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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > April > 29 > Entry
Of erors and mstkes
To Reds Authority (and other malcontents):
I wanted to send this message to you personally, Reds Authority, but you have your e-mail blocked (big surprise).
As for errors and mistakes on the blog, permit me some explanation. First of all, the blog is added work, something I love to do, but added work nonetheless - done in addition to what I write for the paper.
So, for example, when I could have left the press box at midnight Monday, I stayed to write the Arroyo/Encarnacion blog and got back to the hotel at 1 a.m. I have no editors. I write it and post it. I do it quickly so I can get it out there to you folks.
On Tuesday, I had lunch then went back to the hotel and wrote the Phillips blog and sent it before I went to the ballpark for my regular work.
As I said, I love doing it and I do it to try to inform and entertain, provide some insight and some material that doesn’t make the paper.
If there are errors and typos, I apologize. I don’t do it on purpose.
It kind of aggravates me, though - all the sniping and sometimes it makes me wonder if it is worth the extra effort. For 98 percent of you, it is worth it to me. It’s the two percenters who pick, pick, pick that make me think I should abandon and stick to the newspaper.
I don’t get paid extra to blog two or three times a day. I just love to do it. Then I read the comments and cringe.
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Comments
By Dan
May 2, 2008 11:59 PM | Link to this
I ejnoy yuor bolg vrey mcuh. Tahnks fr pu tting in the exxtra time Hal.By Petey in LA
May 1, 2008 1:51 AM | Link to this
Great blog - keep up the great work, Hal!By Mr. Redlegs
April 30, 2008 5:13 PM | Link to this
For more on this subject and the issue of bitter Reds bloggers see my post at www.myspace.com/goredlegsBy Ryan
April 30, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Hal, Great blog. I thank Reds Authority for nitpicking because we get a great satirical response like this! Great to hear you on the radio last night with Marty and Thom. Wish you could BS with them all game long!By Ken
April 30, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this
Hal - your time is definately worth it. Like many others outside of Ohio (in my case Las Vegas), this blog and your DDN columns are how I follow the Reds since they are play while I’m at work and typically aren’t on TV anyway. I’m sure 99.9% of us are reading this for the content, not for a grammar lesson!By TJ
April 30, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
The same people complaining about your blogs are the people that skipped out on free opening day tickets because their high school english teachers would get pissed off at them for missing class. Keep up the good work, Hal! I doubt any of that 2% grammar-gestopo will find their busts in Coopertown any time soon.By Eric
April 30, 2008 12:44 PM | Link to this
Hal—I have never posted a response to a blog in my life, but I felt compelled to join with the others and make sure you know that you are very appreciated. This is, by far, the best Reds coverage out there and your personal notes and behind-the-scenes perspective on this blog can’t be found anywhere else. Thanks for all your efforts!By Greg in London
April 30, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
This blog IS “The greatest thing since sliced bread!” Where else are you going to hear the back stories, the insights of a professional writer, and the snippets that never make it in the paper? Keep up the Good work, Hal!By Chef Rahn
April 30, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
Mr. McCoy, I love the blog, hate the nitpickers, and I REALLY do appreciate the time and effort on your part. Besides, even with the odd typo or two, your comments are easily understood. The 98 percent of us could spend the rest of our waking hours shouting down the other 2 percent, but then that would just ruin the blog for everyone. In a word, keep up the good work and don’t let the bastards get you down.By Mouse
April 30, 2008 11:40 AM | Link to this
Hal, Keep doing what you’re doing. I enjoy reading your blog more than the games recaps. Don’t let the whiners bring you down. Type your blog as fast as you can and enjoy the rest of your evenings.By J.R.
