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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 > 2008 > April > 06 > Entry
Finally, real baseball
For the first four games I covered in Great American Ball Park this season, the press box windows were kept closed due to rain and finger-frosting cold, making it seem as if I was watching the game on a giant TV screen with no sound.
I hate that. For 30 years it was that way in old Riverfront Stadium (I refuse to call it Cinergy Field). They put in permanent windows that didn’t open and we were hermetically sealed like mayonnaise as we watched The Big Red Machine behind glass.
In the spring, when it was cold outside, the thermostat in the Riverfront press box was about 80. In the summer, when it was 80 outside, the air conditioning kept it at 40 in the press box.
We scribes deserved hazardous duty pay, except we had the pleasure of covering the all-time best baseball team - my opinion and I’m sticking to it.
Anyway, the windows came out on a glorious Sunday afternoon for the Cincinnati debut of Edinson Volquez against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Manager Dusty Baker was asked if he talked to Volquez before the game and he said, “No, I mean, he has been in the big leagues before (last year with the Texas Rangers), so it is a different situation than it was with Johnny Cueto (making his major-league debut last week). I just passed him on the way to the field for batting practice and he was sitting in the clubhouse enjoying breakfast. He’ll be fine. I ain’t worried about Volquez. He’s a looser guy than Cueto.”
When the game began, Volquez was as cool as if he were sitting in a La-Z-Boy, pumping two called strikes past NL MVP Jimmy Rollins before Rollins looped a single to right on the third pitch.
No big deal. Volquez retired Shane Victorino and Chas Utley on lazy fly balls, walked (maybe wisely) Ryan Howard, watched the runners advance to third and second on Paul Bako’s passed ball, then stabbed Pat Burrell’s shot back to the box and threw him out to end his first inning in a Reds uniform.
Pause here for a minor announcement: Matt Belisle, pitching on injury rehab for the Class A Sarasota Reds, pitched 8 2/3 shutout innings against the Tampa Bay Yankees in a 1-0 win. He pitched six perfect innings and coaxed 19 ground ball outs, jallowing two hits while walking none and striking out three.
What happens when Belisle is ready? That’s an easy one. Josh Fogg better be better, much better, in his second start than his first or Belisle should be taking the next turn.
Well, we know he is ready for the Florida State League All-Star game.
OK, back to Great American. Ken Griffey Jr. gave Volquez some comfort level in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run, career No. 594, the 100th in a Cincinnati uniform - 38 at Riverfront where we couldn’t hear the crack of the bat and 62 in Great American, where the sweet sound of wood colliding with cowhide (didn’t it used to be horsehide?) resonated in the press box.
Brett Myers, Philadelphia’s ace, was Griffey’s victim, the 378th different pitcher to feel the bite of Griffey’s home run bat.
Buoyed by Griffey’s homer, Volquez went quickly through the Phillies in the second - 1-2-3 with two strikeouts. And he didn’t stop there. He went 1-2-3 in the third, too, striking out two more.
Volquez was lifted with one out in the sixth and the Reds leading, 4-1. He had two men on and his pitch count was at 95. The crowd gave him an appreciative standing ovation after he gave kup one run, five hits and struck out eight - not Johnny Cueto, but darn close.
Here is another one for you. Stand-in shortstop Jeff Keppinger singled ahead of Griffey’s home run in the first. Then Keppinger hit his second home run to lead off the third. He is hitting about two ga-zillion.
What happens when injured shortstop Alex Gonzalez returns? Does Baker keep Keppinger at shortstop until he cools off, if ever does? Or does he put Gonzalez at shortstop? Then what? Does he move Keppinger to third base, where Edwin Encarnacion is hitting .154?
Another one. Marty Brennaman and I talked about this on the air during the secondi nning Sunday. Paul Bako is hitting and handling pitchers with the veteran savvy of a 38-year-old catcher. David Ross is nearly ready to come off the DL. What then?
I say: Belisle in the rotation if Fogg falters again, Keppinger to third in place of Encarnacion and Bako stays behind the plate.
All this is subject to circumstance: That Keppinger continues to hit, the Fogg falters, that Encarnacion continues to struggle, that Bako continues to hit.
What’s your take?
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By donb
April 11, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
Hal, Can you imagine how well the Reds will do when the highest paid offensive players start earning their money? I know baseball is a game of “continuity” and “team” sport, but if you pulled a “Its a wonderful life” with Adam Dunn, the Reds would still be 6-4, so far, if he never existed.
