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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 > August > 12 > Entry
Bailey misses by a foot (his own)
You couldn’t get me to walk onto a baseball field occupied by the Cincinnati Reds for all the caviar in Russia - even if I’ve never had caviar in my life.
That’s a minefield. I’d need double indemnity insurance. Reds players should wear army helmets and Kevlar jackets.
Neither would have helped Homer Bailey Wednesday. He’s the latest victim. He didn’t even survive the first inning. After giving up two hits, Bailey faced Albert Pujols. On a 3-and-2 pitch, Pujols squashed one back through the box and it kicked dust in front of Bailey and short-hopped off his foot. Bailey retrieved the ball and inexplicably heaved it toward first, with no chance of getting Pujols.
The ball hippety-hopped down the right field line as two runs scored, then Bailey walked off the field, done for the day - and who knows for how long.
Bailey suffered a bruised left foot and X-rays were negative - no fracture - but he’ll be checked out Thursday in Cincinnati by Dr. Tim Kremchek when the club returns home to begin an oh-so-exciting four-game series against the Washington Nationals and Adam Dunn.
Bailey was walking without a limp and had his boots on after the game and said he thought he’d make his next start. Manager Dusty Baker agreed.
The Cardinals eventually scored three in the first and with Chris Carpenter pitching, mark this one down in the ‘L’ column for the Reds. It is only the third inning as I write this, but it is as over as over gets.
It was spot-on. Cardinals 5, Reds 2.
Carpenter held the Reds to no runs and two hits for five innings. The Reds threatened in the sixth and seventh. They scored two in the sixth and had runners on the corners with two outs. Carpenter went to 3-and-0 on Willy Taveras, who then went into his beggar’s stance as if to say, “Please throw ball four.”
Carpenter pumped three pitches through the strike zone and Taveras has yet to flinch his bat, which didn’t please manager Dusty Baker
“Carpenter is not going to walk many (none on this night) andf we went down looking (Taveras),” said Baker. “Hate to see guys go down looking. If you’re going to go down, go down swinging.
“Carpenter is one of the best there is in baseball and if you can pitch your way out of trouble the way he can, well, that’s what makes him one of the best pitchers in baseball,” Baker added. “He isn’t 12-3 for nothing. It isn’t just us. And he doesn’t have a 2.20 ERA for nothing. It isn’t just us.
THE MILWAUKEE Brewers optioned former All-Star shortstop J.J. Hardy to the minors today. It is an accepted assumption that Reds shorstop Alex Gonzalez won’t be coming back and here’s a suggestion, no charge for it, either - Hey, Mr. Jocketty. Why don ‘t you give the Brewers a call and do a deal for Hardy. The guess here is that he already has made the phone call.
JEFF Peicoro and Chris Welsh of FSN/Ohio took me to lunch today, a little neighborhood place called Johnny’s.
Uh, nice place. I think the food was good. I even remembered what I ordered - cajun chicken sandwich and rice, bean and sausage soup.
At 11:30, the place was packed. Why? Well, shall I just say, Johnny’s puts Hooter’s to shame - and I’m not talking about the chicken wings. I’m talking about the chicks. The waitresses were beyond description.
I’ve been coming to St. Louis for 37 years and not once did I hear about Johnny’s. The Chamber of Commerce is missing out on this one. What’s the highest rating Zagat gives? Put it at the top because the food was good.
SOME INSIDE STUFF: Even though Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo were placed on waivers and cleared, they will not be traded before season’s end. Bank on it. Francisco Cordero? That’s a different story. If somebody comes calling, looking for a closer, Coco is gone-o.
Now in the off-season, that might change. But with Edinson Volquez gone for the season, can the Reds afford to trade Arroyo and/or Harang? Not if they have plans to finally keep a promise and be competitive.
