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 > June > 19 > Entry
Suddenly the Reds have a Cuban Crisis
UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, knowing I’m going to catch what-for from my wife Nadine for forgetting to water the flowers and the tomato plants at dusk before settling in for the Reds-Indians argument Tuesday night. Can you water at 10 p.m.?
THE SHINE AND luster is fading from the once-glossy demeanor of Aroldis Chapman.
The Cincinnati Reds suffered a staggering defeat Tuesday night to the Cleveland Indians, 3-2, in 10 innings — an unfathomable loss.
Why? Well, the Reds scored a run in the top of the 10th to take a 2-1 lead and it was A-train time — time for Chapman to come in and blow 100 miles an hour fastballs by the Tribe, a team that doesn’t have a single .300 hitter.
But Chapman’s fastball topped out at 96 and he was all over Hell’s half-acre with his deliveries.
He did retire the first batter on one pitch, a feeble fly to right. But Shin-Soo Choo pulled a single to right, his third hit. He threw over to first base four times as Asdrubal Cabrera was at the plate and Chapman fell behind 3-and-1. His next pitch was drilled into the right field seats — a stunning walk-off win for the Tribe.
And it cost the Reds a game in the standings as the Pittsburgh Pirates hammered the Minnesota Twins and crept back to within 2 ½ games of the Reds.
AFTER THE REDS and Indians combined for 19 runs and 28 hits Monday night, a 10-9 Tribe victory, it figured that Tuesday night’s game would be a battle royale, with hits ricocheting all over Progressive Field.
After all, the starting pitchers were Mike Leake for the Reds and Josh Tomlin for the Indians, both with ERAs over five. And they hooked up last week with the Reds winning, 12-5, with neither pitcher making it past the fifth inning.
So, wouldn’t you know it? Leake and Tomlin pitched as if it was Bob Gibson vs. Sandy Koufax.
Leake went seven innings, giving up one run and six hits and he retired the last 11 batters he faced. Tomlin went 6 2/3 innings, also giving up one run and six hits.
IT BECAME A battle of the bullpens, with a seemingly huge advantage to the Reds, who have the best bullpen in the National League to Cleveland’s bottom-feeder of a bullpen in the American League.
And it looked as if that’s what would happen, a blow-up by the Cleveland bullpen in the top of the 10th.
Pinch-hitter Willie Harris led the 10th with a one-hop double off the center field wall against Wright State’s Joe Smith. But Zack Cozart put down an awful bunt, right back to Smith, and he threw Harris out at third.
Chris Heisey shattered his bat and both bat and ball whistled toward third baseman Jack Hannahan. Amazingly, while the head of the broken bat spiraled through his legs, Hannahan fielded the ball and forced Cozart at second.
Tribe manager Manny Acta brought in lefthander Nick Hagadone to face Joey Votto.
That’s when the luck began. Hagadone nearly skulled Votto with a high, hard wild pitch that steamed to the backstop and Heisey took second.
Votto then chopped one over Hagedone’s head and beat shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera’s throw for an infield hit as Heisey took third.
Then, another wild pitch. Heisey scored the go-ahead run, setting it up for Chapman, but it didn’t work and do the Reds suddenly have a Cuban Crisis?
SEAN MARSHALL PITCHED the eighth and ninth and gave up leadoff hits in both innings, but worked out of both, striking out Aaron Cunningham in the ninth with the winning run on second base.
WHY NOT BUNT, JAY? It was a tie game, 1-1, in the seventh and Brandon Phillips led with a single.
The Indians put on their Jay Bruce shift — three guys to the right of second base and third baseman Jack Hannahan moved over in the shortstop spot. All Bruce had to do was push a bunt up the third base line for an easy hit.
He didn’t do it, didn’t try. He hit a lazy fly ball to center.
Ryan Ludwick walked, Scott Rolen grounded to first and Todd Frazier walked. Tribe manager Manny Acta replaced Josh Tomlin with Esmil Rogers to face Devin Mesoraco. A nine-pitch battle ensued and Rogers threw the ol’ dog pitch — K-9. On the ninth pitch, a breaking ball, Mesoraco struck out and it stayed 1-1.
Somebody once asked Ken Griffey Jr. why he didn’t bunt once in a while when teams overshifted on him and he said, “Because they can’t put a defensive guy in the right field seats.”
