Hall-of-fame baseball writer Hal McCoy knows a thing or two about America’s pastime. If you’d like to tap into that knowledge, send a question to halmccoy1@hotmail.com. For more Ask Hal, log on to DaytonDailyNews.com/reds.

Q: On Sept. 1 the Reds are in a three-way tie for first place and Aroldis Chapman owns 19 wins. How will the fans react when it is announced Chapman is being shut down for the season? — Dave, Miamisburg/CentervilleBeavercreek

A: A lot of assumptions are in that question. First of all, it is tough to win 19 games out of the bullpen, which is where I believe Chapman will be. And by Sept. 1, the Reds will have a six-game lead in the National League Central. There isn’t one team in the division that can keep up with them, let alone two. And when Johnny Cueto has 19 wins, they won’t shut him down.

Q: If Aroldis Chapman makes the rotation, barring injury, where do you see the next opening in the rotation for Mike Leake. — Will, Independence, Ky.

A: If you’ve been listening and reading between the lines, manager Dusty Baker wants Chapman right where he was last year, right where he blew everybody away — as the closer. My prediction. No “ifs” about it. When the season opens Chapman will be back as closer and Leake will be in the rotation. If that isn’t the case, then I wonder if the Reds really are trying to win.

Q: Can you explain the minor-league rule regarding the DH that brought about the Dusty Baker/Kirk Gibson feud? — Rusty, Fairfield.

A: It is not a minor-league rule. And in spring training, there are few rules. Usually a team can use a DH or not use a DH any time it wants. In this case, Baker wanted to use Shin-Soo Choo as a DH and Gibson wanted his pitcher to bat. For some reason the umpires said the home team had the choice and since Gibson’s Diamondbacks were the home team the DH got pitched. And Dusty pitched a fit. It would have been so easy for Gibson to say, ‘Go ahead, Dusty, you use the DH and we won’t.’ But he didn’t — extremely petty for an exhibition game.

Q: Name the four best Reds first basemen you have covered and rank them? — Mike, Arlington, Va.

A: You’re trying to get Joey Votto mad at me, aren’t you? I’m going with Tony Perez as No. 1 because Votto is just beginning his career, but it is good enough for No. 2. Pete Rose doesn’t qualify. Didn’t play there enough. No. 3, for me, is Sean Casey. No. 4 is Dan Driessen, and I have to throw in a couple of honorable mentions in Hal Morris and Nick Esasky. And if there is one thing I know, it is first base because that’s the position I tried to play with little success.

Q: Assuming Mike Leake is the No. 5 starter, that gives the Reds five right-handers in the rotation, so won’t the opposition load up their lineup with left-handed hitters? — Bill, Mesa, Ariz.

A: Do you remember any left-handers in last year’s rotation? Nope. None. Not a one. And the same five right-handers took their turns without a miss and the Reds won 97 games. As manager Dusty Baker said, “I’d rather have a good right-hander than a bad left-hander just to have a left-hander in the rotation.”

Q: Why is the 2013 season starting with interleague play. Shouldn’t it stay as part of the mid-season? — Brian, Germantown

A: Not only is the season starting with interleague play, there will be interleague play every day of the season. They moved Houston to the American League so there are 15 teams in each league. That means an AL team and an NL team will have to play each other every day. But my question is why do the Reds have to be the team to open interleague play the first day of the season?

Q: Do you agree that the rotation should be be Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Homer Bailey, Aroldis Chapman and Bronson Arroyo since you never know which Bronson will show up? — Kelly, Cincinnati

A: Not even close. You know Arroyo shows up with the same stuff every time and the same competitive urgency. Why would you put hard-throwing Cueto and hard-throwing Latos back-to-back? And Chapman? Closer. My rotation: Cueto, Arroyo, Latos, Bailey, Leake.

Q: Do you think the Reds are too young on the left side of the infield without Scott Rolen? — Mark, Loveland.

A: No, I would think the left side of the infield would be too old with Rolen, especially with his back and shoulder problems the last two years. Shortstop Zack Cozart is 27 and third baseman Todd Frazier is 27. That’s not young in baseball age and both have nearly a full year of major-league experience. They’ll roll on without Rolen.

Q: How close are we to an all-Ohio World Series? — Mark, Portsmouth

A: The Cincinnati Reds vs. the Cleveland Indians? How cool would that be? It has never happened and they are still 250 miles apart until they play each other interleague. Right now you’ll have to settle for the Ohio Cup because the World Series appears a long way away, especially for the Indians. The Reds? It’s close.

Q: How do the Reds plan to ration Aroldis Chapman’s innings so he is around to pitch in October? — Jack, Bright, Ind.

A: That’s why I say he’ll be the closer again this year. If he does start that’s a scenario that could happen. How’d that work out for the Washington Nationals with Stephen Strasburg? Ask manager Davey Johnson what he thought about it. OK, everybody chant: “Keep Aroldis in the ‘pen, keep Aroldis in the ‘pen.”