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 > June > 07 > Entry
Brandon Phillips: Man with the Golden Hand
CINCINNATI — After five days on the Mayan Rivera at the all-inclusive Dreams resort for the destination wedding of my stepson, Chad, to his beautiful fiancée, Rion, I’m back on U.S. soil, just a little worse for wear.
Four of the five days were glorious. Only Sunday was a bummer because I once again contracted food poisoning and was bed-ridden for nearly 30 hours. But it rained that day after four perfect days, so I picked the correct day to have the toilet bowl as my constant companion.
Well, it wasn’t as bad as my previous trip to Cancun two years ago when I contracted food poisoning AND a dose malaria that took me nearly a year to get out of my system.
AND I DID see one baseball game on Mexican TV — Saturday’s game between the Cincinnati Rojos and the Los Angeles Doe-yers. Even though it was in Spanish I clearly saw what happened — a 7-2 lead that became an 11-8 disaster in 10 innings.
Watching that game reminded me of a story about former Cincinnati outfielder Jeff Stone. He played winter ball in the Caribbean and purchased a TV. When he came home he left the TV and when asked why he didn’t bring it back, he said, “Ah, it only speaks Spanish.”
AFTER WATCHING Brandon Phillips make several eye-popping barehanded plays this season, it is clear to me that he won’t win a Gold Glove this year. He is going to win a Gold Hand.
RIGHT NOW, the Reds are getting a dose of what they need most — The Chicago Cubs, the one team they have dominated. Nothing much else has changed over the past week. The pitching is a mess and the team has a Pitchers Shuttle on daily trips between Cincinnati, Louisville and Carolina.
While many fans continue to moan about the left field and shortstop situation, that isn’t this team’s problem. It all starts and ends with pitching.
The Reds have faced some of the best pitching in the league over the past three weeks and usually scored enough runs to win. But the other team scores more.
“We’re second or third in the league in most offensive categories,” said manager Dusty Baker. “So left field and shortstop are not the problem.”
Indeed, left fielder Jonny Gomes has started to come around and had a three-run homer and four RBIs Monday. Shortstop Paul Janish had three hits Sunday. Gomes is hitting .389 with a homer, two doubles and five RBIs over his last five starts. Over his last seven games Janish is hitting .333 with two two-hit games and the three-hit game.
THE TEMPERATURE was 91 degrees at 3 p.m., but all the Reds pitchers were on the field doing PFP, pitchers fielding practice, most of which involved covering first base on grounds balls and fielding ground balls.
Was it because a couple of Reds pitchers didn’t cover first base in the Dodgers series, including a costly one by Carlos Fisher in the extra-inning debacle against LA?
“We do it once a month,” said Baker. “It just so happens that it follows some recent miscues. No, we do it once a month to keep it familiar, make it second nature so they don’t even have to think about it.”
READ NOTHING special into the fact that Aroldis Chapman is doing his rehab assignment at Class AA Carolina rather than Class AAA Louisville.
It is a matter of location — Louisville is on the road in Syracuse and Carolina is on the road in Tennessee, much closer to Cincinnati.
“It doesn’t really matter much as far as competition as it does just getting on the mound,” said Baker. “Right now his competition is himself, not who he is pitching against. He’s been working hard and this time we anticipate he’ll be back on track. He is a big part of our bullpen.”
Baker said the plans are for Chapman to make at least two appearances on rehab.
SPEAKING OF PITCHERS, Louisville’s Dontrelle Willis came off the DL and pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings Monday against Columbus (three hits, three walks, seven strikeouts) in a 5-0 win.
Willis threw 83 pitches, 48 for strikes, but was unhappy with umpire Jon Byrne’s strike zone. Willis was already out of the game, but was ejected by Byrne for yelling at him from the dugout as Jerry Gil finished the fifth inning.
“For Dontrelle’s first time out, that was great,” said Baker. He didn’t know of Willis’s ejection and said, “Really? I guess he’s into it. Or out of it, one of the two.”
THERE WAS A life-sized stuffed gorilla sitting on a chair in the Reds clubhouse, which automatically evoked jokes.
“When did we get Kevin Mitchell back,” said one player. Said another, “I thought Juan Francisco was back and nobody told us.”
I thought it might have been the gorilla somebody pried off Gomes’s back.
Actually, outfielder Chris Heisey was at Kings Island and won the gorilla and several other prizes shooting basketballs. Maybe the Dallas Mavericks could use him.
