LA’s Roberts thinks outside the box
By HAL McCOY Playoff baseball is a different animal and it is glorious. It changes colors like a chameleon. Managers tear up ‘The Book’ and think outside the box. Chicago Cubs manage Joe Maddon does it all season long — playing four-man infields, using pitchers in the outfield, using his players at several […]
Cubs show why they are the Cubs
By HAL McCOY The Chicago Cubs removed any doubt Tuesday night that they have hearts bigger than the John Hancock Tower. And the guts of diamond thieves. San Francisco Giants fans were poised to board cable cars and tear up Fisherman’s Wharf with three outs to go in Game Four of the National League Division […]
Why the Reds traded Edwin Encarnacion
By HAL McCOY UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, relaxing in front of the Smart TV watching the Toronto-Baltimore wild card game with no intent to write anything. Edwin Encarnacion changed all that. His three-run home run on the first pitch from Baltimore’s Ubaldo Jimenez in the bottom of the 11th sent the Jays into […]
Bullpen Meltdown: How else to end the season?
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — Despite losing 94 games and finishing last in the National League Central for the second straight year — and next-to-last in attendance in the entire National League — how hard does one have to search to find positives surrounding the Cincinnati Reds? It was a question put to manager Bryan […]
Adleman states his case for ’17 considerations
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — Out of necessity and out of curiosity, Patrick Kivlehan was in the Cincinnati Reds lineup Saturday afternoon against the Chicago Cubs. Because Billy Hamilton, Scott Schebler and Tyler Holt all are ailing, Reds manager Bryan Price stuck the 26-year-old Kivlehan in right field. Kivlehan’s audition was not a strong one, […]
Smith pitches four perfect innings but loses
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — For some inexplicable reason, Joey Votto wanted to play a meaningless Friday night baseball game between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds with seven stitches in his jaw. That, though, is Joey Votto. He would play baseball on a dark pier in a rainstorm. On Thursday night in St. […]
Reds bringing Price back for 2017
By HAL McCOY CINCINNATI — As the Cincinnati Reds plod toward regaining respectability and competitiveness, manager Bryan Price will make that journey with them. Just prior to batting practice Friday night, the Reds announced that Price has accepted a contract to manager the 2017 season, with an option for 2018. And his entire coaching staff […]
Price returning to manage Reds in 2017
By HAL McCoy CINCINNATI — Bryan Price is coming back to manage the Cincinnati Reds for the 2017 season. The Reds announced this afternoon that Price has agreed to a one-year contract with an option for 2018. In addition, all the coaches have been invited back for next season. Price is concluding his third year […]
Surprise, surprise! Reds clinch last place
By HAL McCOY The Cincinnati Reds clinched something Thursday night in St. Louis Thursday night, but there was no celebratory champagne squirting in the visitor’s clubhouse. They clinched the booby prize in the National League Central. Last place. By losing to the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-3, they assured themselves of last place. They are four […]