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 > July > 20 > Entry
Just put an ‘S’ on Cueto’s chest
UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Sun Room (it was 95 in The Man Cave) and I was already suffering after an outdoor speaking engagement in front of a CompuNet group Wednesday afternoon at High Noon in Fifth Third Field and although it was on the concourse in the shade it was hot, hot, hot.
It Johnny Cueto wears a t-shirt with an ‘S’ on the chest, it stands for ‘Stopper,’ although it could stand for ‘Superman.’
With the Cincinnati Reds in Desperation Mode, shut out two days in a row by the Legitsburgh Pirates, it was up to Cueto to not only stop the bleeding but to put a tourniquet around it and squeeze tight.
And that he did. On a brutally hot day - just another average day in Cueto’s native Dominican - Cueto was all over the PNC Field on the pitching mound, bolting off the mound for an incredible play on a swinging bunt and dashing around the bases to help his team beat the Pirates, 3-1.
OF COURSE, IT was a help that the Reds managed to score three runs after they scored zero for Dontrelle Willis on Monday and zero for Mike Leake on Tuesday.
The Reds ripped a page from the Pirates playbook, realizing you don’t have to hit the ball into the Allegheny River to win baseball games.
Chris Heisey batted leadoff and player center field for a resting Drew Stubbs and opened the game by reaching second base on an error, the first of three times Heisey would reach first base. Playing smallball early in the game because manager Dusty Baker was offering his kingdom for a run, Edgar Renteria bunted Heisey to third.
Joey Votto scored Heisey on a sacrifice fly and there it was in all its illustrious glory, the first run in the series after 18 straight scoreless innings and they didn’t even need a hit to get it.
THE PIRATES GOT their only run when they scored in the fourth and it could have been a lot worse because they had runners on second and third with no outs. They only scored one, that on a grounder to first base by Garrett Jones and Cueto still led, 2-1.
Cueto helped himself to get a third run in the Reds fifth when he reached on an error by the shortstop with two outs. Heisey singled him to second and when Renteria singled to left field, third base coach Mark Berry waved Cueto homeward from second base and he made it.
For his six-plus inning, Cueto held the Pirates to one run, four hits, two walks and struck out four. He started the seventh, but third baseman Scott Rolen couldn’t handle Michael McKendry’s hard line drive for an error, Bill Bray came on.
Matt Diaz immediately singled, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Then the Pirates did a strong imitation of the Reds in recent days. They didn’t score.
Alex Presley bunted into a force play at third. Logan Ondrusek replaced Bray and got Chase d’Armaud on a fly to left and struck out highly dangerous Neil Walker, whose 13-game hitting streak ended Wednesday.
THAT WAS IT for the Pirates. Ondrusek got the firtst out of the eighth, then Aroldis Chapman came in to face two left-handers, Lyle Overbay (grounder to second) and Garrett Jones (strikeout).
All that remained was for Coco Cordero come in for the ninth and go 1-2-3 for a stressless save.
So the Reds salvaged one game in the series before taking Thursday off, then beginning a high-octane homestand, 10 games that will determine their immediate future as the trade deadline sneaks closer. They have three over the weekend against the Atlanta Braves, four against the New York Mets and three against the San Francisco Giants, all at Great American Ball Park.
It is put-up-or-shut-up time.
HEADING TO Fifth Third Field in Dayton tonight to be part of another Dayton Dragons’ sellout. I’ll be in the fourth row of section 110 so stop by and say hello - and if you have some water, I’ll probably need it.
