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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 can’t find a Rocky Mountain high
UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave while wondering why a team of hitters like the Cincinnati Reds plays in Coors Field like the first-year New York Mets (120 losses).
This is why the St. Louis Cardinals will NOT catch the Reds in the National League Central.
On a night when the Reds played as if they can’t breathe in the thin Denver air, losing to the Colorado Rockies, 4-3, the Cardinals can’t take care of business in Milwaukee and lose. So the Reds’ lead stays at 6 games and the schedule is slithering away.
A RUSTY Johnny Cueto gave up hits to the first three Rockies he faced, including a three-run home run to the man they call Cargo (Carlos Gonzalez, a guy who is turning heads away from Joey Votto and Albert Pujols for National League MVP).
After Eric Young and Dexter Fowler each singled to right, Gonzalez hit the first pitch the other way, a home run over the left-field fence.
Cueto was superb after that — but it was too late because the Reds’ offense was as dormant as a sleeping volcano. No eruptions.
THIS IS NOT to point any crooked digits at Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips, but his night represented the frustrations of the Reds, who lost for the fourth time in six games on this seven-game trip, their seventh straight loss in Coors Field.
Phillips struck out twice, grounded into a double play, made the last out of the game with the tying run on base, made his first error in 64 games and was out trying to stretch a single into a double.
Phillips singled with one out in the fifth for the second out, then the Reds had back-to-back hits that would have produced a run. But Scott Rolen grounded out to end that threat.
While Phillips made a rare error, Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki made at least four plays that should be in ESPN’s Top Ten web gems.
AFTER COLORADO’s fast start, the Reds scored two runs in the fourth after two were out. Drew Stubbs drilled a two-out, two-run single, but Stubbs never should have batted. With two outs and runners on second and first, slow-footed Ramon Hernandez grounded to Mora at third, an easy throw across the diamond that would have ended the inning. Inexplicably, he tried to run to third for a force out, but Joey Votto beat him to the bag to fill the bases and set up Stubbs’ double.
But with a chance to score more, Chris Heisey hit a soft liner to second to end the inning.
THE ROCKIES got the run that proved to be the difference in the sixth when Phillips bungled a two-out ground ball by Seth Smith and catcher Miguel Olivo doubled to left-center to make it 4-2.
Jonny Gomes homered with two outs in the eighth, cutting it to 4-3, but that’s all they got.
JAY BRUCE was absent from the lineup again with his side injury and is supposed to take batting practice before Wednesday’s game, but probably won’t be in the lineup before Friday’s game in Great American Ball Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are suddenly world-beaters against the Atlanta Braves.
EDINSON VOLQUEZ, after striking out 10 in five innings for the Class A Dayton Dragons, was recalled Tuesday and the Reds have a choice to make - which shouldn’t be any choice at all. On Saturday, manager Dusty Baker must decided whether to send Volquez against the Pirates or Aaron Harang. Who would you run out there? Me, too.
BROADCASTER JIM KELCH e-mailed me that he took my advice and ate Tuesday at the Rocky Mountain Diner, partaking of the bison meat loaf and mashed potatoes. He gave it a two-forks up and said he planned to return Wednesday.
He asked for another recommendation and I told him to check out a restaurant on the other side of Larimer Square from the team hotel, an old firehouse. If he has the hot chicken wings he’ll need a fire hose to put out the flames in his mouth.
DON’T forget those Ask Hal questions for this week. Need them in the next couple of days for Sunday’s paper. Send them to halmccoy1@hotmail.com and I’ve received a lot of good ones in the past couple of weeks. Keep ‘em coming.
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By Please
September 8, 2010 11:17 PM | Link to this
OhDave: Could you chill for a bit, while re-reading Mike-Cinci’s post?
By ohdave
September 8, 2010 10:12 PM | Link to this
It’s a team effort at stinking… Rolen, Phillips, Gomes, and Heisey all look absolutely clueless at the plate on this road trip. And now our pitching is falling apart.
By ohdave
September 8, 2010 10:02 PM | Link to this
The Reds are looking like the 09 Reds right now. We are going to lose this thing. The fans feel it but the writers and players just think it’s no big deal. WE STINK
By Dr Zap
September 8, 2010 9:55 PM | Link to this
I’m beginning to believe Colin Cowherd is right. The Reds are a fraud incapable of beating good teams. Numbers don’t lie folks. And should they make it to the playoffs, it will be a quick exit for them. They need to make many upgrades for next year. And I will be the first to contribute to Brandon Phillip’s bus ticket out of town. He needs to shut his trap nd develop a batting eye. And if he’s hurt, he needs to sit down and let someone who can help the team play. He is hurting the Reds right now - as is most of the team…for that matter.
