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 > 13 > Entry
No offense, no victory on dismal Reds night
UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave while remembering trips to Fisherman’s Wharf on a cold San Francisco night (is there any other kind?) and remembering my wife Nadine feeling sorry for the sea lions and wanting to organize a Blankets for the Sea Lions group.
THERE was nothing wrong with Edinson Volquez’s pitching Sunday night against the San Francisco Giants, very credible, but his baserunning resembled an elephant trapped in a small room.
And it cost him.
It was the fifth inning and the Reds led, 2-0. Volquez led the inning with a single. Drew Stubbs then pulled one down the left field line that ricocheted off the wall in foul territory. An ordinary runner on first base would have made it to third standing up. Volquez, though, stopped at second, forcing Stubbs to stop at first.
So instead of having runners on second and third with no outs, the Reds had runners on first and second.
Brandon Phillips struck out on a pitch in the dirt from Jonathan Sanchez. Joey Votto lined one to deep left that Cody Ross chased down near the wall.
Where was Volquez? Almost to third base, where he should have been in the first place. But he shouldn’t have been there at that moment. Ross threw to second base to double off Volquez and the inning was over.
Votto, the man who hit the ball, was visibly upset when the play ended, probably wondering if Volquez ever ran the bases in his life. Didn’t look like it.
And the Reds never scored again, losing 4-2 to split a four-game series that they easily could have swept.
WHILE HE PITCHED well enough to win, Volquez still uses too many pitches. He had 113 by the end of the sixth inning after giving up two runs and walking three and striking out five.
PIN THIS DEFEAT on the offense — six hits, one for six with runners in scoring position, seven runners left on base. The middle of the order was 0 for 9 (Brandon Phillips 0 for 4, Joey Votto 0 for 3 and Jay Bruce 0 for 2).
The Reds took a 2-0 lead in the fourth but should have scored more than two because the first four runners reached base.
Votto was hit by a pitch and Bruce walked. Scott Rolen doubled for one run and Jonny Gomes walked to fill the bases with no outs. Renteria hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-0, but Ramon Hernandez hit into a double play.
End of offense.
The Giants scored a run in their fourth on a single by Nate Schierholtz and a double by Aubrey Huff, who was 6 for 35 at the time but finished this night with three important hits.
They tied it in the sixth when Volquez walked the first batter, Schierholtz, on four pitches, Huff singled and a run scored when the Reds failed to turn a double play on a ground ball to shortstop Edgar Renteria.
The Giants scored the two runs they needed in the seventh against the Reds’ bullpen.
Jose Arredondo walked the inning’s first hitter, Brandon Stewart. After he struck out pinch-hitter Pat Burrell, Arredondo gave up a double to Andres Torres, putting runners on second and third.
They wisely walked Reds-killer Miguel Tejada to fill the bases with one out.
With two left-handers coming up, manager Dusty Baker brought in left-hander Bill Bray. Schierholtz jumped on Bray’s first pitch and lined hard to center field, a sacrifice fly to make it 3-2. Then Huff singled to left and it was 4-2.
LEFTHANDER JAVIER Lopez started the eighth and quickly struck out both Votto and Bruce, then right-hander Sergio Romo came on to get Scott Rolen to pop out to first base.
All that was left was for closer Brian Wilson to do his thing. Fear the beard? With his long black beard, it is fun to sit and try to think who he looks like while he mows down your team.
Blackbear the Pirate? The Unabomber? One of the Smith Brothers of cough drop fame? Whatever, he did his job. Again.
He struck out Gomes, Renteria grounded to short, Hernandez singled for his second hit, but pinch-hitter Chris Heisey grounded to third on a full count.
It was The Beard’s 18th save to go with five wins and the Reds fell 4 ½ games behind the division leader. No, not St. Louis. The Milwaukee Brewers are now in first place.
