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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 > 2010 > March > 10 > Entry
Leake, Phillips plus some controversy
TEMPE, Ariz. — MIke Leake is a first-round draft pick from last June and pretty much has been ignored by the media this spring, not hounded as are most No. 1s, probably because of the heavily focused attention on Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman.
And that’s OK with Leake, although Reds manager Dusty Baker says, “He isn’t one that needs much attention.”
Just a couple of blocks away from Tempe Diablo Stadium, about five minutes by fast car with no traffic, Leake pitched for Arizona State University, compiling a 40-6 record.
He is scheduled to pitch today for the Cincinnati Reds, and before the game he was leaning on the dugout railing. Somebody said, “You’re probably pretty big around here, aren’t you?” He smiled and said, “Like Godzilla.”
About that time, a fan wearing an Arizona State sweat shirt and ASU hat yelled, “Hey, Mike. Go get ‘em!”
OF LEAKE, Baker said, “He has that quiet confidence. He has a great idea about how to pitch at such a young age (22). He has great command of the strike zone. I remember talking to Bob Welch (former Dodgers, A’s pitcher) who saw him at ASU and he told me, ‘You’re going to like this young man. He keeps that cheese around the knees.’
“What I’ve noticed about him is that unlike most young guys he recognized very quickly how a hitter reacts to a certain pitch,” Baker added. “He doesn’t throw a fastball past a hitter then come in with a breaking pitch to let a hitter catch up. Nor does he throw a breaking pitch that a hitter is way out in front of then come back with a fastball that enables the hitter to adjust.”
Asked about Leake being able to hide behind Chapman, Baker said, “I don’t think he is an attention guy. I talked to Bronson Arroyo and he said, ‘I like this guy and I haven’t even seen him pitch yet.’ “
THERE WAS no infield practice in Tempe Diablo Stadium before Wednesday’s game and second baseman Brandon Phillips said, “Oh, great. We don’t get to see how the ball bounces on this field? They don’t call it Diablo Stadium for nothing.”
I had two years of Spanish at Kent State University, back in the Dark Ages just after they quit calling it Kent State Normal College, but I had to ask C. Trent Rosecrans of Cnati.com what it meant.
He told me, “Devil.” Oh.
Phillips, an avid bowler, went bowling Sunday after a game with Milwaukee was rained out. Said the man who has three 300 games, “I bowled 225 and 205, then we had a little family match and they made me bowl between my legs. I bowled 154.”
SAW MY first body of water in Arizona today — a large mud puddle in the center field parking lot. Of course, I stepped in it.
A BIT OF controversy today that Baker wouldn’t step into. Baker and several other baseball people were involved in a round-table discussion recently in Scottsdale about what can be done to improve the game.
Torii Hunter of the Angels was involved in the discussion, and some time during the night a comment was made about Dominican and Latin American players. Somebody allegedly said something about Dominicans not really being blacks and Hunter, an African American, added a comment, but it was Hunter who was quoted in a newspaper story.
Hunter was livid Wednesday in the Angels camps and several writers asked Baker about it.
“I was there at the round table, but I left before that subject came up,” said Baker. “Torii is one of the most respected guys in the game by all races. I hope he is making light of their situation and it came out wrong or was interpreted wrong. I know Torii pretty well and he has a lot of Latin American friends.
“You hate to see any division of the races in baseball,” Baker added. “Especially in this world today. Torii is usually one of the guys who brings people of all races together. Like everything else, this too shall pass.”
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By kab-brkville,englewood&philpsbrg
March 15, 2010 10:05 AM | Link to this
Most Springs bring hope & excitement. I will be shocked if more than one or two of the young guys produce THIS year! I see Gomes in LF this year & he WILL produce! Bruce & Stubbs could end up back in AAA. Henderson might be ready & be in CF. How about Lance Nix in RF. The INF. is set. Hal might not agree with me on this & durn it-he is always right! Keith in Brookville, E & P
By Ridnaway
March 11, 2010 6:26 PM | Link to this
I’m excited about the Reds young pitchers. Now if they can just find someone other than Joey Votto who can HIT!…..
By Yodasbrother
March 10, 2010 9:23 PM | Link to this
It’s refreshing to hear that Leake has a good head on his shoulders. Knowing how to set up a hitter should get him to the Majors faster and allow him to stay longer.