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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 > June > 29 > Entry
Splitting hairs in Cleveland
Ever wonder where major league baseball players get their hair cut? It isn’t at a barber college or the neighborhood shop, that’s for sure.
When Pedro Borbon pitched for the Cincinnati Reds, he liked to cut hair. But he was so zany, so nutty, some players were afraid to let him get within 15 feet of them with a pair of scissors in his hand.
This is a guy who bit off heads of cicadas and locusts to win bets.
When Ramon Ortiz was with the team, he loved cutting hair so much he carried barber tools - razors, clippers, scissors. Players loved him to do it because he was always happy, always smiling and said, “If I wasn’t pitching in the majors, I’d be cutting hair.”
He’s probably cutting hair somewhere right now.
When he first came to the U.S. from the Dominican, Ortiz loved to eat red snapper, but couldn’t say it. He called it, “Red Napper,” so his winter league manager and former Reds manager Dave Miley nicknamed him, “The Red Napper.”
On Saturday in Cleveland, the Latin players brought a professional barber into the clubhouse and he was in the bathroom, reggae music cracking the commodes, cutting the hair of Edwin Encarnacion, Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez.
OK, so much for hair-splitting.
Speaking of hair, very long hair, Bronson Arroyo made himself palatable again for teams looking for pitching help. After giving up 10 runs and 11 hits in one inning in Toronto (You can’t try to do that bad and succeed, can you?), Arroyo held the Indians to two runs (one earned) and five hits over six innings in a 9-5 win.
The Reds won five of six from the Tribe this year and won some bogus piece of hardware called The Ohio Cup - a trophy competed for by two teams lolly-gagging in last place.
As cups goes, it isn’t the Ryder Cup, the Davis Cup, the Stanley Cup or even a coffee cup, but the Reds and Indians play along, although the players themselves laugh at it and crack jokes about it.
With five homers and 10 RBIs in the six games, Cincinnati’s Adam Dunn was voted Most Outstanding Player - but it wasn’t unanimous. One Cleveland-area writer, who must have covered the six games with a handkerchief over his face, voted for Cleveland’s Grady Sizemore.
OK, grab your resin bags when you read this one. Arroyo said he felt better and had better stuff when he gave up 10 runs and 11 hits in one inning in Toronto than he did Sunday. Is that a slap at the Tribe or what?
“After the first inning, pitching coach Dick Pole said, ‘Well, things must be turning for you because you hung two curveballs real bad,’” said Arroyo. “And I struck the guy out.”
In fact, after giving up a single to Grady Sizemore, Arroyo struck out the side in the first inning.
“One of those days where I got away with a lot of stuff,” said Arroyo. “I threw a lot more bad pitches today than I did in Toronto. I hung a lot of breaking balls, left a lot of balls up in the zone and they were popping them all up or fouling them off.
“That’s why this game is so strange,” he added. “Sometimes you feel great and hit your spots and you get killed. Some days you don’t and it works out for you.”
It was a rare all-around day for Dunn - two exception long running catches, a perfect peg to second to wipe out Casey Blake trying to stretch a single and a stadium-shaking home plate collision with Tribe catcher Kelly Shoppach.
“It was one of those fun games, lot of things happening, lot of fun,” said Dunn. “It seems like when you’re really involved, a lot of balls hit to you, it’s a lot of fun to run around out there and see what happens. It’s a lot better to get the blood flowing rather than sit on the bench as a DH and pinch-hit four or five times.”
Everybody is making a big hoo-ha out of the Reds putting together a winning road trip - 5-4 to New York, Toronto and Cleveland, calling it a difficult assignment. Was it really. Winning two of three in New York was neat, but both Toronto and Cleveland are in last place, so what’s the big kick?
And the Tribe is missing pitchers Jake Westbrook and Fausto Carmona, plus the Reds didn’t have to face Cliff Lee (11-1). Also missing and on the DL are first baseman/designated hitter Travis Hafner, catcher Victor Martinez and infielder Josh Barfield.
The Reds can count their blessings.