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By Nature Boy Mick Flare
June 15, 2011 2:13 AM | Link to this
“Mike in Ky” & “Know It All” have plans to move to San Fran, Calif. There they will be united in a Gay wedding ceremony. The Maid of Honor will be Elton John. Other bridesmaids include Boy George, George Michael, and Ricky Martin. A toast to the Groom and Groom!
By @simpletons
June 14, 2011 9:17 PM | Link to this
Relative to the moronic conversation you both must be about twelve…grow up!
By Mike Marelli
June 14, 2011 5:25 PM | Link to this
Bonehead in Kentucky, What exactly is my fundamental misunderstanding about attendance? When a small mid-western city such as St. Louis outdraws major metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, & Detroit, the evidence is pretty overwhelming. It just might be you, who is 100% uninformed, if not downright ignorant of the realities involved here. But we know why folks in Ohio don’t go to the Ballgame. That’s because there’s just too many other incredibly more attractive options in Cincinnati, right? HEHE. There has to be some reason why you don’t go. Frankly, I can’t blame you, with losers like Brandon Phillips on your club, I wouldn’t want to go either. Why don’t you move to St. Louis, you can still work at Walmart here, just don’t move in my neighborhood. Although I don’t think I’ll have to worry about that, even our hired domestic help earn more than a Walmart clerk. I’m not certain whether the Cardinals will win the division or not. It’s pretty hard to lose our ace in Adam Wainright, and then still bring home a title. All things considered, we’re overachieving this season—or in other words, opposite to the underachieving Cincy Reds. Perhaps if you got an injury to your ace, say for instance the Dreadlock wearing Karate Kid Johnny Cueto, you all wouldn’t do so well. To repeat, I’m not sure the Cardinals will win. However what I am sure of, the Reds will not win this season.
By Mike in KY
June 14, 2011 11:30 AM | Link to this
@Mike Marelli: Thanks for that rehash of every attempted insult towards Reds fans that you Cardinals creeps have made over the last 16 months when your team folded like a wet towel. They ring hollow and meaningless now. Like I said, you keep resting on your laurels of the past, we’ll be busy celebrating the championships of the future. I’m not even going to address your fundamental lack of understanding on attendance, because you simply don’t, won’t or can’t understand. But don’t worry, we’ve kept third place nice and warm for when the Cardinals make their trip through on their way to a fifth-place finish this season.
By Mike Marelli
June 14, 2011 3:29 AM | Link to this
Mike in Ky, It’s hard to fathom someone named Mike being such a twit, but you are. Our last Championship was only 5 years ago, not 21 like yours. 17 Pennants are a far and above ahead of the 9 for the Reds. You win one lousy division title, then get literally humiliated by a Phillies team that couldn’t advance in the next round. You have a bunch of big mouths on the team, who go around talking about how great they are, but have never accomplished a thing. The only guys on your club with championship rings, happen to be former Cardinals—what a coincidence. You’re the one who is pretending that his club is relevant. How many years did the Reds go without a playoff appearance, it’s ridiculous? On top of it all, you people as fans barely show up to watch your team play. The Cincinnati Reds are 18th overall in attendance, while the Cardinals are 7th. That puts us ahead of huge metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles (Dodgers), Chicago (Cubs& Whitesox), Detroit, & New York (Mets) Here in St. Louis, we support our club, because they’re not a bunch of big mouthed no-achieving prima donna’s. You all talk about how great your club is, but you don’t even go out to watch them. My guess is, the greater majority of you don’t go, because you’re all unemployed bottle jockies, and the expense is simply too much for you.
By Mike in KY
June 14, 2011 1:25 AM | Link to this
@Mike Marelli: Quit pretending the Cardinals are more relevant than they are. Half of those WS titles are when the league was depleted of talent due to war. Since 1990, the Cardinals have as many WS titles as the Reds, one. If you want to rest on your team’s laurels, then that’s fine. It’s a quality of losers and that quality (or lack thereof) will be borne out in the final standings. Loshe and Westbrook are coming back down to earth, Garcia is entering a sophomore slump, Carpenter is failing to produce (to the glee of everyone, I must admit), the Cards bullpen remains horrible, and that team simply does not have the offense to duke it out night after night after night. You might get a couple of series wins against a pair of horrible teams in Washington and Kansas City next week, but good luck after that, kid.
