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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 > April > 14 > Entry
Bailey putting himself on the bubble
UNSOLICITED observations while watching the Cincinnati Reds lose to the Florida Marlins Wednesday, 5-3:
It is only two starts, so it isn’t time to go into defcon mode, but what’s up with Homer Bailey?
This isn’t the guy everybody saw the last part of last season when he went 6-1 in nine starts with a 1.71 ERA. This is the Homer Bailey of the previous 2 1/2 seasons.
In two awful starts this year, Bailey has given up 15 hits, five walks, hit two batters and given up runs in eight of his 10 1/3 innings.
On Wednesday against the Marlins, he staggered through 5 1/3 innings and gave up five runs, eight hits and three walks and needed nearly 120 pitches to get there.
MANY HAVE asked, “What happens with the rotation when Edinson Volquez comes back. Who goes out?”
Well, first of all, Volquez won’t be back from his Tommy John surgery until July, at the earliest, so that isn’t a factor.
The question should be, “What happens if one of the starters is ineffective or gets hurt?”
So far, Bailey falls firmly into the ineffective category and could soon be in the danger zone of wearing a Louisville Bats uniform.
As I said, it is only two starts, but the Reds don’t need to show much patience, not with Aroldis Chapman and Travis Wood ready to step in, along with Matt Maloney and Justin Lehr.
There are options. Bailey best find that magic he displayed late last season and find it quickly.
DID YOU know that the Reds have scored the winning runs in their last at-bat in all five of their victories this season? What is it they say? Better late than never.
AS PREDICTED in this little corner of the world, Chris Dickerson replaced Drew Stubbs in center field and leadoff Wednesday.
Stubbs has 12 strikeouts in his first 30 at-bats this season. Also disconcerting is the fact Joey Votto has 11 whiffs in 36 at-bats.
ALSO DISCONCERTING is the fact that the Reds are one of only two National League teams that have not had a starting pitcher win a game. Not one game.
The other team? The winless Houston Astros.
If this continues, members of the Reds’ heavily-used bullpen won’t be able to butter their own dinner rolls by the All-Star break.
PAUL JANISH started at shortstop Wednesday and, as usual, made some nifty defensive plays. But he also walked, doubled and hit a two-run home run.
And you can put me in line as one who believes Janish should get more playing time. He is better defensively than Orlando Cabrera and it looks to me as if Janish is emerging as a hitter. He hit well during spring training, too.
THE PARK now called Sun Life Stadium, where the Marlins play, always was one of my least favorite places to watch a baseball game.
It is a football stadium, where the Miami Dolphins play, not that suitable to baseball. And it looks even worse with all the empty seats from sparse crowds. Let’s see how the Marlins do when their new roofed stadium opens in Miami in 2012.
It rains nearly every day during batting practice and it is gosh-awful hot in the summer humidity. Then they keep the press box refrigerated so that while fans melt in perspiration in the stands, the writers need to thaw out after games.
I MISS being there, though. Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez, one of the game’s good guys, is a now-and-then cigar smoker and we enjoyed exchanging cigars before the first game of every Reds-Marlins series.
GREAT TO see former Reds outfielder Dave Collins coaching first base for the Marlins.
He was always one of my favorites and actually came to a couple of games to watch my son, Brian, play basketball at West Carrollton High School.
Then when my other son, Brent, played at WC, Collins coached at Springboro High School. WC played at Springboro my son’s senior year, when he averaged more than 20 points a game. During the pre-game lay-up drill, Collins walked up to my son and whispered in his ear.
“What did Collins say to you?” I asked him after the game.
“He said, ‘Take it easy on us,’” said Brent.
EX-RED Jorge Cantu hit a home run Wednesday and has at least one hit and one RBI in all nine Marlins games this year. And he had at least one hit and one RBI in the team’s last four games last year, giving him 13 straight games with at least one hit and one RBI.
The Reds, though, couldn’t use him.
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By pharmacy technician
April 26, 2010 1:42 AM | Link to this
Great information! I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. Thanks!
By Bobbyd
April 20, 2010 5:16 PM | Link to this
I think it would be best for the Reds and Homer to send him to the bullpen. He can build confindence and he can learn. The Dodgers use to do that alot with there system. I am not a L.A fan but, back in the 70’s and 80’s they had a good home grown organization just like the Reds. And the Reds need to stop taking High school pitchers in the high rounds of drafts. College kids are the way to go. Its not such a long wait for them to make the MLB ROSTER.
