Blockbuster: Reds get LA’s Wood, Puig, Kemp and dump Bailey
By HAL McCOY After it appeared that the Cincinnati Reds might be left standing out in the cold in their pursuit for improvement, they kicked down the door and came in out of the cold with heavy overcoats on. The Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers completed a high-profile deal Friday night that, on the surface, […]
Observations: Matt Harvey signs $14 million deal with Angels
By HAL McCOY UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave after getting my first taste of MOD pizza, which has been near my home for a year but I hadn’t partaken. Recommendation? A couple of thumbs up. —If the Cincinnati Reds were serious about re-signing free agent pitcher Matt Harvey, they weren’t serious enough. Harvey agreed […]
Observations: Reds draft Connor Joe in Rule 5 draft
By HAL McCOY UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave while wondering why the Cincinnati Reds drafted Cotton-Eyed Joe in the Rule 5 draft. What? His name is Connor Joe? Never mind. —The Cincinnati Reds left Las Vegas with a mid-rotation pitcher, Tanner Roark, and a guy named Connor Joe. No, not Joe Connor. It really […]
Observations: Reds add Roark – middle-of-the-rotation guy
By HAL McCOY UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave after a stomach-stuffing Mexican meal of chicken enchiladas rancheros, rice, refried beans and the requisite number of margaritas. —Something struck me as oh-so-true after the Cincinnati Reds acquired middle-of-the-rotation pitcher Tanner Roark from the Washington Nationals Wednesday. And a middle-of-the-rotation guy isn’t what Reds fan were […]
Observations: Of Hamilton, Tulowitzki-Bailey, Ottavino-Babe Ruth
By HAL McCOY UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave while watching the baseball winter meetings almost non-stop and wondering if anything significant is going to happen other than rumor-mongering. —Billy Hamilton will wear Kansas City royal blue next season, The Kansas City Blur. The Royals signed Hamilton to a one-year $5.2 million deal, laced with […]
Observations: Window closing fast on Reds acquiring good starters
By HAL McCOY UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, growing a long beard waiting for the Cincinnati Reds to make their first ‘big’ off-season move, other than saving salary by not tendering outfielder Billy Hamilton. —The window for the Reds to acquire a notable starting pitcher (or two) is shutting quickly, down to a crack. […]
Reds sign another name coach and other observations
By HAL McCOY ,UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave watching four of the top teams in college basketball open the season against each other — Kansas-Michigan State, Duke-Kentucky. What a lineup. It is like watching The Final Four in November. Either Kentucky forgot to send its first team or Duke’s entire lineup is NBA-ready. —The […]
New Reds pitching coach states his case
By Hal McCoy More than three days after word leaked, the Cincinnati Reds officially introduced new pitching coach Derek Johnson Friday afternoon. Johnson, pitching coach the last three years with the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers, participated in a media conference call Friday and said all the things fan want to hear. The former Vanderbilt University coach […]
Reds lure Milwaukee pitching coach to Cincinnati
By HAL McCOY The Cincinnati Reds promise to spend money this off-season already has paid dividends — not for a pitcher or pitchers, but for a new pitching coach. The Reds outbid the Milwaukee Brewers for highly-regarded pitching coach Derek Johnson. Johnson spent the last three seasons as Milwaukee’s pitching coach and the Brewers wanted […]