SCOTT ROLEN was out of the lineup again with strep throat, something he picked up from his kindergarten son.
“It takes more than a couple of days to get rid of that stuff,” said Baker. “This weather doesn’t help, either — in and out of a/c. And he wants to be here, doesn’t want to be home.”
EDGAR RENTERIA showed up Tuesday with his bad back better than the last couple of days, which was good for him because the club was on the verge of placing him on the DL.
“He’s better,” said Baker. “If he continues at this pace he should be ready for a couple of those games this week in San Francisco. If he wasn’t, we were thinking about DLing him. If we don’t have to, we won’t.”
Baker’s comment on the insidious heat that had Cincinnati under a heat advisory Tuesday: “It feels like a Third World out there.”
OK, IT’S time for YOU got get back to work. I had to use one week’s worth of Ask Hal question for two weeks in the paper due to my trip to Mexico. So the e-mail box in nearly empty of questions. Need ‘em and need ‘em now for this coming Sunday’s DDN. Send them to halmccoy1@hotmail.com. Do it now. Puh-leez.
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By Irish Mike
June 11, 2011 11:56 PM | Link to this
Moron ‘shorty’ Marelli: Take care of them with what, your imagination?
By Mike Marelli
June 11, 2011 1:07 AM | Link to this
Irish Mike the Drunk, When it comes to the subject of driving, you had better arrange for the designated driver before you leave for your bender. Don’t worry I’ll take good care of your mom and sister, while you’re out making a fool of yourself.
By Irish Mike
June 10, 2011 10:11 AM | Link to this
Hey Moron Marelli, at least we are tall enough to drive without a booster seat!
By Mike Marelli
June 10, 2011 3:41 AM | Link to this
Know it all, You sound about as smart as Duncey Baker. Are you trying to say the same weather report that Larussa read, causing him to start Batista, wasn’t available to your manager? Don’t blame the Cardinal organization for Baker’s lack of common sense. Perhap’s Duncey should become a member of the weather channel’s email fan club. You’ve truly got to be simple, to come to such a conclusion. You want to blame someone for losses, try Brandon Big Mouth Phillips. His foolish pickoff at 2nd base during the infamous 19th inning loss, caused your team to lose probably in the neighborhood of 3 games minimum. What was most funny, is how they set him up, by talking to him first, waiting for him to look over his shoulder to return the ridiculous nonsensical chatter, that he so often engages in. Your team and its bullpen wore itself out that night in a loss, then following it with a loss the next day, where Homo Bailey hurt his shoulder. I also enjoyed watching the Philadelphia 2nd baseman Valdez go through the heart of your order—HAHA. Mike in Ky, even you admit 95% of the world despises Brandon Phillips, which puts him on the same level popularity wise with Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Adolf Hitler. Phillips is a thickheaded punk, just like most of you. Don’t look now, but the Pirates are hot on your tail.
By CJ
June 8, 2011 12:11 PM | Link to this
I feel sorry for the Cubs. A great hitting team, good defense, but a woeful pitching staff. Other than a couple of starters; its bad. They have nothing on the farm? stadium woes…
By KNOW IT ALL
June 8, 2011 10:21 AM | Link to this
Well said, DD Sweep Cubs, Brewers will take over 1st by the time we get to them.
By DD
June 8, 2011 10:10 AM | Link to this
Another solid effort last night - although it was only the Cubs. Still, taking 2 of 3 (at worst) is what you’re suppose to do against weaker teams. St. Louis should take some notes on that - could have helped them last year. But, second place is the first loser! Gomes, Stubbs, and Janish are starting to hit the ball at the same time. Somehow we need to keep these guys from all going into a funk at the same time. This offense is incredible when it’s hitting on all cylinders. Solid hitting, solid bullpen, great bench players, best defense in the game (led by the best defensive player in all of baseball - BP)…it all comes down to our rotation. Keep it up! Big 3 weeks before we get to slap around the Whiners and Brewers again.
By KNOW IT ALL
June 8, 2011 9:26 AM | Link to this
Hey ZEKE you are on Hal’s blog so where is the bashing? You guys must be so desperate. Why don’t you go back and look at Ozzie’s video of those stupid back flips that he did when he took the field. Showboating I would call that
By Zeke
June 8, 2011 9:11 AM | Link to this
Today, I shall go to Hal’s blog, and bash the best 2nd baseman in MLB. Because I know the truth.