YOU HAVE JUST a few hours to those nifty Ask Hal questions in by noon Thursday for Sunday inclusion. Send ‘em to halmccoy1@hotmail.com/
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By KNOW IT ALL
July 22, 2011 7:01 AM | Link to this
Well some of you as I read agree with me that Baker and hitting coach should be gone at end of season. GOM continues to still think I do not know what I am talking about. GOM says Votto is frustrated not bored? OK What is the difference? Just because he said the F-Bomb when he grounded out doesn’t mean anything to me. He looks and acts bored, hustle is slowing drifting away. If he is trying and doesn’t succeed he gets frustrated, over time frustration turns into “I give up”, I give up theory turns into being bored. The team is becomming boring. They are not getting breaks like last year, they are not hitting as well and I think have lost confidence in Baker due to the fact he from game to game plays mind games with some of the players as to who is playing and how is sitting. The players that are sitting may be coming off a excellent previous game and now they are sitting, asking themselves for 9 innings why? So basically the Reds are done this year. They do not have the incentive to take over 3 teams. Baker when interviewed is clueless and thinks there is plenty of time to turn it around. He had his chance and time to do that all season and can’t. Walt will not make any big name trades trust me, he may make one just to say he did and please fans like you. So you don’t think the Pirates will make the playoff’s only time will tell so get off my back until Sept and see where Pitts is then…
By Michael in Singapore
July 21, 2011 7:44 PM | Link to this
Retired Sergeant, you are correct my man. The hardest thing to do is come off the bench, cold, to pinch hit. Sometimes you have to look through the stats. Heisey is pretty solid. I would hate to see the Reds trade Mesoraco or Grandal but one or the other may be gone soon. Perhaps Grandal since Mesoraco is closer to the bigs. They better not trade Alonso. Give the kid a chance in LF.
By DD
July 21, 2011 6:14 PM | Link to this
jeff, I don’t think Bruce has gotten a free pass. I’ve heard plenty of criticism in his direction. I agree with you on Jacoby. I think he needs to be shown the door as I don’t see him helping this team in general. But, I think there is a bigger issue here that Mo Egger brought up on the radio last night. Who’s the one guy that we never complain about? Not since he arrived here? That would be Joey Votto. What makes him different? Well, he played over 700 games in the minors. He struggled at times down there too - hitting .231 in Dayton on year and .256 in Sarasota another. But, he was afforded the luxury of developing as a player. Closing those holes in his swing that Stubbs, Bruce, Heisey, etc. have. Look at the time those guys spent in the minors - Stubbs 400 games roughly, Bruce 350, Heisey 450. Now, we have Cozart up here having played abuot 500. These guys get rushed up here, undeveloped, and we wonder why they struggle. Cozart looks good right now, but the book on him will be written the 2nd, 3rd, 4th times a team faces him. Top of the rotation starters are GOOD. They’ll find the holes in his swing and exploit them. Letting these young guys develope in the minors hasn’t been a luxury this organization could afford. Our farm system was left in awful shape coming into the 2000s, and we couldn’t afford to sign a lot of big-name talent ala NY and Boston. So, guys get pushed up that shouldn’t be playing in the majors. It’s a trend that continues today. Fortunately, we’re starting to sign some of our young players to long-term deals solidifying our 25 man roster. That will allow the Billy Hamiltons of the world to stay in the minors longer and develope. It’s a slow, painful process but thank to Krivsky and Castellini it is starting.
By ohdave
July 21, 2011 5:41 PM | Link to this
It’s embarrassing that as weak as the division is the Reds can’t manage to get on a run and take over first. It’s a joke that we continue to send Rolen, Stubbs and Gomes out day after day. What a pathetic lineup the Reds have turned into. And Jockety won’t make a trade? When the division is so clearly there for the taking? Sigh. I thought 2011 was supposed to be the year the Reds were building towards. I guess we are chumps… we had a good year last year and management has decided that is good enough to appease the fan base for a while. They clearly aren’t serious about contending on an annual basis.
By jeff
July 21, 2011 5:28 PM | Link to this
you know one person who I think is getting a free pass is Jay Bruce. I know they elected him an all star but one month should not and will not make a good player. I do blame some of this on Jacoby as he has not been able to get into Jay’s head. Jay when he came up was considered a Gap to gap hitter and now he 100% dead pull. Until he can consistently hit the ball the other way he will be nothing more than a .255 hitter. Sure he will hit 20+ homers but we had that guy in Adam Dunn.