By Tom
June 14, 2011 1:24 AM | Link to this
Well,a HR and single, and a strong throw to the plate, should be enough for Baker to have Heisey on the bench tomorrow vs Kershaw! Leave him in the lineup—in CF—Play Lewis in LF, and in the leadoff position. Send ‘three strikouts’ to AAA, where statistics don’t matter, according to some. Nice win.
By Fraud Cop
June 14, 2011 12:26 AM | Link to this
Some people lie to try to denigrate players they don’t want to root for,since success for the player would refute their prediction of him. DD said he was never selected as a player of the year—weeks ago, and now says that he lied. Now, the award was ‘irrelevant’. DD you are a fraud and a phoney; and you are also Matt The Blog Cop.
By StuttgartTim
June 13, 2011 10:09 PM | Link to this
I’m not going to simply call him names or yell “Fire Baker” for general purpose. I WILL say that leaving Arrendondo in after a walk was a mistake. I don’t believe you do any good to a pitchers confidence by leaving him in when he is not “on”. Bring in someone else. If you bring in the entire BP and they don’t get outs, then at least you tried. And no, the BP wouldn’t be shot for days, because you pulled them before they had a chance to throw too many pitches. I believe if a pitcher, especially a BP pitcher, knew he had to come in and get outs, THAT would motivate him. If not, there is the minor league system which we have used for injury, and COULD also use for motivation. I’m not saying they get one shot at it and they’re done. If you continually bring in a guy and he lets the first batter on base then you can send him down. I really think a major league career is taken for granted by some these days. They don’t feel the pressure to perform if they are coddled. I know it’s not possible, but it would be great if there were a way for Dusty to be Mgr off the field and someone else to manage game time. I think he’d make a great front office guy, and I don’t mean GM.
By KNOW IT ALL (the real one)
June 13, 2011 9:57 PM | Link to this
Well I am right as I see where either Mike or Reds lose again are using my Name to send a message saying I am a idiot. blog twice. I guess DD andI made some strong points now that you have to act like you are me. Mike and Reds lose again what cry baby’s the two of you are. DD will put the two of you in your place with stats and so much knowledge that you guys must call each other for research information. The Cards are slowly going backwards and now you blame it on injury’s how fitting. Maybe they have shingles like Tony had when he missed the Reds destroy his red birds. He was home itching away as his team was lost without him. So you forgot to had shingles to your crying list of why you are losing. Please me man enough to come clean and say you used my name to try and make a fool out of me. Just shows your childish behavior. Oh by the way you lost another game tonight….
By KNOW IT ALL
June 13, 2011 8:38 PM | Link to this
I am an idiot. Plain and simple!
By KNOW IT ALL
June 13, 2011 8:38 PM | Link to this
I am an idiot. Plain and simple!
By Mike Marelli
June 13, 2011 7:59 PM | Link to this
DD the Bozo, If you’re going to start bringing historical statistics into the equation, you had better darn well pick a team other than the Cardinals to compare with. Need I remind you the Cardinals have twice as many championships as the dead Reds, giving you undeserved credit for the 1919 series, which the gamblers ensured you would win. World Championships: Cardinals 10, Deads 4 (legitimately) NL Pennants: STL 17, Deads 9. You need to show some respect for your betters, boy. I’ll bet you don’t even show respect for your own parents, you sound like a chump. Like “Reds Lose Again” said, the Cardinals are hurting, the Reds are healthy now—and they’re still not winning. Even the late great Sparky Anderson couldn’t get this band of yoyo’s to win. Furthermore, Anderson would’ve told big mouth Phillips to keep his mouth shut long ago. Baker won’t assert his power over Phillips, because Baker is and always has been a coward. He’s probably afraid Phillips will cut his throat with a knife.
