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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 > 2010 > February > 17 > Entry
Reporting time for pitchers, catchers, writers
PITCHERS AND CATCHERS report this week to spring training - and I’m often asked, ” Why do pitchers and catchers report before the rest of the players. Why don’t they all report together?”
Good question. Right now, if I’m an infielder or outfielder and I live in Ohio, I change positions immediately to pitcher or catcher and report right now to Arizona to get out of this two feet of winter wonderland.
As near as I can gather, and nobody has the definitive answer, pitchers need the extra few days to get their arms in shape before they start throwing to live hitters, so they report early. And they need catchers to catch them.
That may have been true way back when, when baseball players didn’t make gazillions and had to pump gas and flip burgers in the off-season to pay the bills, but it is no longer so. Players don’t work anywhere in the off-season, except on their golf games, and they stay in shape - ready to go when spring training begins.
But it’s baseball and it’s tradition.
SO PITCHERS, CATCHERS and baseball writers report this week. Baseball writers have to be there to watch the pitchers play catch with the catchers and work on PFP, the dreaded pitchers fielding practice that pitchers abhor.
If spring training were in, say, Duluth, Minn. or Fargo, N.D. in some indoor facilities, baseball writers wouldn’t be standing at the locker room door shaking hands with pitchers and catchers as they arrive.
But, in the case of the Cincinnati Reds, it’s Arizona and like the rest of my baseball brethren, I’ll be there to soak up the atmosphere (translation: soak up the sun).
I’m arriving in Arizona on Friday for a few days to bring you blogs on how Homer Bailey’s fastball looks - as delivered off a bullpen mound to a minor-league catcher - and to say, “Si, senor,” to Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman, who speaks no English.
AS IT STANDS now, the only major issues in camp for the Reds are:
Who will play left field?
Who will be the fifth starter?
Who will be the extra players?
We’ve beaten the left field issue to a pulp, with no answers. Will it be Chris Dickerson, Jonny Gomes (still unsigned), Wladimir Balentien, Laynce Nix, Juan Francisco, Chris Heisey, Todd Frazier or some mystery man yet to emerge?
The first four in the rotation are set: Bronson Arroyo, Aaron Harang, Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto. The fifth starter would have been Edinson Volquez and that question would be answered. But Volquez had Tommy John surgery and won’t be available until mid-season, if then.
That leaves the fifth spot to: Micah Owings? Matt Maloney? Travis Wood? Aroldis Chapman? Justin Lehr? Or some myster man yet to emerge?
The club appears a bit thin on the bench, which might open the door for rookie Todd Frazier. He signed as a shortstop, but has played third base, second base, first base and left field in the minors. That versatility might earn him a spot on the club to cover several positions when the inevitable injuries surface and as a back-up at several positions when the regulars need rest.
Those are the answers the Reds seek in the next six weeks. My shorts are pressed, my Tommy Bahama shirts are cleaned and folded, my suntan lotion is ready to be slathered, my portable cigar humidor is full.
Play ball - Arizona variety.
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By Mike-Cinci
February 19, 2010 4:41 PM | Link to this
The 2 main reasons you don’t put a young player you expect can be an everyday starter as a bech player in his first and second years in MLB is you want to have him get as much playing experience as possible to build his skills and a team does not want the arbitration clock to start while he is a bench player.
By dude
February 19, 2010 9:24 AM | Link to this
Spring training just go a lot more interesting with Hal being there.
By Parker Perry
February 18, 2010 9:44 PM | Link to this
Mr. Mccoy, it is great to see a legend of your statue back for spring training! Can’t wait to read more!
By Parker Perry
February 18, 2010 9:43 PM | Link to this
Mr. Mccoy, it is great to see a legend of your statue back for spring training! Can’t wait to read more!
By Gary
February 18, 2010 9:21 PM | Link to this
Hal, get some good Mexican food while you are there. Avoid most of the tourist stops, try Raul and Theresa’s on Buckeye at Litchfield, or Aurturo’s on Van Buren. Woody’s Macayo is good as well, send me one of their Margarita mugs.
By 1260 WNDE Indianapolis
February 18, 2010 6:06 PM | Link to this
Mr. McCoy. My name is Matt Williams. I produce “Mark Patrick on Sports” on 1260 WNDE in Indianapolis. I wanted to see if you’d be interested in talking some baseball with Mark tomorrow (Friday). “MPOS” is live 3-6 pm ET. Please let me know if there is a good time for you. Thank you. Best, Matt mattwilliams@wnde.com
By Dan
February 18, 2010 3:15 PM | Link to this
Don’t know what others think, but to me the move to Arizona puts more than extra miles between the players and the everyday fan. Maybe Hal will have some thoughts on this.
By Dazed and Confused
February 18, 2010 2:17 PM | Link to this
Cant wait to keep up on the Reds with Hal. We also have C Trent, John Fay and M. Sheldon. Good to have someone there reporting instead of being a thousand miles away and pretending.
By Gary Maloy
February 18, 2010 12:45 PM | Link to this
Indygeo - you write “Already planning to see the Pirates and Jays to get my baseball fix.” I suggest that if you wish to get your baseball fix that you choose another team than the Pirates… hehe
By null
February 18, 2010 12:43 PM | Link to this
Wily Mo had a contractual clause that caused the Reds to keep him in the majors rather than risk losing him to another organization by sending him down. They almost surely would have given him more seasoning in the minors if not for the contractual situation.
