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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 > July > 30 > Entry
All quiet on the Reds’ trading front
Dusty Baker sat down in his office chair Friday afternoon to begin preparations for a three-day homestand against the Atlanta Braves.
After six games on the road in Houston and Milwaukee, the Reds are home for only three games, then head out again for three in Pittsburgh and three in Chicago.
Instead of putting a Reds cap on his head, Baker should have been looking for a sailor’s hat.
“I feel like a sailor on three-day liberty,” he said. “Come home, wash your clothes, kiss the wife and kids and sail away.”
THE SUBJECT was trades and it was mentioned that the Texas Rangers had acquired shortstop Cristian Guzman from Wasington, the same Rangers who acquired Cliff Lee from Seattle.
“I thought they didn’t have any money,” said Baker. Good point. Aren’t the Rangers in bankruptcy?
As for the Reds, all is quiet on the banks of the Ohio River. Not even a juicy rumor - and you can discount the one internet report that the Reds are interested in Chicago Cubs pitcher Ted Lilly. At this point, just hours away from Saturday’s 4 p.m. non-waivers trade deadline, the Reds appear dormant.
Asked if he thought the Reds already have the parts to hang in for the long run, Baker quickly said, “We’ve been hanging for four months, know what I mean? And the longer you hang, the more you think you can hang. The longer you hang the more you think you should be hanging in the first place.
“We thought we were pretty good leaving spring training and we haven’t changed that opinion,” Baker added. “If anything, the longer you hang around the more confident you should become and you should be.”
As for trades, Baker added, “It’s not like (GM) Walt Jocketty hasn’t been trying to do something. It’s just that you see there hasn’t been much done in baseball period, unless guys change their mind in the next 24 hours or so.”
BAKER IS PLEASED that the Houston Astros traded pitcher Roy Oswalt to the Phillies instead of the Cardinals, although he would have preferred they had traded him to, uh, Texas.
“If he was going to go somewhere, I’d just as soon see him go to the American League, but at least they did send him to another division,” said Baker. “That gives Philadelphia a tremendous boost because they’ve already won eight or nine in a row and their pitching already has been holding them together. And so - as it is in the real world, the rich get richer.”
DISABLED PITCHER Aaron Harang threw 35 to 40 pitches off a mound Wednesday, his first throwing venture since before the All-Star break and reports no ill-effects in his problem back. He is still seeing a chiropractor, “To get some normal adjustments, and I’ve been doing running drills with the orange cones and today I’m going to take batting practice.”
His next throwing session, though, remains up in the air until he talks with pitching coach Bryan Price, although he said, “I just felt the normal soreness after throwing and exercising, nothing unusual.”
Said Baker, “He says he feels good and it is nice to see that good look on his face again.”
IT WAS ON television for all to see in Milwaukee when Travis Wood walked off the mound and headed for the dugout after the second out of the inning. The cameras showed manager Dusty Baker laughing and shaking his head and later showed Wood grinning in the dugout after he retired the next hitter for the third out.
What Wood didn’t know is that a teammate did the same thing this week, only there were no cameras to record it. Homer Bailey, pitching on rehab for the Class A Dayton Dragons, recorded the second out of an inning and walked toward the dugout.
The thing of it is, when Wood walked off the Milwaukee mound, catcher Ryan Hanigan left the catcher’s box and was headed for the dugout, too. In Bailey’s case, he was The Lone Ranger - none of those Class A player vacated their position. Said one Dragon, preferring anonymity, “I wanted to tell him, ‘Hey, you have to get three outs in Class A, too, not just two,’ but I don’t know him that well and didn’t know how he’d take it.”
Wood, humorously trying to cover his tracks, explained it this way: “I was trying to sell it to everybody that that was the third out. Hey, it’s easier when you only have to get 26 outs instead of 27.”
THE CLUBHOUSE staff was passing out All-Star t-shirts to all the Reds before Friday’s game and every All-Star’s name was on the back. When the attendant reached Jonny Gomes’ locker and asked if he wanted a shirt, Gomes said with a laugh, “Yeah, extra-large. And my name should be on the back, dammit.”