By redsfandownunder
June 13, 2011 6:44 PM | Link to this
Hey DD. If AAA stats and awards have no meaning, by what basis should a player be promoted when position players fail to produce in the majors?? If you were in charge of things Aurilia would be playing 1st base for us and Votto would still be in AAA.
By pedroneedsbourbon
June 13, 2011 6:42 PM | Link to this
Didn’t Peter Gammons recently state that, if they get several pitchers off the DL, the Reds may very well be the hottest team in baseball after the All Star Break?
By jeff
June 13, 2011 5:46 PM | Link to this
Reds Lose Again: Two words= DIVISION CHAMPS. Until you take that away you can’t say much. Either way we are both chasing the Brew Crew now. This division is up for grabs. The reds really haven’t lived up to expectations and the Brewers are hot right now. Sure the cards are hurt but so have been the Reds. You could alson argue the Cards are playing above their heads. Berkman’s outlandish stats have kept them around. He has to come back to earth at some point and then it will be on Holliday to protect Sir Albert. It will be a fun ride. It will all come down to pitching….
By DD
June 13, 2011 5:20 PM | Link to this
Hey genius - your Whiners aren’t tied for anything especially first place. The Brew Crew took care of that. And, the Reds have been healthy? Really? Let’s see. Cueto and Bailey started the season on the DL. That’s 40% of our rotation. Bailey is back on it now. Rolen has missed time. We had to use 19 of our 21 pitchers on the 40 man roster over a 17 day time frame. Yeah, that sounds healthy. Tell me, how’d the great Tony LaRussa do the last time he faced the Reds in the playoffs? Oh yeah, swept home in the 90 Series. And, those A’s were a MUCH better team than your whinebag Cardinals. In fact, for his successes LaRussa also has plenty of failures. One of only 2 managers to ever be swept out of the World Series twice in his career. Ouch. Once to an organization that hadn’t won a championship in 86 years. Good job, Tony!
By Reds Lose Again
June 13, 2011 5:03 PM | Link to this
You idiots keep telling us how bad the Cardinals are, when last I checked your beloved Reds are 4 games back. The Cardinals haven’t been healthy for most of the season. They have 8 players on the DL, including notable names such as Wanright, Mclellan, Holliday, Freese, Craig, Punto, & more. While the Reds for the most part, have been reasonably healthy— unless you count mental health problems as a disability. Despite all the Cardinal injuries, they’re still tied for first place. What exactly are the Reds excuses—other than underachievement? They’re all a bunch of blowhards, whose mouths can’t back up their performances. Now you idiots want to fire Dusty Baker. As if it hasn’t been a known fact for years, that Baker is incapable of bringing home a championship. Baker had excellent teams in both Chicago & San Francisco, yet didn’t win a title. He had far better teams than the Reds now have. The Reds had their chance for postseason success last season. They blew it, as they got humiliated in a sweep by the Phillies. Why don’t you go “Tweet” Brandon Phillips, and cry to him about your teams woes. HeeHeeHee
By DD
June 13, 2011 2:06 PM | Link to this
4-8 versus their top division rivals in the Reds and the Brewers. And, were swept on the road by both teams. Dark days ahead for St. Louis. Breaks my heart, too. Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of players/manager/fans.
By KNOW IT ALL
June 13, 2011 12:45 PM | Link to this
Whoa Listen to Mike Marelli don’t be so nasty and bitter just cause your Cardinals got SMOKED 3 in a row by the Brewers whom the Reds own by the way. Tears a flowing huh? Also by the way are you aware that Brandon Phillips has done more off the field by helping kids, fans, organizations than your overpaid cardinal players. I guess you missed the ESPN acknowledgement on BP? Anyway your losing streak will continue trust me as I said last week in my blog that Cardinals will start dropping games. Had we not have had Baker make some typical bone head decisions we would have a wining streak of 5 in a row. Go back to your hole and surface when Cardinals finally win a game.
