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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 > September > 17 > Entry
Harang treats Cardinals like dogs
They didn’t set off fireworks after each of three home runs the Cincinnati Reds hit in the fourth inning Wednesday.
They didn’t want the SPCA all over their backs. With about 400 canines in the stands on Bark in the Park Night, they didn’t want to frighten the pooches.
But when two bozos leaped out of the stands and led security on a not-so-merry chase, they should have let the dogs out - all of them. Let ‘em chase the goofballs.
The power outage plaguing much of Ohio was not evident — especially in the fourth inning.
The Cincinnati Reds, hitless through three innings against St. Louis starter Todd Wellemeyer, plugged in three solo home runs in the fourth by third baseman Andy Phillips (2), right fielder Jay Bruce (19) and shortstop Paul Janish (1).
And they needed an extension cord to find Bruce’s 438-foot blast that crashed against the black batter’s eye in center.
That’s all Aaron Harang needed to push his record to 5-16, his sixth straight quality start, but only his second win in those six starts.
The home run by Phillips leading off the fourth was all Harang really needed, and it soothed Phillips, who struck out in the first with a runner on second to end the inning, then made a throwing error to start the top of the second.
“What I was excited about was getting Aaron some run support, because he has really pitched his tail off the last six outings and he didn’t have a lot to show for it,” said Phillips.
“For us to be able to put up those three runs in one inning, the way he was pitching, was huge,” Phillips added.
Of his first-inning strikeout and second-inning error, Phillips said, “That was ridiculous, the way I started out — striking out with a runner in scoring position and throwing the ball away. I’m thinking, ‘You have to be kidding.’ “
Harang gave up singles to the first two Cardinals to open the game, then coaxed a double play out of Albert Pujols and coasted the rest of the way — only four more hits as the Cardinals lost for the seventh straight time.
“I knew he would try to drive something and also knew if I made a good pitch that I had a good shot of getting out of the inning,” said Harang. “I threw a slider down and away and the big thing was that it was down.”
Most of Harang’s 111 pitches were down enough that the Cardinals needed shovels to him them as he pitched the team’s second complete game.
It isn’t culture shock when Bruce homers, but it is for Phillips and Janish. Phillips was a late replacement for Edwin Encarnacion (sore left wrist) and Janish was a playing because it was look-see day for him, a rare start to see how he does.
He was called up for a little more than a month in May and sent back in June and manager Dusty Baker said, “He belonged in Louisville to learn in the first place. He was here because we had everybody hurt.
“You want all young guys to learn from that experience,” Baker added. “What happens is they learn how to pitch to you rather quickly. Now we see what kind of adjustments he has made.”
Of Wednesday’s lineup, Baker said, “I’m trying to win games, respect the guys who have been here all year and play the young guys. It’s hard to do all three, but we’ve balanced it pretty good.”
Janish’s home run was his first in the majors and he called it, “An awesome feeling, even if it did hit the top of the wall and bounce over. I hadn’t had an at-bat in awhile, but for some reason I saw the ball real good tonight.”
Janish said he feels more comfortable, more as if he belongs, than his first call-up.
“I was emotionally driven when I came up for the first time and it was awesome,” he said. “I started hot, then the second half — the last three weeks — I struggled pretty bad.
“This time I’m more relaxed and accustomed to being in a big-league clubhouse,” he added. “The first time you’re called up and you see Ken Griffey Jr. in the clubhouse, it is something to adjust to.”
