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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 > 2009 > May > 05 > Entry
Edinson Volquez: the electric slide
This Cincinnati Reds team is going to gladden your heart on one night and break your heart on the next. It’s like the ol’ box of chocolates: You never know what you’re going to get. If it’s me and there’s a cherry in it, I don’t want it.
And it’s going to be that way all year long. Sensationally good one night and sensationally bad the next. They lose in 14 innings Monday by 3-2 and leave enough baserunners to populate a small Polynesian island. Then they come back the next night with a stunning pitching performance by Electric Volquez. He’s electric when he plugs in and doesn’t walk people, but when he leaves the plug out of the socket his pitches are all over the place.
He was plugged in Tuesday in Miami and the Reds played as constructed.
On a hot muggy night in south Florida, the Reds displayed what manager Dusty Baker and general manager Walt Jocketty talked about all winter as the team’s driving mechanism.
It has nothing to do with a Big Red Machine and everything to do with a Little Red Wagon.
And here is where it came from during a 7-0 victory over the Florida Marlins.
Pitching: Edinson Volquez.
Manufactured runs: Two stolen bases set up the first two runs.
Defense: Chris Dickerson, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Ramon Hernandez made textbook defensive plays.
After all these components constructed a 4-0 lead, Brandon Phillips applied the exclamation point in the seventh with a three-run home run, giving him six RBIs in the game.
“That’s the way you win,” said Baker. “Then throw in a long ball to break the game open.”
Joey Votto was on base five times and Phillips drove him home twice, plus they walked Votto intentionally in front of Phillips before his home run.
“It makes you think when they walk a guy in front of you,” said Phillips. “I would have done that same thing, but I wanted to show them, ‘Don’t do that again, please.’ It opened up my eyes and I said, ‘Wow.’”
Of Phillips’ big night, Baker said, “We’ve been waiting on Brandon and he’s been waiting on Brandon.”
Phillips knows that the way they won Tuesday is the way the team is supposed to win and said, “There is a reason this team is put together the way it is. We have speed, defense and guys who can put the ball in play.”
Volquez did his part with quickness and dominating force — eight innings, no runs, three hits, four walks, seven strikeouts, victory No. 4. He is working on a string of 16 1/3 straight scoreless innings and has given up five hits.
And Reds pitchers have four shutouts in the last six games and Phillips said, “I believe in our rotation and our pitchers. We have future All-Stars.”
Florida pitching coach Mark Wiley wasn’t impressed, he was overwhelmed.
“This guy is like Pedro Martinez in those couple of years when he was outstanding and you couldn’t touch him,” said Wiley. “He made career .300 hitters look like they’d never swung a bat before and this guy did that tonight against us.”
Volquez says he has backed off on his fastball enough to make certain he throws strikes to cut down walks.
“I’m just trying to go deeper in games and go deeper into games,” said Volquez. “I’m just trying to be more aggressive in the zone — first pitches for strikes, attack the hitter.”
And he believes in his peers and said, “We have one of the best rotations in the league and if we stay together we’ll keep winning.”
Offensively, it began in the first inning when Hairston walked, stole second and scored on a single by Votto.
It surfaced again in the third with another walk, this one to Votto, who also stole second and continued to third on a throwing error, from where he scored on a Phillips single.
Defensively, left fielder Dickerson made a picture-book diving catch of a line drive in the second. And with John Baker on first in the fourth, Hanley Ramirez doubled to deep left center. Baker tried to score, but was out when Hairston took center fielder Willy Taveras’ relay throw and fired home, where Hernandez made a diving tag.
More smallball surfaced for the Reds in the fifth — single by Taveras, infield hit by Hairston, walked to Votto and a two-run single by Phillips.
And the Reds did their damage with no extra-base hits against Marlins righthander Chris Volstad, owner of a 2-0 record and a 2.67 ERA when festivities began.
It enabled the Reds to return home with a 3-2 road trip for a five-game homestand — two against Milwaukee beginning tonight and three this weekend against division-leading St. Louis.
