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 > 2011 > May > 29 > Entry
Reds waste Cueto’s gem, limp home 2-8.
UNSOLICITED OBSEERVATIONS from The Man Cave while wondering, “What is Google thinking?” I have a Google Alert that e-mails me anything that is published with my name in it. On Saturday morning I received an alert and opened it. It was a notice about an old movie called The Real McCoy, starring Kim Bassinger as Karen McCoy, a jewel thief. Well, I always did like Kim Bassinger.
I watched the Toronto-Chicago White Sox game Saturday afternoon. The Man Cincinnati Fans Hated, Corey Patterson, had five hits for the Jays, including a game-winning walk-off home run in the 14th Inning.
And then he had four more hits Sunday in a 13-4 win over the White Sox. Nine hits in two days? Isn’t that more than he had during an entire season with the Reds?
MAYBE THE Reds could have used Patterson the last two nights when they lost in 12 innings Saturday, 7-6, and lost Sunday night, 2-1.
It was a beautifully played baseball game Sunday, despite the defeat that ended this Trip Through the Jungle for the Reds, a 2-8 trip and they’ve lost 10 of 12.
And it gets no easier. The Reds wobble home for a three-game series against the hottest team in baseball, the Milwaukee Brewers.
JOHNNY CUETO was Johnny-on-the-spot for the Reds Sunday, saving the bullpen with a complete game, but back-to-back mistakes did him in.
He led, 1-0, thanks to Jay Bruce’s major-league leading 15th home run in the second inning. But he walked the leadoff hitter and Martin Prado drilled a two-run home run and that was that.
Cueto gave up one run and only five hits for his eight innings and all it got him was an ‘atta-boy’ pat on the back and an ‘L’ on his record.
The Reds had the tying run on second base in the eighth inning in Paul Janish when Brandon Phillips singled sharply to left.
Third base coach Mark Berry waved Janish homeward and Prado’s throw easily beat Janish. But Janish put on a dandy fadeaway slide to the inside of home plate, forcing catcher David Ross to make a diving effort at a tag.
Replays indicated that Ross might have missed the tag. Might have. But umpire Dan Iassogna, wearing an ESPN microphone, screamed, “Right there. Right there he gotcha.”
That ended the inning.
Atlanta’s Jair Jurgenns, who might be the best pitcher in the majors right now, pitched eight innings and gave up one run and six hits - the 10th straight start in which he went six or more innings and gave up two or fewer runs.
CLOSER CRAIG KEMBREL, now 15 for 19 in save situations, tempted the fates but won out.
He walked Joey Votto on four pitches to start the ninth. Scott Rolen popped to second and Bruce struck out on three pitches.
Fred Lewis singled to right and with the outfield playing deep to cut off doubles Votto should have easily made third. But he stopped at second, another baserunning faux pas.
But it mattered not. Ramon Hernandez, who on Friday hit the first home run ever hit off Kembrel in the majors, struck out to end it.
Janish did not have a night on the basepaths to tell his future kids about. In addition to getting thrown out at home, he was picked off first base by catcher Ross.
DID ANYBODY else get tired of announcer Bobby Valentine’s constant babble about how the Reds should acquire Mets shortstop Jose Reyes?
Pshaw and balderdash. Why?
First of all, Reyes would be a quick-fix rental. He is a free agent after the season and would leave to the highest bidder, which isn’t likely to be the Reds. To acquire him, the Reds would have to give up some very good prospects.
So at season’s end, the Reds would be minus Reyes and minus some top prospects just to rent a shortstop who has lost a step on defense, has a low on-base percentage and doesn’t take walks.
Let’s hope general manager Walt Jocketty is much smarter than Bobby Valentine. My opinion? Jocketty wins every time.
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By daveb
May 31, 2011 10:26 AM | Link to this
OK so I’ve defended Dusty against the haters for the last two years but it’s possible he’s not the most adept manager in the league. The managers decisions usually only make a difference in close games and the Reds have been losing too many close ones.
By David
May 30, 2011 6:52 PM | Link to this
Shortstop? Elvis Andrus. Make a deal.
