Question of the week
Q: Wouldn't a trade for Boston third baseman Kevin Youkilis benefit the Reds, especially since he is a Cincinnati native? — Brad, Huber Heights
A: Why throw a player of Scott Rolen's abilities under an 18-wheeler six weeks into the season? And if you do, why replace him with another aging veteran? Youkilis is 33 and missed more time last year (played only 18 games) than Rolen did. And the year before he hit .258. While he is an energetic and feisty fellow, Youkilis can't carry Rolen's glove.
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. For more Ask Hal, log on to Journal-News.com/reds.
Q: Have the Cincinnati Reds considered retiring Josh Hamilton's number? — Dave, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek
A: The Reds retired Josh Hamilton from Cincinnati when they traded him to Texas. Hamilton wore "33," which also was worn by outfielder Ed Armbrister. They should have retired "33" after Armbrister was involved in the wrestling match at home plate with Boston catcher Carlton Fisk on a bunt play that helped the Reds win the 1975 World Series.
Q: Barry Larkin said he had never been to Cooperstown and yet, until recently, two major-league teams annually played an exhibition game in Cooperstown, so how did the Reds miss out during Larkin's long career? — Bill, Monterey, Ky.
A: The Reds had a game in Montreal on a Sunday and were scheduled for a Monday exhibition in Cooperstown. But the team plane encountered mechanical difficulty, so the Reds were stranded in Montreal and the game was canceled. I suspect somebody on that plane was guilty of sabotage so the team could spend another night on St. Catherine Street in Old Montreal.
Q: A manager will say his team is a warm-weather team and it will get hot when the weather gets hot but, seriously, have you ever known of a team that could rip the ball in cold weather? — Mike, Arlington, Va.
A: The 1975-76 Reds and 1927 Yankees could hit in Antarctica wearing mukluks and furry mittens. Of course teams hit better when their fingers aren't frost-bitten to a blue hue, but managers have to come up with some reason when their team is hitting .149 in April and losing every game.
Q: You are stranded on a desolate island and you have a DVD player, electricity and one DVD of a single Reds game. Which game do you watch over and over? — Jeff, Springboro
A: If Tina Louise (Ginger) from Gilligan's Island is with me, who needs a DVD? Or, may I please have a DVD of the models in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue? OK, I'll take Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, the one won by Carlton Fisk with a home run in the 11th inning. Sure, the Reds lost, but the game was so entertaining that during an at-bat, Pete Rose turned to catcher Fisk and asked, "Isn't this great?"
Q: Why couldn't Todd Frazier play second base in place of Brandon Phillips to help Phillips out of his slump? — Paul, Dayton
A: Frazier is currently the player du jour for Reds fans and they might have to cut him up in three pieces because some want him at third, some in left and others at second. Phillips is nearly 100 percent, and his bat seems to be getting healthy. And Frazier's range at second base is about half of what Phillips covers.
Q: Don't you think Homer Bailey needs to come up with an off-speed pitch because he keeps throwing fastballs that are fouled off until he finally walks a hitter or gives up a hit and his pitch counts mount? — John, Indianapolis
A: At one time Bailey was throwing a pretty good split-fingered pitch that he seems to have put in the disuse file. Maybe he can't split his fingers any more. He has become a master at giving up 0-and-2 hits or going from 0-and-2 to 3-and-2.
Q: Which current Cincinnati Reds do you think could start for the 1975-76 teams? — Andrew, Fort Loramie
A: That's an unfair comparison because you are challenging players to be as good as The Big Red Machine. If you asked about the 1962 New York Mets (120 losses), I'd say everybody. But the 75-76 Reds? Maybe one. Joey Votto might beat out Tony Perez, but even that's a stretch. Perez is in the Hall of Fame. Aroldis Chapman could have made the bullpen, that's for sure.
Q: What is the reason a pitcher can't fake a pick-off throw to first base when he can fake a throw to any other base? — Jonathan, Fort Loramie
A: While a pitcher can't fake a throw to home plate, he can fake a throw to first base. He just has to step off the rubber to do it. If he is on the rubber and fakes a throw, it is a balk. I've yet to figure out where a fake throw to any base fits into the pantheon of great plays in baseball. It accomplishes nothing but a delay of game.
Q: Willie Harris was out of options, but was outrighted to Louisville. What does this mean and are options negotiable on contracts? — David, Louisville.
A: A player has three options per career, but one option covers an entire year so a player can be sent up and down to and from the minors several times a year and that counts as one option. After three years of options, they are used up. It's non-negotiable. So to send an out-of-options player to the minors, he has to be outrighted, as Harris was. He can accept and report to Louisville, or the team has a set time in which to trade him. If that doesn't happen, a player can take free agency.
Q: Sometimes Reds farm teams use the designated hitter and sometimes they don't. What determines when they use the DH in the minors? — John, Sidney.
A: According to the rules (I did deep research and looked it up on Google), the only time the DH is not employed at Double-A and Triple-A is when both teams are National League affiliates. If even one of the two teams is an American League affiliate, the DH is employed. Just great, isn't it? Teach a young player to be one-dimensional in his formative years.