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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 > September > 08 > Entry
Reds between a Rock and a hard place
UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave while wondering what it might be like if some of the Cincinnati Reds actually saw more than two pitches per at bat in the early innings.
The Reds finally found a way to knock a starting pitcher out of the box - hit him on the shin with a line drive. That’s what Joey Votto did to Colorado starter Aaron Cook in the sixth inning.
There was a major problem, though. The score already was Colorado 9, Cincinnati 1, and Cook still was the winning pitcher and still hasn’t lost a game to the Reds during his career.
It is Cook’s way of saying, “Hey, I was born and raised in Hamilton, just 20 miles from Cincinnati. Why didn’t you draft me?”
Cook won easily because Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo ran head first into the lethal Rockies bats and the Reds lost, 9-2. He gave up three home runs, including a three-run game-crusher by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in the third to push Colorado’s lead from 2-1 to 5-1.
Tulowitzaki, a defensive dandy, had three hits, including two home runs.
Votto was the night’s only write-home-about Cincinnati player on this night - three hits and a walk. But the Reds hit into four double plays.
If the Reds could stay away from Denver, they’d do it. They’ve lost nine straight in Coors Field and 17 of their last 21. The Rockies always leave them gasping for air and Denver and its thin air isn’t a good place to be gasping.
AND BY the tone of e-mails and comments on this blog, some Reds fans are in full panic, Defcon 1-4.
Relax, Kick back. How would you like to be a St. Louis Cardinals fan and be staring at a six-game deficit, with the magic number at 20?
The Cardinals, given a platinum opportunity to put pressure on the Reds, who have lost five of six on this dastardly trip, lost their last two against Milwaukee and are doing nothing to make the Reds feel any sense of urgency.
THE REDS have run into some stellar pitching on this trip. No, they haven’t played good - way on the far side of bad, actually - but every team, no matter good, runs into dry spells over the course of a 162-game schedule.
As former manager Jerry Narron always said, “A team is never as good as it looks on a long winning streak and is never as bad as it looks on a long losing streak.”
Don’t forget the Reds are somewhat crippled at the moment - outfielders Jay Bruce and Laynce Nix are incapacitated, leaving manager Dusty Baker operating with only three outfielders.
Shortstop Orlando Cabrera’s side is acting up again and it is obvious Brandon Phillips is still suffering after effects from his hand injury. Chris Valaika replaced Phillips in mid-game Wednesday.
SEEING ALL the home runs fly out of Coors Field (mostly by the Rockies) jogs my memory back to the mid-1970s when the Reds trained at old Al Lopez Field in Tampa, grounds now occupied by the football stadium that is home to the Tampa Bay Bucs.
After a workout one day, a few writers stuck around to take some batting practice - making certain all the players were gone and wouldn’t see our ineptitude.
I wish they ALL had stayed. On one of the first pitches from former Dayton Journal Herald sports writer Jim Zofkie I lucked into one - the perfect storm swing - and hit one down the line and over the right field wall. I put the bat down and said, “That’s it. I retire.” And I haven’t swung a bat at a baseball ever since, although I played slow pitch softball until I was 42 and ‘retired’ because I couldn’t swing the bat around my belly and running from first to third required artificial respiration.
LAST CHANCE this week to submit an Ask Hal question and possibly see it in Sunday’s paper. Need them by noon Thursday and send your questions to halmccoy1@hotmail.com.
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By Bud
September 9, 2010 8:48 PM | Link to this
Wonder how much satisfaction Tracy gets in sweeping the Reds since he was born in Hamilton and dumped out of the Reds system a few years back. Winning pitcher Matt Belisle might have a little smile on his face also after showing the Reds they gave up on him too soon.
By ohdave
September 9, 2010 3:55 PM | Link to this
I have to agree, kinda, with Cowboy. I don’t want to see Alonso in the OF but what about Votto in the OF with Alonso at first? Seems to me this is a possibility for next year. With Votto, Stubbs (and deal with it people, Stubbs is the cf of the future, and a future star, not Heisey) and Bruce I would like our OF a lot.
By Shockinator
September 9, 2010 12:06 PM | Link to this
@just a fan You sir, are ridiculous. The lead will be gone by September 20? I wish we could bet. Hell, I’d give you 10-1 odds!!! The Reds are going to win the division, and will be going to the playoffs. If they lose every game from now until September 20th, then yes, then we should be in panic mode. Until then, I’m just enjoying the rest of the season.
By Cowboy
September 9, 2010 12:03 PM | Link to this
Agreed about Welsh as lead annoucer - it’s painful. I would rather watch Corky Miller play centerfield before having to listen to Welsh do the play by play. Can Alonso catch a flyball? Put him out there.