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Comments
By jsc
September 21, 2008 2:05 AM | Link to this
And Mo, I will be doubling your cancellation of Aunt Dopey’s (donb51) vote. Gee, I wonder if she knows its a B-52 and not a b51 … Hmmmmmmm … probably just another of her misspellings.By Mo
September 21, 2008 12:26 AM | Link to this
Don51: Most people don’t ridicule any service people—they ridicule the ideology of Imperialism and occupation of sovereign nations/ They ridicule calling opponents of the war in Iraq—“unpatriotic”!They ridicule hiding American coffins when they come home from the “free” press, we used to have! They ridicule candidates for president who say:”I know how to win wars”—when, in fact John McSame NEVER did win ANY war! John McCain was the first to say he was “tied up”—and as we all know, he says it whenever he can’t respond adequately to another issue—it’s called deception, I do believe. Because of your vote for “W”, the next President {whomever it is}won’t be able to do anything about our health care/infrastructure/ and so many other things, because there will be no money for it. However, if Mr. Obama gets in that will be the only way that the trillions going to Iraq, will start to help our country—because he, unlike McCain and his warrior princess, will find a better way than attacking those who don’t agree with us. What a concept! Oh, and Eisenhower also warned America to: “Beware of the Military-Industrial complex”! Noticed today that McSame has changed his mind three times now, as to whether he is for or against regulation—seems you people only believe in “socialism” when it benefits YOU!Hypocrites! John was for it before he was against it…Military action with the surge was NEVER supposed to be about lessening violence in Iraq{ of course it would do that}—it was supposed to be about the different factions of government in Iraq, coming together to solve their differences!!! McSame keeps lying about this fact. Based on the REAL reason for the surge it was a failure—because the “coming together” HAS NOT HAPPENED!This will be my last comment on this —just wanted you to know I will be cancelling your vote Nov. 4th!By HuberTucky
September 20, 2008 10:40 PM | Link to this
Huh? I never insulted any servicemen, clown. Show me exactly where you saw that — NOT! Gads, you’re as delusional as the blog hog/cop-child. Now go back under “your” bridge and study a dictionary & try correct spelling, ya fool.By donb51
September 20, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this
HuberTucky, Insult American Serviceman, and I will blog, a*s jack. You, and your JSC buddies don’t handle a candle to even a raw recruit, and you certainly are no savant about anything - brar. You were involved with this whole thing, agitator, so go back to your trailor.By HuberTucky
September 20, 2008 3:40 PM | Link to this
donb51, you’ve just proven yourself certifiably loonier than our late blog hog cop-child. you are really overboard. you’ve ranted on about a whole lot of nothing. take a chill pill. this is NOT a political blog, jack@ss.By donb51
September 20, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
Hal, indulge me, please, one more time, this time to defend some things that should not change - and that is the appreciation we have for those that defend this country. Ridiculing our military traditions, heritage and heros is not change we can believe in. Changing our capitalist markets to communistic and socialistic national control is not change we can believe in. Changing our value system to one where anything goes is not change we can believe in. Dwight Eisenhower said, “Neither a wise man nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.” The change JSC wants will put him and us on those tracks. A bumper sticker I saw also said: “People don’t change. Only their lies do.” I also saw one that actually meant what I believe change should be and it read: “If you would attain to what you are not yet, you must always be displeased by what you are. For where you are pleased with yourself there you have remained. Keep adding, keep walking, keep advancing.” I take it to mean you keep the good and work on the bad. I guess JSC would throw at all the good the American Military has accomplished as well as all the good our free market economy has accomplished. I saw another bumper sticker that JSC did not mention. It said, “All change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.” Another one JSC did not mention said, “Those who expect moments of change to be comfortable and free of conflict have not learned their history.” Another bumper sticker JSC did not dare quote said, “There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse!” Don’t elect McSame and this one will really be prophetic! And for all those things that do change for JSC, this bumper sticker popped up, “Just because everything is different doesn’t mean anything has changed.” Without spending too much more time on this, JSC obviously has not lived long enough to learn what I saw on another bumper sticker, “There is no reason why the same man should not like the same books at eighteen and eighty.” Finally, Jonathan Swift said this: “No wise man ever wished to be younger.” To that I say to JSC, “Watch and learn what Americans say to ‘old fogies’ like me on 4 November.” Maybe it will change your mind - if it is capable of the right change.By jsc