By corndoggg23
February 18, 2010 12:40 PM | Link to this
Wily Mo had some clause in his contract that prevented him from being sent to the minors, which caused the Reds to keep him in the big leagues to avoid the risk of losing him.
By corndoggg23
February 18, 2010 12:40 PM | Link to this
Wily Mo had some clause in his contract that prevented him from being sent to the minors, which caused the Reds to keep him in the big leagues to avoid the risk of losing him.
By corndoggg23
February 18, 2010 12:39 PM | Link to this
Wily Mo has some clause in his contract that prevented him from being sent to the minors, which caused the Reds to keep him in the big leagues to avoid the risk of losing him.
By red mountain
February 18, 2010 12:06 PM | Link to this
The answer to the question of why you do not “sit” a young prospect on the bench rather than letting them go to Triple A and play everyday can be summed up in one name-Willy Mo Pena
By dennis beckley
February 18, 2010 11:35 AM | Link to this
Good news ! Hal is going to Goodyear Well thats good news to me ,cant wait to read the whole truth and nothing but
By Indygeo
February 18, 2010 8:54 AM | Link to this
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I wish the Reds well in preparing for the season in Arizona, but I’m not giving up Siesta Key sunsets, Daiquiri Deck, Old Salty Dog, Broken Egg, etc. for sand, sand, sand and scorpions. Already planning to see the Pirates and Jays to get my baseball fix.
By redsfandownunder
February 17, 2010 10:39 PM | Link to this
Bringing up 4 minor leaguers at the same time would mean that you would have to put 4 people on waivers. What’s your next move if the 4 rookies struggle and you’ve already lost Miles, Nix, Balantine and Janish? (I can’t actually recall if Janish has options but you get the jist).
By larsbenders
February 17, 2010 8:09 PM | Link to this
Regarding “if Frazier makes the team i think he has to play everyday, same thing about Heisey. “ I think this prevalent attitude severely restricts young players ability to help the big league team. It seems as if prospects can only be promoted to the big club when they are projected to fill a starting position. Why not break guys in to get a few hundred at-bats while helping out the big-league team? So they might be missing out on a couple of hundred at-bats for the season, but they are getting continuous big-league experience and their practice time is premium. Why can’t we have a bench of Francisco, Frazier, Valaika, Alonso? With the injuries bound to happen to the older folk, those guys would get plenty of at-bats.
By larsbenders
February 17, 2010 8:07 PM | Link to this
Regarding Frazier makes the team i think he has to play everyday, same thing about Heisey. I think this prevalent attitude severely restricts young players ability to help the big league team. It seems as if prospects can only be promoted to the big club when they are projected to fill a starting position. Why not break guys in to get a few hundred at-bats while helping out the big-league team? So they might be missing out on a couple of hundred at-bats for the season, but they are getting continuous big-league experience and their practice time is premium. Why can’t we have a bench of Francisco, Frazier, Valaika, Alonso? With the injuries bound to happen to the older folk, those guys would get at-bats.
By Mr. Redlegs (Original)
February 17, 2010 6:54 PM | Link to this
Why look, it’s the fraudulent “MisterRedLegs” who uses other people’s handles, uses their comments as his own all across the Reds blogosphere, has false email addresses where he posts and has the life of a zit. You want the real Mr. R, go to www.redletterdaze.com and twitter.com/misterredlegs. Just say no to pathetic trolls.
By MAC
February 17, 2010 6:13 PM | Link to this
Hal, good to hear U get to make the trip; I wish I could! Reds seem set to go w/ a very unproven OF? IMO, Bruce has shown he has mastered AAA pitching so I get why they gift him a job in RF even when he’s hitting .220. However, how can any team make that same concession in CF & LF and expect to compete? In contrast, they don’t appear ready to offer the 5th SP spot or a BP spot to a young guy. That contradiction really baffles me; there’s no consistency in their logic? I still say Reds should offer a prospect or 2 or package a vet & young player in order to get a ML ready OF. I like CD & Stubbs platooning in CF, but they really need a solid hitter in one of the corner spots. It’s a shame Reds’ Fans have to wait until the team is out of the playoff chase every year before the team considers making a move.
By JB
February 17, 2010 5:44 PM | Link to this
Hal,i’ve been reading your articles for 20 plus years but i would have to disagree on Frazier,if he makes the team i think he has to play everyday, same thing about Heisey.
By George
February 17, 2010 5:43 PM | Link to this
Hal, WOW…you are going to cover Spring Training….That is great news…I thought you retired…so I’m glad the paper is sending you there…I really look foward to reading…btw..Gomes will be signed and play left field.
By George
February 17, 2010 5:43 PM | Link to this
Hal, WOW…you are going to cover Spring Training….That is great news…I thought you retired…so I’m glad the paper is sending you there…I really look foward to reading…btw..Gomes will be signed and play left field.
By Fundy
February 17, 2010 4:11 PM | Link to this
Hal, you have done a great job this off season (and before) keeping us all entertained via your reds blog. For being retired, you do a heck of a job, and I’m excited to hear you’re going to be in Goodyear. I still haven’t found anyone willing to drive the 26 hours to Arizona with me and its disappointing because I want to make the road trip this opening spring. I look for your articles every day, and I — like many Reds fans — truly enjoy your work. Thanks. BTW — Opening day LF: Francisco (hoping for the long shot, and the good odds on the hat pull) Marion’s anyone?