“Another getaway win (the Reds are 5-1 on days they are leaving town) and another winning road trip,” said Baker. “This win united us. If you are going to be a good team you have to bounce back from tough losses (3-2 in 14 innings Tuesday) and certainly Tuesday was a tough loss. But you wouldn’t know it by the way the guys played tonight.”
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By Get Real
May 8, 2009 1:29 PM | Link to this
Thanks Real Dip … your post was a life-changing event. Because of your well-crafted and thoughtful response, I am joining the Peace Corp, becoming a Pastor, building a home for the homeless, writing parking tickets to people who park in handicapped spots and I may, just may, work on learning the entire Bible through sign language. You truly are a change-agent …
By Real Dipshits
May 7, 2009 11:57 PM | Link to this
‘Ross, Albert, and Get Real’,now there’s a really worthwhile trio of nerds to listen to. Can’t wait for the next installment of nonsensical blabbering’s aimed at the entire baseball world. Sadly, they all demonstrate real socialistic failings. I bet they get along super with their eighth grade classmates.Probably write nasty notes to them all day; and can’t wait to get home to demonstrate more anti-social behavior on Hal’s blog.Get a life terds.
By Get Real
May 7, 2009 10:16 PM | Link to this
Ross - as usual you are wrong, keep posting though, you’re a real treat of stupidity.
By albert
May 7, 2009 5:00 PM | Link to this
ross Ill tell you where you stand..Pujols will hit 3 taters and the birds will win at least 2 of 3 maybe sweep..then ross that team will be 15-20 out by Aug 1
By ross
May 7, 2009 4:57 PM | Link to this
not much confidence in the back end of the rotation..Brewers will hammer Owings tonight..and our lineup will push a couple runs across..maybe 3…then St Louis comes to town..we are throwing our 3 best so lets see where we stand
By BrarHopper
May 7, 2009 4:01 PM | Link to this
Hey Mark in Sun Valley, you’re absolutely right about teaching Janish to throw a breaking ball. The logical choice to teach that would be Edwin, since half of his throws to 1st are breaking balls…or knucklers.
By Bill from Florida
May 7, 2009 4:01 PM | Link to this
Hey! I said so two months ago, Arroyo should be sent to DL and get Bailey in. How long will it take to remove Baker?
By Kyle
May 7, 2009 2:45 PM | Link to this
How long before Arroyo is on the DL and Homer is in the rotation? Arroyo isn’t right. His wrist is bothering him. They need to make a move.
By Roho Radio
May 7, 2009 12:37 PM | Link to this
Right on Ross. Love the good news you shared! They score 3 easily when the game is well out of hand. Imagine if they were playing a close game? We’d be yelling at the TV for at least one hit out of the infield!
By ross
May 7, 2009 11:43 AM | Link to this
Arroyo gets shelled every year early..he pitches well when the Reds are 20 out and theres nothing to play for..hey good news the Reds did score 3 last night
By Mike-Cinci
May 7, 2009 9:57 AM | Link to this
Small market teams need good farm systems and wise drafting. The Brewers home grown players are Weeks, Hardy, Braun, Fielder, Gallardo, Parra, Villanueva. All are very good players. The Reds need to do the same.
By Mark in Sun Valley
May 7, 2009 12:39 AM | Link to this
Somebody really needs to teach Janish how to throw a breaking ball.
By Big Daddy
May 6, 2009 10:26 PM | Link to this
This team will struggle at GABP. The park is a joke and their offense isn’t good enough to take advantage of it. Most teams offense is good enought.
By Ryan K. Madison, IN.
May 6, 2009 9:38 PM | Link to this
Did anyone else see the curveball Mike Lincoln is throwing? One of the best in baseball in my opinion. NASTY!! Hey Buster…go make me a strawberry milkshake b***h,,,right now before i give you a fresh one.
