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 > 2012 > April > 08 > Entry
One down, only ‘47’ to go for Reds
CINCINNATI — Manager Dusty Baker holds a meeting every day before practice and games at spring training and during one this year he told his Cincinnati Reds, “The Arizona Diamonadbacks led baseball last year with 47 last at-bat wins. Let’s try to beat that.”
Mark down ‘1’ so far for 2012, an Easter Sunday walk-off 6-5 victory against the Miami Marlins.
The Marlins paid a lot of money for a couple of guys this off-season, closer Heath Bell and shortstop Jose Reyes. Both figured prominently in Miami’s demise Sunday in Great American Ball Park — Bell a big part, Reyes a peripheral part.
Miami led, 5-4, when Bell came in for the ninth to close it. Jay Bruce immediately tied it with a home run, his second of the game.
“That guy Bell? He’s one of the best,” said Baker. “If you are going to win, you have to beat the best sometimes.” Bell’s career ERA includes his lowest against the Reds.
Now it was 5-5. Because the Marlins signed Reyes, shortstop Hanley Ramirez had to move to third base, a position he is playing like a wooden soldier.
With one out, Drew Stubbs bounced one high toward third. Ramirez half-heartedly leaped and the ball ticked off the top of his glove into left field. An error? Probably. But it was ruled a hit.
Ryan Hanigan poked a single to right, sending Stubbs to third and bringing up pinch-hitter Scott Rolen. Rolen ripped one down the third base line. Ramirez tried to stop it like a hockey goalie, falling to both feet. But the ball banged off his glove and rolled just to his left as Stubbs scored the game-ender. An error? Probably. But it was ruled a hit, a game-winning, game-ending it.
“Bell is one of the best closers in the game, but I got a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it,” said Bruce of his game-tying home run in the ninth, a fastball middle-away that Bruce propelled over the left-center fence.
Just as his ninth-inning home run tied the game, his sixth-inning home run off Carlos Zambrano tied it, 4-4, after Zambrano had retired 16 of the previous 17.
“It was either a split-finger or a change-up, but I’m not really sure because he kind of mixes those up,” said Bruce. “It was at the bottom of the zone, with two strikes, and I hadn’t had a great day so far up to that point (0 for 2) because he was making pitches and I kind of got away from my approach of taking everything up the middle.”
Aroldis Chapman pitched the eighth and ninth, giving up one hit while striking out three to gain the win and his manager’s praise of, “Chappie did a great job in his two innings. He had a masterful two innings.”
HIS RECORD WAS 9-12 last year and he was weakened by Valley Fever and he was desecrated by the home run ball.
All that was last year for pitcher Bronson Arroyo, a year he’d like to remove from the calendar and his memory bank.
But, as manager Dusty Baker says, people won’t let him forget it.
“Bronson has no problem with confidence, regardless of last year, and we’d like to get him off to a good start,” said Baker. “It would be nice if everybody would talking about it (last year), because you’re talking about last year and you can’t bring it back.”
Bring it back? Arroyo says a big, fat no to that.
“You have good years and bad years, but we need the wins,” said Baker. “He has been throwing the ball well, a lot better than he did.”
But speaking of Arroyo’s weakened condition last year, Baker said, “This is a very hard game if you don’t feel good. That gets in your head, too. If you feel right physically then you feel strong and feel like yourself.”
Baker said Arroyo indulged in some overcompensation last year.
“There were times when Bronson tried to invent stuff and he’s already invented quick a bit of stuff, different pitches, different movement, different deliveries, different arm slots.”
ARROYO STARTED Sunday’s game and held the Marlins scoreless for four innings, gave up one unearned run in six innings before it came apart in the seventh, a three-run burst. He hit the first batter with a pitch, gave up a single over the third base bag, then a double.
Baker stuck with him and he got the second out, but gave up a single to Emilio Bonafacio to put Miami ahead, 5-4.
In 6 1/3 innings, Arroyo gave up four earned runs (five total) on 10 hits, needing only 82 pitches, 64 strikes.
