QUESTION OF THE WEEK
Q: How can a pitcher be given a win when he is not in a game, like if a team is behind, 2-1, and there is a pinch hitter for Bronson Arroyo who gets on (Arroyo is now out of the game) and the next guy hits a home run for a 3-2 lead and the Reds go on to win. Arroyo was out of the game when the home run was hit, right? — SAM, CINCINNATI
A: Is this Sam LeCure? No, I know it isn’t because LeCure doesn’t care who gets the win. It is because Arroyo would still be the pitcher of record. He held the other team to two runs and his team took the lead before another Reds pitcher took the mound with that 3-2 lead. If a batter has two hits and somebody pinch hits for him, the original batter doesn’t lose those two hits. If a relief pitcher got credit for a win when the team already led the game when he came in, there would be fights in the bullpen over who got to come into those games.
Q: Would I be considered a Dusty Baker Basher if I asked why Joey Votto isn’t batting second in the Cincinnati Reds batting order? — DAVE, MIAMISBURG/CENTERVILLE/BEAVERCREEK
A: Ah, plagiarism? I see you read the story in Yardbarker suggesting the same thing. Votto batted third when he won the MVP in 2010 and when he had fine seasons in 2011 and 2012, despite missing 50 games. A team always bats its best all-around hitter third. If Baker batted him second the REAL Dusty Bashers would howl to high heaven.
Q Tony La Russa recently said that Yadier Molina was the best catcher ever, and so I ask if he ever saw Johnny Bench play? — MARK, BLOOMINGTON, IND.
A: Anybody who only watched Molina play against the Reds would have to agree. Does the guy ever make an out or make a bad throw or miss a ball behind the plate? As Molina’s manager for years, what else would La Russa say? I’m certain he saw Johnny Bench play and I’m certain deep down inside La Russa knows who is the best ever. Yogi Berra. Just kidding. J.B., of course.
Hall-of-fame baseball writer Hal McCoy knows a thing or two about America’s pastime. If you’d like to tap into that knowledge, send a question to halmccoy1@hotmail.com.
Q: With the way Tony Cingrani has been pitching, should he stay in the rotation when Johnny Cueto returns? — MARTY, RUSSIA, OHIO
A: Yours was the first of 14 fans asking the same question. Based on what we’ve seen, how can you remove him and sleep at night? Actually, Cingrani helps Reds personnel sleep well with what he has done during Cueto’s absence. But it is going to be at least a week before Cueto will return. Stuff happens in a week. But if I’m Mike Leake I’m wondering how life treats you in long and middle relief.
Q: To make baseball most offensive, what do you think about eliminating the ninth inning and giving teams four outs in the first, fifth and eighth innings to cover the three outs lost when the ninth is eliminated to add more offense? — KEN, CINCINNATI
A: You are just trying to help the offensively challenged Reds right now, right? Normally, there is plenty of offense in baseball. And a lot of us enjoy pitching duels. Doesn’t the rest of the world love 0-0 soccer matches? While we’re at it, let’s add a fifth down in the fourth quarter of football games. Or how about making all three-point goals five-point goals in the last 10 minutes of basketball games? Naw, let’s leave the games the way they are. There is plenty of offense in all of them — except soccer.
Q: I read recently that broadcaster Casey Coleman was credited with the term, “I’m rounding third and heading for home,” and I thought that belonged to Joe Nuxhall? — KEN, DAYTON
A: Coleman was a Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Indians broadcaster and he hosted a postgame show for the Indians in the late-70s and used that term. I’m confident, though, that Nuxy used, “This is the ol’ left-hander rounding third and heading for home,” before Coleman and that Casey might have borrowed it. I don’t see that sign-off sentence on the façade of Progressive Field in Cleveland. I do see it on Great American Ball Park.
Q: If you were Walt Jocketty, would you take your chances in left field until Chris Heisey and Ryan Ludwick get back or look for help on the outside? — COURT, DAYTON
A: Depth issues certainly surface when two left fielders go down with injuries in the first month. Making solid trades this early in the season can be difficult and usually the other teams want the keys to the minor-league vault. I’m not Walt Jocketty and have never made a single transaction, so I’ll leave that in his capable hands. If he asks, I’ll say, “Things are gonna be fine, Walt.”
Q: Is there any chance Major League Baseball will expand to 32 teams to give each league 16 teams? And what cities would be considered? — EVAN, CINCINNATI
A: Let’s hope not. There are too many teams now, which weakens the product, especially pitching. Too many players are rushed to the majors before they are ready. There are many players who never would have made it under the old 16-team format (eight in each league). I used to know every regular on every team. Now I can’t even tell you the Cubs’ regular lineup, if they have one.
Q: Are we witnessing a conspiracy over the Reds putting poor teams in Dayton so it will generate more attendance and interest in the team in Cincinnati? — ELAINE, TROY
A: No matter how good or bad the Dayton Dragons are, they still fill Fifth Third Field, so why would the Reds do that? I am amazed, and heartened, to see fans continue to support the Dragons when they aren’t very good and that’s a credit to Bob Murphy and his great staff. Wouldn’t it be nice to see a contending team in Dayton? But player personnel is the domain of the Reds, not the Dragons.
Q: What do you think about signing Scott Rolen to play third base and putting Todd Frazier in left field? — CARL, HYDEN, KY.
A: While Rolen continues to work out, getting him ready to play in the majors would take a few weeks. By then Ryan Ludwick will be back. And Frazier finally has found a home at third base and is doing an excellent job. Why make him move again? We’ve probably seen the last of Rolen in a big-league uniform and that’s a big loss, but he is a happy family man right now.
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