Bullpen spoils another shutout performance by a starter
By HAL McCOY The Milwaukee Brewers want to send a message to Cincinnati Reds manager Jim Riggleman: “What are you trying to do to us?” For the second straight game in Wrigley Field against the division-leading Chicago Cubs, Riggleman pulled his starting pitcher when that pitcher was throwing a shutout. And for the second straight […]
Reds blow a shutout by Matt Harvey
By HAL McCOY When Cole Hamels is scheduled to pitch against the Cincinnati Reds, he could put a life-size cardboard cutout of himself on the mound and go play golf and he’d still win. He was 11-and-1 for his career against the Reds when he trudged to the mound Friday night for the Chicago Cubs […]
Dodgers finally take one from Reds, 8-1
By HAL McCOY The Los Angeles Dodgers borrowed a famous quote from the 1976 movie Network: “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this any more.” After losing six straight games to the Cincinnati Reds this season, the Dodgers turned a fire hose on the Reds Wednesday afternoon in Great American Ball […]
Reds continue to put LA on ‘Road to Ruination’
By HAL McCOY If the Los Angeles Dodgers don’t win the National League West and don’t snag one of the two wild card spots they can only slap themselves on the forehead and ask themselves, “Why in the name of Abner Doubleday couldn’t we beat the last place Cincinnati Reds?” The Dodgers, just a sniff […]
Reds pound Dodgers fifth straight time
By HAL McCOY For the umpteenth time this season, a Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher made a dubious cameo appearance, short and not-so-sweet. Even though the Reds gave him a four-run lead in the first inning, Cody Reed couldn’t make it beyond the fourth inning against the potent and powerful Los Angeles Dodgers. On this night, […]
Weak starting pitching perplexes Reds
By HAL McCOY The evidence is just plain obvious as to what the 2018 Cincinnati Reds are all about — the weakness and the strength. It was self-evident Sunday afternoon/evening during a 7-6 loss to the San Diego Padres and their roster heavily-laden with rookies. Weakness? Starting pitching, top to bottom. Strength? The offense, top […]
2018 Reds: Grand Masters of Grand Slams
By HAL McCOY When in future years somebody brings up the 2018 Cincinnati Reds, somebody else might say, “Isn’t that the team that hit all those grand slam home runs?” And the answer will be, “Yes, that team hit 11 grand slams, a franchise record and the most by any major league team that year.” […]
Reds’ season is now ‘Trivial Pursuit’
By HAL McCOY The season is a wreck for the fourth straight season, the Good Ship Cincinnati is beached on a distant sandbar. There is nothing left for the Reds to achieve. The last 20 games are reduced to personal achievements and playing for whatever pride is left. Despite another shoddy performance by a starting […]
Three L’s (Listless, lethargic, lifeless) for Reds in roll over loss to Padres
By HAL McCOY For those still paying attention, and judging from the ocean of empty seats in Great American Ball Park Thursday night not many are, the Cincinnati Reds have been eliminated from winning the National League Central. And they are playing like it. After taking two of three from the St. Louis Cardinals, the […]