Nobody beats Fernandez in Miami
By HAL McCOY When Jose Fernandez hangs a ‘Home, Sweet Home’ sign on his locker in Miami, he means just that: ‘Home, Sweet Home.’ Marlins Park is his domain and any opposing baseball teams that treads on his turf are destined for a long, long night. The Cincinnati Reds discovered ‘The Fernandez Factor’ Friday night […]
Iglesias makes strong bullpen statement
By HAL McCOY Raisel Iglesias is like a resuscitator for the Cincinnati Reds bullpen, more than a breath of fresh air for baseball’s worst bullpen. When starter Brandon Finnegan couldn’t protect a five-run lead because he gave up four home runs in five innings against the Chicago Cubs Tuesday afternoon, Iglesias rode to the rescue. […]
Riggins fired but Reds misfire again
By HAL McCOY The Cincinnati Reds keep talking about their rebuilding program, keep telling fans to be patient, but they lost their own patience with pitching coach Mark Riggins Monday. They gave Riggins a Triple-A pitching staff and fired him when the inexperienced staff pitched like a Triple-A staff. It is a staff that leads […]
Strasburg, Espinosa wreck the Reds, 12-1
By HAL McCOY For most major league teams Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg is ‘Mr. Unbeatable.’ For the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon Strasburg was ‘Mr. Unhittble.’ For 6 2/3 innings Strasburg was working diligently on a no-hitter and it forced Nationals manager Dusty Baker into a difficult decision. Strasburg came off the disabled list […]
Straily outstanding as Reds win in 10
By HAL McCOY For Dan Straily, the night was as frustrating as trying to open a new mayonnaise jar with wet hands. For the Cincinnati Reds, it was salvation. After blowing a hard night’s work by Straily, the Reds scored five runs in the top of the 10th inning and beat the Washington Nationals, 9-4, […]
Reds work overtime only to lose again
By HAL McCOY When it comes to a Battle of the Bullpens between the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals, well, the Nationals are going to win every time. And that’s what happened Friday night in the nation’s capital, even though the Reds bullpen was almost perfect. Almost. They argued, scuffled and battled for 14 […]
Reds: The ‘Height of Embarrassivity’
By HAL McCOY After former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jose Rijo encountered a tough night, he invented a new word to explain how he felt: “It was the height of embarrassivity,” he said. And for the Reds Thursday night, a new word was needed to explain what happened against the Washington Nationals. It was beyond embarrassment, […]
Cubs: Thy name is ‘Bizarre’ against the Reds
By HAL McCOY When the Chicago Cubs play the Cincinnati Reds, fans can expect the unexpected. Except for one thing. It can be expected that the Cubs will punish the Reds with a lot of runs and a lot of home runs. And the Cubs will win. The unexpected? Kris Bryant hitting three home runs […]
‘Mad Man’ Maddon pulls magic act on Reds
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon managed Tuesday night’s game like a Mad Magician — and got away with a baseball version of sleight of hand. The game with the Cincinnati Reds droned on and on and on into the 15th inning until the Cubs scored five runs in the top […]