By Believe It
July 21, 2011 5:02 PM | Link to this
By Believe It July 21, 2011 10:14 AM @retired Sgt.: Well done and said. Finally, support of the truth. Heisey,could still be the answer for the Reds in left, center or right—since none of those position players have proven themselves worthy{does Stubbs EVER leave his feet?}.Playing Heisey EVERYDAY, until the end of the year, will tell the tale; otherwise misleading stats prove nothing.
By Mike-Cinci
July 21, 2011 4:15 PM | Link to this
Ask Cubs fans?? What do Cubs fans know about anything? The franchise has not won in 102 years and it stinks again this year. The Reds still have a chance but it is unlikely they will have a good enough hot streak to pass 3 teams. This team is a little short of needed talent.
By DD
July 21, 2011 2:30 PM | Link to this
steven ross…I assume you mean Reds are 10-4 with Heisey batting leadoff as he’s started more than 14 games this year. And, I’d hope the Reds have a winning record against the stiffs they’ve faced when Dusty puts him in the leadoff spot. Take a look for yourself - I’m not going to take the time to re-post the #3, 4, and 5 pitchers Heisey has gotten to face to get to the .223 BA as a starter. Good point of view, gom. This season is far from over - as painful as it’s been. What do you think about one of these trades? Going after Alex Gordon or Melky Cabrera in KC? KC is loaded with young talent - not sure what they’d want in return. But, I’m sure both could be had for less than the Beltrans or Pences of the world being discussed. I like Gordon a lot because he plays both LF and 3B. Former first round pick - a lot of potential.
By birdie
July 21, 2011 2:23 PM | Link to this
KIA and gom, good posts, I agree with both of you.The Reds will never win with Dusty managing(?) and with the current hitting and pitching coaches!! Dusty’s teams win when they are hitting a lot of home runs and Dusty does not have to make any game time decisions but they can not win consistently when they are not hitting home runs(just look at the stats). And of course his handling of the pitchers has never been a good thing(Ask the Cub fans)!! Also Votto needs a rest(maybe 2 or 3 Days) after watching him not run out a ground ball yesterday(which he has been hitting a lot of lately)
By Y-City Jim
July 21, 2011 1:40 PM | Link to this
Must be a Stats 101 professor.
By DONNJOO
July 21, 2011 11:52 AM | Link to this
STATISTIC PROF AT BG TOLD HIS CLASS YOU GIVE ME THE STATS AND I CAN MAKE YOU SEE WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE AND BELIEVE WHAT YOU WANT TO BELIEVE. OKAY, SO REALLY WHAT GOOD ARE STATS? THEY MAKE FOR CONVERSATION AND CONFUSION…. THE PIRATES LOOK GREAT AND PLAY THE GAME WELL. GO REDS!
By jeff
July 21, 2011 10:22 AM | Link to this
What a gutsy game by Cueto. I dont think he had his best stuff but he pounded the strike zone against and poor hitting lineup. Thats what you should do. Ok I know they won but I am going to pick on Dusty again. In the first inning he bunted Heisey to 3rd and then Votto did his job. Up 2-0 in the 3rd inning Heisey led off with a single. With Renteria up and a struggle offense you 1000% bunt Heisey to 2nd and let Votto and Rolen try to knock him in. If they walk Votto then great but Dusty let ER hit into a double play. At least put Heisey in motion. It worked earlier so why go away from it. With Cueto pitching you try to get 3-5 runs. Fortunately they scored later but these are the situations he has to get better at especially when his club is struggling. Small Ball when the bats are cold. I know its nit picking but its called managing for a reason. As for Stubbs and Heisey they both will play. I would platoon the 3 of them (also lewis) between Lf and CF and whne Bruce needs days off. Gomes should not be part of the equation. DFA him and bring up an Alonso or someone
By Believe It
July 21, 2011 10:14 AM | Link to this
@retired Sgt.: Well done and said. Finally, support of the truth. Heisey,could still be the answer for the Reds in left, center or right—since none of those position players have proven themselves worthy{does Stubbs EVER leave his feet?}.Playing Heisey EVERYDAY, until the end of the year, will tell the tale; otherwise misleading stats prove nothing.
