QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Q: With this non-hitting lineup, can the Reds make the postseason? — WORDMAN, Troy.
A: That’s why they play out the season. Who knows? If I knew that I’d move to Las Vegas and retire. It certainly won’t be easy with most of the bench players in the lineup every day. A lot of it has to do with if Milwaukee, St. Louis or Pittsburgh gets hot and can’t be caught. But despite all the injuries, the Reds haven’t totally collapsed, other than that 0-7 start after the All-Star break. They came from 8 ½ back to 1 ½ back once, they can do it again.
Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy knows a thing or two about our nation’s pastime. To tap into that knowledge, send an email to halmccoy1@hotmail.com.
Q: How does Jay Bruce qualify for a bobblehead giveaway? — DAVE, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek.
A: He wears a Reds uniform. And despite his off year so far, his last three years have been bobblehead quality. If they put out a bobblehead of you, it would be one with a spoon full of food in your mouth.
Q: Mat Latos was taken out of a game after the sixth inning and had given up three runs, so does he get a quality start even though he lost the game? — TERENCE, Alpha.
A: Unfortunately, yes. You don’t have to win the game to get a quality start, which is six innings and three runs or less. Three runs is a 4.50 earned run average. Is that quality? To me it should be seven innings of two or less. Two runs would be s 2.57 ERA. Now that’s quality and that would get the Reds to their best relief pitchers, Jonathan Broxton in the eighth and Aroldis Chapman in the ninth.
Q: How are you going to stay awake in the Reds press box the rest of the season? — RICHARD, Hebron, Ky.
A: Coffee, lots of black coffee. In 42 years of covering the Reds I have never fallen asleep in the press box, but I have seen a few visiting writers doze off after a late night in liquid establishments. And with the Reds struggling to score runs, you don’t dare take 40 winks. You might miss their scoring inning.
Q: Is Johnny Cueto the best Reds pitcher you’ve ever seen in your time with the team? — COREY, Lebanon.
A: You must be a youngster, Corey. I’ve seen Jim Maloney, Don Gullett, Gary Nolan, Mario Soto, Tom Seaver, Tom Browning, Jose Rijo, Danny Jackson. No, I didn’t see Ewell Blackwell or Johnny Vander Meer. Cueto is still a work in progress and close to a masterpiece and I’d certainly put him in my top five. But my No. 1 is Don Gullett.
Q: How many triple plays have you seen and when was the last one turned by the Reds? — DAVID, Beavercreek.
A: I have seen three that I can recall, two by the opponent and one by the Reds. In 2009 Edwin Encarnacion lined into a 6-4-3 triple play. And there was one in Montreal in which Chris Sabo grounded into a 5-4-3 triple play. In 1995 the Reds turned one against Florida — third baseman Jeff Branson to second baseman Bret Boone to first baseman to Hal Morris. The Reds have turned 29 triple plays in their modern history, so I’ve probably seen more, but the old memory bank gets foggy with age.
Q: Does Steve Smith have any prior experience coaching third base in the majors because he has made several questionable calls this season? — BILL, Huntington, W.Va.
A: So is this ‘Pick on the Coaches Week?’ You are upset because 22 Reds have been thrown out at the plate this year? Smith only has 38 years in professional baseball, including 14 as a third base coach for Mariners, Rangers, Phillies and Indians. He has seen thousands and thousands of guys rounding third and heading for home. He is doing what manager Bryan Price wants — be aggressive, not timid. We only notice the failures, not the successes. And with the Reds problems scoring runs, it behooves the team to take some chances.
Q: Do you think there is anything that will get Joey Votto back on the field this season? — DOUG, Bainbridge.
A: Sure. A healthy body. Do you want him out there when he can’t run or turn on a pitch? He tried that earlier this season and it didn’t work. Despite what some may think, nobody wants back out on that filed more than Votto. But the team would rather see him completely healthy and if that means shutting him down for the season, so be it. Better a healthy Votto than one who comes back too soon and breaks down again.
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