SPEAKING OF t-shirts, when Joey Votto reached his locker Friday there was a red shirt on his chair and on the front it said, “Keep the ball, Throw a Cubs fan.” When the Reds visit Chicago next weekend, Votto can expect a vitriolic reception from the Bleacher Bums after Votto said he doesn’t like Cubs fans.
WHEN THE Reds play the Braves Saturday night in Great American Ball Park, it is Homer Bailey Bobblehead Night. And where’s Homer? Oh, he’ll be pitching a game on rehab in Louisville, about 90 miles south of GABP. Why don’t they just ship those bobbleheads to Louisville and pass ‘em out down there?
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By forex robot
August 1, 2010 11:44 AM | Link to this
nice post. thanks.
By Brilliant Colgar
July 31, 2010 8:33 PM | Link to this
How many times did Rose strike out? Rose was hitting leadoff, and wasn’t supposed to drive in runs. Bruce is hitting fifth and though he is supposed to drive in runs, he isn’t—he strikes out instead. Rose didn’t hit for power, ever; Bruce is supposed to do so…duh?
By Colgar
July 31, 2010 3:10 PM | Link to this
UT, remember a guy named Pete Rose? At Jay Bruce’s age, Rose played in 136 games. He hit .269, a whopping .009 better than Bruce is hitting right now. Bruce has a higher on-base and slugging percentage and has driven in more runs in 104 games (40) than Rose did in 136 (34). Stubbs has played in just 99 games and scored more runs than Rose did in 136 and has also driven in more runs. What would have happened if the Reds had given up on Rose, like you guys are giving up on Stubbs and Bruce?
By Kyle
July 31, 2010 2:41 PM | Link to this
Huggy, FYI, we got Volquez for Hamilton, I believe.
By Huggybear
July 31, 2010 11:55 AM | Link to this
I also have been a long time Reds fan and can’t help but express my opinion. Johnny Cueto is a good pitcher, but how can you trade a talented player like Josh Hamilton? Imagine him in the outfield and in the lineup with Scott and Joey!!! My opinio is we need to revamp the whole outfield. Gomes has slipped also and his defense will never be as good as Stubbs or Bruce.
By Catgotyourtongue?
July 31, 2010 10:06 AM | Link to this
All is quiet on the Mike-Cinci and Jim T front…
By hvacdawg
July 31, 2010 7:10 AM | Link to this
been a while since reds in a pennant race. just hope the young guys keep improving , especially the pitchers. finally can say it’s not the pitching thats holding us back.
By yt27
July 31, 2010 7:03 AM | Link to this
Chokeo Cordero
By J
July 31, 2010 6:53 AM | Link to this
How many times do we have to watch us leave someone in scoring position with less than 2 outs. Hey Stubbs, ever think of bunting for a hit? 90% of your hits are infield hits anyway…why not perfect the bunt? A simple push bunt last night wins the game! Other than that, love this team and the excitement of watching the Reds play meaningful games into August for the 1st time in years has me forgetting about football season.
By Jim M.
July 31, 2010 6:21 AM | Link to this
Hal, I am one fan tired of watching the Dynamic K- duel of Stubbs and Bruce.. If Walt wants to make a splash, he needs to go after Bautista from the Blue Jays.. If Bruce is the center of a deal, then do it.. Since he refuses to use all fields like he did when he came up and cant stop himself from swinging at breaking balls in the dirt (Same with Stubbs and his striking out too). then bring up Dickerson and platoon him with either Stubbs or Hiesey.. (Since Hiesy cant start because dusty loves the strikeouts from Stubbs).. Having Votto, Bautista and Rolen as your #3,4 and 5 would bring a huge lift to this team. Plus let Dickerson leadoff when he is starting and Phillips 2nd (Phillips leadoff when Stubbs plays, he bats eigth). This team should be way ahead if Stubbs and Bruce would hit!! I hate to think we will watch the Cardinals overtake us late because the two young guys are killing this team with the lack of clutch hitting..Alonso, Bruce and Bailey for Bautista i would do it.. heck have them throw in a reliver if that gets the deal done.. Winning should be all that is on dusty’s mind.. Not making his players feel good striking out when Hiesy should have batted for Bruce in the eigth last night!! come on Walt, dont let the season slip away. The Reds are in a pennat race, Help them get further and get Bautista
By Hopalong
July 31, 2010 1:07 AM | Link to this
Can you imagine how many games this year could have been won if someone other than Stubbs and Bruce had been hitting in crucial situations with runners in scoring position??? That said, I have felt Reds pitching gets less calls than the teams they play. Cabrera got some bad calls on two high strikes tonight; and Cordero threw strikes slightly lower that were called balls. I think umpires behind the plate are biased and not consistant!!!!