September 19, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this
Saw a great bumper sticker that some of you old fogies (donb51) might want to consider and take to heart. IF YOU CAN’T CHANGE YOUR MIND, ARE YOU SURE YOU STILL HAVE ONE.By donb51
September 19, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this
Hal, I just can’t sit by and let comments like “McSame”, “tied-up”, and “fool has all the wrong answers” go by without some retaliatory response. I am sure the person who made these comments, and their “street agitators” who encouraged it, know as much about baseball as they do about defending their country. I am also sure that these comments indicate a lack of knowledge regarding experience gained from facing life and death situations in combat and the wisdom and strength gained from facing death defending something you love. Go ahead, give me some more of McSame. I’ll take that experience over McStreetOrganizer any day. So, play ball.By Wizard
September 19, 2008 2:21 PM | Link to this
Next year—mark it down: CF—Dickerson{or LF}/Patterson;2nd—Hairston;1st—Votto {if not in LF};3rd—EE{if not at 1st};SS—Brandon Phillips{gonzales, long shot};RF—Bruce;C—Hannigan{or trade for Catcher} Harang/Volquez/Cueto/Arroyo/?By Wizard
September 19, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
Right on michael!By michael
September 19, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this
Timb, the Reds lost nothing when they traded Griffey. They only gained energy, by replacing him with Bruce and Dickerson. Bruce will hit 30-40 HR, which Jr can no longer do. They didn’t need his 20 HRs, and .250 that he is capable of. We are winning without them, and have plenty of pop in the line-up. We need a good SS,a playmaker CF, and a Catcher.By Gary Maloy Jr.
September 19, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
Haha, pumpkinhead - you’re more optismistic than even I am. But imagine if it could be true. After all the years with meager pitching. Could it be that the pitching staff could soon be what holds them team in pennant contention? I repeat… 1968-1969. World Series in 1970. 2008-2009. World Series in 2010. (BTW, those of you who are old enough, think back to some of the starting pitchers Bob Howsam acquired… Clay Kirby! Freddie Norman!) I can’t wait until April so we can get started again.By piqua pumpkinhead
September 19, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
2009 Reds pitching staff, Harang…18 wins, Arroyo…18 wins, Cueto…15 wins, Volquez…15 wins, Bailey…12 wins, bullpen and fill-in starters 17 wins, that’s 95 wins and could be enough to win it.By ross
September 19, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
hey little bro… u will be sitting here this time next year telling the not BLIND fan how good the Reds will be year after year while they are battling though another 90 loss season..Im glad you are positive..for what I dont know get ready for another 8 yrs of losing..get a life and keep thinking the Reds can competeBy nick w
September 19, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
i don’t know if you know this hal or if anyone here knows but i noticed that at the end of the game the other night all the players were putting up two fingers and i guess you could say high fiving eachother with two fingers. i know its not a big deal but i wanted to see if anyone knew what this was about.By HuberTucky
September 19, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this
Starting fights? moi? Heck no, I just defend those attacked by clowns. But now I like Mo after his McSame comment. Go Mo! BTW, AP-F, why is it you ask that of me and not the other guy? Just curious. Sounds like you’re cruisin’ fer one and maybe stirrin’ the pot.By Mo
September 19, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
Guess my best explanation{and you asked for it, first}would be John McSame—he never played the game—was “tied up”—but, the fool still has all the wrong answers.By rockieredsfan
September 19, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
