Why Aaron Boone will succeed in New York
By Hal McCoy The first purchase Aaron Boone should make as new manager of the New York Yankees is a fire retardant suit. He is going to need it in The Bronx, where putting out fires in the Yankee Stadium clubhouse is a prerequisite to occupying the manager’s chair. Just ask Joe Girardi, Boone’s predecessor. […]
Barnhart wins Gold Glove, Hamilton doesn’t
By HAL McCOY Amazingly, the last place Cincinnati Reds had four finalists for a Gold Glove this season, more than any other team in the majors. Of the four — Billy Hamilton, Joey Votto, Adam Duvall and Tucker Barnhart — the least likely to win one, it seemed, would be catcher Tucker Barnhart. That isn’t […]
Genius move by Francona lifts Tribe
By HAL McCOY Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona raised brows over both eyes of most baseball aficionados when he selected Trevor Bauer to pitch Game One of the American League Division Series Thursday night. Hey, it’s the power-laden New York Yankees you’re facing. Why not pitch the Tribe’s best, Corey Kluber? In case you haven’t […]
What’s ahead for Reds in 2018?
By HAL McCOY The long, long, long season for the Cincinnati Reds finally ran its frustrating course Sunday afternoon in Wrigley Field. By winning the final game, 3-1, over a spring training-like Chicago Cubs lineup, the Reds finished exactly the way they finished in 2016 — 68 wins, 94 losses. And they accomplished those 94 […]
Late homer robs Stephenson of sixth win
By HAL McCOY For the Chicago Cubs on Friday in Wrigley Field there was no Anthony Rizzo, no Kris Bryant, no Addison Russell and no problem against the Cincinnati Reds. With the Cubs already champions of the National League East, three of their best players took a day off and the Cubs still handled the […]
Romano’s final start one for the ‘posterior’
By HAL McCOY If what happened Thursday afternoon was a joke, Cincinnati Reds rookie pitcher Sal Romano was the butt of it. But (butt?) it was no joke to the Reds, who lost for the 92nd time this season, a 4-3 decision to the Milwaukee Brewers. Romano was pretty much holding the Brewers in place […]
Bailey saves his best for last
By HAL McCOY As Homer Bailey packed his bags and boxes for shipment home to Texas Sunday in Great American Ball Park and packed his gear for the Cincinnati Reds last road trip of the season, he said, “My last start of the year is in Milwaukee and I plan to make it a good […]
Brewers ‘deck’ McGuire in his starting debut
By HAL McCOY Deck McGuire was auditioning for 2018 for the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday night in Milwaukee and if he had been on The Gong Show he would have heard a quick bong. He was making his first major league start after four scoreless bullpen appearances and was obviously full of adrenaline and a sack […]
Hamilton ‘steals’ home from first base
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — After Billy Hamilton blazed around the bases, theoretically stealing home from first base, a fan said, “That was the most fun thing to watch all year.” The Cincinnati Reds didn’t give their fans many fun things to enjoy in 2017, but what Hamilton did Sunday afternoon during his team’s 5-4 […]