By Mike-Cinci
April 15, 2010 9:24 PM | Link to this
It is not the coaching that is the problem. The Reds players have been coached from little league, through high school, some college, the minors, and the majors. If a player does not get the job done it is HIS fault and not the fault of any coach along the line. A players performance is his personal responsibility. Why do we always try to blame someone else? Some players rise to the occasion. Some players are really very good and some aren’t. The results will speak for themselves.
By Believe It Or Not
April 15, 2010 5:41 PM | Link to this
First my apologies to die-hard Reds Rooters—but I find it laughable, during the past three years, that every time one of Jocketty’s or Bakers ‘can’t miss’ starters fails at the plate—as in Patterson, Taveras, Agon and now Stubbs—and is FINALLY removed from the lineup—the justification, from Dusty’s mouth is, there is somekind of injury, which is the reason: Lets see, last year Taveras injured his leg running to first{but in watching that play, Taveras never once limped while leaving the field}; Agon left due to some injury{but his lack of hitting was never mentioned—then he was traded to Boston};and just recently, supposedly, Stubbs hurt his back, but will only be out of the lineup two days—how does one tell that a back injury will heal in exactly TWO DAYS? And, why were double figure strikeouts never mentioned as the REAL reason, for splinters in his hind end? Call me critical if you must—just seems to happen quite frequently, when predictions go haywire!
By jb
April 15, 2010 5:17 PM | Link to this
I think Cueto is worse than Bailey and he is in his 3rd FULL year,Bailey’s been up and down from AAA the last 3 years,so you have to expect from Homer,i just can stand watching Cueto pitch anymore.
By BRAD
April 15, 2010 4:10 PM | Link to this
HOMER HAS no SELF CONFIDENCE. HE TRIES TO DEMONSTRATE BRAVADO TO MASK IT. CLEARLY, HE IS woRRIED about the emergence OF TRAVIS WOODS, CHAPMAN AND LEAKE…and rightly so. PUT ON YOUR BIG BOY PANTS HOMER AND ADOPT A ‘go to work ON EVERY PITCH IN EVERY GAME’ kinda ATTITUDE OR….. bye bye
By florence ky
April 15, 2010 3:48 PM | Link to this
Thats why you never get excited about Sept numbers. He was pitching against prospects and had a good six weeks.
By Brad
April 15, 2010 1:37 PM | Link to this
How much longer do we have to wait for two high ceiling pitchers (Cueto, Bailey) who’ve been in the rotation for 3 years now, to start becoming more consistent? They aren’t just mediocre, when they’re bad, they’re very bad. I hope the Reds never draft another HS pitcher in the 1st round. With Chapman, Wood, Leake, Volquez, and Arroyo on the roster, I’d get a bat or some BP help for Bailey asap. I just don’t think he’s going to pan out.
By Tom
April 15, 2010 1:20 PM | Link to this
Let’s not throw in the towel on Homer just yet. Let’s see what our new pitching coach can do with him. Rest assured he will probably blossom with another team the way Cantu and Ross usually do against the Reds.
By Bob
April 15, 2010 12:03 PM | Link to this
Where is the coaching on the this team? Bailey is ALWAYS behind in the count to EVERY HITTER he has faced in his two starts, at least 80% of the time he starts out against a hitter 2-0 or 3-1, he never attempts to get ahead of a hitter and dictate the game to the hitter, this is poor coaching plain and simple, baseball is not rocket science.
By Sparkaroo
April 15, 2010 11:56 AM | Link to this
Now shouldn’t Hal know that Bailey is out of options? Come on, man!
By Brian
April 15, 2010 9:48 AM | Link to this
Harang makes more money than Bailey so he has a longer leash…I also thought Bailey wasn’t out of options until after this season.
By Jeff
April 15, 2010 9:44 AM | Link to this
Isn’t Homer out of options? For him to go to AAA, he’ll need to clear waivers. That won’t happen. He either has to get it straight for the Reds, or he’ll be doing it for another team.
By RudyFlyer
April 15, 2010 9:30 AM | Link to this
Come on Hal, if Homer is on the bubble, where is Harang? The guy is simply done. He is terrible again and has been terrible for the last two years.