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Comments
By Lifelong Reds Fan
June 30, 2008 6:54 PM | Link to this
Perhaps we can put together a trade which would include Arroyo and Patterson (possibly throw in Homerun Bailey) for a nice young starting pitcher or two (preferably the likes of a Cueto or D. Thompson). However, if I’m another team, I’m not interested. One nice start for Arroyo doesn’t prove anything and Patterson hitting in the 0.190s is just embarrasing. Additionally, Homerun’s inability to command pitches other than a fastball (and not that at times) is frustrating in a pitcher once considered to be on the fast track to major league stardom. Here’s hoping the Reds get it in gear for a second half run and at least make things interesting!By bigdoc1
June 30, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
Check out the dialogue between Griffey, Jr., and Baker on C. Trent’s blog—(Darren Baker, that is!)—a real hoot! Much as I admire Jr., I think he does think it’s still ‘96!By Ross
June 30, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this
Number 61 needs to go Number 44 needs to stay..why trade a guy that does the things Dunn can do 40HR 100BB 100RBi 100Runs… we need some pop and sock in Grerat AmericanBy Mr. Redlegs (Original)
June 30, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
Huber, it’s easy to be an unhappy soul when the Reds suck and certain people continually post nimrod musings like the newspaper didn’t put the Reds on the Sports front because they lost. I got your point. But my explanation was lost amid you, Barney.By Ted Lawson
June 30, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
I do believe Hal, that the Reds posted a loss to Lee’s record in this year’s series.By coach
June 30, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
Why would a contending team want Griffey? Hitting coach? This man struggles to hit anything in GABP—how would he do better elsewhere?By HuberTucky
June 30, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
Mr Red (Original) Ha!…naturally, you missed the entire point of my post. So since you don’t get it, I’ll just leave it at that. Your know-it-all -ism is troubling in that you don’t contibute substantive posts, you simply sit around the posts of otherand critique. Such an unhappy soul to be sure. Sad.By Y-City Jim
June 30, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
Bernie Kosar was athletic enough to play QB for the University of Miami and the Cleveland Browns. I sure would have never wanted him playing LF for the Reds.By Bob from Taiwan
June 30, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
Just a thought about Adam Dunn. He was athletic enough to play quarterback for the Longhorns of Texas. Shouldn’t he be athletic enough to handle left field?By Bob from Taiwan
June 30, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Just a thought about Adam Dunn. He was athletic enough to play quarterback for the Longhorns of Texas. Shouldn’t he be athletic enough to handle left field?By Steve F
June 30, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
Hal, What time is the fountain square celebration hosted by Sandra and Sheree? “We got all the money,we got the rings, we got the cup!”By NR - Tampa
June 30, 2008 9:22 AM | Link to this
Rays don’t want Griffey… never did. They already have too many, OF, left handed bats in the line-up (Gabe Gross, Eris Hinske, and Cliff Floyd)…these gusy have been platooning in RF and DH all year. Even without everyday at bats, Hinske alone has a better average and more homers then Griffey. I think this rumor was created by ESPN, and other clowns that have not watched the Rays.By Steven Ross
June 30, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
Let’s see, we looked rather silly vs. Toronto then beat a lousy Tribe team two out of three. The tribe are tied for last with KC. We’re in last, seven games under .500, 11 under on the road and need to pass four teams just to sniff a wildcard. Ain’t going to happen. Besides, Dusty’s propensity to continually put Griffey in the 3-hole is killing us. Finally, two-words: Dusty Patterson!By Mike-Cinci
June 30, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this
Votto, Phillips, Keppinger, Encarnacion should be the infield. Dunn, Hairston, Bruce is the outfield. Hairston leads off. Keppinger is #2. The Reds need to move Junior to a team he approves for anything the team will give us. It is sad watching Griffey and batting him third makes it even more sad. His tenure in Cincinnati will end with bad blood if his exit is not executed with class. Moving him to a contending team would be nice for him and the Reds.By jim
June 30, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
Hal, I know your a big fan of Griffey as am I but I have come to the conclusion If we have to sit one of EE, Kepp or Hariston to keep him in the line up we’re not playing the line up that gives us the best chance to win Your Thoughts.By jlbx3
June 30, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Listen- I am as frustrated as anyone with Arroyo’s performance. But, I don’t trade a single pitcher until Jockety man’s up and tells Baker that Pole has to go. Dick Pole does not know pitching! I think that is obvious by now! I think that we need a coach that actually knows mechanics and keep our pitching staff in check! Look at the season that Lohse is having! If we are going to trade anyone, please let’s find a new home for Griffey. I would be willing to take a bottle of Tampa Bay sand in return if the Rays would take him! He is killing our lineup by throwing him in the 3-hole everyday!By AP-FLORIDA
June 30, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
loyal fans, pull your heads out of the sand. we are not going anywhere…and let’s play hopper. better than griff or cp and tends to bring excitement to the game. everyone please vote for hopperBy Mich
June 30, 2008 12:51 AM | Link to this
Hal, I like your articles. Ramon Ortiz is pitching for the Orix Buffaloes, the Japanese Professional Baseball team this year. I am a Japanese and read the newspaper about him cutting his teammate’s hair. His stats are 3-4 (W-L) and 4.99 ERA. He seems to be enjoying it over there. Good for him.By Mr. Redlegs (Original)
June 30, 2008 12:02 AM | Link to this
