McCoy: Reds Sniffing Third Place

By Hal McCoy Contributing Writer The Cincinnati Reds are so close to third place in the National League Central they can reach out and touch the St. Louis Cardinals. Had the Cardinals lost Saturday night in Cleveland, the resrugent Reds would be in third place right now, but the Cardinals beat the Guardians, 2-1, in […]

McCoy: Greene, Reds Muzzle Cubs, 9-0

By Hal McCoy Contributing Writer Hunter Greene felt like a Stranger in Paradise during Friday’s matinee in Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. When he looked at the mammoth green manual scoreboard in center field after the fifth inning, there was a ‘7’ on the Cincinnati Reds’ runs line. In seven of his previous 10 […]

McCoy: Reds Waste Weaver’s Gem

By Hal McCoy Contributing Writer Luke Weaver did the best any pitcher can do while trying to beat the St. Louis Cardinals Thursday afternoon in Great American Ball Park — no runs, three hits in 6 1/3 innings of masterful pitching. On most days, perhaps 99 per cent of the time, that means a victor […]

McCoy: Wainwright Finally Wins at GABP

By Hal McCoy Contributing Writer For 41-year-old St. Louis Cardinals best pitcher, Adam Wainwright, Great American Ball Park has been a personal house of horrors. In seven previous starts in GABP, the Cincinnati Reds have taken him to the woodshed — 0-and-5 with a 6.35 earned run average. And he was not on his best […]

McCoy: Reds Walk-off St. Louis in 10

By Hal McCoy Contributing Writer When a team holds the top four hitters in the ultra-potent St. Louis Cardinals batting order to 0 for 17, that team should win easily, right? Cincinnati Reds pitchers did just that Monday night in Great American Ball Park and, yes, they won. But it wasn’t easy, by any stretch. […]

OBSERVATIONS: This ‘Commish’ Will Be Missed

By Hal McCoy UNSOLICITED OBSERVATIONS from The Man Cave, writing this with shaky fingers and bleary vision. See below. —A HUMM-DINGER: If a baseball writer is asked to name the epitome of a baseball writer, Rick Hummel’s name would top the list. For 50 years, until he semi-retired after last season, Hummel covered baseball for […]

Ask Hal: Cut Out the Shenanigans

By Hal McCoy Contributing Writer Q: Would you agree that Major League Baseball needs more traditions like the bride tossing her bouquet over her shoulder? — DAVE, Miamisburg/Centervillew/Beavercreek. A: No, I would not agree. There is already too much goofiness in the dugout, like those home run celebrations where the guy puts on an embroidered […]

McCoy: Yankees Complete Sweep, 4-1

By Hal McCoy Contributing Writer When Hunter Greene pitches for the Cincinnati Reds, the offense goes into deep hibernation and Greene has to be thinking, “I wonder where the offense went?” He was victimized again Sunday morning/afternoon and has grounds for a non-support charge. The New York Yankees beat him, 4-1, Greene’s 10th start this […]

McCoy: Judge, Rizzo Strike Reds Again

By Hal McCoy Contributing Writer For the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday afternon in Great American Ball Park was a broken record, Groundhog Day and deja vu all over again, all wrapped up in on ugly package. The same two New York Yankee superstars who beat them Friday did it again Saturday, beating the Reds, 7-4, in […]