Desclafani’s first start shaky, then solid in 9-6 loss
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — An MLB Network segment of MLB Tonight Monday featured the return off the disabled list of San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez. There was no mention of Anthony Desclafani, who has spent more time on the disabled list the last two years than […]
Reds draft third baseman, high school pitcher
By HAL McCOY The first knee-jerk reaction to the Cincinnati Reds No. 1 pick in Monday’s amateur free agent draft: What? Why a third baseman? Yes, with their No. 1, fifth overall, the Reds drafted University of Florida third baseman Jonathan India. India probably was the best player remaining after the first four selections, but […]
Reds draft Florida third baseman with first pick
By HAL McCOY The first knee-jerk reaction to the Cincinnati Reds No. 1 pick in Monday’s amateur free agent draft: What? Why a third baseman? Yes, with their No. 1, fifth overall, the Reds drafted University of Florida third baseman Jonathan India. India probably was the best player remaining after the first four selections, but […]
Castillo gets beat on ‘third best pitch’
By HAL McCOY The Learning Curve for a young major league pitcher can be as steep as Pike’s Peak and Luis Castillo was force-fed a lesson Sunday afternoon in Petco Park. The message: Do not use your third-best pitch in a stressful situation. That’s what Castillo did and it cost him a grand slam home […]
Mahle pitches five shutout innings, Reds pound Padres, 7-2
By HAL McCOY One of the fears a major league manager has when his team visits paradise in the U.S., the city of San Diego, is that his players might be distracted. They might slip away for a day of deep sea fishing or a round of golf in La Jolla or a trip with […]
Duvall’s grand slam saves Romano’s day
By HAL McCOY Sal Romano probably was pitching for his rotation life for the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday afternoon in Chase Field. And after two batters it looked ominous. Homer Bailey received word Tuesday that he was out of the rotation and into the bullpen. And with is recent history Romano was wondering if he might […]
Walk on the wild side does in Castillo, Reds
By HAL McCOY The news surrounding the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday was all about pitching. And it wasn’t necessarily good. First of all, Luis Castillo was chasing his fourth straight victory Tuesday night in Chase Field. It didn’t happen because he gave up four runs in the first three innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks used those […]
Despite 16 hits, Reds lose by seven (12-5) to D-Backs
By HAL McCOY Joe Garagiola spent a lifetime behind a microphone, including several years as broadcaster for the Arizona Diamondbacks and he wrote a book entitled, “Baseball is a Funny Game.” Never was it more true on Memorial Day in Chase Park, although the Cincinnati Reds found no humor in the 12-5 whipping they took […]
Four Rockies homers rock Harvey, Reds, 8-2
By HAL McCOY As if they really needed a reminder, Cincinnati Reds starter Matt Harvey and the relief corps discovered what happens in Coors Field if they don’t keep the ball out of the thin mile-high air. The Colorado Rockies unloaded four home runs Sunday afternoon and put an 8-2 whipping on the Reds to […]