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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 > July > 10 > Entry
It’s Homer vs. C.C. on Sunday
Some nuggets while awaiting the outcome this afternoon of the MRI on Aaron Harang’s forearm:
HOMER BAILEY will start Sunday against the Milwaukee Brewers and C.C. Sabathia. GM Walt Jocketty talked with Louisville manager Rick Sweet, pitching coach Ted Power and director of player development Terry Reynolds for their opinions.
It was Bailey over Daryl Thompson, even though Thompson pitched a good one Tuesday against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (love that nickname) — six innings, one run, five hits.
“We sent Thompson back down to work on some things,” said Jocketty, a reason not to bring him back yet. You don’t want a pitcher working on things in a major-league game.
“They tell me Homer is throwing the ball good down there,” said manager Dusty Baker. “All I see are statistics and that never tells the whole story. That’s why we checked with Sweet, Power and Reynolds.”
Bailey might be pitching well, but he isn’t getting results. He hasn’t won a game anywhere since April 27 for Louisville (0-3 in four starts with the Reds this year) and that winless stretch covers 13 starts.
“Well, he is certainly due,” said Baker with a sly smile.
BAKER, BY THE WAY, was an excellent major-league hitter but he said Thursday that Wrigley Field was his least favorite park, mostly because they played all day games then.
“I grew up in Sacramento and it was so hot most of our games were at night,” he said. “I could see the stitches and the rotation better at night. I couldn’t see nothin’ here in Wrigley. And because the ‘400’ sign on the center field wall is off center, more to the right, it always appeared to me that the mound was off kilter, more to the left than straight ahead.”
ADAM DUNN received a phone call shortly after C.C. Sabathia was traded to Milwaukee by the Cleveland Indians. Now that he is in the National League, Sabathia has to hit — and is a good hitter.
“Do you believe it? He called me and asked for some of my bats,” said Dunn. “I told him, ‘No way.’ He wanted me to bring some to Milwaukee. Why, so he could use ‘em on us? I didn’t pack the kind he likes.”
Sabathia took one of Dunn’s bats when the Indians were in Cincinnati and later hit a 400-foot home run with it.
WHAT I HEARD from Ken Griffey Jr. in a 10-minute chat Thursday morning in the pre-game clubhouse:
“When I made that dive Tuesday trying to catch Aramis Ramirez’s triple, I didn’t hurt myself, but I think I left my spleen out there.
“I’ve only flown commercially three times since 1996 (the team flies charters and Griffey has a time share in a private aircraft for his personnel journeys).
“Do you think we can mix in a ‘W’ today?
“Let’s introduce C.C. Sabathia to the National League the right way Sunday.”
OK, SO MAYBE some of you should have asked your grandfathers what a gonfalon is? It is a flag, as in a pennant. A team tries to win the gonfalon.
YEAH, I’m old, real old.
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By Wizard
July 13, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this
wizard
By Matt
July 11, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this
I don’t think he has stunk it up in RF this year, at least not according to the stats. Griffey is not horrible, he is average, at this stage of his career. He should not be batting third in that lineup for sure. But he does get on base enough, be it by walk, home run, etc.) to justify being in the lineup. Also, once again, a player making his salary is not going to be riding the bench. Hate to bust your bubble, but that’s just how it is. At the end of this season Junior will be gone most likely, and then you can find someone else on this ball club to pick apart every chance you get.
By wizard
July 11, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
Go back and look at all of the base hits {this year} which landed in front of your poor excuse for a right fielder; because he has to play with his back to the right field wall—so nothing can get over his head! Nice acrobatic-hernia-creating dive for the ball{he missed by ten feet}the other day! He’s horrible— today, tomorrow, and forever! If you can’t see that MANY other players present a much better option—offensively and defensively today, tomorrow and forever—then my friend you are the ignorant dummy.He is only playing because of his past—not because he is the best option. Don’t forget my words while you watch the train continue to wreck in right field and at the plate during the rest of this season!
By D8Nken
July 11, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
The numbers tell it all. LF, RF, 3B, and 1B are hitters positions. These are the players that should carry your offense. The batting averages the Reds have playing these positions are .226, .239, .248, and .284. We can talk all we want about “professional at bats” and walks all we want but those numbers are the reason this team is having trouble scoring runs. Period.
