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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 > 2011 > June > 11 > Entry
Who’s this Lincecum guy, Reds ask
UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, chomping and chewing on every snack in sight because I’m out of cigars, which makes me as jittery as a mold of lemon Jell-O.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Fox broadcaster Eric Karros, former major-league first baseman with the Los Angeles Dodgers, worked with Thom Brennaman on Saturday’s national broadcast and said, “I had a chanced to play for Dusty Baker and he is as good as there is. He has kept this team together through some amazing injuries and fans should be happy because things are going to get better.”
Reds fans happy with Dusty? If they aren’t criticizing his lineup cards, they are criticizing his custom-made toothpicks.
Some will even find fault with Baker after the Reds savaged and ravanged the San Francisco Giants Saturday, 10-2.
WHEN THEY TALKED (me, too) about the current trip on which the Cincinnati Reds are on, all the doomsdayers mentioned how poorly the Reds play on the west coast and how they had to face the pitch-infested San Francisco Giants, defending World Series champions and leader of the NL West.
They remembered a three-game series last August when the Giants swept the Reds by scoring 38 runs on 53 hits.
As everybody says and everybody knows, however, timing is everything, time is of the essence and time flies when you are having fun.
The Reds couldn’t have picked a better time to pay a visit to one of the world’s greatest cities, even with the frigid weather. The timing is perfect for playing the Giants.
The Giants aren’t hitting and aren’t scoring. They’ve searched eBay, Angie’s List and even CarFax, searching for runs.
AND TWO-TIME Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum was coming off two straight poor performances.
So Johnny Cueto shut them out Thursday, 3-0. Travis Wood held them to one run over seven innings Friday, but they scraped two off the Reds bullpen and won, 3-2, with a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.
ON SATURDAY IT was Mike Leake shutting down the Giants and it was Lincecum taking the punches as the Reds went Mike Tyson on him — four innings, seven runs, seven hits. Lincecum was unable to put two good pitches together.
Meanwhile, Leake was as smooth as Sea Breeze as the Reds beat the Giants for the second time in three days.
For the second straight start, Leake pitched eight innings and he shut out the Giants on four hits with one walk and eight strikeouts during his 113-pitch outing.
And tell us again why Leake (6-2) was sent back to the minors briefly this year?
The Giants scored their two runs in the ninth off relief pitcher Carlos Fisher when Pat Burrell hit a two-run homer, the only home run hit in the first three games of the series.
THE REDS have now had nearly a full week of outstanding starting pitching, which cures a lot of aches and pains over the instability of left field and the offensive wasteland that is shortstop. Yonder Alonso, Todd Frazier and Zack Cozart wait patiently in Louisville.
Pitching, though, cures a lot over what ails a team. It is why the Giants, despite a pathetic hitting team, is in first place in the NL West.
Lincecum went 1-2-3 in the first inning and it was uh-oh time. But Jay Bruce led the second with a single, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Ryan Hanigan’s single.
The Reds gave Leake the breathing room he needed in the third with two more runs, with Leake torching the rally himself with a leadoff double. Drew Stubbs walked and Joey Votto’s singled filled the bases.
One run scored on Bruce’s grounder to first base and another scored on a wild pitch — nothing pretty, nothing powerful, but two runs nonetheless and a 3-0 lead.
The Reds put it away and rid themselves on Lincecum in the fifth when they scored four runs on three hits, a two-run double by Brandon Phillips the big blow.l The Phillips hit knocked Lincecum out of the game and the Reds remain the only National League team Lincecum has never beaten, 0-3 in three starts.
Aren’t these west coast trips fun?
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By Vinnie
June 17, 2011 4:13 PM | Link to this
Hal. Sorry for the incorrect spelling correction on Unabomber.my sincere apologies. Vinnie
By slag
June 13, 2011 4:08 PM | Link to this
Mike in kenfukky…LOL…You’re a clown. Yaaaaaaaa great manager sits Gomes after 2 good games against the cubs and sits him after a 3 hit night on thursday..Gomes is a “streak” hitter so you ride him while he’s hit.Yaaaaaa 2 reds on base in the 7th inning friday night and he lets fag boy janish swing away instead of bunting them over for a guy who is a much better hitter and athlete in Travis Wood..Those are fabulous managerial moves..But,hey, it’s gar more important to keep everybody happy than winning games. Baker’s a moronic clown.
By TomD
June 13, 2011 1:02 AM | Link to this
Both you and Thom B on TV yesterday referred to that 38-run Giant outburst last August as a “series sweep”. As I recall, the Reds actually won the last game - somewhat miraculously; in extra innings - after blowing a huge (9 run?) lead. Am I right? Or is it one of those ‘senior moments’ I experience on occasion? Love your work - - - Reds fan since I reached the age of reason (in 1944).
By Tom
June 12, 2011 11:26 PM | Link to this
Dusty’s a “feel guy”—he can just “…feel it when things are coming together”. I’m a “feel” guy, too. I “feel” it’s too bad that DB hasn’t been FIRED, for having the wrong FEEL,consistently, when making out lineups! Where’s Heisey? I FEEL also, that his continued stupid decision-making as exampled tonight in Frisco, in the 5th inning: score 2-1, 2 on 1st and second noone out, and Phillips was not asked to sacrifice{then he struckout}—Baker’s FEEL fails again! Dumb a$$. Then a fly ball from Votto which would have scored a third run, had Volquez been on third, instead ended up being an inning ending double play, because Volquez did not return to second on time! Votto was, rightfully, pissed at Volquez. Stupid baseball by players, but initiated by the dumbest MGR in baseball. I FEEL Baker is an idiot . FIRE BAKER!