By ME
May 6, 2009 9:13 PM | Link to this
The only thing worse than watching this absurdity, is sitting through and enduring the Jim Day/Piecoro stupidity on the TV pregame. Who the heck was given permission to dream up this total waste of time?Perhaps these two could be fired at the same time as Dummy Dusty. I long for the good ol’ days of Waite Hoyt’s Dugout Dope, when baseball intelligence was heard; and I didn’t feel as though I had just been admitted to the 1st grade class of Teacher Day and Piecoro. So much for leading the major leagues in ERA{3.61}They say last time Reds led Majors in era was 1940. 59 innings before tonight, and Reds gave up 11 runs. Tonight: 9 in two innings. Weathers and Rhodes have not given up a run—And who was the blowhard idiot who recently said Weathers needed CPR help on the bench? Let us see Weathers was bashed now for how many seasons, by know nothing wannabees, who never were?
By Blogcopwatcher
May 6, 2009 8:38 PM | Link to this
Uh-OH, better take Hannigan out since yo-yo Arroyo is gone. He isn’t allowed in there unless Flaky is pitching.
By Ryan K. Madison, IN.
May 6, 2009 8:36 PM | Link to this
This is absolutely sickening…
By Mark in Sun Valley
May 6, 2009 8:32 PM | Link to this
Tonight they might not even be as good as a little Red Wagon. And Baker strategy mistake #287, using his only “long reliever” 2 games in a row (completelty unnecessary last night), so that now, the entire bullpen will most likely get used in a blowout. And now you are weaker for tomorrow.
By Ryan K. Madison, IN.
May 6, 2009 8:10 PM | Link to this
Arroyo cant find the strike zone and is getting pounded so far…where is Buster at so i can choke him..
By Ryan K. Madison, IN.
May 6, 2009 8:01 PM | Link to this
Yeah but don’t you think they are a team that has shown major improvement? Dont you think they are a team that will be far better than up one night and down the next? I think there has been 3 maybe 4 games they they didnt show up at all? I cant wait till the end of the season when we sit atop the division and come in here and read the blogs some of you people write then. It will be interesting seeing the comparison to the BIG RED MACHINE…give me a break. Yeah I know Hal calls it like he sees it but i think calling this team “the little red wagon” was totally of base? Isn’t that a little unfair?
By Mark in Sun Valley
May 6, 2009 7:49 PM | Link to this
The last thing I would even want is for Hal to become a “homer” that thinks the team does no wrong. Hal calls it as he sees it, the good and the bad, and has the expertise to tell the difference.
By Ryan K. Madison, IN.
May 6, 2009 7:44 PM | Link to this
LOL…i gotta give it to ya…that was funny. I just want to WIN!! Sorry for the bad attitude on my part.
By Buster
May 6, 2009 7:22 PM | Link to this
And in my defense, I wrote you must be 14 OR retarded … I only got the age wrong.
By Ryan K. Madison, IN.
May 6, 2009 7:21 PM | Link to this
Got to give it to ya that was kinda funny…we dont have a steak and shake so i wont be able to serve your dumbass and Mr. McCoy any milk shakes. You’ll have to forgive me for being so upset about how Hal spoke about the Reds in the last blog. I want so bad for them to win that it drives me crazy. If Hal doesn’t think they’ll compete on a regular basis I have to get upset? Sorry? I know he knows what he’s talking about and I know he is one of the best Baseball writers of all time. It just upsets me when he’s not promising when speaking about the team. They deserve to get good reviews based on the way they’ve played in my opinion? For you to get on here and just bash me shows you have no sense and need to realize where I’m coming from…right? I’m a real and loyal Reds fan..unlike you. Why would you make fun of someone who works at steak and shake? I’m a father of three who works hard everyday to provide a nice home for my children and wife. I come home play with my kids, kiss my wife and enjoy watching my baseball team play well. What do you do dumbass? Nevermind…i could care less. I know what you do..You spend yout time being a dumbass…lol???
By Buster
May 6, 2009 7:08 PM | Link to this
Ryan - I would love to smoke cigars with Hal and talk baseball past and present - thanks for the idea. We might wonder into the Madison Steak and Shake one night … what nights do you work? You could serve us and whine about everything. I know CPR so Hal won’t be dying on my watch …
By Ryan K. Madison, IN.