ZACK COZART LED the eighth with a single, his third hit. Chris Heisey was not asked to bunt because Manager Dusty Baker knew if the Reds bunted Cozart to second the Indians would intentionally walk Joey Votto.
So Heisey swung away and popped one behind first base. Fortunately for the Indians, to fans wearing Tribe caps couldn’t judge the ball. They stuck their hands in the air, but Cleveland first baseman Casey Kotchman reached into the second row and snagged it.
Votto grounded out to short right field, with second baseman Josh Kipnis making an outstanding play. Cozart took second and moved to third when third baseman Jack Hannahan booted a grounder hit by Brandon Phillips. But with runners on first and third, Bruce lined out to right field, leaving it 1-1.
QUICK QUIZ: What do all these players have in common, other than they all have played shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds: Todd Frazier, Zack Cozart, Edgar Renterial, Orlando Cabrera, Miguel Cairo, Paul Janish, Drew Sutton, Chris Valaika, Alex Gonzalez, Jolbert Cabrera, Juan Castro, Jeff Keppinger, Danny Richar, Enrique Cruz, Pedro Lopez, Rich Aurilia, Royce Clayton, Ray Olmedo, Felipe Lopez, Jerry Hairston Jr., Adam Rosales.
ANSWER: All 21 of those guys at one time played shortstop with Brandon Phillips at second base and, no, DatDudeBP cannot name them all, even if you give him 15 minutes — or 15 hours or 15 days.
ONE OF THE FEW times I had problems with a player was with one of the nicest, most cooperative guy ever to wear a Reds uniform. It was David Weathers.
The Reds were in Cleveland and the bullpen was struggling and I wrote, “The Reds bullpen is not a bullpen, it’s a pigpen.”
The next day Weathers stormed into the clubhouse and yelled, “So we’re a pigpen, huh?”
Before I could say anything, fellow bullpenner Kent Mercker, a best friend to Weathers, said out loud, “Right now we are a pigpen. All I ask is that Hal let’s me be the head hog.”
FUNNY HOW BEST friends have a way of calming things down. Pitchers Joey Hamilton and Gabe White were best friends, too. One day in Wrigley Field I was standing close to Hamilton’s locker in the tiny, cramped visitor’s clubhouse, where there was no room to move.
Hamilton came in and said, “Can’t the media stay away from my locker?”
Hearing that, White said, “Hal can stand anywhere he wants. He can not only stand by my locker, he can sit on my stool and put on my uniform.”
Thanks Kent and thanks Gabe.
TIME TO SEND in those questions for this week’s Ask Hal to get them in Sunday’s DDN. Send them to halmccoy1@hotmail.com
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By Jamestown Joe
June 21, 2012 10:44 AM | Link to this
@Just Me, I know what it means to lead off an inning, but Hal said he led the inning. There is a difference.
By guesserofthings
June 21, 2012 8:33 AM | Link to this
I have my suspicions that AC’s problems on the field might have something to do with his activities off the field. Driving in Columbus at 100 MPH the night after arriving home from a road trip in NY…and now, some womamn in his room in Pittsburgh lying to police… Where there is smoke…and in his case..it appears to be more than 100 MPH fastball smoke..
By DD
June 21, 2012 7:21 AM | Link to this
Hey Bruce…yes I did. Tough play - nice job. I also saw him dive for a ball in the first game of the series that he missed turning a single into a crucial double (and a run) in a one run loss. Did you see that one?
By Bruce
June 21, 2012 1:13 AM | Link to this
Hey DD, did you see Heisey make still another great catch?
By redsfandownunder
June 20, 2012 8:50 PM | Link to this
I’ve not seen any media report or even speculate what will happen when Masset and Bray come off the DL. I believe Hoover and Chapman are the only relievers that have options (LeCure?). Something will have to give and the Reds may have to make a trade.
By jim t
June 20, 2012 7:30 PM | Link to this
Need Bronson to step up tonight and break the two game losing streak.
By fan of hal
June 20, 2012 7:21 PM | Link to this
Hey null.You are just as stupid as lancer is.You to must be kin??????Hal is a very nice man.And he knows his reds.
By DD
June 20, 2012 7:18 PM | Link to this
Hey BOB - did CLEAT retire to Scranton to meet up with CD?????
