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 > 14 > Entry
Reds’ style: pitching, pitching, pitching
UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave while noticing something very odd about the Cincinnati Reds’ lineup Monday night. Eight of the nine players did the same thing. What was it? Answer at the bottom.
SOME STRANGE memories from the Dodger Stadium area during my visits there:
—One night after a game, I was riding back to the hotel with MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon and as we left the stadium parking lot onto Elysian Blvd. two coyotes crossed the street in front of us. I thought the Coyotes played in Phoenix.
—One day while playing tennis in Echo Park, a ball bounced over the fence and into some trash. As we walked behind the fence to retrieve the ball, we found a body. The man wasn’t dead, just passed out with three empty whiskey bottles next to him. No, it wasn’t Charlie Sheen.
—One of my favorite dining spots in downtown LA is the Pacific Dining Car. But every car in the parking lot is a Mercedes, Bentley, Jaguar, Ferrari or Lamborghini. When you go there, make sure your credit card has no charges on it.
TELL ME IT isn’t all about pitching. Pitching, pitching and pitching.
For the eighth straight games, a Cincinnati Reds starter pitched into the seventh inning — something that hasn’t happened with the Reds since 1992.
On Monday night in Dodger Stadium, it was Bronson Arroyo pitching 7 2/3 innings. He gave up four runs on six hits, walked none and struck out one.
He had retired 11 straight entering the eighth inning and had a 6-2 lead when he gave up an infield hit, then a triple to flashy rookie Dee Gordon, son of former major-league pitcher Tom “Flash” Gordon. Gordon scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 6-4 and manager Dusty Baker brought in lefty Bill Bray to face lefty Andre Ethier and Bray struck him out.
THE REDS had not hit a home run in six games when Chris Heisey came to bat in the sixth, the longest homerless stretch for the Reds since 2006. With two outs and nobody on, his team trailing by one run, 2-1, Heisey rectified that with a long blast into the left field bleachers - and, yes, it is time to give Heisey most of the playing time in left field. He also singled his first time up and came around to score on a Paul Janish single in the second that tied the game, 1-1.
The Reds scored the runs they needed in the seventh, an inning that began when rookie shortstop Dee Gordon booted a routine ground ball by Ryan Hanigan. Amazingly, Gordon had made three mind-scrambling defensive plays earlier in the game, two on Joey Votto.
Janish forced Hanigan at second, but second baseman Aaron Miles threw the relay into the first base dugout and Janish was given second base. Arroyo broke the 2-2 tie with a bloop single to right field that score Janish.
After Brandon Phillips walked, Votto hit one where Gordon couldn’t glove it - a deep three-run home run into the right field bleachers for a 6-2 lead.
GORDON WASN’T the only one to flash leather on this night, although those two errors by the Dodgers in the seventh helped the Reds’ rally.
Janish and Votto made back-to-back above-and-beyond plays in the Dodgers second.
OF COURSE, closer Coco Cordero had to set hearts palpitating in the Reds dugout by walking Matt Kemp to open the ninth, enabling the Dodgers to send the tying run to the plate three times.
Coco coolly struck out James Loney after a long battle, he struck out pinch-hitter Rod Barajas and he struck out Dioner Navarro — good morning, good afternoon and good night.
Amazingly, the Reds have won the first game of a series six straight times. They are 3-2 on the trip and are only 3 ½ games out of first place.
QUIZ ANSWER: Eight of the nine players in the Reds lineup used black bats. Only Stubbs used the white ash - and he went hitless with three strikeouts. A hint for Stubbs. Use a black bat tonight.
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By StuttgartTim
June 15, 2011 8:06 PM | Link to this
Hey Mike in KY, Thanks for the offer, but I don’t think I want you to “reflect and adopt” my opinion. Get one of your own. Oh and DD I really had to laugh. Really, no offense intended but you must not have been around in the early days of computers. You had to wait a whole minute to see your post? Personally I post and move on to something else.
By KNOW IT ALL
June 15, 2011 1:23 AM | Link to this
MIKIE from ST LOUIE where are you? Another ball pen loss for the Tweetie Birds. I think you need to blog on your own sites in St Louis… CHOKE CHOKE. Here we go now only 2 1/2 down..St Louis looses what 5 in a row? REDS WIN, naturally Baker could have not brought in Cordero but he did and as normal Cordero makes in interesting. We may be back in first by this weekend instead of next week like I said. So you blog boys that said Reds are dead stay away with your comments. MIKE WHERE ARE YOU?
By Fundamentals
June 14, 2011 11:09 PM | Link to this
Against San Fran we had Volquez on 2nd base and Stubbs on first with no outs. Phillips came up in a 2-2 game. Where was the sacrifice to put players on second and third base. Phillips did not bunt them over. We lost the game.
By pedroneedsbourbon
June 14, 2011 10:53 PM | Link to this
Yer xactly right Mike in KY.”Fire Dusty” is about as astute as some folks around here get.
