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Hal McCoy, the hall-of-fame baseball writer for the Dayton Daily News, knows a thing or two about America's pastime. If you want to tap into that knowledge, send an e-mail to hmccoy@DaytonDailyNews.com. For more Ask Hal, log on to DaytonDailyNews.com/reds.

Q My wife bought me a Bronson Arroyo CD and on the back it points out that he isn't a professional singer. What does it say on the back of his bubblegum card? — Dave, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek

A You are on a roll, my friend. Haven't checked, but I believe it says something like: "Warning: The surgeon general has determined that watching this guy pitch could be dangerous to your health, especially during day games."

Q How much fine will Chad Fairchild have to pay Bud Selig for (A) Looking at the third base bag while obviously ignoring Edwin Encarnacion's glove hand, (B) throwing Encarnacion out of the game on false pretenses and (C) lying to Dusty Baker, saying that Encarnacion threw his glove? — Gary, Bjerkvik, Norway.

A We won't need an accountant for this one. A - $0. B - $0. C- $0. What's the total? Meanwhile, Encarnacion will be fined $250 for his ejection. There are umpiring supervisors who sit in the press box and observe. If the replay was checked, they'll discover that umpire Chad Fairchild missed that call and he'll be slapped on the wrist, but he'll probably have his protective gear on when it happens.

Q My beloved wife of 23 years abstained from the holy sacraments — a hot dog and a beer — at a Reds-Pirates game and opted for a slice of pizza. Is this grounds for a divorce? — Craig, Dayton

A A Reds-Pirates game? She should have had No-Doz and Advil. And you are wrong, my friend. You should have had peanuts and Cracker Jack. And it IS Cracker Jack and not Cracker Jacks.

Q Dusty Baker is showing he is no judge of pitching talent thus far this season and the Reds will end up in the cellar for sure if he continues using weathered David Weathers in close games, don't you think? — Jake, St. Louis

A The Florida Marlins are looking for veteran bullpen help and had two scouts in Cincinnati during the Pittsburgh series to check out Weathers. Stormy had a rough time so interest probably waned. But saying the Reds will finish last if Baker continues using Weathers is a bit harsh. Hey, just like finishing first is a team effort, finishing last is a team effort and there will bee a whole bunch of faces without smiles in the team photo.

Q Is Dusty Baker's preoccupation with alternating left-handers and right-handers messing up the Reds' scoring by putting a comparatively weaker hitter in the No. 4 spot? I think the standard is that your best pure hitter hits third, and Ken Griffey Jr. belongs there, but the clean-up slot is supposed to go to a hulking monster who might strike out a lot but who can crush the ball. On this Reds team, that's Adam Dunn and only Adam Dunn, right? — T.R., Dayton

A Welllllll, let's see. I agree Phillips isn't a No. 4 hitter. He has changed his approach — swings at nearly every first pitch and swings for the fences. He is more a No. 3. Tons of people, judging by my e-mails, are pleading for Griffey to be moved out of No. 3. And, yes, I can see Dunn in the No. 4 hole. My lineup: SS Jerry Hairston Jr., 3B Jeff Keppinger, 2B Brandon Phillips, LF Adam Dunn, CF Jay Bruce, RF Ken Griffey Jr., C David Ross, 1B Joey Votto. As you can see, I'd trade Edwin Encarnacion and I'm not that afraid to stack left-handers. But that's why Dusty Baker makes the big bucks and I drink free coffee in the press box.

Q With Jay Bruce playing like he should be back with the Dragons, Adam Dunn having a routine year, and Ken Griffey Jr. playing on his name alone, don't you think the Reds would give their eye teeth to have Josh Hamilton back? Roger, Riverside.

A Don't know who you're watching, but Bruce still looks good to me and I wouldn't call 21 home runs (fourth in the league) a routine year. Not only would the Reds NOT give their eye teeth, they wouldn't give their baby teeth, their molars or their false teeth to have Hamilton back. What, you want them to send Edinson Volquez back? And who is to say Hamilton would be doing in Cincinnati what he is doing in Texas? I say he wouldn't be.

Question of the week

Q Why can't the Reds hire an established pitching coach, like Atlanta's former coach (Leo Mazzone)? His record speaks for itself. Mario Soto would also be an excellent coach. — Gene, Dayton

A Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Steve Avery. Those were Atlanta's starters under Mazzone. Hey, my Uncle Bill could have coached that rotation and he didn't know a baseball from a kumquat. He would hand them the baseball and say, "Go pitch." How good was Mazzone with the Baltimore staff after he left Atlanta? And to answer one final question with a question, who said this? "Dick Pole (current Reds pitching coach) is the best pitching coach I ever had." The answer: Greg Maddux. As for Soto, he is happy running the Reds baseball academy in his native Dominican Republic.