By Bill
April 7, 2008 9:06 PM | Link to this
I have never been impressed with Belisle—what exactly has he done to deserve consideration for the rotation? I’d rather see him go to long relief—and give Affeldt another shot at the rotation.I think he being left-handed is a better option—if he can find the plate. He just looks like a better option to me.He looked very comfortable in relief today—perhaps he is relaxing.
By Mike
April 7, 2008 4:43 PM | Link to this
When Ross returns Votto goes to Louisville. Joey looks a bit befuddled so far. When Gonzalez returns Castro is released. It is possible Gonzalez could be traded to Toronto, LA Angels, Seattle. Belisle will go to Louisville and come up if needed.
By fred
April 7, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
everybody’s got there opinion out there so i guess i should to. i think its really to early to be making any big decisions. you would have to be dumb to take kepp out now. edwin was supost to be my surprise of the year so i’m not giving up on him yet. votto’s gotta go down. don’t think its good and probably not helping his slow start, splitting time with hatt. the way it sounds we have a couple of problems but there good ones to have and jus maybe if we’re in it at the trade deadline we have some guys to spare. i love baseball.
By Cait
April 7, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this
I agree with Elvis and nvisibleman. Give Fogg 4-5 starts, but I do think Belisle is better if he can get past the mid/late inning collapses. Kepp’s gotta stay in the lineup. Send Votto down until we can deal Hatte to someone, then Votto comes up and splits time at 1st with Kepp and Javy as matchups dictate.
By Richard
April 7, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
It seems like all you hear ,on talk radio and on this site, is why isn’t Baily in the rotation? Homer won’t make it to the majors, until he changes his attitude and so far he just doesn’t seem to get it and he may never get it, until it is to late for everyone involved, but he is still young.
By Brian
April 7, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
Uh, shouldn’t Belisle be getting single A hitters out? They’re single A players for a reason. Fogg pitched pretty well under pennant race and playoff pressure last season and he’s pitching at the bottom of the rotation. Take a deep breath and give Fogg a chance. He sounds like a good change of pace from the hard throwers in the rotation.
By Bob1
April 7, 2008 7:08 AM | Link to this
Love reading your insights, Hal. One problem, Sunday’s homer by Griffey wasn’t his 100th in a Cincinnati Reds uniform. It was his 100th homer in Cincinnati (the city).
By hij
April 7, 2008 6:35 AM | Link to this
I say what is the hurry to make changes when your winning. Let Fogg/Belisle stay another 3 weeks. Give EE/Votto the same as slow starters. Why not platoon Bako/Ross with Valentin as pinch hitter since his offense is his strength. I like the improvements when your team has Hopper/Freel/Hatteberg on your bench.
By nvisible man
April 7, 2008 2:48 AM | Link to this
I agree with Little Elvis — when Gonzo comes back, Kep plays part 3rd base, part 1st base while Votto goes down to Louisville until he starts hitting, or until WK gets someone he wants for Hatte. Think of it as getting Gonzo’s defense at shortstop while his offense replaces what they are currently getting from 1st/3rd base. It is an upgrade both ways. That also gives the team a chance to evaluate Kep at 3rd base, possibly making EE expendable in a trade. Actually, I think Votto goes down before Gonzo comes back —- when Ross gets activated. Javy becomes pinch hitter/extra 1st baseman/3rd catcher. When Gonzo comes back, Castro gets released with Freel the backup for the entire infield. As far as Belisle, it wouldn’t surprise me if he replaced Fogg. Dusty previously indicated he liked Belisle, and I could see him getting the nod. While he has a larger upside than Fogg, I just don’t trust him. He is too prone to ‘lapses’. I give Fogg the month of April —- leave Belisle in rehab for the full amount possible.
By Little Elvis
April 7, 2008 12:53 AM | Link to this
This is what will happen with Kepp….Votto will be heading to AAA since he has had some horrible at bats. Kepp will be playing 1st against LH starters, the moving to SS or 3B vs righties. He is in the 2 hle every day with EE and Gonzo losing some at bats. As for Fogg, you can’t get hitters out with 86mph fastballs and no plus pitch. He is a 5.00 era pitcher past his ‘prime’ and his baseball card proves it. Belisle at least still has some upside.