By gom
July 21, 2011 10:05 AM | Link to this
KIA has again provided the only analysis needed. Reds are done, Votto is bored, Dusty and all the coaches will be canned and next all the kids in the minors will make the Reds this years version of the Pirates. Reds aren’t done, yet, especially if the pitching seen in the last three games continues. The Reds got a productive game from the leadoff hitter and Coco actually closed. Pirates are also getting the breaks, look at the Hernandez double play. Also, Votto is getting paid alot of money to not produce so I don’t believe he is bored, just frustrated. Monday’s F-bomb was definitelly unexpected from a bored player.
By Joe
July 21, 2011 8:55 AM | Link to this
If Willis and Leake get the runs Cueto got then we’re talking a sweep. All Cueto did was be the beneficiary of run support.
By KNOW IT ALL
July 21, 2011 6:26 AM | Link to this
Does anyone really care anymore about Stubbs, Heisey, Gomes, Rolen, Bruce, Votto, Phillips, Cueto???? The season is over this year fellows accept it. Next year Baker will be gone along with the Pitching and Hitting coaches hopefully. So quit saying if we win 7 out of 9, or whatever, ain’t going to happen. There is no hunt in this dog…Just look at Votto and Bruce and you can easily see the boring expressions in their faces along with a relaxed efforts when they swing anymore. And Baker during the interview says, “We just are getting timely hits”? DUH DUSTY NO KIDDING????
By steven ross
July 21, 2011 6:25 AM | Link to this
Almost everybody, except Dusty, knows Heisey should be starting. We’re 10 & 4 when he does. However, with the trade deadline inching closer, don’t be surprised to see Gomes showcased in the Atlanta series. As for all-important upcoming homestand, I have zero faith we’ll snap out of our funk because Baker will roll out more mind-numbing lineups which fail.
By Retired Sgt
July 21, 2011 6:22 AM | Link to this
@DD: However, Heisey’s playing time has been sporatic, 1 game in, 2 out, 1 game in 3 out. You cant develop any type of rhythm as a player. Stubbs has been given 380 at bats as a position player. Heisey 1/3 of that, yet he has more RBI’s, HR’s and his BA is virtually the same. You must keep continuous playing time in the context of the argument. Heisey hasnt had it, Stubbs has.
By DD
July 21, 2011 6:03 AM | Link to this
Stubbs OBP is .331. Heisey’s is .305. OBP - for those that don’t know - is ON BASE PERCENTAGE. Heisey is getting on base, and Stubbs isn’t? Really? And, Heisey’s OBP drops below .300 in a starting role. Neither is a lead off guy, but someone has to do it. Stubbs is the one who does a better job of it. He leads this team in runs scored, and is 5th in the NL. His issue is the K’s which he has to cut down on. Great game by Heisey today. Like retired sgt said, that’s what a lead off guy is suppose to do. Unfortunately, the stats show Heisey won’t do that too often. Btw, Heisey is hitting under .200 in the month.
By Retired Sgt
July 21, 2011 5:43 AM | Link to this
re: “chris Heisey. I dont know where you are gettting your stats, but according to cinncinnatireds.com, the comparable stats between Stubbs and Heisey are interesting: Stubbs has had 380 at bats compared to Heisey’s 189 (69 of them off the bench or pinch hitting). Stubbs BA is .253, Heisey .250, Stubbs has 11 HR’s, Heisey, 12. Stubbs has 32 RBI’s, Heisey, 33. Stubbs has 39 BB, Heisey 14. Stubbs has 127 K’s, heisey 51. So, Heisey’s stats are at least comparable, if not better in all offensive categories, and has had 196 LESS plate appearences, 1/3 of which was as a pinch hitter or off the bench. Saying Heisey is like a Gomes is such an ignorant comment. Keep in mind, a leadoff hitter is supposed to get on base. Stubbs aint doing it. Heisey is. Play Heisey and teach Stubbs how to bunt…
By Chris Heisey
July 21, 2011 2:08 AM | Link to this
Chris Heisey has a lower walk percentage then Stubbs this year(thats hard to do).Not to mention a lower average and nowhere near the speed. Yes Heisey has more power, but there is such a thing as earning your job. All Heisey has shown me so far is he can be the next Johnny Gomes. I’m not knocking him, he just isn’t anything special so far. It’s no coicidence the more playing time he gets the more his average falls. We need another consistent bat in our lineup…really 2 more bats to replace what Rolen and Gomes did for us last year. We need alot more out of our 5-7 batting order.