By the crab
September 9, 2010 11:59 AM | Link to this
Bruce has not played since Aug 30 when he had the game ending hit and was mobbed by teammates. The next day he had the sore side.Is that how the injury occured?
By StuttgartTim
September 9, 2010 11:04 AM | Link to this
IMO the easy solution to the OF should have been answered after Haranging Curve’s last start. He should be released. He’s finished after this year anyway, and Balentien or another OFer should be added to the 40 man and called up. It’s too easy.
By StuttgartTim
September 9, 2010 11:01 AM | Link to this
IMO the easy solution to the OF should have been answered after Haranging Curve’s last start. He should be released, as he’s finished after this year anyway, and Balentien should be added to the 40 man and called up. It’s too easy.
By bob
September 9, 2010 10:41 AM | Link to this
As painful as it’s been to watch the last few days; listening to “The Crafty Lefthander” as lead announcer has been worse. For 9 innings I heard the most stupid alibis for losing. The Reds have had to suffer thou high temperatures, high humidity, high altitudes and low atmospheric pressure. Even Arroyo’s curve ball doesn’t break as much in these conditions. With all that in mind, you’d think ther Rockies would be 81-0 at home. Brantley fell right alone side with the excuses. They bragged the first 3 innings Tues. how well Cueto was throwing the ball. If he thrown it better, I guess they’d scored 6-8 runs, instead of 3. The radio is just as bad with Jim Kells. Keep Jeff with Marty and team someone with Thom. Please.
By just a fan
September 9, 2010 10:11 AM | Link to this
And so the collapse continues and super-manager Blunder Baker has no clue about how to stop it. They dont just lose, they’re getting crushed. The lead will be gone by Sept 20th. Wish I could say the same about Baker.
By Mr. Sports
September 9, 2010 10:02 AM | Link to this
The Reds do not have another outfielder on their 40 man roster and would have to release someone to move an outfielder in.
By Kenny
September 9, 2010 9:28 AM | Link to this
What I cannot understand is why are they playing with only 3 outfielders? It’s September, expanded rosters. There has to at least be someone in the minors that could be a defensive replacement for Gomes.
By DAVE
September 9, 2010 9:23 AM | Link to this
The Reds are just fine they are GOING to win the division and do well in the post season lets just let them do it and enjoy every second of it after all it has been 15 years since we have been to the post season.Now that we are all but there the fans still find things to complain about its hilarious to hear some of these comments on here.
By not so confident
September 9, 2010 9:18 AM | Link to this
Remind me, why is Jerry Narron a former manager?
By AP
September 9, 2010 8:36 AM | Link to this
Relax folks. They are just getting a breather and healthier for a run at the post season. The real trick will be getting the team wound back up. Playoffs should do just that.
By Cowboy
September 9, 2010 8:11 AM | Link to this
Brandon Phillips looks like Corky Miller out there. If he’s still hurt then why is he playing? If he’s not hurt then he needs to get his head out of his a$$. Good thing the Cardinals are lousy against every team except the Reds and the Reds are world-beaters against every team with a losing record.
By Bill
September 9, 2010 7:58 AM | Link to this
Obviously, either no one is aware of, or doesn’t want to mention how putrid the Reds record is against good, winning teams. Arroyo’s and Cueto’s wins are mostly against losing team’s. This team cannot beat anyone who throws sliders and sinkers in the dirt, low and away. Check the records.Last night yo-yo was too high in the strike zone, all night. Hanigan kept patting the dirt with his glove, then kept catching belt high pitches, someplace other than where he set up to receive the pitches. What’s the big deal about Bruce being out of the lineup? He wasn’t exactly tearing it up, before his oblique injury. Why was Cabrera put back into the lineup? His replacement was doing just fine. Plus, he is still injured. Sit Rolen. He’s killing us. Hit Phillips 8th, until he comes out of his coma. How the hell can Stubbs go two for three, and the Reds LOSE? Sure would be nice to have a left-handed outfielder to replace THREE right-handed outfielders!
By Michael in Singapore
September 9, 2010 2:48 AM | Link to this
Narron new nothing about the former and plenty of the latter. His whole tenure was one long losing streak. If the Cardinals were on their game the Reds would be in serious trouble right now. I still don’t think the lead is safe. Ya gotta go with Volquez over Harang. If Harang and his gas can take the mound again there are going to be a lot of p.o’d Reds fans. The entire team need to go out, throw down some cocktails, and loosen the hell up. Talk about gripping. Relax fellas and play the way you guys know you can play. And for cryin out loud work a count once in a while.