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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 > 16 > Entry
Bring up somebody…anybody
General Manager Wayne Krivsky doesn’t have to scan his Louisville roster sheet, doesn’t have to make a call on his cellphone to Louisville Bats manager Rick Sweet to ask any questions, doesn’t have to see anything in person.
Matt Belisle or Homer Bailey? Homer Bailey or Matt Belisle. Or maybe even Justin Lehr. Or how about Daryl Thompson?
Anybody but Josh Fogg. Puh-leeze?
What the Cincinnati Reds didn’t need Wednesday night was Fogg trying to stop a four-game losing streak. Anybody but Fogg.
And it was awful. In just three innings, the Reds looked as if they had been run over by the Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line, down 10-1 and definitely out. Fogg was a mere wisp of a glimpse to the Wrigley Field fans, only two-plus innings. But the Cubs saw him as clearly as crystal chandeliers.
Ahem, clear your breath, and inhale this - two-plus innings, nine runs, seven hits, two walks, a hit batsman, a home run, four doubles and several maids a-milkin.’
They can’t possibly think about sending Fogg to the fore again, can they? Stick him in the bullpen and send Todd Coffey to Louisville for some polish and varnish.
And bring somebody up.
Bailey is 2-1 in three Louisville starts with a 1.42 ERA, losing a 1-0 game on a home run that bounced on top of the fence and over.
Belisle, pitching on rehab in three games at Class A Sarasota, Class AA Chattanooga and Class AAA Louisville is 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA. On Tuesday he pitched Louisville to a 4-1 win over Pawtucket, giving up one run and eight hits over seven innings with one walk and six strikeouts.
Heck, even Lehr. What’dya mean, EVEN Lehr? He was 2-0 last week at Louisville with a 0.60 ERA and was International League Pitcher of the Week.
Thomspon? Yeah, he’s only at Chattanooga, but he is burning down the bridges - 2-0 with a 0.51 ERA and Southern League Pitcher of the Week award in his portfolio.
And if that doesn’t happen, bring back Tom Browning.
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By Broadway
April 17, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
How can a “ballplayer” at any level of play,especially in the midst of a long losing streak—fail to be running when the pitch is made to the plate, on a 3-2 count, with two outs on the board? Anyone see Griffey loafing again on WGN? That is inexcusable. Admire as I do his lack of steroid use, and his records, as well as, the sweetest swing in history—his attitude on the bases sucks—as does his allowing too many catchable balls to drop in front of him. It is too often, glaringly apparent, that Mr. Griffey is no longer hungry for this game!
By Broadway
April 17, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
How can a “ballplayer” at any level of play,especially in the midst of a long losing streak—fail to be running when the pitch is made to the plate, on a 3-2 count, with two outs on the board? Anyone see Griffey loafing again on WGN? That is inexcusable. Admire as I do his lack of steroid use, and his records, as well as, the sweetest swing in history—his attitude on the bases sucks—as does his allowing too many catchable balls to drop in front of him. It is too often, glaringly apparent, that Mr. Griffey is no longer hungry for this game!
By Jack
April 17, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
Baker does deserve some blame. HE brought in Patterson. Without Patterson, we would see either a true leadoff hitter in Hopper or Bruce, the future of the team. Hal will eventually write the article that Bruce is coming, of course we will be 20 games under .500, and the question will be why was he not brought up sooner….that answer is Dusty. Is that the only problem, of course not Fogg sucks, Coffey sucks, but you certainly can blame Dusty.
By Herms Winning Hams
April 17, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
In fairness to Affeldt, he’s pitched well so far this year. In regards to Fogg, I’d rather see Homer Bailey or Matt Belisle getting beat up than Fogg. At least Bailey and Belisle have potential. We know what Fogg will do
By fenwah
April 17, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Another season, and here we are talking about the Reds needing pitching. I think this is what, 18 seasons in a row that I’ve complained about the lack of Reds pitching? I want to be a Reds fan, but they are making it hard. I refuse to spend any of my money on tickets if this pathetic team doesn’t do something about their pitching…and fast. Yikes!
By MAC
April 17, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Hal, essential all they’ve done is unloaded Milton and Stanley & add Affeldt & Fogg: 2 more just like them. About all they can do now is wait until some other team is in trouble and try to trade them. IMO, I’d add Coffee and yes, Weathers to the group as well. Noticed x-Red Germono continues to pitch well in SD
By middletown resident
April 17, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
It made me so mad to see Fogg chuckling and smiling after giving up that huge HR to D.Lee. Bring Belisle up.
By middletown resident
April 17, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
It made me so mad to see Fogg chuckling and smiling after giving up that huge HR to D.Lee. Bring Belisle up.
By chris
April 17, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
HEY im a former dayton reident now stuck in Pittsburgh went to game in Pittsburgh Dunn must go time to bring up Jay Bruce and Homer baliey
By chris
April 17, 2008 12:31 PM | Link to this
HEY im a former dayton reident now stuck in Pittsburgh went to game in Pittsburgh Dunn must go time to bring up Jay Bruce and Homer baliey
By Ben
April 17, 2008 12:11 PM | Link to this
I agree that Dusty is relying too much on has-beens from his former teams. Patterson shouldn’t be a leadoff hitter. Why get him when the Reds already had Jay Bruce, Hopper, Freel that could do just as well-if not better. Fogg is horrible and needs to go. When will the Reds learn not to sign crappy old pitchers that have never proved themselves. Didn’t we finally rid ourselves of Eric Milton???
