Ask Hal: Robot Umpires Will Get ‘Em Wrong, Too
By Hal McCoy Q: A stat from 2018 revealed that MLB umpires missed 34,294 balls and strikes calls, averaging 14 per game, so how can anyone not be enthusiastic about the full implementation of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system for 2026? — DAVE, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek. A: Anyone? Mark me down as Anyone. I hate it already. […]
McCoy: Reds Make Bell ‘The Fall Guy’ And Fire Him
By Hal McCoy It is always sad to see a good man lose his job, a job he loves and has dedicated his life to performing it. David Bell is a good man and a good baseball person, part of a family that made baseball its life. But in baseball, a manager is hired to […]
McCoy: Skenes Gets Under Reds’ Skins For A Third Time
By Hal McCoy If Google is asked to name the most famous baseball pitcher all-time named Paul, it produces page after page of stories about Paul Skenes. That’s quite the accomplishment for a 22-year-old guy working his first year in the major leagues. The Cincinnati Reds, though, believe it with all their hearts and souls […]
OBSERVATIONS: Wait ‘Til Next Year Taunt Continues For Reds
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, wondering that to do when Ohio State plays at noon and the Cincinnati Reds play at 1:10? I’m a monstrous OSU fans and I’m paid to watch the Reds. It was easy. Watch the Buckeyes for an hour until it’s 28-7, then switch to the Reds […]
McCoy: Is Elly De La Cruz Becoming A Legend In His Own Time?
By Hal McCoy The Legend of Elly De La Cruz continues to grow and grow and grow with each passing game. How can the much overused word ‘legend’ be applied to a 22-year-old player in his second MLB season? It is because De La Cruz continues to set records as the season progresses. On Saturday […]
McCoy: Martinez Shuts Down Pirates For Fourth Straight Win
By Hal McCoy When the 2025 baseball season unfolds, the Cincinnati have a difficult, but pleasant, dilemma. Who will be in the starting rotation? Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, Graham Ashcraft, Rhett Lowder, Nick Martinez, Julian Aguiar or a mystery man? The 2024 season began with Greene, Lodolo, Abbott, Ashcraft and Frankie Montas in […]
McCoy: Braves Obliterate Reds, 15-3, With Six-Homer Barrage
By Hal McCoy When the Cincinnati Reds swept the Atlanta Braves earlier this season in Atlanta, the Braves had one extra-base hit in the three games. And the Reds outscored the Braves, 16-5. The Braves rectified that with a vengeance this week in Great American Ball Park. With a 15-3 six-homer tub-thumping of the Reds […]
OBSERVATIONS: Is Rhett Lowder Better Than Rhett Butler?
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, wondering who will play shortstop next season for the Cincinnati Reds — Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, Edwin Arroyo or the proverbial player to be named later. —LOWDER SPEAKS LOUDE: Seldom does anything good prevail from a stack of injuries, but there is not a […]
McCoy: Another Bullpen Meltdown Sinks The Reds In 7-1 Loss
By Hal McCoy It was Elimination Night for the Cincinnati Reds Wednesday night in Great American Ball Park. With their first loss of the season to the Atlanta Braves, 7-1, the Reds were officially denied a National League wild card spot in the playoffs. The only goal left is a .500 season, but with a […]