Stephenson better, but still a work in progress
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — The re-invention or re-tooling of Cincinnati Reds pitcher Robert Stephenson still needs some tweaking and tinkering. Stephenson, the team’s No. 1 draft pick in 2011, was summoned from Class AAA Louisville Saturday to make his first major league start of the season. Stephenson made the Opening Day roster and pitch […]
Bats go silent and Reds lose another one, 3-1
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — With the two worst starting staffs in the National League and two of the most prolific offenses, it was expected that the Miami Marlins-Cincinnati Reds game Friday night in Great American Ball park would provide more in-game fireworks than the post-game fireworks. But as former major league pitcher Joaquin Andujar […]
Reds mangled by D-Backs Bomb Squad, 12-2
By HAL McCOY It was about 2 a.m. Thursday morning when Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin was awakened in his hotel room by a phone call. “You’re pitching today,” said Corbin’s manager, Torey Lovullo. Taijuan Walker, the scheduled starter, left town on maternity leave when his wife went into labor. With a 1-and-6 road record […]
It takes 11 innings, but Reds finally win one
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — It isn’t healthy for baseball teams playing the Arizona Diamondbacks to do the following: —Permit the D-Backs to fall behind early. They lead the majors with 30 come-from-behind wins. —Go into extra innings against them because they were 7-and-1 in overtime before Wednesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds. —Get involved […]
Price: Players need to be ‘Tough s.o.b.s’
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — What happened Tuesday night in Great American Ball Park was enough to push Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price into talking about how baseball players have to be tough s.o.b.’s to survive and succeed. It was inevitable that when stretch came to tug that something had to snap. Price didn’t snap, […]
Nats sweep Reds, Feldman felled by sore knee
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — There was one positive for the Cincinnati Reds during the completion of the four-game Massacre on Pete Rose Way Monday afternoon, The game was not televised locally Monday. Unfortunately, it was on radio — for at least one inning before power buttons were pushed to ‘off’ all over the Tri-State. […]
Bailey bombed, but no excuses offered
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — Remember when the Cincinnati Reds had a trade in place that would have sent second baseman Brandon Phillips to the Washington Nationals for two trinkets and a couple of baubles? Phillips tossed sugar into the tank of the deal, invoking his vested no-trade rights, and the deal was dead. So […]
Reds stumble out of the break punchless against good pitching
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — Resuming the season after the All-Star break with no runs in 18 straight innings, even for a last place team like the Cincinnati Reds, is no way to entice ticket sales or even casual interest. That’s the way it has started for the Reds: 000-000-000-000-000-0 — a shutout and seven […]
Valaika, Gray too much for Reds
By HAL McCOY In 2010 and 2011 the Cincinnati Reds had a utility infielder named Chris Valaika. And he seldom played. In 2017, the Colorado Rockies have Pat Valaika, younger brother to Chris, a utility infielder who seldom plays. But on Wednesday night in Coors Field, Rockies manager Bud Black decided to give regular shortstop […]