By brian briddell
June 13, 2011 12:03 PM | Link to this
Volquez- for Josh Hamilton? This moves ahead of Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas as the Red’s all time incredibly stupid trade!
By DD
June 13, 2011 11:03 AM | Link to this
Chris Heisey was voted by sport writers due to his play in AA and Arizona Fall League. Big deal. He could only muster .278 in AAA (.269 for his AAA career) that year. Mesoraco was given the award last year, and he hit .231 in AAA. Once again, received the award for what he did in lower levels. It’s an irrelevant award that has absolutely no bearing on how a guy will do in the bigs.
By Fire Baker
June 13, 2011 10:54 AM | Link to this
The supposed, all-encompassing remark that ‘a manager is only as good as his players’, is at best a half-truth. Manager decision-making does contribute, one way, or another, to a teams success or failure! Not calling for sacrifice bunts when appropriate, has killed the Reds, frequently, for three years now—that my friends is the fault of ONE PERSON—Fire him!
By KNOW IT ALL
June 13, 2011 10:39 AM | Link to this
When I say Fire Baker it is because Reds do need a change if they want to salvage this season. Sure they would have a hard time getting a qualified new manager to take over this season but would be able to fill it with one after the season I am sure. Why not fire Baker and name name Scott Rolen as interim player manager like Rose was for a while. Rolen would not take any crap from any of the players and would earn their respect immediately. Sounds like a good move to me nothing is working right now. Win two games lose three or four is not going to put this team in the playoffs. The lack of running bases, not calling for bunts when needed, lack of fire in some players eyes need to stop and I think Rolen can stop this foolish baseball playing right away.
By jeff
June 13, 2011 10:38 AM | Link to this
I think being that it is June 13th we all need to step back and realize what this team is right now. They are an average team. They have hovered aroung .500 all year. I am not a huge Baker fan never have been. Dusty is a big inning manager and I think when we get leads of 2-0 we need to create more with bunts and such. This offense seems to go stagnant with leads. As for the pitching it appears things are trending correctly but we have not been consistent. On offense it is the same. After Votto and Bruce we really don’t have much. Hernandez is hitting okay but Rolen has struggled all year. We’ll see but these 29 games which will define the season we are 2-2 thus far. Milwaukee could run with this thing.
By Fire Baker
June 13, 2011 10:34 AM | Link to this
Dusty’s a “feel guy”—he can just “…feel it when things are coming together”. I’m a “feel” guy, too. I “feel” it’s too bad that DB hasn’t been FIRED, for having the wrong FEEL,consistently, when making out lineups! Where’s Heisey? I FEEL also, that his continued stupid decision-making as exampled tonight in Frisco, in the 5th inning: score 2-1, 2 on 1st and second noone out, and Phillips was not asked to sacrifice{then he struckout}—Baker’s FEEL fails again! Dumb a$$. Then a fly ball from Votto which would have scored a third run, had Volquez been on third, instead ended up being an inning ending double play, because Volquez did not return to second on time! Votto was, rightfully, pissed at Volquez. Stupid baseball by players, but initiated by the dumbest MGR in baseball. I FEEL Baker is an idiot . FIRE BAKER!
By Fire Baker
June 13, 2011 10:27 AM | Link to this
Heisey was a minor league player of the Year, as reported now by two sports announcers, Chris Welsh and Jeff Brantley.
By Fire Dusty
June 13, 2011 10:16 AM | Link to this
Reds should have swept; and with a couple of sacrifice bunts{called by the manager}would likely have put themselves in position to do so! Fire Dusty!