By Bill
July 30, 2010 11:58 PM | Link to this
It is time for Baker and Jocketty to admit that Stubbs/Bruce/ should be replaced. Bring up Dickerson put him in center and play Heisey everyday, in right or left field. Efforts like we saw tonight from Rolen and Votto should not be wasted—and allowing Bruce and Stubbs to be in the lineup—wasted their beautiful performances! You are playing in front of full houses this weekend. The people deserve better than these pretenders. Cordero should be selling hot dogs.
By Bfred
July 30, 2010 11:34 PM | Link to this
The Reds need to bench Stubbs and Bruce if they plan on winning the division. They can play defense but you can’t afford to have two holes in the lineup along with the pitcher. You would think Dusty would realize this after seeing them play 100 hundred games.
By Bud Wizer
July 30, 2010 11:31 PM | Link to this
Excellent observation Bob, on Hernandes at the plate. He acted like he was surprised to get the first throw from Bruce—and was too far in front of the plate to make a good tag. His uniform never even got dirty!I am so damn sick of Baker’s lineups! Why did Bruce hit vs a lefty? Why did he bat, period?
By Shawn in the ATL
July 30, 2010 11:22 PM | Link to this
Down with Cordero. Enufs enuf. At least Bruce and Stubbs bring good D.
By Hopalong
July 30, 2010 11:20 PM | Link to this
Dickerson injured and Heisey blind are better than Stubbs! Dusty Baker and Jocketty are morons for continuing to have Stubbs and Bruce in the lineup! Hey Stubbs and Bruce take one for the team—RESIGN!!!Cordero find a poison mushroom with Baker!!!
By bob
July 30, 2010 11:16 PM | Link to this
Dusty says they are hanging around. They could be winning if Bruce and Stubbs would ever be replaced by Heisy and Nix. Tonight, I don’t think either swung at one strike and struck out 6 times; situations with game on the line. Laynce and Chris had two AB, 2 hits and a game saving catch. How can Walt watch this stupid lineup everyday. Ramon failed to block the place twice for 2 runs. Gave another game away.
By Cinreds14
July 30, 2010 11:15 PM | Link to this
Look at the totals for Gomes, Bruce and Stubbs, 0-13 with 6 strikeouts; a recurring pattern. Maybe its time to bring Dickerson up and send Stubbs down to find his swing again. At this pace, he’ll end up with year with 180 strikeouts. Can’t win with this many people in the lineup continuing to whiff. Also, I agree with earlier posts, time to look for an alternative to Cordero. 35 pitchest in his portion of the 10th inning, pathetic.
By Kyle
July 30, 2010 10:58 PM | Link to this
Gotta love the two weak links on this team. Cordero and Stubbs killed us tonight. For Jocketty to say that there are no needs on this team is a joke. Go find a seller out there with a real closer and make the deal. As for Stubbs, well, that’s well documented on here. We all knew the game was over when he stepped into the box.
By Fish
July 30, 2010 10:45 PM | Link to this
Hal, Been a fan for man years, you are the best!!!! Lifelong Reds fan and I am excited like most about the year the reds are having but I strongly feel that with Cordero as our closer and Bruce in the lineup we are going to be on the outside looking in again. (Dont get me wrong I truly hope the Reds never lose another game) Cordero has been so predictable (as in you know he is going to give up walks and hits without fail) and Jay Bruce would have to improve just to suck!!!!!!!!
By jim t
July 30, 2010 6:56 PM | Link to this
Nice article Hal. I hope they go with the guys who got them this far. Everyone on the roster has contributed to the nice run they have made so far. Nice blend of young and old and plenty of prospects down on the farm. Lets take them one at a time and get out and support the team. Its been a longtime since we have had this opportunity. Love the buzz around the city. Go Reds!!!!