SOME NUMBERS furnished to me by a close media friend who pays attention:
Remember how we all (and I stress ‘we’ because I was among them) wanted Ryan Hanigan to catch every day. Be careful what you/I wish for because it may come true. As a backup to Ramon Hernandez, Hanigan was a hitting fool and his average hovered around .330. Now that he is a regular, matters have changed drastically.
Since July 1, Hanigan has one extra base hit, eight walks and zero RBIs - zero, zip nada. In fact, he hasn’t had an RBI since June 13. He has had two doubles since June 4 and he is currently on a 0 for 20 slide going into tonight’s game. In 230 at-bats, he has eight RBIs, the worst since Eric Owens had nine in 232 at-bats in 1996.
(Thanks Mr. Redlegs-Original.)
THE REDS paid catcher Ramon Hernandez $8.5 million this year and have an option for next year. Should they pick it up? With what Hanigan has done and with what we’ve seen from Craig Tatum, it appears the Reds need a No. 1 catcher. So far their No. 1 draft pick in 2007, catcher Devin Mesoraco, has not shown a whole lot of promise in the minors.
What do you think. Pick up Hernandez’s option, go with Hanigan, or go catcher-hunting?
CHRIS DICKERSON has immense speed on the basepaths, but he has had trouble using it the right way many times this season - like twice Tuesday night. Is baserunning an innate skill or can he be taught?
“It’s something you can teach, bu you don’t want to teach it with trial-and-error in games,” said manager Dusty Baker. “And we don’t have a shock collar to put on runners. I think Dickerson was so excited to be back (off the DL) that he was like a kid in a candy store out there. I mean (first base coach) Billy Hatcher told him at first base to be aware that the pitcher, Justin Lehr, was on second.”
But Dickerson nearly ran him over on a base hit. When Lehr stopped at third, Dickerson was halfway to third, forcing Lehr to break for home and he had a home plate collision trying to score. He was out.
“Baseball is like football, or any other sport,” said Baker. ‘You have to run with your head up. You have to pick up the ball. If the ball is in front of you, where you can see it, you shouldn’t even need a coach.”
Dickerson also missed a diving catch on St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina. He dove to catch it, gloved it, and the ball squirted away for a double. Shouldn’t that have been an error?
“Chris had a long way to run, then lost it in the lights,” said Baker. “He had it, but it also had him.”
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Comments
By Wizard
August 14, 2009 6:31 PM | Link to this
Knowing now, what they were paying Gonzo: NOT to play; and what they paid him for 62 games this year-8.5 million sounds like a bargain to me, to sign Hernandez! Sure seems to me that they can work some kind of deal. Having been the first poster last year to suggest BP be moved to SS- because of his great range/arm; and the fact that it is where you play your best infielder-and seeing that it could now be finally about to happen-haven’t heard a peep from all those know-it-all naysayers, who blasted me for suggesting they move a “gold glover”. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, they said. How did Gonzo and Hairston work out for ya’? Shame on me.By tr975
August 14, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this
Let Hernandez go, unless he is willing to take less money to return and share duties with Hanigan next season. If Hernandez leaves, and the Reds feel they want someone to share equal time with Hanigan, they could look at Chris Snyder from Arizona. If the Reds want to go full-time with Hanigan, they could sign someone like Brian Schneider from the Mets or Gregg Zaun from Tampa Bay to back him up and provide a left handed bat off the bench (Zaun is a switch hitter)By MAC
August 14, 2009 1:20 AM | Link to this
Good comments Wiz and the man downunder. We all know Hanny isn’t next J. Bench,but we also know he’s been successful @ every level & is a very good Def catcher. We also know we have huge holes elsewhere & little $$. No one here has addressed him hitting in the 8 hole in front of the P, WT, & AG in 2 hole…who would U walk & pitch to? He would be a very good 2 hole hitter in this present line-up, but we know that’s not going to happen. Likewise remember RH hit much better @ 1st which is why I suggest giving Hanny a break playing somewhere else. Why R Reds afraid to move Votto to LF or BP to SS, it might affect their hitting overall production. Then again, it could improve it; we’ve all seen this before which again is why I suggest it might help Hanny/others…I’ve seen it work too many times to not consider it on occassion.By Wizard
