Ask HAL: How Helpful to Bell Are the Reds’ Coaches?
By Hal McCoy Contributing Writer Q: Does Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell’s coaching staff have that much significance in the team’s success or failure? — DAVE, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek. A: There are 13 coaches on Bell’s staff. To me, it’s a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth. How would you like 13 people shooting ideas […]
McCoy: Kelly, D-Backs shut down Texas, Series Even
By Hal McCoy Contributing Writer Arizona pitcher Merrill Kelly and his Diamondbacks offense made certain Saturday night there would be no late-inning shenanigans by the Texas Rangers in Game 2 of the World Series. The Rangers made a huge mistake. They showed up. Kelly went supernova on them, made sure it was a painful night, […]
OBSERVATIONS: Diamondbacks Could Have Been The Reds? Maybe
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, wondering what might have been after seeing the two teams left standing for the World Series. —A ‘WILD’ WORLD SERIES: So two wild card teams are in the World Series, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers. And the Diamondbacks were the second-seeded wild card team. […]
OBSERVATIONS: OSU Thought Schwarber’s Butt Was Too Big
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave thoroughly confused because baseball is still going, the NFL is in mid-season and the NBA and NHL are underway. It is a pro sports smorgasbord. —BUTT, BUTT, BUTT: As the story goes, when Kyle Schwarber was playing baseball at Middletown High School, Ohio State scouted him […]
OBSERVATIONS: Hamilton’s Cook Pitched in 2007 World Series on 79 Days of Rest
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, in awe of the Phillies’ power supply and, y’know, I picked the Phillies to win the World Series before the playoffs began. —COOKIN’ ONE UP: Max Scherzer took the mound for the Texas Rangers for Game 3 of the ALCS after a 36-day layoff with shoulder […]
OBSERVATIONS: Was There Silence In The Rangers’ Clubhouse?
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBERVATIONS from The Man Cave, still giddy over the Cleveland Browns astounding upset of the San Francisco 49ers. And the Cincinnati Bengals and Ohio State won, too. A great weekend for Ohioans. Anybody know what the Columbus Bluejackets did? They beat the New York Rangers, 5-3. —SILENCE IS GOLDEN: Just speculating, […]
Ask Hal: Votto Gets My Vote For Hall of Fame
By Hal McCoy Contributing Writer Q: What percentage of manager firings would you consider justfied? — DAVE, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beaverceek. A: Pretty much zero. A manager, who never throws a pitch, never swings bat and never fields a ground ball or catches a fly ball, is usually the scapegoat when a team doesn’t win. They can’t fire […]
OBSERVATIONS: Browns Win Over 49ers One For The Ages
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, getting my afternoon NFL fare before the main event. . .Texas and Bruce Bochy vs. Houston and Dusty Baker in Game One of the ALCS. —MASSIVE UPSET: A score nobody thought was possible: Cleveland Browns 19, San Francisco 49ers 17. For the Cleveland Browns it was […]
OBSERVATIONS: San Diego Police Thought I Was Beating a Live Horse
By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave sitting forlornly in the La-Z-Boy, Montecristo White Label in one hand and coffee in the other, distraught that there is no baseball today. So, the option is Coach Prime’s Coloardo Buffaloes against Stanford, but it doesn’t start until 10 p.m. —HORSING AROUND: It was 1998 and […]