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Ask Hal: Owings should stick to pitching, not outfield

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By Hal McCoy, Staff writer 7:39 PM Saturday, July 25, 2009

Hal McCoy, the hall-of-fame baseball writer for the Dayton Daily News, knows a thing or two about America’s pastime. If you want to tap into that knowledge, send an e-mail to hmccoy@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Q Is Brandon Phillips lobbying for a new contract that pays him incentives for running out lazy fly balls and ground balls? — Dave, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek.

A How much cash does one need when one makes $4.75 million this year, $6.75 million next year and $11 million in 2011? I’ll tell you one thing, he definitely runs to the bank.

Q Is it time for Micah Owings to go the way of Rick Ankiel and learn to play the outfield? — Mike, Houston.

A Rick Ankiel went from pitcher to outfielder because he couldn’t find home plate with a GPS, a sherpa and a miner’s helmet. Owings’ problem right now is his control is too good and he is throwing too many hittable strikes. Yes, for a pitcher he can swing the bat. Do it every day? That’s debatable.

Q Tony Cloninger pitched for the Reds and hit two grand slams in one game. Has anybody ever hit three grand slams in one game? — Carl, Arcanum.

A If anybody hits three in one game, he’d go directly to Cooperstown. Hitting two is more rare than a perfect game — only done 12 times in major-league history. Cloninger pitched briefly for the Reds but hit his two slams in 1966 when he pitched for Atlanta. Nobody with the Reds has accomplished it, but shortly after the Reds traded Frank Robinson because he was “an old 31,” according to GM Bill DeWitt, Robby hit two for Baltimore and won the AL MVP. I never even hit two in one game playing by myself in the backyard.

Q I see GM Walt Jocketty blowing up management after the season. Do you agree? Also, have you ever had a Paulaner Fehfe Weisen Von Fass? — Tim, Stuttgart, Germany.

A Jocketty is management and he can’t blow up owner Bob Castellini. He could fire manager Dusty Baker, but with another year and $4 million left on his contract Jocketty is more likely to blow up the Roebling Bridge. Have I had a what? I can’t even pronounce it. Since you’re in Germany, I assume it’s a beer. By the time you pronounce it you aren’t thirsty any more.

Q Sarasota has a deal with the Baltimore Orioles for a 30-year lease and $31 milllion to renovate Ed Smith Stadium. How does that compare with what the Reds wanted and did they want a new stadium? — Keith, Brookville.

A If Sarasota offered that deal to the Reds, they’d be in Sarasota for the next 30 years. But they didn’t. Yes, the Reds wanted a new stadium, not renovation. It’s really sad the Reds are moving to Arizona. I’m allergic to cacti.

Q Chris Welsh mentioned during the Dodgers series when Brandon Phillips was benched for not hustling that he was penalized two or three other times. Do you know what the other times were? — Gary, Kettering.

A None. To my knowledge, his benching in L.A. for not running out a fly ball was his first slap on the hand. Phillips says it won’t happen again and so far in Chicago he is running hard all the time. For $4.75 million year, I’d run through hell in a gasoline suit (Yes, I stole that line from Pete Rose).

Q I’m reading ‘Hustle’ by Michael Sokolove about Pete Rose. Did anybody with the team back then, you or Sparky Anderson or Marty Brennaman or Joe Nuxhall, know of Rose’s real life? — Matt, Dayton.

A Everybody knew about his lifestyle. He wore his peccadillos on his sleeve. As for gambling on baseball, nobody knew. He kept that quiet until he stiffed one of the guys who ran his bets for him, Paul Jansen, and he blew the whistle so hard he blew Rose right out of baseball.

Q Was it Dusty Baker’s decision or Walt Jocketty’s decision not to play Ryan Hanigan when Ramon Hernandez was not hurt and not to play Jonny Gomes when he is hitting over .300 — Jerry, Venice, Fla.

A Jocketty obtains the players (he inherited a bunch of them) and Baker makes out the lineup cards. Jocketty is not a meddler. Maybe once in a while he makes a suggestion, but he does not say, “Play this player and don’t play that player.” If he did, he should put on a uniform and manage on the field, too. His white hair would look spiffy under those black road caps.

Q When Homer Bailey pitches I always hope he throws strikes and keeps his pitch-count down so he can go deep into games. Of course, I pray for world peace, too. — Bill, Villa Hills, Ky.

A Maybe you should PRAY for Homer and HOPE for world peace. When Bailey throws first-pitch strikes, he rolls. When he falls behind in the count all the time, he gets rolled.

Q If Joey Votto stays on pace with the games he is playing now, will he average the required 3.1 plate appearances (or 501 total) to win the batting title? — Mark, Columbus.

A It is going to be very close and now you are going to test my math. Anything beyond one plus one baffles me. But, he has 265 plates appearances now. If he averages only 3.1, he’ll be short with 472, and that’s if he plays all 66 remaining games. If he can average four plate appearances in 66 games, that’ll give him 533 and he would make it. Now he has to keep his average up to make those plate appearances necessary.

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Don't forget H. Cantu also. He was with the Reds for a short stint and is smacking home runs for the Rays. Not to mention Paul Konerko from a few years back. The Reds should have tried to get Nick Swisher. He is a regional draw and can really hit. He can play RF or 1st.

W.Va. Reds fan
8:50 PM, 7/26/2009

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Jeff from Greenville: Russell Branyan has a stint in a Reds uniform (perhaps more than once but I remember once). It wasn't all that great. He is having a great year in Seattle though, which is good for him.

Scott
12:35 PM, 7/26/2009

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The Cubs will prove you wrong about Ownings tomorrow hal! GO CUBBIES!

Charles
11:55 PM, 7/25/2009

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Hal.....How good would Russell Branyan look in a Reds uniform today.......Jeff..Greenville.....

Jeff...Greenville
9:59 PM, 7/25/2009

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