see a diminished range with that repaired knee.
And if he wants to play Gonzalez, why not bat him ninth and pitcher/hitter Micah Owings eighth? Owings was 2 for 3 with a double in his last start. But I’m OK with Baker’s explanation: “It’s not bad to have a hitter batting ninth to get on for the top of the order.”
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By Steven Ross
May 3, 2009 11:00 AM | Link to this
Hal, the mere fact you’re bringing up playing Hanigan, and Janish tells me many behind the scenes feel the same way too. I like the direction this team is going but we need a new manager. Baker’s crass lineups (Phillips at Cleanup too) leave many shaking their heads.
By Ty
May 3, 2009 1:27 AM | Link to this
I have always defended Dusty Baker but I’m tired of this crap. Nix needs to be starting as does Hannigan and Janish. I bet EE would be starting tomorrow if he wernt on the DLm,
By Sal Monella
May 3, 2009 12:44 AM | Link to this
This manager is a complete idiot. Play Hannigan and Nix and Janish and do not let EE return. Dusty, I’m callin’ you out…you are a GD liar. What in the hell is WRONG with you? Are you stupid and corrupt? Play the hot hand? You are nothing but a windbag. You are evil.
By justin
May 2, 2009 10:33 PM | Link to this
Hal, I was pretty tough on you in spring training, but I have to say all your analysis in this entry seems to be spot on, as little as a compliment from me may be. Have you asked Dusty these questions?
By wizard
May 2, 2009 10:29 PM | Link to this
Dusty Baker Pregame—on why Hannigan isn’t playing more: ‘He’s got to learn the league’. What he learned tonight:1. He has a better record throwing out runners than does the guy playing in front of him! 2. “Learn the league’ is a synonym for-‘Your salary isn’t big enough to start’!3. It doesn’t matter that your stats are better than our starter.
By blogcopwatcher
May 2, 2009 9:22 PM | Link to this
Too many people worry about age; when often it is a benefit,mentally and physically.
By Ryan K. Madison, IN.
May 2, 2009 9:11 PM | Link to this
Taveras is on first in the top of the 7th inning with no outs. Why in the hell isnt he trying to take 2nd base with us down two runs? Why is Laynce Nix not starting in left field. Dusty Baker is a dumbass.
By econprof
May 2, 2009 6:48 PM | Link to this
Hal, I’ve been waiting for a comment from you r.e. Gonzalez’s range. It’s a shame, but his injury may be a career-ender given that he makes his living with his glove.
By jobu
May 2, 2009 4:34 PM | Link to this
This Nix/Dickerson business is a real head-scratcher. It’d be one thing if Dickerson was a young prospect who’d done big things at the minor league level and so Dusty had felt obliged to stick with him while he’s on the skids. But the guy is in his late 20’s, hasn’t done anything in his career, but for a strong 100 or so September ABs, and has looked overmatched all year. Nix on the other hand WAS a big time prospect, is roughly the same age as Dickerson, and has been hitting plenty. What gives?
By John
May 2, 2009 4:20 PM | Link to this
The SeaHawks, Mariners and Sounders all wear the blue and green color combo.
By Scotty J in WV
May 2, 2009 3:54 PM | Link to this
What on Earth does Laynce Nix need to do to crack the starting lineup?? Hit .600?? Like you said a few days ago, Hal…more, more, more. H