By Y-City Jim
July 11, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this
Isn’t their a name for when two sides argue with no hope of convincing the other? I think it is called some kind of a contest? I think it starts with the letter “P” and ends in “ing.” Sort of has a hissing sound to it.
By Matt
July 11, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this
Griffey is a “liability” in RF defensively? I think not. He’s not the greatest RF in the game right now for sure. But a liability? No. He makes the plays he’s supposed to and SOME of the plays which require a little something extra. Griffey is not hurting the team by being in the lineup every day. The example I gave on Sunday is a fine example of that. And again, his mere presence in the lineup causes the opposing manager to have a different strategy. Can’t say that about most players. If you honestly think that Griffey contributes nothing to this team then you really are ignorant.
By Matt
July 11, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this
Griffey is a “liability” in RF defensively? I think not. He’s not the greatest RF in the game right now for sure. But a liability? No. He makes the plays he’s supposed to and SOME of the plays which require a little something extra. Griffey is not hurting the team by being in the lineup every day. The example I gave on Sunday is a fine example of that. And again, his mere presence in the lineup causes the opposing manager to have a different strategy. Can’t say that about most players. If you honestly think that Griffey contributes nothing to this team then you really are ignorant.
By MAC
July 11, 2008 1:12 AM | Link to this
Nice win for the Reds and great news for Harang today. Interesting to note that EE made another error(his 14th) that lead to two runs scoring, yet I notice very few comments on it. It’s not that I’m a huge fan of Dunn and want to make excuses for his poor Def (I don’t); I just don’t think it’s fair? to jump on the negative Dunn bandwagon and ignore everyone else’s miscues. Even w/ Dunn’s mistake, it took another hit to score the runner. Bako’s passed ball SCORED a run and EE’s lead to 2 runs scoring. Similarly, Votto made an “easy” two out error last homestand that lead to 2 runs scoring in a 6-3 game that nearly cost them a win; where’s the equal outrage?
By wizard
July 11, 2008 12:46 AM | Link to this
I love his successes. But hate the fact that they are too few, and far between! Someone else has said, there are AAA players who could put up the same results as he has.I think better results. I am so sick of watching him ground out in crucial at bats—largely because of the shift—when he tries to pull EVERYTHING! Another player wouldn’t get that shift—meaning a better chance for a hit, as they would be playing their normal position. Griffey will not quit trying to pull the ball—and as a result has hurt the Reds—because a base hit to left would have continued rallies. I respect him as a man/father/husband—I’m totally against his playing everyday; as I am totally against Dunn playing here next year, unless he is willing to play first base, so Votto, a better outfielder can strengthen our team in the outfield. I would rather guess I’ve been a Reds fan longer than yourself—which is why I hate it when we hurt our chances of winning—which Griff playing everyday, does. And, I haven’t even talked about his back-to-the-wall defensive liability.
By Matt
July 11, 2008 12:20 AM | Link to this
No, I submit that it IS something personal. He has come up in clutch situations for this team THIS year. No, his numbers aren’t great. He’s 38 years old! All MLB players aren’t like Barry Bonds who get better as they get older, as in late 30’s, early 40’s older. Most players’ skills decline with age, and Griffey is no exception. He has helped this team this year. If you were a true fan of the Reds you would know that and appreciate it.
By wizard
July 11, 2008 12:06 AM | Link to this
This team needs RBI’s now—not ten years ago. We aren’t scoring any runs, and Griffey is one of the BIG reasons for that.Your defense of his HISTORY, doesn’t help this team at all today. We are concerned with TODAY’S results—the PAST THREE MONTHS!Just because a pitcher hits his bat occassionally, doesn’t mean his HOF credentials are anything other than past glories! He isn’t deserving of being in this lineup everyday; and certainly not deserving with a .238 average of hitting in the #3 spot.As others have said, more eloquently than I—we don’t hate the man—we hate the results!
By Matt
July 10, 2008 11:51 PM | Link to this
I’m not going to sit here and rehash every at-bat and defensive play of the season with you Wizard. Was he “embarrassing himself” when he hit # 600? What about when he hit his walk-off home runs that he’s hit? What about his patience at the plate and professional at-bats? Is he embarrassing himself then? Case in point; Sunday’s game against the Nationals, 4th inning. Phillips hits a single with two outs. Griffey walks after a very good, professional AB. Up comes Dunn, who promptly ties the game up with a 3 run bomb. Had it not been for Junior walking right there, Dunn wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do what he did. Griffey’s mere presence in the lineup causes managers to have a different strategy. Him being in the lineup means the guys right in front of him in the order and behind him in the batting order get pitches to hit, as Dunn did on Sunday.
