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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 > March > 08 > Entry
Chapman hits 102 (maybe) … 100 (for sure)
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Homer Bailey throws two perfect innings during an early-morning ‘B’ game before the frozen dew thaws and that isn’t big news.
Bronson Arroyo throws two perfect innings in the ‘A’ game under cloudy skies and a chill breeze and that isn’t big news, either.
Two words. Aroldis Chapman.
Chapman gave up a hit and a walk, but he had the scouts behind the plate banging their radar guns with their fists to make sure the numbers weren’t stuck. One scout recorded a Chapman fastball at 102 miles an hour. One-oh-two. And the same scouts had him throwing another pitch at 100.
Several scouts caught the 100 reading, but only one had the 102 recording.
Chapman, facing major-league hitters for the first time, gave up no runs and struck out three — 26 pitches, 15 strikes.
THE HIT came off the bat of Kansas City catcher Bryan Pena, a fellow Cuban and friend. Pena was Chapman’s catcher during Chapman’s tryout for major-league teams in Arizona in December. And the two will have dinner together tonight,.
BAILEY APPEARS to have packed his new, improved version and shipped it with him to not-so-sunny (and cold) Arizona. But it’s a dry cold, right?
Bailey pitched in a 9:30 a.m. ‘B’ game today and pitched just the way he pitched in his last nine starts of 2009. He faced the Kansas City Royals on Field One at Goodyear Ballpark - witnessed only by a gaggle of Major League scouts, plus Reds and Brewers officials and the media - and went six up and six down, with three strikeouts.
One of the strikeouts was on the split-fingered fastball he added to his repertoire last season.
Bailey, only 23 and pitching in his fourth major-league season, was 6-1 with a 1.70 ERA in his last nine starts of 2009 and it looks as if it is carrying over. He gets it.
“The thing I’m seeing with Homer is that he has learned that he has a routine,” said manager Dusty Baker. “That’s why he preferred to pitch in the ‘B’ game, so he could get into his routine as a starter. They say sameness is greatness. He is into a regimen and that wasn’t really Homer in the past. That shows he is very serious and is interested in being good in this game.
“He’s a man now, he has grown up,” said Baker. “I mean, as we have talked about, he has been around a long time and he is only 23. Where were you at 23 - probably still hanging in a bar somewhere?”
Yikes. So now Baker is doing background checks on writers?
“We expect a lot of things out of people just because they’ve been around a long time or have a lot of money,” said Baker. “Remember, they are not being paid to be mature, they’re being paid to pitch well. I’ve seen a lot of very good pitchers who aren’t mature. But you hope they mature and Homer has.”
AFTER HIS outing, Bailey said his mission today was, “To keep the ball down, get my form and it was good to work with (catcher) Ryan Hanigan. I did keep the ball down and my secondary pitches (slider, split) were pretty good.”
Bailey laughed when asked about the new split-finger and how much better it should be this year now that he has worked with it. “There’s no telling. It may get worse.”
Doubtful.
“It has come along pretty good, like all my other pitches, even though it’s fairly new,” said Bailey. “It was comfortable for me to learn and now I use it as just any other pitch.”
AND ABOUT developing a routine, Bailey said, “I was going to throw after Bronson Arroyo in the ‘A’ game and I volunteered to start the early-morning game so I can get used to the time I need to be stretched, what time I need to be out there, what time I need to start throwing in a bullpen to warm up - all the things you do before starting a game. It’s all about preparing to start a game, which is as important as anything.”
See? Classic maturity.
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April 1, 2010 5:24 PM | Link to this
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By MAC
March 9, 2010 9:58 AM | Link to this
Funny, very funny Hal! A lot of good news here. I think your last 2 blogs show a deeper side to Dusty as well; I think he “Get’s IT” (sees the big picture) more than most of us care to admit. However, his comment on Homer’s routine left a question in my mind: “Don’t all of our pitchers have a pre-game routine?” The way it’s written, it sounds like Dusty is surprised by his approach or pre-game routine? I think that’s Dusty’s problem w/ this team..he gives young players too much freedom (no approach)? I think he’s trying not to stress the kids & help them relax, but when U watch the approach some of them take AB & on the field, I think he’s a little too hands off? What about that Hal?
By Fred
March 9, 2010 9:39 AM | Link to this
Couldn’t help but notice the game attendance was just over 2000 (how many really showed?
By A. Chapman
March 9, 2010 2:25 AM | Link to this
As long as Chapman’s velocity is good he should make the show. Just the idea of 100mph left hander would make a large percentage of major leaguers nervous
By Brent A.
March 9, 2010 12:46 AM | Link to this
“But it’s a dry cold, right?” That is hilarious!
By Mark
March 8, 2010 8:02 PM | Link to this
Hey Hal! Now that you’ve retired, I’m seeing more of you than ever before. You’ve got your blog and column here with the DDN and your column and daily video on foxsportsohio.com. I think I also see you in the Cincinnati Enquirer! Keep up the good work!
By Steve M.
March 8, 2010 5:53 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the nice article on Homer, Hal. I’m getting pretty encouraged about that kid’s future with the Reds.