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ASK HAL

Ask Hal: Yanks don’t play nice vs. Twins

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Updated 9:04 PM Saturday, October 10, 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. For more Ask Hal, log on to DaytonDailyNews.com/reds.

Q: Have you ever written anything, good or bad, about a player or manager only because it was politically correct, even though you disagreed about what you wrote? — Dave, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek

A: I’ve haven’t been this insulted since 1989 when the Pete Rose investigation began and an editor said to me, “I know you’re close to Pete, so can you do the investigative work on the story or should we put somebody else on it?” I have never written anything I didn’t firmly believe, never even slanted a story to make anybody look good or bad, if I didn’t believe it. Any writer who does that lasts in this business about 30 seconds.

Q: They are the Minnesota Twins so I couldn’t figure out why they wear ‘TC’ on their hats. I could figure out the T for Twins but why the C? — Murray, Union

A: Amazing that my wife, Nadine, asked the same question as she peered over her Sudoku puzzle. I told her it stood for Tough and Cute. She didn’t buy it. Minnesota actually represents Minneapolis and St. Paul, the Twin Cities. The ‘TC’ is for Twin Cities.

Q: Why didn’t the Yankees and Twins wait and open their series on Thursday after the Twins had to play a tie-breaker game on Tuesday? — Mark, Bloomington, Ind.

A: Because the Yankees are not nice people. As the team with the best record in the American League, they had their choice of playing Wednesday or Thursday. Knowing the Twins and Tigers had the playoff game Tuesday night and that the winner would get to New York very late, they chose Wednesday. Why permit the Twins any rest? The Twins arrived at 4 a.m. and had to play that day. And they played as if they were sleepwalking.

Q: A throw from third base pulls the first baseman off the bag and he has to make a diving catch. He turns on the ground with the ball in his glove and touches first base with his bare hand. Safe or out? — Mark, Columbus

A: First of all, the first baseman is goofy for tagging the base with his bare hand, taking a chance on getting a spike through his knuckles. And it would be for naught. He has to touch the base with his glove if the ball is in it or with his bare hand if the ball is in it. If he touches the base with an empty glove and the ball in his bare hand, the runner is safe. Doesn’t make sense to me because the batter is out when the first baseman catches the ball with only his foot on the bag. As long as you have possession of the ball, should it matter what part of the body touches the base? But they didn’t ask me to re-write the rules.

Q: Former GM Wayne Krivsky once intimated he was close to a trade with the Cleveland Indians for pitcher Cliff Lee, who threw 25 first-pitch strikes against the first 27 batters for the Phillies in game one of the NLDS. How close was that trade? — Bill, Villa Hills, Ky.

A: Krivsky was as tight-lipped about possible trades as a CIA agent with the FBI looking over his shoulder. However, there were rumblings out of Cleveland that there were talks. I don’t think a deal was close, unfortunately for the Reds. And what would the Reds do with a left-hander in the rotation?

Q: Who do you think the Reds should/could sign as free agents to help at catcher and shortstop? — Matt, Columbus

A: Slim pickins, and I don’t mean the old country-western singer. He never could hit a curve ball. I mean the free agent class isn’t that good. Before the Reds can do any noteworthy free-agent shopping, they have to trade closer Coco Cordero and the $25 million they owe him the next two years. There are 12 free agent shortstops, including Alex Gonzalez. Orlando Cabrera (Twins) and Miguel Tejada are available, but far too expensive. There are 19 catchers, but four of the best have options, just as the Reds hold an option on Ramon Hernandez for $8.5 million. If they can talk him down to about $4 million, I say keep him. I’m so good at spending other people’s cash.

Q: I’m 23rd on the list at my local library for Joe Posnanski’s new book, ‘The Machine,’ about the 1975 Reds. Is it good? — William, Covington, Ky.

A: No, it isn’t good. It’s a wonderful piece of work. When you combine the writing talent of Posnanski with the stories surrounding the ’75 Reds you have an instant scratch-off winner. It was so engrossing I read it in two sittings. Looks as if you might get to read it by June of next year. Here’s an idea: Why not buy one and help out my buddy Joe?

Q: Why wouldn’t the Reds move Brandon Phillips to shortstop and try Juan Francisco at second instead of add another name to the already overstuffed outfield of Jonny Gomes, Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, Laynce Nix, Chris Dickerson and Willy Taveras? — Mike, Houston

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Question of the Week

Q: How many pitchers have struck out the side on nine pitches? -Mike, St. Petersburg, Fla.

A: So far, 43. And guess which is the only team to be struck out on nine pitches in one inning twice in the same season? Oh, yeah. The 1991 Cincinnati Reds - by David Cone of the Mets and Andy Ashby of the Phillies. Relief pitcher Rob Dibble did it for the Reds in 1989 against the Padres. The only pitchers to do it twice were Lefty Grove (in the same year), Sandy Koufax (his first was in the first inning of his first no-hitter) and Nolan Ryan. Just last month Pittsburgh's Ross Ohlendorf struck out the Cardinals on nine pitches, the only good thing to happen to the Pirates in the last 17 years.

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Basebull Rule 2.0 defines the concept of "tag out" very specifically. You can use ANY part of your body to touch the bag, but "hands" (for some reason) are NOT considered part of the body: "A TAG is the action of a fielder in touching a base with his body while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove; or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove holding the ball, while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove."

Lee from Orlando
3:40 PM, 10/13/2009

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If I remember correctly, mind you that is the first thing to go and it was some years ago, World series game, yankees and whomever. The second baseman for the yankees fielded a ground ball and tagged the runner going to second. He had the ball in his bare hand and tagged the runner with his glove. Which was empty. Runner was called out.

old dude
2:21 AM, 10/12/2009

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It should never have been up to the scumbag cheating NYYs to have that decision making power. A-Roid the lying cheating third baseman for the Yankees is the poster boy for scumbags. The owner is a POS. Baseball (especially under Selig) is a spineless corporate shill that demands handouts from the public dole (stadiums) to fund & support its monopoly. The owners are a secretive sect of liars w/closed-books even though they take public money & are accountable to no one. Bad business all around.

BrarHopper
1:24 AM, 10/12/2009

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It sure would be nice, Hal, if you could elaborate on just why Baker believes two positions would be weakened if Phillips moved to SS, from second base. I don't buy that. Of course, I haven't agreed with a lot of 'knowledge' Baker has offered. Seems to me the team could be strengthened by this move--simply because two potent bats, could be possible in our starting lineup at both positions, next year. Questions: How does Phillips defensive abilities weaken the position of SS? Trade for 2nd base?

Worn Cleat
11:18 PM, 10/11/2009

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Another pitcher to strike out the side on nine pitches was Harvey Haddix for the Reds sometime around 1958 if I remember correctly.

Jamestown Joe
7:29 PM, 10/11/2009

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