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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 > August > 27 > Entry
Is it Rolen, the Brewers or Memorex?
IT’S A SMALL sample, like a small satchel of Fuller Brush products, but the Cincinnati Reds do seem much better with the veteran presence of Scott Rolen in the lineup.
Was it Rolen or was it the Milwaukee Brewers, who have seemingly tossed the towel high into the air? The Reds swept the Brewers three straight and have won four in a row, with Rolen in the lineup for all four.
And the Reds are 6-2 with him in the lineup. He is hitting and he is making all the defensive plays expected of him. Manager Dusty Baker notices something else about him, a nuance not easily picked up by the untrained eye.
“His stroke is getting better every day and his timing is getting better,” said Baker. “You really don’t pay attention to what he does on defense, he’s so good. But he could very well be our smartest and best baserunner.
“His judgement is impeccable — going from first to third, stuff like that,” Baker said. “It’s judgement with no hesitation because if you are just a speed demon you might get thrown out. A guy with good judgement is gone from the minute the ball hits.”
And you have to love his dry sense of humor. After his two-run single in the fifth Thursday broke a 4-4 tie and put the Reds ahead for good during an 8-5 win, Rolen said with a dead-pan look, “I’m just trying to get my head on straight,” a play of words off the fact he got hit in the head with a pitch that caused a concussion.
He may be 35 and he may be injury-prone and he may be an expensive trinket on a team that supposedly is rebuilding from the basement up, but Scott Rolen can play on my team any time he wants.
WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT, I’m going to continue to give you lists of my favorite and not-so-favorite things through the years. Here’s another.
My five favorite National League cities:
ONE: San Diego — I think I saw it rain once in 37 years in San Diego. They rolled out the tarp to cover the field and it shredded into pieces because it was rotted from non-use. The airport, though, is right downtown with one main runway and the approach takes you between tall building and I swear I once saw a lawyer counting his money as we passed his office window.
TWO: Denver — A great ballpark, the mountains with snow on them in mid-summer and a lively downtown. The only detriment is that if I walk at a fast pace (which I haven’t been able to do for five years) I am quickly out of breath due to the thin air. That’s what I tell myself.
THREE: San Francisco — You can eat at a different restaurant every day and seldom will you be disappointed. The walk between restaurants, though, is fraught with street beggars, one on every corner. I always tell them, “I gave to the last guy.” There was a guy once on Fisherman’s Wharf who had a sign, “I won’t lie, I want money for beer.” I gave him $5.
FOUR: Washington, D.C. — Until the Nationals came into the league, I hadn’t been to the nation’s capital since I was in the fifth grade and won a trip as an elementary school crossing guard. I was Lieutenant McCoy of the schoolboy patrol. The last three years I have been able to catch up on my sightseeing duties, plus there is a great cigar bar in which you can get a hand-rolled cigar and a Tangueray and tonic for, oh, about $100.
FIVE: Chicago — Big and eclectic, but not too big like New York City. My favorite steak house (The Saloon), my favorite pizza (Giordano’s) and my favorite Mexican joint (El Mexicano) are in the Windy City, but to tell the truth, I think it’s windier in Milwaukee. Folks think I probably love Wrigley Field. Wrong. Great place to watch a game, but horrible conditions for the poor w
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By ironmyke
August 28, 2009 11:53 AM | Link to this
Although the weather can be surprising, San Francisco is my favorite city to visit. The best way to do it is walk through the neighborhoods, and stop at the local restaurants. Every way you turn there’s another stunning picture postcard view. The collection of Victorian era homes is the best in the country. They have a colorful and amazing history from the gold rush era on. Chicago is everything you say, and only a five hour drive to the loop from Dayton. I’ve spent much less time in the others you have listed so I don’t have strong feelings about them.
By Diamond Dave
August 28, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this
Hal, I’ve been to all of those cities except SF, and I couldn’t agree more. SD airport is ranked by pilots as one of the top 3 most difficult airports for takeoffs/landings because of the path between the office buildings. My girlfriend used to live out there and she said the jets were close enough to her that she could look in their windows and tell if it was a man, woman, or child in the seats. I’m going to try to make it out to SF in the next couple of years. The ballpark setting just looks spectacular and I’ve gotta see it in person. (BTW, I’ll be bringing that book for you to autograph this weekend. Looking forward to seeing you again!)
By To Assinine A$$hole
August 28, 2009 9:56 AM | Link to this
Janish was always good enough to start…only dummies like you and Dusty would suggest differently. Now that he is proving himself, you can’t handle the truth. You are just another “nyc” who travels the blogs proving his ignorance…just another Alcoholic A$$, who never could play the game-and only roots for frontrunners to build a false esteem. You are a zero, buddy. Accept it, and move on. You impress noone.
By Blogcopwatcher
August 28, 2009 9:33 AM | Link to this
Perhaps we should start AA’s pseudo’s: Ross/Albert The Great/Fruit pickin’Fred/Phoney Frank, and all the rest…And, for manager..AA, Another A$$inine poster!
By AA
August 28, 2009 9:08 AM | Link to this
Oh professor have you seen Gilligan lately. Basically Ive been saying all year the Reds would battle the bucs for last. All year clown. You think guys like Hanigan, dickerson, Janish, Nix, Gomes, Sutton, Stubbs are players. They have got a chance to play and this team is 18 games out and will finish last. Its pretty bad when Janish finally gets a couple of hits and you think he is an everyday SS. Has Hanigan drove in 10 runs yet? You have NOOOOOOO baseball IQ if you think the Reds can compete with those AA type guys.
By dopeweblow
August 28, 2009 8:59 AM | Link to this
Keep the favorites lists coming, Hal. I think it’s Rolen, too - and kind of like the pick up. The team needs a veteran leader, who can teach by example in all the ways Dusty cited. Who else is/could do it on this squad?
By Rick
August 28, 2009 8:56 AM | Link to this
You’ve got to write a book about your experiences and favorites— its not going to be the same without your columns and blog. Rolens is the leader we’ve needed to show the young guys how the game is played at the major league level— so important over the next several years— particularly with Dusty there.
By Dan
August 28, 2009 8:04 AM | Link to this
To rebuild the Reds need one or two more quality starting veterans to turn the team around and let the develope at triple A instead of coming up too early and never suceeding. Getting Rolens was a good start.
By Kevin M
August 28, 2009 1:46 AM | Link to this
I saw the “Why lie? I need money for beer” beggar in San Francisco back around 1999. I gave him few bucks too. I appreciated his honesty. Thanks for having this blog Hal. It is one of the first places I head to on the web after work each night. Always enjoyable.
By The Professor
August 28, 2009 12:24 AM | Link to this
That’s the spirit, econprof!I believe there are some other folks on this blog that agree with your Janish comment. Well, most of those with baseball knowledge, anyway…maybe not AA.
By jbabs
August 27, 2009 11:43 PM | Link to this
Keep the list of favorites coming Hal. 1. favorite fictional characters from all of the books you read? 2. favorite team hotels? 3. favorite subway systems? 4. all time favorite Reds players per position? 5. all time favorite Reds moments during the past 37 years? 6. favorite bars? 7. favorite opposing players?
By econprof
August 27, 2009 8:06 PM | Link to this
It’s Rolen. He’s playing hard and he’s playing smart, and everyone else would be ashamed to slack off in front of him. With Rolen, Votto, and Phillips, it might not be so bad to have Janish as the regular shortstop. Defensively, it would be fine.
By stlredsfan
August 27, 2009 7:01 PM | Link to this
I’m going to Denver for a couple of Reds games next month? Any restaurant suggestions downtown Denver, Hal?