By KNOW IT ALL
June 8, 2011 8:45 AM | Link to this
Mike Mike Mike you are so so boring. Wasn’t your manager that started a game knowing before hand that it was going to down pour about 10 mins after the start time in which it did. So much class your organization has? I wanted so bad to have that backfire in his face. But thats ok, and I understand that you are upset with Phillips because he owns your pitching staff. Plus your wrong as people do listen to me now. DD set me straight and made me see the real side of Cinn. In time you will see that my prediction of the Cardinals free falling downhill will have you say, KNOW IT ALL how did you KNOW IT ALL
By Mike in KY
June 8, 2011 7:55 AM | Link to this
@Marelli: All due respect, but you’re the last person anyone is going to listen to for commentary on the class of the Reds’ players or organization. Fact of the matter is, you just described 95 percent of the people on the planet with your assessment of Brandon’s behavior. Fact is, you’re just mad because BP isn’t sitting silently and taking all the garbage that STL fans are trying to give him. So when Yadi Molina or Gerald Laird (he doesn’t even play) defend themselves and the honor of their team, they’re classy. When Phillips does the same, he’s “classless.” Says a lot more about you than it does about one of Cincinnati’s favorite sons. Especially when your manager is still crying and whining to the media about the Cincinnati series THREE WEEKS LATER. The man says “shut up and tip your cap” and yet he continues his whining. Tony LaRussa, inventor of baseball, the consummate hypocrite.
By KNOW IT ALL
June 8, 2011 7:44 AM | Link to this
Reds are starting another streak only a winning one that should last for awhile. If you look back at yesterday’s blog before this one I predicted last nights score Reds 8 Cubs 2 way before game time and I was right on the money. Speaking of money I did also bet that score so I am a happy camper today. Now Mike as to your critical statements on Phillips. GIVE IT A REST, you would not be saying anything like this if you had half of a 2nd base defensive player like Phillips. Yes he may be alittle lax but he sure makes up for any losses that you said he has caused. Please look at your Cardinals record today because it will slowly start lowering its lead and wins as each day goes by. By the way todays prediction Reds 9 Cubs 4..
By Mike Marelli
June 8, 2011 5:09 AM | Link to this
Tim, I don’t discriminate against anyone, except for morons, and you definitely qualify. Where exactly did I say a single thing that remotely relates to race? On the other hand, in the racial slur department, “Yep”, called me a “short Italian”. Even that’s curious since I’m actually 6’2”. That either makes him really tall, or he needs to come up with a little better Italian slur. Might I suggest he call me a garlic breathed greaseball? Only problem is, I wake up every morning, thanking God I’m Italian, (like most Paisano’s I know). I suppose it’s just the arrogance in the Italian race. It sort’ve reminds one, of your big mouthed second baseman, now doesn’t it?
By tim
June 8, 2011 2:22 AM | Link to this
Cowboy and Mike are racists!
By Yep
June 7, 2011 9:54 PM | Link to this
And you, moron Marelli, the really short Italian, need to go to sleep, compliments of Dr. Kevorkian. What place is the cardinal second baseman in the all-star voting?
By Cowboy is a phony
June 7, 2011 8:55 PM | Link to this
Phillips has made some good plays but his mouth and his tweets are gettin as old as the Cowboy’s phony fake southern drawl. Maybe he can learn to not walk off a base this year and get picked off.
By Mike Marelli
June 7, 2011 7:08 PM | Link to this
The only thing that could possibly be “Golden” about Phillips, is if he could keep his big mouth shut. Yes, silence would be “Golden” in Phillips’ case. He goes around sweet talking the people he “likes”, being the perfect gentleman. But with people he doesn’t care for, he’s the consummate in your face jerk. It’s time to realize, the damage he does to the proud history of the Red organization. That Cincinnati Red brand image is one with a long tradition of class, considered among baseball’s elite group. Yet, you allow this Phillips guy to detract from that brand name, doing as he pleases to the world. But you all defend him to the point of stupidity, just because he happens to be a very talented athlete. But there’s more to being a ballplayer, than just stats. Phillips couldn’t hold a candle to the level of class that exudes from a player such as Johnny Bench. You all need to wake up and smell the coffee. Phillips antics are as hurtful to you, as his Rbi’s and solid defense are helpful. Quit being a bunch of fools, throwing rose petals at his feet.