By wizard
July 10, 2008 11:45 PM | Link to this
Two contacts with the baseball in three months—terrific!Has really impressed in that third spot! It doesn’t matter what he did ten years ago!It’s about his failures NOW!
By wizard
July 10, 2008 11:35 PM | Link to this
AND…go on…????What else has he done this year—besides embarrass himself?
By Matt
July 10, 2008 11:17 PM | Link to this
The Griffey bashers seem to have a very selective memory. They remember what they want to remember, and everything else is nonexistent, at least according to them. They don’t appreciate the fact that we have a Hall of Famer out in RF playing for our hometown Reds. Someday they will, though. The best things are always most appreciated when they’re gone, and I don’t believe Junior is any exception. Go down to the ballpark by the river now and see Griff while you can, because it won’t be too long before # 3 will be out of Cincinnati and on his way to the HOF. It’s interesting though, I bet all the Griffey haters on here could tell you the exact date and time and second of all of Griffey’s injuries, but they couldn’t tell you hardly any of his achievements or successes. Why? Because they sit back and wait for Griffey to fail so they can rag on him. How sad and how pathetic.
By John
July 10, 2008 9:41 PM | Link to this
Wizard: I seem to remember Griffey hitting a walk-off game-winning homerun against the Pirates just last week, to help them to their only victory against the Pirates. But hey, my memory could be a little fuzzy.
By Dennis Cossens
July 10, 2008 8:19 PM | Link to this
Mr. McCoy, if you remember “Tinker to Evers to Chance” you are real old! Love your blog…
By bigdoc1
July 10, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this
p.s.—Of course, Pete was 45 when he was doing this! He hit .331 for the Phils in ‘79 when he was 38.
By bigdoc1
July 10, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this
‘coach’—I seem to recall Mr. Rose batting himself in rather prominent spots long after his production was very low.
By Y-City Jim
July 10, 2008 5:48 PM | Link to this
Junior made a Cubs fan spill their beer on his HR. What more could a Reds fan ask for?
By Wizard
July 10, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
John: Exactly what else has Griffey done to help this team be successful previous to today? The game is played nearly every day!
By John
July 10, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this
Griffey today: 2 for 4 with a 3-run dinger, 4 RBIs, and a Walk. Yeah, he’s washed up. Trade the bum. (roll eyes)
By Coach
July 10, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Why is it, that I think in the 7th inning, 11-7 may not be enough?
By Matthew Daniels
July 10, 2008 4:42 PM | Link to this
I made a disrespectful mistake in my previous post implying that Mr. McCoy bore any responsibility for not pushing Mr. Baker about Griffey batting 3rd. That is not a real journalist’s job and I apologize.
By bones
July 10, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
Baseball is the only sport in the world that looks at what you did 10 years ago and applies it to your play today. On most teams Griffey would be riding the pine if you look at what he is doing not what he has done. He’s washed up.
By coach
July 10, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
Betcha Pete Rose wouldn’t hit Griffey third! Before that—Pete would hit third!And, even at his age now—I bet he’d make BETTER CONTACT!
By rob
July 10, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
Bailey hasn’t exactly been put in spots to win with the Reds. Granted, he stunk up the place twice. But vs. Cole Hamels and Josh Beckett? Now, CC Sabathia on the road? That’s tough for any pitcher let alone a struggling 22 year old.
By Jack
July 10, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
On the same note as Matthew Daniels, wouldnt it make more sense for Griffey to bat fifth? I have to assume that the great majority of Dunn’s home runs are solo shots because Junior and Phillips are not getting on base enough. Why not have Dunn bat with runners on and be protected by Phillips and Junior?
By Matthew Daniels
July 10, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Mr. McCoy, I’m hoping that you, out of all the journalists that cover the Reds, would be the one to finally ask Mr. Baker why in the hell Griffey is still batting third. Has he ever offered a reason why the team is in the bottom of both leagues from that spot in the order, aside from the fact that Junior was great once upon a time? I am baffled, as I know many, many others are. Please ask him. Please.