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 > May > 12
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Latos, Reds succumb with a whisper
CINCINNATI — Matt Latos looked unhittable for three innings — 10 up, 9 down for the Cincinnati Reds’ tattooed titan.
But he staggered through the fourth and fifth innings, needing 66 pitches to cover those two innings.
Through it all, though, he gave up only one run, a leadoff home run in the fifth to Wilson Ramos, a home run that tied the game, 1-1.
After five innings, Latos was at 109 pitches, although he had given up only three hits — along with five walks.
Jose Arredondo came out for the sixth and his first pitch landed in the left field seats, a home run by Danny Espinosa that was enough to beat the Reds, 2-1 — Washington’s second straight win over the Reds this weekend at Great American Ball Park.
That assures that the Reds won’ win this series after winning five of the last six (two games to one) and splitting the other at one game apiece with the Chicago Cubs.
ZACK COZART, the first hitter for the Reds, singled to open the bottom of the first, eventually scoring on a ground ball by Brandon Phillips and that was the total extent of the Reds offense.
Except for Todd Frazier, who had two hits of the Reds’ five hits while subbing in for Scott Rolen, who landed on the disabled list before Saturday game, that first inning was the extent of the Reds’ offense.
Arolidis Chapman pitched the eighth and ninth for the Reds and was his usual Unhittable Me — no runs, one hit, no walks, four strikeouts.
BUT THE NATS have somebody equally dazzling, equally ferocious, equally hard-throwing in Henry Rodriguez.
He came in to protect the 2-1 lead for starter Jordan Zimmerman and nearly struck out the side on nine pitches, throwing mostly 100 miles an hour.
His first eight pitches were strikes — three to Jay Bruce, three to Todd Frazier, then the first two to Ryan Ludwick before he threw a ball. Then he finished it off with a checked-swing strike three.
FOR NOW, DEFEAT-PLAGUED pitcher Mike Leake (0-5, 7.11) is expected to take his act to the mound on Thursday on Broadway — well, at least in Citi Field in Flushing against the New York Mets.
For one thing, there are few options for the Cincinnati Reds because nobody is drawing attention in Louisville, not Jerry Francis, not Brett Tomko, not Andrew Brackman, not anybody.
“We haven’t covered it yet, but I’d like to think he’ll start,” said Manager Dusty Baker. “You don’t like to have somebody looking over your shoulder like you are on death row, or something. We are going to a bigger ballpark in New York, which will help, too.
“Right now he is off to a bad start, but there is such a thing as just bad starts, you know?” Baker added. “We know he can pitch, so hopefully we can get him straightened out and hopefully he stays positive and confident that he can still pitch. A lot of it depends upon the state of mind he is in.”
Baker paused and said, “So, as of right now, yes, he’ll pitch.”
IT WASN’T A day game after a night game, but third baseman Scott Rolen was not in the lineup, replaced by Todd Frazier.
That’s because Rolen was examined by team doctors late Saturday afternoon and it was discovered he has a strained left shoulder.
He was placed on the disabled list and the Reds recalled
Baker said it wasn’t just a day off, it was more because Rolen was not feeling well and was scheduled to see a doctor just before game time.
The contract of Louisville third baseman Mike Costanzo, 28, was purchased. He has been in the minor leagues eight years since the Reds signed him off an independent league roster in 2005.
“Yes, Rolen is struggling a little bit (.174, two homers, 11 RBI), but he isn’t feeling real good,” said Baker before the DL announcement. Rolen fought it as long as he could, but for the good of the team, he gave it up in hopes that 15 days of rest can make a difference.
“I called the park at noon and said, ‘This isn’t working,’” said Rolen. “I’m hurting and I am in pain. I’m not healthy. As much as I went to help the team, I’m hurting the team.”
So, being the team player that he is, Rolen is stepping aside.
“I’m not taking competitive at-bats and, actually, they are going the wrong way,” he added. “I fought to stay on the field because I want to play the whole season, no DL, so I didn’t want to talk about the pink elephant in the room.”
But the elephant brayed loud enough for all to hear, Rolen couldn’t catch up to even the most mediocre of fastballs.
“We’ll address this, take some time off to get the inflammation out of there that is in there now,” said Rolen. Asked how long it bothered him, he said, “That’s a good question. How about seven years. But that’s an easy excuse and I’m responsible for my bat-bats when I walk out there and I haven’t taken good at-bats and haven’t been helpful for the team.”
WONDER CHILD Bryce Harper took ten stitches in his forehead after Friday’s game when he banged his bat against a wall and the bat bit back, clobbering his forehead and opening a wound.
Dusty Baker said it is a part of youth, a learning curve, and recalled when he was young with the Atlanta Braves and threw a batting helmet.
“Hank Aaron came up behind me and grabbed me by the neck,” said Baker. “He told me, ‘Pick up that helmet, walk to the rack and put it where it belongs, then go sit in the dugout and figure out you are going to get that pitcher next time.’”