Huber, story placement in sports sections are not determined based on wins and losses. That’s high school stuff. It’s about news interest AND deadlines. Saturday deadlines are earlier than weeknight because of the bigger circulation run for Sunday paper. The more papers to distribute, the earlier the press run. That means some designated inside pages can be replated later that others and will have filler for earlier editions. That’s not the case with front pages.By Mr. Baseball
June 29, 2008 10:50 PM | Link to this
Mr. Baseball has reason for optimism for the month of July. After Sunday’s game, the Reds have 43 games remaining at home and only 36 games left on the road. They’re playing in a division that has the top three teams in the National Leauge — they’ll come back to the pack. Starting tomorrow, the Reds play 17 of their next 26 games at home against teams that have a collective winning percentage (weighted by the number of games the Reds play them) of .467. That winning percentage dips to .461 when you account for their home/away record depending on where the Reds play these opponents. Four of the teams the Reds play at home (Pittsburgh, Washington, San Diego, Colorado) have a collective .334 winning percentage on the road. This is counterbalanced by the fact the Reds have to play six games on the road against the Cubs and Brewers, two teams who are tough in their home parks (.713 winning percentage). If the Reds can split the six road games in Chicago and Milwaukee and win 70% of the rest of the games in the month (not unreasonable against the group they’re playing), they could go 17-9 in July and be sitting one game above .500 on August 1. What’s this I see? The Cubs have just lost 4 in a row. Hang in there, Reds fans!By C. Wolf
June 29, 2008 9:04 PM | Link to this
The guy mentioned on WLW did have a good caller who noted that Griffey seems to mostly have only warning track power anymore and that to get his hits which Griffey Sr. says Jr. wants, then Griff. needs to learn to hit away from the shift. In batting practice, instead of trying to hit home runs, he needs to work on taking what the defense is giving him. Many of the Reds need to work on that very thing.By C. Wolf
June 29, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
I liked this article Hal, except for the last part. Yes the Reds won with Indian players out, but you play with what you got. Trouble with the Reds is they still have Griffey who has slowed down, and needs replaced by Hairston, Bruce, and Dunn.By FairbornJIm
June 29, 2008 8:41 PM | Link to this
“Winning two of three in New York was neat, but both Toronto and Cleveland are in last place, so what’s the big kick?”……… They can only play the schedule they were given. Other teams didn’t get both the Yanks and RedSox; and I am sure also sometimes played teams with key players hurt or cuaght the back ned of the opposing rotation. Also I believe the Indians were actually a 1st place team when the Reds swept them in Cincy last month. While the NL as a whole is getting drubbed by the AL, the Reds managed to go 9-6, including 5-4 on the road when they had to face a DH. That is something to be pleased about in an other wise dreary year.By redfuture
June 29, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this
Hal, one of your stories today mentioned that Dusty says he makes notes early in the morning from bed because his best ideas come then. I he removes Cory from the lineup in the morning but re-instates him in the afternoon, then I agree that his morning ideas are best!By HuberTucky
June 29, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this
Hey OHDave & other Reds fans, I live in Columbus now and the paper up here is Tribe oriented. When the Reds get killed it’s sports section front page news (Saturday’s reporting of Friday’s whuppin, for example). But today’s paper? You had to look in the middle of the sports section…nary a mention of the Reds victory on the front page. You know there is only one sport in this one sport town. Anyway, it’s been fun to watch the Reds today (for a change) because the players seemed much relaxed and more into the game, plus Arroyo had a refreshing “on” day. I agree with Cait…if we can get the numbers reversed the second half for Harrang & Arroyo (sorry, but combined their initials = HA!) then the second half could be fun, especially with the way our news guys are picthing. It’s so good to have Keppinger and Hairston back where they belong and Patterson OUT of the line up, the same Patterson with the worst OB% in the Reds past 48 years — so sayeth Marty B. At this point I’d be happy to see the Reds simply finish 2008 above .500.By Mike
June 29, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this
Forget the 1st half, forget the lousy record, forget the lousy road record, Optimism is alive and well with Doc Rogers on WLW tonight….he says the Reds are now a wildcard contender since they have started the “2nd half” 2-0.. This is not an April Fool joke!By ohdave
June 29, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
Listen Hal, for those of us who have friends who are Indians fans who love to rip on the Reds, the series is a big deal. It’s always great to shut the Clevelanders up. I’m just happy to see the Reds score some runs.By Cait
June 29, 2008 6:51 PM | Link to this
I agree with Y-City Jim - I will be very happy if the Reds can play well and win with some consistency the rest of the year, regardless of where they finish in the standings. I like what we have enough that if Harang and Arroyo can regain their form, I will look forward to next year.By Y-City Jim
June 29, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
This 7-game home stand will tell us if the Reds have a chance to gain respectability. I really don’t care anything about the teams above the Reds in the division. That is out of the Reds control except when they play them. If this team could just maintain a consistency of good play and some good luck. BTW, Dunn was ripped off today. He should have had the “Hot Dog Play of the Game” rather than Phillips.By Mr. Redlegs (Original)
June 29, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
Yeah, what you said, Hal, and they’re still seven games under .500, last in the division and in 30 days or so an afterthought to the Bengals, high school football and U of Cinti football.