By jeff
September 8, 2010 2:09 PM | Link to this
The reds may blow this lead but the good news is that they are slumping right now and hurt. If they can get healthy and get on a bit of a run by seasons end and make the playoffs they could enter the playoffs on an uptick. Baseball is about talent and also momentum. You just never know!!!
By Mike-Cinci
September 8, 2010 1:51 PM | Link to this
Baseball is a game of streaks. All teams go through them..both good and bad. The Padres lost 10 in a row, the Cards have had a bad stretch, the Braves have blown a nice lead, the Phillies were out of it until the last week after losing 4 in the row to the Astros at home. The Reds are playing a hot Rockies team that was not so hot a couple of weeks ago. The Rockies are very tough at home. The world is not ending. The Reds can’ win every game. The best teams lose 60-70 games. The Reds still have the 2nd best record in the NL. Watch out for the Pirates this weekend though. They have beat both the Cards and the Braves over the last couple of weeks. No team is a push over in September.
By CD
September 8, 2010 11:44 AM | Link to this
I still expect the Reds to win the division, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the lead slips down to 4 or 5. After playing lights-out in August, they’re due for a rough stretch. I think they’ll be fine after they leave Colorado.
By B-Ho
September 8, 2010 9:29 AM | Link to this
The Reds are certainly coasting right now, and also losing to playoff-caliber opponents. At the same time, we’re on the road, battling a number of injuries, with only 3 outfielders and maybe 4 solid starting pitchers. I’m fine with coasting right now, especially if the Cards continue to slide, and hopefully get healthy and build some momentum right before the playoffs
By Walt J.
September 8, 2010 9:04 AM | Link to this
The Reds and Cardinals are punch-drunk like two fighters who have been at it for 9 rounds. Both teams are coasting, hoping to pick up enough wins to secure a spot in the playoffs. But assuming one (Reds) and possibly a second (Cards) make it, neither will have any momentum and will be an early out.
By WillBill
September 8, 2010 8:54 AM | Link to this
We can forget the Cards they’re burnt toast. Cinci won’t win a game in the playoffs,because they’ve struggled against good teams all year!!!(i hope I’m wrong of course)
By John
September 8, 2010 7:14 AM | Link to this
Hal, Love your comments on the Reds. Yes, the Reds very well might win out over the Cards, but I would rather have the Reds lose their lead than go to the playoffs and stink it up. They had better get “Reds” hot and not just show up and play ugly.
By AP-FLORIDA
September 8, 2010 6:35 AM | Link to this
Hal, I love the Reds, but you have more confidence than I. I smell a swoon…Hope not.
By Seneca
September 8, 2010 6:15 AM | Link to this
Hal, you’re being nice to Phillips. I, however, have no qualms about blaming this loss on him. His attempt to go to second on a left fielder known to have a cannon for an arm was ill-advised (I have other words if you want to e-mail me). His error was just a bobbled grounder — his throw was the problem. If he had fired that ball to Votto it was an out. Instead, the throw was just a bit over lob velocity — watch the replay.
By ohdave
September 8, 2010 4:50 AM | Link to this
Hal you are not the only one who has said, “relax, the Cardinals can’t come back”. But the Reds HAVE to prove they can beat good teams. And the truth is that on this road trip they’ve looked terrible. They look lost at the plate. Even Votto has had some terrible at bats. I don’t care if they have a 20 game lead, this team needs to get its damned act together. Phillips looks horrible. Have we even hit a home run on this road trip? Cueto comes out and looks like garbage in the first inning… Good teams don’t do that. They need a closed door meeting with some soul searching. If they can’t do better than this why even go to the playoffs? They look like a AAA team right now.
By ohdave
September 8, 2010 4:44 AM | Link to this
Hal maybe you are right and the Cards are too far back. But in a stretch against teams with a winning record, the Reds are 1-4, continuing a season long trend. Hard to get excited for the playoffs knowing the Reds can’t beat anyone with a winning record. It’s hard to imagine they won’t get swept in the first round. And this “swing at the first fastball” game plan isn’t working either. Whoever came up with it ought to be fired. It works against bad teams and bad pitchers, not against the good ones. Reds hitters put themselves in a hole for the first four innings.