By null
June 20, 2012 7:06 PM | Link to this
It is written, “Thou shalt not criticize” the Almighty Hal, writer extraordinaire enshrined in the so-called “hall” of fame. No Rose in the hall? No Hal in the hall.
By JP from Hilliard
June 20, 2012 5:21 PM | Link to this
I’m sure I’m not the only one to notice that Chapman is extremely inconsistent with his mechanics. When he rocks back on his right let, takes a high leg kick, and a nice slow move to the plate, he’s over powering. When he doesn’t, he’s all over the place. All of his hits have been when he does not rock back.
By Bob
June 20, 2012 5:20 PM | Link to this
@brian: I’ll take watching Frazier and Heisey making ‘CONTACT’, as in line drives,etc. It is so refreshing to not watch ‘Swish’ Stubbs every AB. Heisey not near as boring—AND, HE HASN’T BEEN IN THE LINEUP FOR YEARS, like your failed hero.
By Cowboy is a phony
June 20, 2012 4:06 PM | Link to this
All you want to do is rip people on here IF they don’t agree with you. You are amazing. When are you going to shut up, let people write what they want as you do on here or better yet…. go away. You are a over bearing jerk.
By jim t
June 20, 2012 4:03 PM | Link to this
Chapmans problems recently are command. He can’t throw his slider for strikes and he is falling behind with his fastball. Can’t throw 3-1 count sliders. He needs to be ahead in the count. Thats the difference between him now and earlier in year. When hitters couldn’t sit dead red he was awesome. Now when its obvious he has to throw the heater hitters are sitting on it. ML hitters are to good for that.
By Kyle
June 20, 2012 3:22 PM | Link to this
Yes, major-league caliber hitters can catch up to and drive a 97 mph fastball. If Chapman is unwilling or unable to mix in the slider or a change up, expect a lot more losses like this one.
By jim t
June 20, 2012 1:45 PM | Link to this
Hey Duke we’re glad your a Cardinal fan as well. Yes, you guys never cry or bad mouth. Perhaps you should read Bernie at the St. Louis Post dispatch.Plenty of crying going on over there on a daily basis. Many wanted Tony ran out of town in August last year.Of course he was forgiven as soon as he won the series. Your opinion is certaily welcome here but at lest try to be credible. As far as being Classless take a look in the mirror. Now go cheer for your team
By Duke
June 20, 2012 1:22 PM | Link to this
Many of these comments are the reason I am glad to be a Cardinals fan! Whether my team is going good or not, I am still a fan and support them. I try not to talk bad about them or feel over confident when they are going good. Just support them. You act cocky when you are winning, and whine when losing. Some of you are doing both in the same breath. I very rarely read anything about the Reds, but what I truly enjoyed were the two stories at the end about ball players comments. That is good reading! My viewpoint is you Reds fans are just like DatDudeBP and Xavier basketball fans…classless!
By jim t
June 20, 2012 12:52 PM | Link to this
Hey lancer, Hal is a HOF writer. Your a notch below a bad blogger. Get a life moron.If you don’t like the content of his articles don’t read them. Better yet its OK to voice your oopinion of his work. Just like it is OK for me to give my opinion of your rant.This is America after all. My opinion is your a flaming a## wipe exercising your keyboard muscles. Have a Nice day!!!!
By fan of hal.......
June 20, 2012 12:34 PM | Link to this
Hey Lancer.You are as stupid as stupid can get……
By just me
June 20, 2012 11:58 AM | Link to this
Jamestown Joe - you’re trying to be funny, right? You really don’t know what it means to lead off an inning?
By ElioChacon
June 20, 2012 11:57 AM | Link to this
Lancer, Please take your mean-spirited, know-nothing words to a blog where such vitriol is acceptable. Hal continues to be one of the most respected people in the business. As for Hal’s reminisces, He reminds me of the late, great Waite Hoyt. Jamestown, Everyone but you knew exactly what Hal was saying. It’s a blog, not a grammar lesson.
By Sergeantdave
June 20, 2012 11:41 AM | Link to this
Hey Lancer “Who’s We?” I did not see the game and I do appreciate a breakdown of what happened. Your response is what has NOTHING of value. No one will remove this just so everyone can see what a real jack-a** you are. Keep em coming Hal!!!
By johnbrisker
June 20, 2012 11:22 AM | Link to this
@Lancer - here is a suggestion. Stop reading the blog or stop bit**ing about the content. I like the play by play and the comments about the relevence of what occurred as a result. Over the hill? Not yet, still appears to be able to climb the mountain.
