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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 > 19 > Entry
Random thoughts on a cold, rainy day
GOODYEAR, Ariz. - There is a night game tonight that starts at 7:05 against Seattle (10:05 eastern) so I thought, “Great, I’ll get some sun and pool time today before going to the park.”
It was 86 yesterday. When I awoke, it was raining and cold enough that I needed a jacket for my half-mile walk to Starbuck’s. Now I’m sitting in my room pouting. So here I sit in my Speedos with no place to go.
BY THE WAY, Ken Griffey Jr. won’t be making the short trip from Peoria for the game tonight. He doesn’t travel well. In fact, he always said with a laugh when the team was in Sarasota, “If there is a bridge to cross, I don’t make road trips.” Of course, you can’t go 200 yards in the Sarasota area without crossing a bridge.
SAW AARON BOONE in camp yesterday in his new role with ESPN. He’ll be working on Baseball Tonight and he’ll be on the Monday Night Baseball broadcasts. With his knowledge and his good looks, he’ll be a natural.
Relief pitcher Arthur Rhodes walked up to greet Boone and Boone said, “Man, 50 years old and still dominating.” Said Rhodes, “Twenty-nine, my man, 29.” Actually, he is 40 - and still dominating. He has been unhittable this spring.
When someone standing near Boone asked Rhodes, “How’s it going this spring,” Rhodes gave him that glare that only Rhodes can muster and said, “Didn’t you see me yesterday?” If you went to the concession stand for an adult beverage, you missed it. Rhodes went 1-2-3 without breathing hard.
CHRIS DICKERSON picked Murray State over Vanderbilt on his bracket. He showed it to me. Back in the ’60s, when I covered University of Dayton basketball at old UD Fieldhouse, I witnessed one of the wildest collegiate basketball fights I ever saw. It involved UD and Murray State. The combatants ended up in the stands under the basket and some of the Flyer Faithful got in a few pokes.
I thought about duking it out with one of their writers, but he was a big guy with a Marine haircut and young enough that he probably had just got out of the service. No thanks.
I WROTE YESTERDAY about my two-mile walk from my hotel to the ballpark, a rather pleasant excursion, except my feet now hate me. A nice gentleman who lives in this area saw it on this blog and sent me an e-mail offering me a ride the next time I need one. People in these parts are so nice. The ushers and security folks at Goodyear Ballpark are extremely pleasant, but I still miss the good people who were ushers at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.
As the players dressed in the clubhouse yesterday morning, there was a tape playing on one of the five 70-inch flat screen HD TVs - HBO’s East Bound and Down. It was a short-lived weekly show about a washed up baseball player named Kenny Powers. It is extremely risque and blue-tinged. The Reds players were howling in delight as they watched.
ABOUT THE only thing Aroldis Chapman seems to struggle with is his change-up. And every morning, sitting not 10 feet away from Chapman, is Reds special instructor Mario Soto, who owned one of the all-time best change-ups.
I asked Soto, “What kind of change-up does Chapman throw?”
“I don’t know,” said Soto.
“Aren’t you helping him with his change-up?” I asked.
“No,” said Soto. “Nobody has asked me. If they do, I’ll be glad to help. I’m here. They know it. But I’m not messing with that kid until they ask me.”
THANKS FOR the great response to my request for Ask Hal questions. You filled it up. Unfortunately, I received several good ones today (Friday) that won’t make the paper because I write Ask Hal on Thursday nights. But I’ll save ‘em for next week and keep ‘em coming.
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By B-town fan
March 20, 2010 11:46 AM | Link to this
Hal that last little bit about Soto is quite surprising, puzzling. You would think as an organization you would take advantage of all your assets.
By MAC
March 20, 2010 1:34 AM | Link to this
Anyone have idea of a repeatable person/company I could contact about opening day tickets. Also, what are the best places to watch the parade take place? I have a chance to attend my first opening day and I’d like to take it all in.
By Mr. Redlegs
March 19, 2010 3:49 PM | Link to this
It could be worse Hal. The weather is bad out there, but at least you have some good basketball to watch inside today. Thanks for the blogs!