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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 > July > 09
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Reds have their phil of Philadelphia
For those who like to deal in rumors, rumors, rumors - check out the blog I posted before Thursday’s game. Should be right below this one.
It is probably better than reading about another shakedown by the Cincinnati Reds. The difference between a world championship team and an also-ran was glaring in this four-game series — three wins by the Philadelphia Phillies by 22-1, 3-2 and 9-6. The Reds won one, 4-3
Her’s the skinny - and it’s very skinny. The Reds are now in sole possession (that means all by themselves) in fifth place. They are ahead of only the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are a half-game behind fourth-place Houston.
The Reds made more mistakes than a high school dropout doing the New York Times crossword puzzle on this night and what good is it to enumerate them.
The Reds led, 3-0. The Phillies tied it, 4-4. Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer and they led, 6-4. The Phillies scored the next five.
The most telling thing is that the Reds scored six runs on eight hits against starter Jamie Moyer, then could get NOTHING against a has-been, Chan Ho Park — no runs, no hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
Now that’s embarrassing.
Loved what Phillips said about the Phillies: “Whenever they get runners on base, they turn into the Mighty Phillies or something. Man, they have a good offense.”
And manager Dusty Baker laid down a few things:
He chastised right fielder Chris Dickerson for being a spectator when he should have been backing up center fielder Willy Taveras. A ball hit by Chase Utley caromed away from Taveras several yards toward right field. No Dickerson. Inside the park home run.
He chastised pitcher Josh Roenicke for a late arrival covering first base on a possible double play, then missing the base with his foot on the throw. Instead of an inning-ending double play, a run scored on the play and three more followed.
It was ugly stuff - like the Reds fell out of an ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.
They have three more games before the All-Star break this weekend in New York. Things are slipping away. They are 4 1/2 games behind the division-leading Cardinals and looking over their shoulders as if to say, “Can the Pirates be far behind?”
So we abandon this city, where we have been for four days. I’m taking the Amtrak train to New York tomorrow morning and can’t wait. It is only an hour and 20 minutes and when you arrive you say, “Is that all there is? Can’t I stay on? I don’t want to get off?”
Maybe I’ll ride it on up to Boston — and see some better baseball.
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TweetRumors, rumors, rumors - all false???
RUMOR OFF-CENTRAL:
No, the Cincinnati Reds are NOT going to sign pitcher Pedro Martinez, as one scout suggested. Martinez will undergo a physical, probably on Saturday, and if he passes the Philadelphia Phillies will announce he belongs to them.
The Reds have a better chance of signing Pedro Serrano from the movie Major League, but they already had him in the personage of Wily Mo Pena.
No, the Cincinnati Reds are NOT acquiring third baseman Scott Rolen from Toronto for Edwin Encarnacion and a top pitching prospect, as was “reported” on a web-site. The web-site said the trade was reported on the Toronto radio network that carries the Blue Jays, but if that’s true, nobody heard it.
Just to cover the bases, though, a knowledgeable person close to the Blue Jays said that the Jays and Reds HAVE talked. The Jays are NOT interested in Encarnacion. They are most interested in minor league prospects.
When the Reds were in Toronto, GM Walt Jocketty chatted for a long time with Rolen near the batting cage, “Just to say hello.” Rolen played in St. Louis when Jocketty was there. There was no tampering involved, just chit-chat, but I’d be willing to bet all my Tommy Bahama shirts that Rolen mentioned, you know, just in passing, that he sure loves the midwest, being an Indiana boy and all.
Rolen makes $11 million this year and $11 million next year, way over the heads of the Reds. The report also said the deal would be announced this weekend after Jocketty was finished re-negotiating Rolen’s contract. That’s called tampering and is against the rules and Jocketty wouldn’t do it
Rolen, an Indiana guy, loves Cincinnati and may eventually play for the Reds. But not now and not next year.
No, the Cincinnati Reds are not acquiring Garret Atkins from the Rockies for pitchers David Weathers and Nick Masset. Atkins is making $7.05 million and is having a terrible year. The bullpen has been the best part of the Reds this year (until the last week).
As a Reds official said, “We already have a third baseman, so where would Atkins play? There are only a couple of teams that can take on $18 million in salary.” And the Reds ain’t one of ‘em.
Any more rumors need discounted?
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