August 14, 2009 12:03 AM | Link to this
I still beleave Hanigan should catch, with help; and I still believe CD makes things happen! If we can limit his short ciruited base running, improve it, make him bunt and steal-which he has shown he can do…By Wizard
August 13, 2009 11:54 PM | Link to this
In reading all of your excellent posts on here-one thing keeps standing out, that is not thought of, or at least mentioned-I believe the answer is, more than one player, needs to play more than one position! If we go out and get a LF, how much would that cost for a good one? Keeping that in mind, 8.5 million may not be such a bad deal{or perhaps a contract for 6.5 instead}to keep a player who can play more than one position{Hernandez at Catcher and 1st base}. To solve the LF position play Votto there mostly, but some at first, when Hernandez needs a rest, or is catching. Move BP to ss; Dickerson to CF permanently, platooning him with Jim T.’s favorite, until one or the other wins the job{or, platoon all year}. Questions: Where can we get a LFer with Votto’s hitting ability and potential for 8.5, or 6.5 Million? Why would we try, when we can fix it{Lf} with his moving there?And, we can fix SS by moving BP! No need to spend more money there, either. Decide whether Bruce is the answer; or whether Gomes and Balentien{or someone else} make better and more consistant contact with the baseball, than Bruce does. I haven’t seen Bruce hit three HR’s in a game; in fact making ‘contact’ three times has often been a problem!Flash in the pan?By redsfandownunder
August 13, 2009 10:58 PM | Link to this
In 2009, Hanigan has had 36 AB’s with RISP. He posted 6 hits for 7 RBI and a .167 average. If he had 3 more lucky hits to bat .250 would we be having this discussion? In 2008 he had 18 AB’s with RISP and had 8 hits for 8 RBI and a .278 average. What does this tell us? To me it says we can’t draw a conclusion. The Reds are going to have to go with “potential” in several positions. Right now I see some at catcher but not so much in SS or LF (not to take too much away from Gomes great day).By jim t
August 13, 2009 10:35 PM | Link to this
Mr Redlegs, unfortunately he has not produced when he’s had the opportunity.Don’t look at the number of chances look at what hes done when he has had chances. Its terrible. He did have a Home run tonight though. First RBI since 13 jun.I hope your right and Hannigan is alright but I don’t think so. All that said, 8.5 is to much to pay for Ramon.By Mr. Redlegs-Original
August 13, 2009 8:08 PM | Link to this
Apparently some people don’t understand that in order to get RBI’s, you need RBI opportunities. Hanigan is just fine.By redsfandownunder
August 13, 2009 5:57 PM | Link to this
I see the realization that your name is Mike-Cinci and not Mike-Boston or Mike-NY has finally set in. The reality is with Hanigan making the ML minimum, the Reds have bigger holes to fill. $8.5 millioin can make a bigger impact in LF or SS. Cincinnati can’t spend like New York. Maybe Mike-LA?By Mike-Cinci
August 13, 2009 4:22 PM | Link to this
RC, you are talking in questions because there are a lot of questions. Good observations also by GreatRedLegsFan, Jim t,AA,Jack. Can Jocketty fix this? I wish it were only one or two holes. While it may be time for a major rebuilding my guess is the Reds will try to piece something together. What are the chances either approach will work? Gosh, it would be great if the farm system was strong. It would be so much easier.By RC
August 13, 2009 3:45 PM | Link to this
If we got JJ Hardy, and if he was hitting .229, would most of us have turned on him by now? And if we still had Adam Dunn, would he still be hitting in the 6 slot, instead of in the four slot with a very capable hitter behind him? Will we make the same stupid mistake with Jay Bruce when he comes back? Isn’t it funny that both Arizona and Washington handed Dunner a 1B mitt (which should have happened when he was still a Dragon) rather than watch him keep hacking around in LF? Why am I talking in questions? ???By GreatRedLegsFan
