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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > May > 29 > Entry
Cheer up, Reds fans
Somebody said it was Chaucer who first said, “All good things must come to an end” and it was back in 1374 — just a few years before I covered my first game.
Chaucer, though, wasn’t a baseball fan, obviously, and he wouldn’t have said, “All Good things MUST come to and end.” If he were a Reds fan he wouldn’t want the nine-game home winning streak to end.
And he wouldn’t have wanted to see Jay Bruce wear a collar in his third major-league game — 0-for-3 with a strikeout, a hit by pitch, a grounder and a liner to right.
They tried to do with Aaron Harang what they did with Bronson Arroyo — pitch him on three days of rest. While that was just peachy for Arroyo, it was the pits for Harang — four innings, six runs, 10 hits (six doubles and a home run).
And the cruelest blow of all was that the Reds were held to two hits (a bunt and an infield single) by left-hander Phil Dumatrait, who the Pirates plucked off the Reds’ garbage heap last October.
The only time anybody on the Reds talked about Dumatrait was to ask, “How do you pronounce his name (Doo-Mah-Tray)?”
So it was a bad night on the river banks, a night both Ken Griffey Jr. and Edwin Encarnacion took a rest.
What we saw was a glimpse of the future — Jay Bruce batting third, a place that will become his territory the way it has been for 20 years for Griffey, who stays in No. 3 only as a reward for what he has done and out of respect.
How about some stories to cheer you up?
Remember when Houston pitcher Joaquin Andujar said, “I can sum it up in one word, ‘You never know.’ ” Of course, we clever newspaper fellows changed it to, “I can sum it up in one word, ‘Youneverknow.’ “
After former Reds No. 1 draft pick Pokey Reese was traded, when he came back to Cincinnati, he said, “The fans in Cincinnati know only one word, ‘You suck.’ ” Or, of course, “Yousuck.”
It was hilarious the day Reese explained how he got his nickname. “My grandmother thought I was a little pudgy when I was a kid and wanted to call me Porky Pig, but she couldn’t say it and called me, ‘Pokey Pig.’ Pokey stuck.
One more Pokey story. When the Reds moved Dmitri Young to first base and Reese was playing second, Young asked Reese what he should do on a ball hit to the right side. Said Reese, “Go up into the stands and get some nachos. I’ll take care of balls hit to the right side.”
Remember Pedro Borbon, the nutsy relief pitcher the Reds had in the 1970s, the one who picked up the cap of New York Mets outfielder Cleon Jones after a fight between the Mets and Reds?
Borbon put the hat on his head, but when he saw it was a Mets hat, he yanked it off and bit a piece off the bill. Oh, yeah. He did. His teeth were so sharp that equipment manager Bernie Stowe didn’t need scissors when he laced baseball gloves with new rawhide.
When he need the rawhide cut, he handed it to Borbon and he bit it in two.
The Reds took a week’s trip and Borbon had a big dog in his apartment and nobody to watch it. So when he left the apartment, he left a 25-pound bag of dog food, thinking the dog would eat a little bit a day.
Not only did the dog tear that bag to shreds in less than a day, he ate half the furniture and left, ahem, markings all over the apartment floor.