By Pete
April 17, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
Hey Marvin — Didn’t ya watch the game last nite? SSDD w/ the exception of Phillips watching three - COUNT ‘EM 1 - 2 - 3 strikes go by. Then he’s got the nads to turn around & look @ the blue for ringin’ him up? I’ll admit that’s probably the 1st time I saw him NOT swing @ the 1st pitch. Got news for ya, Marvin. I can complain all I want, along w/ others, because early or not, it’s STILL the same junk OVER, & OVER, & OVER!
By rockieredsfan
April 17, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
I live in Colorado, and I knew it was a mistake for the Reds to sign Fogg. He was terrible with the Rockies except a few times when the Rockie bats were hot. I can recall a quote in our paper when Fogg was scheduled to start that he said to his team mates - “sorry guys”. That tells you he knows he isn’t very good! Dump him to AAA and bring up a more worthy pitcher.
By Marvin Pate
April 17, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
I love how Pete complains in one sentence about guys swinging at first and second pitches too much, then complains about Phillips not taking the bat off his shoulder. A five game skid is tough for any fan to be happy about, but it is April 17. Phillips and Edwin will get their hitting straight at some point, and I think we all knew Josh Fogg was the weak link in this rotation. This is what happens when unrealistic expectations are put on a team to start the season. The Reds are not a playoff team, but the young core will be in the next couple seasons. Again, it is April 17. Florida is in first place. KC is .5 game out of first place. It is way too early to hit the panic button.
By Eric the Red
April 17, 2008 11:00 AM | Link to this
Its real simple. Patterson at leadoff doesnt work, and Hopper is the closest thing we have to a fix. We cant have someone there who is going to make 3-4 outs per game. EE can not play. He will be the same player 3 years from now, so it is time to dump him. He is Willie Green. Fogg is done. Trade him, release him, whatever. Coffey must be sent down. Its time to realize that he was a 3 month fluke. Bring up Bailey for the rotation, and give Belisle the spot in the pen. The only problem I have with Dusty s that he continues to run out Patterson. Other than this, these are Krivsky issues. At some point we need to realize that this is not fantasy baseball, which is where players like Patterson and EE can look good. They do not win real games.
By Pete
April 17, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this
YEP!! BAKER IS THAT AWFUL! He doesn’t know how to set his lineup to so that they benefit one other, let alone help the pitching staff. In defense of Steven, Baker doesn’t hit. He’s not the one swinging @ all of the 1st & 2nd pitches to make hacks like Gorzalonny look like Cy Young. & oh the way, can Phillips take the stinkin’ bat off of his shoulder? This is where Baker’s gotta step in & get in their rear ends about plate discipline. But that’s not gonna happen. I’ll continue to say this…. “Mark it down, folks. This team won’t finish @ or above .500 this year — AGAIN!”
By Deaner
April 17, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
Josh Fogg is horrible… Dusty Baker is NOT!
By Steven Ross
April 17, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
Dusty Baker is awful? Does he pitch or hit? Last time I looked…nope! Does he make baserunning gaffs like EE did off 3B last night? Ahhh..no. Baker’s not the problem. Nobody is hitting! Hello! As I said, the team which came north out of ST will look nothing like the team in June. The winds of change are blowing—-hurricane force!!
By Mr. Redlegs
April 17, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
Fifteen games into the season and Baker is just horrible, just awful, just pitiful? What lineup do you have that doesn’t include bunching left-handed batters, or stacking players who aren’t in slumps? What are you people gonna complain about for the next 147 games? The lack of Oreos to go with those maidens a-milkin’? This ain’t fantasy baseball. You have ride out these things.
By null
April 17, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this
As it was, he used Mike Lincoln, Jeremy Affeldt, Ken Mercker, David Weathers and Francisco Cabrera. Who is Cabrera?
By tom
April 17, 2008 7:25 AM | Link to this
Dusty Baker is awful and this is a sorry team!
By Miss Baseball
April 16, 2008 11:22 PM | Link to this
No, Bruce was pulled with a shoulder injury.
By Kyle
April 16, 2008 10:34 PM | Link to this
As I said before, Dusty Baker was the worst move the Reds made in the off season. I know, I know. He doesn’t bat, he doesn’t pitch. But he sets the lineup. He puts Fogg out there against the Cubs ace. He runs the same sorry line up out there with the “veterans” and his buddies from the old days. Oh, well, it’s only 15 games…That’s going to be a really sorry song come 30 games and we’re 12 games or more back.
By sarasota steve
April 16, 2008 10:21 PM | Link to this
Jay Bruce was pulled in the 7th in Louisville a double shrt of the cycle. Is he in centerfield tomorrow in Cinci?
By ohdave
April 16, 2008 9:39 PM | Link to this
Josh Fogg was terrible, but no worse than the pathetic Reds hitters over the past week. How about some AAA hitters, too?