August 13, 2009 3:08 PM | Link to this
I see as time goes by and the Reds have not figured out yet so many holes for next year: C, SS, LF & CF. Right now I can think only of Votto, Philips, Rolen and Bruce in the starter line-up. That’s only 50% of the position players. If they want to compete (???) in 2010, they have to look for competitive players, no more of Gonzalez, Taveras, Nix, Gomes or Balentien. Hernandez is OK, but his option is just too expensive. Maybe the CF can be filled with Heisey, Stubbs and/or Dickerson and with proper contract management I guess a good power hitter can be hired for the LF. Definitely there is no one within the organization to cover C and SS, so at least $15MM have to be cutted from the payroll to fill those three positions. GO REDS!!! (in 2010)By Jim t
August 13, 2009 3:03 PM | Link to this
Dick, while I have to admit I would like to have this years version of Dunn in the line up. I just can’t get over the fact he, by his own words didn’t even bother to get in shape until he had to go out on the open market and found his value wasn’t what he thought it was.He played and was paid very well here, but apparently not enough to care about his conditioning or leadership skills until he had to take a smaller contract. With that in mind, as a fan I wouldn’t root for Adam Dunn if he was on the team. I guess I was brought up in the age of, If your paid to do a job you do the best job you can. It also could be my 20 years in the military talking. Again just my opinion.By Mike-Cinci
August 13, 2009 2:58 PM | Link to this
Choosing Hanigan over $8 million for Hernandez makes good financial sense. I just don’t think Hanigan is very good and is not the long term answer and won’t help much in the short term. Hernandez will be 34 next year so he is not the future either. What is sad is the Reds had to trade Hopper for Corky Miller and Hairston for Chase Weems to fill minor league catching spots. How does an organization run out of capable catchers?I also agree that all managers/coaches share responsibility for teaching fundamentals. The Reds problem is there is such a lack of talent in the organization that they have to bring guys who don’t play fundamentally sound baseball to the majors. What we are seeing with a lack of fundamentals at the major league level is a reflection of the lack of talent in the Reds organization. If these players were in other organizations they would never make the MLB roster. They would be buried in the minors or moving on to their life’s work. Unfortunately the stiffs we see play are the best the Reds have. As we see most days it is not a pretty sight.By JIM T
August 13, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this
Jack, while I understand your point about managers teaching, I have to think that the mistakes CD is making should have been taught in the lower levels of the reds farm system. A 28 yer old player who has plenty of minor league experience and has been used as a lead off man in the past should have those skills already. NOt only that, but teaching a speed guy to run the bases at the major league level is a joke. the guy has trouble getting a lead for gosh sakes.I don’t like paying Ramon 8.5 mil either but he is a better option than Hannigan. Especially for this offence. Just my opinion.By Dick Gose
August 13, 2009 2:49 PM | Link to this
How many Reds fans will admit to Wishing this Team had Adam Dunn back? .281-28 82 !! At a paltry $10 million a virtual steal.At age 29 a lot better than a 34/35 yr.old $11 million Third Baseman.By Dick Gose
August 13, 2009 2:45 PM | Link to this
J.J. Hardy, yes go get him & install him at SS next year.Little or no risk.Then get a leadoff hitter, then get a LF with some pop.By Jack
August 13, 2009 2:31 PM | Link to this
Mike-Cinci, there is a reason there are managers from little league to the major leagues…they are supposed to teach you things. Dusty, and all other managers from A ball to the big leagues should share some blame with Dickerson. It certainly is the player’s responsibility, but he should be getting instruction along the way. And again, no one is claiming Hanigan will be an All-Star, but I would rather have him there than pay Ramon 8.5 million. Its just as simple as that.By Jim t
