Observations: Francona Still Learning His Team’s Capabilities
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATONS from The Man Cave and with baseball finally under way I’ll steal a line from Roger Angell, baseball’s William Shakespeare: “Baseball is not life or death, but the Cincinnati Reds are.” —TITO TALK: As a new manager, Terry Francona kept his eyes and ears focuesd on his team, trying to […]
OBSERVATIONS: Just Who Are ‘Reds Prospects?’
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Day Air Ballpark press box, getting my first live and in color baseball and what’s the first thing I witnessed? A walk, a base on balls, a free passs. . .just getting those cliches polished up. —WHAT PROSPECTS: Is it embarrassing when a team of prospects beats the […]
OBSERVATIONS: Injuries Already Plaguing The Reds
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, just hours away from witnessing a professional baseball game — the Cincinnati Reds againstg the team’s prospects at the Dayton Dragons’ Day Air Park. —OH, THE INJURIES: One thing for certain that the Cincinnati Reds or any team needs is for players to stay clear of […]
Observations: You Can Always Book It
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, just a few days (Tuesday) before the Cincinnati Reds appear live and in color in Dayton to play the team’s top prospects. —BOOK IT, BILLY: It is sheer delight when I shamble across the street to the mailbox and find a package in a plain brown […]
OBSERVATIONS: A Quick Trip To The First Four At UD Arena
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from UD Arena, a special edition from the site of the NCAA First Four basketball tournament. Just somethinng to entertain me before baseball’s ‘real’ Opening Day a week from Thursday in Cincinnati —UNWELCOME GUESTS: While the University of North Carolina was taking shots against San Diego State Tuesday night, West […]
OBSERVATIONS: De La Cruz Is Batting Third. . .And That’s Right
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, only 10 days before Opening Day, but who’s counting? I am. I no longer have to count on my fingers and toes, just my fingers. —ORDER-LY FASHION: As I’ve written many times, during my 52 years of covering the Cincinnati Reds, only one manager ever asked […]
OBSERVATIONS: Stephenson To Miss Start Of Season, Trevino ‘nicked’
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, dizzy from watching college basketball morning, noon and Knight, er, night. Bob Knight is no longer with us, but John Feinstein’s book about him, ‘A Season On The Brink,’ is the best basketball book you’ll ever read (And Feinstein passed away this week). —JOSE CAN YOU […]
OBSERVATIONS: ‘The Hall’ Leaves Oliver Twisting
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, getting fired up for my 52nd year of covering MLB by watching spring training exhibitions every day on TV (Who are these guys?). —OLIVER’S TWIST: One of the nicest, classiest MLB player, make that the nicest, classiest human being, I ever met is Al Oliver. At […]
OBSERVATIONS: Who has a ‘vested’ interest?
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, waiting for Auburn or Duke or even Southern University to win the NCAA basketball tournament, because then it is time for baseball. —THE STYLISH SHIRTS: Where have all the sleeveless vest MLB uniforms gone? To me, they were the classiest, but teams no longer wear them […]