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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2009 > July > 01 > Entry
Who is the Reds’ All-Star? Cueto
RICK STOWE’S DILEMMA:
The Cincinnati Reds equipment manager has to send uniform sizes to MLB for the player or players that will be on the All-Star team. Stowe isn’t sure whose name or names to send and asked several members of the media, “Who is our All-Star or All-Stars?”
Great question. Every team has to have one. Joey Votto would be a candidate had he not missed so many games and if he weren’t a first baseman, a position loaded with talent throughout the National League.
I could think of only two names: Johnny Cueto and Coco Cordero.
Any ideas out there? Who should be the Reds All-Star(s)?
CUETO MADE his strongest statement thus far tonight when he ignored a stiff, tight back and held the Arizona Diamondbacks to one infield hit over six innings during a 1-0 victory.
Cueto is 8-4 with a 2.69 ERA. Does he want to go to St. Louis? Does he ever. His eyes widened and brightened when asked and he said, “I don’t know. Maybe. Yes. Yes, I want to go. I’m fighting hard for it.”
Said Manager Dusty Baker, “I haven’t thought about it. But Cueto’s ERA is indicative of being an All-Star. But there are a lot of good pitchers in our league.” And Cueto won’t have another chance at a win before they pick the team Sunday.
Cueto started Wednesday’s game by walking four in the first two innings. His back was tightening up. After the second, he went up to the clubhouse and conditioning coordinator Matt Krause stretched him out. Lights out from there - no more walks, eight strikeouts, just the one infield hit.
Johnny Cueto, All-Star.
LIFE’S LITTLE AGGRAVATIONS:
Took me an extra 45 minutes to get home Tuesday night due to construction on I-75. Expect it tonight, too. In 37 years of covering the Reds, there has been construction on I-75 somewhere between Dayton and Cincinnati every single day.
And you never know where. They like to sneak up and surprise you.
Took me an extra half hour to get to Wednesday’s game because a truck loaded with paint tipped over and spilled paint everywhere on I-75 near downtown Cincinnati. Had to go around on I-275 to I-71 and down to the ballpark that way. In 37 years, hardly a day goes by that there isn’t a traffic-snarling accident somewhere between Dayton and Cincinnati during my trips to the ballpark.
Now here I sit in the pressbox. It is July, right? It is Ohio in July, right? Then why am I sitting here in a short-sleeved shirt drinking coffee and shivering?
AND HAPPY Canada Day to Joey Votto, who was the only guy in the ballpark who knew it was Canada Day, that country’s version of our Fourth of July. After his bloop single drove in the only run Wednesday, Votto laughed afterward and said, “It’s Canada Day. Happy Canada Day to me. God bless me.”
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By A fan
July 3, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this
Florida Buckeye - “lights out” is nomenclature for a pitcher that is good, not for a hitter. Get with the program.
By Mike-Dayton
July 3, 2009 11:24 AM | Link to this
Along with Pujols, both Adrian Gonzales, Prince Fielder are more deserving than Votto - and Berkman and Howard are in the mix as well. If Votto had not missed a month-plus, then he would be in a better position - but he didn’t play for about six weeks. The Reds All-Star is Cordero.
By Scott
July 3, 2009 8:03 AM | Link to this
Cait: There is someone besides “Phat” Albert Pujols that is better than Votto. Adrian Gonzalez from the Padres. I have seen him play through the minors and develop into an All-Star 1B. Votto would be #3 on the list as Howard (Phillies) has slipped a little. Still those 4 (Pujols, Gonzalez, Votto, Howard) are a fearsome bunch in their own right, and all are deserving of an All-Star vote.
By Wizard
July 2, 2009 9:31 PM | Link to this
Looks like the Reds will be a game and a half out—Cubs whoopin’ the alcoholics!
By Mike-Cinci
July 2, 2009 4:40 PM | Link to this
There are no Reds in the top 5 in voting for the infield positions or the top 15 outfielders. Cueto, Votto, and Cordero deserve consideration. Phillips has a small outside chance. Cueto deserves it on performance. Votto’s chances are hurt by his missed games but he has been terrific. The Reds have the 2nd lowest bullpen ERA in the NL. Cordero has been a big part of that and could be named.
By Florida Buckeye
July 2, 2009 4:34 PM | Link to this
Hey all, not that it would ever happen, but I’d like to at least recognize the year that Hanigan is having. Both behind the plate and in the batter’s box, he’s been lights out…and for a rookie, it’s even more impressive, no? Other than that, I’d still vote for Votto for the Red’s rep to the All Star Game…
By Cait
July 2, 2009 4:29 PM | Link to this
Cueto, Cordero, Votto and the rest of the BP - Massett, Herrera, Rhodes, Weathers have been lights out. Yes, the NL is loaded with 1B, but who besides Albert is better than Votto?