Live in Colo Spgs CO and attend several of the Rockies games. Have to agree with Matt, just don’t see Holiday being courted by the Reds. Will be very expensive, and not sure the Reds will dump two quality players, both more than likely will have to be pitchers and one of them a quality starter. I think the Yankees have a better chance as they have spoke with the Rocks before trade deadline but no deal since the Rocks reportedly wanted to much. If a trade with the Rocks can be made, I believe it might be for Garrett Atkins, 3rd baseman if the Angels don’t court him with bigger dollars. Great 3rd baseman, good hitter, and can play 1st in a back up roll when Votto gets a day or two rest. The Rockies are willing to deal him as they have Ian Stewart to be the 3rd baseman of the future. All will depend on what Todd Helton does next season with the serious back injury he experienced this year. They may keep Atkins to play 1st as he did during Helton’s DL time. As far as the young corp of playerss, I think the Reds will be in great shape next year and maybe will make a block buster deal in the off season that will land a veteran. The Rocks made it to the WS last year with a young, farm team grown corp of players. Granted they had to win 21 of 22 and fell off the pace this season, but it sure was great watching this young talent. I’m looking forward to the Reds s 2009 season.By rockieredsfan
September 19, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
Live in Colo Spgs CO and attend several of the Rockies games. Have to agree with Matt, just don’t see Holiday being courted by the Reds. Will be very expensive, and not sure the Reds will dump two quality players, both more than likely will have to be pitchers and one of them a quality starter. I think the Yankees have a better chance as they have spoke with the Rocks before trade deadline but no deal since the Rocks reportedly wanted to much. If a trade with the Rocks can be made, I believe it might be for Garrett Atkins, 3rd baseman if the Angels don’t court him with bigger dollars. Great 3rd baseman, good hitter, and can play 1st in a back up roll when Votto gets a day or two rest. The Rockies are willing to deal him as they have Ian Stewart to be the 3rd baseman of the future. All will depend on what Todd Helton does next season with the serious back injury he experienced this year. They may keep Atkins to play 1st as he did during Helton’s DL time. As far as the young corp of playerss, I think the Reds will be in great shape next year and maybe will make a block buster deal in the off season that will land a veteran. The Rocks made it to the WS last year with a young, farm team grown corp of players. Granted they had to win 21 of 22 and fell off the pace this season, but it sure was great watching this young talent. I’m looking forward to the Reds s 2009 season.By timb
September 19, 2008 9:18 AM | Link to this
From what I’ve read in other places, young pitchers tend to revert in their second full year, usually due to over-work in their first year (think about it, anyone with an arm is coddled all the way through the minors and then is asked to tack on 30 IP’s or more to his career average). Especially in Cueto’s case (he pitched winter ball, too!), this bodes poorly for him next year. The other problem the ‘09 team faces is how to score runs. They lose 60 HR’s and 150 RBI’s when they traded Dunn and Griff, and, although they got 20 of those back with the acquisition of Owings(!), that still leaves a major power and OBP drought for next season. So, while I enjoy this stretch of actually decent baseball from them, the fundamentals have not changed.By Florida Buckeye
September 19, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this
Hal, I’m glad that the blog’s back to baseball, and that you seem to have culled the herd: Thank you! As far as the future of the Reds: I like the pitching, and I do not see Bailey making any impact on this club, other than trade bait, and unfortunately, his stock has plummeted this year. Ramirez, I like his stuff; Roenicke, I like his stuff as well, but he needs to learn to pitch. DT, same thing…What we need is to have a veteran catcher who can teach these kids how to pitch in the National League…I dont believe that Bako is the solution to that problem. Also, the Reds need to dump CP, find a righty with power, a legitimate Center Fielder, and some veteran role players in the clubhouse…of course, it’s just my opinion…By Steven Ross
September 19, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
The starting pitching holds promise moving forward but it’s a tenuous situation. We’re banking on Volquez and Cueto continuing to make progress next year and stay healthy. Two big “if’s”. It’s really not the piching I’m concerned about though. Dusty’s propensity to roll out head-scratching lineups leaves me more negative than positive. Any manager who gives Paul Bako a career high in games and AB’s is simply an idiot. Without injuries, Patterson wouldn’t see as much PT but Dusty stuck with for two and half months as our leadoff hitter when his numbers screamed he shouldn’t. Another crass move by the Dust-er was leaving Griffey in the 3-hole when again, he shouldn’t. A tiger doesn’t change his stripes so getting rid of Dusty makes sense to me. Go for it WJ and BC!By AP-FLORIDA
September 19, 2008 7:03 AM | Link to this
Huber!!! You starting fights again?By MAC
September 19, 2008 1:36 AM | Link to this