By Mike-Cinci
April 15, 2010 8:44 AM | Link to this
Bailey may learn to pitch but he may not until he is older and then he will probably be pitching for someone else. It is also possible he will never have enough control to be effective. Watching Bailey and Cueto struggle to locate the strike zone is painful to watch but every team has the same issues with their young players. Patience, no matter how hard to have,is needed. Trying to determine how good a team is game to game this early in the season is a waste of time. We will know more about the Reds by early June. We will have about 60 games to analyze who is getting it done and who is not. Contrary to this view the Astros 0-8 record may indicate they stink unless they go on an 8 game winning streak soon.
By Bob
April 15, 2010 8:21 AM | Link to this
When Dickerson starts Reds lose How does that Help
By Joe
April 15, 2010 8:18 AM | Link to this
The season is only 9 games old so definitely no reason to panic. It’s nice to know that they have some arms in AAA ready to come up.
By Micah Owings
April 15, 2010 7:49 AM | Link to this
Did that dumbA$$, J-Mark, fall off the face of the earth? Ain’t heard anything from him since Ol’ Homer’s been burnin’ it up this Spring. He’d certainly be all over my A$$ if I were throwing as well as Homer. But he’s not because I’m 2-0. Oh J-Mark… come out, come out, wherever you are!
By Pete
April 15, 2010 7:44 AM | Link to this
I heard many times this Spring how much improved the Reds’ pitching was, how much more depth they had. I’ll agree w/ the latter, but improved? NO WAY! Harang’s toast until he proves otherwise. Arroyo’s still a .500 pitcher - PERIOD! Cueto — GROW UP! Don’t count on Volquez for anything this year. Homer not only needs to grow up as well, he needs to geta clue. Trade him? Not yet. Bullpen’s a good option for him. Not sure about what options he may/may not have left for L-ville. Regardless, he can be replaced w/ what’s down on the farm & a $30M investment ain’t gonna stay there for very long, guarantee it!
By GSE
April 15, 2010 7:21 AM | Link to this
Granted, his statistics are worse, but let’s not just put the focus on Homer. Cueto and Harang should also be scrutinized for their ineffectiveness.
By Mike
April 15, 2010 7:04 AM | Link to this
Maybe Homer should start using his given name (David).
By Richard
April 15, 2010 6:55 AM | Link to this
Again, a little more offense and we have a win.
By Richard
April 15, 2010 6:50 AM | Link to this
Again,a little more offense and we have a win.
By steven ross
April 15, 2010 6:48 AM | Link to this
Everybody gets a mulligan in April, including Homer. However, the Reds have plenty of others “options” waiting in the wings if he doesn’t step it up soon. He’s had plenty of chances along with some limited success but it’s time Homer took it to the next level.
By ARgee
April 15, 2010 6:08 AM | Link to this
I would say that there is a VERY strong correlation to winning at the last at-bat and wins for starters. How about some runs earlier in the game? Arroyo’s start notwithstanding.
By Thanks Justin..yawn
April 15, 2010 5:22 AM | Link to this
Thanks Justin, Hal has been covering the REDS since before you were born. I agree with everything he said. Baily has been given chance after chance. I would love to see the kid develope, but there are some people that advice just bounces off of, and some absorb it. It might be wiser to try to move Bailey to another team, pick up a reliever and move on. The kid is a head case and it is only getting worse..
By Justin
April 15, 2010 3:19 AM | Link to this
Really, lets run the guy out of the rotation after 2 mediocre starts? They weren’t “awful”, he didn’t effectively lose the game with his start, the Reds were never out of striking distance. Stop with the hyperbole that is fitting for sports talk radio. Are the Reds and Bailey in trouble if he doesn’t pick it up? Yes, should they even consider removing Bailey from the rotation on April 15? No. You gotta let him work out his problems, he is still young and talented, this is his first full season in a big league rotation, so there will be some hick-ups.
By redsfandownunder
April 15, 2010 12:17 AM | Link to this
There may be options but there are no more easy options… because Baily is out of options. Someone correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think the Reds can send him to the minors without putting him on waivers (and losing their investment in him). Other options include sending him to the bullpen or a trade. The Reds would be selling low if they traded him now so not a wise choice. If he doesn’t improve, I think he stays on the ML roster and replaces either Lincoln or Ondrusek in the bullpen. Let’s hope we start to see the Homer of late 2009 because his days in Louisville are done.