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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 > 2010 > March > 04 > Entry
Finally - action in the new stadium
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Dusty Baker knows how to entertain and knows how to feed the media beast.
Every morning at 8 a.m., Baker sits behind his desk in a smallish office that is overcrowded with media people, a few sitting, most standing, and plays Meet the Press.
For example, when a writer asked him about the new complex in Goodyear, Ariz., Baker said, “It’s like moving to a new house. You liked your old place - and I loved Sarasota. But the house had a one-car garage, two bedrooms and 1 1/2 baths.
“Our new house (Goodyear) is awesome,” said Baker. “This house has five or six bedrooms, four-car garage, new pool, jacuzzi, steam room and six bathrooms, five showers.”
THE REDS play a five-inning intrasquad game this afternoon with Aaron Harang and Homer Bailey scheduled to start and pitch an inning. The focus, though, will be the second inning when Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman makes his debut not only for the Reds but his debut in the US of A.
Somebody asked Baker when Chapman would pitch again and Baker said he would pitch Monday in Goodyear against the Kansas City Royals.
“Will he start?” Baker was asked.
“No, he won’t,” Baker said. “But that doesn’t matter right now. We’ll pitch him later in the games so fans will stick around and buy more beer. You didn’t know I was into marketing, did you?”
BAKER SAID he and his Reds are ready for game action and then added, “This is the best camp I’ve ever had and I’ve had some good ones. This is the best one. I haven’t had to get on anybody about working or stretching. No complaining. Everybody is on time. Everybody works as hard during fundamental drills as if they’re playing. We try to tell them that. You practice as if you’re playing.
“You can tell yourself you’re ready (for the season) after spending all your time down here getting ready or you can pretend you are ready,” he said.
When talking about competition for jobs, Baker said that even though most spots on the roster are taken, “There is always competition for jobs. Somebody is always trying to take your job.” Looking at a media person, he said, “Somebody is probably trying to take your job. You just don’t know who it is. At least around here you know who it is.”
BAKER SAID he isn’t looking for anything special from Chapman - doesn’t care if he strikes out the side or walks the side or works out of jams.
“I just want him to be himself,” he said. “You want him to get comfortable, first of all. You know he’ll have jitters, I don’t who you are or what your name is. Hank Aaron used to say nerves are good. Don’t be scared. Aroldis is not scared and after you throw your first pitch or two your nerves are gone. If you aren’t nervous you are either lying or something is wrong with you.”
Baker hopes there are no radar guns at the today’s intrasquad games, but there will be scouts from other teams and they all carry radar guns.
Obviously, the media wants to know if Chapman touches 100 miles an hour, as advertised.
“I hope there aren’t any radar guns,” said Baker. “That’s a problem, most of the time. Pitchers throw to the radar gun versus getting guys out. Greg Maddux never would have been signed if it all came down to a radar gun.
“Most guys who score high on the gun are on pitches that are way up and way out,” Baker added. “People say ooh and aah, but the pitch ain’t worth a damn.”
Trust me, though. I’ll look for a radar gun and take a peek.
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By yodasbrother
March 5, 2010 7:31 AM | Link to this
I am with Dusty on that, after paying my share of speeding tickets, I think Radar guns are way overrated.