By slag
June 20, 2012 11:20 AM | Link to this
Lancer, You’re an idiot..This is called a “Blog”, hence, it’s full of opinions AND facts..It’s for conversation, hence, the ability to post messages.I, for one, enjoy his blag as do many others.Why don’t you GTFO out of Dodge you no-good ck ser.
By Jamestown Joe
June 20, 2012 11:09 AM | Link to this
“Zach Cozart led the eighth with a single.” What does that mean? He got a hit then the eighth inning started?
By jim t
June 20, 2012 10:44 AM | Link to this
If the bull pen is where we are showing cracks that may be the best possible problem to have seeing how we have Bray and Massett getting close to returning.I’m not overly concerned about the the last two games. a win tonight still gets us a 4-2 road trip and I’ll take them any time. Chapmans problemm is location. Bth guys that hit him had the count 3-1. You ain’t throwing sliders with that count and hitters will hit fastballs when they no its coming.
By Lancer
June 20, 2012 10:40 AM | Link to this
Hal, We all watched the game. No need for the play-by-play. Give us something interesting. You probably can’t sitting in your man cave. Perhaps it’s time to just hang it up. There is absolutely nothing of value in this report of yours. I’m sure this will be removed by someone at the DDN but seriously. Just ride off into the sunset.
By Don
June 20, 2012 10:34 AM | Link to this
He was looking a little unsteady leading up to this. The “Bull Durham” wild pitch against the Mets, a walk or two, but his stuff seemed to be hit or miss. Guessing he needs a tuneup, like a day off Dusty. No more Kerry Woods.
By Jack
June 20, 2012 10:26 AM | Link to this
Chapman is human, and no matter how good you are, once in a while you miss a pitch up and the ball disappears. I would like to see him do more than throw smoke though…can someone teach him a “deer in the headlights” changeup? A good curve or slider now and then would make the fastball unhittable.
By Muzak
June 20, 2012 10:19 AM | Link to this
Three of the last five Reds losses have come from Chapman. The last five losses are all pinned on bullpen pitchers. What was once a great strength is now showing serious cracks.
By jeff
June 20, 2012 8:49 AM | Link to this
Everyone was wanting to crown this team but the fact is they are what they are. An inconsistent team that lack fundamentals in the small ball area. This is the worst bunting team I have ever seen. It cost them 3 times last night when they couldnt bunt or the manager didnt have them bunt. My opinion is that you always put pressure on the defense. Dusty said he didnt want to bunt Cozart over because they could then walk Votto. Why in the heck do we have Phillips batting 4th (who has been hot anyways) Its because Dusty plays for big innings. Put pressure on the defense. Heisey is maybe our best bunter in that spot. As for Chapman we all just need to realize that he is Human. The key for Chapman is that he has to get ahead of hitters. If he is wild teams can time that fastball. In his defense Cabrera made one heck of a swing on a pretty good pitch. He will be fine. This team still needs to add a piece or two IMO
By Tomahawk Chop
June 20, 2012 8:34 AM | Link to this
You can water anytime day or night. Reds need a splash in the face.
By DD
June 20, 2012 8:23 AM | Link to this
Heard/read somewhere that Chapman experiencing lower back tightness. Knowing this before he came in last night, I did notice he looked a bit stiff in his stride to the plate. Also explains lack of mph on fastball and overall lack of control. Could a stint on DL be in his future if it continues with Bray and Masset to return soon?
By Dr Zap
June 20, 2012 8:20 AM | Link to this
Hal…it was nonsense to say that the Reds were pulling away and that the rest of the division should say goodbye. This team isn’t good enough (yet)to pull away. And last two nights show it. Chapman needs to mix his pitches up. It isn’t enough just to throw hard. Every flame-thrower had/has a second or third pitch. I say this tongue-in-cheek, but maybe they should bring back Coco. At least he would throw a slider now and then to keep the batter off balance.
By Richard
June 20, 2012 7:59 AM | Link to this
Where was Price at when Chapman was melting down. It seems after some one gets a hit off him, he loses it. Price should have came out and settled him down. When he kept throwing to first, it look like he had lost his confidence. If he is going to be your closer, use him everyday and keep him sharp. If he can’t throw 10 to 12 pitches everyday, how will he ever be a starter? He won’t last 3 innings. Everybody in the ballpark seen him melting down, but Baker and Price.
