Aquino’s three home runs helps bury Cubs, 10-1
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — While ‘The Punisher’ is a very cool nickname, Aristides Aquino has progressed far beyond that in 10 major league games. The Destroyer? Demolition Man? The Executioner? Nothing seems apropos for the 25-year-old Dominican rookie. He seems not of this earth, not of this universe as far as baseball is concerned. […]
Aristides Aquino/Eric Davis: Are they two of a kind?
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — As they like to say, it is a minuscule sampling, but if long-time Cincinnati Reds fans squeeze their eyes just a bit when Aristides Aquino is in the batter’s box, they might imagine they are seeing Eric Davis. And it isn’t just because Aquino wears Reds uniform No. 44 and […]
Cubs pound Reds, 12-5 in Round One of four-game showdown
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — The first step for the Cincinnati Reds in the important four-game series against the Chicago Cubs was a stumble over a curb and a fall on their faces. They put up the good fight early, but poor pitching and poor defense did them in during a 12-5 loss to the […]
Lorenzen: ‘Give some credit to the young guys’
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — As the Cincinnati Reds stick their toes into unfamiliar waters this weekend, a more-than-meaningful four-game series against the Chicago Cubs, the talk of ‘The ‘Nati’ seems one-faceted. To most, it is all about the starting rotation, how well-armed the Reds are with Alex Wood, Trevor Bauer, Sonny Gray and Luis […]
Here come the Cubs – Are the Reds ready?
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — It has been a long, long, long time since the Cincinnati Reds played a meaningful series, an elephant’s age since they gave their fans even a sniff of hope. That time has arrived and it is time for the Reds to give a strong sermon or get off the pulpit. […]
Reds fans: Do you believe in miracles?
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — It was ABC broadcaster Al Michaels who uttered the famous words, “Do you believe in miracles? Yes.” It was when the U.S. hockey team, stuffed with amateurs, upset the USSR in the 1980 Winter Olympics. Just seven years previous, Al Michaels was the radio play-by-play announcer for the Cincinnati Reds, […]
Gausman says he is ready for Reds bullpen challenge
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — If nothing else, Kevin Gausman is a polite fellow. Shortly after his arrival in the Cincinnati Reds clubhouse Tuesday, a dozen media members surrounded his locker, digital recorders and microphones in his face. Before a question could be asked, Gausman stuck out his hand and shook with each and every […]
Is Castillo the re-incarnate of Pedro Martinez?
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — When Mike Trout drops a put-it-in-your-pocket fly ball in the first inning, it is beyond a reasonable doubt that things are tilted heavily in your direction. That’s exactly what happened Monday night in Great American Ball Park. Trout, baseball’s Mr. Universe, perhaps bored to tears because the Cincinnati Reds were […]
Bauer likes what he sees in Cincinnati clubhouse
By Hal McCOY CINCINNATI — To say Trevor Bauer is different is to say there is a difference between a turtle shell and a soup pan. Does he march to the beat of a different drummer? He is the drummer, with his own beat. For example, to those who hold hope that the Cincinnati Reds […]