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Ask Hal: Larkin is in a class by himself

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By Hal McCoy, Contributing Writer 10:52 PM Saturday, October 29, 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 Do you find it bizarre that if Barry Larkin does get into the Hall of Fame next year that he will be in a class by himself, much like his separation from the team as captain of the Cincinnati Reds? — Dave, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek

A Back to bashing Larkin again, huh, even after he is long gone? And it isn’t ‘if’ he gets in. He will get in this year. As for being in a class by himself, he certainly was — one of the best all-around shortstops of all-time. Ask our good friend Bill James. And as captain, despite what you think, because of the team he ripped the captain’s ‘C’ off his jersey in defiance of an organizational decision. He was supported by his teammates and was one of the most respected and beloved teammates ever to wear the wishbone ‘C.’ And I’d say that even though he once asked me if I would do his biography — although he later said he was not going to write a book.

Q Do you envision a Super Bowl setup for the World Series, where the games are played in a predetermined warm-weather venue like California or Florida? — Randy, Ramstein Air Base, Germany

A Never, never, never. The Super Bowl is one game. The World Series can go seven games and they might have trouble filling the stadium seven times in a neutral venue. I would never want to take away the fan hysteria that we saw in Arlington and St. Louis this year. Do you think that when the Chicago Cubs finally make the World Series again, in 2076, that their fans want to watch on TV while their Cubbies are losing in four games in Los Angeles?

Q If you could go back in the annals of time, what three people from the game would you like to have dinner with and why? — Michael, Arlington, Va.

A Babe Ruth, of course. I love hot dogs and beer, too. And I could find out where he bought his skimmer hats and camel hair coats. Branch Rickey, of course. I could share a couple of cigars with him while asking how he mustered the nerve to sign Jackie Robinson. Ted Williams, of course. We’d talk hitting, but since he hated writers I’d tell him I was a fishing expert (he loved fishing), even though the next time I put a worm on a hook will be the first time.

Q Given the high costs of tickets to professional sporting events and the equally outrageous prices for food and drink, particularly in these times of deep recession, do we really still think ballplayers are worth salaries in the tens of millions per year? — Steve, Fairborn

A I always thought they were way overpaid in even the best of times. But when did you ever hear of an owner pointing a machete at a player’s neck and say, “Sign this 10-year, $175 million contract or I’ll lop off your noggin.” The owners created it, with help from the players union, and while they mumble and groan they still pass out money like they stole it from a Monopoly game.

Q How are the players paid during the postseason? Do they get a percentage of their salary for those extra games? — Joe, Dayton

A This is when baseball becomes partially socialistic. Every player is paid the same amount in the postseason, be he the rawest rookie or the highest sultan of salary. The postseason winnings are divided into shares with each player on each team receiving a share. The deeper a team goes in the playoffs, the bigger the share. A share for a rookie on the World Series winner might win more than his entire year’s salary while it is a mere pittance to a guy like Albert Pujols.

Q All biases aside, what was the better Game 6 game of the World Series — 2011 or in 1975? Tom, Miamisburg

A Memory plays tricks, so for me I could not envision a wilder Game 6 than this year. But it wasn’t well-played. Poor defense, poor pitching, poor managerial decisions. But it certainly was exciting. And while 1975’s Boston-Cincinnati game is considered a classic because of Carlton Fisk’s 11th-inning home run, there are others. There was 1986 when the Red Sox took a two-run lead in the top of the 10th and the Mets had two outs and nobody on. In the bottom of the 10th, Bosox first baseman Bill Buckner let a ball roll through his legs and three runs eventually scored and the Mets won. And there was 1991 when Minnesota’s Kirby Puckett hit a walk-off 11th inning home run to beat Atlanta, after Puckett earlier made a game-saving catch above the wall. But, right now, with it fresh in my memory. Game 6, 2011. Instant Classic.

Q Doesn’t Tony La Russa overmanage, like in one World Series game when he used three players for one at-bat, replacing Scott Schumaker with Ryan Theriot to bunt and then replacing Theriot with Jon Jay on defense? — Mark, Bloomington, Ind.

A All of us outside the St. Louis environs believe Abner La Russa (or is it Tony Doubleday?) overdoes it. Is he a control freak? Yes. Is he condescending and aloof? Yes. Is he a winner? Most definitely. Is he one of baseball’s all-time best? Yes, he is — as long as you keep a telephone out of his hands.

Q In your 40 years of covering baseball, have you ever seen a hitter given the authority to call a hit-and-run while batting the way Albert Pujols allegedly did in the World Series? — Steven, Mahomet, Ill.

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