McCoy: Reds ‘Perfect’ Bullpen Highlights Reds 9-1 Win Over Cardinals
By Hal McCoy Mother Nature wore a Cincinnati Reds cap Thursday afternoon in rain-drenched Great American Ball Park. She was on the Reds side all the way during a 9-1 annihilation of the St. Louis Cardinals to give Cincinnati a split of the four-game series. Andrew Abbott started for the Reds and pitched as if […]
McCoy: Cardinals Pound Petty For Nine Runs In His MLB Debut
By Hal McCoy Somebody tell Chase Petty that Christy Mathewson once gave up nine runs in the first inning to the Chicago Cubs. . .and he won 373 games. Petty didn’t give up nine runs in the first inning of his major league debut for the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday night, but he did give up […]
McCoy: Cardinals Shut Down Reds On Three Hits, Take Opener, 6-0
By Hal McCoy Terry Francona took a gamble on much-troubled relief pitcher Alexis Diaz and might consider a quick visit to Gamblers Anonymous. The Cincinnati Reds manager sent Diaz into the ninth inning of Game One during Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader, asking him to keep the Reds close. It was St Louis 1, Cincinnati nothing when […]
Ask Hal: Should Baseball Implement A Mercy Run Rule?
By Hal McCoy Q: By sticking with Elly De La Cruz at shortstop over playing him in center field, is Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona proving he is a step ahead of the fans? — DAVE, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek. A: Francona isn’t a step ahead of most fans, he is 90 feet ahead. But I still believe […]
Observations: MLB Needed To Contract Its Own Teams, Not Minors
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from my last day in St. Simons Island with an embarrassing confession. For the second straight year, I fell and bruised some ribs while on vacation after doing it last year in Rome. On our second day here, I meant to sit on a bench, missed the end of it […]
Observations: Paige Probably Appeared At A Park Near You
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from St. Simons Island, still enjoying fun in the sun with a cigar, a margarita and baseball book at pool-side. Since I’m in a historic setting, this blog is mostly historic. —NOT A BLANK PAIGE: A long-time resident of St. Simons Island told me that Satchel Paige once pitched an […]
Observations: Just Call Baseball Games Without Those Tired Clinches
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from St. Simons Island. . .and I lied. I brought along my laptop and the keyboard kept beckoning me. —SAY IT STRAIGHT, GUYS: Baseball is the king of cliches and when broadcasters use them it drives me to distraction (It’s really a short putt). Broadcasters are the worst offenders and […]
Ask Hal: A Triple Play Is The Rarest Of The Rare In MLB
By Hal McCoy Q: Why is it that no matter how well Cincinnati Reds pitcher Ian Gibaut pitches, I can’t shake the memory of him blowing that save on Opening Day? —DAVE, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek. A: Get over it, it is ancient history in the baseball world. You need the short memory that all good closers have […]
McCoy: Reds Score Three Touchdowns, Field Goal in 24-2 Win
By Hal McCoy The Morton Salt Company’s slogan is, “When it rains, it pours.” It wasn’t raining Sunday afternoon in Camden Yards, but it poured Cincinnati Reds runs across home plate against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Charlie Morton and every other pitcher that trudge to the mound. After the Reds poured seven runs against Morton in […]