By Ken
July 20, 2011 10:39 PM | Link to this
Phillips may be a hot dog, but he has matured. He is a team player and is an asset to the community. I do think these next games with Braves,Mets and Giants will dictate the outcome of the season. If we can be 7-3 or better we will have a shot.
By didegato
July 20, 2011 10:37 PM | Link to this
I painted my upstairs room today. Its sad that i had more fun sitting on the floor drinking beer than watching the reds! Who cares!
By Joe
July 20, 2011 8:45 PM | Link to this
Remember the foul ball the Pirates player hit that was inches foul? With two that would have tied the score. The Reds are lucky.
By DDisms
July 20, 2011 7:25 PM | Link to this
“Heisey was on base three times today? Really? That’s OK. Put him back on the bench Friday, so he can pinch hit!”
By Tom
July 20, 2011 7:01 PM | Link to this
Lewis hasn’t played everyday, nor has Heisey—so How can either be criticized, until they do. When you “tease” someone with starting assignments, and then jerk it out from under them, what do you expect? Lewis should be leading off, “EVERYDAY”,and Cozart hitting second, Heisey{in CF or RF} third, Votto 4th,Hernandes 5th,Rolen 6th,Phillips 7th,Stubbs or Bruce 8th
By KNOW IT ALL
July 20, 2011 6:50 PM | Link to this
Gosh Baker is now going to take all the credit in the world for putting a line-up out there and win 1 simple game against Pitt. Heisey will now sit next couple games I am sure as Baker had to give Stubbs a rest, why? he strikes out and won’t dive for balls how can he be tired. There pitching has been great it is their hitting that is sick. You guys please don’t get excited because Reds won a game the odds were there that they would. Homestand will be probably a .500 or less. Remember Baker will change the line up again so he can get back to, Win 1 Lose 3.
By Mike Mc In Ky
July 20, 2011 6:45 PM | Link to this
While Im very happy for the small ball attitude that Dusty fund stuffed in his suitcase, 1 win does not mean we are suddenly clicking as a good team should. I don’t know about you guys, but Ive seen alot of our guys pulling up before first base and not running it out today. That includes our MVP… If Walt can’t bring a bonafided slugger to back him up soon, he’s liable to lose it very soon. As for the half@ss running bases an missing signs, how doing what your little league coach would do?? Sit your butt down and watch someone else play who hustles … My thoughts anyways. Hope we play better at home friday, or we need to give on making the playoffs!!
By bob
July 20, 2011 5:54 PM | Link to this
If Cueto gets a “S” on his shirt, what does Leake get?; a NR, as in no respect. Boy, was it good to see Phillips out of the picture. Hey, Dusty-Heisey got on base 3 times. Oh sure, one was an error, but see what happens when you make contact. Everybody in baseball knows that Heisey should play every day. Throw away your tea leaves and get yourself a voodoo doll.
By Parker Perry
July 20, 2011 5:02 PM | Link to this
Hal, I am confused. What was the difference between the work of Cueto and Leake. Or even Willis. Calling Cueto a stopper is misleading to me, it assumes that the pitching has been poor and he was able to put the streak to an end. I truly feel the Reds are just fine. They need to get back in the grove and score runs obviously, but the pitching has been dominate overall (especially starting.)
By Tom
July 20, 2011 4:57 PM | Link to this
Hal I agree with Sean Casey. Let Heisey play more. Either in center or left. Gomes is a good guy but, he isn’t getting it done and neither is Lewis. Stubbs is almost a sure out when he bats. Move him down in the order. It looks like Cueto, Willis, and Leake are hitting the ball do something different bat the pitcher at the top. The lower lineup is doing better than the top. Baker and his line ups trying to make a match up isn’t working DO Something. The game today was better since Phillips “The Hot Dog” had a day off. Keep up the good work and stay cool.