Iglesias performs like a magician
By HAL McCOY It isn’t often the Cincinnati Reds win a game when they score only two runs. It isn’t often the Cincinnati Reds win a game when Joey Votto goes 0 for 5. Or even 0 for 4. It isn’t often the Cincinnati Reds win a game when relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias puts two […]
Diaz hits grand slam for Fernandez
By HAL McCOY, The emotions from the death of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez spilled into Busch Stadium in St. Louis Tuesday night. St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz grew up on the same street in Santa Clara, Cuba as Fernandez and the two were lifelong close friends. When Fernandez, the 24-year-old pitching star for […]
Reds slap 15 runs on the Cardinals
By HAL McCOY So which team is competing for a playoff spot, the St. Louis Cardinals or the Cincinnati Reds. Everybody knows that answer. The Cardinals. But on Monday night in Busch Stadium III, the Reds played as if a wild card spot was just a sniff away, not 16 ½ away and long ago […]
Straily states strong case once again
By HAL McCOY When it comes to Dan Straily, the Cincinnati Reds should throw away the pencil. They shouldn’t pencil him in for the rotation next season. They should use indelible ink. In fact, his name should be at the top of the rotation for 2017, especially for what the 27-year-old right hander has done […]
Triple play, bullpen blowup do in Reds
By HAL McCOY Most of the time Joey Votto doesn’t make more than two outs during an entire game. On Friday night in Miller Park he made three out with one swing of the bat. He hit into a triple play. It was instrumental in the Cincinnati Reds losing to the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-4, dropping […]
Cubs give Stephenson another lesson
By HAL McCOY The growing pains continue for the Cincinnati Reds and there isn’t a pill in the medicine cabinet to cure it. Feeling the most pain these days is 23-year-old starting pitcher Robert Stephenson, who showed Wednesday night why the Reds kept their top pitching prospect in the minor leagues for most of the […]
Mismatch: Cubs’ Lester vs. Reds’ Smith
By HAL McCOY It was a mismatch from the moment Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price made out his lineup card and wrote, “Josh Smith” as his pitcher and Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon wrote “Jon Lester” on his card as his pitcher. Smith, an emergency volunteer starter because the Reds are short of starting pitchers, […]
Reds get a nasty dose of Aroldis Chapman
By HAL McCOY So now the Cincinnati Reds know how it feels and it wasn’t a fun feeling. It was bone-chilling. For the first time since they traded Aroldis Chapman, they had to face the Cuban Missile Monday night in revved-up Wrigley Field. And Chapman was, indeed, the most revved-up human being in Chicagoland when […]
A memorable day at the plate for Straily
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds are easily recognizable on any baseball field. They can’t play incognito. They could play games in their civilian clothes and they would be recognized. They’ve tried camouflage tops and caps. They’ve tried red tops with ‘Los Rojas’ on the front as part of Hispanic Heritage. And on […]