Valley View vs. Greenville
Cars and Parts Springfield Swap Meet
Carroll Commencement
Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > June > 24 > Entry
A terrible time in Toronto
Somebody is talking out of the side of their mouth and I know where my bet is. Adam Dunn is the truth-teller and J.P. Ricciardi is the second coming of Jim Bowden.
Toronto GM Ricciardi said he talked to Adam Dunn and apologized for ripping him last week on his radio show. Ricciardi said he left several message for Dunn and when Dunn called he told him he was sorry, “That I let my guard down.”
When asked about it, Dunn said, “I haven’t talked to that guy. Not at all.”
Maybe J.P. left a message. If so, Dunn hasn’t heard it.
Not this just in. J.P. said somebody called and identified themselves as Adam Dunn, “And I apologized to that person.” Hoo-boy.
Here’s a thought. After watching Bronson Arroyo gave up 10 runs and 11 hits while retiring only three batters Tuesday, maybe Ricciardi was talking about Arroyo and not Dunn.
Could be, could be.
A Toronto media horde surrounded Dunn after the 14-1 loss to the Blue Jays and he said, “This is ridiculous. The real truth is I haven’t talked to him. If he said he talked to me, it’s a lie. It’s a joke. It’s stupid. I don’t get it. I hope this is the end of it. I’m tired of it.”
So are we, Adam, so are we.
It is for certain that new Toronto manager Cito Gaston and Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker have nothing to fear, but the appearance of Atlanta advance scout Bobby Wine should bring shudders.
On his current tour, Wine has stopped in Seattle, “When Mariners manager John McLaren was fired,” stopped in Milwaukee, “When Blue Jays manager John Gibbons was fired and was in New York, “When Mets manager Willie Randolph was later fired in LA.”
That’s the last time anybody says a day with Bobby is like a day of wine and roses.
I’m going to the Hockey Hall of Fame on Yonge Street (the longest street in the world and you can look it up) before lunch Wednesday, even though I can’t tell a hockey puck from my Grandma Wilderman’s biscuits.
And to make it a complete hockey day, I’m lunching at Wayne Gretzkey’s restaurant, where I’m told you CAN tell a hockey puck from Grandma Wilderman’s biscuits.
As I sit here watching the Blue Jays totally embarrass the Reds, the 28,153 fans are chanting, “See-toe Gas-ton, See-toe Gas-ton.” In 36 years of covering baseball, I’ve never heard a crowd chant a manager’s name. Never. Not even Bob Boone.
After two innings, when the Blue Jays scored 11 runs, I thought I came to the wrong place and was watching a Canadian Football League game. By the way, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes open the CFL regular season Thursday.
Do they still have rouges in the CFL? If so, the Reds scored one rouge Tuesday. Don’t ask.
David Weathers just hit two batters in one inning. A message? Let’s hope so. Somebody on this pitching staff needs to make sure the opposition isn’t too comfortable in the batter’s box - and 14 runs on 22 hits is way, way, way too comfortable.
A couple of good quotes from a bad game:
Manager Dusty Baker after the Reds gave up 11 runs in the first two innings: “You know it’s a bad game when you’ve played two hours and you’ve been on defense an hour and 45 minutes. It was almost like they knew what was coming.”
To that, Arroyo said, “If I had told them what was coming I might have fared better. Can I forget this? I forgot it seven innings ago.”
Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment |
Tweet
Comments
By Mark Kanges
June 26, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Pole, Patterson, Bako, or any of the other 2005 Cubbie Dusty boys are going anywhere soon. The problem with your team is Dusty. We endured 3 years of hell, and those poor Giants fans are still trying to recover from ten years of Dusty… You have great young talent. You need a manager and a pitching coach that can develop and work with it…
By Mike
June 25, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this
Got a feeling Bronson’s not going anywhere, anytime soon…reason:..August 9th is Bronson Free T Shirt Night..Be awkward having a night for a pitcher that wouldn’t be there…Just food for thought..
By Wizard
June 25, 2008 2:34 PM | Link to this
“Just one of them days”? Says Bronson yo-yo. Hope he didn’t lose much sleep over his record setting performance. What a clown! Now we have two Bozo’s!
By Y-City Jim
June 25, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
Nate- the 2005 Reds didn’t. That team smacked the snot out of almost everyone. Unfortunately, everybody smacked the snot out of Reds pitching that year as well.
By Herm Winningham
June 25, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
Looking at Bronson’s numbers and performance this year (and last?), why on earth would any team want to trade for him? Especially if his commercials are thrown in.
By Jack
June 25, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this
This team is certainly not making it fun to watch on TV, cant imagine having to watch that performance live. At least at home we could turn it off after one inning. Hal, today’s question: what is your starting nine for the 2009 first game.
By Reds fan from NY
June 25, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
If Arroyo gets traded will his television advertisements with JTM continue?
By Nate
June 25, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
I like the quote from Baker in Hal’s game article. “the Reds seem to make everybody look like Cy Young, “And everybody ain’t Cy Young.” Welcome to Reds Baseball Dusty! Anybody who has watched the Reds over the last 7 years knows that any rookie, lefty, righty, or has been has looked like Cy Young against the Reds. You think Dusty would have known that playing the Reds 20 times a year as manager of the Cubs. One thing is for sure, the 2009 Reds will be a different team and the sooner management cuts the dead weight the better.
By Calvin S.
June 25, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
This team makes the Bad News Bears look like a championship team. Maybe there could be a stint on the D.L. for B. Arroyo? Maybe it was all those poorly sung JTM high parts that sound like a little girl, because he’s pitching like one. Look more like a softball pitcher than a major leaguer. Oh yeah, fire Pole and the non-hitting coach, can’t call him a hitting coach on a team that can’t hit.