By jim m
June 13, 2011 9:45 AM | Link to this
I hope Walt isnt blind and thinks this is a Chamionship team!! Edinson needs to be gone. You could see the anger on Joeys outburst. No excuse for not making 3rd on Stubbs potential easy double that Edinson turned into a single!! Looks like Texas pulled one over on us.. The Reds need to get a LF and a SS. Bring up Cozart and trade for a huge bat in LF.. They got to do something before the two teams in front of them (Who made moves to improve in the off-season Walt!!!!), go and get more help and our Reds do nothing. Then cry when the park isnt sold out.!! Show the fans that your not happy with the certain weaknesses on the club and do something about it.. That will show the fans your trying to go past the first round of the playoffs!! not being just happy you did soemthing in 2010!! A Championship is what this city needs. Not false hope.
By DD
June 13, 2011 9:41 AM | Link to this
AAA stats don’t mean anything. If they did, Golden Boy Chris Heisey would still be in Louisville with his .269 average there in 83 career games. And, Mike Leake would still be down there since he had a 9.82 ERA while giving up 3 HRs in 2 games during his minor league stint. Some of you are acting like the world is coming to an end after we just split with the defending champs on the road and are a whol 4 1/2 games out. Get a grip. Help will come from OUTSIDE the organization if we’re still in contention as the trade deadline approaches. A LOT of teams need help - yet nothing happening around the league. I wonder why????
By Dee
June 13, 2011 9:36 AM | Link to this
Vinnie, Hal is right. Ted Kaczynski was called the Unabomber. Sad to see the Reds go down, but I had to chuckle at the “Fear the Beard” signs. The guy is scary good.
By Gem&Heater
June 13, 2011 8:30 AM | Link to this
Fire Dusty and replace him with who or what? Dusty was a genius last year and is managing absolutely the same this year. He can’t make Rolen younger, Edinson smarter, Champman more mature nor can he play himself in LF. He’s playing the hand Jocketty dealt him and is breaking even. Who could do better and don’t say Sparky because he was once in a lifetime unfortunately.
By vinnie
June 13, 2011 8:27 AM | Link to this
its “unibomber”.
By AP-FLORIDA
June 13, 2011 8:02 AM | Link to this
Again, mike in kintucky, I agree with you, especially on rusty faker, but not on Votto. Did Joey look lost to anyone else?
By Lew
June 13, 2011 7:58 AM | Link to this
Hey, Mike in KY…. I don’t know if anyone needs to be fired. But I would like to know (from the pitching coach) why these guys walk so many people.
By Mike in KY
June 13, 2011 7:41 AM | Link to this
Reds lost a game, fire Dusty. Reds scored fewer than nine runs, fire Dusty. Edinson Volquez can’t run the bases, fire Dusty. Arredondo walked somebody, fire Dusty. Votto grounded into two double plays, release him AND fire Dusty. Jonny Gomes started, fire Dusty. Reds picked up a split against a first-place team, fire Dusty.
By Lew
June 13, 2011 7:36 AM | Link to this
Two leadoff batters walked. Both scored. Final score…4-2. These guys have been walking leadoff batters all year. Look at the stats. Hello? Bryan Price?
By redsfandownunder
June 13, 2011 5:37 AM | Link to this
Until the pitching staff puts up an ERA under 3.50, there is no reason to try to improve the offense….no reason to try to put the best 8 on the field…..at least I think that is the way the arguement goes….even if we have 5 guys hitting over .300 in AAA and the same people struggling in the BIGS.
By mikemc11
June 13, 2011 1:24 AM | Link to this
I wonder how many games dusty can keep losing for us while he nibbles on toothpicks and wonders how dick pohls doing. Dusty has reminded me of him alot this year when he is sleepin instead of managing! I love em, but Scott & Edgar are washed up. Find some help before we are entirely out of it!!
By Steve in Richmond
June 13, 2011 12:47 AM | Link to this
Silver lining we split the series. Now on to LA for some payback.