By Mike in KY
June 14, 2011 9:20 PM | Link to this
@pedroneedsbourbon: I’m sorry, I thought i was fairly reflecting and adopting the general opinion of Reds fans in and around the Dayton area based on the comments I read here. Is that not the case? Please enlighten me.
By pedroneedsbourbon
June 14, 2011 7:26 PM | Link to this
If you don’t like Mike in KY’s comments, fire Dusty.
By KNOW IT ALL
June 14, 2011 6:31 PM | Link to this
Well said Deck Fan about Stubs and whole situation. I really think Reds will fair well. It is mid June and 3 1/2 games out of first place and playing basically average baseball. The moaning Cardinal fans continue to cry about their injuries as if Reds and all other teams have them also. Still not happy with Bakers manager skills but guess we have to live with it until end of this year.
By DeckFAN
June 14, 2011 4:45 PM | Link to this
Here’s some more fodder for the continuing Drew Stubbs debate – First of all, most good baseball people all agree that until a player gets around 1500 major league AB’s, you just don’t know what you have. Stubbs has about 1100 in less than 2 years worth of games, so the jury is still out relative to what / how good he’ll be. Secondly, many advance scouts and writers have compared Stubbs to Bobby Bonds. The parallels of their first two years in the majors is astounding. Combination of speed, and power – both lead off hitters early on. Bonds career #’s = .268 BA; 331 HR’s and 461 SB’s; not too bad! BTW, Bonds led the league in strike outs in his first 2 full years in the bigs. Bonds only batted lead off for about half of his career, suspect the same will be true of Stubbs – as DD suggests. Bottom line for this discussion IMO is with Stubby we’ll have to take the bad with the good – he’ll only get better. Like Bruce the frustrations will mount and many will call for his replacement – minors. Think that the organization is committed at this point and I have to agree that turning back at this point would be a short sighted decision. With any of the players down in Louisville or with Heisey we’d have to put up with the same growing pains.
By KNOW IT ALL
June 14, 2011 12:49 PM | Link to this
DD since we have respect for each other now with no more slaming I hear your thoughts for LF. For some reason I just feel Heisey if given some consecutive starts could mount to something. But time will tell or I mean Dusty will tell us whom it will be. As for 2 out of 3 against LA is a positive like you also said. If we can get Rolen in the mix of things as to hitting then who knows where we will be next week. Bruce cools off Votto gets hot. Soon the heart of the order will feed off each other.
By Bruce
June 14, 2011 12:34 PM | Link to this
I’ve heard the cry for Heisey all year and I’ve heard others wanting to give Gomes a chance. If things continue, come the first of July, I’m starting to buy that the job should belong to Heisey. You can’t keep Gomes in there all season.
By just a fan
June 14, 2011 11:56 AM | Link to this
Mike in Ky, now you’re getting the idea. Fire Dusty!~
By Tom
June 14, 2011 11:55 AM | Link to this
What’s a colgar? Is it coal car? For sure it’s still ignorant.
By jeff
June 14, 2011 11:54 AM | Link to this
Good win last night… Votto is a stud!!! Stubbs strikes out alot in 1 spot but they will not and should not move him. His stats minus the k’s are pretty good for the one. If that kid ever figures out how to bunt or hit the ball the other way he will be awesome with that speed. When he does get on base he changes games. I do think he looks a bit tired. With Rolen hurt again I think the lineup should be Cairo in the two hole with Philiips and then Bruce behind Votto. The key is that the Reds need to keep pitching. pitching pitching pitching. I am not a dusty fan but the good news is that this team is only 3 1/2 out and I think its best ball is yet to come. These 29 games will define it. So far they are 3-2
By Believe It
June 14, 2011 11:38 AM | Link to this
My feelings completely Harry! We do have someone who would be a MUCH better leadoff man than Stubbs or Phillips, that would be Fred Lewis—why? because he makes contact and has a good awareness of the strike zone!When a players sucks as bad as Stubbs does at the plate, most good managers get his a$$ out of the lineup, and play someone else! STUBBS AIN’T THAT GOOD! BAKER: IT AIN’T THAT HARD!!!!Lewis should be in LF, leading off, and Heisey should be in CF in place of STUBBS! Heisey will get screwed just like Dickerson did! FIRE BAKER!
By harry512
June 14, 2011 11:16 AM | Link to this
I don’t know if Heisey can do the job but he hasn’t been given the chance. He plays one game and is out of the lineup for 4 or 5 more. Consistency is hard to achieve unless you are given a chance to show if you can do it or not.