By RC
May 30, 2011 6:20 PM | Link to this
“ole’ Timmy explains the double switch with the same intensity Scientists explain the results of the Large Hadron Collider” may be the funniest thing I’ve ever read here, and a perfect description of why I find McCarver such a bore. Just say no to Reyes or any other 3 month rental, Walt. I would, however, give up some juicy prospects if we could snag Hunter Pence from the Stros - I’d like to have his next 5-6 years under contract. Don’t see it happening, though.
By ohdave
May 30, 2011 5:10 PM | Link to this
Apparently it is just like last year… we can’t beat good teams with a winning record. I’m pretty disgusted with the team right now. I have a feeling we are going to be out of it in two weeks. As bad as the hitting and pitching both have been I don’t see an end in sight unless there is a major personnel move.
By Mike=Dayton
May 30, 2011 3:22 PM | Link to this
not really … dumb worked pretty well seeing as it was a blanket statement about Morgan’s ability to relate to a game he has been involved with his entire life. Statement = Dumb does not equate to Person = Dumb.
By Opinion This
May 30, 2011 3:08 PM | Link to this
The problem with this blog is too many “Know It All’s”. Are there this many lonely,opinionated, pric _’s in the world?
By Gem&Heater
May 30, 2011 2:54 PM | Link to this
Gee Mike, it’s just my opinion about his style as an analyst. He just rubs me the wrong way just like McCarver. I’m sure he is a great person and is doing his best to sell cars at his dealership. (and help inner city kids at the same time) Dumb comment? That’s a pretty strong critique don’t you think?
By Tom
May 30, 2011 2:50 PM | Link to this
Bobby V. strikes me as a guy who talks out of both sides of his mouth; and watch your back. Time to give Rolen a rest. Put Frazier at third; we need his offense. It’s make or break time for the .500 Reds with a nine game homestand, seven games on the west coast with the Giants and Dodgers, then home to face Toronto and the Yankees. Let’s hope we can pull out of this spiral that started with the Pirates.
By Mike-Dayton
May 30, 2011 2:27 PM | Link to this
What does “Morgan seemed out of touch with today’s game” mean? What a dumb statement that means nothing. It is the same game as always and Morgan knows more about baseball and how to analyze it than most analysts (poor man’s McCarver? - ole’ Timmy explains the double switch with the same intensity Scientists explain the results of the Large Hadron Collider). And Morgan is also working with MLB and the Reds to promote baseball back into the inner city - it appears that Morgan is directly involved with “today’s game” … and Valentine is so bad, Orel H seems to want to kill him every Sunday …
By RLT
May 30, 2011 11:31 AM | Link to this
In reviewing the last 9 games of the Reds/Cards, I find that the Reds played teams with a +32 over 500, while the Cards played teams with a -17 under 500. That relates to a +49 difference. Now we have the Brewers in town, not let up yet.
By Gem&Heater
May 30, 2011 11:13 AM | Link to this
Don’t share your optimism about Jocketty being able to fix this. Pitching which seemed to be abundant in the off season is now scarce with all the injuries. Cueto pitched well and so did Leake (who never should have been sent down) but Arroyo is iffy and at least two other starters will have to be found. Reyes isn’t the answer because quite honestly the guy is a self serving clown of an athlete. Valentine is a talking head but that’s what ESPN wants, constant blabber from the analyst. I can’t defend Morgan however because he had become a windbag who seemed out of touch with today’s game. Kind of a poor man’s McCarver. Hal, maybe analyst for FOX or ESPN could be your next stop. Could open up new doors for you.
By KJr in NC
May 30, 2011 10:29 AM | Link to this
Everyone knew this was going to be a tough stretch when the schedule came out. Of course we could have done better if our pitching was healthy. Don’t give up, this IS a very good team!
By Javi
May 30, 2011 10:28 AM | Link to this
Bobby Valentine makes me nauseous, in no way would Reyes help this team…Lf and 3rd base are the the greatest offensive concerns right now. Rolen is a great clubhouse presence who can no longer play everyday and looks overmatched at the plate. The Reds management knew this could happen to them because we saw who Gomes and Rolen were in the second half of the season and into the playoffs. Unfortunately due to financial issues they were not able to address these needs. I dont believe the Reds can compete with the Brewers and Cardinals for the division this year and i expect veterans like Gomes, Ramon Hernandez and Renteria to be gone by the allstar break.