By johnbrisker
June 20, 2012 7:56 AM | Link to this
@Brian - agree on Ludwick and Stubbs. They are what they are but you get run production from Ludwick and Heisey/Frazier aren’t significantly better options than Stubbs. As for Chapman, why are you throwing over to 1st when the guy is only a few feet off the bag. It was almost as if he did not want to pitch to the batter. And aren’t we forgetting that Chapman has had some personal turmoil since his lights out performances earlier in the year? If this were a major news market Chapman’s recent off the field activities would be a full blown “scandal” of sorts. People are turning on his fastball so he either has to throw harder or spin the ball as my granddaughter’s softball coach would say. Where is CoCo when you need him?
By slag
June 20, 2012 7:55 AM | Link to this
AC will not always have the 100 mph heat and on those occasions when he does not, he’s got to have another pitch to mix in. Actually, the HR pitch was not a bad one at all as the hitter had to go down to get it but, again, pure heat at 98 and it’s game over but 95-96 plenty of guys can get the barrel out on the ball especially with no other pitch variance. Funny thing is that I did not feel good about the inning the second the first hitter got out. For a lefty, he took a darn good hack at the pitch and pulled it to medium depth RF. It’s imperative that the reds get a real #2 hitter in the order. With all the intentional walks to Votto, it takes the bunt away but, at the same time, we need to stay away both from forcing the lead runner out AND the DP ball. Heisey is a free swinger who swings and misses a bunch and is a strict pull hitter. That is not a good sign for a 2 hitter unless the guy’s a .290 plus hitter and CH is not that. It worked fine in NY as Valdez was hot a a firecracker. I don’t even feel good with Stubbs in the 2 hole longterm..He presents similar to Heisey. Dead pull hitters, not great contact hitters at all, and .250-.260 average. There are going to be plenty more 1-2 run games these next 100…We need to get Votto up to bat as much as possible with RISP..
By AP-FLORIDA
June 20, 2012 7:48 AM | Link to this
Hal, I hate to say this but…You gave them “THE KISS OF DEATH” with your prediction the other day. Please do something to retract it….GO REDS!!!!
By redsfandownunder
June 20, 2012 7:32 AM | Link to this
Watch out for root rot if you make a habit of watering at night - otherwise 10pm watering is fine. Chapman is an interesting study as he went from effectively wild, to wild, to unhittable, to human. It seems he wears down quickly if not rested on consecutive days. It remains to be seen if he is more suited to starting - he may wear down if pitcing conecutive innings? Hopefully they sort out how to use him. I like the unhittable Chapman a lot.
By Joyce
June 20, 2012 6:56 AM | Link to this
The more innings Chapman pitches, the more batters will know how to hit him. Diversify, young man.
By joe h.
June 20, 2012 6:54 AM | Link to this
Give Aroldis a break! The guy has had a hand in so many of the Reds’ victories this year. He’s just going through a little rough patch. All pitchers do at one time or another. He’s human, afterall. As great as he’s been as a closer, he will be an even better starter next year when he can use all his pitches. I’m assuming Branson will be leaving at the end of his contract, so a rotation including Chapman and the current other four starters would be dominant. Hey, I miss the deep insights from Walt. Where ya’ been?
By Brian McCoy
June 20, 2012 6:43 AM | Link to this
I will take Stubbs and Ludwick over Heisey and Frazier all day long. I am tired of watching Heisey and Frazier leaving runners on or hitting into rally-killing double plays. Also, someone please tell Chapman in a language he understands that major league hitters can hit a fastball. Try mixing in your slider every and now and then. Unreal! This team continues to disappoint and it nauseates me. The Reds will relinquish 1st place for good before the All-Star break.
By Bob
June 20, 2012 12:49 AM | Link to this
And, the good ol’ days when Stubbs played everyday in CF, slump or no slump, instead of Heisey. They are promising the ‘KKK’ will soon return for our viewing pleasure, though. When they do this it will be a sign that Jocketty and Baker have gone completely mad. Frazier in LF/Heisey in CF would be appropriate. Will we ever see Rolen pull a pitch again?
By Brad
June 19, 2012 11:14 PM | Link to this
Another disappointing loss. I miss the good old days when Chapman would come in and the game was over.