“Other than the seventh inning, I was happy,” he said. “I commanded every pitch, kept my pitch count down and did what I wanted all day long. But sometimes you open a can of worms when you hit a guy to lead off an inning and sometimes you can’t put the lid back on things.
“If I could feel the way I felt today every time out, I’d be thrilled,” he said. “I felt strong and I there was nothing out there I felt I couldn’t do. My body wasn’t tiring and I felt I was on top of my game.”
ALTHOUGH HE doesn’t like to explain his lineups and batting orders — it is a bit tedious when he is forced to explain it every day when sometimes it is obvious — Baker patiently gave a rundown of Sunday’s lineup.
Scott Rolen was given a day off, which is self-evident — day game after night game. When he walked into the clubhouse Sunday morning and saw the lineup card without his name, he smiled and said laughingly, “Heck, yeah. We’re finally trying.”
Said Baker, who had Miguel Cairo at third base, “Cairo did a great job last year, right? But I also have Willie Harris and Wilson Valdez to play there. I have some options.
“We have a soft thrower (Carlos Zambrano) going against us today and Cairo has had some success against him. Harris has had very little success. And Cairo has played third a lot when Bronson Arroyo pitches because that left side of the infield gets a lot of action.”
Ryan Ludwick was in left field instead of Chris Heisey and Baker said, “Ludwick has hit Zambrano better than anybody here.”
SPEAKING OF ZAMBRANO, Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan was in the clubhouse before Sunday’s game, engaged in a long conversation with Joey Votto, who was picking Morgan’s brain.
As Morgan turned to leave, he asked, “Who’s pitching for the other guys today?”
When told it was Zambrano, Joe smiled and said, “You guys should beat up on him. He is going to come right at you.”
The Reds scored three runs off him in the first inning, then had only one more baserunner through the fifth until Jay Bruce’s first home run.
HOMER BAILEY has a new dressing cubicle in the clubhouse on Starters Row. Last year he dressed across the room with the relief pitchers.
“That wasn’t very lucky for me,” he said. In order, Starters Row consists of Mike Leake, Homer Bailey, Bronson Arroyo, Mat Latos, Johnny Cueto and, uh, are you ready, Aroldis Chapman.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Dusty Baker, on his team coming from behind in the ninth inning to win: “Winning like that never gets old, but it sure makes me old.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY II:
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By Dick
April 9, 2012 9:52 PM | Link to this
Goodness,Bill Bray healed in 24 hours.
By Bob
April 9, 2012 6:26 PM | Link to this
Bronson’s pitch count is unimportant, when one considers that he has lost nearly as many games as he has won. Generally he is good for five or six innings. Have someone ready. We have others besides Bray,etc. Weak comment wasn’t it? Ondrusek’s back is fine, as reported. Another weak comment by the blog cop.
By Bob
April 9, 2012 5:58 PM | Link to this
If memory serves me, none of our starters pitched beyond six innings in ST, so yes, Baker SHOULD HAVE had someone warming in the pen, EARLY, and should be doing it tonight as well! ALL managers should be doing it, at this time of year, if they want to save their starters arms. Hello! Anybody home? Ever notice how the all-knowing blog cops come out to defend stupid moves by Baker.Like Rusty-Dusty the moronic and uninformed cops are simpletons.
By Abner
April 9, 2012 4:45 PM | Link to this
Oh, I thought he was talking about some other 47 wins, like HOME GAMES.
By jim t
April 9, 2012 1:56 PM | Link to this
Mike, exactly. Hindsight is 20/20. I guess from now on Dusty should just have some one warm up at the start of the 7th regardless how the game is going. At the end of the year the same people, who by the way haven’t sucessfully managed a pony league team will be crying about how Dusty mismanaged the bull pen. I wonder if any of them gave any thought to the fact that Bray is still not in game shape,Massett is on DL and we lost our closer for the season. Ondrusek has been dealing with a bad back. The fact that Bronson was throwing well and had a low pitch count means nothing. LOL
By Mike in KY
April 9, 2012 12:39 PM | Link to this
Why would Dusty have someone warming up to start the 7th? Bronson had around 75 pitches and exactly one hard hit ball in the previous six innings. Hindsight is as perfect as it is useless, but that doesn’t stop the armchair “Sparky wannabe” managers from using it day in and day out.