By Batting Avg.
May 30, 2011 9:08 AM | Link to this
I believe the Reds have a great team. My request to management is why aren’t the best batting averages put together at the top of the lineup to help Votto and Bruce get better pitches to hit. We keep trying to get the weaker hitters to get out of their funk. Lets just cash in with our hottest hitters now.
By cory r
May 30, 2011 7:21 AM | Link to this
reds had a good season last year but in the playoffs showed that they needed to upgrade their lineup if they were going to take the next step this season, management did nothing to address the need hence this season will be a struggle especially against good pitching, rolon is a solid vet but in no way is he a 4th hitter, gomes is a bench player not a starter, weaknesses needed to be addressed and of course due to payroll etc nothing was done
By jeff
May 30, 2011 7:16 AM | Link to this
The reds have lost 6 1/2 games in the standings in two weeks. 5 out isn’t exactly promising but not horrid either. 2-10 in their last 12 is not good. Plus they are .500 now. I still don’t think they are as good as most thought to start the year but they arent this bad. The Reds obviously need to get more out of shortstop and left field but they need to get more out of Scott Rolen. Grea game by Cueto. He took one for the team last night and doesnt get anything to show for it
By Lew
May 30, 2011 5:33 AM | Link to this
Ross missed Janish, and Bobby Valentine is an idiot.
By StuttgartTim
May 30, 2011 2:55 AM | Link to this
Anyone else scan right past any post that has all caps without reading it?
By Mike Marelli
May 30, 2011 1:47 AM | Link to this
BREAKING NEWS!! JOSE REYES SHORTSTOP FOR THE NY METS HAS BEEN TRADED TO THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS, FOR JOHN JAY AND A PLAYER TO BE NAMED LATER. WHEN REYES WAS QUIZZED ABOUT THE RUMORS OF HIM GOING TO CINCINNATI, HIS RESPONSE WAS, THAT TEAM BLOWS. I INSISTED THEY TRADE ME TO A CLUB WITH A LONG HISTORY OF SUCCESS, THAT IS THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS. HE THEN MUTTERED UNDER HIS BREATH, CINCINNATI CAN GO SUCK AN EGG. HOW RUDE!
By Damn!
May 29, 2011 11:46 PM | Link to this
“The others don’t have potential like Jonny to be game-changers”—Baker…this is delusional and poor leadership. Don’t invalidate Lewis and Heisey to boost Gomes. Ever since this man got here he hasn’t let a week go by without saying, or doing, something stupid about his lineup! Lewis is producing—play him you idiot! Quit insulting the blog with your ignorantly, imbecilic BS,and your equally moronic lineups!
By GNolan38
May 29, 2011 11:38 PM | Link to this
ESPN got rid of Morgan and brought in Valentine? thats almost as bad of a move as bringing in Reyes, besides..if we needs anything, its a LF , glad we got the complete game from Cueto, we needed it…
By scooter
May 29, 2011 11:34 PM | Link to this
Junior gonna b a tard daddy just like duties and johnny gome and bobby the beenan’s and paul janishes and gwegs and office piece and rhonda’s. You memba that time i shat on yo bus? MMMMM-MM!
By ohdave
May 29, 2011 11:34 PM | Link to this
Hal, I am not sure Reyes is the answer but I KNOW Janish isn’t. I have to disagree with you about Jockety. He rolled the dice in the off season by not upgrading at our two obviously weak positions, short and left, and now it is haunting the Reds as they continue to get no production whatsoever from those two positions. This offense is pathetic, and if we aren’t going to acquire anyone at least let Yonder Alonso come up and take some hacks.
By PIMP
May 29, 2011 11:29 PM | Link to this
This is pimp, pimp, PIMP! Office Piece?? Office Piece!!! MMMM-MMMM!!!!!
By WALDO
May 29, 2011 11:26 PM | Link to this
WEDS R GUUD WEDS R GUUD WEDS R GUUD YAAAAAY!!!!