OBSERVATIONS: McNamara was the leader of the band
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave while wondering what baseball will do if all 30 teams finish 30-30. —The passing of former Cincinnati Reds manager John McNamara this week evoked some unforgettable memories about this ruddy-faced Irishman who had a baseball for a heart. —When he managed in San Diego, they had […]
OBSERVATIONS: Don’t ever mess with Ron Oester
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave as we await the start of the most convoluted, messed-up seasons in the history of Major League Baseball. Nadine is sad because our night-time binge watching of Netflix shows is coming to an end. —One of the toughest players, pound-for-pound, ever to wear a Cincinnati Reds […]
OBSERVATIONS: Brandon Phillips still hitting homers
UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, setting records for most water and lemonade consumed in an eight-hour period. —When this happened, the Washington Wild Things baseball team posted on Twitter: ‘THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!! Former Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips now 39, hit a home run this week for the Baseball Brilliance Sox […]
OBSERVATIONS: What does a guy catching behind Johnny Bench do?
By HAL McCOY UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, still living in the past until baseball returns, if it does, and everybody keep both fingers crossed, and toes, too, if that’s possible. —Bill Plummer was many of Johnny Bench’s back-up catchers with the Cincinnati Reds, meaning they played every changing of the equinox. Plummer wanted […]
OBSERVATIONS: When Darrel Chaney nearly lost his smile
By HAL McCOY UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, sweating as if I’ve just run a mile when I haven’t even left my chair to open the refrigerator. —For most of his career Darrel Chaney was a utility player for the Cincinnati Reds. But manager Sparky Anderson called him one of the most valuable guys […]
OBSERVATIONS: Jose Rijo: a very special kind of guy
By HAL McCOY UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave while listening to all the talking heads ruminate on how good the Cleveland Browns will be this year. What is it they say about winning games on paper? —There is no better guy in my little world than former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Jose Rijo (Jose Rijo […]
OBSERVATIONS: ‘The Real Ken Griffey Jr.,’ in my relationship
By HAL McCOY UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave waiting for the NBA and NHL to start. But I fear I’ll be waiting until 2021 for any Major League Baseball to start. —ESPN is featuring a special Sunday night at 8 p.m. on Ken Griffey Jr., the most misunderstood player in baseball. While most media […]
OBSERVASTIONS: The day Dock Ellis went head-hunting against the Reds
By HAL McCOY UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, wondering if I believe commissioner Rob Manfred when he says there is a 100 percent chance baseball will return this year. I wouldn’t believe him if he passed a polygraph test. —The famous story about Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Dock Ellis is that he pitched a no-hitter […]
OBSERVATIONS: Rose makes ‘news’ when he doesn’t even try
By HAL McCOY UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, gazing at some old Cincinnati Reds media guides for a large doze of baseball nostalgia. —Does anybody make the news more often, for no apparent reason, than Peter Edward Rose? And that’s even though he sits in Las Vegas, minding his own business, signing autographs and […]