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Ask Hal: How long will Chapman’s heat last?

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6:38 PM Saturday, October 8, 2011

Hall-of-fame baseball writer Hal McCoy knows a thing or two about America’s pastime. If you’d like to tap into that knowledge, send a question to halmccoy1@hotmail.com. For more Ask Hal, log on to DaytonDailyNews.com/reds

Q: I recall a Pittsburgh Pirates manager being involved in a trade, so might Dusty Baker have some trade value? — Dave, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek

A: It wasn’t a Pittsburgh manager, it was an Oakland manager going to Pittsburgh. The Pirates acquired the rights to Oakland manager Chuck Tanner in exchange for catcher Manny Sanguillen and $100,000. In 1960, the Cleveland Indians traded manager Joe Gordon for Detroit manager Jimmy Dykes, straight up. It was a bad trade on both sides. Maybe the Reds will trade Baker for Tony La Russa and La Russa can cry about the smoke from home runs, the mud-rubbing deficiencies of the baseballs and Bronson Arroyo’s hat every day.

Q: I wonder how many Reds fans thought of Aroldis Chapman when Detroit’s Justin Verlander threw his 110th pitch 100 miles per hour in the eighth inning? — Doug, Fairbanks, Alaska

A: They might get that chance next season when the Reds try Chapman in the rotation. Chapman, though, needs to harness his command to even make it to the eighth inning. I’d bet 5 miles per hour came on adrenaline from the playoffs for Verlander, so it might behoove the Reds to make it to the postseason, then we might see it.

Q: During your career, which team entered the playoffs that you thought had no chance but won the World Series? — Alan, Sugarcreek Twp.

A: That’s a slam dunk — the 1990 Cincinnati Reds. They began the season 33-12, but then staggered home 58-59. They beat the Pirates four games to two in the NL Championship Series, but nobody gave them a chance in the World Series against the Mighty Oakland A’s and The Bash Brothers (Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco). I picked the A’s in five. But with their secret weapons of Billy Hatcher and Chris Sabo, the Reds swept the A’s four straight. Some little ol’ lady in Cincinnati bet in Vegas that the Reds would sweep and she won $55,000. If I only had known.

Q: Since we are forever wedded to the umpire for balls and strikes calls, why not do away with the tracker strike zone from the TV screen because it seems the umpires miss so many calls? — Dick, Dayton

A: I often wonder about the accuracy of that gizmo. And it seems to me the screen is cluttered with so many overlays that they distract from the game. Score. Balls and Strikes. Outs. MPH on the pitches. The balls and strikes tracker. The streaming line at the bottom of the screen telling us the latest scores and latest NFL player doubtful to play with a sore pinkie finger. And listening to some of the national dunderhead broadcasters drone on and on makes it worse. Just let me watch the doggone game, for crying out loud!

Q: What will you miss more this winter, watching Bronson Arroyo giving up home runs or the NBA games on TV? — Tom, Miamisburg.

A: It was kind of fun seeing how many home runs Arroyo could dish up and how far they would go, although it was no fun for him or the Reds. I know there are legions of NBA fans out there, but if I never saw another NBA game on TV it wouldn’t bother me a bit, although I enjoyed watching LeBron “Traitor” James fumble and stumble through the playoffs.

Q: If you could pick one player from each playoff team to start a new franchise, who would those players be? — Bill, Bald Knob, Ky.

A: McCoy’s Marauders: 1B, Albert Pujols (Cardinals); SS, Derek Jeter (Yankees); 3B Evan Longoria (Rays); OF, Ryan Braun (Brewers); OF Justin Upton (Diamondbacks), OF Josh Hamilton (Rangers); SP, Roy Halladay (Phillies); SP, Justin Verlander (Tigers). All I need is a catcher, second baseman and a bullpen, except I couldn’t afford them. Heck, the Yankees couldn’t afford the eight players I picked.

Q: You can write this down, because I know you are a Cleveland Browns fan: Jim Tressel will be the next Browns coach. — Roger, Louisa, Ky.

A: I wrote it down, but I don’t believe it. Most of the Browns already have enough tattoos, and they have enough money to make their own car deals. If Tressel couldn’t keep tabs on his college players, how is he ever going to keep a watchful eye on pro players?

Q: Does Edinson Volquez get more chances in an attempt to make the trade of Josh Hamilton to get him look good? — Dave, Lexington, Ky.

A: Current Reds GM Walt Jocketty didn’t make that trade, former GM Wayne Krivsky did. So Jocketty has no need to prove anything. What he does know is that Volquez won 17 games and made the All-Star team the first year he was with the Reds. His repertoire is outstanding — when he can get it over the plate. And he’ll have to show his 17-win ability to win a spot in the 2012 season, if he survives the winter without being traded.

Q: How would you rank the September collapses of Boston and Atlanta to other collapses over the last 50 years? — Ken, Oakwood

A: Those collapses were for the wild-card spots. Fifty years ago, there were no wild-card spots, so Boston and Atlanta would have been so far behind in second place that nobody would have noticed. Perhaps the biggest collapse in history was the 1964 Philadelphia Phillies under manager Gene Mauch. The Phillies had a 6½-game lead with 12 games to play, but eventually lost 10 games in a row and finished tied for second with the Reds, one game behind the Cardinals. Mauch remained with the Phillies through 1968, then managed Montreal, Minnesota and California. He was still managing the Angels in 1987, but never won a World Series.

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