DeSclafani strings zeroes against Marlins in 5-0 Reds win
By HAL McCOY For the second straight night, the Miami Marlins saw up close and personal what might have been. Where might they be had they not traded pitchers Luis Castillo and Anthony DeSclafani to the Cincinnati Reds? On Tuesday night, Castillo beat them and is 3-and-0 against the Marlins since the trade. On Wednesday […]
Castillo continues mastery over his former team
By HAL McCoy The Miami Marlins, perhaps not trying to be all that they can be, have traded in recent times a roster of all-stars — Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Osuna and J.T. Realmuto. And maybe there is one deal they wish they hadn’t made, the trade that sent a young lower-minors pitcher to […]
Marlins perfect tonic for struggling Reds
By HAL McCOY The Miami Marlins, possessors of the National League’s worst record, were the perfect medicinal tonic for the Cincinnati Reds Monday night. After losing three straight over the weekend to the Pittsburgh Pirates, inhabitants of last place in the National League Central, the Reds opened a four-game series in Miami with a 6-3 […]
Observations: Even Rose wouldn’t bet on Reds reaching .500
By HAL McCOY UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave after reading a woman’s request that pole dancing be added to the Olympic Games. Would the winner be the dancer that collected the most dollar bills? —For those who still believe the Cincinnati Reds can finish .500 this year, well, to do that they need to […]
Reds hit low point — swept by lowly Pirates
By HAL McCOY It would take a forensic pathologist to dissect what the Cincinnati Reds did on PNC Park Sunday afternoon, other than to desecrate the playing field. Suffice it to say that starting pitcher Trevor Bauer was awful, the Reds’ defense was abysmal and the offense was dormant until it was too late. Put […]
Pirates annihilate moribund Reds, 14-0
By HAL McCOY That isn’t the Pittsburgh Lumber Company of the 1970s playing in PNC Park this year. Somebody forgot to send the text to the Cincinnati Reds. For the ninth straight time, the Reds lost Saturday night to the woebegotten Pirates on the banks of the Allegheny River, a 14-0 annihilation. And no that […]
Iglesias blows one-run lead in ninth, Reds lose to Pirates, 3-2
By HAL McCOY Major League Baseball, realizing the Cincinnati Reds-Pittsburgh Pirates history of beanball warfare, issued both teams a pre-game proclamation. No funny business. Or else. So there were no histrionics or extra-curricular activities Friday night in PNC Park. It was just good, old-fashioned baseballs, a rare pitcher’s duel. In the end though, Reds closer […]
Castillo not at his best, but good enough for 12th win
By Hal McCoy Contributing Writer The Cincinnati Reds faced pitchers from all over the western hemisphere as the San Diego Padres used Wednesday as a bullpen game. The Padres ran out pitchers from North Dakota, Washington, Alabama, the Dominican Republic and Ohio. None was much effective as the Reds put together a 4-2 victory. San […]
Great American is no gray area for Sonny Gray
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — They say Great American Small Park gives pitchers migraine headaches and sleepless nights. They say smart pitchers fake sore arms and stiff necks when it is their turn to pitch in GASP. That wouldn’t include Cincinnati Reds pitcher Sonny Gray, who probably has a water-color ‘Home, Sweet Home’ sign hanging […]