August 13, 2009 2:19 PM | Link to this
RC, if we can fill a hole with the 8.5mil I’m ok with letting Ramon Walk.But when I read jason Bey is asking for 60mil for 4 years Yikes. We may be able to tke a chance on Nady coming off a injury but would you invest that kind of money on a guy coming off injury. I propose Stubbs cf,BP ss, Votto 1st, Rolen 3rd,Bruce rf,Balentine/Heisey lf, Hernandez c,Frazier 2nd. We continue to add young developing players to the mix. That is the only way to right the ship. Trying to outbid clubs for free agents is not going to work for the reds and one mistake can set you back years. We have Arroyo and Harrang on the books for one more year. Wood is worth a look and cueto and bailey are making progress. Slow, but progress none the less.We have depth in the pen. Well need to add some spare parts for the bench. Should be close to the budget we spent this year and the folowing year Lincoln,Arroyo,Harrang,Travers,Hernandez all come off the books. We will not have enough money to fill all the holes this year and the return is not good enough to part with anyone but Cordero. I say Cordero because I think we could fill the closer role from within, I’m thinking Masset. Who knows maybe the young guys will blossom and Harrang and Arroyo will rebound and it will be a good summer. I’m hoping we see this line up or something close in Sept this year. I don’t think you’ll see BP moved to SS if it happens at all until next year.By RC
August 13, 2009 1:52 PM | Link to this
Oh, I totally agree, Jim. I have more than once posted their respective RISP figures on here (.328ish vs 165ish as I recall). And I’m sure that Hanigan’s hot start (and Janish’s, and Dickerson’s from last year, and probably Balentein’s, too) are in no small part due to the lack of advance scouting on them. Given all that, though, I’d rather spend that 8.5 mil on a position that pretty much screams for positive offensive numbers (LF) than one that most other teams don’t get much production from, either. YMMV, of course.By jim t
August 13, 2009 1:07 PM | Link to this
RC, the comment I made about the season in regards to Hannigan is all about Run production. 8 rbi’s in 200 at bats is terrible. You can try to break it down anyway you want but in the end his numbers with runners in scoring position or with less than 2 outs are terrible. With a line up that has touble scoring runs to begin with, neeeding a SS,LF,Cf and a big question mark in RF, a aging somewhat injury prone 3rd a strickly defensive catcher just will not work. All that said 8.5 mil is quite a lot to pay for Ramons production, but make no mistake about it we are a better team with Ramon catching than Hannigan. Also have you ever considered that Hannigans hot start may have been a product of the league not knowing him but lately figuring him out. I would say Jockerty has quite alot of work to do for next year.By AA
August 13, 2009 12:06 PM | Link to this
Adam Dunner .281-30-85. Wow how the Reds could use that offense. But they have Janish, Sutton, Tatum, Hanigan, Rosales, Nix, Gomes, Dickerson. Dunn will crush one off of Arroyo and I hope he does. The Nats are much better then the Reds with the lumber. All you have to say is Dunner/Zimmerman. Grade trade bringing in 35 or a body of 45 Scott Rolen Jockface. Also you got alot of talent for the big donkey Jockface. He is a joke of a GM. Why do you think the Cardinals fired him.By RC
August 13, 2009 11:12 AM | Link to this
Oh and another thing (sorry to be so scattershot with these things - I usually try to sum up everything in one post)… Hal, I think Hanigan put up a lot of that .330ish fool-hitting not as Hernandez’ backup, but as the everyday catcher while Hernandez was at 1B. Not that anybody in their right mind thought that Hanigan would hit .330 for a whole season, right?By RC
August 13, 2009 10:50 AM | Link to this
BTW, Jason, ERA w/Hernandez - 4.49. ERA w/Hanigan - 4.35.By RC
August 13, 2009 10:39 AM | Link to this
I guess I look at it like this… How many teams in MLB are actually getting a lot of offensive production out of their catchers? I see only six with enough ABs to qualify who are hitting over .280. #8 is Bengie Molina - .262, OBP .275. #9 Jason Kendall .232 .318. In Ryan Hanigan we have a top-flight defensive catcher who has shown he can hit big league pitching “to some extent”, and who is playing for league minimum. And much as I like Ramon, his salary would make at least a down payment on a credible left fielder. I’m not seeing how penciling Hanigan in as next years starting catcher equals waving the big ol’ white flag of surrender.By AA