May 6, 2009 7:08 PM | Link to this
—(continued from my last post)-BIG RED MACHINE all of the time. You, BUSTER, like most fossils your age are stuck in the past running your mouths about things that are irrelevant. I didn’t disrespect Mr. McCoy i just dont understand why he can’t be more up beat about this team? I dont need to explain anything to you anyway dumbass. If you want to talk to me about it come to Madison and look me up .I’m in the phonebook. IDIOT
By Ryan K. Madison, IN.
May 6, 2009 7:02 PM | Link to this
Hey Buster…let me explain that madison has some of the best Reds fans you’ll find. Why don’t you and Hal get together and smoke some cigars and talk about how bad this years Reds team sucks and how bad these guys are compared to the BIG RED MACHINE. While your at it dinasour man why dont you find out what your talking about before you accuse me of being an 8th grader that doesn’t know what I’m talking about. I’m 31 years old and have been watching the redlegs since i could sit up. I’m a loyal fan whonever misses a game either by t.v or the radio. I get sick of hearing guys like you talk about the bi
By Buster
May 6, 2009 6:32 PM | Link to this
Ryan - shut up dummy .. you are a dolt that lives in a shoebox in Madison … you are the dope/moron that told Hal you hoped he choked on a hot dog. Sure you apologized but no one with a working brain would ever had made a post telling Hal to die on a hot dog. You have to be 14 years old or retarded - or both. And baseball has always been a sport where you compare teams from the past with current teams … that is the beauty of baseball you idiot. Hal has been an “A” reporter for many, many years and your posts reflect a dopey teenager that is failing every class in 8th grade for the second straight year.
By Ryan K. Madison, IN.
May 6, 2009 5:31 PM | Link to this
All do respect Hal…instead of saying things like “we’ll be up and down all year” why dont you be positive, for once in your life and be glad we have the record we do under the circumstances? Our team is playing well, better than they have in years and all you can do is be negative? Why even post your blog if you just want to bash this team and put them down. Instead of talking about your plane flights and your hotel stays why dont you talk about us having one of the best rotations in baseball. Why dont you talk about how our lineup has started to hit better this week and all it’s gonna take is just one small turn around for us to catch the Cardinals and take over the division? Why dont you talk about how our bullpen has been lights out? Calling the Reds the “little red wagon?” The big red machine team was awesome and they’ll have their lagacy forever but to tell you the truth I’m sick of hearing about them. This is my generations team and they should be their own team. Not compared to the teams back in the day all the time. It’s getting really old. I’m proud of the way the boys have been playing and watching them so far this season has been really fun. GO REDS!!!
By wizard
May 6, 2009 1:32 PM | Link to this
Great game by all; but still think Janish should have started at SS after getting two hits the night before; he could have made the same throw Hairston made to the plate. Hairston should play third and second, onky.—once again we won in spite of Baker
By Roho Radio
May 6, 2009 12:51 PM | Link to this
Too bad half of our games are at GABP. Opposing teams love coming here. The starting staff has been sweet for the most part……..on the road. Can we put together a nice home stand? I’d love to see a stomping of the Cardinals particularly. My only concern is Albert Pujols at GABP…………………..be afraid…………be very afraid.
By Bill from Florida
May 6, 2009 12:12 PM | Link to this
Dee: Write first in the notebook tool (.txt) and then copy/paste.
By Dee
May 6, 2009 12:02 PM | Link to this
There is not enough space here to post my comment. I got 1/2 way through and no more text appeared in this box.
By Rick M of Anderson Township
May 6, 2009 12:01 PM | Link to this
…and just think about how much better the Reds would be without Baker.
By nick w
May 6, 2009 11:07 AM | Link to this
i like this team and like how they play the game. Last night they executed perfectly on defense and on small ball.Just like every team they have some flaws at some spots but they are solid in almost every spot.There only weakness is at shortstop, left field and you can throw 3rd base in there until we see rosales play a little more. I will take that every season. If you have the starting pitching that we have right now you will win alot of games. Add the bullpen that we have your looking at a team that will contend for the playoffs all year. I can’t wait to see how they do against the cardinals this weekend. Lets get great american sold out this weekend and show the cardinals there not going to run away with this division!!
