The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

Ask Hal: Volquez’s path to playoffs may have started in Dayton

High school sports results for May 26
5/26/12
Reds' six-game winning streak broken
5/26/12
Annual Warrior Soccer Classic kicks off today
5/26/12
Dragons' rally falls short against Lansing
5/26/12
WSU baseball ousted from tournament
5/26/12
> More sports headlines

By Hal McCoy, Contributing writer 6:28 PM Saturday, September 18, 2010

Hall-of-fame baseball writer Hal McCoy knows a thing or two about America’s pastime. If you want to tap into that knowledge, send an e-mail to halmccoy1@hotmail.com.

Q If we can land a space craft on other planets, why can’t MLB devise a better system of picking playoff teams, and I’m referring to the Cincinnati Reds making it and the St. Louis Cardinals not making it when the Cardinals won 12 of 18 games against the Reds? — Dave, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek

A Several readers have offered to take up collections to put you on one of those space crafts, but that would be unfair to the crew. Have you checked the standings? As this is written, the Reds lead the Cardinals by eight games in the NL Central. If the Cardinals can’t beat the bums in the rest of the division the way the Reds have beaten them, whose fault is that? My vote: Tony La Russa.

Q It concerns me that Edinson Volquez had to come to Dayton to get his mechanics straightened out and why couldn’t he get it done in Cincinnati? — Bill, Dayton

A They were straightened out in Cincinnati by pitching coach Bryan Price. He had to try them out somewhere and certainly not in a game that counts. After they worked with him, they sent him to Dayton to try them out under game conditions. Wasn’t it nice to see a major-league striking out 10 Class A hitters in five innings?

Q Dusty Baker manages his pitchers the way he should for eight innings, lefty-righty match-ups and such, then in the ninth, when it matters most, he runs out non-closer Coco Cordero. Where’s Sparky Anderson when we need him? – Ron, Vandalia

A Do you mean the Sparky Anderson who earned the nickname Captain Hook for his quick yanking of starting pitchers? Remember Clay Carroll, Pedro Borbon, Rawlins Jackson Eastwick III, Will McEnaney? They all served as Sparky’s closers and Carroll led the league in 1972 with 37 saves. A closer is like an NFL placekicker — a specialist who is here to stay. They do their jobs, nobody complains. They run into bad spells and everybody wants their legs and arms chopped off.

Q Do the Reds players choose their music when the come to the plate at Great American Ball Park? — Cincy, Dayton

A Yes, they do, and I even recognize a tune or two. For sure, most of them aren’t stolen off my iPod. Most keep the same one all year, but Brandon Phillips seems to change his every other homestand and I’m still waiting for one that I recognize. But then Phillips isn’t into Chicago or The Cars or Roy Orbison.

Q What will it take Dusty Baker to use Aroldis Chapman as the closer, because continuing to use Coco Cordero is dangerous to our cardiac health. — Dave, Dayton

A It will take a whip and a gun and even that wouldn’t get it done. Chapman isn’t ready to close — too much pressure on a 22-year-old kid just getting his feet soaked in the majors. While he throws 103 and buckles knees with his slider, he hasn’t been infallible and still runs into command problems, something you don’t want to see in closer — even if you’re seeing it out of Cordero. Take your nitroglycerin and relax.

Q Does Paul Janish have more range than Orlando Cabrera, and why not use Cabrera at second and Janish at short when Phillips takes a day off to rest? — Mike, Houston

A Janish does have more range, but have you not seen the collage of great plays Cabrera has made this year? And Phillips doesn’t take days off to rest unless forced. Dusty Baker has to hide Phillips’ gloves, shoes and uniform to get him out of the lineup and Brandon still might show up to become The Naked Second Baseman.

Q Your crystal ball was pretty clear when in June you picked the Reds to win the division by five or more games, so what team do you see as their first-round opponent? — Keith, Fairborn

A Not even a crystal ball, tea leaves or tarot cards can answer that. It depends on the records of all four teams as to whom plays whom. That’s why the best record is so important, because that team gets home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. And it is a dilemma for Dusty Baker. When the Reds clinch, does Baker rest his regulars or keep playing them in pursuit of the best record? If it were me, I’d go for the best record, but the last team I managed finished last in the West Carrollton T-ball ‘B’ division.

Q Since this is getting close to reality, name your 24-man roster for the playoffs. — Kyle, Dayton

A Are you putting a handicap on the Reds? They are permitted 25 players and Dusty Baker wishes he could use 28. My roster: Ryan Hanigan, Ramon Hernandez, Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Orlando Cabrera, Scott Rolen, Paul Janish, Miguel Cairo, Jonny Gomes, Drew Stubbs, Jay Bruce, Chris Heisey, Laynce Nix (if his ankle ever mends), Bronson Arroyo, Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey, Mike Leake, Coco Cordero, Arthur Rhodes, Nick Masset, Bill Bray, Logan Ondrusek. Jordan Smith, Travis Wood. And that’s pretty much the way the 25-man roster was in August.

Q Why is it that the first baseman is never involved in the infield toss-around after a strikeout and the catcher throws the ball to the third baseman? — Doug, Chillicothe

A As a first baseman myself from Little League through college, I also participated in that toss-around. I’ve noticed that, too, that the first baseman isn’t included in the majors and that’s highly prejudicial. Why? Why not include the outfielders, too? Shouldn’t everybody celebrate a strikeout? But personally I don’t understand the concept. Why not just throw the ball back to the pitcher and get on with business?

1 | 2 next page »

Share this article