By Bob
June 25, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this
It looks like Bronson’s legendary partying is starting to catch up with him
By Harry the Horse
June 25, 2008 10:23 AM | Link to this
Yeh they know what Bronson was throwing. A Horse bleep fastball. And a horsebleep curveball. And they hit the horsebleep out of it. Pretty easy game eh??
By Gary
June 25, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this
At least if nothing else from last nights game we found our long lost #5 starter. It’s been there all season.Volquez,Thompson,Cueto,Harrang,Arroyo [til we find someone who will take him off our hands]…..
By Bob from Taiwan
June 25, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this
Adan Dunn is in the news a lot these days. I have one question about him: why was he athetic enough to quarterback the Texas Longhorns but not athletic enough to handle baseball’s left field position?
By Jonathan
June 25, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
This team has no heart. Terrible, Terrible, Terrible. That game just sums up the season for me pretty much. Wish I didn’t have tickets next week, not really looking forward to driving 6+ hours to see this mess of a “team.”
By Jonathan
June 25, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
This team has no heart. Terrible, Terrible, Terrible. That game just sums up the season for me pretty much. Wish I didn’t have tickets next week, not really looking forward to driving 6+ hours to see this mess of a “team.”
By Jonathan
June 25, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this
This team has no heart. Terrible, Terrible, Terrible. That game just sums up the season for me pretty much. Wish I didn’t have tickets next week, not really looking forward to driving 6+ hours to see this mess of a “team.”
By David B
June 25, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this
Well there goes any trade value in Arroyo. Switch him and Affeldt. Possibly couldnt be any worse.
By Reds Fan
June 25, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
How this team is this inept is beyond me? Turn game on last night 6-0. How is that possible? Watching Sportscenter this morning Arroyo is 1st pitcher in modern era since 1900 to give up 10 ER and 11 hits in 1 inning. Way to go Bronson maybe that deserves another commercial. This team lacks no discipline at the plate. We have made every pitcher look like Cy Young this year. Funny stat, watching Cubs last night( I know but what was alternative)Bob Brenley said Derrick Lee hasn’t swung at a 3-0 pitch all year, found that amazing everyone should digest that for a minute. Also funny for the $3 Mil we paid Corey(I now officially hate you) Patterson we could have been patient and had Jim Edmonds. He maybe over the hill but he’s the fountain of youth in Chicago. Guess that’s what winning baseball will do to you. I’m not pinning my hopes on Harang tonight. He may bounce back but Rolen and Overbay will hit him hard and they’ll lose like 4-1. What’s this team waiting for to axe Pole or Jacoby they aren’t making $3 mil a year. Terrible times in Reds Land.
By Rockies/Reds Fan
June 25, 2008 8:56 AM | Link to this
What is keeping Dick Pole from getting fired! Better yet, why doesn’t he do the right thing and resign. He has to be one of the worse pitching coaches and yet we keep him. Come on Baker, dump this guy now.
By Mike
June 25, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this
Well..Last night thumpin of 14-1..giving up 22 hits should give the Reds some answers they perhaps have been waiting for. Arroyo is very bad right now for whatever reason. But don’t count on Dick Pole to rectify the problem. Arroyo is but a fraction of the maladies that besiege this team. Last place, 13 1/2 out..before the Break.Mr. C..is this acceptable? Did you watch last night? I realize that Mr. J is still evaluating and that the culture of this baseball team is certainly suspect. Media says you can’t move Dunn, Griffey, Arroyo et al because of this and that. In some cases..the reality that no team want these guys and thier top heavy digusting salaries is a staggering truth. Dusty has changed the line up so many times using baseball’s bible and the janitors advise as a guide to no avail. Truth is, it makes no absolute difference where you bat this guys..result is they take one step forward and 3 backwards. They are what they are..an inept,under achieving, over paid band of young men. If you want you can exclude Votto, Bruce, Keppinger, Hairston,and the young pitchers. Most fans are just wondering does Mr. C and/or Mr J have the phone in hand today or will they wait till after the Break? Good bet..status quo will reign thu this season.
By ShockMonkey
June 25, 2008 5:28 AM | Link to this
Dusty Baker has nothing to fear, but the appearance of Atlanta advance scout Bobby Wine should bring shudders. One can wish! I give Dusty credit for his handling of our “young” pitchers but the way he fills out a lineup card makes me shudder!
By Emily Latella
June 25, 2008 2:11 AM | Link to this
I don’t know about Yonge Street, Hal. Colfax Avenue in Denver is also Rt 36 and it runs clear to Indianapolis. Oh wait, maybe Yonge is the longest street and Colfax the longest avenue. Nevermind!
By HuberTucky
June 25, 2008 2:00 AM | Link to this
Watching Arroyo pitch tonight (if that what it can be geneously called) reminded me very much of Homer Bailey’s last outing. So it looks like Bronson is angling for some time in Louisville so he can hang with Homey? Man, this guy is awful. He and Harrang — the Reds so-called studs, at least their paychecks are stud…are very very rapidly getting worse. And I stand corrected — I honestly thought these two bozos couldn’t get any worse than they’ve been recently. I think their noses are aout of joint because Cueto and Volquez and Thompson are putting them to shame. That plus the Reds need a REAL pitching coach. Get Mazzone — I’ll pay! Pass the plate, whatever, but 86 Pole! NOTE: I predicted on this blog after the June 9th Reds victory in Florida that the Reds would go 5-13 over the next 18 games. So far they are 4-10. C’mon guys, I know you won’t let me down.