By Mike-Cinci
May 6, 2009 10:43 AM | Link to this
This is the best stretch of pitching by the Reds in 30 years. Hernandez was super behind the plate. Good pitching and solid defense will keep a team in every game. If Arroyo and Owings can pitch this team could have a fine year. It looks like harang, Volquez, and Cueto are locked in.
By Diamond Dave
May 6, 2009 10:21 AM | Link to this
Watching this team is like watching last year’s team following the Dunn and Griffey trades. Hustle, hustle, hustle, and a conscious effort to do your best on every pitch. I am thoroughly enjoying wathing this team and I don’t think any changes need to be made. They may or may not make the playoffs, but they WILL compete every night. If they can focus at home like they’re focusing on the road, they’ll get their 82+ wins and we can put the losing streak behind us. See you guys on Saturday! GO REDS!!!they
By Bill from Florida
May 6, 2009 10:01 AM | Link to this
Votto for MVP: I agree with you, but too high expectations. I’d be glad if only one out of the three you mentioned is traded in. Given the facts, I’d look for a RH power hitter LF and stick with Gonzo/Janish at SS and Rosales/Hairston at 3B (it seems like Hairston hits better when playing infield). I think Janish should be the regular SS since 2010 after Gonzo’s contract is expired. About EE, it’s a tough issue given he has a $7MM contract for 2009 and 2010. About the rest of the line-up, perhaps I’d move down temporarily Bruce and give more playing time to Hanigan and Nix. My line-up: Taveras CF, Rosales/Hairston 3B, Philips 2B, Votto 1B, Hernandez/Hanigan C, Bruce RF, Nix/Dicker LF, Gonzo/Janish SS. About the pitching staff, I’d suggest to do not force the starters far from 95-100 pitches if we want to keep this level until the end of the season. GO REDS!!!
By Cait
May 6, 2009 9:22 AM | Link to this
Wow! That was the best played Reds game I’ve seen in a long time. Hal, you could have done a story on the defensive gems alone. BP blocking 1st base for the pickoff; Hernandez pouncing on a short bunt like a cat and firing to 1st to nip the runner … On and on it went. A thing of beauty all around.
By Steve
May 6, 2009 9:06 AM | Link to this
Releivers needed Volquez to do what he did after the marathon Monday. That was clutch.
By Votto for MVP
May 6, 2009 8:34 AM | Link to this
Reds lead the Majors in ERA 3.61 and shutouts 6! Could be a good year if they can get a third baseman, left fielder, and a SS that can hit.
By timb
May 6, 2009 7:55 AM | Link to this
recent Reds teams do not win that game Recent Reds teams don’t win shutouts?
By AP-FLORIDA
May 6, 2009 7:21 AM | Link to this
Great game, but we still have baker!
By keb
May 6, 2009 4:17 AM | Link to this
To bad it’s back home again. Another losing homestand. Why do they play like they have the Mexican flu when they are at home?
By Mark in Sun Valley
May 6, 2009 3:40 AM | Link to this
Best game of the season by far. Defense, maunfactured runs, the whole energy level of the team seemed to be a 180 from the previous night. I’d love to see that carry over a few games in a row. And 4 shutouts in 6 games is nothing to sneeze at.
By Laura
May 6, 2009 2:16 AM | Link to this
Loving this team! There’s just something special about them.
By Jake
May 6, 2009 1:17 AM | Link to this
Great bounce back win, on the road, after a heart breaker last night; recent Reds teams do not win that game. It is excellent to see BP is hitting the ball hard (and going opposite field more) the last 10 days; however, I hope he isn’t being overly aggressive at the expense of pitch selection. He hasn’t walked in 10 games and while his average has risen, his OBP has dropped slightly… but he made them pay for pitching around Votto tonight and always brings gold glove D.