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Special kids get chance to play
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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 > June > 02 > Entry
Volquez goes back on the DL
Edinson Volquez is back on the DL. His examination in Cincinnati today revealed that he has tendinitis in his right elbow and he won’t even touch a baseball for the next seven to 10 days.
The tingling he talked about was a reaction from the ulnar nerve to the inflammation.
So instead of reporting to Louisville (AAA) after his option Monday, relief pitcher Jared Burton remains on the roster - pending approval by major-league baseball, which is always granted. Rules say a player optioned out cannot return for 10 days, but exceptions are made when injuries occur.
That means, though, the the Reds need a starting pitcher for Saturday. Could we see another Saturday Night Live performance by Homer Bailey, this time against the Chicago Cubs?
Turned my hotel room lopsided this morning, looking for my leather cigar case, embossed with Thompson on it. Couldn’t find it.
So I grabbed a couple of cigars and my Vince Flynn novel (Protect and Defend) and headed outside to a steel park bench behind the hotel for us decadent smokers. I was puffing my Montecristo White Label Churchill when a gentleman in a suit and tie asked, “Were you out here smoking yesterday and did you leave something?”
Ah, ha. My cigar case. When I said yes, he said, “I found it and almost kept it because it had my name on it. My name is Wade Thompson. I’ll go get it for you.”
And he did. Turns out he is Wade Thompson, head of Sales & Marketing for the St. Louis Westin. I offered him a $9 cigar as a reward and even though he said, “I smoke one now and then,” he refused. Nice guy.
HAD LUNCH at Charlie Gitto’s for the second straight day - it’s habit-forming - this time with broadcaster George Grande. We argued over the check. I won. But he’s paying tomorrow, he said. Same time, same location. Nice.
AS I SIT high above Busch Stadium, looking down at the Gateway Arch and up so high I’m certain I can see the top floor of my house in Englewood, they’ve just put the tarp on the field at 3 p.m. St. Louis time. Then a storm, complete with thunder and lightning, ravaged the place.
SUPPOSED TO BE OK for the game, though. Manager Dusty Baker shifted around his batting order, putting slump-ridden Jay Bruce in the No. 2 spot. In the first four games of this trip Bruce is 1 for 16 with eight strikeouts. It’s the first time this year Bruce has batted second (29 times at No. 5, 11 times at No. 3 and four times at No. 4).
Jerry Hairston Jr., Baker’s No. 1 guy in the two-hole, was out of the lineup for the second straight day with flu-like symptoms.
After missing three starts with a sore right hamstring, CF and leadoff batter Willy Taveras is back in the lineup.
CINCINNATI ENQUIRER beat writer John Fay stays at the team hotel, which is a block away. With the heavy rain, he jumped in a cab and gave the driver $10 to keep him dry and drive him to the stadium.
Adam Dunn tried that last year. Didn’t work. When he jumped in a cab and said, “Ball Park,” the driver refused, telling him to walk the block-and-a-half. So Dunn refused to leave the cab - sat in the back and read a newspaper for half an hour. Finally, the cabbie relented and took Dunn on the $3 ride. Dunn handed the guy the three bucks and said, “You missed out on a nice tip, pal.”
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By AK and Ross are the same
June 5, 2009 11:19 PM | Link to this
AK is trying to sound like he is someone else; but he’s really just ignorant ross. Both of them are the same person. They must pick fruit for a living. Ha,ha.
By The professor
June 5, 2009 9:34 PM | Link to this
Hey AK, at least the Wizard, unlike you, can put two or more sentences together with correct structure. What are you doing repeating the 7th grade? And I beg to differ with your comment. Lots of people think the wizard is correct on various subjects, including me. As I recall, he suggested BP play SS, ONLY if Gonzalez didn’t return from his injury; and only suggested more playing time for Janish,and others, than Baker was giving them. I agree. Janish is still hitting 30 points higher than Gonzalez. You should show more respect to people who know more than you, apparently do—since you don’t write very well.
By Bob
June 5, 2009 9:10 PM | Link to this
What’s an AK?
By AK
June 5, 2009 3:58 PM | Link to this
wizard, no one cares who you agree with. you haven’t said anything worthwhile on this board ever. Lets move Phillips to SS, play Janish everyday The guy was a .240 hitter in the minors so no one cares what you agree or disagree with
By Wizard
June 3, 2009 4:07 PM | Link to this
Well AP-Florida, I can at least agree with YOUR post on here. It will be interesting to see who is in center and right tonight.
By timb
June 3, 2009 1:44 PM | Link to this
Aaron B., I miss Dunn every time I see a line up with Laynce Nix or Ramon Hernandez hitting 5th
By ross
June 3, 2009 8:53 AM | Link to this
Maloney brings his 83mph fastball to GABP..there reasons hes not been in the big leagues..he will get rocked..I see Beuce run his mouth and hes not had a hit on the road trip…220 hitter Rosales 220 hitter a puny offense
By AP-FLORIDA
June 3, 2009 7:19 AM | Link to this
How do you pitch to Albert in that situation AND why is Taveres playing? Wonder who made those decisions? Who could it be?????
By Jack D.
June 2, 2009 10:48 PM | Link to this
Hal,I’m new to your blog. I’m glad I found it. I just retired from the US Army Rangers and nothing helps me adjust to civilian life like reading your daily take on the Reds. Been a fan for a long time. Thank you.
By wizard
June 2, 2009 10:47 PM | Link to this
Dickerson has been, and still is the best fielding outfielder on this roster; and should still be starting in CF. Why would you pitch to Albert with a 2-1 lead, and the possibility of rain on the way?
By jim m.
June 2, 2009 10:20 PM | Link to this
Hal!! When you have lunch with George Grande!! PLEASE tell him That WASN’T a Miss-step on Taveras!!!, That was playing that flyball LAZY and not hustling after it!! Either his hamstring is not healthy(then he should be sitting),or he was being lackadaisical but he should have busted his butt to catch that flyball! thanks
By jim m.
June 2, 2009 10:00 PM | Link to this
LOL that was funny about Dunn!! What cab driver would not know he has a MLB player in his cab?? NOT to smart!! Well I wonder if it will be Maloney since they said on the TV broadcast, Homer was left in to pitch in the 8th inning of tonight’s AAA game!! We have no lefty and it would be great he gets a chance and come from the left side. BUT Homer did pitch 8 shutout innings and have 8 strikeouts!! Guess we will find out!! Hal, do you think we might see a platoon of Taveras and Dickerson if Willy keeps making outs??
By wizard
June 2, 2009 8:09 PM | Link to this
I’d like to see them give a start to Nick Masset.
By Bill from Florida
June 2, 2009 5:47 PM | Link to this
Time to give a chance to somebody else, Maloney perhaps.
By Aaron B.
June 2, 2009 4:47 PM | Link to this
Wow, great story about Dunn. What a crazy buckaroo! Sometimes I almost miss the Big Donkey.