August 13, 2009 9:24 AM | Link to this
Mike-cinci how about a RH Brad Guilden or Don Werner. I work with alot of Cardinals fans and they were getting on me about how bad the Reds are. They thought Sutton was still in high school, Tatum hitting .148, Reds have two major league caliber players in there everyday lineup. Cardinals to rule again this year and the next, and the next. Jocketty has done nothing to help this team/staff win. Im sure he will fire the coaches because he has give them MINOR LEAGUE TALENT to try and be competitive with.By Scott
August 13, 2009 9:24 AM | Link to this
Was there a more clutch hitter in 2009 than Ramon Hernandez?By Lance
August 13, 2009 9:22 AM | Link to this
By Jim Upstate NY August 12, 2009 10:57 PM Also Mr. Redlegs original do you still post somewhere else Yes, at 1530Homer.com Forum/Baseball check out Lance there too.By jim t
August 13, 2009 8:16 AM | Link to this
Mac, my apologies if my last post sounded arrogant and condesending.But the idea of playing Hannigan somewhere else like 3rd or LF because he runs well for a catcher and his batting avg is 280 and fallling is just not a good idea. If Ryan Hannigan is in this line up on a regular basis next year it will be another long season for the reds.Just my opinion.By Jim t
August 13, 2009 8:11 AM | Link to this
Redsfandownunder, thanks for the stats.While I agree Ryan is a very good Defensive catcher and paying 8.5 is to much for Ramon’s output it still doesn’t add up to Ryan Hannigan is a starting catcher. 8rbi’s in 200 at bats is beyond bad. And for the guy who suggested he play 3rd or outfield because he runs well for a catcher.Please tell me your joking.He is a good back up catcher.By Mike-Cinci
August 13, 2009 7:32 AM | Link to this
There are 32 catchers in the NL this season who have more RBI than Hanigan. He has 8 RBI in 198 AB’s. Ryan Hanigan is a backup catcher. He will be 30 years old next season. He looks OK to starving for talent Reds fans because he has played better than anyone expected and there are so many other lousy players on this team. He looks good vs. the other stiffs pretending to be major league players. Our standards have dropped to a new low if we think Ryan Hanigan is good enough to be a starter on a contending team. I do like his defense but there are plenty of catchers who can play defense. Hanigan is a younger Corky Miller. Maybe a clean shaven Jason LaRue with less power. Maybe a right hand hitting Bako. Alex Trevino? A smaller Henry Blanco?By MAC
August 13, 2009 2:43 AM | Link to this
Hanny played a lot last yr & did extremely well in AAA; U have to think fatigue wouldn’t be a problem? Is Ryan physical enough to handle duties as a starter; could he be moved to LF or 3rd to improve his AB chances? He does run well for a Catcher!By MAC
August 13, 2009 2:23 AM | Link to this
Good stuff on Hanny; he’s not the Reds biggest problem nor is he or any 8th place hitter going to keep a team down. I like RH, but not @ 8.5M; perhaps they can bring him back for much less? Interesting info on Hardy?By redsfandownunder
August 13, 2009 12:56 AM | Link to this
As for Hanigan’s low RBI total, when the team around you is hitting under.240 average and a .310 OBP, you won’t get many opportunities in the 8 hole to knock an RBI. I think it’s nothing short of a miracle that Phillips managed 72 so far this year - not an easy thing to do with no one on base. Makes you wonder what he could have done playing for a real ML team - can someone please fix baseball?By redsfandownunder
August 13, 2009 12:20 AM | Link to this
Hopefully this is easier to read: Here are some hard stats from hardballtimes.com: 2008: Bako: 771 innings, 4.36 ERA, 27%CS. Ross: 375 innings, 5.09ERA,27%CS. Hanigan: 229 innings, 4.16 ERA, 35% CS. Hernandez: 1039 innings, 5.01 ERA, 18% CS. 2009 comparisons: Hernandez: 419 innings, 4.47 ERA, 24%CS. Hanigan: 522 innings, 4.36ERA, 43% CS. Hanigan LEADS ALL NL CATCHERS in CS% above 500 innings. He has also had the lowest ERA for the Reds the last 2 seasons.By Jim M.
