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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 > July > 26 > Entry
Bailey: Three good and one awful
UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from the press box in Fifth Third Field, watching Homer Bailey do his rehab assignment for the Class A Dayton Dragons and wondering, “What are the Reds going to do with Bailey when he’s ready to pitch?”
Bailey, wearing his pants high the way he did for the Dragons in 2005 and wearing uniform No. 37, faced the Quad Cities River Bandits. Ironically, the Reds No. 1 draft pick in 2005 was facing Shelby Miller, the No. 1 draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals last June. He was 3-4 with a 4.04, which may be why he is still pitching in low-A and the Reds No. 1 draft pick last June, Mike Leake, is pitching in the majors.
The Dragons, though, weren’t up to adding any misery to Miller’s record. He shut them out on three hits for seven innings. Incredibly, the Dragons are on a 14-game home losing streak and wouldn’t you think they’d win one by accident?
And Bailey? He pitched four innings and gave up three runs and four hits with a walk and five strikeouts - but the naked numbers don’t say it all.
For three innings, he was as pitch-efficent as one could possibly be - 30 pitches, 24 strikes, no runs, one hit. In the second inning he threw nine pitches, seven for strikes. In the third inning he was perfect - six pitches, six strikes.
“A new me,” he said with a smile.
Then came the fourth inning and it took Bailey 29 pitches to get through it. He gave up three runs and three hits.
He was finished after four innings, but went to the bullpen and threw ten more pitches in front of Dragons pitching coach Tony Fossas.
“The first three innings were pretty good,” he said. “I knew the fourth inning was my last inning so I tried to do too much. I did the one thing I’ve been telling the young pitchers here - don’t try to do too much. Early on, I pounded the zone and I felt physically well. All in all, I’ll take a lot of positives out of this and I know I have a little more work to do.”
Bailey’s next two rehab starts will be for the Class AAA Louisville Bats, but he enjoyed his return to his roots in Dayton.
But there is a crimp in all this. When Bailey is ready, will the Reds be ready for him. Will there be room in the rotation? Bailey isn’t concerned with it.
“All I’m concerned about right now is getting healthy, getting to the point where I can help the team by doing whatever they want me to do, even pinch-run,” he said. “Anything to get back on the field.
“I saw what I needed to see in the first three innings then had a mental lapse in the fourth,” he said. “It was good to be back in this stadium - a good fan base and a good show always. I was mechanically off in the fourth inning - another reason I went to the bullpen to work with Fossas. I didn’t want to leave that in the back of my mind, no bad muscle memory.”
But getting on the field and on the mound was Bailey’s biggest piece of happiness. He has been on the DL with shoulder tightness since May 24, with one previous rehab start for Louisville that ended poorly and set him back.
“I was just so excited to get back in a game,” he said. “I’ve been watching them for so long. Deep down we’re all still kids and watching the games pulling for the Reds wears on you knowing you’re not able to contribute.”
And Bailey said he worked with Fossas on sharpening his slider, a pitch he doesn’t use much.
“I got a lot of help from Tony while I was here, really working on the slider, because that’s not a pitch I use a lot. Sometimes a curveball can cause a little more stress on your shoulder so I have to have a better slider and he really helped me out with it.”
I LOVE GOING to Fifth Third Field, where Dragons president Bob Murphy and his staff do an unbelievably excellent job and a stunningly fine venue. If you are baseball fan and you can’t have fun at a Dragons game then you can’t have fun anywhere - and even if you aren’t a baseball fun.
Confession time. When they announced that Dayton was getting a low Class A franchise in the Midwest League, just 60 miles from Cincinnati, I wrote in my infinite wisdom, “It’ll never fly. Minor league baseball in Dayton can’t make it. Too close to Cincinnati and the big leagues.”
Now, 11 years later, with every game sold out for the entire season - all 11 years - with a waiting list to purchase tickets, well, I was never so wrong in my entire life. And happy about it.
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August 9, 2010 5:02 PM | Link to this
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By Excellent Bob
July 28, 2010 9:40 PM | Link to this
By Excellent post Bob July 27, 2010 4:40 PM By bob July 27, 2010 2:08 PM How do you earn a spot in the lineup and tie for the most games played in’10 and be as unproductive as Bruce? Same for Stubbs. You’d think Heisy and Nix could play a third of the time anyway. Philips has been breaking his back swinging at every pitch. Can you imagine what the advance scouts say about Brandon? Same with Cabrera most of the time. There sits Janish rotting away. These 3 guys are too good to sit. Play them or trade them so they can have an opportunity to develop.
By Pharmacy technician certification board
July 28, 2010 12:23 PM | Link to this
Wow this is a great resource.. I’m enjoying it.. good article
By Excellent post Bob
July 27, 2010 4:40 PM | Link to this
By bob July 27, 2010 2:08 PM How do you earn a spot in the lineup and tie for the most games played in’10 and be as unproductive as Bruce? Same for Stubbs. You’d think Heisy and Nix could play a third of the time anyway. Philips has been breaking his back swinging at every pitch. Can you imagine what the advance scouts say about Brandon? Same with Cabrera most of the time. There sits Janish rotting away. These 3 guys are too good to sit. Play them or trade them so they can have an opportunity to develop.