By DD
June 14, 2011 11:02 AM | Link to this
Is everyone having trouble with this site? I know some are having same issues as I with Comments not loading for a minute or so. Someone get that fixed! Good win last night. Needed it with Kershaw and Billingsley left to face this series. Of course, tonight Lance McAllister will be screaming we need to sweep a weak LA team regardless of the pitcher we’re facing. Ridiculous. 2 of 3 would be a successful west coast trip - especially for this organization. I agree with KIA in that the LF situation needs to be settled. Although, I don’t think the answer is Heisey. I still say the answer will come from outside the organization, but think Gomes should be getting the majority of PT. For the season, Gomes hitting .223 as a starter versus Heisey’s .213. Since May 19th, Gomes has started 10 games hitting .333 with 1 HR and 10 K’s. Over same timeframe Heisey started 8 times hitting .233 with 1 HR and 10 K’s. Where’s the advantage to starting Heisey? Plus, there’s a HUGE disadvantage to that move. Heisey hitting .386 coming off the bench while Gomes is 0 for 11. Ouch. Weaken the bench for (at best) a lateral move in the OF. If/when someone is brought in here, DFA Gomes and keep Heisey as 4th OF. He fill that roll perfectly. Gomes probably won’t be picked up and he could then be sent to Louisville to get regular ABs. Stubbs continues his sophomore slump. I said it before, he’s not a leadoff man. But, who is on this team? No one currently. A move to lower in the order helped him last year - could again in 2011. But, who goes #1? Phillips is logical choice, but I personally like him batting 2nd ahead of Votto.
By steven ross
June 14, 2011 10:58 AM | Link to this
Heisey singles then homers so he’ll probably be on the bench tonight in favor of Gomes. Stubbs continues to stink up the joint leading off too. Memo to Dusty: it’s not that hard.
By bob
June 14, 2011 10:49 AM | Link to this
AMEN to “Know it all’ Heisey should have been the LFer for 2 mos. and been told just what you said. It’sm yours until you prove me wrong. He’s 23 and wants to do well, but he’s under the gun every AB trying to prove himself. “Mike in KY’, you appear from your comments to about as bright as Baker. Do you do toothpicks, too. Gnawing on picks is a sure clue to a high IQ. That’s one of the criteria used in testing.
By Zeke
June 14, 2011 9:27 AM | Link to this
Pretty sure Bronson uses a red bat. Maybe he broke it and went “black” later on.
By Gem&Heater
June 14, 2011 8:54 AM | Link to this
Pacific Dining Car, you must have had a seriously gifted expense account or you ate a Mickey D’s for months to save up. I thought the place was pretentious and severely over priced but we were also under dressed and got seated in the worst location possible. Great steak however. Reds’ fans normally would think this was a great start for a west coast road trip. But, expectations are now over inflated based on last year’s results. Still early to judge the Reds but they do need another bat.
By Kyle
June 14, 2011 8:19 AM | Link to this
RFDownunder…completely agree. Still trying to figure out why Stubbs stays at the top of the lineup. Play him but move him down.
By Lew
June 14, 2011 8:17 AM | Link to this
Hey, Mike in KY… It was somewhat witty the first couple times…the last 10 or so…not so much.
By KNOW IT ALL
June 14, 2011 7:16 AM | Link to this
Cards don’t play still lose a 1/2 game. Reds are showing something so far if Dusty doesn’t mess them up. Mike in KY basically shut up as you know nothing about baseball. Dusty is not a good manager at all case closed. What scares me is if Dusty will sit Heisey tonight after his hitting performance last night. Heisey is your left fielder bring him in the office and say the typical manager statement, “Left Field is yours to lose”. That would relax Heisey knowing he is in there every night and another big bat is now in the lineup for opposing pitchers to worry about. Unfortunately Baker won’t do that. So St Louis Mike how are you feeling seeing that your Cardinals are in a tailspin going the wrong way.
By Colgar
June 14, 2011 2:57 AM | Link to this
Mike I like the sarcasm so that the s l o w learners get it. Fire Tom
By numbskull72
June 14, 2011 2:30 AM | Link to this
OK Mike in KY, we get it. You can stop now.
By numbskull72
June 14, 2011 2:29 AM | Link to this
OK Mike. We get it. You can stop now.
By redsfandownunder
June 14, 2011 2:27 AM | Link to this
You always pull especially hard for the #8 hitter to get on base with 2 out so that the pitcher does not have to lead off the next inning. Lately, I’ve been pulling especially hard for the pitcher to get on base with 2 outs so Stubbs does not have to lead off the next inning….Hope he snaps out of his funk soon.
By Mike in KY
June 14, 2011 1:48 AM | Link to this
Bronson gave up a run in the first, fire Dusty. Stubbs struck out, fire Dusty. Brian Price doesn’t have our injured pitchers back, fire Dusty. Poor defensive alignment caused Votto to get his uniform dirty, fire Dusty. Cairo traded a run for two outs, fire Dusty. Janish didn’t bunt and got bailed out, fire Dusty. Bronson stayed in too long and lost the quality start, fire Dusty. Coco pitched, fire the hell out of Dusty. Am I a good Reds fan yet?