August 13, 2009 12:17 AM | Link to this
Hey Hal!! You say the Reds will NOT trade Harang or Arroyo, but you say if they do, they wont be able to keep a promise and be competitive. So how are they going to be able to afford to go get better players when Reds ownership will whine how they cant afford to increase payroll???? Walt does need to ask Milwaukee about J.J. Hardy but if he hasn’t gone thru waivers, noway they get him. Also since they traded Josh Roenicke who I thought was the future closer, If the Reds trade CoCo, who closes next year??? AND Hanigan is showing he isnt a starter. he cant be a starting catcher and have only 8 RBI’s!! thats not getting it done.. Also The Brewers ownership apologized to their fans “Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio knows the fans weren’t happy, either. “It makes me and Doug feel we have to give 100% effort on our part to give those fans a winner,” he said. “We had 37,000 fans last night watching us get blasted by the Padres. Not to mention the people watching on TV, listening to the radio and following the game on their communicators. That’s not fun for anybody. Those fans deserve a better performance than that.” WOW when will we have the same type of reaction for the REDS fans??? WE deserve Better and dont get it, just excuses..By redsfandownunder
August 13, 2009 12:09 AM | Link to this
The biggest mistake of 2009 was signing Hernandez. That money could have signed Dye in LF. Where do people get the Hanigan is a backup?? Here are some hard stats form hardballtimes.com: 2008: Bako: 771 innings, 4.36 ERA, 27%CS. Ross: 375 innings, 5.09ERA,27%CS. Hanigan: 229 innings, 4.16 ERA, 35% CS. Hernandez: 1039 innings, 5.01 ERA, 18% CS. 2009 comparison: Hernandez: 419 innings, 4.47 ERA, 24%CS. Hanigan: 522 innings, 4.36ERA, 43% CS. Hanigan LEADA ALL NL CATCHERS in CS% above 500 innings. Hernandez is average in every department. Guys - we have larger holes and bigger needs than the catcher position. Hanigan is a bright spot for this team. Paying $8.5M for an average catcher is NOT the answer.By ctownboy
August 13, 2009 12:02 AM | Link to this
Nice, Willy Taveras, the LEAD OFF “hitter” (have to put hitter in quotes), can go 7 for 84 and 97 At Bats without drawing a Walk earlier in the season and HE is STILL the lead off “hitter”. On this road trip, he is in something like a 2 for 20 slump and is STILL playing. Yet Hanigan can go 0 for 20 and HE is being talked about as a second or reserve Catcher. Hanigan might not have much power but he does NOT Strike Out very much and he DOES draw some Walks. As far as RBI’s go, WHAT Pitcher in his right mind would give Hanigan ANYTHING to hit when he is batting eighth, there are men in scoring position and the Pitcher is hitting behind him? Votto has been slumping lately and hasn’t driven many guys in (because there has been NOBODY on base for him), why not bench him or bat him eighth? As far as Defense goes, Hanigan is MUCH better than Hernandez. With Hanigan, base runners have pretty much STOPPED trying to teal on him. Not so with Hernandez. Finally, as far as hitting goes, has ANYONE considered what Hanigan’s neck injury might be doing to him? If he has an injured or bulging disc in his neck, I would think it would hurt and/or hinder him while batting. WHen catching, all he mostly has to do is look forward. However, while batting, he has to twist his neck so as to be able to see the Pitcher and the incoming pitch. Maybe this twising of the neck is causing pain and he is NOT able to concentrae as much as he did earlier in the year? As far as 2010 goes, I say dump Hernandez, keep Hanigan and get somebody to either platoon with him or back him up (Bengie Molina) and use the money SAVED from Hernandez’s contract and GET a Short Stop (DUMP A Gon and let him be some OTHER team’s injury problem).By Jason
August 12, 2009 11:16 PM | Link to this