Baker said he didn’t see the Harper incident, few did, but his son, Darren saw it on television. Said Baker, “That’s a good lesson for my son to see — the repercussions of your actions.”
JOEY VOTTO has a cereal out, Votto’s, they gave away a Joey Votto bobblehead doll Saturday night and on Sunday they are giving away Jay Bruce cereal bowls.
Relief pitcher Sean Marshall checked it all out and said, “Well, I guess the Joey Votto bobblehead can now eat his Votto’s out of a Jay Bruce cereal bowl.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Dusty Baker on winning his 1,500th game Wednesday in Milwaukee: “I hope I’ve made it easier, by whatever success I’ve had, on the people of color.”
Baker on the short three-day homestand: “I emptied my suitcase when we got home Wednesday, repacked it on Thursday and on Sunday I’ll hug my kid, kiss my wife, pet my dog and hit the road again.”
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TweetLeake stays, but Rolen goes to DL
CINCINNATI — For now, defeat-plagued pitcher Mike Leake (0-5, 7.11) is expected to take his act to the mound on Thursday on Broadway — well, at least in Citi Field in Flushing against the New York Mets.
For one thing, there are few options for the Cincinnati Reds because nobody is drawing attention in Louisville, not Jerry Francis, not Brett Tomko, not Andrew Brackman, not anybody.
“We haven’t covered it yet, but I’d like to think he’ll start,” said Manager Dusty Baker. “You don’t like to have somebody looking over your shoulder like you are on death row, or something. We are going to a bigger ballpark in New York, which will help, too.
“Right now he is off to a bad start, but there is such a thing as just bad starts, you know?” Baker added. “We know he can pitch, so hopefully we can get him straightened out and hopefully he stays positive and confident that he can still pitch. A lot of it depends upon the state of mind he is in.”
Baker paused and said, “So, as of right now, yes, he’ll pitch.”
IT WASN’T A day game after a night game, but third baseman Scott Rolen was not in the lineup, replaced by Todd Frazier.
That’s because Rolen was examined by team doctors late Saturday afternoon and it was discovered he has a strained left shoulder.
He was placed on the disabled list and the Reds recalled
Baker said it wasn’t just a day off, it was more because Rolen was not feeling well and was scheduled to see a doctor just before game time.
The contract of Louisville third baseman Mike Costanzo, 28, was purchased. He has been in the minor leagues eight years since the Reds signed him off an independent league roster in 2005.
“Yes, Rolen is struggling a little bit (.174, two homers, 11 RBI), but he isn’t feeling real good,” said Baker before the DL announcement.
Rolen fought it as long as he could, but for the good of the team, he gave it up in hopes that 15 days of rest can make a difference.
“I called the park at noon and said, ‘This isn’t working,’” said Rolen. “I’m hurting and I am in pain. I’m not healthy. As much as I went to help the team, I’m hurting the team.”
So, being the team player that he is, Rolen is stepping aside.
“I’m not taking competitive at-bats and, actually, they are going the wrong way,” he added. “I fought to stay on the field because I want to play the whole season, no DL, so I didn’t want to talk about the pink elephant in the room.”
But the elephant brayed loud enough for all to hear, Rolen couldn’t catch up to even the most mediocre of fastballs.
“We’ll address this, take some time off to get the inflammation out of there that is in there now,” said Rolen. Asked how long it bothered him, he said, “That’s a good question. How about seven years. But that’s an easy excuse and I’m responsible for my bat-bats when I walk out there and I haven’t taken good at-bats and haven’t been helpful for the team.”
WONDER CHILD Bryce Harper took ten stitches in his forehead after Friday’s game when he banged his bat against a wall and the bat bit back, clobbering his forehead and opening a wound.
Dusty Baker said it is a part of youth, a learning curve, and recalled when he was young with the Atlanta Braves and threw a batting helmet.
“Hank Aaron came up behind me and grabbed me by the neck,” said Baker. “He told me, ‘Pick up that helmet, walk to the rack and put it where it belongs, then go sit in the dugout and figure out you are going to get that pitcher next time.’”
Baker said he didn’t see the Harper incident, few did, but his son, Darren saw it on television. Said Baker, “That’s a good lesson for my son to see — the repercussions of your actions.”
JOEY VOTTO has a cereal out, Votto’s, they gave away a Joey Votto bobblehead doll Saturday night and on Sunday they are giving away Jay Bruce cereal bowls.
Relief pitcher Sean Marshall checked it all out and said, “Well, I guess the Joey Votto bobblehead can now eat his Votto’s out of a Jay Bruce cereal bowl.”
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Dusty Baker on winning his 1,500th game Wednesday in Milwaukee: “I hope I’ve made it easier, by whatever success I’ve had, on the people of color.”
Baker on the short three-day homestand: “I emptied my suitcase when we got home Wednesday, repacked it on Thursday and on Sunday I’ll hug my kid, kiss my wife, pet my dog and hit the road again.”
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