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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 > May > 12 > Entry
Baseball writing takes a sad turn
It was 105 today and service was lousy at P.F. Chang’s. I have a stiff neck from sleeping on it wrong and my cigars are coming unraveled in the desert heat.
But I’m not going to complain. Not even Delta can get my heart rate up today.
I have a job. When other baseball writers ask me, “How you doing?” I say, “Great. I have a job.”
A lot of my pals don’t any more, a lot of talented people victimized by the economy and newspaper cutbacks. One of the best is Tony Jackson, who covered the Cincinnati Reds for the now-defunct Cincinnati Post. He was covering the Dodgers for the Los Angeles Daily News until a week ago. He was laid off. So long, farewell, thanks for coming.
Hall of Fame writer Tracy Ringolsby and Jack Etkin, two of the best beat writers in the country, were without jobs when the Rocky Mountain News in Denver published its last edition this year.
Another good friend, Jack Magruder, was covering the Arizona Diamondbacks for the East Valley Tribune — until the EVT decided to no longer print a newspaper and Jack was swept out the door. Saw him today and he is hanging in there by doing freelance work.
And how heartless was this? A backup beat writer and a columnist with the Baltimore Sun were in the press box at Camden Yards. They received phone calls. In the press box as they worked. Their services were no longer needed and please leave your laptop computers before you walk out the door. Don’t forget the power units, too.
More sad news today, which is what prompted this. Tom Krasovic has covered the San Diego Padres for at least 10 years, maybe longer, for the San Diego Union-Tribune. He is from Dayton, a Carroll High School graduate, and worked as a copy boy at the old Dayton Journal Herald. He was part of 150 jobs eliminated by the Union-Tribune this week and has a job only until July 31.
So go ahead, Delta, crush my luggage. Lose it. And if P.F. Chang’s wants to serve my chicken with bean sauce ice cold, I’ll use my lighter to heat it up. Malaria? I’ll take it. Stiff neck? Bring it on.
I have a job.
FOR THOSE who like what Jerry Hairston Jr. has done at shortstop and batting second in the order while the Reds have won 11 of their last 15, well, enjoy it now. Alex Gonzalez is coming back Friday in San Diego and he IS going to be at shortstop.
“Everybody knows there is nobody like Alex Gonzalez,” said Baker.
Looks as if Hairston is headed back into a platoon situation, playing left field against lefthanded pitchers. At least Laynce Nix remains in left field against righthanded pitchers and somebody in the clubhouse wanted to know, “Has Chris Dickerson ever heard of Wally Pipp?”
Know what I like about Adam Rosales, other than his all-out hustle? He isn’t the most talented guy in the world and knows it. And he isn’t afraid to admit it. Nor is he afraid to take responsibility and talk about it when he comes up short — as he has recently on defense.
Rosales knows he should be fielding all those rockets and missiles that have been thundering past him at third base and he knows he should field cleanly some of those balls he is bobbling on routine grounders.
“Those are definitely playable balls, plays I should make,” he said. “I need to make them. It’s a matter of slowing things down. I’m pretty tense and I need to trust my hands.”
Nobody is more concerned about it than Rosales himself.
“I know I will, but I’m kind of hyped up, in case people can’t tell,” he added. “I have to be patient. What’s frustrating is that pitching and defense is so important and that’s why I’m putting too much pressure on myself.
“So it snowballs on me,” he said. “The pitcher is battling his behind off and I need to step up for him. I’m not fielding as well as I should be. I’ll start fielding them cleaner and make the double plays and the routine plays I’m supposed to make.”
Manager Dusty Baker said his fielding is the main reason Rosales was sent to Class AAA Louisville after spring training.
“The one thing we told him to get across to him was to slow the game down defensively,” said Baker. “It’s easier said than done, but it is something he has to do. Just relax and slow the game down.
“He had a couple of those plays (Monday) and it gets in your head,” Baker added. “That’s what we didn’t want to happen. Things compound similar to what happened to Edwin Encarnacion since he’s been here.”
And I still have a job (I think). I’m holding my breath to find out who among my baseball writing brethren are no longer employed. So sad, so sad.