I wouldn’t be suprised to see the Reds take a long look at Mark Mulder for next year. I would probably see an incentive laden contract with a decent base… And Hal… thank you for always answering my emails, and your dedication to the sport that I love. You have been my source for inside information and behind the scenes for most of my adult life…By Jason
August 12, 2009 11:08 PM | Link to this
I would like to see the team ERA with Hernandez behind the plate vs. Hanigan. It is my belief that Hernandez is much better. Although Hanigan shows significant potential, he has failed to take the position over in Hernandez’s absence. They def. need to pick up the option because it is one less position they have to worry about in the off season. Let the GM and owner worry about the payroll and work with their plan. This team has a few lousy contracts to deal with next year that may handicap them in some way, but I believe that they will pick up another good bat for the outfield that will drive in runs. The answer is not currently on this team. I do not believe that one should “learn the game” at the major league level. I also do not believe that a platoon situation will work coming out of spring training either for the outfield.By Jim Upstate NY
August 12, 2009 10:57 PM | Link to this
Also Mr. Redlegs original do you still post somewhere else?By Mr. Redlegs (Original)
August 12, 2009 10:56 PM | Link to this
Hey thanks for the tip of the cap, but I failed to mention I get 15 percent of your profits off the 1.3 million daily page views you receive.By Jim Upstate N.Y.
August 12, 2009 10:52 PM | Link to this
Hal, That may be the most insightful and frank posting that I’ve read from any Reds reporter since the Pete Rose days (don’t know why) in the many years that I’ve been following the scribes who cover the Reds for both newspapers. I hope that you continue to blog like this .thanks.By Mike-Cinci
August 12, 2009 9:55 PM | Link to this
When players don’t do the fundamentals right it is not the fault of the coaches from little league thru high school thru the minors to the big leagues it is the player’s problem. He is just too dumb to learn. Other teams have better players than the Reds. When the Reds have better players they will win. The Reds need a catcher. Hanigan is a backup and Hernandez is too old and too expensive. The Reds have no MLB outfielders. Rolen is on the DL…again. The pitching is iffy. The minor league prospects are just prospects. It is not pretty.By Wilmonger
August 12, 2009 9:30 PM | Link to this
Something else to consider. I don’t have the numbers but Reds pitchers have a significantly lower era with Hernandez behind the plate. I wouldn’t pick up the option, but we need to consider that Hannigan might not be the best game caller. Brantly and Welch have been hammering the pitch calling for months.By RC
August 12, 2009 8:39 PM | Link to this
I don’t believe Hernandez is below average defensively. I suspect he’s actually a little above average - although clearly he’s not as good as Hanigan.By Steve M.
August 12, 2009 8:14 PM | Link to this
The Reds should not resign Ramon Hernandez. That contract is WAY too expensive for a catcher who is below average defensively and about average at the plate. I’d stick with Hanigan. He was never going to hit over .300 - his defense is so good I’d take my chances that he’ll eventually level out. Dickerson only made one running error last night. The time he got caught off third it just looked bad, but that’s what the 3B coach told him to do, in order to prevent the 5-4-3 DP. And Chris almost made it back to 3B anyway!By Steve @ the airport
August 12, 2009 7:19 PM | Link to this
Like I’ve said before, after a while you have to question the “baseball intelligence” of some of these guys. The bad base running has been a near constant for the last nine years. Trying to pull the outside corner pitch and grounding out to either short or second, swinging at the first pitch after the pitcher has walked the two previous batters. The list goes on and on. The lack of talent can be made up for with playing smart but these guys just don’t seem to have it.