April 30, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
Please do not stop writing this blog Hal!!! I look forward to reading every piece of information that comes out of tht steel trap of a brain of yours!! I love your writing style and quite frankly, your writing is the ONLY redeeming quality of this dishrag they call the Dayton Daily News. Keep it up, I love your blog, errors or not.By Broadway
April 30, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
It is apparent, Hal, you are greatly appreciated! Keep on— writing on!By Cait
April 30, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
Like I said, errors usually occur when working fast - or typing fast while at work. My previous comment - that should have been your, not you’re. Ha!By Cait
April 30, 2008 10:32 AM | Link to this
I’m with the 98%, too, Hal. I do notice the mistakes - I was in the newspaper buisness for 16 years & have edited hundreds of stories, even in the best efforts, errors will slip through, especially when you’re working fast to meet deadlines. So, yes, some of us see the mistakes, but most of us don’t care. We want you’re insight, Hal. Keep up the good work.By John
April 30, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
Hal, Please do not let the two percenters bother you. We love you and look forward to your daily (and if we are luck, more than once daily) blog(s).By Indy
April 30, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
This is far and away my favorite Reds blog. Thank you much for the extra work you put in on it. Don’t let the haters bring you down. Pointing out grammatical mistakes is the first line of defense on the Internet when you know you’re up against someone more clever than you.By Indy
April 30, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
This is far and away my favorite Reds blog. Thank you much for the extra work you put in on it. Don’t let the haters bring you down. Pointing out grammatical mistakes is the first line of defense on the Internet when you know you’re up against someone more clever than you.By eric
April 30, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this
Hal - you’re awesome! Don’t listen to the idiot nit-pickers!!By Kris
April 30, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Hal, I’m just repeating the theme here, but I love reading what you have to say and obviously so do most others. The amount of garbage on here doesn’t come close to the crap on John Fay’s blog, thankfully. Stick with it Hal. I visit almost every day and I look forward to it. You provide great insight and anyone who misses that due to an occasional typo needs to get a life.By Fisch
April 30, 2008 9:11 AM | Link to this
Does this mean Frank Howard is still with the Jays then? I’m so confused…. Hal=AwesomeBy Rick
April 30, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this
the second thing I do in the morning after after I read my emails is read your blog— for info and insight not grammatical perfection— I appreciate your efforts— please continue.By brad
April 30, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
please continue hal, we love the extra stuff , dont care about the complainers nobody pays any attention to them anyway. you are the best and we would miss your insight and behind closed doors info thanx againBy KEVIN CROWE
April 30, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
KEEP IT COMING THE WAY IT IS, IT’S PERFECTBy KEVIN CROWE
April 30, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this
KEEP IT COMING THE WAY IT IS, IT’S PERFECTBy KEVIN CROWE
April 30, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this
KEEP IT COMING THE WAY IT IS, IT’S PERFECTBy Brian
April 30, 2008 7:30 AM | Link to this
Once again, idiots trying to ruin a great thing. Ignore them, they are not worthy of any type of response. I for one am very content and look forward to reading the blogs everyday. Keep up the good work Hal. The true fans greatly appreciate all your hard work. See you soon! B.By Nick
April 30, 2008 6:22 AM | Link to this
Keep it up. I enjoy the blog and read it prior to reading the newspaper story. Count me in the 98 percent.By ShockMonkey
April 30, 2008 6:11 AM | Link to this
Having done blogs, I agree: it’s WORK! But don’t get discouraged Hal! It’s the added effort which counts and we appreciate yours. Let’s put it in writing terms: your blog is better than the Enquirer’s! smileBy Bill Lawrence
April 30, 2008 1:35 AM | Link to this
Hal posts the blogs under his own name. If you are such an authority on baseball or anything else, please post your real name.By ChicagoRed
April 30, 2008 12:25 AM | Link to this
Hal — The blog is great, I check multiple times per day. Keep ‘em coming!By Mark
April 30, 2008 12:22 AM | Link to this
Three words for you, Jerk Authority: HALL OF FAMEBy Reds Authority
April 29, 2008 11:44 PM | Link to this
Meant to say DH “Frank Howard”…but my point still stands. It of course was Frank THOMAS.By Reds Authority
April 29, 2008 11:38 PM | Link to this
First, allow me to say that I appreciate Hal and his work. I’ve been a LONG-TIME reader and fan. Seriously! While I can forgive grammar, spelling, typos etc. on a BLOG (I make many mistakes myself when I’m writing rushed emails/messages etc.), it is hard for me to forgive the same in formal newspaper print and posts of the same on the DDN web site. I guess what I’m seeing are errors that increasing in frequency and regularity. A great example… It was Brandon Phillips who was hit by the line drive while running to 2nd and NOT “Ken Griffey, Jr.”. This was in the actual NEWSPAPER STORY and not “the blog”. And remember Toronto’s release of pitcher “Frank Howard”??? Just saying…By Gerry
April 29, 2008 11:37 PM | Link to this
I love your blogs. Keep ‘em coming!!By Mr. Redlegs
April 29, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this
To add a little editorial brevity, a common belief is that because someone works in print they are perfect spellers, grammarians and don’t make mistakes. Au contraire. You would not believe the copy that rolls in from some of the best writers in the country. Editors, fact-checkers and then the copy desk usually saves face. But on sports’ night deadlines with an undermanned copy desk handling multiple live staff stories, mistakes slip through. Happens every day. As for blogs, there’s a general sense of informality about them but certainly readers still expect the newspaper writers to be “clean” with their copy. Okay, but it’s really, really not that important. It’s the message, the storyline that matters—and you seriously must consider the amazing pressure and amount of work the beat guys are under from around 8 o’clock forward. There’s very few people here who can handle that kind of workload under such pressure on a daily basis. Coupled with Hal’s vision—in which he has a very difficult time seeing the print on this blog—and that big honking Hall of Fame ring he has on his hand, he’s earned some latitude. But you have to admit … Frank Howard? I had to laugh. Good one, Hal.By Jim