By 2012
April 9, 2012 12:35 PM | Link to this
If I remember correctly Arroyo had thrown 16 pitche’s combined for the 5th and 6th inning’s. I would not have pulled him and I sure would not have had anyone warming up between the 6th and 7th. Those warm up pitche’s also take it out of your reliever. Dusty did nothing wrong.
By Steven Ross
April 9, 2012 10:52 AM | Link to this
I could be wrong, it happens, but I don’t think Dusty had anybody warming up in the pen as BA took the mound in the 7th. Hard to believe but nothing Dusty does anymore surprises me.
By Mike in the Creek
April 9, 2012 10:28 AM | Link to this
Good but sad news on Jerry lynch - played in an era of some of my all time Red favorites, but well before Hal covered the team. Here’s an interesting factoid on Lynch - in 1960 when he moved to a dominant PH’g role - the 2nd baseman was none other than the firey Billy Martin! Martin had replaced Johnny Temple (another favorite) who actually started a longtime string of pretty good 2nd baseman who have played with the Reds - including the current Dude!
By HavaKlu
April 9, 2012 9:41 AM | Link to this
I guess Hal isn’t going to mention this so I will let old-time Reds’ fans know that pinch-hitter extraodinaire, Jerry Lynch passed away last week. Since he is in the Reds’ HOF thought he should be remembered.
By jim t
April 9, 2012 8:29 AM | Link to this
John, the same posters comment daily how horrible Dusty is. These same people couldn’t lead a pack of Pi## ants to water. My suggestion is to handle them the same way I handle the school levy person. Ignore Them!!! Reds are 2-1 with the WC cards coming to town. Jim
By johnbrisker
April 9, 2012 7:47 AM | Link to this
Reds are 2-1, they signed Votto for forever, Chapman looks good, and people are showing up at the park. So, all we continue to see from commentors is what a duence Baker is. Amazing! Maybe Joe Morgan would be the “fans” choice for manager after all someone wants to make him hitting coach.
By Mike Marelli
April 9, 2012 2:05 AM | Link to this
Tell Ho.mo Bailey the “Real” Big Red (Bird) Machine is coming to town. And if he’s smart he won’t show up to the ballpark, as a real butt whupping will be put on him. Also. I want to see the adequate respect befitting the World Champions, as they do you the favor of coming to your boring hoosier town. Bowing and chanting you are the real champions will do. Tell Brandon (I smile on the outside, but on the inside I’m a phony) Phillips and the Karate Kid kicking Johnny Cueto, we intend to flash our World Championship rings in your stupid faces. CAN YOU DIG IT? Enjoy the games fellas.
By Aaron B.
April 8, 2012 9:13 PM | Link to this
Joe Morgan for batting coach!
By Bob
April 8, 2012 9:05 PM | Link to this
@bobmc,You said it perfectly. Gee, I wonder how many other Redleg fans were thinking the same thing you and I were,about Mr. Baker, today.I know of some who would never blame Baker for not pulling the trigger sooner; but then they are so much wiser than the rest of us.I wonder if our genius has mentioned to Stubbs that his push bunt had his average higher at one point, and helps his team win when he does it? Had he done it today he’d have had two hits, instead of one.I can’t wait until our starting rotation has: Cueto/Latos/Chapman/Leake/and Corsino. Corsino is going to be great. He was impressive in the showcase exhibition last week.
By bobmc
April 8, 2012 8:31 PM | Link to this
Dusty is a one of a kind manager. He is the only mgr. out of 30 who would not have had someone beginning to warm up in the bottom of the 6th; especially after Arroyo had been hit pretty hard and when he got in trouble in the 7th, he’d had someone warmed up he could have replaced him before the Marlins went ahead. Tomorrow he may put the Sparky “hook” on them after only one hit. Maybe his toothpick got struck in his brain; and to think Big Bob is talking of a new contract for him.