By ohdave
April 6, 2008 10:59 PM | Link to this
All in all, these are pretty good problems to have. Based on the early returns from Patterson, Cueto, Cordero, and Volquez, Krivsky deserves a lot of credit. None of those guys look like a fluke, and it looks like a fun year. Lost in the excitement about the pitching is that Patterson has been terrific leading off. He’s shown power and he’s managed to manufacture a couple of runs lately with good station to station play. Once Dunn and EE get going look out.
By Ted Lawson
April 6, 2008 9:00 PM | Link to this
I suppose it a good problem to have. Most certainly a different one for the Reds being they haven’t won in seven years. I’m not sure Ross should lose his starting job on account of being injured. I’m not for benching or trading Edwin. Keep Kep at short.
By Will
April 6, 2008 8:13 PM | Link to this
Why would you take EE out of the lineup? He may be struggling some, but by that logic, would you also bench Dunn? And what has Gonzalez done to earn the SS job over Keppinger? Keep Keppinger at SS for the time being, but don’t mess with EE. Eddie will be fine - he’s a slow starter, but he’ll get going and in September no one will remember that he started slowly.
By Y-City Jim
April 6, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this
Keeping Kepp’s bat in the line-up is easy. Gonzalez rides the bench. He has been unreliable due to health and family problems anyhow. Edwin just won a ball game for us the other night so why bench him? He’ll get hot soon enough. Tough call with Ross but Bako has to go down. We can’t do that three catcher stuff again.
By Kurt
April 6, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this
replace Edwin Encarnacion with Ryan Freel at 3rd,Keppinger will falter out anyways. Gonzales stays at SS, Beisle in place of Fogg. btw don’t we need 2 or more LHP’s, Mr. C needs to go shopping! as for Ross, he plays his position better than Bako in my opinion, plus he’ll get hot at the bat as the weather gets warmer, and he overcomes his injuries. Javi is a great alternate catcher and good off the bench for DH. keep him as well!
By Brick
April 6, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
I don’t know how you can take Kepp out when he’s batting .450. I don’t care where he plays just as long as he’s penciled in the 2-hole.
By Rich
April 6, 2008 3:41 PM | Link to this
You have to find a way to keep Keppinger’s bat in the line-up. He came up last year with a reputation of being a hitter, and he has only added to that reputation. I don’t think hurts us with us glove either. As for the other two issues, Bako is a solid defensive player, and I think we have enough offense to make up whatever short-comings he has offensively. Fogg is a body. Let Belisle and Bailey battle it out a couple of weeks and bring one of them up. In the meantime, go with a four-man rotation, and use Fogg as a spot-starter. Great job Reds with developing a solid four-man rotation.
By Deaner
April 6, 2008 3:35 PM | Link to this
Keppinger needs to stay in the lineup no matter what. I’d like to see him move to third, replacing EE, when Gonzalez comes back. Bako has done a terrific job handling the pitching staff and is a good defensive catcher. Even if his hitting slows down, I say keep Bako as the everyday catcher. As for Fogg, I’d like to see 3 or 4 more starts out of him before bringing Belise back up. Back to the catcher position… Hal, are the trade rumors for Gerald Laird dead?
By Dire Wolf
April 6, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
Hal: First a word about your blogging style: you’re the best. I read quite a few blogs, most are informative and entertaining. You are in a league by yourself. Your blogs read like complete, journalistic articles. Now, I don’t see how you can take Keppinger out of the lineup - platoon him at first against lefties, move him to third. Just leave him in the lineup. As for Ross, let’s see if he’s the 2006 or 2007 version before we put him out to pasture. Bako, remember, is 38 and a career backup. It makes sense to keep him on the roster, but if he’s our starting catcher, we’re in trouble.
By The ghost of Nuxie
April 6, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the mid game report. Very nice. A lot of questions to ask. Here is my two cents: With a team of free swingers, you must have keppinger in the lineup (SS, 3B, LF via trade?) Javy is a bench hitter and a double switch. Ross is just a free swinger on a team with too many free swingers. Bako is a good catcher with baseball smarts. Who cares if he cant hit. A good catcher makes your pitching better. Fogg. He was just a stop gap in case Cueto, Bailey, and/ or EV was not ready. Cueto looks good, EV looks good. Even Homer (I know you dont like him) looks good. I say dump Freel and add Beisle to the rotation with Fogg as your long man. I know you like Freel but Hopper is faster, a better bunter, and better in the outfield. What about Bruce? Bailey? Votto everyday? Glad to see the youngs one pushing there way up. Its been a long time!!!