April 29, 2008 11:13 PM | Link to this
Hey Hal, don’t let a few jerks on here ruin what you love to do. Trust me, I hear it too, it’s just the nature of the business we are in. Keep up the great work!By Jim
April 29, 2008 11:13 PM | Link to this
Hey Hal, don’t let a few jerks on here ruin what you love to do. Trust me, I hear it too, it’s just the nature of the business we are in. Keep up the great work!By Jim
April 29, 2008 11:12 PM | Link to this
Hey Hal, don’t let a few jerks on here ruin what you love to do. Trust me, I hear it too, it’s just the nature of the business we are in. Keep up the great work!By Stone
April 29, 2008 10:36 PM | Link to this
Great job Hal, you are one in a million. No one important cares about typos in a blog anyway. Heck, just look at the improper English in most people’s comments! No worries man, just blame it on one too many beers at the ballpark after digesting a few hot dogs. Have another!By Mike
April 29, 2008 10:09 PM | Link to this
The “Reds Authority” and the other 2% who find fault with your work just prove some folks have zero class. They must be miserable to everyone. You do a great job and real baseball fans appreciate it. Thanks.By Nate
April 29, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
I know it sounds like a broken record after reading other comments, but thank you Hal. Here in Ft. Lauderdale I rely on XM radio to listen to the games and your blogs for true insights behind the scenes. The blog is meant for those of us who can’t get to the stadium and are intrigued by what goes on behind the scenes. I always looked forward to reading your Sunday tidbits, but now am addicted to your daily blog.By Mike
April 29, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
Hal, I for one appreciate the work you do on your blog. It’s not meant to be edited in the way that an article in the newspaper is edited. It is basically real time reporting. The newspaper business has always been a very rough first draft of history. It is that now more than ever.By MRW
April 29, 2008 9:48 PM | Link to this
Hal, you are the best. Kyle is correct (I’m a teacher as well)Don’t give jerks like Reds authority the a second thought, they don’t deserve your time or effort. We all know an idiot when we read one.By Brian from Columbus
April 29, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this
Hal, I can understand why people bicker so much. It’s because they are Cincinnati Reds fans. I log on to the MLB Gamecast chat and to RedsZone, a popular blog site where regular fans can post whatever they want about the Reds. Unfortunately, too many people are way too negative about the Reds and I’m sick of it. The fact that the same people are criticizing you bothers me, but doesn’t surprise me. So I feel your pain. I for one, appreciate your blog, as I have it on my favorites list and visit often to see any updates about my team. Thank you and keep up the great work.By Trace
April 29, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this
Hal, I am a die hard fan now living in Colorado and am so happy that you take the time to provide so much great info and insight. I read the blog every day (3-4 times per day) I never comment but just had to today to let you know how much your talent and humor mean to me….By David Whitehead
April 29, 2008 9:17 PM | Link to this
I enjoy your insight and can read right past any typos. Occassional factual errors are just part of the pace, sort of like a missed call by an ump. This blog is bonus material as far as I am concerned. Keep up the good work. P.S. I especially enjoy you on the radio during the 2nd inning. Wish it was more often.By sun deck lover
April 29, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this
“Reds Authority”?! What paper are you covering the Reds for? I’m not sure what you do for a living, but please make sure to let us all know if you ever are afflicted by something health related so that we can offer criticism instead of encouragement.Especially if you try something new after 35 years just to keep up with the changing demographics of fans.Get a clue and a life.Outside of Marty, nobody in the state of Ohio offers as much insight (and humor)on the game of baseball as Hal.Also,since you are such an authority and obviously read all of his material, you will recall that Hal addressed the issue of not editing blogs just earlier this month. Keep it up Hal! I’m a content.By Kyle
April 29, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
Hal, please don’t bother with the malcontents. Let us rip them. Please, we enjoy ripping them. I’m a teacher and deal with this every year. There’s always a couple of kids in class that have the ability to ruin the entire year. It is a battle to make sure that I enjoy the 23 great kids without letting the 2 twerps drain all of my energy. Seriously, Hal, don’t bother with them. This is at least two blogs you’ve had to waste on them.By got milk
April 29, 2008 9:09 PM | Link to this
Hal, thanks for the insights the blog provides. And thanks to you or whoever moderates the posts. The amount of crap that gets posted here pales in comparison to other Reds blogs. And please don’t let the malcontents among the posters keep you from enjoying your work any more than you let the malcontents among the ballplayers keep you from enjoying your reporting. Think where you’d be if you let Lefty Carlton ruin your enjoyment of covering MLB.By Mr. Redlegs
April 29, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
Oh, c’mon, Hal. Off with thar heads! You don’t owe anyone an explanation.By joe stokes
April 29, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
Hal, you’re doing great, don’t let unhappy people get to you. Some just need to criticize and complain to make themselves feel important. You’re great, love your work!By joe stokes
April 29, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
Hal, your’re doing great, don’t let unhappy people get to you. Some just need to criticize and complain to make themselves feel important. You’re great, love your work!By California Reds Fan
April 29, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this
I hope you don’t get too discouraged. I depend upon your blog and articles to give me insight I cannot get out here in California about the Reds. I don’t set the same standard for a blog that I look for in the newspaper articles. It is the more free-flowing thought which goes into the blog which makes it so engaging and entertaining. Don’t change a thing!