I’ve noticed a number of fans & writers continue to “suggest” Matt Holiday will be a memeber of the Reds next season, yet few seem willing to trade any of our so called prospects. How then do the Reds get Matt Holiday?By Carl's Little Brother
September 18, 2008 11:51 PM | Link to this
Mo, please explain. If you never played the game, and I am not saying you did or not but what makes you think a person who has not played the game would not know whats going on. Do you think Hal McCoy, John Faye, Al Michaels, Marty B. and Walt and Bob played the game? Just explain ok.By HuberTucky
September 18, 2008 11:48 PM | Link to this
Brilliant comment, Mo. Quite a powerful addition to the blog there, genius. You sound just like another loser who was recently run off. Seriously, if that’s all you have to offer, do us a favor and just stay away.By Mo
September 18, 2008 11:10 PM | Link to this
I wish I had all-knowing abilities as some think they do on here—undoubtedly never played ANY game well, but talk like they did.By Carl's Little Brother
September 18, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this
Gary Maloy Jr, agree with you 99%, leave Bailey out of the mix, think about Ramimazre, I know the spelling is way off, it’s the guy pitching tomorrow night, ha ha. But you are correct, good future for this team. Ross, get a life, you are too negative. So Mike used a four letter word called hell, oh my dear me, well I could use a lot worse but I won’t. Why do you have to be such an a## when Mike and Gary are so postive? Go pull for the Mets.By piqua pumpkinhead
September 18, 2008 5:47 PM | Link to this
Cory Patterson for MVP, he is awesome, the man can play some defense.By ross
September 18, 2008 3:44 PM | Link to this
nice you use 4 letter words..Hairston-CF, Votto-1B, Phillips-2b, Holliday-LF, Bruce-RF, Edwin-3B, Gonzalez-SS, then a catcher..that team could maybe finish 4th..mike did you play baseball beyond pee wee..no need to use language like that..By Michael in Monterey, CA
September 18, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
Ross, what the hell were you doing on the field last night? I agree Gary, the Reds have a solid corps of young players- through experience they will be much improved next year.By ross
September 18, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this
are you kidding me..3 20 game winners..how can you get excited over a team having a decent Sept..this same thing happens every year..21 games out and optimistic…Arroyo pitches well once the Reds are 20 out what happens when it matters he gets shelled..Harang is not that good..he has been shelled 5-16 Volquez has a chance to be pretty solid..then who do you turn to..The Reds will battle the Pirates for 5th place again next year and the next and the nextBy Kevin
September 18, 2008 2:23 PM | Link to this
I have to agree with you Gary! There are alot of positives with this team! i think Im a more positive fan now than I was in the Spring. As for Mr. Harrang...Do NOT deal this guy over the winter! Tom Browning said the other night that he went through one of these years in87…hang on to this guy…he`s worth his salary!!By Gary Maloy Jr.
September 18, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this
I wrote this on one of the blogs on the Cincy Enquirer… “Imagine that the Reds have two 17 game winners this year and neither of them are Aaron Harang.” This bodes well for the future, ladies and gentlemen. This team has three potential 20 game winners. Throw in “K”ueto in a couple years time, and we’re looking at the reincarnation of the great Orioles starting rotation of Palmer, McNally, Cuellar and Dobson (4x20 game winners in the early 70s). Throw in a matured Homer Bailey and…whew!! I’ve said it before and I’ll by-God stand by it: This team reminds me of the ‘68-‘69 Reds. Pre BRM. Rose, Perez, May and Helms were all young. The older guys (like Griffey this year) like Vada Pinson were jettisoned. Bench was a rookie in ‘68. Two years later they were in the World Series. This IS it. The youth movement HAS arrived. I hate to sound like a Mets fan, but I’m willing to say it, YA GOTTA BELIEVE, people, YA GOTTA BELIEVE.By michael
September 18, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
Does anyone doubt that Harang can still pitch? He just had a rough year, and he will be back. He has been the best the Reds have had to offer for the last few years.By Bob
September 18, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
Dusty’s so proud of his balancing act of getting all players some game time; what about Patterson who gets in the game no matter what else is going on. It’s a total disgrace re: the signing and PT.By Pete
September 18, 2008 7:33 AM | Link to this
I agree Mac. On the down side… such a stupid idea to allow people bring their dogs to a game.By MAC
September 18, 2008 4:31 AM | Link to this
Nice to see the Big Guy bounce back & pitch well. Anyone else notice how well Lopez is playing for the Cards; nice to see him bounce back as well.