By Rockieredsfan
July 2, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this
Does the MLB have a rule you must have played in so many games to be eligible? My vote if eligible is still Votto, even though they have plenty at first base they can select. He should still be chosen if eligible based on his outstanding season regardless of position. He could pitch hit if nothing else. If not eligible, my choice would be Cueto.
By Wizard
July 2, 2009 11:48 AM | Link to this
Bob Gibson did explain on Bob Costas’ Inside Studio 42 that his follow through was designed to generate more velocity or in his words “it enabled me to throw in the high 90’s as opposed to the low 90’s” Havaklu: Your comment above is a given and previously understood. However, I guess what I was getting at, is the fact that Cueto’s is such a major departure from his in ‘game delivery’, that It would seem natural that he’d be wild-since it isn’t even close to his normal delivery.In addition,not keeping his body moving towards home is going to cause wildness, and eventually, arm trouble, or oblique problems, I believe.
By bigdoc
July 2, 2009 10:20 AM | Link to this
Joey votto ‘laughed.’ How great is that!
By Scott
July 2, 2009 9:50 AM | Link to this
I admit I forgot about Massett (and probably should be flogged for that) as he is having a lights out year. The reason the Reds are ignored are large and many, and most of them are due to being in the midwest, and society’s view of us as a region in general. I could go into detail but I would exceed the character limit in this comment. :(
By TB
July 2, 2009 9:17 AM | Link to this
Scott: I agree with all your selections except J Hair. I like Hairston. I think he’s one of the few guys on this team who someone unfamiliar with the Reds can sit down, watch the ball game, and say “Boy that Hairston sure does give it 100% in everything he does on the field.” I love watching him for his intensity and his visible desire to win. He’s also a really smart player. But he really doesn’t have the numbers this year to back him for an All-Star nod. He’s not Gold Glove material at every position he plays and he’s a very streaky hitter. And let’s not forget that he plays in Cincinnati where even those deserving of All-Star votes (Phillips last year) are ignored.
By Steven Ross
July 2, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this
Hariston? Are you his PR guy? That’s laughable. Not sold on Phillips either. Too many “e’s” this year. Coco-Votto-Cueto are the logical choices but Rhodes, Herrera and especially, Masset, have been very good too.
By Scott
July 2, 2009 8:39 AM | Link to this
I would say Cueto, Coco, Rhodes, Phillips, and Harriston Jr. would be the ones I chose from. Rhodes has been lights out from the pen, Harriston has played everywhere but Bat Boy it seems and can still produce, Phillips as he is the key name player on the team, and Cueto or Coco based on the article above.
By HavaKlu
July 2, 2009 4:12 AM | Link to this
Hey Wiz—-I wouldn’t put much stock in the Cueto’s motion when he warms up—assuming you me on the game mound and not the bullpen. Most pitchers do not try to throw near 100% on their warmups which of course alters their motion. However, I too am not a fan of the “falling toward first” follow through. The Reds number one, Mike Leake, finishes facing the batter ala Greg Maddux. Bob Gibson did explain on Bob Costas’ Inside Studio 42 that his follow through was designed to generate more velocity or in his words “it enabled me to throw in the high 90’s as opposed to the low 90’s”
By ME
July 2, 2009 12:54 AM | Link to this
Marty sounds like he just came out of the woodwork with an agenda. Sounds like one of those posters who always misses the entire post, just to find one unimportant mistake. What an a$$.
By Ty
July 2, 2009 12:50 AM | Link to this
Wow marty ease up and get a life. GO REDLEGS!!
By blogcopwatcher
July 2, 2009 12:40 AM | Link to this
Hey Marty, isn’t it past your bed time? If you have nothing more useful than your stupid remarks just pass on by please.
By marty
July 2, 2009 12:17 AM | Link to this
Welch? Do you mean Welsh, as in Chris Welsh? The guy’s been broadcasting Reds games for 15 years and you can’t get his name right. Why should anyone believe you know anything about anything, Wizard?
By Wizard
July 1, 2009 11:14 PM | Link to this
Speaking of J. Cueto: I don’t know if anyone has noticed this before-but, I did tonight. Before the first inning Cueto pitched I watched him taking his warm ups. Not one time did his right leg cross wildly to the other side of his LEFT leg-Not once! As soon as he began pitching to Diamondback hitters-he once again became a wannabe Bob Gibson, with wildness ensuing. Welch mentioned his left shoulder flying opened, which I have noticed during his last three starts. Better hitters, I believe, will take a lot of balls DB’s swung at today. Why would he warm up differently than the way he pitches when the game starts?