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Comments
By jrg
May 14, 2009 6:06 PM | Link to this
i was wondering where tom was earlier this week when the padres came to town. it’s a shame. good writer, nice guy. no room for those types at some places.By Carter Gaddis
May 14, 2009 1:50 PM | Link to this
They got me in July, Hal. It still feels like yesterday I was out in Plant City covering my first spring training (Reds, ‘92) and there you were, offering encouragement and advice and, most important, treating me like an equal rather than as the neophyte I was. Thank you for that. It was hard to be let go, but I wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything. Best of luck to all the baseball writers who still have newspaper jobs. Savor them while you can, because I truly fear that they might all be gone soon.By Carter Gaddis
May 14, 2009 1:49 PM | Link to this
They got me in July, Hal. It still feels like yesterday I was out in Plant City covering my first spring training (Reds, ‘92) and there you were, offering encouragement and advice and, most important, treating me like an equal rather than as the neophyte I was. Thank you for that. It was hard to be let go, but I wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything. Best of luck to all the baseball writers who still have newspaper jobs. Savor them while you can, because I truly fear that they might all be gone soon.By DarylB
May 14, 2009 10:13 AM | Link to this
Hal, Is Baker totally nuts? Why would you take a player like Hairston Jr. out at SS when the Reds are on such a great role, and replace him with Gonzalez who flat-out CAN’T HIT? I put this decision right up there with the one he made in the World Series with the Giants, when he turned his dugout into a nursery and his team tanked to the Angels.By timb
May 13, 2009 7:11 PM | Link to this
I would keep Rosales any day of the week over Edwin. Rosales is excited to play ball and shows it. Hungry. Edwin never even looks like he wants to be there, fielding is not great, and swings the bat with that lazy one-handed release. like Griffey. except he’s not Griffey. Do you people ever get tired of saying things that silly? EVERYDAY, you people come here and whine that Edwin might have more power than Rosales, might have a better on base percentage, and might be better than Rosales, but he just doesn’t look like he cares. WTF? What would you people have done with DiMaggio for God’s sake. Style over substance, eh, Rog?By Cait
May 13, 2009 2:06 PM | Link to this
I’m with you, Hal. I got out of the newspaper business several years ago - and I’m glad. I’m friends with several Dispatch writers - some still there, some dropped in the last round of cuts. I’m saddened for your writer friends. but we can live without sports writers. Good newspapers are essential to democracy and freedom. TV news headlines and biased political blogs will only lead to an ingnorant electorate. Keep up the good work, Hal. Here’s wishing you many more years on the beat.By Roger B
May 13, 2009 1:06 PM | Link to this
I would keep Rosales any day of the week over Edwin. Rosales is excited to play ball and shows it. Hungry. Edwin never even looks like he wants to be there, fielding is not great, and swings the bat with that lazy one-handed release. like Griffey. except he’s not Griffey. Rosales all the way. Also feeling Nix too. the “killer fire plug”.By Bowshier
May 13, 2009 10:23 AM | Link to this
Here in Columbus, the Dispatch dropped their beat writers, along with most everything else. Now we get Hal and John Fay bylines and wire reports. Better writing sure, but redundant and kinda cheap.By Mr. Redlegs (Original)
May 13, 2009 9:38 AM | Link to this
The thing I don’t understand about the newspaper layoffs is the elimination of beat writers for the pro sports teams. Like, duh, you still have to cover these teams, and they are still a big story and key reader (customer) interest on a day-to-day basis. They are also critical news gatherers, on par with the city hall and police beats. So you fire them … why? No one ever said newspaper executives are the smartest people in the building. If you don’t believe it, look at the state of the industry. Look at what they have done to your morning paper.By Bill from Florida
May 13, 2009 8:41 AM | Link to this
I’m really sorry about that, both the lay-offs in the newspaper business and having Gonzo back in the line-up.By AP-FLORIDA
May 13, 2009 7:33 AM | Link to this
Hal, I’m grateful that you have a job, one you do well, but we still have rusty baker. Unreal that he will put fragile alex back in this lineup…By StuttgartTim
May 13, 2009 6:33 AM | Link to this
Hal, Thanks for the perspective of the “other” news. I love my Reds and your writing, but good newspapers are crucial to our democracy.By jim w
May 13, 2009 5:05 AM | Link to this
tell us about ex reds from time to time.just because they were traded doesnt stop our intereast in them.may be your last paragragh each day.By vb
May 13, 2009 2:33 AM | Link to this
Good stuff as usual Hal. A darned shame the newspaper biz is in the crapper to such an extent, and hope you never reach the unemployment line, enjoy your stuff too much for that.By Aaron B.
May 13, 2009 1:21 AM | Link to this
There is no one gimpier than Alex Gonzalez, that’s what everyone knows, Dusty. Go ahead put him out there. I give him two weeks before something pops and he goes down. Its good to know the Reds have a Plan B and its good to know the Reds are a better club with Plan B because Alex Gonzalez has never been a good hitter in this league, that’s what the back of his card shows. .295 career OBP is abysmal.