By Yippee
June 12, 2011 7:21 PM | Link to this
The Reds are 4 games out, but they are 11-4 against the Brewers and Cards this season. Reds aren’t fully healthy yet either and the summer is a long one. Expect good things for the Reds this summer! All the Dusty haters are ridiculous, I suppose we could bring back Bob Boone or Jerry Narron or even Dave Miley, maybe that would make everyone happy? Give me a break…
By cj
June 12, 2011 2:32 PM | Link to this
OK Hal, Predict what happens when Homer Bailey comes back. Who gets bumped from the rotation this time? Is it lucky-charm, best record Mike Leake again? I say it’s Travis Wood. Someone will be hurt in another month and he’ll be back.
By jim
June 12, 2011 1:42 PM | Link to this
In regards to Drew Stubbs or any other Reds fielder who can’t lay down a bunt when needed, I’d pinch hit for that Reds player with one of the good bunting pitchers sitting on the bench like Leake or Bronson Aroayo
By Mike in KY
June 12, 2011 1:30 PM | Link to this
@G&H: Yeah, moving Leake to the pen last year was a failed experiment. If it led to his shutdown, it was only because he was wholly ineffective in that role. @AP-FLORIDA: Yep, because everyone knows that successful and talented general managers take their cues on personnel moves from the fan base. How completely mental.
By AP-FLORIDA
June 12, 2011 12:04 PM | Link to this
The one reacurring theme in most post is “FIRE BAKER” Are you listening, Walt???
By Gem&Heater
June 12, 2011 11:12 AM | Link to this
My question would be why is Carlos Fisher still pitching with the Reds. As to your question about Leake, I assume he was sent down to teach him a lesson about not paying for things at Macy’s. Did you hear the talking heads doing the game say that Leake attributed his poor pitching and ultimate shutdown last year to the way he was being used? He said skipping starts in order to reduce innings on his arm hurt more than helped. Never heard this one before.
By Bob
June 12, 2011 9:58 AM | Link to this
Where is Heisey? Boy, that was a quick starting stint in LF!Fire Baker.
By Mike-Cinci
June 12, 2011 9:03 AM | Link to this
What do Cubs fans know? The Cubs have won nothing in over 102 years! Please let’s not blame Dusty for that. If you want to talk about sad sack franchises you have to start with the Cubs. Peter Gammons called Wrigley a dump. Also Cubs are no longer selling out. Things are not so good these days with the lovable “cubbies”.
By Florida Buckeye
June 12, 2011 8:56 AM | Link to this
Hey Hal, the only problem I had with the game last night, was the Bull Pen coming in and immediately giving up runs. Not a good thing for the psyche of starting pitchers…fielding-errors I can forgive, mental-errors on the bases - a glaringly obvious problem of late - I can’t! I think we’ll compete for the Division, but I dont know if that is good enough for a chance at the Wild Card as well…Go Reds!
By AP-FLORIDA
June 12, 2011 7:57 AM | Link to this
Mike in Ky….I agree with you on everything, especially the “FIRE BAKER”
By Michael in Singapore
June 12, 2011 5:36 AM | Link to this
…..and meanwhile Alonso and Mesoraco are doing two things; aging and tearing up triple A pitching. Bring them up!!
By Randy
June 12, 2011 1:36 AM | Link to this
Hey Hal, in reply to your question, Leake was sent down because he was in a funk and didn’t feel the need to pay for items when he went shopping. The Reds sent him out of town until things cooled down. Hopefully, a selection to the All-Star Team will make all of that go away. “Things are going to get better”. “Things are going to get better” “There’s no place like home” “There’s no place like home” “Auntie Emm” “”Auntie Emm”
By Tom
June 11, 2011 11:33 PM | Link to this
Why is Stubbs still in the starting lineup? Fire Baker.
By Mike in KY
June 11, 2011 10:55 PM | Link to this
And if the Reds only score eight tomorrow…you guessed it…FIRE DUSTY!
By KNOW IT ALL
June 11, 2011 10:38 PM | Link to this
Mike in KY and all you Dusty Baker lovers how sick you are. The Reds played well today, this should have been 3 wins in a row except for our ball pen of relievers walking bases loaded yesterdays gift win for the Giants. Baker has done nothing that even comes close to proving he is responsible for these wins. He did not have to make a decision today since up 7 to zip at one point. How can all of the fans in Chicago be wrong about Dusty Baker, Cub fans are true baseball fans and sell out every game. They can’t stand Baker. He is the same type of manager here at Cincy, worthless, last year he was our manager in the playoffs where Phillies no hit us and kicked ourt butts. What good is getting into the playoffs and doing nothing. Come on Baker fans get real. Reds are going to be a 500 team until Baker is gone next year which he will be. No extension or new offer this time guaranteed. Reds will win again tomorrow 9 to 5
By Mike in KY
June 11, 2011 10:04 PM | Link to this
Bases loaded and one out and the Reds only manage two runs, only one on a batted ball, fire Dusty. Scott Rolen dropped a routine infield pop up, fire Dusty. Brandon Phillips failed to get a bunt down, fire Dusty. Janish threw two balls away today, fire Dusty. Carlos Fisher ruined the shutout bid, fire Dusty. This was supposed to be an automatic Reds loss, and instead the team embarrassed the Giants in front of the home fans by running up the score, fire Dusty. Jonny Gomes got an RBI, fire Dusty. Mike Leake threw too many pitches, fire Dusty. Did I just about cover everything?
By joe
June 11, 2011 9:24 PM | Link to this
You talking about Dusty Faker? Give me a break.
By KJr in NC
June 11, 2011 8:19 PM | Link to this
My REDS stunk up the field for a decade (and I still loved em). Dusty has turned this team around. In Dusty I Trust!!!