By sex filmy
July 27, 2010 2:16 PM | Link to this
I do not believe I have it in me to keep up with running a place like yours! Magnificent work, I really hope you keep it up.
By bob
July 27, 2010 2:08 PM | Link to this
How do you earn a spot in the lineup and tie for the most games played in’10 and be as unproductive as Bruce? Same for Stubbs. You’d think Heisy and Nix could play a third of the time anyway. Philips has been breaking his back swinging at every pitch. Can you imagine what the advance scouts say about Brandon? Same with Cabrera most of the time. There sits Janish rotting away. These 3 guys are too good to sit. Play them or trade them so they can have an opportunity to develop.
By Believe It Or Not
July 27, 2010 1:55 PM | Link to this
Maybe four months ago I was saying to an avalanche of detractors that Dickerson was{and still is}, our best centerfielder. Injury-prone or not, he still is our best! And, Heisey is now our second best, when considering hitting and fielding. Perhaps now you morons will sit up straight, shut your stupid mouths,and listen to your Daddy! In addition, Bruce has earned nothing. Nix should be playing half the time in right; and until Gomes learns to lay off of low and away balls in the dirt—he should sit as well!
By Florida Buckeye
July 27, 2010 1:48 PM | Link to this
Hey All, I think trading Bailey might just be best for all concerned. From time to time Hal has posted tid-bits about how he keeps to himself in the locker room, or stands out in odd ways, but never that he has blended in, or has become a team guy. Im not in the lockerroom - none of us are - so I dont know if he is, or isnt a team player; but, it seems to me, like a change of clubs might do him a world of good. It might finally sink in, and make him concentrate on the art of pitching, instead of throwing the ball, and realize that potential is only what get’s you to the Show, it doesnt keep you there! And if he get’s traded now, while he still has potential, then his worth will be higher…Go Reds!
By David
July 27, 2010 1:27 PM | Link to this
Homer’s handling shouldn’t be tough to do - just take him out one inning early every time and he’ll pitch nothing but shutout baseball.
By donnjoo
July 27, 2010 11:49 AM | Link to this
Last night Reds game the closer for the Brewers kept going to the bill of his cap. There were 2 dark spots his firts two fingers would touch. He did this on most pitches. Why are the umpires reluctant to look at the bill of his cap? It was so obvious on TV.
By N
July 27, 2010 11:34 AM | Link to this
@dayton dragon fan - In 1990 I was 10. My dad took me down to the parking garage after Reds games to get autographs. Eric Davis wouldn’t give anybody the time of day. He would just get in his car and drive away. I have autographs from Paul O’neal,Barry Larkin and many other players. You shouldn’t judge a player just because you did or didn’t get an autograph that day. It happens. Deal with it.
By J
July 27, 2010 11:18 AM | Link to this
Dayton Dragon Fan - good lord son, what are you on? From your comments I basically deduce that you think Bailey sucks because he wouldn’t sign an autograph?! You know, he was pitching that night, and I think he should be more worried about preparing to pitch his first game in months than signing for an ungrateful fan like you. As for Homer’s bad game, he started out smoothly, but he hasn’t pitched in some time, so he probably wore down. Big deal.
By chicken little
July 27, 2010 9:18 AM | Link to this
Only player that I ever got to stop and sign anything was Aaron Boone. As for the Dragons and their losing streak. The fans here are far, far more forgiving that at the major level. As the first comment of this blog will attest to.
By dayton dragon fan
July 27, 2010 12:49 AM | Link to this
David Bailey is an athlete matter of fact a professional athlete. He gave up three runs in the fourth and that was it. Why would this young gun not sign any fans autographs or be up for giving back to fans? His actions speak very loud, he is not as good as he thinks he is, reds please trade this stuck up bball player. I think its kind of funny Eric Davis stayed thirty minutes after the game to make sure every fan got their autograph and yes this mans climbed the mountain of greatness in 1990 with a ring, eric you are a total class act please teach this bailey guy a thing or two……look up his era in his career its actually mind boggling scarry numbers that just make you shake your head….yeah you got player of the year in the highschool, but you can’t hang in the big leagues face reality, and as a true fan of baseball, sports, and reds nation I will be so happy when you are gone……fine tune your game, shrink your head, and show some dignity to the loyal fans who pay your salary……tonights final score bailey rocked……hahahahah…
By redsfandownunder
July 26, 2010 11:48 PM | Link to this
Homer had a spell last year at AAA and the end of last season when he became unhittable. It started when (against the wishes of the Reds as they were worried about an injury to his shoulder or elbow…) he began to throw a split finger fastball. Anyone know if he is he still using this pitch in his arsenol? If not, I wonder if it became less effective for him or if it is related to his injury?
By Believe It
July 26, 2010 11:20 PM | Link to this
Arroyo gives up THREE hits and cannot win—and Heisey and others will never play regularly!Support of this insanity, takes a mere moron.