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Comments
By Floyd
May 30, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this
I’m glad you told the Borbon story. No one believes me when I tell them he bit through the bill of a baseball cap. I also remember being at Riverfront before a game and watching Borbon stand on home plate and throw a ball over the centerfield wall.By Joe
May 30, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this
I remember the Borbon incident. It was the ‘73 NL playoffs against the Mets. Pete slid hard into Bud Harrelson and a fight ensued. The benches cleared. The game had to be delayed because the fans were pelting left field where Pete was playing with batteries. Then Pete hit a home run in the 12th and was running around the bases pumping his fist in the air.By Steve
May 30, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
Great stories Hal! Pokey and the 1999 team is one of my all-time favorites. A good mix of veteran and young players who never gave up. We should could use a Greg Vaughn from the right side today and in the clubhouse.By Deaner
May 30, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this
I love the Pokey stories. I was always a big fan of Pokey. I saw him play in Charleston, WV when the Reds had their Single-A club there. I got his autograph on a draft pick card which features his real name, Calvin.By jarrod
May 30, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
the bourbon story was the best with him biting the hat and all…it could be a tough series if we don’t win tonight because of jurjins and hudson so we really need one tonight in the worst way. and would the cubs please lose…stupid dodgersBy Doco
May 30, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this
Great stories Hal! That is my favorite part of your blog and blogs in general. I also enjoy Marty’s stories on the air. We are lucky as Reds fans to have 2 guys with such a long tenure to keep these stories alive. Have you or Marty ever written a book? If not, you should (maybe together). A collection of stories related to the Reds. Clubhouse stuff, off-the-field stuff, stuff we didn’t get in the articles. Talk about the ultimate Father’s Day gift!By Mike
May 30, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
So much for Harang and his”off night”..it’s frustrating to see a Reds castoff..Dumatrait..hold the Reds to only 2 hits/1 earned run/9 K’s last night…he is now 2-2..3.52 ERA has struck out 39 whle walking 30. For more frustration..just look at Ryan Dumpster I’m sorry..Dempster..he is 6-2..2.56 ERA..struck out 56..walking 29!..Want more..how about Kyle Loshe of the Cardinals..he is 5-2…4.02 ERA..struck out 32 and walked 17. All these former Reds somehow have found a way to win away from thier former employer. Makes you wonder…..By Dustin
May 30, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this
Hal I think you’re right on about Homer Bailey. If you don’t like the media - fine, if the media doesn’t like you - fine (if you can handle the criticism). Even if the fans don’t like you - fine. But you have to have the respect from your teamates. As a pitcher you have to have the respect for the guys who play behind you and get runs for you at the plate. So what if I or any other fan doesn’t like him today - it will change if he comes up and shines. One thing I’ve learned about Cincy fans is a lot of them are bandwagon fans - at least the ones I run into.(I’m a die-hard Reds fan, but I do not like the Bengals at all). It’s all “what have you done for me lately.” I hear people bashing Griffey all the time. The guy is 38 years old, a legend, plays banged up, doesn’t complain still produces (obviously not like he did or should be). I feel fortunate that I’ve gone down to the ballpark to see the future first ballot Hall of Famer play.By tom
May 30, 2008 7:44 AM | Link to this
Harang will have a couple more bad starts then the Reds will put him on the DL claiming he has been injured during his subpar performances.By Tim
May 30, 2008 7:07 AM | Link to this
Great stories Hal! I remember the bitten cap but not the dog story. Jim makes a good point, but given the option of pitching Harang or Fogg, I think I kinda’ have to go with Aaron.By null
May 30, 2008 7:00 AM | Link to this
Hal this blog is amazing. Keep up the good work.By John
May 30, 2008 6:55 AM | Link to this
Redsfuture, think about it…Volquez last pitched Sunday. Now he’s going to pitch Friday. That’s 4 days of rest! They’re not pitching him early. Harrang and Arroyo (who loves 3 days rest) were the only ones to go on 3 days rest. I swear, some baseball fans forget that not too long ago teams had 4 man starting staffs who threw a bunch of complete games a year.By Jim M.
May 30, 2008 4:28 AM | Link to this
Wish Dusty would have pitched Fogg instead of Harang last night.. that would have given both Harang and Volquez an extra day to rest as well as save them both for the Braves series!! Hope you asked Dusty why he didnt think of this!!By pat monahan
May 30, 2008 3:17 AM | Link to this
did anyone ask baker why the reds pitched to Gonzalez in the 18th? And why he let Cordero pitch when the reds were up 7-2 on Saturday? by the way. I just started reading your blog. Now I know why everyone loves Hal McCoy. Great posts!By redfuture
May 29, 2008 11:31 PM | Link to this
I’m usually an eternal optimist but I have to say the following even though you asked us to ‘cheer up’. Management blew it! How can you start Harang a day early when he last pitched 2 days early? Especially when you have a fresh pitcher that you are going to install in the rotation anyway in two days? Will they learn anything? There is no proof that I thought this before the game, but I did. Without the benefit of hindsight I can definitely clamor for Volquez to be kept out of tomorrow’s game and given his full rest. He’s too young for this abuse. What’s to be gained by stressing his arm? One more thing, there is virtually no reason to pitch Cordero three consecutive days either. Management….please, please use your head those few times you can influence what happens on the field. Don’t make foolish short-sighted mistakes.